Robbie Irving said he didn’t realise he wouldn’t be able to get his ticket back
An Everton fan feels ‘let down’ after being told he can’t go to the Merseyside derby tonight. Robbie Irving, 65, from Greasby, was unable to attend the fixture against Liverpool on its original date on December 7.
As a result, he decided to transfer his derby ticket digitally to a friend via Everton’s ticket transfer portal. The match was postponed due to Storm Darragh but this time around Robbie can make it. It will be the last ever derby played at Goodison Park before the club moves to Bramley-Moore Dock.
However, this week Robbie discovered his friend was unable to send him the ticket back. Everton’s ticket transfer policy states that, once a ticket has been transferred to someone else, it can’t be returned. The club have told the ECHO that this protects fans against ticketing abuse.
Robbie, who said he’s had a season ticket for 44 years, said he was unaware of this. He told the ECHO: “I’m really frustrated. It’s now two months after the date of the original fixture.
“I could understand more if it was a situation where I’d just changed my mind but it’s two months down the line, everything changes. I had something on in London but I’m around now so I want my ticket back. My friend is happy to send it back too.
“They’re saying, once you’ve accepted not to go to that fixture, there’s nothing you can do despite the unusual circumstances. It came as a surprise for me – it’s the only time I’ve used the ticket transfer system.
“My assumption was, when the game was cancelled, it would automatically be transferred back to me. But this seems to be the way the system works. Once the receiver has accepted the ticket, that’s it.”
Robbie is sad that he will not be able to attend the historic match, claiming club staff were unable to help him. He said: “I spoke to staff on the phone and went down to the ticket office. I thought they might be able to print my ticket manually. I’ve paid for the ticket and my mate is willing to send it back. I feel a bit let down about the whole situation.”
When contacted by the ECHO about the situation, a spokesperson for Everton reiterated the official policy that once a ticket has been transferred, it can’t be sent back.
The spokesperson added: “Once you transfer a ticket, it’s no longer yours. In order to protect fans against ticket abuse, that ticket can’t be transferred back. Otherwise, people could recall the ticket and sell it on again.
“In circumstances where a match has been postponed, this policy means fans don’t have to apply for a refund. The same principle applies here.”