Early Saturday kick offs?

[Stuntman Mark]

Given the astronomical price of energy currently, I've been expecting non league clubs to begin asking the question if they can kick off earlier on a Saturday to mitigate the need for floodlights. Sure enough I saw this from Didcot on Twitter earlier today.

I've tried to make a poll to gauge if Slough fans would be supportive of this should the club decide to go down this route if it was open to them. It's a tricky one for me as I'm a traditionalist in this sense and also like to get a few pre-match pints in without starting ridiculously early! Having said that, it makes complete sense financially. Interested to hear what others think. 

[Neil Baker]

I can tell you from a players/management point, most would be keen.

3pm is obviously traditional, however it pretty much rules you out of doing much on a Saturday, as usually you are waiting around in the morning to go to football, and then you are not getting home until 6/7.

Midday kick off for example, you have less wasted time in the mornings, and also getting back at a reasonable time, that you can still make plans to do something.

I do think we will see some earlier kick offs this season because of everything I have seen.

Another thing that we and the players would like to try is a Friday night kick off maybe once or twice a season (but that defeats the cost of living argument), personally think that we would get a lot more floaters, and I always preferred playing in might games as a player, as do a number of our lads, thus giving the players and their families weekends together.

[Stuntman Mark]

I would definitely like to see some Friday night games at Arbour Park. I seem to remember we've had a few in the past maybe going back to when we were at Wexham Park that were well attended but I don't have a great memory for these things. 

[SloughFlyer]

Friday night games are always better attended than the Tuesday ones we go to as there is a lot less competition for people's attention.

I think early kick offs is a very good idea, from a cost point of view if nothing else. With the way of the world all clubs regardless of size or status have to do what they can to balance the books and if early kick offs help the club, thats what should happen.

In addition, I'd actually go earlier than 12noon Neil. On some bank holidays we have watched a combined counties game at Ascot or Windsor kicking off at 11.30am and then done Slough or Beaconsfield at 3pm (even did a Marlow 7.45pm game as well a year or so ago). So we might pick up the ground hoppers that are interested in seeing more than 1 game as well.

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results in the definition of insanity, so why not try it and see what happens.

Edited September 23, 2022 by SloughFlyer

[Neil Baker]

Just in regards to Friday night football, went to watch Chertsey v Basingstoke tonight and well over 400 there, which I think had it been tomorrow would have had 250-275.

 

[GlenSTFC]

2 hours ago, Neil Baker said:

Just in regards to Friday night football, went to watch Chertsey v Basingstoke tonight and well over 400 there, which I think had it been tomorrow would have had 250-275.

 

Friday night KO is certainly worth a try but I guess there’s a few hurdles to jump notably will the council allow it, pitch availability plus persuading the opposition to change dates.

[Curtis]

I would be happy with either earlier Saturday kick offs &/or Friday night matches.

Doesn’t the club rent the pitch from the Council though, so isn’t it the Council who have to pay the electricity bill when the lights need to go on?

[GlenSTFC]

1 hour ago, Curtis said:

I would be happy with either earlier Saturday kick offs &/or Friday night matches.

Doesn’t the club rent the pitch from the Council though, so isn’t it the Council who have to pay the electricity bill when the lights need to go on?

True but you’d hope the council would pass on the saving to the club, although thinking about their level of debt maybe not!!!

[Neil Baker]

5 hours ago, Curtis said:

I would be happy with either earlier Saturday kick offs &/or Friday night matches.

Doesn’t the club rent the pitch from the Council though, so isn’t it the Council who have to pay the electricity bill when the lights need to go on?

I think it was a general question, as I believe a number of clubs are starting to talk about it.

But you are correct not sure it will have a huge effect on us.

[3spirit]

On 23/09/2022 at 19:32, SloughFlyer said:

Friday night games are always better attended than the Tuesday ones we go to as there is a lot less competition for people's attention.

I think early kick offs is a very good idea, from a cost point of view if nothing else. With the way of the world all clubs regardless of size or status have to do what they can to balance the books and if early kick offs help the club, thats what should happen.

In addition, I'd actually go earlier than 12noon Neil. On some bank holidays we have watched a combined counties game at Ascot or Windsor kicking off at 11.30am and then done Slough or Beaconsfield at 3pm (even did a Marlow 7.45pm game as well a year or so ago). So we might pick up the ground hoppers that are interested in seeing more than 1 game as well.

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results in the definition of insanity, so why not try it and see what happens.

I like the idea of early kick offs on a Saturday but surely the kick off cannot be too early, as the away team are unlikely to be in agreement with it?

