Within the rules but not within the spirit – a reduced allocation of tickets set to go on sale for City's crucial trip to Doncaster Rovers

03/30/2025 02:57 PM

By Jason McKeown

It's double standards. It's petty. But it's within the rules. Tickets for Bradford City's final away game of the season, at Doncaster Rovers, go on sale this week. Demand is going to hopelessly outstrip supply. And in all likelihood thousands of City fans are going to miss out on witnessing first-hand what looks set to be crucial 90 minutes in the promotion race. Miss out on occupying seats that will instead be left empty.

That's because Bradford City have been given an away allocation of only 1,515. The Keepmoat Stadium has an official capacity 15,231, and Doncaster Rovers' average attendance this season is 7,752. So they're typically attracting crowds that are 51% of their total capacity. When there is clearly so much extra space that could be filled, there is absolutely no reason to restrict City's allocation to such a small amount. No reason other than the fact the rulebook allows it.

For tucked away on page 105 of the 356-page EFL handbook is clause 35.7.1 that says:

Each Club must make provision for at least 2,000 visiting supporters at every home match or such number as represents 10% of the Club's certified capacity, if less than 2,000.

As we've established, Doncaster's certified capacity is 15,000 which means they technically only have to make 1,515 away tickets available. So fair enough. Doncaster are compliant. They're not breaking any procedures. They're doing what the EFL says they have to.

But they don't need to.

Doncaster played Premier League Crystal Palace in the FA Cup this season, and couldn't completely fill the Keepmoat (the attendance was 12,739). Their biggest league crowd this season was 10,988, when Notts County came to town and sold out their 3,000 away allocation. Yep, you read that right – Doncaster gave Notts County an allocation of 3,000.

Such generous hospitality to visiting fans are commonplace with Doncaster Rovers. At the weekend Carlisle United came to South Yorkshire and sold out an initial allocation of 882. No problem said Donny, and made another 2,000 places available for pay on the day supporters (the total away attendance proved to be 1,100). Grimsby Town, Port Vale, Chesterfield were also allowed to have large away followings. Come one and all, and enjoy your day out in South Yorkshire.

So why are Bradford City being treated completely differently?

Well, it probably hasn't helped that Grimsby, Port Vale and Chesterfield's supporters really, really enjoyed their trip to Doncaster – winning and winning well. Donny have only lost four times at home all season, the fact that 75% of them came against visiting sides with large away followings seemingly hasn't gone unnoticed by boss Grant McCann. Notts County and their travelling army also came away with a point.  

Doncaster have defeated Port Vale, Grimsby and Bradford City away from home but have not beaten a single top 11 side on home soil so far. That must worry McCann, who will be desperate to make home advantage count for more during the run in. He will also remember City's Mad Friday visit to the Keepmoat last season, where a bulging Bantams following roared their team on to success three days before Christmas. The year before that, Danny Schofield was at the helm when 4,000 City fans rocked up at Donny and won again.  

The rumours have been swirling for weeks now that McCann was getting himself involved in the club's ticket policy for the visit of Bradford City. Telling those who normally make such decisions to restrict the size of the travelling Bantams. Those whispers have been proven to have substance. And all we City supporters can do right now is groan.

It is poor form from Doncaster and McCann for sure. Away tickets will inevitably sell out. Most of us will fall short of loyalty points and miss out when they go on sale to season ticket holders. Many will try to get tickets in the home end and some will succeed. Maybe, with much likely to be at stake, more Doncaster fans than normal will buy tickets and boost the overall attendance. But it's still hard to imagine any scenario that doesn't involve at least a couple of thousand empty seats.

It’s all legal. It's all within the laws. But it absolutely isn't in the spirit of football and football supporting. And because of that, it stings. Bradford City and Doncaster Rovers have much in common. Struggle and mundaneness are the norm. Moments of glory rare and fleeting, and so supporters who stick with their team through thin and thinner deserve to be able to enjoy them (I get that’s not McCann’s concern, he’s paid to win football matches not organise promotion parties).

It’s why the gleeful reaction of some Doncaster Rovers fans on social media is also hard to stomach. Laughing at our frustration. Laughing at our anguish. Doncaster might not be the best supported club in the world, but they usually take good numbers on the road and have done for many years. Would Donny fans enjoy missing out on watching their own team have the chance to achieve glory because the host opposition club would rather there be empty seats? It just feels petty and small-time. You expect better from a normally admirable football club.

Doncaster took a 3,000 following to Valley Parade earlier this season. They won 2-1. Weirdly in the post match inquest amongst City supporters, players and management, no one blamed the outcome on there been too many Doncaster fans in the stadium.

It's just really sad that what could be an amazing occasion will be seen live in the flesh by so few City supporters. Perhaps common sense and logic will prevail, and Doncaster will ultimately send extra away tickets. But if there isn't a change in policy, poetic justice for City fans would be that this proves to be the game that costs Rovers promotion. And that whenever the next occasion arises that Doncaster Rovers travel to Valley Parade, the Bantams invoke clause 35.7.1.