What do you as fans want?

[Jimmy]

Spellchecks won't catch misuse of actual words thought like their, there and they're or current and currant.

 

Surely to do a where are they now you'd need to be able to remember more than 2 seasons worth of players.

I know where Francis Duku is, but not what happened to Cliff Cant.

He's a good start for you.

[David Holden]

Well he was manager of Crawley before they went into administration, according to my mate Jeeves.

[kmj]

Mikefleet, Jimmy is right. Over reliance on a spellchecker will not necessarily make an article for submission right. The correct context is absolutely essential. For example a frequent mistake in our programme is to confuse the words "of" and "have". Both words are correctly spelt but if in, say, the manager's column the following were to appear-

" It would of been a great goal if it hadn't hit the post", this would not be correct. A spellchecker would not discover this for you. My personal favourite appeared in the Distorter a couple of seasons ago when it was written that Tostao's appeal to the FA to return to the Club after his ill advised trip to Ireland had "fallen on death ears". If you are unable to work out this error then give up any notion that you have any editorial ability immediately!

I would also urge you to read some of the better examples of programmes in the Conference such as Exeter,York, D&R and Woking. Consider the content, the journalistic style, the typing etc. They are all very professional, classy products. These are what we should aspire to.

As for regular features, my personal preference would be to include a past encounters page with our visitors such as the type executed so well by Paul Harrison (No1 of course). With Paul you know that you can be sure of an interesting and accurate article. I would also like to see a quiz and features on supporters as well as past and present players.A feature about supporters who live in unexpected places eg having moved away from the area, might also be of interest.

If we were also to return to the days when Club honours are printed in the programme, please ensure that they are accurate. We went a whole season when these last appeared omitting the fact that we had won the Southern League title, which is arguably the best achievement in the Fleet's history.

 

Good luck.

[mikefleet]

i have been supporting the club for nearly 5 years i think i have seen a lot of players come and go.

[Jimmy]

5 years?

It's not exactly as if any of the people who have left since then have disappeared nor are held in any esteem by fans.

People like Brian Woolf, Kenny Burrett, Lee Smelt, Cliff Cant, Bruce Sewell ( I could go on) would be more interesting than Tostao or Garry Abbott.

[mikefleet]

yes maybe but are they still in the game. another idea was to do news from around Kent football which would be easier if its going to cause problems.

[FleetFanatic]

You're missing the point mikefleet.

(Notice 'you're' rather than 'your'.)

If you produce a programme with clear errors in the use of the English language then it will still look 2nd rate.

 

I get the impression that you're not interested in what people have to say - already knocking back the better version of 'where are they now'.

 

Personally, I couldn't care less if Tostao scored for Dartford, for example.

 

Now go back in the archives and do some research on the older generations of ex-Fleet players.....

[Slartibartfast]

Mike, whatever your subject if you are factually incorrect or your article is full of spelling or grammatical errors it will look cheap and amateurish.

This is not meant as personal abuse as I admire you for volunteering and for your enthusiasm. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" />

But I would suggest you take the time to get it right or don't do it.

[mikefleet]

i am interested in what people have to say its just normally on this forum its just abuse.

[Slartibartfast]

Ok then:

 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW (THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

 

Bentley is at Southend

Tostao is at Dartford

Every other b*gg*r is at Welling

 

There, thats got that out the way now go and find out what Woolfie is up to these days.

If you are writing in the programme Mike you should be doing it for the readers not for the writer, it doesn't matter whether you remember the player you are writing about or not, we will.

[Matt (GNFC)]

Mike, good luck to you with your efforts. Before you endeavour to start from scratch i think you could do worse than get your hands on a professionally done publication from a premier league or championship team, dare i say it even a Gillingham programme. An Arsenal progamme for instance costs 3 GBP. This was/is a superb read full of information, interviews, community news, u name it, it was in there. A Gravesend and Northfleet programme if my memory serves me right as i stopped buying them cost 2.50 GBP and was a sack of sh1te. The only thing that was ever worth reading was the Andy Ford column. THE CLUB BEFORE ANY WORK IS STARTED NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE COST OF THE PROGRAMME. People dont mind spending money if its done well but by raising prices to maximise profit unless its any good people will gradually drift away from buying it. People dont want a 52 page programme with 48 pages of adverts and fixture lists that havent been updated for 3 weeks.

[WhiteBucket]

Quote:

Slartibartfast said:
WHERE ARE THEY NOW

On which note, of course, the Whitebucket players database is still looking for old photos of players and anyone that fancies doing a write-up of anyone pre-1989, or knows the whereabouts of old players, please feel free to email (gnfc@whitebucket.net) me.

[FleetFanatic]

I see constructive criticism, not abuse.

 

Whether you have your head medically removed from your backside long enough to realise this though, is your own choice.

[UP FLEET]

Quote:

Matt (GNFC) said:
worse than that get your hands on a professionally done publication from a premier league or championship team, dare i say it even a ARSENAL progamme for instance costs 3 GBP. This was/is a .... read full of information, interviews, community news, u name it, it was in there.i stopped buying them and it was a sack of sh1te. The only thing that was ever worth reading was the end. People dont mind spending money if its done well but by raising prices to maximise profit unless its any good people will gradually drift away from buying it. People dont want a 52 page programme with 48 pages of adverts and fixture lists that havent been updated for 3 weeks.

You,d have to pay me to buy one of them too......ha ha.. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Right then enough of this please, we all accept that changes need to be made and my asking for help was not intended to stir up any bad feeling. I appreciate anyone that wishes to contribute and to date I have had over 25 very good emails offering new ideas and help for which I thank you all.

Mike like many others has offered help which will be very welcome as I have rather been thrown in at the deep end. My prime objective to begin with is to ensure errors are spotted before going to print and I have had several offers from people to proof read. Initially the format will not differ greatly as I find my feet but with all the great ideas you will in the not too distant future see new features appearing which I hope you will enjoy. I will do my best to keep the stats as up to date as possible and now here is where you lot can really help me.

 

I will be setting up an "alternative views" page where you the supporters get to write the match report for the previous game. Not for every fixture but for certain ones home and away so do I have any volunteers? But remember this is for a family publication so no matter how frustrating the season may get through the highs and lows absolutely no bad language. Any article will be proof read and checked to make sure it is acceptable but it will be credited to you and just occasionally I will ask an away supporter for his side of things so we can compare.

 

 

Lots to get my head around but with your help I am sure we can improve things. Lastly does anyone have any old photos of the ground or past players or can you point me towards any good sites please.

 

Thanks again

 

Chris

[UP FLEET]

www.thefleet.freeservers.com <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bawling.gif" alt="" />

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Chris - I am sure you are aware of Whitebucket already. Theres also This site of ex Margate players, several of whom also played for the Fleet.

 

Hope this helps.

[gracie]

can we have maybe like a 'recent' pull out poster of the club, staff and players, in the centre like barnet used to.

[mikefleet]

i would love a poster in the programme but i have heard there alot of money to have in them or something like that.

[Jeff]

I would imagine that the shiny paper and printing would cost a bit.

Maybe some larger size posters that can be sold separately in the Club Shop would be a more financially viable option?

Thinking about it, I'd buy one and put it up in the office!