Independent Leyton Orient Forum

I, like many, am genuinely worried for the Club if the disruption from traditional Saturday afternoon football continues at the level we are seeing this season. The Club is aware of a level of anger, frustration and disengagement caused by the fixture disruption. This may provide some ammunition to lobby for a return to greater “normality” should it bothered to.

3 Saturday 3pm kick offs at home for half a season is not acceptable or for Orient sustainable. The fact that the EFL could not split the 4 international breaks this season so each team has 2 home and 2 away games potentially affected says it all. After being a season ticket holder with my son for the last 15 years I fear that this is our last as midweek games are a major disruption for us. Might as well get individual tickets for the games we can actually attend. Club owners have got to take a serious look at themselves and wonder if the Sky deal is actually worth it.

The international break issue needs prioritising by the EFL fan groups so the footballing bodies can come up with solutions. Our situation is far from ideal and will be mirrored, to a lesser degree, elsewhere.

However, this is not so much a Sky TV deal issue as it is an EFL scheduling one.

Will wait for the initial fixture dates, analyse when they fall and note international weekends, if a home match is on Boxing Day etc.

That will inform a decision on if it’s worth it. This season I *think* I will be able to make 17 matches so it’s worth it and I’m supporting the club.

If it looks like I can attend under 15 in 2025/26 then I’ll bin it off and probably only do 10 matches. So the club loses out financially.

It also depends on the division as if relegation happens there are 10 grounds i need to tick off as part of doing the 92 so might focus time and money on away matches.

The intention is for the 2026/27 season onwards there will be a two week window for internationals 21/9 to 6/10. How is that going to work? I would rather play the game with a weakened team than have it moved to a Tuesday night. Historically in the lower leagues it meant the younger players got a run out and a chance to impress.

The EFL in their wisdom have signed a 5 year deal with SKY. I have no doubt some supporters are now viewing on SKY and will not return. Others will be lost as is being discussed due to the demise of the traditional Saturday 15:00 kick offs. What happens to the increased TV monies. All clubs just spend more, the playing field stays the same, and taking into consideration lower gates the net effect of the profit line is negligible. In summary the EFL have sold the family silver for lower gates and rubbish atmosphere. The SKY deal is a done deal, no way back for 5 years. On top of that the clubs choose to compound their woes, by cancelling games for a couple of players being missing. At least stop the International weekend nonsense, all clubs lose players, it swings and roundabouts. The clubs need to realise they are in the entertainment business and should be putting on matches when the supporters want them, not when they don't.

Chelmsford Swimmer wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 1:23 pm At least stop the International weekend nonsense, all clubs lose players, it swings and roundabouts.

I agree with the above. Those clubs already benefit from international players.

Thing is, I get the frustration, and it's all warranted. But when it's warm out and there's renewed hope of being League Two champions again, people will pay out whatever the fixtures say. The thing that's stopping me is more the cost than anything - in fact, tuesday nights work for me better with a little 'un.

This poll is flawed in that it assumes that fixture rearrangement is the only factor a person considers when decided to renew this season ticket. I’m fortunate in that whilst I find them irritating I am usually able to attend the rearranged fixture. But I still wouldn’t select “renew regardless” as I’m not going to renew if we’re relegated to league 2 and the cost goes up 20% still.

Probably not going to renew, just not proving cost effective this season. I’ll still attend as many home games as I can but pay per game.

The Reverend wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 1:30 pm This poll is flawed in that it assumes that fixture rearrangement is the only factor a person considers when decided to renew this season ticket. I’m fortunate in that whilst I find them irritating I am usually able to attend the rearranged fixture. But I still wouldn’t select “renew regardless” as I’m not going to renew if we’re relegated to league 2 and the cost goes up 20% still.

Not even now your ticket is paid for after the bet you put on Trump winning?

The big winners will be non-league clubs. My local club's attendances are well up this season, and it's looking more and more attractive from a spectator experience POV.

