Community Clubs?

[Smudge]

Has anybody got any views on what this actually means in reality.Guernsey advertise themselves as a Community Club,you can become a Member for £29,but what other than getting discounts and a Free Matchday Programme does it offer.What do they put back into the Community,on non Match Days,Free Coaching for Children,hiring out their Clubhouse Free of Charge for Community/Fans Functions.Yes they do have Junior Mascots,if you pay a fee.Do they have any Junior Sides attached to the Club that use their facilities.I have my own views on what a real Community Club should aim for,be interested to read your posts.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

I think that most Community Clubs would allow the community to use their facilities (clubhouse and maybe even pitch in the off-season).

 

A real Community Club, as the Slimbridge Chairman told me at their pre-season game with Clevedon Town, is one which is a part of its community and not apart from it.

 

A Community Club, ideally, gets involved with the local community - from coaching young players to hiring its facilities to staging band/comedy nights/community events and so on.

 

It is something more clubs should do, as it would help boost crowd numbers and also increase youth participation - remember today's kids are tomorrow's adults, and if they aren't interested in the club at a young age then they probably never will be.

[Geggy]

Good question. At Windsor we want to be known as a community club. Are we there yet I guess that's for other people to decide but things we do: we have 36 teams, our Mascot Scotty the Stag attends numerous school fetes, charity fetes and does hospital visits to childrens wards, we raise considerable monies for local charities and we have a children's hospice logo on the front of our shirts rather than a commercial organisation. Our clubhouse is booked out most weekends for birthday parties, christenings etc. We also once or twice a year have let everyone in for free which have been successful initiatives. When we put it down on paper I'd say we're a community club but I guess it's for the local community to decide!

[Windsor_Sec]

Geggy forgot to mention that 4 or 5 of the younger age group teams train and play on the mini-soccer pitch on the training ground at the club and we have other community clubs involved here like a rifle club, pigeon racing club, Windsor Theatre Guild, a local sub-aqua club, darts team, and other community meetings.

 

All of that to me marks us as a community club already, but we're not satisfied with that and wish to push the community aspect even more as the recent press release showed. It may not all happen overnight but the 'Legacy' that Kevin Stott spoke about in the press will come to fruition over time.

[Geggy]

And, quite timely, here's an example of current charity work with Scotty the Stag raising money for Thames HospiceCare By running the Windsor half marathon!! http://www.windsorobserver.co.uk/sport/football/articles/2012/09/11/62594-scotty-the-stag-set-for-windsor-half-marathon-run/ any sponsorship greatly appreciated!

[Smudge]

Good to see that you allow 4/5 younger age group Teams to play on the training ground.Where do the other 31 play/meet,have you ever thought of letting the older lads play in the Main Stadium.This would serve 2 purposes,give them a sense of belonging to Windsor F.C.,and create revenue for the Club,maybe even Sunday Lunches for the parents as well.Do the Junior sides hold their presentation Evenings at the Club?

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Great idea there Smudge, but don't forget that if the pitch gets 'overused' the groundsman won't be happy.

 

Maybe a twice yearly community match for the two BBC appeals Comic Relief/Sport Relief and Children In Need could be an idea? Windsor Town Fans v Windsor Town Legends maybe?

[Smudge]

Hardly do any damage though and that way you would get the better younger Players from the area joining Windsor FC.Many would rather play in a Stadium than a Park,then progress to Youth Team,and hopefully 1sts.Young Players have Parents,Uncles,Grand Parents,Friends etc who will spend money.A win win solution.THE PITCH should not be for the 1 st team alone in my view,and should be the centre of the hub,for any Community Club.

[Krooner]

did someone mention 4G pitches

[Windsor_Sec]

Good to see that you allow 4/5 younger age group Teams to play on the training ground.Where do the other 31 play/meet,have you ever thought of letting the older lads play in the Main Stadium.This would serve 2 purposes,give them a sense of belonging to Windsor F.C.,and create revenue for the Club,maybe even Sunday Lunches for the parents as well.Do the Junior sides hold their presentation Evenings at the Club?

