CELTIC season ticket holders have continued to email us today on yesterday’s Ballot for the League Cup Final against the Rangers on Sunday 8 December. We have had ZERO feedback from Celtic from any of our articles in this unfit for purpose HCTS.
Last night we asked supporters to tell us how they got on in the two Cup Final ballots this year and you can still tick the relevant box in the Poll below. Then look at the results and you’ll see that all Celtic supporters are equal in the club’s eyes but some supporters are clearly more equal than others!
Loading ...Here we go with Celtic supporters’ experiences but the question we’re asking is ARE CELTIC LISTENING?
“Myself and son got zero tickets for the 2 finals, we’re on the HCTS and have been to all the games.” Kevin Toye
“Myself and my grandson are in the HCTS and after repeated complaints about him not getting tickets for any final I was finally told he was not in any of the ballots so why am I paying for every game for him when he has no chance of getting to a final? After speaking to other supporters at the ticket office a lot say their children are in the same position. Seems to be a case of less concession tickets to bring in more revenue. I was annoyed at not getting a ticket for the final in December but not surprised. Wonder how many hangers-on will be at the final who never attend Celtic Park in the wet and ice?” Mr Brown
“I have been on the HCTS since it started I have been unsuccessful in the ballot for both cup finals. I also only got Scottish Cup semi-final tickets in second ballot.” Mary Obrien
“It is a joke with no-one laughing, the HCTS is a false system as it is forcing supporters to join but no guarantee to get tickets for finals whether be here or in Europe. Any other scheme of this type, where payments are taken, you can complain if you do not get the item you paid money up front for. Football seems to be if you complain you get into trouble. Hampden is far to small got any final so there are bigger stadiums they could use. The Club is taking our money knowing fine well many of the supports have no chance of getting tickets. I’ll leave HCTS system. ANON
“I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the game but my daughter wasn’t, like many she attends every away domestic game she is eligible for and has done for the last 7 years. This system changes to HCTS when cups get to the semi-finals stage which is not fair on the fans who attend away games in cup before the semi-final. Celtic know the fans who go week-in, week-out, surely they should be rewarded first? Paul McIntyre
“First of all, really enjoy the articles on your site. I read the article with people views on the ballots for the final and I agree with everyone else. I’ve had a season ticket for the last 7 years, been on the HCTS all that time (I think it was operating prior to then?) and I think that the only cup game (home/semi/final) I’ve missed has been the Hearts game at Murrayfield last year, as I couldn’t be bothered with the travel as I go to the games myself.
I eventually managed to get a ticket for the League Cup Final last year, as I didn’t meet the criteria due to missing the semi-final. I could have been selfish (and stupid) by just buying a ticket for the semi, to have boosted my chances for a ticket for the final. However, that would have possibly prevented someone else going to support the team.
As others have said, it appears to just be about getting money from the support, as they know that plenty would have not bothered going to the Dunfermline or Partick games, even though they paid for them and they know they’ll have the same chance of getting a semi/final ticket as people like me who were at both games.
It would be extremely easy for the club to confirm who was at each of these games and for those people to be guaranteed a ticket for any semi/final. Any remaining tickets could then trickle down to the next level and finally any left over would then go to a ballot.
I was expecting not to get a ticket this time, I think myself fortunate to have seen the full Treble Treble, but the fact that there will be people who will be at the final that never attended any of the previous games is just not fair in my opinion.