Saturday will be my 2nd attendance of the season (3 season tickets) and last before Xmas. A season ticket was useful to get priority for away games but that seems of marginal value. The Stevenage game being at 12:30; I’ll stick to my front room for that one. Going to really treasure this Saturday. Usual lunch time drink and curry later. Excusing Xmas fixtures - rinse and repeat next January!!
Always been happy to renew but this is too much of a wind up now. For example, what the fuc is happening with the Oldham game!??? And then we’ve got the next round of Sky TV games to reschedule. Not to mention then the changes with less notice later in the season. Things have been exasperated by the loss of 3 fixtures for the international break. But Burton 12:30 ko!!! Can’t get there that early on that specific day - thanks! And who does that benefit. Less Burton fans and less Os fans as the TV is a more viable option to some. Might as well move it to 15:00, as no other fucccer has got an interest in that fixture! Or is that the master plan. If so, just do it and stop fuccccing up football!

Am I right in thinking the sky deal has resulted in one early kick off at home in the first half of the season?

Think there's definitely an argument that the threshold needs to be higher for international call ups justifying a postponement request. 3 feels very low. And they need to work out the fixture list so there's a fairer distribution of home and away games during those breaks.

Think there was a 5.30 KO one as well but not 100% sure.

I think the frustration comes from the impact of the Internationals plus Sky together. Both combined just screw the supporters. I’ll probably still get a ST next year but that’s because I’m dopey. It’s not about the value for money for me. I go to meet up with old friends, have a few beers and maybe, just maybe, watch a decent game of football.

BoniO wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 2:49 pm Think there was a 5.30 KO one as well but not 100% sure.

I think the frustration comes from the impact of the Internationals plus Sky together. Both combined just screw the supporters. I’ll probably still get a ST next year but that’s because I’m dopey. It’s not about the value for money for me. I go to meet up with old friends, have a few beers and maybe, just maybe, watch a decent game of football.

Yes, the first game of the season (Bolton) was 530. Don't mind that so much, and because I live locally I can attend most games even when they get moved. But that doesn't mean I enjoy them as much - it's more than just tradition that means I like 3pm Saturday - it's there because it's the optimal time for the large number of people who tend to work Monday-Friday, especially if they have families and children who are studying. And even though I can still attend the majority of games come what may, I'd still think twice about renewing for another season like this, because it's just nothing like as much fun.

Quite honestly, after a long week at work, Saturday mornings doing chores, ferrying kids around and whatnot, letting my hair down on a Saturday afternoon and evening is my one selfish release. If it's not going to be football then I'll find something else, but I won't and can't restructure my whole week to suit broadcasters, the people who run the game, and the people who own football clubs. They can get to feck.

I am done with it. These cancellations are the final straw.

Season Ticket cost and golf club fees are my major expenditures each year. What else am I going to do with my pension money.

EliotNes wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 5:03 pm Season Ticket cost and golf club fees are my major expenditures each year. What else am I going to do with my pension money.

And the Saturday cancellations will mean you can play more medals, so win-win.

When I buy a season ticket I accept I'll miss a couple of games midweek due to work commitments .However it's beginning to look pointless to me now getting a season ticket considering many games we're keep losing from Saturday's. It would be cheaper to just pick and choose games next season , especially if we find ourselves back in League 2.

EliotNes wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 5:03 pm Season Ticket cost and golf club fees are my major expenditures each year. What else am I going to do with my pension money.

Pay your heating bills perhaps now you've lost the winter fuel allowance

CEB2ElectricBoogaloo wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 1:47 pm

The Reverend wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 1:30 pm This poll is flawed in that it assumes that fixture rearrangement is the only factor a person considers when decided to renew this season ticket. I’m fortunate in that whilst I find them irritating I am usually able to attend the rearranged fixture. But I still wouldn’t select “renew regardless” as I’m not going to renew if we’re relegated to league 2 and the cost goes up 20% still.

Not even now your ticket is paid for after the bet you put on Trump winning?

I didn’t put enough on to cover a 20% increase. An oversight on my part.

The game against Peterborough was postponed by us because we had 3 players on International duty. Peterborough had 2 players on International duty.
So the game should not have been called of because of a difference of just 1 player!!!
The rules should be that there has to difference of 3 players between each squad for a game to be postponed.
For example if both clubs have 3 players called up for International duty then the game goes ahead as both squads are weakened.

But if those 3 players were injured or suspended the game would be played. And what happens if a club has 3 players in the Africa Cup of Nations

Hoover Attack wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 1:40 pm Probably not going to renew, just not proving cost effective this season. I’ll still attend as many home games as I can but pay per game.

I can't justify paying out £30 in train fare, £15 for cab back to Wivenhoe from Colchester after Tuesday night games, when I can sit on my sofa and watch for nothing!