Play off Final - Dartford v Dover Athletic Mon 5 May 2025

[rambo]

Unbelievable, I’m a season ticket holder without a ticket and they’ll probably be at least 1000 Dovre fans in the ground

[Spike]

Are there any still available at the ground today?

I don't want a wasted return journey from Eastbourne?

Thanks

No mate, they sold out a few hours ago. I wish I'd known, I could have popped up and got you one.

[Dart of Herts]

Was the club given free rein over how to sell the remaining tickets or were they instructed by the league to sell openly?

You’d have thought the pause in sales was the perfect opportunity to reserve some for remaining ST holders and DFCSA members. I’m pretty sure both are sold with the promise of priority in all-ticket matches?

It would have been quite simple to withhold that number of tickets from general sale until a certain deadline. If the league are incapable of this then maybe they should avoid a 5-day turnaround between SF and final.

[Sleightly Deceptive]

This whole thing has been a colossal shit show. And I don’t exclude DFC from that. Once ‘in control’ of the 1,000 remaining tickets, they absolutely should have been made available to season ticket holders and supporters’ club first. Even if for only short period. What an opportunity missed to show your appreciation for your loyal supporters. I managed to get mine quickly through the initial process but I can’t help feeling that it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth for other unfortunates.

[Dave T]

Are there any still available at the ground today?

I don't want a wasted return journey from Eastbourne?

Thanks

No mate, they sold out a few hours ago. I wish I'd known, I could have popped up and got you one.

Thanks Mate, I've PM'ed you! In fairness, there are more deserving cases than me in this utter shambles, but with my record this season, it might be better if l stay away anyway

[The Futures White]

A friend of mine (a season ticket holder) called the offices of the Isthmian League this morning and was advised that neither club was given any instruction by them on how they should sell the tickets. It was left to each club to decide.

Previously the sale of tickets for big matches (ie, play offs, FA Cup ties against Football League teams) the clubs season ticket holders and members were given a certain period of time to purchase them before any remaining tickets were released for general sale (and I would imagine that Dover usually do the same). Now, unfortunately, many of the clubs loyal season ticket holders and members are going to miss out on the club's biggest game for a long while due to a major cock up by Dartford Football Club (and Dover for their part). Either the Dartford board or an individual at club has decided to put the tickets on general sale to anyone without a thought for season ticket holders and members. This is an appalling way to treat loyal supporters and the club should now explain to their supporters as to how and why this has been allowed to happened. Someone needs to be held accountable!!.

Fortunately I managed to purchase my ticket before the fiasco started but many others haven't been so lucky and I feel for them.

[Spike]

Whilst the Isthmian League are entirely responsible for causing this fiasco, I do agree that once the club had control of the remaining 1000 tickets, they should have held back enough to give all season ticket holders at least a chance to maybe get home from work. Even if they'd given a deadline of say, 10am Saturday morning, it would have been something. I am horrified that fans who have invested in season tickets are now excluded from the biggest game in several years. It's disappointing that our club wasn't smart enough to make this gesture to it's most loyal supporters. It was surely an obvious thing to do ... We do miss the boat sometimes.

Personally, I was lucky enough to get mine by the original method immediately they went on sale, but if I hadn't, I promise you I would have been there somehow, even if it meant camping out in the toilets on Sunday night.

[KSTDART]

I have 2 mates that come regularly that couldn’t get online last night and both are gutted . Any spares come up let me know

[terrydfc]

Whilst the Isthmian League are entirely responsible for causing this fiasco, I do agree that once the club had control of the remaining 1000 tickets, they should have held back enough to give all season ticket holders at least a chance to maybe get home from work. Even if they'd given a deadline of say, 10am Saturday morning, it would have been something. I am horrified that fans who have invested in season tickets are now excluded from the biggest game in several years. It's disappointing that our club wasn't smart enough to make this gesture to it's most loyal supporters. It was surely an obvious thing to do ... We do miss the boat sometimes.

Personally, I was lucky enough to get mine by the original method immediately they went on sale, but if I hadn't, I promise you I would have been there somehow, even if it meant camping out in the toilets on Sunday night.

i aggree with that i have not been this season due to location and operations etc... that i was thinking id love try get a ticket for this game
but when see it seemed like a free for all and season ticket holders missing out ...i thought sod this i think id rather listen on the radio

anyway coyds lets get promotion back at the 1st attempt

[Tall Dart]

Agree that season ticket holders should have had some time to get them, the club may have assumed that anyone who is there week in week out would have already taken the option to buy online. I do feel sorry for anyone who missed out but either way let's get behind the team, we will have a packed house (hopefully the majority of dartford faithful there), and after the game we will be up or staying put. Hopefully there will be commentary available for those who can't be there.

