Wealdstone F.C. Supporters 5-a-side Tournament, May 10th.

[AFF]

A short note to say well done to the team yesterday who carried the flag to Wealdstone and performed very creditably losing narrowly by 1-0 to Wealdstone B in the quarter final of the plate competition, their 6th game of the day. Thanks are due to Mark White for his sponsorship to enable the £30 entrance fee to be paid.

 

The team was made up of a number of the EFM lads who were given vocal encouragement by the hordes, well 4 actually, of Travelling City Faithful.

 

A good tournament with good quality at the higher end. 24 teams including 4 from Wealdstone, two from Hitchin, Maidenhead, Dulwich, Kingstonian and that well-known Ryman League club, Brentford. There were even two teams from Hertford which suggests that actual support of the team concerned can't be a pre-requisite of entry.

 

Next season? Maybe Saints Supporters F.C.and the Yoof might think about entering the thing, too.

[The Caretaker]

Up for that ...talk to me baby !!

 

This year we had to fulfill a charity fixture on behalf of the club at CP aginst Oaklands College at short notice (now theres a suprise).

 

Morning, football in the comunity ... didnt see many kids around ?

 

1.00 - Arsenal Academy V Oaklands seconds ....9 Arsenal Girls v 9 Oakland seconds

Girls win 1-0. Not much of a crowd.

 

3.00 - Oaklands (College 3rd division champs) v Yoof + 1

Yoof win 3-1 at a canter to be fair. Still not much of a crowd.

 

3.45 Half Time entertainment - Students v Lecturers 5 a side. Didnt happen.

 

5.00 - Oaklands presentation in bar. No crowd apart from players and Yoof faithful (we were still the last to leave).

 

This was supposed to be a prestigious charity event (or so I was told when it was found out Oaklands had no one to play) but it seems that it was not advertised (Web site ? / around town / within the club house) well enough. Should this have been down to Oaklands or was this a joint venture ? It is about the 4th time it has taken place. Most disappointingly there was only one represetative of the club there for the duration who was doing everything, opened up, cleaned up, ran bar etc. Well done Mr. Eames.

 

Raised a small amount of money anyway but it could and should have been much better. Did anyone know this was on ?

[AFF]

Hi Caretaker.

 

For me, I heard some mention of a charity match at t'Park for Saturday after the Supporters AGM on Thursday evening but I didn't know/ask what it was about.

 

If it was a SACFC 'official' game, it could/should have been better advertised. Perhaps the Club should appoint a Press Officer? If it was for the benefit of Oaklands, the publicity was, presumably, down to the College?

 

Back to the Supporters 5-a-side tournament, there is another one at Wivenhoe at the end of June, I think. GHA will have the details. As I said the standard at Wealdstone was pretty good at the higher level. Our Yoof would have a good chance, and a good day out, I would say.

 

 

 

 

[The Caretaker]

Great. Any details available GHA ? Lets all go together !!

[Rob_the_Saint]

Two games this weekend...

 

John Gibson Select XI v Saints Supoorters on Saturday at noon (followed by some Cup Final or other on the telly) and...

 

Spurs Celebrity XI v Brookmans Park FC on Sunday in aid of MacMillan Cancer Relief, kick off 4 pm. Ths Spurs side will include such famous names as Martin Chivers, Martin Peters, Tony Galvin, Mark Falco and Peter Taylor amongst others. Admission is £5.

[GHA EFM]

I'm not 100% sure about the Wivenhoe Town tournament, but I'll get back to you.

[GHA EFM]

See GF.

[Brew]

Regarding the publicity, as far as I am aware it was not an 'official' City game, so adverts etc would be down to Oaklands College / Arsenal Ladies Academy. They would have been welcome to use the clubhouse and no doubt the website too.

 

Club representation at the game - as with all bookings this time of year (15 over the last 3 weeks), I'd say as long as the ground is opened, bar is run, ground is closed and people go away happy, I don't see any problem. In an ideal world you'd have as many as possible at every function, but given that we all have other jobs and family lives, spreading the workload around at this time of year is the only way to do it.

 

Personally, I'd like to thank Eamesy and Vicki for standing in for Vix and I at short notice due to a funeral we were attending. Much appreciated.

[The Caretaker]

Brew

 

Agree with your sentiments entirely. I for one have been at 6 games in 6 days conected to City or being played at Clarence Park and certainly the bar and its running have been superb. A break is definately needed but I think you have missed my what I was trying to get across.

 

The main point is, should these events (I mean all run down the Park) be managed jointly with other parties, in this instance Oaklands and City. At the first meeting surely the question should be asked "Can we help each other ?"

