ST#7

Listening to the game on the radio delighted in particular for the fans who have attended. Decided not to go the SFA ticket rip off pre last campaign was the show stopper for me have not felt the same about it since. Not a millionaire by any means but have sufficient cash to spend watching football just resentful about getting the pi$$ taken out of me because I want to support my national team. I'll pick and choose games to suit myself from now on. The SFA have done a fantastic job of turning supporters into customers. Looking at tonight's attendance it would appear that they're continuing with their splendid efforts.

Have you been refunded for this? I was speaking with a couple of boys at the airport and they claimed to be on a bus ran by another TA and paid £10 a seat. I paid £15. I accept that the price of coach hires can vary but as a rough sum then at capacity each bus from the Crowne Plaza was potentially clearing an additional £250 a bus x what 8 buses? ..... £2000. Against the £10 a seat cost. Can someone correct me here please, surely to fk an individual has not pocketed this amount? Was this being donated to the childrens charity or sunshine appeal? As I said the hire cost may have resulted in £15 a seat and if that's the case fair enough. Equally the TA club may have subsidized the cost of their bus. I would be interested to learn what the cost was and apologies if I'm picking this up wrong. Could the lead organiser of these state what the hire cost was please? It seems to be suggested on this thread that the individual has pocketed cash, this may or may not be the case I don't know so could the individual please clarify the costs? Also it was another guy in my group who had sorted the bus booking so I had no direct contact with whomever it was that was booking these.

I'm assuming this is in relation to the buses that ran from the Crowne Plaza hotel. Indeed it was a bit of shambles. I don't know nor have I met the guy responsible for the overall organisation of these and the booking was made through another guy in our group. It certainly could have been planned out a lot better. I would however like to thank the guy that convened Bus 4 clearly the guy had been let down and in my opinion done the best job he could given the obvious issues occurring. I don't know who the guy is but well done sir and thanks for your efforts it was appreciated.

If it doesn't work the website is www.shirtsofexcellence.co.uk search Scotland and there's 5 or 6 of these at around £20/25.

http://www.shirtsofexcellence.co.uk/shop/shop.php?page=10&pn=scotland Hope the link works.

I only purchase the membership for away games but I don't believe it represents good value. From discussions I have with other Scotland fans and the apparent majority of postings on here most seem to express the opinion that it isn't particularly good value. Do you think the reason the membership dropping so dramatically is based on the stereotypical characteristics of the miserable miserly Scot? Complaining for the sake of complaining and too mean to spend money? As a matter of interest if you feel £50 is nothing then at what cost would you consider the fee to be unreasonable?

This about sums it up. Even if the shirt was sold at £20 and the profit off the sales was returned back through the Sunshine Appeal most would be fine with it irrespective of the quality or design. Made in Scotland for Scotland supporters would also sit better with most but that would no doubt reduce the profit margin. Guess it's just about the money then, what a surprise.

The option should be there to include the tat items if you want them and if you don't then the cost of membership should be reduced accordingly. As mentioned in a post above this is anoher example of squeezing as much proffit out of fans. I join the SSC for the chance of away tickets and view the items supplied with membership as utter rubbish. Typically Scotland adidas polo shirts cost about £30 so would it be unreasonable to reduce the membership cost of say £20/25 ? And allow those who want the shirt to choose to buy it if they wanted?

Shangalang http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scotland-Supporters-Club-polo-shirt-Xl-/111926552446?hash=item1a0f57a77e:g:nLYAAOSwmmxW2qtl

Absolutely spot on the quality is efin rubbish. The replica umbro kits of the 70's and 80's tended to have a flat print badge that faded and washed out over time but generally all club and national kits of the last 20 years have an embroidered badge or patch. Clearly it's the bottom of the quality range offering that has been accepted. No wonder hardly anyone is buying it.

Thanks guys appreciate the replies. I'm restricted with time so a one or two day trip straight home after the game would be ideal.

Have been trying to look back and find info on a proposed charter for this trip / all the qualifiers. Sorry if this is picked up elsewhere but does anyone know if there will be such an option? I think it was the company that arranged a charter for the Poland friendly and not Passport Travel who I know are no longer on the go. Thanks for any help.

T-shirt received with thanks. Love it.

These look great have pm'd you. Cheers.

Brilliant, can't wait for the sun. Cheers.

You are right it is a disgrace and on so many different levels. Greedy doesn't start to cover it they are absolutely ripping the p!$$. We have to challenge them and this petition is as good a place to start as any.

Ripping off the fans to watch our country then making out that everything's great value because of rubbish like this being offered is exactly why we have to challenge the SFA.

Can't say I disagree with the sentiment.

I do however have a serious beef with the SFA strategy to milk the fans dry of cash. End Westminster rule. End SFA greed! What he said.

Yep it's all about promoting themselves and nowt to do with the football or the fans. Must be money in it for them otherwise they wouldn't be giving a toss. They are so far out of touch it is actually possible they really believe this is what football fans want. We don't. We want to go and support our country and be able to afford a fair ticket price.

Could everyone please sign this and encourage every other Scotland fan who feels ripped off by the SFA to sign also. If the SFA think the ticket pricing issue had blown over they are very much mistaken.

SFA are not interested in Scotland fans and here is another example. Rules are rules, sure and whether a point should or should not be given is just a matter of opinion. It is however another example of an organisation who's only concern is squeezing as much cash out of supporters as it can, it has no direct compassion for or genuine engagement with football fans. Don't expect a human side or compassion to be an influence in such matters the SFA care about money and nothing else. Common sense is only applicable when there's greater financial gain to be found. Football in Scotland it seems cannot operate at the highest levels without the incessant need to commercially exploit customers. The SFA will no doubt think the whole ticket pricing uproar has now subsided and past but it hasn't. They started it.

Krakow is a great place wish the game was being played there. Oscar Schindlers factory has been converted into an museum space, costs to get in but not too pricy. Charts the lead up to the start of WW2 right through to the end and the onset of the communist regime so it not just about the factory or the Jewish workers. Loads in it and could take 2 / 3 hours to go around. 20 minutes walk from the main square over the river. There's also the last remaining part of the Jewish ghetto wall close by. It's the office block of the factory that was converted, the space to the rear is now part of the gallery of modern art - each to their own and all that but I found the gallery to be a waste of time and money. Someone above mentioned the Salt mines - we did this as a day trip with Auschwitz in the morning then onto the mines, would have been better in my opinion doing these on different days but time didn't permit. Auschwitz 1+2 - guess everyone should go at some point if they can. Camp 1 has more in it to see in terms of exhibits, some folk in the group we went with didn't visit the second camp not sure why. Only disappointing aspect of Krakow was not getting to see Cracovia - their game was getting played behind closed doors when I was there.

Some Vanguard Bears members may have been present in George Square, but they were not involved in any of the unrest Yes I am sure this will be correct, no doubt it will have been Chelsea supporters no doubt the same ones who wrecked Manchester.

The celebration was good natured and much in the spirit of Last Night of the Proms Brilliant. Yeh you just cant be British in Scotland anymore with out those pesky Celtic trouble makers ruining it for the decent people.