Not so enamoured about the Friday night idea but I'm getting less keen on winter evening games full stop but Slough Town FC must consider every avenue to keep afloat. Besides the children are the future ! ?  

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

I think 12:30 or 1pm for a Saturday kick off would suit everyone including the away team… If you give a set of players the choice of getting up a bit earlier or getting home later, I’m sure the vast majority would prefer the former.

Also, Friday night games, not all the time but 2 or 3 a season could be a money spinner… The atmosphere would be better and the attendance would definitely increase…

I remember a Friday night game at Wexham Park many many moons ago, it was live on some channel, John Salako was there as part of the commentary team. The attendance was more than doubled and the atmosphere was great, think we won 3-1, Anderson and McKinnon (2) were the scorers.

Just think the world has evolved since Covid, employers have, the football authorities should. Give teams some flexibility to make kick off times agreeable between themselves but set parameters, say give teams the choice of 12:30, 3pm and 5:30pm and 2/3 home Friday night games a season, after all its no skin off the authorities nose as long as the games get played.

[Ian g f]

3 minutes ago, Wycombe Rebel said:

I think 12:30 or 1pm for a Saturday kick off would suit everyone including the away team… If you give a set of players the choice of getting up a bit earlier or getting home later, I’m sure the vast majority would prefer the former.

Also, Friday night games, not all the time but 2 or 3 a season could be a money spinner… The atmosphere would be better and the attendance would definitely increase…

I remember a Friday night game at Wexham Park many many moons ago, it was live on some channel, John Salako was there as part of the commentary team. The attendance was more than doubled and the atmosphere was great, think we won 3-1, Anderson and McKinnon (2) were the scorers.

Just think the world has evolved since Covid, employers have, the football authorities should. Give teams some flexibility to make kick off times agreeable between themselves but set parameters, say give teams the choice of 12:30, 3pm and 5:30pm and 2/3 home Friday night games a season, after all its no skin off the authorities nose as long as the games get played.

I think we played Boston unt and it was on sky ???

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

5 minutes ago, Ian g f said:

I think we played Boston unt and it was on sky ???

Good memory and yes you are correct, it was Boston, was Sky known as the Cable Corporation back then based out of Windsor?

https://www.sloughtownfc.net/reports/3664

Christ I was 11!!

Edited September 25, 2022 by Wycombe Rebel

[GlenSTFC]

14 minutes ago, Wycombe Rebel said:

Good memory and yes you are correct, it was Boston, was Sky known as the Cable Corporation back then based out of Windsor?

https://www.sloughtownfc.net/reports/3664

Christ I was 11!!

I’m sure the Cable Corporation were our sponsors at one time and they were based near Langley train station? 

[Ian g f]

2 hours ago, Wycombe Rebel said:

Good memory and yes you are correct, it was Boston, was Sky known as the Cable Corporation back then based out of Windsor?

https://www.sloughtownfc.net/reports/3664

Christ I was 11!!

I was working on a late shift i was 35

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

3 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

I’m sure the Cable Corporation were our sponsors at one time and they were based near Langley train station? 

Ah yes of course, think they sponsored us for a while, maybe started the year we returned to the Conference or the year before, not 100% sure

1 hour ago, Ian g f said:

I was working on a late shift i was 35

30 years ago, wow! Remember one of McKinnon’s goals nearly took the net off the goalposts!

Edited September 25, 2022 by Wycombe Rebel

[Sir Rebel1965]

3 hours ago, Wycombe Rebel said:

Just think the world has evolved since Covid, employers have, the football authorities should. 

Thats a great idea WR - we could have players playing from home!

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

1 hour ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

Thats a great idea WR - we could have players playing from home!

Well we have supporters giving their views from their armchairs, that will never evolve

[SloughFlyer]

7 hours ago, 3spirit said:

I like the idea of early kick offs on a Saturday but surely the kick off cannot be too early, as the away team are unlikely to be in agreement with it?

Not so enamoured about the Friday night idea but I'm getting less keen on winter evening games full stop but Slough Town FC must consider every avenue to keep afloat. Besides the children are the future ! ?  

Oh come on Grandpa, you'll be fine??.

After a conversation yesterday, I think the earlier kick offs might be better to limit to travel within 1-1.5 hours for the teams going, that way there isn't a massive change. Teams for us like Weymouth etc might be abit much to ask to get up at 6am for a noon kick off.

[REBEL MATTERS]

22 hours ago, Ian g f said:

I think we played Boston unt and it was on sky ???

Gawd, youre going back. That was televised, one of the first non league games to be shown on sky. I remember them putting up this scaffolding up to house the camera.