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Getting tickets to Liverpool FC matches has always been a contentious issue and season tickets are no exception.

The club announced a season ticket amnesty earlier this year to try and sort out some of the problems around it, like the fact five to six per cent of seats are empty at every home game.

There are currently 26,000 season ticket holders at Anfield but it is clear that some of these tickets are not used by the supporters who purchased them.

Hopefuls who have always wished for their chance to buy a season ticket are in the midst of a 25,000-strong waiting list with many left wondering if they will ever be able to own one for themselves.

Here is the position of the club, the fans and what the reality might be for those on the waiting list and season tickets in general.

The fans

Q: When did you first join the waiting list and what position are you now?

A: Courty61 posting on the Red and White Kop (RAWK) forum wrote: "I got my fan card in September 2005 and I'm 11,512 on the waiting list."

Redmanraj posted: "My son was added to the list when he was born in 2001 and he's number 800 odd now."

Ripsaw19 said they "joined in June 2002 and were about 3000 down the list" now and benitezexpletives added: "I joined Dec 2008, just checked and am 21,145th on the list."

Q: Have you heard anything from LFC about when you might get a season ticket?

A: On RAWK PaulG, as someone very close to getting a season ticket, outlined his position.

He wrote: "I had a phone call mid January or so from the ticket office just checking my details, didn't think much of it. Had a letter advising me that I may get one this pre-season, I was position 247 or something on the list."

Explaining why a phone call came moderator on the forum Shanklygates said: "The club won't know how many won't renew yet and hence how many new ones they can offer, so prob just checking the top x on the list based on how many new ones they usually give out? To save time later and so your offer letter doesn't go stray."

PaulG said he then received a letter on June 2 to say he hadn't been successful but had moved up "80 odd places to 166".

A user called Alf explained his standpoint as a fan nowhere near the top of the list. He posted a letter he received from LFC when 2,000 new season tickets were released in 2016.

It read: "Your current waiting list position is: 5679. As a supporter whose position is greater than 2,000, unfortunately, we will be unable to offer you a season ticket for 16/17 season. Your position will be updated once we have processed this year’s season ticket renewals. We will contact you to advise of your new position in due course. Each year we expect to see a very limited number of season tickets become available to those who remain on the waiting list, however we will continue to announce any match ticket availability on our website."

Q: How many places per season do you roughly move up the waiting list?

A: The general consensus to this answer on fan forums seems to be between the 100 to 200 mark, after the original drop of almost 2000 in 2016.

(Image: NPAS Warton police helicopter)

Q: Have you had any issues with the season ticket waiting list?

A: Claire, who it states under her name is RAWK staff, said: "I joined it in 2004 and I’m 22,233rd. Worked out a while ago on here that I should've been something like 6000 before the new main stand ones were given theirs, so about 4000-5000ish is where I should be, but I've asked and they didn't even answer.

"I don't know if there's any record or anything on their side of when I joined, it was when I got my old fan card that I know I signed up for when buying tickets for Monaco CL group game! Someone on here said if you've got the confirmation letter of you joining they can adjust it but I don't know where that is."

Red_Mark1980 shared a similar experience and wrote to say he was in a position of more than 19,000 despite originally getting on the list in 2003 which he said was "lost when LFC asked for the £5" list retainer.

Kwalitee, no added: "Went on in '04 and am now just under 17,940. I've got a mate who put his daughter on she's only 10 and she's higher up the list than I am".

Q: Do you believe you have any chance of getting a season ticket?

A: Tjfruits said: "Realistically I have no chance of a seasie, ever. No chance of getting on the away ladder unless we got Hodgson back for 5+ years. No one wants that."

Kickthetyres on Liverpool FC fan forum wrote: "Im about 3000 behind the op (8,700) and of a similar age (54). During a normal season STs change hands at a rate of about 100 per season. At that rate it'll take me over a century to get to the top of the list, in fact anyone over 5,000 or so on the list who is over 20 years old is just filling a space on a list, no more."

NotHackedoffnow added: "I, too, am around 8,000 in the list and I doubt I will get one in my lifetime - though if they do have an amnesty and Annie Road is redeveloped I may have an outside chance."

(Image: AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Q: As a non-season ticket holder, what do you think about people renting them out to others or fans using them in other names?

A: Bigly Red Richie answered this question very comprehensively on the RAWK forum.

He said: "I've been a regular since the early 80s. I've seen match mates come and go. Our current match crew is eight to 10 strong. Within that we have six season tickets, and three members cards. Only two of the seasies are used by the named person. Two of the others are used by family members, and two by mates who no longer go, and got out of the habbit.

"Just for the record, all of the people above who don't have their own seasie, are also on the waiting list. I've been on it since '99. (More realistically 2001, as they messed up and lost the first application). In my circumstances, I had my own seasie from 83-94 when I had to give it up as I was out of work, the year it went all seater. I've always used someone else's since then. I can count the home games I've missed since then, on one hand.