 

They're not allowed at present as we don't want to wear out the pitch so the other teams play on various pitches throughout the town and at our other training facility in Eton although we do consider requests for specific cup games as long as there's no clash of fixtures.

Going back to the recent press release we do intend eventually to convert the main pitch to a 3G surface which would basically enable every single team within the club to play/train on the main pitch although practically 36 teams trying to play over a Saturday and Sunday would be a logistical nightmare ! Part of the redevelopment plans also include a new clubhouse complex and, as you rightly say, things like Sunday lunches or general restaurant facilities would be a good income stream for the club with an almost captive audience.

It's only when people actually begin to see the bigger picture that they'll get over the current cynicism about the much-lauded budget cuts and realise that what we're doing actually secures a sustainable future not just for the club but for future generations of kids in the town.

[Smudge]

The biggest bugbear for me over the years has been Clubs who tout having loads of Kids Teams playing under their Banner.Who do not even have a Youth Representative on the Main Club Committee,so ideas can be bounced about.A good communication tool for getting volunteers to help around the Club.Their may even be a Grants Wizard amongst them,who has the time and energy to apply for the many schemes out there.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Indeed, Smudge - although I have been at clubs where the committee behaves like kids!

 

A Youth Representative should always be on a clubs committee as well as a Fans Represenative, Commerical Manager, Maintenance Manager, Finance Manager/Treasurer, Media Manager, General Secretary and Chairman.

[HKP]

The problem usually is trying to persuade ANYONE to sit on a club committee

[Smudge]

Indeed, Smudge - although I have been at clubs where the committee behaves like kids!

 

A Youth Representative should always be on a clubs committee as well as a Fans Represenative, Commerical Manager, Maintenance Manager, Finance Manager/Treasurer, Media Manager, General Secretary and Chairman.

 

Now your going OTT Adam,normally 3 die hards do all 9,plus the cleaning,and the most important one at any Club,BAR MANAGER.

[Krooner]

Our chairman sits on the main clubs committee.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

The problem usually is trying to persuade ANYONE to sit on a club committee

Now your going OTT Adam,normally 3 die hards do all 9,plus the cleaning,and the most important one at any Club,BAR MANAGER.

 

Very true!

 

I haven't been on a committee, but tried to help a local side out with some simple tips on getting more fans in.

 

A 40 page action plan - ended up unread in the bin.

[Smudge]

Suppose the 1st page did not help,'Get rid of the people running the Club comment' I lasted 2 meetings when I once sat on a Football Committee.Then asked not to attend again.SO NO HOW YOU FELT.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Smudge, you aren't far off on that!

 

The first three pages, IIRC, was about the challenges the club faced at present (clubhouse looked like a bombsite, wiring/electrical cable exposed, kids left to run around screaming inside/outside, parents smoking in the bar when regulations say that they CAN'T, players not turning up for training, players caught taking drugs before games, bullying/intimidation of referees, dog turds on the pitch not being removed, lack of ambition, no fans) and then I outlined how each could be improved using common sense wherever necessary.

 

Ended up in the bin - they weren't interested one bit, and now that club moans on about how it is dying and doesn't know why...

[Smudge]

Our chairman sits on the main clubs committee.

 

Well run Club Camberley,shall never forget the nippers match before the game,when I visited.

[Smudge]

Smudge, you aren't far off on that!

 

The first three pages, IIRC, was about the challenges the club faced at present (clubhouse looked like a bombsite, wiring/electrical cable exposed, kids left to run around screaming inside/outside, parents smoking in the bar when regulations say that they CAN'T, players not turning up for training, players caught taking drugs before games, bullying/intimidation of referees, dog turds on the pitch not being removed, lack of ambition, no fans) and then I outlined how each could be improved using common sense wherever necessary.

 

Ended up in the bin - they weren't interested one bit, and now that club moans on about how it is dying and doesn't know why...

 

What was the Beer like?Never heard Officials called that.What was your advice,burn it down ,take the Insurance.HARDLY 40 PAGES THOUGH.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Smudge