I fully intend to contact JPT and the ticket office to make these points as well. However, I expect very little (of anything) to come if it. Keep up the good work! Chris Mccauley
“It’s good to read all the comments from fellow supporters. It really irked me last year; having attended the early rounds at Celtic Park on dark wet miserable nights: average crowd 25,000 at best only to find out come the semi and the final you were unsuccessful in the ballot to get a ticket. I have said for years and years it’s about time both Celtic & Rangers supporters associations got together to discuss a protest to the way the real fans are treated. They have the power to change the way the SFA, SPFL and the club’s directors operate this fiasco. This allocation that is kept for Fat Cats and others is a joke to the real fans who travel the country over to watch their team; (having said all that Hampden is the most embarrassing national stadium in the UK) SFA NATIONAL DISGRACE…”
George T Lappin</strong
“Me and my son have been on the scheme for many years, this is the second Cup Final we have missed, and if I go back even further, Seville in 2003 I had all my stubs from all the games home and away and guess what? I didn’t get a ticket for Seville, no amount of complaining got me anything, I was told the Celtic staff had to get tickets, and I was just unlucky! This situation has never changed over all these years and I’m so disappointed in how this has gone, I pay my money up front every season they take it and the don’t care about average guys like myself and my son, I am seriously considering chucking it I’m so disappointed on how I and others have been treated by Celtic…”
Chris Duffy
“Club should be more loyal to the supporters who were on the HCTS when the top tier was closed before Brendan Rodgers came in.” Bernie
And here’s some earlier feedback…
HERE is some early feedback from Celtic Season Ticket Holders (STH) who are on the club’s Home Cup Ticket Scheme (HCTS) and who have met the club’s criteria so were entered into a ballot for the two cup finals this year, against Hearts in the Scottish Cup back in May and against the Rangers at Hampden in the League Cup on Sunday 8 December.
“I’m still waiting for the email to see if I ve got me and my son a ticket or not (not holding my breath) but they can email for the Radisson red for the cup final or if I’m looking for pyjamas for Christmas. Not happy I fit the criteria they have asked for don’t see the point of the home ticket scheme, they are quick enough to take the money from my bank account, I know there is high demand but why do they tell you the criteria that you fit and still don’t get a ticket, just say the truth that the corporate is taking more tickets than they deserve.” Andrew Watson
“I manage online 4 season tickets and live in Halifax Yorkshire. Me, my 19 Year old son, and OAP friend all based in Halifax have tickets plus my little brother (aged 48!) who lives in Glasgow have tickets. Hearts game – 3 out of 4 – Rangers game – 0 out of 4! Any maths or logic would say we should get at least 1 or 2 for this cup final.” George Paterson
“I think the way the ballot is dealt with is a joke. Keeping tickets to the side for ‘stars’ who don’t go and watch them any other games. People who don’t go to the rounds before but end up getting a ticket for a final. I’ve not missed a round in several years and missed out on both finals. I have 2 season tickets and both on HCTS, not 1 of us has been successful. Me and my sister have gone to every round, scanned our own tickets, met every criteria but never ever a final ticket. It’s making me want to leave the HCTS. I think fans should start leaving the scheme as it costs a fortune each season and you never get rewarded with a final ticket.” Ashly Wallace
“I have been very fortunate along with my son on getting a ticket through the ballot, but one thing that really annoys me is the amount of tickets available for hospitality packages, many fans from both sides will miss out due to the greed of the SFA and both clubs as they too sell packages. Give the tickets to proper fans.” Shug Moore
“With regards to cup final ballot v Rangers, I am extremely disappointed not getting a ticket having not got a ticket 3 times out the last 4 ballots and it probably does not matter to you the fact that I have been a season ticket holder for the last 50 years. It very hard to accept even meeting the criteria asked for.” John Parkes
“I did not receive a ticket in the ballot for either final. The questions that I believe need to be asked of Celtic are
1. How many tickets did Celtic get?
2. How many tickets were balloted to qualifying supporters?
3. What criteria is used in the ballot i.e is this an open ballot or is it more of a points system?
4. Why isn’t the ballot system known before the ballot?
5. Supporters would still be disappointed at not getting tickets however if we believe the allocation of tickets to the ballot is fair and the ballot is open we would be more accepting of the situation.
6. Why has there been a lack of openness and transparency from Celtic regarding ticket allocations since as far back as I can remember (I’m 58)?
