Murty's Testimonial

[Royal Lady]

They might not be completely organising this testimonial, but it was the club who granted him the testimonial - and they are having some input into it.

[Sun Tzu]

They might not be completely organising this testimonial, but it was the club who granted him the testimonial - and they are having some input into it.

They granted him permission to organise it, and of course a venue has input into something happening at their premises. But they aren't organising it, like they didn't organise Parky's

[Royal Lady]

I'm surprised that the organising committee are having to charge the same for a match day mascot as the club would. £250 is way too steep even for a league game imo.

[Shaka's Giant Hands]

I genuinely feel for Murts at the moment. He is probably one of the most honest and approachable footballers in 'the modern game' and it just appears that the testimonial match is a bit of a chore that needs to be done and got out the way.

Shocking way for the club to treat arguable the greatest captain and in my eyes the club aren't really bothered that it will be a limp end to his time here.

Given that the club aren't organising the testimonial that's a bit unfair.

I've been amazed all year that the testimonial events have generally been pretty low key and sadly the game looks like it is following the same pattern.
Players seem caught by the fact that to get a good crowd they need attractive opposition, who want too much money to make taking the risk practical.

It's hard to see how testimonials can be viable for anything but superstars, who are the people who least need them !

I understand that the club aren't neccessarily the one ones organising the event but I would imagine that should they want to they could have significant input to it.

Rather than seeing the game fall flat they could step in and help the event, as was stated on here earlier in the thread, the game wasn't even being promoted on the official site!

[Royal Lady]

You have to excuse Sun Tzu he won't hear a bad word said against the club. EVER.

[Dirk Gently]

I'm not certain about this, but I think there may be good financial reasons why the club can't be orgaising this.

As soon as they do this, the money raised becomes part of Murty's income from employment and therefore taxable, but if it's orgainsied completely outside the club then the income can be handled in a different way for tax purposes.

[Royal Lady]

Even if you have to go through the club for your tickets?

[Sun Tzu]

RL - never one to let sensible comment get in the way of her tedious nonsense !!

Shaka, I couldn't agree more that you'd hope the club would do everything they could to make it a success. Same as you'd hope they would make any event at the club a success.

But it's true that testimonials are not club events and some people seemed to be under the impression that it was. I'm not sure where the boundaries get drawn but IIRC clubs are supposed to treat these events as commercial exercises and if they do anything for 'free' then the whole event becomes subject to tax which takes a big chunk out. No doubt all sorts does get done, but the organising and decision making are in the hands of the testimonial committee.

[Dirk Gently]

Even if you have to go through the club for your tickets?

The difference between employing the club as an agent to sell your tickets and the club selling them on their own behalf.

[Royal Lady]

Even if you have to go through the club for your tickets?

The difference between employing the club as an agent to sell your tickets and the club selling them on their own behalf.

I'm only asking this as I genuinely don't understand, not to cause waves, but if the club are selling the tickets for you and, presumably, paying their staff to do so, how do you prove, for tax purposes, that it's not being organised by the club?

[semtex1871]

I'm going, but only because we're in hospitality. I think I might be too embarassed to ask Murts a question afterwards

snap....me and the wife are in hospitality.....looking forward to the player appearances afterwards - wonder who will be arsed to turn up??!!!

[Sun Tzu]

Even if you have to go through the club for your tickets?

The difference between employing the club as an agent to sell your tickets and the club selling them on their own behalf.

I'm only asking this as I genuinely don't understand, not to cause waves, but if the club are selling the tickets for you and, presumably, paying their staff to do so, how do you prove, for tax purposes, that it's not being organised by the club?

You have an invoice from the club which covers the hire of the facilities and provison of all supporting services (stewards, floodlights, sales and marketing etc etc) at a market rate.
You'd hope the club manage to provide a lot more than they actually invoice for but they'd need to provide enough to show that the committee had hired the place and not been given it for nothing.
London Irish sell their tickets through our TO as did the promoters for Elton John and of course all the away tickets are sold by our TO as agents so it's not uncommon to be selling tickets for other people either for a fee, for a commission or for next to nothing !

[DavidM62]

Does anyone know what the parking situation is going to be ? I'm happy to have paid for our tickets but I hoped we wouldn't be fleeced for car parking. Its just the hospitality mentions including free parking.

I must admit I wanted to attend to give Marcus, Duberry and Murty a proper goodbye, but I'm starting to feel that although I have bought the tickets I might give this a miss.

[Terminal Boardom]

I think testimonials are unnecessary. The money that players at the higher end make renders the exercise fairly pointless. However, if it were a league 2 or lower player / official that had spent 10 years plus at a club then there may be an arguement.

If testimonials must take place, have them at the end of a season rather than the beginning.

[Rawlie19]

I think testimonials are unnecessary. The money that players at the higher end make renders the exercise fairly pointless. However, if it were a league 2 or lower player / official that had spent 10 years plus at a club then there may be an arguement.

If testimonials must take place, have them at the end of a season rather than the beginning.

Testimonials are not pointless. It should be a way to say thankyou for the 10 hard years playing for our club (a rare thing these days). I agree that they don't need the money playing for a club like ours (hence why the money is going to charity) and I also agree it should have been done at the season end.

[West Stand Man]

Even if you have to go through the club for your tickets?

The difference between employing the club as an agent to sell your tickets and the club selling them on their own behalf.

More to the point, I think that in practice you are actually going through the stadium ticket office rather than the Club.

[Dirk Gently]

Even if you have to go through the club for your tickets?

The difference between employing the club as an agent to sell your tickets and the club selling them on their own behalf.

More to the point, I think that in practice you are actually going through the stadium ticket office rather than the Club.

Indeed - I worded my post a bit sloppily!

[Sun Tzu]

If testimonials must take place, have them at the end of a season rather than the beginning.

Although that would present other problems - for example there were a round of internationals at the end of this season, plus the playoffs could add 3 weeks to the season. Work is also often needed on the pitches and needs to start as soon as possible and holding on for a week for a testimonial could impact it being finished for the start of the season.

I think it's harder to actually fit these extra games in, whether you see them as worthwhile or not and can;t see them carrying on much longer.

[Gordons Cumming]

Does anyone know what the parking situation is going to be ? I'm happy to have paid for our tickets but I hoped we wouldn't be fleeced for car parking. Its just the hospitality mentions including free parking.

I must admit I wanted to attend to give Marcus, Duberry and Murty a proper goodbye, but I'm starting to feel that although I have bought the tickets I might give this a miss.

Turn up, for Murty's sake.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

If testimonials must take place, have them at the end of a season rather than the beginning.

Although that would present other problems - for example there were a round of internationals at the end of this season, plus the playoffs could add 3 weeks to the season. Work is also often needed on the pitches and needs to start as soon as possible and holding on for a week for a testimonial could impact it being finished for the start of the season.

I think it's harder to actually fit these extra games in, whether you see them as worthwhile or not and can;t see them carrying on much longer.

I thought that Parky had the last, and that was only due to pressure from fans for him to have one, i am surprised that Murts got one, would have liked to seen it as a pay on the day thing early season, all ex players, or ex players from other clubs with a connection.