CEO appeals for town's support

[Wellsie]

See www.margate-fc.com for details.

[Boney Crisp]

The only way we will get supporters back through the door is if we are winning games and if we actually get the full go ahead with the building of the stadium. The last few seasons we have had many false dawns with the stadium and we have been more then poor in the league and it is no coincidence that people have decided to stay away. The fact we live in one of the most financially depressed areas in the country doesn't help much either

[michael]

I can understand the rallying call from CE-and in his esteemed shoes would do similar.

 

That given- i think BC in his post above sums it up perfectly-those are the two factors that will work.

 

Equally-Cliff mentions the 'attractive' football-frankly-winning football is what will bring a few back-as no matter how well/attractive you play-many will still find serious fault-brought up on a serving of televised football and expecting to pay a meagre £10 or less and see part timers serve up the same.

 

Normally when there is potential for a good crowd-lowestoft-we lose the game before and shoot ourselves in the foot !

Not easy to pick up a point or three at kingstonian in advance of the lowestoft game.

 

(was the lowestoft game last season on the saturday or the monday ?)

 

Its been easy to see it coming though-even this website has seen a dwindling of posts

Edited August 24, 2012 by michael

[Broadstairs Dave]

Lowestoft It was saturday last year.

 

I was dissapointed in last saturday's home attendence, any one who follows non league should realise by now the Gate has a rather special team this year with a very strong squad. Shoot on sight seems to be one of the weapons in the armoury which makes for exiting football not to be missed. Never mind keeping a blank sheet defending, just carry on attacking.

 

Up The Gate

[BlueGate Alan]

Margate take a lot of page coverage in this weeks Gazette including a new weekly article called "From the Terraces"

[Broadstairs Dave]

Yes i have seen it, relatively speaking its very good !

 

Just need the coverage on Acadamy FM now as its our only real community radio now Over to Barry and the lad Lewis

[Wellsie]

Rest assured we are continually trying to build our relationships and develop mutual benefit with a number organisations including local press and media.

 

And you're right Dave - Academy are the only real local radio station now KM has gone more regional and the BBCis focusing on the Blue Sqaure Bet. Chris Jordan's show on a Saturday afternoon - obviously while keeping an eye on the Twitter feed on the Margate website home page - is a good listen too.

[michael]

Lowestoft It was saturday last year.

 

I was dissapointed in last saturday's home attendence, any one who follows non league should realise by now the Gate has a rather special team this year with a very strong squad. Shoot on sight seems to be one of the weapons in the armoury which makes for exiting football not to be missed. Never mind keeping a blank sheet defending, just carry on attacking.

 

Up The Gate

 

stronger than last year agreed.personally not going ott until 6/7 games played,although i hope you are feeling the same come monday evening BD.

Yes-CK has 'strengthed' so far-but so have alot of other clubs-and we only really know what Margate have done in isolation.

Quite a few other clubs supporters are thinking the same about their teams at this stage of the season.

 

Up the 'Gate

[zorba]

Reading an earlier post reminded me of the movie "Field of Dreams" (for those who remember it), in which the maxim was "If you build it, they will come" ......stadium, team?

 

People want one or two heroes in the team and of course winning.

 

I don't want to say it BUT get 'em in before we start losing!

 

Up the 'Gate

Edited August 24, 2012 by zorba

[michael]

the other factor is the number of ryman teams now on the north kent coast.

 

Last saturday-both herne bay-novelty value-and faversham were at home.

Maybe not many-but prehaps 20/30 who may have come to Margate-went there.

A bit further afield-but maybe 10 or so like a fix on the conference-and both ebbsfleet and dover were at home.

 

On monday-ramsgate and whitstable are at home and 'competing' with us for the floating customer.

 

If any of herne bay,faversham, dover, ramsgate or whitstable have good league or cup runs-that will hurt a bit.

 

Interesting that on monday,ramsgate are at home clashing with Margate-and on the first-ramsgate are also away-same as us-not normally scheduled that way.

 

 

 

 

[Paul H]

I don't know why MFC don't encourage Sunday league teams to come along. Alot of the players I have played with have always taken a distant interest in MFC.

