AC Mack
Striker
What about the harm in blocking season ticket holders with fewer points?
Apologies if I've missed it but haven't many of these unrenewed tickets been taken by those moving seats?
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SAFC - Fan Ban & Ticket Cancellations
- Thread starter Hetty
- Start date
What about the harm in blocking season ticket holders with fewer points?
Apologies if I've missed it but haven't many of these unrenewed tickets been taken by those moving seats?
Mowgli
Striker
But then that would just free up the seats from people who have moved. So number of available ones shouldn't change.
Maybe more single seats though now.
AC Mack
Striker
Yeah of course mate, silly me.
Mowgli
Striker
Didn't know if you were taking the piss because you're usually on the ball
From a business POV and from the people in charge of the revenue, I can understand why this decision was taken. But its shite for the people involved and looks awful.
AC Mack
Striker
Didn't know if you were taking the piss because you're usually on the ball
From a business POV and from the people in charge of the revenue, I can understand why this decision was taken. But its shite for the people involved and looks awful.
The reason I brought it up was because I haven't renewed but my seat wasn't available for selection - just hadn't quite joined the dots
Mowgli
Striker
You thrown the towel in like?The reason I brought it up was because I haven't renewed but my seat wasn't available for selection - just hadn't quite joined the dots
AC Mack
Striker
Personal reasons mate, mostly my dad's health. Not a decision we've taken lightly but probably for the best.
Mowgli
Striker
You're Leeds based I think? If you lose your match partner then i'm not surprisrd like.
Tbh i've got a 2 year old now and don't think i'd have stuck at it going up and down every other week with all that going on and work etc mind.
The exiles who get to every game deserve a medal like. Hope your dad's alright.
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AC Mack
Striker
Yeah, it's a four hour round trip and it's become clear that the whole commute/day is too much for him. It's not helped by games being moved around a lot.
Cheers.
There are people on here who would make better judgement calls regards ticketing than those in the office itself.
It’s indicative as you say of having thrown out all the capability and experience and then trying to build new process and policy on the hoof, and making an absolute hash of it.
Disco_Pants93
Striker
Real shame to hear that mate
AC Mack
Striker
Real shame to hear that mate
Cheers mate. He's okay by the way (I know that you know my dad) but he's had a couple of operations to get his heart beating at the correct rhythm again but they haven't worked unfortunately. At the moment even the walk from Sunniside can take it out of him.
This is a personal statement I sent to the club on 23 March 2026….
SAFC2012 statement of fact & position 23/3/2026
I started supporting Sunderland AFC in 1990, with my first game being against Derby County at Roker Park on 1st December 1990.
Due to family circumstances, finances and undergoing heart surgery I didn’t have a season ticket until getting a part season ticket in the final season at Roker Park. I subsequently had a season ticket following the move to the Stadium of Light in 1997. This continued for a few years, until my grandfather became ill and subsequently passed away. As my father spent a vast amount of his time caring for his father, we naturally didn’t have the available time to attend games on a regular basis.
I did however get a season ticket for the second half of the 2006/7 season and have held a season ticket ever since.
As I got to know the supporters I sat with at home games we started to go to away games together very frequently from January 2012. I had previously attended away games with my father and a school friend and his father back in the late 1990s and I’d often travel alone to away games in the 2006-12 period.
As the group that I travelled all over the country to away games with grew, the club asked me to set up as a formal supporters club – The Philadelphia Branch - in September 2018 to help them with the administrative process. I agreed to this request and have acted in exactly the same way ever since. For the avoidance of doubt this was originally named the Gateshead Branch, however in September 2024 the club acknowledged there was already a Gateshead Branch & asked me to rename ours – hence the Philadelphia Branch.
In the league 1 and championship years 2018-2025 the club would contact me prior to virtually every away game and ask me if I would sell additional tickets following returns from players/staff/directors etc. I never once turned those down.
The club were in fact for 6 or 7 seasons actively promoting actions for which they have now banned me for !!
One example - at the request of xxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxx and other members of the ownership and senior leadership team I was asked if I could assist in providing 2 tickets for a father and son who had travelled over from Australia without tickets for the play off final in May. I provided those tickets and Sunderland were more than happy to publish that story on the club website prior to the 1st game of the season against West Ham.
