MANY MAYO FANS
COULD MISS CROKER CLASH
4 September 1996
All-Ireland ticket famine fears
By TOM GILLESPIE
AS the scramble for All-Ireland tickets got underway last night County
Board officials warned that not everyone would get into Croke Parke for the
historic Mayo-Meath clash on Sunday week.
As some 7,000 tickets -- 4,500 terrace and 2,500 stand -- were being distributed to clubs countywide, fans were hopeful that a second allocation, coming in stream next Wednesday of Thursday, would ease the plight of some of those hoping to view the clash in person.
County Board chairman, Fr. Noel Forde said the search for tickets was unprecedented and he expected there would be mayhem in the coming days as the ticket supply ran out.
So keen is the demand that he has left a message on his answering machine asking callers to leave a message "other than looking for a ticket". Politicians too, have been inundated with requests for passes with constituents of the opinion that the Dail representatives have an unlimited supply.
Newspaper offices, too, have been bombarded with requests for 'surplus' tickets that we do not and will not have.
However, clubs with players on the team will be given an extra allocation, but even this will not to meet the needs of fans hungry to be in Croke Park for the big occasion.
But a second allocation, as was forthcoming from GAA headquarters for the All-Ireland Hurling Final will be eagerly awaited by County Board officials and Mayo followers alike.
Ardent Mayo followers are scouring the country in the hope of securing a ticket from contacts in other counties.
Fr. Forde said: "People will have to be patient. Hopefully we will get a second allocation and we will try to facilitate as many as possible.
"If everyone is patient nearly everyone will get a ticket in the end. We will go a long way to meeting the required needs."
Fr. Forde said all requests for tickets must be channelled to John Prenty, Secretary Connaught Council, who was looking after the allocation for Mayo. Fr. Forde added:"I plead with people not to contact the players for tickets. Let the players and management get on with the job.
"Under no circumstances contact players for tickets. No pressure should be put on players for tickets"
Another County Board source said demand exceeded supply in the region of six-to-one.
"In fact the Mayo supporters could nearly fill the stadium on their own if
sufficient tickets were available to us", he said.
Connaught Telegraph - News - September 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - September 1996
