Hundreds of Everton season ticket holders missed the first half of the Premier League club’s FA Cup match on Saturday after their tickets were rejected at the gate.
Dubbed a “shambles” by many fans, a technical error left season ticket holders queuing for up to half an hour after kick off, making them miss the two goals that won their team the game.
The automated ticket scanner had been rejecting season tickets, even though the supporters had signed up for auto-cup tickets for the game against Lincoln, which they won 2-1.
Robert Cottrell, an Everton season ticket holder of 20 years, told the Liverpool Echo: “People missed the start of kick-off and didn’t get in until 3.30pm. The queue to get in was the full length of Goodison Road.
“The machine was broken down and when you got there it wouldn’t let you in. So all the season ticket holders were in a queue to go to the ticket office, the queue was as long as Goodison Road. People missed two goals.”
Fans also expressed their anger at missing out on the start of the FA Cup tie on Twitter, with one fan stating: “@Everton this is a shambles for season ticket holders who have paid and been informed they can use their ST to get into the @FA cup match today. Queues of thousands waiting to get into the stadium because the ticket machines won’t accept season tickets.”
🔵 A technical issue at turnstiles for today’s FA Cup tie impacted some Season Card holders when attempting to enter the stadium. If you were affected, please email servicedesk@evertonfc.com providing your customer number and details of the problems you encountered.
— Everton Fan Services (@efc_fanservices) January 5, 2019
Everton said only some season ticket holders were affected and asked anyone impacted by the ticket problems to get in touch with the club and provide details.
Image: Ben Sutherland
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