Dear General,
I wonder what your thoughts are on Sky TV ruling the fixture lists? I for one am sick to the back teeth of changes. When you have to travel 400 miles to every home game, this is a nightmare. I have to use all my holidays from work, and my wife has to change her shifts to ensure being at Villa Park on a Sunday, Monday or a Wednesday game or face missing a match which would be a criminal offence in my book! We rarely get home before 2am on an evening kick off.
1. I am bringing 4 fifty seater coaches already booked up, tickets sorted, moneys taken etc for Portsmouth, which will now become a nightmare with people dropping out, wanting refunds etc with the new kick off time.
2. Sheffield Utd, i have 6 fifty seater coaches booked & sorted, and an end of season party planned in Bristol on the way home for the members of our club, all booked up and will now have to be cancelled.
3. Could we be the first football club to say to Sky, Aston Villa kick off at 3pm every Saturday at Villa Park, and 7.45 if its a midweek match, if you want to come and film it fair enough you are welcome, but that's when we will be playing, end of chat!
4. Sounds mad? Well St.Helens Rugby have done it. They told Sky we play Fridays at 8pm. I'm no Rugby fan, i hate the game, but i do take my hat off to them for putting the wishes of their supporters first, before money!
Finally, i am looking forward to a days training in front of the fans at Villa park, and a pre season friendly in the summer to which i am planning to bring a large contingement from Devon, but would like the dates announced asap rather than the last minute as a lot of planning has to go into these trips, do you have any idea of planned dates, or opposition yet?
Alan Perrins South West Supporters Club.
BOF : Added to the General's thread, as he may not see it in the regular section.