Another - for the Checkatrade final v Portsmouth at Wembley in 2019, I sorted tickets for 293 Sunderland supporters with the full knowledge and support of the club.
The group would travel by train to every away game, I personally have not missed a home or away game since 2010, other than through illness or during the Covid-19 pandemic.
After many years trying to get a single point of contact with various train companies, I finally got an arrangement in place with LNER in September 2023. That arrangement has worked fantastically well and the loyalty shown by both parties has been highly beneficial to both parties and has enabled hundreds if not thousands of Sunderland supporters to travel at very favourable prices. Since the start of the 2024/25 season I have spent £265k with LNER on travel to away games. Sunderland supporters have also benefited from favourable travel deals outside of the football due to the arrangements I have in place with LNER. I have 3 senior members of customer relations staff at LNER who are on hand to assist me with the groups travel arrangements, prior to the travel, during the travel and post travel completion. This has proved absolutely vital to the Sunderland fan base in general when trains are delayed or cancelled etc as LNER are on hand to put alternative arrangements in place.
There are simply too many examples to list in terms of trains being held in conjunction with scheduling between me and LNER to ensure Sunderland supporters could make the last train home following engineering works, bus replacements etc etc. I have in my possession numerous emails between LNER & myself confirming the positive working arrangements & relationship we have built. These are available if required.
One of the other massive benefits for the younger generation of supporters is that when booked as a group of 10 or more on LNER services the age of a child ticket goes up from 15 and under to 17 and under. This results in the 16/17 year olds paying £25 for a return train ticket to London whilst adults pay £70. A normal return train ticket without the discounts would cost in the region £130 to London.
The numbers of people I have been assisting have been an average of 150 per game. eg for Brighton in December 2025 I had 195 people travel with 168 match tickets and the club was fully aware. The other 27 source their own match tickets.
In addition to all of the train bookings etc I’d also book hotel accommodation for the group.
All this has taken 00’s of hours per season, all totally unpaid and almost certainly loss to myself.
All these travel & accommodation have been sourced at the best rates possible making it more accessible to fans, eg pooling rail cards & multi room bookings. I have not made any monies at all out of any of these transactions.
In terms of match ticketing, since promotion to the premier league in May 2025 changes to requirements have made this more difficult (impossible) and I acknowledge that I had been too slow to adjust to the new requirements. I have however, made numerous attempts to meet with the club to both clarify & confirm what I need to do. But to no avail. This would have given us the opportunity to resolve any issues with regard to named ticket reallocation.
The cancellation of 65 tickets (as the result of 3 failed ID checks at Leeds United on Tuesday 4th March 2026) for the derby at Newcastle United, was in my opinion, unjust and totally disproportionate. This also resulted in many Sunderland supporters not being in attendance at the derby through no fault of their own despite many of them not having missed an away game in at least 4 seasons and therefore being on maximum loyalty points. On what should have been a very enjoyable day on Sunday, I personally felt physically sick as so many of my friends who should’ve been in attendance had had their tickets cancelled and not even the courtesy of any contact from the club.
The ID checks at Leeds were targeted to my purchases and of the 3 that failed, one had travelled all over the country as part of the group since December 2023, not missing a game as far as I can remember (not always on his loyalty points) and he was unfortunately working in Swindon on the day of the Leeds game. He only finds out where he’s working on the Sunday evening/Monday morning of the week. For example he only found out he could attend the game at Brentford in January at about 12 noon on the day. Train tickets would’ve cost him £257.90, however, due to the deal in place, he was given a complimentary return ticket as he had to travel back for work very early the following morning. I am also led to believe that the other 2 that failed ID checks have been in touch with the club directly advising of their particular circumstances.
I have held my hands up and acknowledged that things need to be done differently and I sent the club an email to that affect prior to the action taken against me.
I also offered my assistance to test the new ticketing system prior to “go live” some 12 months ago and despite the club advising that they thought that was an excellent idea and that someone would be in touch, I never heard anything else which was very disappointing to myself.
