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Follow My Team England - Semi / Final

Hi all. This is probably answered already but cant see it.

I had Follow My Team England tickets for the Semi and Final, I didn't return them but they were then refunded. What is the process from here? I'm on 8 active caps. What's my chances of getting them back? Cheers all.

22 Replies

  • Matthew Isle
    Assuming these tickets were through the ESTC membership:

    www.thefa.com/.../uefa-euro-2020-ticket-update-faqs-20210427
  • Matthew Isle

    See also the update in here for the ticket allocation you need to be guaranteed a ticket (as someone who applied and didn't return their ticket).

    You'll have to use your caps level at the end of the previous membership (not your active caps) on this thread, from the 27/4

    englandsupporters.thefa.com/.../14306

  • Mark Cope
    I am in the same boat.

    I sent this query to ESTC yesterday:

    I previously had Follow My Team tickets via the ESTC for the Semi Final (Cat2 EUR125) and Final (Cat3 EUR85) before they were cancelled due to the pandemic. In the event that England progress to one or both of these games, what will the situation be regarding obtaining tickets to the games via ESTC?

    (a) Will all members who had Follow My Team tickets for these games pre-pandemic be assigned tickets for these games?
    (b) If not, will they get priority in ballots, as did former Dublin ticket holders for the R16 game ballots?
    (c) Do you have any idea what size of allocation we will get from UEFA for each of these games?
    (d) Do you know how many members had Follow My Team tickets for each of these games?


    And got this response from them this morning:

    We are currently working with UEFA and planning how we will conduct the ballots/ allocations of tickets for the Semi Final.

    At present, we cannot disclose this information as it has not yet been finalised, and we currently do not have a confirmed allocation with category splits. It is likely the sale will be similar to the R16 fixture.

    We will communicate all the relevant information to members as soon as these details have been finalised, however I will take note of your questions as you raise some good points that we will definitely consider.
  • Matthew Isle

    In reply to Mark Cope:

    I think the caveat with that response is that even though the sale might be similar (i.e. a few 70/20/10 ballots) to the L16 round, the exclusion for people who returned their tickets (i.e. the groupings which have already been set out on the first link above) will be different from the L16 to the SF/F.
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Mark Cope:

    Our ticket allocations in 2020 were 10209 for the semi-final and 10704 for the final. By definition this must also be the number of successful ESTC members and so this will be the number in the upcoming ballots, assuming we progress past the QF.

    How many tickets will be available to the FA for distribution to ESTC members is up for negotiation. I've seen conflicting stories that the capacity of Wembley is to be 75% or 60000 and I'm not sure whether this is both semi-finals and the final or just the final. Let's assume it's 50% for the semi-final and 75% for the final. If ticket numbers were reduced pro rata that would give us 5104 for the semi-final and 8028 for the final.

    But in the spring, our government only guaranteed to UEFA crowds of 25%. As well as cancelling and refunding all 'follow my team' tickets, UEFA also cancelled and refunded 75% of the tickets sold through the general public sale. If the crowds are now to be 50% / 75% then there are a lot of general public sale tickets to be re-sold. Although the people who originally had those tickets will be or have been given a short exclusive period to buy them back, fans from abroad will not buy because of the UK's coronavirus quarantine requirement. UEFA could dump the unsold tickets back into the general public sale portal but I am sure that the FA will be trying to get some of those tickets for the ESTC.

    This will be a tricky negotiation. From UEFA's perspective, they won't want to hold back tickets for England fans. They will want to sell the tickets now through the general public portal, mostly to non-ESTC England fans, If England don't make it to the semi-final / final then the general public are stuck with their tickets and will have to go to the match(es) as neutrals. On the other hand, if UEFA increase the allocation to the FA and England don't qualify then ESTC members won't buy any tickets and UEFA will be faced with a shorter timescale to sell the tickets to a public who might be less interested in going to the match(es) to watch two random teams.

    I suppose the unknown factor is how many UK residents are actually nationals of the foreign teams as they may be keen to buy in the general public sale. In this country we do have a diaspora from most countries in the world.
  • David Lilley

    In reply to David Lilley:

    David Lilley
    Our ticket allocations in 2020 were 10209 for the semi-final and 10704 for the final. By definition this must also be the number of successful ESTC members and so this will be the number in the upcoming ballots, assuming we progress past the QF.

