Message for Woody -Stag Meadow - Goal End Covering

[Burnham Lad]

Quote:

winning the next round would take your prixe money to £21k right? Hmm.... Good luck Slough. I'd love to see Stag Meadow on match of the day!

Woody made this comment on the thread about FA Cup Earnings, having a dig at the Slough finances, again.

OK, Woody,

You keep harping on about the rent. At the same time you need covering at the Goal ends for all fans comfort. And Slough's Barmy Army will never be off this particular case, until we get our own ground (PLEASE may it happen!).

But cash is tight for both clubs as it always is and always will be, but how about we start a fund, so at least we can cooperate, since it looks as if we will be tenants for a while. That way it will be "in progress" rather than a continual irritant for both sets of supporters. Have you ever got an estimate for how much it would cost to put in a cover at each end like you have down the side opposite the stand, so we know what we are looking at?

If you start it off, I am sure that you will find Windsor Fans, Slough Fans and visitors will be prepared to contribute into a collection at matches for something very specific like that, and I am sure many of those who can't afford to donate cash would be prepared to contribute labour.

Get it going and I will start you off with £50, to put money where mouth is.

So what about it?

[Woody SUFC]

if you don't want to get wet go to the sides? Bloody hell. I'm not going to say any more on about this as it's just going to go around and around.

 

I wish i could afford £50!

[GarySTFC]

It's not just about getting wet Woody, it's about generating a positive atmosphere for the two sides when they are playing there. Covering allows for the noise to carry out across the ground, and a lot of fans prefer to be behind the goal come wind, rain or shine.

 

Andrew is putting forward a positive suggestion for both sets of fans to contribute to a fund to develop a small amount of covering behind each goal. Sounds like a good idea to me that may be worth moving forward with if both parties can agree to something. At the end of the day it's to Windsors benefit as they get their ground improved at a reduced cost.

 

Better ground may bring in more support?

[mal316]

Gary, Woody & Andrew, this is a subject that we will always differ on.

 

Personally I can't see a problem with both sets of supporters clubbing together to collect the money.

 

The last I heard about cost was £5,000 for the tea hut end. I think the other end was ignored as the training gound is due to start soon so there was no point in doing it.

 

I believe that we had planning permission to do it but not sure how long ago as I believe it is only valid for five years.

 

I will bring the subject up at this weeks supporters meeting and see what they say.

[Woody SUFC]

I'd rather see a stand at the other end 'the park end' as your not as close to the pitch and your more spread out. Plus it would look better when coming into the ground. £5000 would take a few seasons to get tbh and by then Slough could be at a new ground.

 

As for the atmosphere yet again standing on the sides like a few away fans do is the answer. Either use it or don't moan at the moment.

[Ian]

Forgive me for offering my two pence worth on this but weren't Windsor on a big drive to increase their attendances at Stag Meadow? Tempting people to watch live matches rather than sitting in front of Sky is surely about extolling the virtues of watching it live? And as we all know, one of the biggest benefits of live football, even at our lowly level, is the atmosphere that's generated that you don't get in front of a television.

 

With all due respect to Windsor, anyone attending games at present (and I also include some of ours in this) is unlikely to go away inspired by the fervour of the crowd or the atmopshere that's created. Some people, a section of Windsor's support included, like to stand behind the goal and if Slough fans are willing to contribute towards making Stag Meadow a better place, both for us in the short term and aiding Windsor's long term objective of increasing attendances, I struggle to see how anyone can take offence at that or think it's a bad idea.

 

I think it's a good idea, Mal, if you raise this and to show willing, as Andrew has done, there's a further £50 in the kitty from Kay and myself.

[Roger Rebel]

And £50 from me.

[GarySTFC]

Perhaps with a whip round from the Barmy Amry and a donation from the supporters trust, this could really kick off.

 

Mal, let us know what comes from the supporters meeting, as in the long run, Windsor do benefit from this, and you've already got £150 pledged from Slough supporters on here.

 

With regard to any covering, certainly wouldn't need to be that wide across. About the width of the goal with half again on either side?

 

Ahh, everyone huddled under a small section of cover giving it some vocal to get behind the team, would be great!

[brighton_rebel]

This is an excellent idea, i'm sick of leaving stag meadow soaked, and when we played Worthing last season there wasn't any space on the side of the ground to watch the match.

I can't put in £50 but would contribute whatever spare i had if there was a regular collection.

 

Brighton Rebel

[GarySTFC]

Well something that used to happen at matches at Wexham Park was a bucket round the ground for spare change which went toward a ground improvement fund. Only problem is, you'd only get the people who stand behind the goal contributing from Slough as they are the main people who would benefit from our side?

 

I know the management and players would of course appreciate the louder and positive support. I'm sure that's the same for the Windsor staff as well.

[Burnham Lad]

Well, Gary, I sit in the stand at matches, but recognise the huge support that comes from behind the goal. Stag Meadow is, for the time being, our home ground, and it shouldn't just be dry for those of us who prefer to watch from the side!

 

Windsor and Eton have been great in sharing with us and I for one would not begrudge it,if we leave in due course, having helped to improve the ground for them. I think if W&E are prepared to start the fund off, and we get a fund thermometer up to show how we are doing, and go for pledges of cash, like we already have, plus collections, I am sure that many other people will see the benefit of improving the stadium, even if they don't stand there. Most people don't want to take the "I'm all right, Jack" approach, especially with a great group of supporters like the Barmy Army. And I'm sure W&E have a similar group, who deserve some weather protection as well, as do visiting clubs, even if there are only two of them, like last Saturday.

 

So Mal, please raise it with W&E, and I hope that people will go for it - better facilities makes it easier for people to find a reason to come and support. Watching from where you want to watch and in the dry has got to be preferable than having to move to a spot you would not normally choose, just to escape the weather. And as Gary keeps saying, it amplifies the noise! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/top.gif" alt="" />

[GarySTFC]

I certainly noticed it at Kingstonian where oddly enough we made more noise at the end without the cover, than we did at the end that was covered despite scoring three!

 

I hope something can be arranged and agreed and it seems like a good idea to provide a common goal for the two sets of fans to work toward, from which both teams benefit.

[Guest]

Just a thought, but isn't there some stands at Wexham Park that the Thornes may be willing to donate/sell, or is this to difficult/expensive to do?

[GarySTFC]

To be honest, I'd rather give Windsor the money so they can build from fresh, unless of course Mr Thorne is willing to donate the covering as a goodwill gesture to the club he once loved.

[Woody SUFC]

Well at tonbridge tonight the cover at both ends didn't make the atmosphere any good!!!

[GarySTFC]

Ahh well. When we went there in our 2-2 draw, we make quite a racket - as did the home fans, which made for a very good atmosphere for the match.

[GarySTFC]

Oh and er, good result there Woody. Played a bit better than recently then?

[Ian]

Quote:

Well at tonbridge tonight the cover at both ends didn't make the atmosphere any good!!!

Hate to break it to you, Woody, but it's actually the fans under the covering that have to make the noise, not the covering itself!

[Dominic]

You got it in one there Ian!

[Guest]

Not reallyanybetter just more luck!

 

In Spain at the moment so I SHALL get off the booze and type real later