Paul Beesley and Jenny ColemanBBC News, Liverpool
A lifelong Everton fan described his shock to find out that his seat was not present at the club’s new Hill Dicinson Stadium.
Kathy Clarke of Liverpool said that she could “not believe it” when she participated in the first domestic game of blues on Sunday, only to search for a metal railing at the place where she should have had a seat.
“First of all I thought it was probably on the other side of the stairs, but it was the beginning of a new block,” said Kathy, which has been a season-tick for 30 years. “Then I realized that the seat is not present yet.”
A representative of Everton FC said that while the club did not comment on personal matters, it was contacting with Kathy to find a resolution.
Kathy said she was ready to play the first Premier League game in Everton’s new ground as her family had secured their season tickets earlier this year.
This is the first time that Kathy and her husband, son and nephew – who are also a season -tick holder, are all able to sit together because it was not possible in Gudison Park.
“We took time to take the seats because we wanted to become four together and have a seat at the end of a line because I have got a dody knee,” he explained.
“We spent age in seeing and choosing virtual views.”
He said that the complete experience of the missing seat was “terrible”.
Kathy said that he entered the ground with his digital ticket without any problem, but when he tried to find his seat, he came to know that it was not there.
“It makes me feel as if they could not fit it because the stairs come down at one angle,” he said.
“But they should know that – they have sold me a season ticket for a seat that does not exist!”
Kathy said that she spoke to a steward, but confusion recalled her and her husband from coming to the team for the first time, and also remembered Everton’s first goal.
“You don’t return those moments,” he said, “They are united.”
Lifelong blue said that she was also sitting on a solid step for half an hour until an empty seat was found in the other part of the ground.
Kathy said that he had spent trying to contact the club last week, who has now told him that he was looking at the situation.
“If all season tickets are allotted, I don’t know where we will end,” he said.
“We have been waiting for so long to be able to sit together in sports.
“I am trying to be patient but we spent £ 3,000 on these tickets.”