Portsmouth News 24/7
Writer: Chix 
Date:Friday September 12 2008
Time: 12:56AM
UK time is: 15:14:33
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It`s time for a Delia
"This is a message for possibly the best supporters in the world. We need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be having you. Come on.'
Those were the words stuttered through a microphone by none other than Norwich Director and TV chef Delia Smith nearly three years ago.
Although in most quarters she was publicly lambasted for her comments I remember thinking at the time that maybe, just maybe she had a point. Sometimes teams need a 12th man and sometimes that 12th man can make a difference. In fact it's something which unlike a lot of clubs Pompey does recognise. Recognise so much in fact that they've even retired the No.12 shirt in OUR honour.
I mention this only as a reference as having just read the 'official site' I can not believe that we have tickets left unsold for both the Boro and Vitoria SC games.
Now some might argue, and quite rightly, that two matches in the space of a week is a bit of a dent in the old 'sky rocket'. Others might argue that a 6pm kick-off for the UEFA cup tie makes getting to the game a bit of a struggle, again a fair point, but there are around 1,400 seats still unsold for the Boro game and a staggering 7,000 available for our historic first game in the UEFA Cup. Add to this the fact that Pompey have reduced junior prices for the Boro match to £5 and all prices for the Vitoria game, where adults can get in for £20 and I find it hard to accept that a club whose supporters have been banging on for years about deserving a 40,000 capacity stadium can not sell 20,000 against an established premiership side or even 15,000 for our first venture into Europe.
I have no idea why these seats remain unsold but I would like to ask one question.
What has happened to the thousands of supporters who in March and May so desperately wanted or, in some of their own words 'deserved' a semi final or final ticket? Surely Boro are not that unattractive and surely a 6pm kick-off is not that much of a problem for everybody is it?
So I'll use a few of Delia's words and say …
"We reckon we are the best supporters in the Premiership and we are the 12th man. So, where are you? Where are you? Let's be having you. Let's fill the ground and give our team so much support that both Boro and Vitoria will not know what's hit them. Come on!"
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Your Comments
I'll be booking tickets for the Vitoria game tomorrow then! Can't believe they're still available.
Pompeyscum
Fans are suffering the credit crunch too. Some will have been faced with deciding one game or the other.
Steve C
Nice one Pompeyscum - that's one I can claim I've added too the attendance ;)... SteveC, completely agree and I too am feeling the pinch but 75% of season ticket holders have claimed their seats (so that's approx. 12,000) Are we saying that out of the other 30,000 who wanted Wembley tickets that only 2,000 of them can afford £20 to go to the Vitoria game?... I don't think the credit crunch has biten that deeply yet has it ?
Chix
Perhaps the reality is that the majority of those who "deserved" a ticket to Wembley are more fair weather supporters than we care to acknowledge.
UKTony
Perhaps you're right Tony.. which worries me for the future, as based on that we'd be at around the 18-22,000 mark for most premiership games other than the big four .. I don't fancy watching Pompey in a half empty stadium... although of course I always would.... but surely we don't have that many band-wagon jumpers do we? or is something else wrong ?
Chix
My Vitoria ticket is spare as I am using someones season tickets, and I can't make the Boro game as I am laying my kitchen floor. Your all welcome to come and help do some painting if you want tomorrow by the way! I just hope that come the match I can hear the crowd singing like I used to. Thats what made me start going to Pompey games!
sneakay
Nice article Chix. Tony I like the point about fair weather supporters, how many times did I get asked 'can you get me a ticket to Wembley?' Strange that they are not buying tickets to Boro and Vitoria! Perhaps it is because they are not used to going to FP as it is so difficult to get tickets for big games with the small capacity. But that is an excuse I do not support.
eastneydave
We've had fair weather fans ever since Harry turned us into a winning machine in the Championship. I've lost count of the "life long Pompey fans" that have never stood on the Fratton terrace on a freezing November night to watch the likes of Scunthorpe or some other grim up north team. I do think that to a degree people have been conditioned in to thinking that there's no chance of getting a ticket for a home game so they don't even try. Whilst i see you're point about the number of fans wanting wembley tickets, it's only relevant in the case of individuals, if a family is going we're no longer looking at £20 but probably over £100 by the time you've travelled, had a monster micks, a drink and a program.
