Thanks Martin. Sounds like something that doesn't need urgent attention but background monitoring to see if use for matchday tickets by home or away fans escalates.

Around '91 many engineering firms were shutting down. British Aerospace at Ham and Morfax in Willow Lane, to name just two local big boys who laid off hundreds of skilled workers between them, many of them, such as me, highly qualified welders. You hit the employment market with that many welders, well, next to zero chance of finding work. The government's anwer was this. After being unemployed for a set time they sent me on a course, with the idea of retraining. Can you imagine how I felt when after spending an entire week listening to all the talks, instead of offering something there was a call for, they were offering welding courses. My reaction to that almost got me arrested, I don't mind saying. Unemployment retraining thinking needs more than that style of idiocy. Someone needed to have done some proper research into it before coming up with that crap.

OI, on the unwaged concession we ask for a benefits letter or explanatory email to qualify. I presume that is just for STs and not matchday tickets though. It is only a handful of people. We don't currently split concessions into their types but will start to do so. We don't have an unusual or increasing number of concessions in home or away areas compared with our historical figures or other clubs.

Stevens was subbed for Kelly just before they scored the winner. That will probably put Jackson off disturbing the starting eleven even more. None of our recent subs have made much difference anyway regardless of how much time they had. Yesterday's starting eleven is our strongest team IMO and I can see why he is loathe to change it.

Hmm the captain of the cargo ship involved in the collision with a tanker is a russian national

To cover the cost, the local walking guides could be sponsored by the Biggleswade tourist information board.

Kent - a free guide you say…. Wouldn’t that be…… a handout….? I don’t think Jonny G would approve of that at all…. 👀🤪

Brighton - I agree, we almost never make proactive or tactical substitutions before the opposition, it’s incredibly frustrating to see time after time… 🙄

Here's an idea. Let's refuse entry to the unwaged with a BMI of 30+ and give them a free guide to local walking routes.

Alan IoW - only 2 replies in 9 months…!! Clearly you need to follow the Galtmeister and stop eating caviar, lose weight, get fitter, “hone your CV”, get some interview training, and stop being on the take, take, take…. 😉🤷🏻‍♂️

Kite - exactly… (presumably you understood my post 👍)

Jackson has played many professional matches at a good level, so why does he think 5 minutes is enough time for anyone to get into a game? When the opposition are killing time , players need 15-20 mins to have some moments on the ball where they might make a difference. He didn't even make the subs straight after they scored - waited another 5 mins, so frustrating.

Oh no Stan Herbert is on his bandwagon again

I am close to getting mental health issues after watching us last night

Gaunt, some people with very little can often live better than those with loads. I get you are a businessman, but thank fuck I've never worked for you or people like you. The best bosses I have worked for know there's more to.life than £'s.

Red kite, it has been pointed out to me that since being unemployed, my skin is somewhat thinner these days. According to my wife my best days were around the time of going to jobs fair and speaking with employers. It's a bit shit having applied for loads of jobs in 9 months to only receive 2 replies in that time, being 60 isn't helpful either.

a4e: They should certainly take personal responsibility and do everything they can to get back into work. That might involve retraining or attending interview training. It might involve losing weight and/or getting fitter - all of which would definitely be better than attending football matches. I don't think anyone has a right to caviar or avocados when you are spending other peoples money. But look - if you as an individual want to donate or support a charity to provide handouts/subsidies to the unemployed who attend football matches - no one is going to stop you. I just don't see that it makes any sense for a Football Club/Business to do so when it is in need of handouts itself.

That would be cruel Laurence, it's bad enough what Rachel Reeves is about to do to benefit claimants

If we are getting ripped off it is probably by rational capitalists who might well be getting a wage but see that ticking a box that saves them £10 is a rational thing to do. I look forward to Martin getting us figures but the real issue seems to be that something that used to give a controlled benefit to those out of work is now uncontrolled and probably impossible to control.

Or as an Norman Tebitt once said they should get on their bike

JG - should these work-shy people be wearing a big sign around their neck too with the letters WS in large font?

a4e, I imagine that if you are unemployed there is a significant risk of mental health issues. The rejections and the stigma I mean - so going to a football match (or walk/bike ride) is almost certainly a good thing

God forbid that someone who is unemployed should be going to watch a film at the cinema or supporting their local football team - down with that sort of thing!! 😤 They should eat fewer avocados, sell their flat screen TV, and cancel their Netflix subscriptions too - that way, they can spend every waking hour pounding the streets and handing paper copies of their freshly honed CVs into each and every business within a fifty mile radius of their home… 📮

I don't know whether I was being wound up at last nights match but someone mentioned the even greater absurdity that we give a 10% discount to extremely well paid surgeons, dentists, fireman, police officers and social workers on production of a blue light card. Probably nonsense but perhaps someone knows or can find out.

Carsh, I've been saying that for 2-3 years