Owls go Big Brother on season tickets

Last updated : 26 March 2007 By Andy Parsons

The scheme, announced today will not doubt anger fans and make them feel alienated from supporting their club.

Wednesday tried a similar scheme at the start of the 2004/05 season where fans would have to apply for a special away card with a photo on it - although that was scrapped after only a handful of games.


The Owls Away Card as it was known was brought in to stop Wednesday's minority of troublesome supporters - although at both Walsall and Tranmere where the system was first used, supporters were not getting their card checked on entry to the away stadium.


"The main reason for introducing photographic identification is a result of health and safety issues," an official statement read.


"Specifically, during the 2006/07 season, certain supporters, particularly in the North Stand, have been borrowing season tickets to gain access to an area other than that for which their match tickets are allocated.


"As a consequence this has caused the possibility of overcrowding and the local authorities are extremely concerned about this, requesting the club to formulate contingency plans to prevent it happening in the future.


"Conditions of issue for season tickets will not change as a result of introducing photographic identification for all categories. Ticket rules current state, and have previously stated 'This season ticket is strictly non-transferable and the holder is not permitted to sell any vouchers contained within the season ticket'."


Supporters who cannot make a game because of work, health or other personal commitments are advised to contact the ticket office to swap a voucher from the booklet in exchange for a normal match ticket.


In other news, Chris Brunt played over an hour for Northern Ireland as they cruised to a 4-1 win in Liechtenstein while Frank Simek was not involved in the US squad which beat Ecuador 3-1 so he will have to wait until Wednesday's game with Guatemala to make his mark at national level.