I minded seeing a banner at the ICT v Celtic game recently with something about Thomas Crook on it. What was that about?

Something to do with them being a PLC 'partner' and being given tickets for European matches to include in their (overpriced?) packages. The 'independent' travellers don't mind being told where their holidays are this year but will not stand for being told who takes them there

Thomas Crooks have got the allocation to use for their flights to Aalborg.

It's an outrage. Thomas Cook had the cheek to insist that Celtic fans travelled from Glasgow - and as we all know most of TGFITW don't come from there - how very dare they

The issue is Celtic giving ‘Tam Crook’ as many tickets as they want for European away games.

There has been ongoing dialogue between Peter Lawwell and various Celtic fans groups. Recently a pressure group was formed which hopes to unite all factions and present a unified front to Celtic on this single issue. The contract runs out next August.

How are you and bey going to manage to pin this on Strachan?

No doubt you'll give it a right good try!

Pssst, by the way, I hear the wee man doesn't have an alibi for the day Kennedy was shot!

Musta been him, dontcha think? Huh? Dontcha?

There is a bit more to this than meets the eye.

I got an email from Thomas Cook about foreign game packages, and it looks like they are making a mark up of upwards of 200% on tickets for the Madrid Barca game next may. Either that or they are charging a £300 arrangement fee for the hotel......

Trouble is, I'm not sure who would listen to any complaint. Not sure if it breaks any ABTA rules.

Well there is and there isn't. The specific problem amongst some Celtic fans are that 'Tam Crook' are given as many tickets as they want for European away games. This results in people who travel independantly and not through them, scrambling about for tickets when they deserve one over many who go on these official packages.

You are right though that another issue is the cost that these packages cost - both for European away games and domestic packages that they run.

Liverpool fans have also mobilised to form a goup to tackle the 'Tam Crook' issue.

Great post!

Thats out of order from CFC, you would assume a points-based system for away game tickets would apply.

A lot of folk moan about the Scotland Supporters Club, but in this area Celtic are making the SSC look fantastic.

Given the nature of the Celtic support, and indeed the past history of the Liverpool support, I'd imagine the press and media would come down on them like a tonne of bricks if tickets weren't distributed largely through an official outlet. Presumably, this system makes identifying troublemakers a heck of a lot easier.

There is, well sort of. Indepedant travellers so far have still received an allocation of tickets. This is what's left after 'Tam Crook', investors, sponsors, players etc are catered for. For Man Utd this amounted to a couple of hundred.

These tickets are allocated on past European away attendance records. I have missed one European away game in seven years so I am ner the top of the list and have thus far been ok for a ticket, others who have missed a few games have not been so fortunate.



It's like the SFA turning round and signing a deal with a Travel Company X and then saying that if you book up with them at the excessivly high prices they charge, then you will be guaranteed a ticket. It doesn't matter if this is your first ever Scotland away game. So long as you go with Company X, you will get a ticket. Meanwhile, supporters who have went everywhere to follow Scotland for years and travel their own way are liable to not get a ticket.

You don't understand how it works. We have a domestic away scheme and a European away scheme which season ticket holders sign up to at the start of the season. Only season ticket holders are offered tickets for European away games whenever they are offered.

It's not as if any Tom, Dick or Harry can walk up and get a ticket.

There is the same level of 'security' booking up with the 'Tam Crook' as there is giving tickets out to those signed up for the away European scheme.

Probably even less security with the Thomas Cook tickets, after all most of those travelling independently with a ticket from CFC will have been abroad with Celtic before and stayed out of trouble. Those travelling with TC tickets may well be ST holders, but might have never been abroad with Celtic before.

A real shame for loyal Celtic fans that any ST holder can get a ticket for an away game just because they are prepared to spend a sizable premium on a package deal. I wonder if the non-OF game ST holders are permitted to buy the TC packages complete with away game tickets.

I very rarely get that annoyed by actions taken by Celtic, all big clubs have hard decisions to make, however this latest slap in the face for regular away support both home and European is a step too far...profit has been put not just in front of fans but at the expense of fans. It's disgraceful.

its not only celtic that thomas cook organise european games for
a company i use for grand prix travel just got bought over by them i noticed loads of teams on there including rangers,so is it only celtic fans that get treated shabbily or is them all that thomas cook organise??
serious question cause the only way i noticed was when i was checking out booking for malaysia next year

Yes they organise many sporting events.

I don’t have an issue over Celtic using travel companies for European away games – we have done so for year, from Harry Hynds to Dominc Keanes company to Lonsadale and now ‘Tam Crook’. If Celtic fans want to go with them, or indeed other such companies, then that is their prerogative.

The issue is the tickets that Celtic give to ‘Tam Crook’.

That lad's had no luck with injuies, I thought a fresh start at Norwich would have done him the world of good, very sad to hear about this latest setback. He could have been a Celtic & Scotland stalwart for many a year to come.

For those interested, the 3rd meeting of the group named ‘RESPECT WALFRID’S WISHES’ is planned for Saturday at 12:15pm in St Roch’s Parish hall in the Garngad.

Celtic season cards to be shown at the door to gain entry.

cheers, thankfully i source my tickets locally

I just spat coffee all over my desk reading that.

The poor brother must feel like a catherine wheel.

NAE PART TIMERS RIGHT

The season card entry was used at the last meeting in an attempt to keep the media out after it became known that a couple were going to come along. Of course, that wasn’t going to ensure 100% that they were kept out but it seems to have been the case.

Couldnt youo all have worn red carnations and had a secret handshake

Why would you want to keep the media out, wouldn't it be better to keep them onside and publicising your viewpoint?

Because the group is in it's infancy and there are plenty of issues that need ironed out before, hopefully, a unified front can be achieved. I think it's obvious that that's better done away from the glaring eyes of the media.

Fair point but you may risk alienating them and they might not be as sympathetic when you need them.