Supporters UNITED v Dartford

[True Blue]

My first ever posting, but I will cut straight to the chase, WE NEED SUPPORTERS TO UNITE AND GET BEHIND THE TEAM AND CLUB. We are all aware that attendances are down, and having read the Chairmans blog, now is the time that this club needs its supporters. This is not about the chairman/manager or players. This is about OUR CLUB. Put aside your differences and grumbles and get to New Lodge. As supporters we need to push this club forward by attending in large numbers again. I propose that on Saturday we all UNITE as one. Lets get that partisan New Lodge atmosphere going again.

 

ARE WE ALL UP FOR IT?

[Brightside Bloke]

Most certainly up for it True Blue.

Always willing to UNITE.

[Adam.S]

Thing is there are many reasons why our attendance is low TB a main reason being the credit crunch. Its not just our club that has had the decrease in attendance figures. When you look at thurrocks attendance for the FA Cup game, they got 90, which is really poor.

 

 

[Brightside Bloke]

90 that's just awful, I think we had well more than that away to sutton.

[Rick the Dick]

Originally Posted By: Adam.S

Thing is there are many reasons why our attendance is low TB a main reason being the credit crunch.

Interesting recent "blog" by the chairman. "Addressing the problem" has a number of interpretations.

I feel we should be cautious in blaming the "credit crunch". It may be affecting the existing traditional supporter, but I suspect expectations were also higher at the start of last season following the play-off final. This may account for some of the disparity.

But we live in an affluent area (despite the pikey jibes ). For a lot of Billericay residents "tightening your belt" means finding a cheaper Tennis Coach for the kids, or cutting down on lessons with the Golf Pro.

Every now and again we manage to "tap" into that larger potential market; Swansea, Exeter etc.. but they don't seem to stay.

I don't know why that is. I've tried thinking critically about what would enhance the match-day experience but I'm devoid of big ideas.

Perhaps it's as simple as offering "Skinny Lates' " behind the bar and Panini's in the Tea Hut

[DFC Ultras]

Looking forward to Saturday's encounter. Dartford should be bringing around 150-200 for this won, we've been on a decent run lately those so maybe 250. I hope that your true fans are able to come together and create a good atmosphere as a sing-off would be great and i guess from your stand point a good atmosphere would be another way of keeping fans coming in and trapping those floating fans. You seem like a decent club with one of the higher league gates last year so hopefully you can continue that this year. Good luck with your endeavours, except for on saturday

[GazzaBTFC]

Originally Posted By: True Blue

My first ever posting, but I will cut straight to the chase, WE NEED SUPPORTERS TO UNITE AND GET BEHIND THE TEAM AND CLUB. We are all aware that attendances are down, and having read the Chairmans blog, now is the time that this club needs its supporters. This is not about the chairman/manager or players. This is about OUR CLUB. Put aside your differences and grumbles and get to New Lodge. As supporters we need to push this club forward by attending in large numbers again. I propose that on Saturday we all UNITE as one. Lets get that partisan New Lodge atmosphere going again.

ARE WE ALL UP FOR IT?

I'm always up for it TB. IMO there has been a less than positive attitude around but for what reason, I cannot fathom. Maybe expectations are high? If that is the reason, we're only one and a half months into the season and should remain positive for the remaining season. We're two points off a play off place and that was achieved without key players in the squad!!!

But that doesn't tell the whole story. In these "tight" times when some clubs are struggling, ours is stable and alive. We are fortunate to be able to be in a position to enjoy our club and therefore get behind it and support it whole heartedly. In fact, we are the club. As you say, it isn't just about the players, The Chairman, the Manager or the Supporters, it's about all of us. It's a big "melting pot" of people and we should all be "working" towards the success of this club, in whatever capacity we choose, dispite our differences (should there be any).

This Saturday, there will be a stall outside Peter Murray's ("wet stuff" apart). There will be people manning the stall and distributing leaflets, promoting the forthcoming fixtures and events. If we have a good turn out of people willing to help, think what that would say to the people of our community...that this town has a football club, it's alive, it's well and it's welcoming.

