Town have been assured of finishing in the League One Play-Offs for some weeks now, but a lack of preparation and common sense is making supporters suffer in their purchasing of tickets for the Charlton Athletic games. Town could have learnt from their opponents who cleverly operated an initiative whereby Addicks fans had been able to purchase tickets for their possible home leg since Sunday 2nd May. 4,550 tickets were snapped up before the weekend.

Ticket sales for Swindon season ticket holders opened on Sunday. I did pass by the ground yesterday, but on sight of the queues all along the Town End back to the cricket ground, I decided to put it off until Monday morning. I’m glad I did leave it, but an at least 3 to 4 hour wait for many on a cold May afternoon just isn’t right. With most Town fans hopefully still in a job (despite the recession) the vast majority of supporters could be expected to get in early to be guaranteed their tickets without taking time off.

Getting to the County Ground Monday morning at 7.40 for the 8am opening I though surely would be early enough. But no… queues half the length of the Town End had already formed and extending every minute. Luckily the office opened at 7.45 but with 1 member of staff behind the counter, it would be a long wait for everyone.

An hour and half later and I’m finally at the counter, but according to the ticketing system my season ticket seat has already been sold!!!! WTF!! At first I thought this was a joke, a bad one if that. But fortunately after a very lengthy delay and the old miserable guy in the ticket office grumbling, scratching his head and bashing the keyboard it later turned out to be a computer error and thankfully I got my seats. How many others have or will be affected?

Then we all have to pay the booking fee for card transactions… where has this come from! I recall reading it on the website but assumed this was to cover the cost of the telesales ticket purchases and not in person at the Box Office. Unbelievable!! The excuse being an extra investment in resources for ticket sales but there were no extra resources available during my purchase and I’m sure the fans queuing on Sunday would testify to that.

I only went to the ground to buy my tickets as the club website confirmed holders can only purchase tickets direct from the Box Office:

STFC Season Ticket Holders only (new and existing) can obtain their semi-final play-off tickets, home and/or away, by visiting the STFC Box Office.

However, later on Monday morning the Facebook ‘Fill The County Ground Action Group’ contradicts the website and says:

Season Ticket Holders (2009/10 and 2010/11) can now purchase tickets for the play-off semi-final home leg by calling Ticket Zone direct on 01271 335 716.

So as I can’t get to the away leg at Charlton, I need not bothered queuing this morning.

As there is contradicting advice and clearly the system cannot handle the play-off semi demand, what about when (hopefully) we get to Wembley? More demand and more tickets available to purchase, the club really needs to think now about completely outsourcing the whole operation to Ticketmaster or other.