    Some people voluntarily returned their tickets for a refund and they will not be in the ballots if there are not enough tickets to meet demand. So the number of people in the ballots will be less than 10209 / 10704.

  • Mark Cope

    In reply to Matthew Isle:

    Yeah, I assumed the same on R16 game - i.e. that it was treated differently by the FA as it was originally in Dublin and with EU travel restrictions in place, etc., the FA accepted it was understandable that fans returned tickets for that game Consequently, such fans were still included in Group 1 for ticket allocation/ballots. But I assume that logic doesn't apply for the semi or final if fans returned tickets for them? However, the FA response to my email didn't say that directly, so who knows?
  • Mark Cope

    In reply to David Lilley:

    You make some very good points there, David (none of which increase my confidence in getting tickets for a semi or final). Ultimately, depressing as it is for us ESTC members, UEFA is a money-making organisation and if they can sell semi and final tickets now to the general public (presumably mainly England fans dreaming of glory and gambling on us getting through the QF), they will and they will not be concerned in the slightest with the expectations of the FA and ESTC members who previously had Follow My Team tickets. If they did, and we then lost to Ukraine (or in the semi), UEFA could be left with a lot of unsold tickets for the semi and final....
  • Andy O'Cain

    In reply to Mark Cope:

    Valid points gents - UEFA will not want unsold tickets. Last time round they put the final and semi tickets on the portal the day before Germany. I suspect they will do the same tomorrow. Lets hope the ESTC work wonders as always and get their fair share.
  • Simon Dexter-Jones

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Agree David , it's going to be a tricky negotiation so as not to leave UEFA with unsold tickets if England do not progress. How about a solution to this being the following:
    UEFA sell their tickets on the general pubic site as they are going to do to ensure they get people and money for the semis and final and they give ESTC members the allocation they currently define BUT if England progress past the 1/4's then UEFA , FA and Boris , Oliver etc get together and increase the Wembley capacity to allow ALL those England fans who had tickets and others in ESTC to get this increased number of tickets and UEFA sell those tickets to ESTC. WIN WIN. UEFA get their money if we don't progress and then get more if we do and ESTC fans get to go. What is stopping this scenario.Please put this forward as an option.
  • Tom Gilbert

    In reply to Matthew Isle:

    Hi Matt,

    I finished on 25 caps and had a fans first ticket for both the SF and Final. Didn’t return either of them. Hopefully a fair chance of getting those tickets back?
  • Tom Gilbert
    Also, does anyone know how much the CAT 1, 2 and 3 tickets were for ESTC members? Just in case I can’t get a fans first ticket. Cheers
  • Matthew Isle

    In reply to Tom Gilbert:

    Tom Gilbert
    Hi Matt,

    I finished on 25 caps and had a fans first ticket for both the SF and Final. Didn’t return either of them. Hopefully a fair chance of getting those tickets back?

    Very strong position to get you A ticket.

    The ticket being a fans first is irrelevant in getting you a ticket (I realise it's not irrelevant cost wise) but assuming you bought your tickets through the ESTC you can use your caps level at the end of the previous membership (not your active caps) on the thread below, from the 27/4 to see what allocation you need to guarantee you a ticket for SF and F. Obviously category can't be determined yet.

    englandsupporters.thefa.com/.../14306

  • Matthew Davys

    In reply to Tom Gilbert:

    Semi Final
    Fans First 85
    Cat 3 195
    Cat 2 345
    Cat 1 595

    Final
    95,295.595,945
  • Dan McMullen

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Does anyone know how many 'group 1' members are left for the semi and final (those that originally applied, were successful and decided to keep tickets)

    i.e. of the 10k that originally had tickets who didn't return them and take the refund?

    I'm assuming if the ESTC allocation is equal to or greater than this figure then all of these 'group 1' members will be guaranteed a ticket?

    And if allocation is less than this figure than a 70/20/10 ballot

    And then probably those who had a ticket but decided to return it in a possible 'group 2' ballot?

    And then any remaining tickets in 70/20/10 ballot for all that originally applied (successful or not)??

    Just my interpretation based on what has already happened

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