I was sent an invite to a meeting, with 1 weeks notice, for 12th March 2026, which I attended. I received an email on the day of the meeting to alter the time. I had booked a half day from work to attend, but rearranged it to suit the club. I was given no advance information and no agenda was available, which didn’t give me any opportunity to prepare or take suitable representation with me. I once again held up my hands for my not following every rule diligently, but again stated it was only for the benefit of true Sunderland supporters. Furthermore, as this was a formal meeting, I have not been provided with the minutes of the meeting & therefore have had no opportunity to correct the record, prior to the sanctions being imposed on me. Without sight of the minutes, I am unsure as to what information has been used for the club to base its decisions on.
I then received an email on Tuesday 17th March at 08.11 advising me of the sanctions imposed on me. From March 17th 2026 I am banned from attending all home matches or events at the Stadium of Light until 1st July 2026. Furthermore, I am banned from purchasing or attending away matches until the end of the season 2027/28 !!
Whilst there is the opportunity of an appeal, I am concerned that the sanctions placed on me would simply be increased and I’m not willing to take that risk as the action taken against me has not, in my opinion, been handled well.
SAFC has been the centre of my life and I worry this situation will cause additional adverse health & wellbeing.
If the club could meet with me to resolve this issue, accept my apologies for not being sufficiently diligent, and they apologise for their methods I would be happy to accept & get back to supporting SAFC and the loyal fans. I do not wish for this to be a long winded legal situation.
Yours faithfully
SAFC2012 statement of fact & position 23/3/2026
I started supporting Sunderland AFC in 1990, with my first game being against Derby County at Roker Park on 1st December 1990.
Due to family circumstances, finances and undergoing heart surgery I didn’t have a season ticket until getting a part season ticket in the final season at Roker Park. I subsequently had a season ticket following the move to the Stadium of Light in 1997. This continued for a few years, until my grandfather became ill and subsequently passed away. As my father spent a vast amount of his time caring for his father, we naturally didn’t have the available time to attend games on a regular basis.
I did however get a season ticket for the second half of the 2006/7 season and have held a season ticket ever since.
As I got to know the supporters I sat with at home games we started to go to away games together very frequently from January 2012. I had previously attended away games with my father and a school friend and his father back in the late 1990s and I’d often travel alone to away games in the 2006-12 period.
As the group that I travelled all over the country to away games with grew, the club asked me to set up as a formal supporters club – The Philadelphia Branch - in September 2018 to help them with the administrative process. I agreed to this request and have acted in exactly the same way ever since. For the avoidance of doubt this was originally named the Gateshead Branch, however in September 2024 the club acknowledged there was already a Gateshead Branch & asked me to rename ours – hence the Philadelphia Branch.
In the league 1 and championship years 2018-2025 the club would contact me prior to virtually every away game and ask me if I would sell additional tickets following returns from players/staff/directors etc. I never once turned those down.
The club were in fact for 6 or 7 seasons actively promoting actions for which they have now banned me for !!
One example - at the request of xxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxx and other members of the ownership and senior leadership team I was asked if I could assist in providing 2 tickets for a father and son who had travelled over from Australia without tickets for the play off final in May. I provided those tickets and Sunderland were more than happy to publish that story on the club website prior to the 1st game of the season against West Ham.
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Another - for the Checkatrade final v Portsmouth at Wembley in 2019, I sorted tickets for 293 Sunderland supporters with the full knowledge and support of the club.
The group would travel by train to every away game, I personally have not missed a home or away game since 2010, other than through illness or during the Covid-19 pandemic.
After many years trying to get a single point of contact with various train companies, I finally got an arrangement in place with LNER in September 2023. That arrangement has worked fantastically well and the loyalty shown by both parties has been highly beneficial to both parties and has enabled hundreds if not thousands of Sunderland supporters to travel at very favourable prices. Since the start of the 2024/25 season I have spent £265k with LNER on travel to away games. Sunderland supporters have also benefited from favourable travel deals outside of the football due to the arrangements I have in place with LNER. I have 3 senior members of customer relations staff at LNER who are on hand to assist me with the groups travel arrangements, prior to the travel, during the travel and post travel completion. This has proved absolutely vital to the Sunderland fan base in general when trains are delayed or cancelled etc as LNER are on hand to put alternative arrangements in place.
