‘Why can’t we just have a paper ticket?’
DAVID CRACKNELL, 88, is a lifelong West ham fan and a season-ticket holder in the Billy Bonds Stand. he does not use a smartphone and his wife norma, who was for many years also a season-ticket holder and always dealt with his emails, passed away in January. his son now looks after his emails but is not in a position to accompany him to every game just to get him through the turnstiles. ‘I’m not the only one,’ Mr Cracknell (right) told Sportsmail.
‘I’ve spoken to my niece and my sister-in-law about this and they’ve already signed the petition (from West ham fans who don’t want a digital-only system).
‘I don’t know why we can’t have a paper ticket like the one we had last season or the plastic access card like we used to have.’ West ham sent an email on July 23 to thank fans for buying a season ticket and provided instructions about downloading it to a device and using at the turnstile. For David, whose father followed the hammers his whole life and whose grandfather worked at Thames Ironworks in Canning Town, where the club was founded, it came as something of a shock. There had been plenty of notice issued by the club, but most of it passes people by if they do not have a mobile phone or look at their emails or browse the club’s website.
The hammers issued extensive details online on Tuesday to remind fans of the changes and made it clear that anyone not able to access their ticket on a phone could get in touch with the booking office and they would find a solution. Mr Cracknell knew nothing of this when he made up his mind to travel down the Central Line from his home in Woodford to the London Stadium yesterday, determined as he was to sort it out. ‘rather that than go down there on Sunday and not get into the game,’ said the retired advertising executive of West ham’s clash with Manchester City. ‘really, they should cater for people who are not particularly technical.’ he was issued with his season ticket on a plastic card and heard how the club had given hundreds of them to people not able to download it on phones. at least it came at no extra charge. Some clubs who have gone digital are charging for the privilege of a plastic card in a wallet.