This all leads to suspicion that some people will get tickets, come what may, for any game. Whilst the supporters who attends all level of games week-in week-out do not get the tickets they deserve for the big over-subscribed games.
I would also add that out of a group of eight supporters who have gone to games together for years, all season ticket holders, two of home attend all away games. 5 got tickets for May final and only 3 got tickets for December final with 3 not getting tickets for both finals.
Hope this adds something to your survey and as a shareholder I’m hoping to ask these questions at AGM as well.” Donald Graham
“We must start with the tickets being activated for the earlier rounds as part of the criteria. This ballot is not right. I know people who just joined the Home Cup Ticket Scheme this season and got a ticket. Surely that’s not right, it should be done like the away tickets the more semi finals and finals you’ve attended over the years must count.” James
“I maybe wrong on this matter but I am pretty sure a number of years ago your ticket had to be activated for the cup games to be considered for ballots. Now the money only has to be taken from your account to be considered. So in effect you do not need to attend any cup tie but still get a ticket for the final
It is now all about the money.” Shaun Boyle
“My husband and I are both STH & on HCTS and both meet criteria. Gone to exactly the same games and been to all cup games in Treble Treble run. He has been allocated a ticket for the Betfred Cup final but I haven’t. Absolutely gutted & just a bit angry!” Carol Foster
“My wife and I attend together (sad I know but it suits us). We had attended v Dunfermline and Partick Thistle. Semi – she was successful but could only buy 1 ticket so declined. I was successful in 2nd ballot but could only buy 1 ticket as my wife was ineligible as she was in first ballot. We were able to get tickets in the 3rd release that were better seats than had been available previously.
I wrote to JPT about this along with another issue relating to the HCTS which he passed on to the ticket office. I eventually got a reply from them which was not totally relevant to my query. I do not think we are alone in wanting seats together and given that seats cannot be exchanged I cannot see the logic in excluding people from subsequent ballots.
My wife purchased 2 tickets for the final today as her screen was showing different availability from mine despite viewing at the same time. Hope this helps.” Alex Mills
“Activated tickets” at previous home games in the Cup competitions used to be the criteria for HCTS …now it is “money taken from your account.” This proves that the club are only interested getting the money from the now increased membership of the HCTS and not rewarding the loyal fans who went to the less glamorous ties in previous rounds.” Paddy Hewitt
“I feel that the early rounds being attended count for nothing as just being in the HCTS is enough to be in the ballot. Surely those who make the effort for the two early rounds (600 mile round trip and time off work for me may I add) should have a 48 hour priority window for the half ground allocation games. Celtic know which tickets are activated at every game so this should not be beyond the wit of man to achieve.
I know of people who have only attended semi finals and finals, it is so unfair. I got one this time fortunately.” Graham Beeson
“I was successful for December but didn’t get a ticket in May. My brother who sits with me and has been in the Home Cup Ticket Scheme along with myself since its inception has missed out in both ballots. I find this totally wrong as other members of my family have received tickets in both ballots despite only joining the scheme over the last 2 years. We have paid for every ticket that has come our way for years putting our hard earned cash in to the club to watch our team. I feel whatever way this is being drawn is not the fairest route to take. Our ST seats are North Stand and we have sat there since the stadium was built. I have no problem missing out if the ballot is fairer or rotational but the folk like my brother especially seem to be getting a very raw deal from the club hence him along with myself may decide to withdraw from the scheme as it appears to be totally unfair. Michael Welch
If you are a STH, are on the HCTS and meet the club’s criteria, please take a few seconds to tell us about how you got on in the two ballots Celtic have held for the two Cup Finals in 2019. And if you can please email us your thoughts on the HCTS, it’s rules and the way Celtic are conducting these secret ballots. Email address is editor@thecelticstar.co.uk
Here is the Poll again…
Loading ...ALSO ON THE CUP FINAL BALLOTS…
Ballot Box Survey – Celtic’s Two Cup Final Ballots in 2019, how did you get on?
