Ideas and initiative thread

[EastLondonDan.]

I did contact a mate of mine who is involved with trying to get young local kids to watch Berwick Rangers, here is his reply....probably nothing new here?

 

As for what you can actually do, the only answers I can give are the most obvious ones. Obviously, you need to rely (much as we do) on media coverage a lot for cheap (or free in that case) advertising. You can't exactly force them into giving you much either. However, making sure that relations between your local newspapers etc and the club are good is always a good thing. Even in Berwick there's the odd dummy spat, therefore not damaging the image of the club. However in recent weeks new folk have taken over there and since then two potentially harmful stories have been ran. People don't want to be associated with a club if it's not going to be viewed in a positive manner.

Then there is advertising. You can never do enough of it, Berwick in particular is really poor for it. However, go around with posters (Or even better, window stickers, because they can't really take them off after they've been put on) in shops and offer them a free ticket to get in every month. The likelihood is that firstly, they won't use the ticket, and even if they do, it goes down on record and increases both atmosphere and attendance, and the more people that enjoy a game, the more chance they'll bring someone else along.

Another thing is the youth. You need to ensure that they're going to stay after they stop paying the whatever a week. Even if it's free entry - if there is no gap to bridge, they'll stop. You don't want to go from £2 a week to £9. Berwick are currently introducing a scheme where U13s get in for free, then from there it's £5 a week. However, if you're to join the Junior Trust, then you get a season ticket for £30 (or in this season's case, a half-season ticket for £15). There's still a big gap to bridge if you're 13. You don't want to end up having to spend all money on it every week.

Of course, another factor is the success of the club. The only thing you can do is encourage them to win, but that obviously involves the needs of fans!

Edited February 7, 2011 by EastLondonDan.

[Eastside Urchin]

some interesting things there,perhaps the window stickers is a route we should look at.We are actually looking at more car stickers being bought at the moment,perhaps we can tie this up with local shops.

Also kids,not sure how much our season tickets are for under 16's but maybe we could look at that route,say offer kids season tickets for £20-30 up to 12-13 and then apply a £3-4 per game charge for over 13';s???

 

i do believe that youth is the future for any club

Maybe we need to offer free tickets to certain games for all kids of schools in Hornchurch & Upminster for the last 2 games of the season and then sell season tickets for next season at those two games????

[Miss.A.F.C.Hornchurch]

How about putting the Ref in a Stock and throwing wet sponges at him.

 

I am in

 

Hell yeah, especially if it was that Twat from Saturday!!

[Hornchurch "O"]

Hi Annie

[Miss.A.F.C.Hornchurch]

Hello

[EastLondonDan.]

Sorry if this sounds daft or stupid, but maybe the players could do a bit more, not on the pitch, but by asking their family / mates to come along and watch them play, ok, I know some people wouldn't really fancy paying £9 just to watch a mate, personally, if I knew a player, I would pay, but it is a personal choice I suppose.

 

Just a thought......

 

 

[Eastside Urchin]

Quite a few do already,and many of them support the club at functions like the quiz night and other parties etc.

In fact without them we would struggle at certain functions to be honest.

[EastLondonDan.]

Quite a few do already,and many of them support the club at functions like the quiz night and other parties etc.

In fact without them we would struggle at certain functions to be honest.

 

I said it might sound daft, sorry, didn't realise that they already do bring their own family / mates.

 

As it goes, this may also sound daft, but are the club in desparate need of the extra income (life or death), or is it just a case of trying to get more bodies through the gate?

[EastLondonDan.]

One Idea is how about doing 'An evening with' I went to one last year where they had Paul Merson and Ray Parlour, Merson spent a good 45 minutes telling his story (some great comedy in there too), then they hosted a raffle and then both (mainly Parlour) hosted a Q&A session for about an hour. I paid £25 for my ticket, and was great value although I am an Arsenal fan. Not sure how much these things cost to host, but if you go along the same lines of £25 a ticket, get in maybe a West Ham great, this could be a winner...and something liek this could be done every few months....

[Eastside Urchin]

It is a good idea and one many clubs do,I know billericay have done it before and I know the club have looked into it before,round this way it would probably be a better sell if it's west ham,saying that there are enough arsenal fans and the arsenal have actually won the odd trophy in my lifetime