Pre-season fixtures

[GlenSTFC]

1 hour ago, Nathan said:

Maybe, although I'd say that if we got Chelsea to send a team down for a friendly that might attract a large crowd, but who'd really consider us rivals? 2 years ago we played an Arsenal XI with a crowd of 1248, far larger than our average league attendance. West Brom in 2017 attracted 1003 (though that was Super Kev's testimonial). Even Charlton Athletic's U23 last year attracted 470, which I'd say is decent for pre-season.

It also depends on how well we're doing on the pitch. Many of those B&B matches were played in front a crowd consisting only of the proverbial man & dog. It wasn't until both sides started doing well (2016/17 onwards) that these games started attracting anything like a decent crowd.

It's not that it can't happen, nor that I hope it doesn't happen because I hope it does; we're really missing a proper rivalry IMHO (Hampton or Farnborough really don't do it for me). I just don't understand the perception that Maidenhead are massive rivals.

Back onto the topic of pre-season games, I must say I'm disappointed that we haven't managed to get big local teams (such as Reading, Wycombe, Brentford etc.) down more often since we moved to Arbour Park and were promoted to National League South. I know that contacts are what's really important here, but surely we've asked? Surely they haven't all used the "we don't like 3G" line?

Scott did state “We asked 6-8 national league/EFL sides and they all said if we can’t get a decent game on grass then we’ll consider playing Slough.” 

[Reading Rebel]

Well bang goes the 'local pre season games' with a long trip down to Bristol.

I never could understand travelling around the 2 hour mark for a pre season game.

Edited May 28 by Reading Rebel

[C'est la vie]

52 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Well bang goes the 'local pre season games' with a long trip down to Bristol.

I never could understand travelling somewhere around the 2 hour mark for a pre season game.

My guess would be that they might have planned a night out around there for after the game.

[Reading Rebel]

11 hours ago, C'est la vie said:

My guess would be that they might have planned a night out around there for after the game.

Very likely but Bristol is probably like any other city so perhaps somewhere a bit closer would if possible have been more preferable.

Edited May 28 by Reading Rebel

[Rebellier]

Bath is nearby if Jerry's around...

[DonnyNo6]

Bristol Manor Farm away added on the 13th July.

[Nathan]

22 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Scott did state “We asked 6-8 national league/EFL sides and they all said if we can’t get a decent game on grass then we’ll consider playing Slough.” 

So at least 6 clubs have said "if we can’t get a decent game on grass then we’ll consider playing Slough". It sounds to me like we've been fobbed off!

[GlenSTFC]

Just now, Nathan said:

So at least 6 clubs have said "if we can’t get a decent game on grass then we’ll consider playing Slough". It sounds to me like we've been fobbed off!

Yes most probably! Shame as it’ll be a great way to grow our crowds plus create interest by having the likes of Brentford, Watford, Reading and Wycombe down.