Wembley Stadium has a 0844 number on its website for main contact. This is 3p/min at all times from a BT landline.

There is no international alternative and where this number can be dialled from abroad, it's probably going to be expensive. Is this the sort of image we want to portray to other nations?

The switchboard number is 020 8795 9600. Whether this is the same as the 0844 number I don't know as I've no intention of ringing it.

The "old" number for Wembley National Stadium, 020 87959000, has a message on it saying that it "will be discontinued shortly". We aren't called Rip-off Britain for nothing!

It is surely the case that the only reason they are discontinuing this 020 number is to collect the revenue on the 0844 number. Simple. Otherwise it wouldn't matter whether calls were placed directly to it or not.

The number leedslad supplied still gets through to switchboard with no message saying that it is to be discontinued.

The 0844 number starts of with a recording giving telephone numbers and web addresses for various purposes. This, followed by a menu for "an operator" or Club Wembley lasts a minute. This must be the "Stadium Line" system.

Calling 020 87959600 puts you straight into the queue.

Following the FA's recent move to Wembley Stadium, it has taken the opportunity to jump on the 0844 revenue sharing number bandwagon.

Its old main number was 020 7745 4545 with other direct dial numbers in that range. Now, contact numbers are given as 0844 980 8200 followed by extension number (when prompted). This is illustrated nicely on the Amateur FA's contact page. Why no direct 020 numbers?

The phone system is the same one used by Wembley Stadium as calling its main number and entering an FA extension number goes through to the right person.

I noted last year (see above) that the Wembley Stadium main number, 020 8795 9000, had a message saying it was to be discontinued. Trying it now reveals that it is answered just the same as the 0844 980 8001 rip-off number that supposedly replaced it. The 020 number still does not appear on the Stadium's contact page.


Communiqué, the FA's international newsletter, issue 24 says:


Quote:

The FA is moving from its current offices in Soho Square in central London to Wembley Stadium, the spiritual home of the game in England. From 3 August 2009, The FA’s new address and contact numbers are: Visitor address: The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 0WS, United Kingdom Postal address: The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 9EQ, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 844 980 8200 Fax: +44 844 980 8201 If you are unable to connect to The FA on these numbers, please use +44 207 745 4545 (fax: +44 207 745 5545) until 1 August. From 3 August, please check The FA’s website (www.TheFA.com) for the new local number which will start +44 208.

I have scoured the FA's website and cannot see any 020 alternative.  :-?


This briefing on the move states:


Quote:

… The new telephone number for Wembley is 0844 980 8200, followed by the extension below. There are no direct dial lines at Wembley. Existing Referee Department extension numbers will be retained for all staff and it will be possible for external callers to directly dial by dialling the main number followed by a # and then the individual extension number. …

Come off it!

This is rubbish being peddled so calls go through the 0844 number.

The Amateur Football Alliance now has a new telephone number, its website says in a message posted on 23 September. It is answered identically to its "old" 0844 980 8207 number. Have they had complaints about the 0844 number I wonder?

Trying nearby numbers reveals the FA's own main number, identical to its 0844 number. These are now listed in our database.

Quote:

+44 207 745 4545 (fax: +44 207 745 5545)   ...   +44 208

Those should be  +44  20  7745  4545   (fax: +44  20  7745  5545)   ...   +44  20  8xxx xxxx

It has only been a decade since the Big Number Change.