[Nitetime Neil]

I don't accept this "credit crunch" theory. Surely if that was the case then our gates would be UP not DOWN as fans of Premiership clubs and other pro-teams came to get their footy fix at New Lodge instead of being ripped off for their shrinking earnings at Upton Park or the Emirates,etc ?? I liked Rick's "tennis coach" comparison - it's like if Arsenal/West Ham are Waitrose then we are Aldi, come and grab some bargains folks !

[GazzaBTFC]

I think you're wrong. I think those people who do support Premier Clubs have seen football as a expense and have cut it out completely and are content to watch their team on the "box". I think the "credit crunch" theory may not be the whole reason but is certainly a contributing factor.

[Paul J]

I think the 'credit crunch' theory is a massive red herring and a load of old claptrap (I havent used that word for ages!). Thurrock have always had about 90 people watch them. They are just a poorly supported club. End of story.

 

You only need to look at our league position and the quality of football we have been playing to answer why attendances are down. If we win 5 on the bounce we

[The Town Crier]

 

Our League position and points is better than it was after 10 last season, and until Saturday our cup run was the same...

 

I just think we got complacent, people have to be encouraged to attend, where are all the posters advertising games for example.

We can't just expect people to turn up.

 

The spend on advertising blockbuster movies is enormous, why?...because without it, it would be just another movie.

 

Granted, winning games gives us better and a more positive media coverage, and that would help.

 

 

I see spurs are still getting bigger crowds than us though,

[Rick the Dick]

Originally Posted By: Paul J

I think the 'credit crunch' theory is a massive red herring and a load of old claptrap (I havent used that word for ages!)

If it's a Red Herring surely that should be Cods-wallop? It can only be claptrap if it was a load of "pony"

But whilst both the on-pitch performance & economic situation may account for losing a few faces, it doesn't account for not attracting more new faces to replace them & grow. Most businesses will experiance a "churn" factor in their customer base, but will aim to grow market share on top of that.

Whilst there maybe a number of people out there who can no longer afford every home game or are disgruntled with the "product", I bet there's a hell of a lot more who can afford it but have never tried it.

[jl]

Just out of interest Rick

 

"Addressing the problem" has a number of interpretations.

 

Perhaps you'd care to elaborate because I'm struggling to get beyond one interpretation.

 

[The Town Crier]

 

 

Party's for the rich and famous would raise a few quid, so when you win the 250k knockout and have a mega bash at the club jl, it could put us back on track, shall I get the champagne in now?

[Rick the Dick]

Originally Posted By: jl

Just out of interest Rick

"Addressing the problem" has a number of interpretations.

Perhaps you'd care to elaborate because I'm struggling to get beyond one interpretation.

Depending on your mindset you could interpret it as meaning we're going into the movie poster business. Or maybe that the chances of progressing from the ressies to the first team could improve in the future.

I'd suspect it's deliberately ambiguous, but I love a good conspiracy theory.

[Bill of Shenfield]

People have various reasons for not attending and I will not try to speculate why. But I do feel that if the team is playing well and winning people are more likely to think about coming to watch. So, hopefully this will come in the next few weeks. However I do not think I will be able to make any game on Saturdays during this month as "she who must be obeyed" has booked them all out.

[Brightside Bloke]

What is a "she who must be obeyed" ?

[Bill of Shenfield]

"Her indoors"

[The Town Crier]

Originally Posted By: Rick the Dick

But whilst both the on-pitch performance & economic situation may account for losing a few faces, it doesn't account for not attracting more new faces to replace them & grow. Most businesses will experiance a "churn" factor in their customer base, but will aim to grow market share on top of that.

Whilst there maybe a number of people out there who can no longer afford every home game or are disgruntled with the "product", I bet there's a hell of a lot more who can afford it but have never tried it.

Spot on Rick, there is no get rich quick answer. If we are to regain, maintain, and then grow our market share, then we have to put in the work.

It's is not going to happen by itself...

[True Blue]

SO ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A PARTISAN SUPPORT ON SATURDAY? This is a direct rallying call to ALL SUPPORTERS to get themselves down to New Lodge. We can debate Chairmen/Managers and players all day long. The one thing that drives most clubs is its supporters. Lets have a show of UNITY on saturday.