A couple of non league snippets

[Jon Underwood]

2 hours ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

Neil

 

Who is funding this bonding weekend?

 

If it is the club, why are we told that there are concerns over finances?

100% funded by the players themselves.

[Reading Rebel]

19 hours ago, Curtis said:

It is an interesting article, but a lot of things clubs are referring to which are increasing their costs I wouldn’t have thought have an impact…… energy (included in ground rent), fertiliser (not used), diesel (no ground maintenance), coaches (can’t imagine the team travel to matches on coaches to more than a handful of matches).

So our issue mainly comes down to the reduced attendances, which if this was as a result of the ‘cost of living crisis’ why are average attendances in all top five divisions almost identical to those in the last uninterrupted season, 2018-2019 season.

I think our fall in attendances over the last four years is a great deal more complex & there needs to be serious discussions or a survey to understand whether it is:-

1. the demographic of the fan base - is the average age of the current fan base very high? Is age, ill health, or apprehension about getting back to normal for older people an issue?
2. is our club representative of our local community? In 2011 approximately 65% of Slough’s population was Black, Asian or minority ethnic (possibly more in 2022)

3. would there be more interest from the local community if there were more local players they could possibly relate to, or younger players in the early stages of their football career?

I don’t know whether it is anything to do with any of these, or if there are a multitude of other reasons why we aren’t attracting big crowds (or even average crowds for our league), but I think the club should make efforts to find out before crowds dwindle further and the club drops down a league or goes to the wall.

 

 

 I would say it's not one thing but a combination.

Demographics, covid and the cost of living crisis must play a huge part.

Of course being successful must also play some part.

As for the rent not having an impact, we've been tenants for a number of seasons and with the energy crisis I'd be surprised if it's the same or remains the same.

 

 

[C'est la vie]

24 minutes ago, Jon Underwood said:

100% funded by the players themselves.

Jon, what time do you have your cereal in the morning? 

[Neil Baker]

3 hours ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

Neil

 

Who is funding this bonding weekend?

 

If it is the club, why are we told that there are concerns over finances?

Had not seen Unders had already replied!

For them to want to do this is a surprise in the modern game, but shows how together they are, and we can only use it as a positive, as financially we are not able to compete with lots in the league, so to have a together team is very important to us.

Edited October 21, 2022 by Neil Baker
Duplication

[SloughFlyer]

I think this is a great thing on both fronts - 

- a strong team bond is one of the few advantages we have as a club over most other teams. Anyone remember Hampton last year and the captain and star midfielder having a punch up on the bench?

- changing the kick off time for whatever reason has to be tried for whatever reason (and this trip is as good as any) as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of madness. 

What if the reason people aren't attending is the kick off at 3pm is too late on a Saturday and we get a massive crowd on 26th November and it's the key to cracking it?

We as a a club will never know unless we try it so good on those making the decisions for making use of a good reason to change things for 1 week and it can be used as a measuring stick.

[Reading Rebel]

47 minutes ago, SloughFlyer said:

I think this is a great thing on both fronts - 

- a strong team bond is one of the few advantages we have as a club over most other teams. Anyone remember Hampton last year and the captain and star midfielder having a punch up on the bench?

- changing the kick off time for whatever reason has to be tried for whatever reason (and this trip is as good as any) as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of madness. 

What if the reason people aren't attending is the kick off at 3pm is too late on a Saturday and we get a massive crowd on 26th November and it's the key to cracking it?

We as a a club will never know unless we try it so good on those making the decisions for making use of a good reason to change things for 1 week and it can be used as a measuring stick.

You're right about trying something new and until we do we'll never know.

On the bit about supporters possibly not attending due to ko time of 3pm being too late, I'm not so sure.

When we were getting 800+ before covid the ko was 3pm.

It'll be interesting to see what happens but in the main I think an earlier 1pm ko will not suit some supporters rather than the later ko time.

Edited October 21, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Sir Rebel1965]

6 hours ago, Jon Underwood said:

100% funded by the players themselves.

Thank you.

[Rebellier]

3 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

You're right about trying something new and until we do we'll never know.

On the bit about supporters possibly not attending due to ko time of 3pm being too late, I'm not so sure.

When we were getting 800+ before covid the ko was 3pm.

It'll be interesting to see what happens but in the main I think an earlier 1pm ko will not suit some supporters rather than the later ko time.

Well it certainly doesn't suit me because of work but I'll just have to suck it up won't I?

[Sir Rebel1965]

23 minutes ago, Rebellier said:

Well it certainly doesn't suit me because of work but I'll just have to suck it up won't I?

Will just have to see what the gate is for that game.

[bluerebel]

A straw poll?

 

How many of those that post on here have not been to a game this season but will if there is an earlier kick off time?

I agree we should try this out, but I will struggle due to travelling time and watching my granddaughter at judo in the morning. Been watching for over 50 years now.

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, bluerebel said:

A straw poll?

 

How many of those that post on here have not been to a game this season but will if there is an earlier kick off time?

I agree we should try this out, but I will struggle due to travelling time and watching my granddaughter at judo in the morning. Been watching for over 50 years now.

That's the problem with changing ko times there will always be some that it doesn't suit.

[Irishadrian]

The ideal KO time imo is the one which produces the largest gates/income  RR is correct no  time will suit all  Historically we were getting much higher gates at 3pm than now Its probably worth having a few changed times well advertised to see what the outcome is  Im sure the 26th Nov gate will be closely watched.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Irishadrian

[SloughFlyer]

The good thing about this changed kick off time is that it's happening NOT due to any type of experiment etc. As it's down to the team bonding thing it gives a good insight into the impact of an earlier kick off without any "artifical" attendance due to a specific experiment.

The only thing we know for sure is that we don't know the impact. That and our attendances are down at 3pm on a Saturday.

It might end up with 300 there and mean we can say so far 1pm hasn't helped OR e might end up with 1000 there and it gives the club food for thought, but until then no-one knows.

Edited October 25, 2022 by SloughFlyer

[GeorgeS]

National League North and South games will be broadcast live for the first time on BT Sport.

Kidderminster Harriers v Chester and Braintree Town v Dulwich Hamlet are amongst the latest games to be selected for TV

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, GeorgeS said:

National League North and South games will be broadcast live for the first time on BT Sport.

Kidderminster Harriers v Chester and Braintree Town v Dulwich Hamlet are amongst the latest games to be selected for TV

Great news but it does sound like a bit of an experiment of just a select few games rather than like the NL where they televise games on a weekly basis.

No indication of what it's worth in monetary terms for the clubs involved?

Surprised they've chosen Braintree v Dulwich as their first game rather than a more glamorous game on paper at the top end of the table.  

Still I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Shredding Green]

The attendance of 2,434 shown on BBC Sport for Maidenhead United 0 Solihull Moors 2 hardly sounds believable.

But whatever the attendance was, couldn't Slough Town have agreed to play Dartford on Wednesday 26th instead of attracting 427 to Arbour Park on Tuesday 25th?

[Reading Rebel]

14 hours ago, Shredding Green said:

The attendance of 2,434 shown on BBC Sport for Maidenhead United 0 Solihull Moors 2 hardly sounds believable.

But whatever the attendance was, couldn't Slough Town have agreed to play Dartford on Wednesday 26th instead of attracting 427 to Arbour Park on Tuesday 25th?

Playing a team at the top of the league who probably have a good away following.

Not sure playing on Wednesday would have made a lot of difference if any.

Edited October 26, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[rocking rebel]

Or ask maidenhead play on monday

[Sir Rebel1965]

13 hours ago, Shredding Green said:

The attendance of 2,434 shown on BBC Sport for Maidenhead United 0 Solihull Moors 2 hardly sounds believable.

But whatever the attendance was, couldn't Slough Town have agreed to play Dartford on Wednesday 26th instead of attracting 427 to Arbour Park on Tuesday 25th?

Or it could be that Maidenhead are doing something right, that Slough need to learn from.

[Rebellier]

I believe it was something to do with securing tickets for their upcoming FA Cup match.