Steve C
There is something else wrong Chix, whilst they've done their best to dress it up a bit FP is still a shabby old ground, As has been proved by many other clubs a nice new ground attracts fans. Don't get me wrong I love FP and in all honesty i wish there was some way we could rebuild it to sensible capacity on the site but it just isn't going to happen. Our club will forever be held back by the ground and facilities until they are sorted out.
Steve C
Yes as a die hard, I am stagggerd why we can't sell out but I understand some of the 4easons. So get the kids in free with a paying adult on games that don't sell out. Give them to the local schools, they are our future fans.
storagematt
Well Chix, you've made me feel guilty, i've tried to phone Ticketmaster but have been told to phone later as they are busy. I'm at a loose end tomorrow as Ms Penton/Palin is in Norfolk. And No Sneaky I do not want to Paint this weekend, after the week i've had doing it...Nice try tho..
pentonpompey
Well Chix, thats the 4th time ive tried, and still no joy...This system is utter carp. I want to give them my money, they don't seem to want to take it
pentonpompey
ok, I admit it. I'm not going to the vitoria game - much as I would like to - as although I probably could make it - i just thought it was too incoveniant. Middlesbrough - I watched them two seasons ago, and prbably would have done last season if I was around, however again - I just never got round to booking the tickets. True, it's not very good of me as a pompey fan - however tickets and travel are still expensive, and I cant go to every game. shame on me? probably...
pompeycarpet
Right! Now im REALLY F***ing hacked off!! have made 8CALLS to ticket master, the number given on the site. However when i went onto the site and looked at current news it states that the tickets are NOT availiable through Ticketmaster!!!!!!!!!! So i've made 8 calls to an 0844 number only to be told that I have to call the club. However it is now 6pm and the F***ing club is shut...Aaaaaaarghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pentonpompey
Some great comments and frustrations fellas.. maybe I should do another article aimed at Pompey (or ticketmaster) and do a Delia on them!. Penton that must be really frustrating there's is nothing worse than not being able to get through to somewhere and then finding out it's either too late or the info you were given was wrong.... Carpet.. no shame on you I know you go when you can it's the 'never-go-unless-it's attractive' brigade I was ranting at... SteveC you make a great point about the facilities and Fratton is a dump I agree but would that alone stop somebody going .. I mean would people put up with the dump if is was Inter Milan we were playing ?.. Sneakay.. Kitchen Floor !.... Surely you can go without a Kitchen floor ;).... Seriously fellas I wasn't looking for vaalidation of the reasons you are or are not going tomorrow or Thursday.. My rant was aimed at those who like a certain girl I know (who has never been to Fratton Park) that rang me for a semi final ticket and would not accept that although I had a spare I wouldn't let her have it as I knew people who I felt 'deserved' it more than her... She has the chance to get on the database against Boro or Vitoria to heighten her chances of getting a ticket to next years final .. but will not do it.. but will still ring me come May and plead that she deserves to go ... Some people eh !..
Chix
Im gonna try first thing in the morning again, I have nowt to do and no one to do it with. So! I just as well try to get to Fratton, Hell i'll only be pacing around the Drawing room. I originally thought about Boro or Uefa game and decided on Thursday, as Miranda is away this weekend. So now, while the cats away, the mice will play!!!
pentonpompey
I would love to go to any other matches other than league cup matches, but I have to drag the other half there on alternate Saturdays as it is! Televised matches I watch on my own in the Festing on a Sunday afternoon, and that takes COURAGE I can tell you!
Gandor
I admit as i said before, I admire your courage. Blimey I wouldn't walk into half the Pubs on my own, esp if I knew I'd have to meet Chix for the first time
pentonpompey
That's it! im now seething and throughly P***ed off. I have tried all avenues to try to buy my ticket. Tried Ticketmaster, not selling. Tried customer services (as advised on site) closed till Monday. Tried ticket office, closed!!!!! For F**K sake what a bunch of amateurs! I have to make the trip now to Fratton in the hope of getting a ticket. Well B***ocks to them, they can do without my money today!.......I apologize for the swearing, I am so Peed off with them
pentonpompey
Andy that's awful mate.. I think though it's only 'personal callers' at the ticket office on a Saturday.. or have you had it cmpletely .. seems that no matter what you do you can't get a ticket.. Pompey really need to sort out this fiasco around ticketing for all games..
Chix
The good fairy gomother shined down and Penton got his ticket for the match, had a beer before the game and everybody lived happily ever after.... unless of course you know different ?
Chix
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