"If the ticket office ever got in gear and update the list, I should be about 800 on the list, so I'll watch this space regarding the Anny Rd. Until then, like most, I'll use the system to my own advantage. When one of the seasies can't go, the ticket goes to one of the other match crew who have a members card and no ticket for that match. One of the seasies is shared by three people, and they allocate games between them. One is shared by two.

"As I say, there's no ideal solution, but bringing in draconian measures whether photo cards, two extra names etc, in my eyes and in our case, only hampers us, as loyal match-going fans. As a point, depending who wants to sit with who each week, we often swap seats each week, so we can all have a change of seat etc as a couple of the seats don't have the best of views. So even spot checks would be a pain, as someone could be in the ground on their own ticket, just not sitting in their own seat, having swapped within the same stand to sit with a mate. If we have a spare ticket one week, it will often go to one of the lads to bring one of his kids (how else do you blood young supporters who have been pushed out). So the ticket doesn't go to waste.

"The point to make from all of that is, there's many, many, loyal fans in very similar circumstances. Fans who've been going for years, yet still fall through the cracks when it comes to getting tickets. Like generations of LFC fans, you'll get to the match by hook or by crook. Myself. I only have a members card, so if I had to rely on the members sale, I'd struggle."

(Image: Pic by John Rushworth)

On the other side of that coin however are fans that begrudge other supporters for doing this.

On the LFCReds forum MikeyTattooed wrote: "I think it's stupid that if someone is a season ticket holder that doesn't or can't attend the games for what ever reason are allowed to pass it down to a friend or family member.

"In my eyes the season ticket is in your name and you are the one that has to attend, if you can't then you give it up.

"Something needs to be done! I can't even get myself on the waiting list and I'm 30 years old wanting to join the list! I know someone who couldn't attend the games because of a bad leg and gave it to his friend for the past 6 years!

"Someone who wasn't even on the waiting list and was lucky enough to get hold of one just like that! It's crazy and very unfair.

Alfie2510 agreed and added: "There will be hundreds if not thousands of season ticket holders that haven’t been to Anfield in years. I talked to a guy once who had six!

"What happens is they get passed through families so when grampa calls it a day it goes to the son/grandson whatever. Not fair in my opinion. Whenever proposals come about that would improve accessibility. They get annoyed because it doesn’t suit them.

"Suppose the club hold the solution. Look around games at Anfield as well and count how many young faces you see they are few and far, the club has to think about who’s going to be coming to Anfield in 30years time not just those that have been going for 30 years."

(Image: Andrew Teebay)

Q: If you have a membership card with all home games on from last season, would you take a season ticket in a stand other than your preferred?

A: DavidSteventon said: "It's a tough one this is. There's four of us together this season. Got Kop tickets as well thankfully. All on 19+ homes. Three are on the Season Ticket list. One lad who is getting closer, two miles away from getting close. Me not even on the list. The one getting closer would be nuts to turn it down but then he'd also be there on his own and us three somewhere else. He'd not even be in the same stand. Cup games only it would be. Difficult one."

Hawkwind wrote: "I sure would, as much as I love being in the Kop it's not always easy taking time off work to get tickets."

Redgriffin73 posted: "It's something I've thought about before and I think I probably would just to avoid the hassle of the bulk sales. You're not guaranteed 19 seats full stop if your internet goes down or you get a long wait time, let alone 19 in the Kop."

And lfc79 added: "It would depend a bit about the seats lower main stand next to the kop yes £40 a game and it's guaranteed ticket and atmosphere would be okay other end sat next to the away fans all season not so sure, but with the bulk sales your relying on good luck, worst case 19 tickets in the AR at £48 per game or even missing out on the Cat A requirements."

The ECHO understands there are also factions of the crowd inside Anfield who would take a season ticket in any stand, and hold it to attend every game until the season Liverpool FC won the Premier League, before then releasing it again.

Q: How best do you think the club should sort out season tickets?

A: MKB said: "The club just need to provide the facility for a holder to suspend a season ticket for, say, up to five years over a lifetime. The seat in question can be added to the members' sale while it's suspended. After five years of suspension, the season ticket has to be given up. That should cover most temporary health/work situations."

The forum commenter also had other ideas which included LFC allowing "each season-ticket holder to register friends/family who can use their season ticket, with some reasonable restrictions to prevent abuse".

Those restrictions included: "A limit of four alternative users per season; these users must have a photo fancard in their own right (which they use for entry), be friends or family of the season ticket holder, and must be registered prior to the start of the season; season ticket can be transferred on a match-by-match basis for up to 9 or the 19 games, i.e. the main holder still attends the majority of games; the transfer can be done at any time right up to kick-off; season ticket seats can still be returned to the club for a partial refund on a match-by-match basis and anyone caught letting a non-eligible person use their card has the season ticket revoked."