 

It is to everyones benefit to generate interest through this type of event. The more we get people in the better chance of getting them back, and even if they only come that once at least have the opportunity to generate extra income.

 

As for club representation, I was told, as stated at short notice, that I was helping out at a presigious event. One representative throughout the whole day certainly didnt make it feel like it, thats all.

 

Was I duped <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Brew]

Quite possibly!!!!!!!!

 

Seriously, I know where you are coming from, but realistically we only have one full time employee at the club. Organising publicity and liasing with various parties for each of these events would no doubt take time if it were to be done properly and to any benefit. I for one would love to see these events better supported and advertised, but who is going to do it?? It's all very well saying 'The Club', but as we are all aware we have enough trouble attracting stewards and gatemen for Ryman games, so getting people to liase for charity events may prove problematic.

 

As I've discussed with AFF, there is a need for a Press Officer/Commercial Manager who could certainly get involved in instances such as these.

[AFF]

Hi Brew. You must be that chap who helps the girls behind the bar on match days. Don't tell anyone who I am, thanks very much.

 

I'm not sure that the 'Press & P.R.' issues have anything to do with stewards and turnstile operatives. They are separate matters, surely.

 

Anyway. At the Supporters Club AGM on Thursday, details of sponsorship initiatives for next season were distributed and I understood that these were produced by Michele Sinclair, the Commercial Director. So we've got one.

 

 

 

 

[GHA EFM]

Do you mean to tell me, AFF, that alongside the girls behind the bar there is a chap who also pulls pints?

 

Never noticed him before...

 

??

[Brew]

Wouldn't dream of letting your cat out of your bag. Don't panic! And it's the girls who help me.....!

 

I was merely pointing out that we have trouble attracting people for stewarding etc, so getting volunteers to organise PR etc may be a little optimistic. Perhaps there will be a rush of people out there who will prove me wrong.

 

As for our commercial manager/director/thingy, I know we've got one, but I'd say there is definitely room for improvement.

 

 

[AFF]

Steady on Brew. Your £50,000 a year career could be at risk.

 

It is not necessary to ask for volunteers to 'organise PR'. The organisation of PR is something for someone who knows what they are doing. Volunteers might be required for some 'implementation' of PR, the erection of posters etc, but the co-ordination of these matters is for one person, who will need our support generally, of course.

 

Once again, Brew, the problem of stewarding is entirely separate.

[The Caretaker]

Its all really about the lost art of communication. Its cheap and can be carried out at any time. We are doing it now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Brew]

£50k a year? I don't rise in the morning for that.

 

I agree, we need a specialist individual to organise and co-ordinate the PR, but in the current absence of such an incumbant, we rely on volunteers, which we have a lack of.

 

As for stewarding, I realise it is a separate issue altogether, and should be done by trained staff, but once again, in the absence of such people we rely on volunteers. Different issue, same problem.

[Claire!]

Exactly!

[AFF]

Hi Brew. Out of bed today, then.

 

Look Brew. If the club needs bar staff, it knows where to go to get them. You. You are in charge of the bar. Your problem, no problem.

 

For bar staff, read stewards. For you, read the Club's Safety Officer. Problem? What problem?

 

For stewards, read P.R. For the Safety Officer, read the Commercial Director. Etc., Etc.

 

Don't give me this 'different issue, same problem' stuff.

[Brew]

I did manage to rise eventually. And what a lovely day it is as well.

 

If the issues are all so separate, you've done a remarkably good job of seamlessly intertwining them!!

 

Anyway, I'm sure you will agree that there are indeed a number of different 'issues' that need addressing at the club. Stewarding and PR are two such examples.

 

The crux of my point is that if the Safety Officer is having trouble getting stewards, I'd say he's experiencing a staff/volunteer shortage.

 

If the Commercial Director is having trouble getting PR assistance, I'd say she's also experiencing a staff/volunteer shortage.

 

You are correct, if I need bar staff I know where to get them. I go to the 'Vicki' farm...

[The Caretaker]

Brew

 

As you previously stated there is only one full time member of staff, so when you refer to staff shortages do you mean part time staff ? How many of these are there ?

 

When you refer to volunteers, who do you mean ? Those that already know what is happening ? Is any one else ever approached for help in such matters ?

 

I think these issues are all linked and the main problem is as my earlier post "the lost art of communication" ... if you dont ask you dont get. You have to be willing to talk to and listen to other parties ( the club that is ).

 

Any chance we can organise a trip to the "Vicki Farm" for all the help needed <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />