Port Vale: Ticket strife for Vale 'lifers'
SUPPORTERS who bought tickets to watch their beloved Port Vale for life have been warned they could lose their money.
At least 15 fans took up Vale's offer to buy lifetime tickets in 2005. Depending on their age, they paid between £1,500 and £8,000 to secure a seat at Vale Park for the rest of their days.
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Geoff Howell
Club administrator Gerald Krasner says preferred bidder Keith Ryder will be under no legal obligation to honour the tickets if he buys the club.
However, Krasner says he will raise the issue with Ryder to see whether a compromise can be found.
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He explained: "In law these supporters don't have much of a leg to stand on, but on our list of things to discuss with the new owners will be how he wants to deal with this issue. It will come down to what it would cost for these tickets and also what is right and proper."
Geoff Howell, aged 69, and wife Sheila were the first fans to buy the lifetime tickets.
They also invested £20,000 in club shares which they have already lost because the club is in administration.
However, in the case of the tickets, Howell believes life should mean just that.
"We paid £3,000 between us for the tickets," he added.
"It gave us our seats, but we also did it because we wanted to help the club.
"The price was on a sliding scale, depending on your age. So, had I kicked the bucket early on, I would have lost out."
The retired chemist, who is from Stafford, hasn't missed a Vale home game for 58 years, while he and Sheila have also worked as volunteers for the club.
Howell hopes Vale's potential new owner will see a moral case for honouring the tickets.
He added: "Fans who bought these tickets to get behind the Vale shouldn't be punished for supporting their club."
What do you think?
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Comments
by Vale_For_Real
Monday, April 16 2012, 11:01PM
“dandruff1960,
If your going to try to put someone down its best not to make a stupid comment and show yourself up.
The point of my posts was to say that the Lifetime ST holders had already had good value for there money.
As far as I remember there was no over 60s discount last season but there was in some of the earlier seasons.
But the point is the one-off amount they paid for there life ST compared against the amount they would have paid for there normal ST across all the seasons.
Imho at least some of them like Mr and Mrs Howell had already had good value but others like ranynotchosen and the person who had paid £8,000 had obviously lost out.
Anyway from the announcemnt now it looks like they are all getting there tickets kept in force.
I personally think that means that the ones who had already saved money are having the club over by taking something for nothing now, but I understand why Mr Ryder doesnt want to start by falling out with them so has decided to give them there tickets anyway.”
by dandruff1960
Thursday, April 12 2012, 10:04PM
“Vale_For_Real : Are you not aware of the fact that prices for the over 60's is less than full price? Maybe you do not aprove of that distorting your numbers because you find that too complicated.”
by ValiantFosse
Thursday, April 12 2012, 7:18PM
“I would hope the Lifers have a meeting with Ryder and something is sorted, the details do not have to published, and dissected on here, all we want is a happy outcome for 15+1 people.”
by Vale_For_Real
Thursday, April 12 2012, 5:16PM
“J_Jackson01 said
"Would you explain why you have used an average cost of £300 per year to work out the price of the last seven years worth of season tickets?"
For easy reckoning.
To save having to go and try find out how much they were each season in different parts of the ground at different dates (early bird or not) and then we still wouldnt know how many had paid what price.
Some of the season ticket prices in some years were well over £300.
But you might be right and something different like £250 * 7 = £1750 would be more a realistic equivlent.
This is all just guesswork in reality it will be what amount if anything Mr Ryder chooses as the cut-off.
Ranynotchosen is out of pocket quite a lot so I hope he gets something back.
And more back for whoever has paid out £8000.
Mr and Mrs Howell arent out of pocket theyve saved money compared other season ticket buyers so there's no reason why they shouldnt start buying there own season tickets again same as everyone else.
Where you fit into those you know best, it depends how much you paid for your own lifetime ticket?”
by T4N63R1N3
Thursday, April 12 2012, 2:33PM
“Because it's just 15 people.”
by bighoppo
Thursday, April 12 2012, 12:52PM
“This Club is Just Corrupt!”
by PFTalke
Thursday, April 12 2012, 12:49PM
“Tell me why a person who has already lost £10 0,000 and is now paying a further 1.4 Million should allow anyone to go free. Perhaps Santa's coming early.
I am over the Moon we are being saved. 52 years paying at Gate and in Season Tickets. Cheaky speculaters me thinks”
by Ranynotchosen
Thursday, April 12 2012, 12:26PM
“by T4N63R1N3
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 10:38PM
"I know, kept getting error message:
Sorry, failed to add comment : Object # has no method 't'
No idea what that means.
Anyway, hope new owner honours those tickets for the life-time season ticket holders."
That's OK then, thanks for your support”
by T4N63R1N3
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 10:38PM
“I know, kept getting error message:
Sorry, failed to add comment : Object # has no method 't'
No idea what that means.
Anyway, hope new owner honours those tickets for the life-time season ticket holders.”
by T4N63R1N3
Wednesday, April 11 2012, 10:35PM
“Lol! Kept getting error message .
Anyway, I'm in support of those fans getting their ticket honoured by the new owners.”