Lets All Look Up The Word "Support".

[Brightside Bloke]

Cheers RtD

[Barry_T]

This thread is very interesting, and there are a lot of great points made.

I think the original point from Gazza is valid to an extent.

I would love to be able to have your enthusiasm and time for it all.

However, I have a wife and two small kids. My wife does not have an interest in football but accepts that me going to the match is part of my life.

I have a week at work and then on a Saturday get up early to look after the kids so that the wife can work.

She comes home at 2 and I go off to the footy.

I get home at 5.30 to do the dinner and put the kids to bed.

I therefore don't go for a drink before or after the game, and I don't have time to talk to the management.

When I watch some of the dross that we have seen this season, I beg your forgiveness for wondering why I don't spend Saturday afternoons with my family.

In fact, shoot me down, but that is exactly what I decided to do this week. Tonbridge was the first game of the season I missed, due to work commitments, and I have been so disgruntled with it I decided to have a couple of hours with the kids on Saturday too.

So, does that make me less of a supporter? In many ways, yes. And I assume that I am one of "The "bodiless" voices from those that are brave enough to whine, moan and abuse players around the ground but not brave enough to stand up and put their point over".

But does that make my views less valid? No. You wonder why supporters aren't coming through the door? Well those of us that do go seem to be alienated because we're not as good as others.

 

My Saturday afternoon is the time that I put aside for "entertainment".

In my opinion, I have not had much of that this season.

I enjoy watching this level of football and realise that the quality might not be up to it every week.

However, the punter effectively pays the wages of the players, and if they can't be bothered, why should I?

 

I AM a BTFC supporter but because of my family, the only time I can offer is to go to the games.

I don't have much money so am not able to support financially. So, apparently, I am not wanted and I must keep my views to myself.

 

I admire what everyone does at the club and am grateful that because of them us mere mortals have a place to go to get our entertainment on a Saturday.

However, if the performance is bad, the performance is bad.

You can't blame the part-time supporters like me for this.

Maybe you should take your comments to a Newcastle United forum and see if their fans are in agreement? How dare they suggest that the club isn't being run properly because they can't afford the

[NorwayBTFC]

Actually, all of you have some very good points, but I have to say, that when I was over from Norway on the Harrow Borough-game, I witnessed probably one of the most silent matches I've been too!

 

There where a little bit of occasionally singing and cheering, but probably one of the worst supports I've been witnessing the 10 years I've been around as a Billericay-supporter.

 

In a way, the supporters are the twelfth man on the field, and for me it looks like this "twelfth man" hasn't done the effort he should have this season, as many of the others on the team...

 

It will never help a player to get negative comments shouted at him, but it always help a team to get encouragement from their supporters, that's my view, anyway.

 

And I'm missing the large flag...

 

I'm also missing some new songs... Saw that BWG played in green boots, back in the old days that would have promted a song...maybe some workaround of Coldplays "Green eyes"...

 

Let's get our smiles back!

[The Town Crier]

 

Good post Barry.

 

Bad performance...compared to what we expect and are used to I would agree, but with so many out it's not going to improve until the injuries subside and we get a competitive squad together. I'm sorry that you are selective in how you support Billericay but as you quite rightly say that is your prerogative.

 

I can see no comparison between Newcastle united and Billericay, are suggesting our club isn't being run properly?

 

"because you don't have much much money you're not wanted and should keep your views to your self" those words spoilt your post somewhat I thought.

 

keep your posts coming Barry they give a good balance, Gary is entitled to his opinion, just as Pirate is, you are, I am, and anyone else who wants to contribute.

 

BTW, we cant be that bad as we have Colchester, Dagenham and Peterborough all very interested in one of our lads.

[Pooch]

I don't know about anyone else, but I've enjoyed every game I've been to so far, and I've been to them all!

 

For me, the game doesn't have to be 90 minutes of fantastic free flowing football and 3 points in the bag every game to entertain me - I can watch Arsenal do that on the TV (sorry Chairman!). To me, a good day at BTFC is turning up, standing with a great group of supporters (some of whom have now become friends), hoping for a win but not knowing if we are going to win, lose or draw. If the suspense is there til the 87th minute like it was on Saturday AND we end up with a win, then I am more than happy and content that I've had my money's worth. A win's a win, and it means I forget that dodgy pass in the 16th minute.

 

Maybe I'm lucky as I've never played the game, so won't pretend to understand every aspect of it that well. I can appreciate a good goal, pass or tackle, but don't necessarily notice someone having a poor game. That's women for you!

 

With a depleted team, and as a result not the best of starts, the boys have enough pressure on the pitch. Lets not add to that pressure by giving individuals or the management a hard time. If they are not pulling their weight then I'm sure their team mates or the management or the chairman will let them know in no uncertain terms!

 

Personally, I'm just glad I don't have 300 people watching my every move at work as they will spot me writing this post rather than doing what I am paid to do :-)

[The Town Crier]

Originally Posted By: NorwayBTFC

Actually, all of you have some very good points, but I have to say, that when I was over from Norway on the Harrow Borough-game, I witnessed probably one of the most silent matches I've been too!

There where a little bit of occasionally singing and cheering, but probably one of the worst supports I've been witnessing the 10 years I've been around as a Billericay-supporter.

In a way, the supporters are the twelfth man on the field, and for me it looks like this "twelfth man" hasn't done the effort he should have this season, as many of the others on the team...

It will never help a player to get negative comments shouted at him, but it always help a team to get encouragement from their supporters, that's my view, anyway.

And I'm missing the large flag...

I'm also missing some new songs... Saw that BWG played in green boots, back in the old days that would have promted a song...maybe some workaround of Coldplays "Green eyes"...