RAWK user Billy Elliot wrote: "Having two nominated people on each season ticket who can use it if the holder can't make it, there will be a maximum amount of matches that it can be passed on to the nominated people."

And PaulG added: "New upper tier of the Anfield Road, if done, should just go straight to season ticket holders. Get 5k or 6k of the same people week in week out might make it a good atmosphere up there if your sat next to the same people every week. Put adult/child in the lower tier."

Q: You finally managed to get a season ticket, when did you join the waiting list?

A: Roughie Scouse posting on the RAWK site said: "I registered in February 2001, I got my season ticket in the first week of June 2018. The only choice of seat I had was upper tier of Kemlyn Road. It is about three rows from the back, so not the best view, but happy to have one nonetheless."

Nayia2002 went on the list in 1999 and got the ticket in 2016. Red Phil added his name in 2000 and similarly was able to buy his season ticket in 2016.

The club

Q:Can I join the Season Ticket Waiting List?

A: The list is currently closed and unlikely to open for new applications in the foreseeable future due to the number of people already waiting for Season Tickets.

Q: What is my position on the Waiting List?

A: If you registered your interest during the 2011 project and paid the £5 admin fee, your name will be on the list and you will have received a confirmation including a unique reference code.

To check your position click here and enter your surname and the reference code. You can also update your address details using this system.

If your details are not recognised on the position lookup then please contact Customer Services here and provide your name, address and date of birth and we will remind you of your reference code.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Q: I don't agree with my position on the Waiting List - can I do anything about it?

A: The positions on the list have been checked and audited at each stage of the consolidation process. Due to the time that has elapsed since the launch of the official waiting list project we are unable to pursue any further queries about list positions.



Q: How is the Waiting List organised?

A: The list is ordered chronologically and those who have been on the list the longest will be offered a Season Ticket first.

Q: I wasn't contacted about the consolidation project in 2011?

A: Liverpool FC made every effort to contact all 70,000 fans at the registered address and publicised the project extensively on the LFC website. The project is now closed and further applications to join cannot be pursued due to the time elapsed.

Q: If I decide to come off the new waiting list, will the initial fee be refunded?

A: No. This was an administration fee and helped to cover the cost of the project. We will remove your name from the list if you request it through Customer Services.

Q: Will you be increasing the number of season tickets available?

A: The Club reviews the breakdown of its ticket allocation each season. This process has been completed with a limited number of seats offered to fans at the top of the list.

Further announcements about ticket capacity will be made when the information is available.

Q: Is there any other way I can get a season ticket at Anfield?

A: You can become a hospitality season ticket holder.

If you are interested in seasonal hospitality please register your interest by clicking here.

For more information on the seasonal hospitality packages available please contact our hospitality team on 0151 264 2222 or email us at hospitality@liverpoolfc.com.

The reality

For thousands of fans the reality and likelihood of ever being able to own your own season ticket is slim unless you have been on the list for what seems like two decades or more.

It would take a huge move from the club to clear the current season ticket waiting list by giving everyone on it a ticket.

Steps to do this would either come from simply making more season tickets available or when further expansions are completed at Anfield then all seats be allocated to those on the season ticket waiting list, however it doesn't appear like that is is going to happen any time soon.

The amnesty is a step in the right direction but as the LiverpoolWay wrote: "It is such a big job the club doesn’t envisage any changes until 2018/19 season.

"Last season there were 25,000 season ticket holders, these tickets are held by 19,000 people - meaning there are 6,000 season tickets in duplicate or triplicate (and above) names.

"The club recognises that every one of those 6,000 duplicate holders have a story about why they should retain all of their tickets and expects to have those conversations, although criteria for agreeing retention and moving the names is again a matter for consultation.

"They know this will also cause much controversy, but again the club are convinced they need to get the tickets into the name of the person predominantly using them. Again, provision for some limited passing on is likely - friends and family scheme etc. The club recognises that the originally allowed this to happen and have caused the issue.

This process will undoubtedly free up some season tickets but for the thousands lower down on the list these cards will not go to them.

It remains to be seen exactly what will come from the amnesty but it shows the club are taking some steps to sort out season tickets at Anfield.

A simple search online for 'Liverpool season tickets for rent' comes up with a huge list of responses and seemingly some genuine offers on popular selling sites from those looking to relinquish their cards for a time before undoubtedly taking them back again.

In years, and developments to come, it may be that thousands more season tickets become available which would be great news for fans but unfortunately for Reds' loyal supporters that seems very unlikely at this present time.

If you are interested in ticketing, prices and exact numbers available at Anfield then there is an incredibly comprehensive, detailed and interesting analysis about it here.