Fleet Score PR own Goal!

[JimGNFC]

Sorry to post such a negative article but this really angered me and feel its worthy of discussion.

 

Has anyone else read the article in this weeks Gravesend Extra? Its made the Frontpage and is titled "Football Teams in pitch battle".

 

The article reports seven clubs at Northfleet's Beauwater pitches have received letters from Brian that reads "We are more than happy for you to complete the current season 2004/2005 but unfortunately we will not be able to offer you Sunday pitch hire thereafter as the pitches will be used by our Youth Section."

 

I can understand GNFC's motives for doing this but isn't this a rather elitist view? A facility such as Beauwaters should be open to the Community. If the Club want to learn a thing or 2 about publicity try 13 kids pictured in a Frontpage photo looking as miserable as f*ck about the news.

 

How can GNFC expect support for the Fleet First Campaign from the local community when they go and do something like this? The Clubs affected, with many running both youth and adults teams, include Beauwater's Youth Under 15's, Owls, Northfleet Eagles, Northfleet Falcons, Beausports, Swanscombe Tigers and Hollisters.

[Fleet4Life]

Well, I have heard the Under 13's have been kicked off their pitch at the Gravesend Rugby Club, so I suppose they will play at Beauwaters next season. I don't know if this is the case with any other age groups but I suppose the club have acted by supplying them with new pitches.

[FleetFanatic]

The club apparently needs the pitches on Sunday for their own teams but the Saturday teams are ok to play.

 

Seems reasonable to me, seeing as we now own it.

 

Shouldn't a team such as Swanscombe Tigers actually play in Swanscombe?

 

I'm sure that they used to play at the secondary school years ago.

[JimGNFC]

Quote:

FleetFanatic said:
The club apparently needs the pitches on Sunday for their own teams but the Saturday teams are ok to play.

Thank you FleetFanatic - the Clubs approach is more understandable now.

The Newspaper article doesn't mention the fact GNFC is willing to let "Community teams" use Beauwaters the rest of the week i.e. Saturday. It gives the impression that Beauwaters was going to be used exclusively by the Fleet.

Lets hope homes for the kids teams on the Sunday can be found.

[FleetFanatic]

Don't take my comments as gospel as it's 2nd hand info from sources totally unrelated to the club or these forums.

[Jimmy]

Apparently a lot of the Sunday teams received notice that they were not able to play there next season 3 months ago and had already obtained alternative pitches. Just the paper stirring imo.

[Trustme]

My grandson plays for G.N.F.C.under 12s they had to join Bexley league because the local league is so poor.Their home pitch is at New Ash Green Primary and the Fleet does absolutely nothing for them.

Seems like a good way to encourage our youngsters.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Hence Beawatwers for next season

[EUFC superb]

my mate plays for the under 12s and he says at one end of the pitch theres a sewage dump

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Quote:

gnfc superb said:
my mate plays for the under 12s and he says at one end of the pitch theres a sewage dump

Never used to be, unless you mean the houses!

[Guest]

When exactly did Bowaters( as it always used to be called) become Beauwaters? And why? kmj.

[Robbo]

It's a shame that the KM group (Gravesend Messenger) have to go to these measures just to rival the other leading local paper, the Reporter. A local paper should get behind their local team and not criticise them just to sell papers. The Messenger should take some lessons off the Reporter in the future.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Bowaters became Beauwaters when

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Yes AFF - we're waiting with baited breath!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Sorry Computer froze up yesterday! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bawling.gif" alt="" />

Bowaters became Beauwaters when Kimberly-Clark took over!

Wasn't really worth waiting for was it? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[el.cartero]

some good points have been raised here, but we should not forget that the money to buy the ground has been put up by the council not by the club (or thats what the council are saying), some clubs have found alternative pitches, but many have not, i am lead to beleive this is about football in the community, which community are we talking about.

another point is most of the GNFC youth teams play in alternative leagues , whilst the youngets teams have to play at the bat and ball. some long established local sides maybe forced to close next season should GNFC be proud or what

[Fleet4Life]

Quote:

Trustme said:
My grandson plays for G.N.F.C.under 12s they had to join Bexley league because the local league is so poor.Their home pitch is at New Ash Green Primary and the Fleet does absolutely nothing for them.
Seems like a good way to encourage our youngsters.

True, they claim that if we get a free pass to get in for free all year, that is the equivilent to £150 per player, and thats it, we buy training equipment for ourselves, pay for refs etc... not paid for by the club. They don't do a lot really.