Let's get our smiles back!

an even better post, cheers Per

[blackballed]

Very interesting but I bet you buggers sing your hearts out when you come to us this week...........looking forward to it, so get behind your team, we will get behind ours and get both our teams climbing that league......and my the best team win..

[Barry_T]

I didn't particularly intend that my support is selective.

My support is true, but because of my lifestyle and other priorities, I have to put into perspective how important going to a game is. Saturday was the 1st time in many years that I "chosen" not to go.

 

My apologies for insinuating the club isn't being run properly. Quite the opposite, in fact, One of the beauties of BTFC is the way it is run from top to bottom and why it is an honour to consider myself a fan.

My intention with that remark was that the way earlier posts had been put, real fans should not exclaim their dissatisfaction with anything. Newcastle fans have expressed their unhappiness in their thousands which, whether I agree with them or not, I think is a very good thing. We have been told that we should not complain unless we are willing to do something about it, and I was merely suggesting that putting that arguement to Newcastle fans would get rather short shrift.

 

I realise I sometimes "stir things up" with my posts, but that is not deliberate.

With this post I merely wanted to highlight that we don't all have the same lifestyle, so what some people think is the norm others struggle to keep up with.

I took parts of the original post as a personal slight, as I believe many others will, so I wanted to add my side of things.

I will be very interested in what Gazza has to say, and I hope he reads my postings as they are intended - to give an insight into why its not so easy for us all to be as dedicated as he undoutedly is.

 

[Brightside Bloke]

I'm feeling a group hug coming on.

 

Like Pooch i have never been a huge fan of football that is until i came to watch BTFC beat the clarets. And i agree it has been pretty quite around the ground as well as on the pitch. So let's do something about it instead of pissing each other off on here.

 

We have a great opportunity this coming Wednesday to put that right by putting in a fan's singing and cheering practice session before during and after the game.

 

Come on lad's and lassie's we are all part of the Blue Army let's UNITE one and all.

 

 

 

 

[The Town Crier]

fans can, will and should exclaim their dissatisfaction if they want to, I didn't read Gary post as suggesting otherwise. I thought it was more of a (Copyright infringement?)PUOSU message.

 

We had after-all just qualified to the next round the FA cup winning 4-1, pocketed 4k, and eventually showed our class.

How many of you thought thet we should have got smashed by swansea, or did we all know we wold give them a game and may just have a chance of a replay or with a bit of luck even scrape a win?

 

Clacton were no different, it was never going to be 'easy' for us and to do that with a makeshift side was in reality a good result.

 

So when people had been moaning because our 4-1 victory was not good enough, and we had progressd into the next round of the draw. Then that same evening some people had gone to a lot of effort to organiise a fun night for the fans and next to no-one turns up, its frustrating and that frustration spills onto the forum, as it does with Barry sometimes.

 

Its no big deal really, I was disappointed with the turn out but I wont be letting blood over it. Amanda and Per have the right idea lets smile and enjoy.

 

The draw is 1 pm you say...c'mon you Blues.

 

just for you BB

[Brightside Bloke]

Originally Posted By: The Town Crier

just for you BB

Well that bought a smile to my face. See it does work

[GazzaBTFC]

There are lots of valid points here and a lot of them taken on board.

 

Firstly, loads of people took it personally. Fair enough, it wasn't aimed at those that I know have supported the club through thick and thin and it was PUOSU post. Frustrated? I was as was everyone. As for lending a hand, I know others personal circumstances does not "lend" to help out...thanks for the insight of your day Barry. Some of you took the second part of the post to heart, whereas that was written more as an "aside" from the first part.

 

Does it help to "dig" out the supporters? As much that it doesn't help to "dig" out the players...we don't like it do we but you have all had the chance to answer. Those players can't and don't. When a team doesn't play well, a negative reaction does them no favours...and there were plenty on Saturday even though we won 4 -1.

 

We all know the players can't "dig" out the supporters and we all know that Jason and Grant have an opinion and they will voice it, if approached and stand up for their players, for good reason...but there are those "bodiless voices" that don't, won't and will never face them and put their "match day" arguement (if some of the comments are an arguement) over...When things are not going well, the worst thing the supporters can do is "dig" out players... It's difficult but we should be the 12th man...we used to be...And it's those players that have been with us for longer than this season that would would agree with that. 'Ricay support has been top notch and been the difference is some games (remember Maidstone?).

 

One more thing...our most experieneced fit defender on Saturady was Neil Marron. Whilst I would agree that some of the expereienced players did not have a great game, the young players are and are putting in the effort...so why can't we get behind the team to encourage them on?

 

As for promoting the club, one hour, Saturday morning...that is all we ask...even half an hour. Handing out leaflets, talking to people that don't attend, that is all we're asking. If you believe in the club then you can sell it to anyone. We have broken the 200 mark for members without the 1st round proper to boast about and the membership is still growing. The BTSA is not the committee, it is everyone who signs up...so lets have just a little support. If we're not communicating then ask. You all know me, Emma, John Richardson, Andy Butt, Leighton Thomas...or even appraoch the Chairman, Steve Kent.

[Baldryck]

Originally Posted By: The Town Crier

(Copyright infringement?)PUOSU message.

Ooh TC, you are awful...

[NorwayBTFC]

Originally Posted By: Brightside Bloke

Like Pooch i have never been a huge fan of football that is until i came to watch BTFC beat the clarets. And i agree it has been pretty quite around the ground as well as on the pitch. So let's do something about it instead of pissing each other off on here.

Hear, hear!

[The Town Crier]

Originally Posted By: Baldryck

Originally Posted By: The Town Crier

(Copyright infringement?)PUOSU message.

Ooh TC, you are awful...

I know I know...but, do you like me...or "did I get it wrong again"


Now thanks to you Baldy I'm feeling very old.

[Baldryck]

Oh we like you!