TOWN fans who have missed out on seeing this weekend’s FA Cup clash at Arsenal say the club should have applied for more tickets.
They are disappointed that after being offered just short of 9,000 tickets, Huddersfield Town accepted 5,188, priced £34 for adults, £15 for OAPs and £14 for juniors.
At 4pm on Sunday there were just 400 left and they remained on sale to season ticket holders only until 5pm on Monday. All the tickets have now been sold.
Town fan Paul Hurley from Lockwood said: “They needed more on general sale, I’m not able to get a season ticket because of my shift patterns, but go to loads of home and away games.
“I’ve spent a fortune on Town tickets over the years, but it counts for nothing.”
Town, which has 10,009 season ticket holders, said they accepted the lower allocation with a heavy heart.
A spokesman said: “We understand the disappointment for fans. Accepting the lower allocation was something we were at pains to do.”
The club was offered 8,900 tickets on a sale basis, which meant had they only sold 6,000 they would have to stand the cost of the remaining unsold tickets.
Instead, they accepted a lower offer of 5,188 tickets on a sale or return basis. It meant had the club not sold their allocation, they could return unsold tickets to Arsenal without being financially hit.
Because of complications over travel, and with the game against Arsene Wenger’s side being shown live on television on the ESPN channel, they accepted the lower allocation.
Huddersfield Town bosses had tried to charter a train to get fans into London and at the Emirates Stadium in time for the noon kick-off, but arrival times were not suitable.
The early kick-off also means the Town coaches will have to set off at around 5am on Sunday to get fans to the Finsbury Park coach depot to meet the London club’s 10am arrival deadline.
Some Town fans have posted online that they have even become Arsenal members just to get a ticket.
One wrote on Huddersfield Town fan website Down At The Mac : “I’ll be sat with the home fans in the Clock End. Anyone with me? Hopefully we’ll have a good turn out in the home section like there was at Chelsea. Gonna be tough not to be able to join in with the banter.”
Another added that after registering as an Arsenal member, they got a ticket for £44.30.
William Bradshaw, of Birkby, and Peter Jackson, of Holmfirth, both agree with Mr Hurley that Town should have gone for the higher allocation.
Mr Bradshaw said: “I am delighted with Town’s progress this season and wish them well at the Emirates on Sunday and for the remainder of the season.
“Not surprisingly for such a well-supported club, all tickets had been sold before they could go on general sale.
“I estimate that, had all 9,000 tickets been available, the club would have grossed a further £100,000 in revenue.”
Mr Jackson said it was “obvious Town would have sold at least 7,000, very likely many more.” He added: “I feel let down, as no doubt are thousands of fellow Town supporters denied a chance to go to this Cup match.”