COYDs

[PeteSamson]

As Jonty posted in the Cray Wanderers thread, www.clubbertv.co.uk will be streaming this game too.

I watched the Cray Valley game on this stream, and Will Bass was one of the joint commentators on the game. It cost £10.99 for a weeks subscription, which gives you all games, including all this weekends game, and for me, included the Dover game, as it is within my one week subscription.

It is the official Isthmian screening channel, and also other higher non leagues. I will need to remember to cancel my subscription after the game as I don't intend auto renewing, and which to me, is a bit of a naughty feature of the site.

It will be great to have a full house at PP, even though I won't be able to make it to the game.

Hope you have some news on the flag KST. I will also chip in if you have to purchase a new one.,

COYD. We can do it!!!

[Dorset Dart]

Pete, thanks for the heads up regarding the Clubbertv auto renewal subscription. I hadn’t noticed that when I signed up for the CV game on a 7 day deal, so I’ll make sure to check that out after the Dover game. It was a decent price for 2 games though.

[Lars Resort]

What a shambles

[rambo]

Agree the whole event is a shambles. Whoever runs thd isthmian has no regard for thd clubs and fans and unfortunately DFC have not thought through the issue properly. At the very least they should have given time to season ticket holders and regular fans to obtain tickets rather than selling them all instantly on the basis of I assume no limit to how many one person can buy.
However what’s done is done and there is no going back. I would urge the club not to eject Dover fans for simply being Dover fans in the Dartford end. This could lead to unsavoury events which could get out of control and ultimately affect what is going on on the pitch. By all means eject people( home or away fans) that are abusive, fighting or drunk. Be aware that there is a possibility that Dartford fans will be outside the ground hoping to get in and if they see French people being ejected they will want to get in the ground to replace the French and this could lead to friction in the ground once both sets of fans understand what has happened
Let’s just concentrate on winning the game

[Jonty]

I wonder how many season ticket holders and regular supporters have missed out. It will surely put people off renewing their season tickets. Shocking.

Rambo, are you still looking for a spare ticket.

[rambo]

I am Jonty if one came up but would prefer two as I meet with a mate that lives in Darford but was away for a few days straight after the semi game otherwise he would have popped over to the ground this morning once we heard of the mess.
Don’t put yourself out Jonty but let me know if you hear anything genuine

[Dave T]

Having not been a regular attendee nor a season ticket holder this season (though I've been either/both for the past 46 years), I can't really complain at missing out on a ticket, but I am still hugely disappointed at doing so. However, l do feel the club has seriously failed its true supporters here.

All l do hope though, is that the 2000 plus Dartford "supporters" who will, no doubt, be making their first visit to Princes Park on Monday, enjoy the experience and hopefully, even just 10% of them return to support the club next season.

I also hope that the club are true to their word in promising to eject any Douvre fans who have purchased tickets in the Dartford fans section (at the expense of real Dartford supporters).

Sadly, I won't be holding my breath on either count.

[Sleightly Deceptive]

Can you really see our stewards ejecting people? Have you seen them? They can barely walk in a straight line.

[Skip]

I suggest the club contact ALL season ticket holders pronto; by phone, by email and ask them if they have their match ticket. If not, take their name and arrange access via the reception entrance on match day. Can’t be more than 50-100 season ticket holders that potentially missed out. Stuff the Isrhmian league, it will take a bit of effort from the club but just do it.

[The 5th Searcher]

I suggest the club contact ALL season ticket holders pronto; by phone, by email and ask them if they have their match ticket. If not, take their name and arrange access via the reception entrance on match day. Can’t be more than 50-100 season ticket holders that potentially missed out. Stuff the Isrhmian league, it will take a bit of effort from the club but just do it.

I fully get where you are coming from Skip and agree that there has been a major cock up whether it be by the league or DFC but if all the tickets have genuinely been sold and it is to the true segregated capacity then the club couldn’t do as suggested as it would then put the ground over its capacity amount.

It pisses me off why the league itself has to take a certain % of the gate receipts and why it has to be spread at least 3 ways. It should be separated between the 2 teams involved minus any costs involved by the holding team ie Dartford.

This whole situation should’ve been handled so much differently than how it has been, it’s as though no real thought has been put into it.