There are simply too many examples to list in terms of trains being held in conjunction with scheduling between me and LNER to ensure Sunderland supporters could make the last train home following engineering works, bus replacements etc etc. I have in my possession numerous emails between LNER & myself confirming the positive working arrangements & relationship we have built. These are available if required.
One of the other massive benefits for the younger generation of supporters is that when booked as a group of 10 or more on LNER services the age of a child ticket goes up from 15 and under to 17 and under. This results in the 16/17 year olds paying £25 for a return train ticket to London whilst adults pay £70. A normal return train ticket without the discounts would cost in the region £130 to London.
The numbers of people I have been assisting have been an average of 150 per game. eg for Brighton in December 2025 I had 195 people travel with 168 match tickets and the club was fully aware. The other 27 source their own match tickets.
In addition to all of the train bookings etc I’d also book hotel accommodation for the group.
All this has taken 00’s of hours per season, all totally unpaid and almost certainly loss to myself.
All these travel & accommodation have been sourced at the best rates possible making it more accessible to fans, eg pooling rail cards & multi room bookings. I have not made any monies at all out of any of these transactions.
In terms of match ticketing, since promotion to the premier league in May 2025 changes to requirements have made this more difficult (impossible) and I acknowledge that I had been too slow to adjust to the new requirements. I have however, made numerous attempts to meet with the club to both clarify & confirm what I need to do. But to no avail. This would have given us the opportunity to resolve any issues with regard to named ticket reallocation.
The cancellation of 65 tickets (as the result of 3 failed ID checks at Leeds United on Tuesday 4th March 2026) for the derby at Newcastle United, was in my opinion, unjust and totally disproportionate. This also resulted in many Sunderland supporters not being in attendance at the derby through no fault of their own despite many of them not having missed an away game in at least 4 seasons and therefore being on maximum loyalty points. On what should have been a very enjoyable day on Sunday, I personally felt physically sick as so many of my friends who should’ve been in attendance had had their tickets cancelled and not even the courtesy of any contact from the club.
The ID checks at Leeds were targeted to my purchases and of the 3 that failed, one had travelled all over the country as part of the group since December 2023, not missing a game as far as I can remember (not always on his loyalty points) and he was unfortunately working in Swindon on the day of the Leeds game. He only finds out where he’s working on the Sunday evening/Monday morning of the week. For example he only found out he could attend the game at Brentford in January at about 12 noon on the day. Train tickets would’ve cost him £257.90, however, due to the deal in place, he was given a complimentary return ticket as he had to travel back for work very early the following morning. I am also led to believe that the other 2 that failed ID checks have been in touch with the club directly advising of their particular circumstances.
I have held my hands up and acknowledged that things need to be done differently and I sent the club an email to that affect prior to the action taken against me.
I also offered my assistance to test the new ticketing system prior to “go live” some 12 months ago and despite the club advising that they thought that was an excellent idea and that someone would be in touch, I never heard anything else which was very disappointing to myself.
I was sent an invite to a meeting, with 1 weeks notice, for 12th March 2026, which I attended. I received an email on the day of the meeting to alter the time. I had booked a half day from work to attend, but rearranged it to suit the club. I was given no advance information and no agenda was available, which didn’t give me any opportunity to prepare or take suitable representation with me. I once again held up my hands for my not following every rule diligently, but again stated it was only for the benefit of true Sunderland supporters. Furthermore, as this was a formal meeting, I have not been provided with the minutes of the meeting & therefore have had no opportunity to correct the record, prior to the sanctions being imposed on me. Without sight of the minutes, I am unsure as to what information has been used for the club to base its decisions on.
I then received an email on Tuesday 17th March at 08.11 advising me of the sanctions imposed on me. From March 17th 2026 I am banned from attending all home matches or events at the Stadium of Light until 1st July 2026. Furthermore, I am banned from purchasing or attending away matches until the end of the season 2027/28 !!
Whilst there is the opportunity of an appeal, I am concerned that the sanctions placed on me would simply be increased and I’m not willing to take that risk as the action taken against me has not, in my opinion, been handled well.
