Does loyalty matter or is Newcastle United missing the goal? | OneFootball

It appears that 52 years of loyal membership as a season ticket holder does not now matter to Newcastle United.

Those memorable nights of witnessing Asprilla lead NUFC to a great victory at St. James’ Park in the Champions League, a disappointing wet return leg at the Nou Camp, a ‘snowy evening’ in Metz, a party atmosphere in Bilbao and great atmospheres at Antwerp and Eindhoven, these will now only be European memories.

Instead, I will now have to prepare to watch the Champions League clash against Barcelona in my armchair at home, thanks to a total lack of support from Newcastle United.

During a summer when I should have been looking forward to a new season at St James’ Park with Champions League football and only having to read about transfer sagas focussed on apparent disloyalty, I have had to contend with a ‘wall of red tape’ and apparent lack of care and consideration from NUFC.

When I was abroad on holiday in June, the club launched its cup enrolment schemes for season ticket holders during a short period of registration. Unfortunately, I was not able to register electronically, nor did I have my bank details to log into three separate schemes. Upon returning home, I tried to log on to the NUFC system but was advised the cup schemes were no longer available. After contacting the Box Office and Supporter Services, that is when my nightmare started and the disillusionment with the club which I have supported for so long.

The response which I received was that the enrolment scheme was closed but I would have the opportunity to apply for individual cup tickets in the various member ballots and salvage draws. If I wasn’t happy, I was advised to follow the NUFC complaints procedure.

I followed three stages of this process, as well as trying to bring the situation to the attention of club officials, but was unsuccessful. Although staff were polite, there was certainly no respect for loyalty, care, consideration of the circumstances or an attempt by Newcastle United personnel to offer a positive solution.

I even tried to bring my situation to the attention of the owners, by personally writing to Jamie Reuben and the Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayan. After eight and six weeks respectively, I have not had the courtesy of an acknowledgement or reply from either.

Having failed to obtain a Barcelona ticket through the only available routes open to myself, I then read about the allocation of tickets for a school trip from Dundee to the game.

Now further bad news from Newcastle United. After following the Club to the last two Carabao Cup Finals at Wembley, I have now been advised that I was ‘unsuccessful’ in the members ballot for the Bradford City Carabao Cup game.

It is great that the Newcastle United fanbase continues to grow and there are considerable revenues to tap into for the future. However, should the club be losing sight of its loyal season ticket fanbase? A club such as Newcastle United should be supporting loyalty, ensuring that their systems are accommodating, but always be prepared to be caring and sympathetic in exceptional cases.

Is my situation isolated, or are other loyal fans of this great club, Newcastle United, experiencing similar problems? My loyalty has certainly become disenchanted and disillusioned.