conference standard

[Guest]

So about the fact that our ground is not conference standard what improvements need to be done. It seems strange to think a ground that holds 3000 or more is not big enough to hold conference grounds. As most attendences are of 1-2 thousand. As at the Northampton game we easily got 3000 in park lane so what is the ground lacking.

[CANV EFM]

numbers of turstiles.. emergency lighting..exits..toilets..paved areas.. fences.. there are loads of regs.. to get from the conf to the league is much worse..a lot of the league clubs in div 3 wouldnt meet the requirments that boston and the daggers have to, to get promoted..mind you someone did mention one thing that i think is a bit dangerous and that is the bolts sticking out behing the seated stand, as it is narrow through there

[Table-One.com]

Not to mention the big one, the number of seats, as well as toilets, different entrances, emergencies exits......<p>While our ground is hardly amazing, its built to meet the criteria. 7 turnstiles (3 at away end) various emergency exits etc, over 1000 seats 2 te-bars(I know one is never open) 3 toilets(okay only 2 are open) There is also something to do with floodlight quality.

[Rob_the_Saint]

re: Floodlights<p>The ability of floodlights to remain on for 90 minutes is a major criteria. <img src="graemlins/smileimages/icons/wink.gif" border="0" alt="[smilewink]" /> <p>No, seriously, there is a brightness criteria of, I think, 150 (250?) lux which floodlights have to meet to get the grading. Last season our beloved and sorely-missed Chairman had to borrow oodles of dosh to get ours upgraded so its not to be taken lightly (groan!).

<img src="graemlins/chat.gif" border="0" alt="" /><p>[ 25 January 2002: This message was edited by: Rob the Saint ]</p>

[Merv]

The output of Canvey's floodlights was increased from 170 to 250 lux last year to meet the Conference criterion. The recent intermittent fault with the fuseboard was repaired last Friday.<p>Merv CIFC

[Essy]

Was the on/off switch in the home dugout taken out?

[Merv]

Can you substantiate that innuendo? Bet not.<p>Merv CIFC

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Er.... I think thats why he put the smiley on there - I suggest you get a sense of humour !!!<p>PS I'm sure that, like most Gravesend fans, if we are to be promoted to the Conference, we would want to do so on merit - I would hope, therefore, that silly technicalities dont come into it.

[Guest]

Morning chaps, St Albans here (don't worry, I'm not going to say anything too objectionable). <p>Nine years ago, City finished 2nd in the league, and, with Chesham (that years champions) not taking up the option to bring their ground up to Conference standard, we had a crack. We were rejected, the regulars will tell you, because of the infamous "two trees" (one of which still stands, by the way), but the truth is more complex. We also had no proper perimeter fence, substandard floodlights, no segregation barriers and no crush barriers on the terraces.<p>It became, so far as I can tell, a sworn aim of those in charge of the club that the humiliation of being turned down for promotion would never happen again, so, when Fat Boy Harding took over City in 1998, it was spend spend spend. The fact that we didn't have the money to spend on it didn't seem to be a consideration. <p>Look where we are now. With all due respect (I've seen both this season, and Canvey & Gravesend are by far the best teams in the Ryman League), there's no way that your ground would make Conference grading in it's current condition. That said, it should also be added that the Conference ground grading rules are something of a nonsense. Their argument goes something along the lines of this: There's no point in letting teams into the Conference who've got no chance of getting into the league because of the state of their grounds. If they're part way there, they'll have time to finish the redevelopments during the promotion season, should they have one.<p>In my view, the league rules are ridiculous. It is fair that clubs should have to bring their grounds up to scratch. However, by the first of April? Next season doesn't even start until August. The extra cost of having to install these extra facilities in such a ludicrously small period of time could prove crippling to clubs working to the budget that Ryman League clubs have to work to. Also, the point about having a minimum/maximum capacity is similarly worthless. In my opinion, Canvey should be allowed into the Conference with a ground capacity of 1,500, so long as those 1,500 people are catered for safely. Personally, I have my doubts over whether big crowds could be catered for safely week in week out at Canvey, but why the ground should have to hold 4,000 (which I believe is the Conference minimum capacity) is beyond me. as far as I can see, Canvey would struggle to get more than 1000 or so in the Conference, due to it's unusual catchment area. A capacity, therefore, of 2,000 would amply cover all league matches for next season. <p>I would say this: don't get yourselves into financial ruin over your ground, like we did. And if you're THAT desperate for Conference football and can handle a 100 mile round trip every other Saturday, there may well be a Conference graded ground sitting vacant next season.....

[Guest]

Agreed.<p>Many of my most interesting patients are Welsh.<p>Dr Zbungle

Chief Psychiatric Officer

Runwell Hospital

[GazzaBTFC]

Well, I'm corresponding with a Welsh Bird that lives in Swansea.<p>I don't think Runwell covers that far!!!

[Wilf]

I think that the rights and wrongs of being Welsh could become an even more emotive and subjective topic than ticket prices for cup ties!

Glad to see the good Doctor is back with yet another subtle viewpoint.<p>On a serious note - tonight's Echo rattles on about work needing to be done to the ground before April so the Conference lot must have made SOME comments. Anything official coming from the Club, and how can we pass last season but not this? I think it's unlikely to be "bits and pieces" as we have been given a 3 month deadline. Anybody actually KNOW anything??

[David Holden]

I suppose it could be that you didn't actually pass last season. You may have done the same as us, which was start the work that was required after the first inspection, but once you decided that you weren't going to win the league, slow down on the work.<p>We finished our wok during the close season, but had we still been in with a shout, then we could have finshed it by 1st April 2000.

[Rob_the_Saint]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave GNFC:

<strong>We finished our wok during the close season.</strong><hr></blockquote><p>Glad to hear it Dave, mine's a sweet and sour chicken with egg fried rice. Make's a nice change from burgers. <img src="graemlins/bussi.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[GazzaBTFC]

Nothing wrong with the Welsh.

[GazzaBTFC]

I have made the mistake of mentioning this web site to Mad Welsh Bird!!! She may register and give me some grief (Oh God noooooooooooooo).

[CANV EFM]

schoolboy error

[cangull]

I think you missed the Doctors point Gazza; 'you' are still in the Runwell catchment area and after giving the Welsh bird this forum info you do need to see the good doctor but I fear he will have sympathy with the The Mad Welsh girl on this one!

[Guest]

Dear Mr Vic,<p>Having read some of Mr Gazza's postings I don't think we could help him in my department - you see, we don't do colonic irrigation.<p>Dr Zbungle

Chief Psychiatric Officer

Runwell

(soon to be twinned with Tonnypandy)

[GazzaBTFC]

That is a bugger.<p>Oh well, I'll just have to get pissed, stoned a ****ed.