SAFC has been the centre of my life and I worry this situation will cause additional adverse health & wellbeing.
If the club could meet with me to resolve this issue, accept my apologies for not being sufficiently diligent, and they apologise for their methods I would be happy to accept & get back to supporting SAFC and the loyal fans. I do not wish for this to be a long winded legal situation.
Yours faithfully
Wakey ftm in Sussex
Striker
People have wanted background…. Here you go
jarrowdiamond
Striker
Honestly, if someones head doesn't roll for this and your ban is not rescinded then for me, it's a total failure of the ownership.
This is a follow up statement I provided to the club on 1 April 2026.....
SAFC2012 – SAFC – Updated statement 01/4/2026
Following the club producing & publicly sharing a statement via RAWA & RTG, I feel
it is only appropriate that I have a “right to reply”. I would have hoped the club would
have contacted me to discuss anything regarding our “dispute”.
The statement:
The Club has recently acted in response to an exceptional and serious instance of
ticket misuse. This case involved multiple unauthorised uses of supporter accounts,
without the knowledge of those account holders, as well as facilitation of tickets
being used by individuals other than the eligible purchaser, in breach of our ticketing
rules. Our investigations indicate that this accounted for more than 50% of some
group purchases.
The misuse has also been acknowledged by those involved and the Club has taken
appropriate action.
We recognise that some supporters have been affected through no fault of their own
and appreciate the disappointment this has caused. The club will continue to work
with the supporter ticketing sub group to review and improve processes, with the aim
of ensuring away tickets are distributed fairly and only to genuine supporters"
My response.
In terms of involving multiple unauthorised uses of supporters accounts.
I have never, knowingly, used a supporters account without their prior knowledge or
consent. I would fully accept that having received consent I did not reconfirm every
time with every individual. Any other accounts that I had access to was to provide
assistance to the season ticket holder in accessing their match ticket. This was in
respect of both home and away games.
Accounted for more than 50% of some group purchases.
This is factually untrue and I suspect comes from a (confidential?) comment I made
in the meeting. I said that my suspicion would be that approximately 50% of away
tickets are not used by the actual person the ticket is in the name of. It may be 40%
or 60% however I suspect it’ll be in that ballpark figure.
Please note:
In the one & only meeting I was advised that all information would be treated in
confidence. My question would be why have the club willingly and deliberately
breached that confidence. I have never mentioned any employees name within the
club as that would be a breach of confidence and trust. I am very disappointed that
the club have not kept their word.
Furthermore, at the meeting I was not asked nor invited to explain the whole
situation from my perspective nor given a right to reply. The meeting was rather
hurried as the room was required. This was very disappointing as I clearly had much
more information to give.
The information provided by the club to RAWA clearly, in my opinion, breaches
GDPR as I’m clearly identifiable from the information that is readily available on
social media. This is highlighted by the messages I have received prior to me seeing
the information published on 31 st March (yesterday)..
For the avoidance of doubt, I was not provided with an agenda for the meeting and
nor have I been provided with a copy of the draft minutes of the meeting for approval
/ corrections to be made. Yesterday afternoon I sent an email to the club advising
that I am disappointed and surprised not to have received the draft minutes.
Furthermore, I was advised by one of my friends prior to the outcome being emailed
to me, details of the investigation as he had been told by a relative who works in the
ticket office at Sunderland AFC. This is again a breach of confidence and GDPR.
I have not once been contacted by any member of the club since I acknowledged
receipt and acceptance of the sanctions imposed on me. For the avoidance of doubt,
I did not do this as an admission of guilt, I felt threatened by the comments that were
put in the outcome email. I should have sought legal advice, but to be honest I was
in shock.
It is worth reminding that the club were very happy for me to dispose of tickets on
their behalf, during the less successful times. Also, I have received confidential,
potentially “rule breaking” and embarrassing information regarding the club & tickets
that I am willing to discuss with the club.
Finally, I feel sure all this can be sorted amicably via a meeting with the appropriate
club officials. The last thing I want is for the club to be dragged into a public &/or
legal situation. All I have ever wanted was the best for the club & supporters.
SAFC2012
1/4/26
SAFC2012 – SAFC – Updated statement 01/4/2026
Following the club producing & publicly sharing a statement via RAWA & RTG, I feel
it is only appropriate that I have a “right to reply”. I would have hoped the club would
have contacted me to discuss anything regarding our “dispute”.
The statement:
The Club has recently acted in response to an exceptional and serious instance of
ticket misuse. This case involved multiple unauthorised uses of supporter accounts,
without the knowledge of those account holders, as well as facilitation of tickets
being used by individuals other than the eligible purchaser, in breach of our ticketing
rules. Our investigations indicate that this accounted for more than 50% of some
group purchases.
The misuse has also been acknowledged by those involved and the Club has taken
appropriate action.
We recognise that some supporters have been affected through no fault of their own
and appreciate the disappointment this has caused. The club will continue to work
with the supporter ticketing sub group to review and improve processes, with the aim
of ensuring away tickets are distributed fairly and only to genuine supporters"
My response.
In terms of involving multiple unauthorised uses of supporters accounts.
I have never, knowingly, used a supporters account without their prior knowledge or
consent. I would fully accept that having received consent I did not reconfirm every
time with every individual. Any other accounts that I had access to was to provide
assistance to the season ticket holder in accessing their match ticket. This was in
respect of both home and away games.
Accounted for more than 50% of some group purchases.
This is factually untrue and I suspect comes from a (confidential?) comment I made
in the meeting. I said that my suspicion would be that approximately 50% of away
tickets are not used by the actual person the ticket is in the name of. It may be 40%
or 60% however I suspect it’ll be in that ballpark figure.
Please note:
In the one & only meeting I was advised that all information would be treated in
confidence. My question would be why have the club willingly and deliberately
breached that confidence. I have never mentioned any employees name within the
club as that would be a breach of confidence and trust. I am very disappointed that
the club have not kept their word.
Furthermore, at the meeting I was not asked nor invited to explain the whole
situation from my perspective nor given a right to reply. The meeting was rather
hurried as the room was required. This was very disappointing as I clearly had much
more information to give.
The information provided by the club to RAWA clearly, in my opinion, breaches
GDPR as I’m clearly identifiable from the information that is readily available on
social media. This is highlighted by the messages I have received prior to me seeing
the information published on 31 st March (yesterday)..
For the avoidance of doubt, I was not provided with an agenda for the meeting and
nor have I been provided with a copy of the draft minutes of the meeting for approval
/ corrections to be made. Yesterday afternoon I sent an email to the club advising
that I am disappointed and surprised not to have received the draft minutes.
Furthermore, I was advised by one of my friends prior to the outcome being emailed
to me, details of the investigation as he had been told by a relative who works in the
ticket office at Sunderland AFC. This is again a breach of confidence and GDPR.
I have not once been contacted by any member of the club since I acknowledged
receipt and acceptance of the sanctions imposed on me. For the avoidance of doubt,
I did not do this as an admission of guilt, I felt threatened by the comments that were
put in the outcome email. I should have sought legal advice, but to be honest I was
in shock.
It is worth reminding that the club were very happy for me to dispose of tickets on
their behalf, during the less successful times. Also, I have received confidential,
potentially “rule breaking” and embarrassing information regarding the club & tickets
that I am willing to discuss with the club.
Finally, I feel sure all this can be sorted amicably via a meeting with the appropriate
club officials. The last thing I want is for the club to be dragged into a public &/or
legal situation. All I have ever wanted was the best for the club & supporters.
SAFC2012
1/4/26
Tbf thins turned to utter shit once he was excluded from ticcketing arrangements. Lad used to work all hours helping folk out.
Who’s bright idea was that?
Wakey ftm in Sussex
Striker
The final point, for me, is key.
Clearly a need to hold a hands up, openly discussed, but confidential ( for the benefit of the club!) meeting…. IMHO
It’s also worth noting that in September 2024 the club confirmed that they were ok (and Supported the process) with away tickets being used by supporters who were not the named holder of the ticket. The rules are exactly the same in the EFL and the PL. Therefore, I think it reasonable to assume that previous arrangements that had been formally discussed and agreed would remain in place until such time that an alteration was communicated to the relevant people formally. For the avoidance of doubt this was not done.