Also what about the youth section. We used to get free passes whan I played for MFC youth but we had to be accompanied by a paying parent.

Deep down though I feel it has never been more important to get the new HDP built. HDP as it is, is not a great place to be on a cold winters tuesday night with limited cover from the elements.

[SteveB]

The problem with trying to get more people through the turnstyes is an age old one and everything has been suggested in the past from targetting schools, leaving posters in the changing rooms at Jakey Bakers/Garlinge to giving pub landlords a free ticket if they bring five of their customers along.

 

The trouble is, I think there are several reason for the low attendances and they have all been mentioned.....the football has not been great in recent years and an apathy has built up, Hartsdown is an uncomfortable place to watch a game if it is cold/raining/blazing hot and we are in an unemployment blackspot during a recession.

 

We are not the only ones in this situation. All attendances in our league on Saturday were shocking and I was even told that two weeks ago, Chelsea still had tickets available for their first two home games. People are struggling to pays bills without the luxury of going to watch football. If clubs have budgeted on a certain attendance and this is not met, there could be a few problems around the corner.

 

If there is to be any focus, I think it should be about getting fans back, not attracting new ones. I know a lot of people who keep an eye on how Margate are doing but nothing I say can tempt them along to a game. A couple of years back we were getting 6-700 for our opening game. On Saturday, half of those were missing. A play-off chasing position will bring some of those back. A new stadium will bring more back.Then that would hopefully snowball. Back in the Conference days, you could hear the singing on the Coffin End from the seafront. That caused people to pop along because it seemed like something entertaining was going on. These days, people are often too cold standing where the Coffin End was to speak let alone sing!

Edited August 25, 2012 by SteveB

[margateshot]

I know the first match attendance was disappointing but I think the weather was another factor. It was hot enough watching, let alone playing and I'm sure a lot of people opted for another recreation that day. The attendance was just 20 difference from last years opening home game. If we can get a run going early, on I'm sure the crowds will pick up.

[Blue Banshee]

I don't know why MFC don't encourage Sunday league teams to come along. Alot of the players I have played with have always taken a distant interest in MFC.

Also what about the youth section. We used to get free passes whan I played for MFC youth but we had to be accompanied by a paying parent.

Deep down though I feel it has never been more important to get the new HDP built. HDP as it is, is not a great place to be on a cold winters tuesday night with limited cover from the elements.

 

we still get free passes for youth players

[michael]

Is there a financial case that the club would be better off in ryman south with all the Kent sides in it, and about 8 local home game derbies increasing the attendances ?( even more next season )

 

I note the post above about attendances down-not so sure they were in ryman south.

 

Plus of course-an extra round in the fa cup and trophy-so if you do well- thats an immediate £3K that you get by entering the cups earlier.

Edited August 25, 2012 by michael

[Boney Crisp]

Probably not because where we would get better attendances for those and tbh I can't see games like Margate v Faversham or Margate v Sittingbourne attracting a larger attendance. Add that to the fact that most of our games won't be local derbies over the course of the season our average attendance will probably be down

[Broadstairs Dave]

The only way is UP !

[wade]

Is there a financial case that the club would be better off in ryman south with all the Kent sides in it, and about 8 local home game derbies increasing the attendances ?( even more next season )

 

I note the post above about attendances down-not so sure they were in ryman south.

 

Plus of course-an extra round in the fa cup and trophy-so if you do well- thats an immediate £3K that you get by entering the cups earlier.

 

You have surpassed your usual negativity on this one. Relegation would financially be better for the club! You cannot be serious!!!!!

[michael]

Do you think it may be worthwhile re-reading Mr Wade ?

You may find that i was asking a question as opposed to making a statement like your good self to simply provoke debate

 

Is there anything incorrect in asking questions ?

 

Unfortunately,dumb people like me simply ask questions-and i need to leave it to clever people to help me with the answers.

I thank you for your interesting answer.

[Coffin Ender]

Is there anything incorrect in asking questions?

There is if they are completely asinine. You could equally say get promoted to Conference South because of the local derbies there (somehow I think Weliing, Dover, etc will bring more than Sittingbourne, Faversham, etc).