SAFC TICKET WOES
SUPPORTERS HAVING PROBLEMS REGISTERING TO APPLY FOR CHECKATRADE TROPHY FINAL TICKETS
Worried Sunderland AFC fans say they are struggling to register online for tickets to this month's Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.
Jack Ross’s side beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 in the semi-final stage of the tournament earlier this week to book a place in the final against Portsmouth on Sunday, March 31.
The club has been allocated a total of 38,979 for the clash.
It announced earlier this week that fans wanting to get tickets would have to register with Ticketmaster before tickets for the showdown go on sale to season ticket holders today.
Fans can register online or by calling Ticketmaster.
But several supporters have contacted the Echo to say they have experienced difficulties when registering online, leaving them concerned that they could miss out.
Others have gone in per- son to the Stadium of Light ticket office to ask for help with queues forming outside Black Cat House yesterday.
Paul McKeown, 61, is hoping to go to the game alongside son Josh, 10.
“I’ve managed to register my son’s name on Ticketmaster but when I go to do mine it says “unknown”, said Paul, who is originally from Hebburn but now lives in Shropshire.
“We’ve been season ticket holders together for four of five years now and I’ve been watching Sunderland since I was nine. I’ve been able to buy tickets for the Wycombe away game on the club’s official site as I mainly get to away games so I have enough loyalty points, but I still can’t register for final tickets.
“I know they’re only on sale to season ticket holders until Monday, so I’m a bit concerned now.
“I haven’t got a problem with the club using Ticketmaster, but it’s a bit much to expect more than 20,000 season ticket holders to register within a couple of days.
“People may be away working or on holiday and they won’t get the chance.”
Philip Avery, 59, of Pallion, went along to Black Cat house at the Stadium of Light yesterday after being unable to register.
“I’ve been going to games for 50 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s absolute chaos,” he said.
“I think a lot of the older people who are trying to register have been left a bit bamboozled by having to try and do things online.
“A lot of these fans should be at Wembley as a reward for their support and hopefully things get sorted.”
Ray Taylor, 61, of Horden, said he tried to put his details into Ticketmaster but was told his account number was not recognised.
He said yesterday: “I’ve been to the Stadium of Light twice today and I’m going back now.
“When I got there at 9am there were two people on the desk and when I went back at 11am there were three.
“There are queues inside and outside and it seems like nobody has thought this through.
“The club have dealt with things like this well in the past but for some reason this time they haven’t.”