UK Ferry Tickets

“You’ve got to think outside the box” is one of those nauseating American expressions you hear from superiors at work who think you should try tackling a problem in a different way.

I first heard it about ten years ago from my then publisher (co-incidentally an American) who was unimpressed with my handling of two poor-performing staff members and actually drew me a picture of a box with an ‘x’ beside it to mark where he thought I should be. Frankly, I just wanted to put him and the useless staff members in the box and have done with it, but in the end it did teach me something about man-management. Instead of sacking the misfits, I just gave them increasingly difficult tasks until they left of their own free will. Thankfully, the term ‘constructive dismissal’ hadn’t been invented in those days.

Football fans will need to think outside the box this summer if they want to travel to the World Cup, which is taking place in Germany.

Apparently, tickets are like gold dust and it will cost a fortune to stay in, or fly to, the cities where our boys are playing in the group games.

True enough, but there are plenty of other options in Europe and it’s the perfect opportunity to see some of the Continent as well as a bit of football.

The European rail network is superb and many canny fans will stay in other cities for a fraction of the price and then travel on to games.

For example, a three-star hotel in Frankfurt on January 10, the night England play Paraguay, already costs around £200 for the night. But a similar standard room in Stuttgart, two hours’ travel away, is available for a quarter of that price.

If you fancy staying further afield, why not have a break in Paris and then travel on to Germany? The options are endless. Get the atlas out and start planning.

Obtaining tickets to games is going to be difficult but, as with all sporting occasions, they will be available from various sources closer to the event. (I paid a tout £80 for a ticket to see us win the Ashes on the Monday of the Oval test after being told I’d have to pay £1,000 to get in).

Even if you don’t get in, there will be around 100,000 England fans soaking up the atmosphere and the games will be shown on big screens in major cities.

For those who want to try to get tickets from official channels before travelling, you have to apply to the International Football Federation (www.fifa.com). They have put 250,000 tickets on sale for games and, as millions will apply, FIFA will hold a ballot for seats at the end of January.

The Football Association (www.thefa.com) will also be balloting tickets for games, but unless you’re a member of the official England supporters’ club, you’ve no chance of getting them.

Don’t let that put you off. I certainly won’t and will be heading to various parts of Europe next June!

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Saturday, December 31st, 2005