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Archived News from January 2004

SWANS ANNOYED BY MANSFIELD DECISION
22nd January 2004 14:46


SWANS ANNOYED BY MANSFIELD DECISION
by GARETH VINCENT, South Wales Evening Post
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk

Swansea City have declared themselves "very annoyed" with Mansfield over a ticket row between the clubs. Travelling fans have been allocated just 564 spaces in the dilapidated Bishop Street Stand for Swansea's game at Field Mill in 10 days' time, despite requests for more from Vetch Field chairman Huw Jenkins.

Swansea believe there could be demand for double that number of tickets, and feel a bigger allocation is not too much to ask given that Mansfield's average attendance is 5,000 in a 10,000-capacity stadium.

But Mansfield chairman Keith Haslam has declined Swansea's appeal amid suggestions that the Stags are seeking revenge following an unsavoury trip to South Wales earlier in the season.

Then, Mansfield were given just 340 tickets in the Vetch family stand while home supporters stood on the 2,500 capacity West Terrace.

"We are very annoyed that we've only been able to secure 564 tickets," said Swansea director David Morgan.

"We have requested a much larger quantity and done everything in our powers to get them.

"After consultation with Mansfield and the police before our home game in August, we allocated them the family stand because we were told that would be big enough for them.

"As it turned out, they only brought around 250 fans anyway."

Manager Keith Curle, who saw two of his players sent off as Mansfield went down 4-1 at the Vetch back in August, claimed then that Swansea had treated his club badly.

"We could have taken twice as many fans as they gave us tickets for but they did it to create an intimidating atmosphere," said Curle, who was asked to explain his players' behaviour to the Football Association in the wake of a bad-tempered game.

Haslam insists there is nothing sinister about Mansfield's decision this time round, claiming instead that Swansea's supporters will not be in the normal, 2,000-capacity away end because of an experiment with a new family section for home fans.

The upshot is that the game has been made all-ticket for travelling fans, with tickets to go on sale this Friday.

Season-ticket holders can purchase two tickets, travel club or supporters' trust members one. Remaining tickets will go on go on sale on Saturday, with two available per person.

Mansfield's hopes of avenging their Swansea defeat look like taking a blow this week, with star midfielder Liam Lawrence expected to join First Division Rotherham.



 

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