Programme

[margateshot]

Sorry to say this but the programme today was pretty poor again. I,m not too sure what info Keith Smith gets from the club so I don't want to critisise him too much. We really need club issues and topics in the programme. A download showing the history of the Isthmian league, a preview of last season, a history of Hartsdown and a match report from the Kent senior Cup is all old news. If they needed to be put in why not make a larger special edition programme for the return to Hartsdown. What people want to read about is Margate player profiles,league news items and tranfers, things that are happening now. There was nothing in the programme highlighting the work the supporters did to get the ground ready. We could have had photos in there as well. Some people worked bloody hard and long hours to get the club ready particularly Tam and Dave to name just two. Why wasn't there an application form in there for the Golden Gate lottery and the supporters club. What an ideal opportunity with all the people there. All the information in the programme today was taken from other official sites. I know that in the past players have been give questionnaires but have not returned them. What you need to do is get there early for a match and catch them on the way in with the questions. It would only take a couple of minutes.

 

There must have been someone at the club who knew what players we had signed before Saturday even if it was a list of names. I know this is probably quite harsh and I don't know what is to come but it has got to improve. One problem is that not all programmes get sold. The reason is that if there is nothing worth reading why should people pay £2.00 for them. I stopped buying one last season for the same reason and nothing in yesterdays will encourage me to buy another one.

 

I also know that in the past the editor would have liked people to right articles for the programme. There must be people out there who can write a small item about their involvment with the club, funny stories from away games etc.

 

As I said it may improve and there may be plans to for the programme, but we really needed to get it right from the start.

[JeremyJacobs]

Margateshot, I had a chat with Keith about this. They'll be plenty of stuff in future programmes. I, amongst others will be providing articles. Why don't you do the same. Too many is better than too few.

[margateshot]

JJ Thanks for the reply. I'm glad that you have clarified that, thats why I didn't want to critisise Keith too much as I know he has tried to improve things in the past. I know that sometimes the club are not as helpful as they could be.

I have written articles for the programme before and will, when I find something to write about, be happy to again. I just think that it was a lost opportunity yesterday and that some praise could have been given to the volunteers. Anyway I have said my peace.

[Wellsie]

Content for the programme is always under constant discussion. I know it's a boring issue, but of course if you inmcrease the materials you use in productioj, the higher the cost. Also, if you do add more content, it needs to be 4 pages worth to make the thing work, of course. Personally, I thought the print quality was very good - better than last year for sure. Also, while some of the content comes from the web-site not everyone that attends the games has access to the internet, and contributers don't necessarily have the time to produce 2 different versions of the same story. Having said all that, I think constructive feedback is always useful.

[Cookie]

IF taken on board that is, and acted upon.

[margateshot]

Wellsie,

 

I appreciate all you are saying and I know a lot of time and effort is put in and as stated before the club are not always forthcoming. I also know that CK has been reluctant to contribute anything in the past. I don't usually critsise CK but personally I think this is wrong, as most other club managers write something each week. Its just that fans want to read things about their club and a lot of what I suggested above could have been done.

 

The suggestion that some of the stuff had been taken from other sites and that people don't always have access to websites is not what I meant. Whether it was taken from a website or other publication it appears it was put in to fill space.

[Guest]

As usual the critisms of the programme start with the first game. Firstly, the item on the Isthmian League was not downloaded from any site and it was suggested to me to introduce supporters to the history of our new league, this will continue for three or four programmes until such time that player's profiles and photographs can be made available.

With regards to some of the other items I was asked by the club to put in a page about Hartsdown Park and we are only the third club in history to win the Kent Senior Cup in three consecutive seasons. So that covers these topics.

As regards to players etc. the secretary did not even have a full list of players until 11pm on the Friday night - the programme went for print on the Tuesday beforehand.

It is very difficult to have up to date information when print deadlines dictate that the programme has to go for printing some four or five days beforehand.

Transfer news is something else that was stated, but unfortunately on the Isthmian League website and in it's weekly bulletin there was no information. In future there will be topical news items, but I can only put these items in the prog when I can gleam the information.

I know there were a lot of people who worked bloody hard to get the ground ship shape and I can only apologise for overlooking those people (who were numerous), however, as you will have noted MISA have a page in the programme on which they have full licence to write what they like - I do not sensor anything.

Finally, considering I spent the last four days in hospital I was pleased with what I, and the contributors, where able to put into the programme.

I know that I can never please all the supporters who by a programme so I try to cater for most tastes as best I can, but it is also worth remembering that the club dictate overall policy as to what can go in and what cannot.

I will always take note of any critism and try to include the wishes of people who have specific "tastes".

[Cookie]

Anonymous said:

As usual the critisms of the programme start with the first game.

 

No they didnt,it was brough up some weeks ago!

[michael]

We'd all love a grat programme, but first things first guys.As the programme did say yesterday, how mant times did we actually think 'this is the last ever game for MFC' and credit to all' mfc is still here.How many programmes were sold yesterday anyway-were they sold ot?

Lets face it the crowds wont be over a 1000 for many games unless we are top of league-unlikely-,and the program m should be a profit centre in its own right-therefore you need advertising to support it and then people to but it.

Regardless, it was better than last year-another improvement so lets give it time, and for now , i think a few more players(differner depatment i realise) is a bit of a bigger priority !!

[Wellsie]

Cookie, don't "expect" feedback to be acted upon - that is simply impossible. I'm sure views will be taken into consideration, but there are other things to consider as well. As I have said on this subject in the past, the programme is part of a package of things we can all buy at the club. We have a very competitiove admission fee but some would argue a "pricey" programme. Putting up admission price and reducing programme price is one option, but I doubt it would be popular. We could incur additional cost developing other content and oput the price up. Again, I would imagine the majority might not support that option either. But as consumers we do have the right to exercise choice. We can decide to buy or not buy a programme - or even go to a game for that matter.

 

Trying to rid myself of bias given a couple of pieces in the programme were mine, I would imagine that most people would have reagrded the programme favourably compared to last seasson, and if I did not have internet access would have thought it a good read at the match. Clearly there are some issues around information of our own squad, but I have no doubt there will be put right sooner rather than later.

 

As I said in my earlier post, I do still think constructive feedback is valid and useful, so I would advocate "keep it coming". But some understanding (and I'm not saying that you don't) of what it takes to get the programme "right" - no least some time - should be the least that Keith S particularly and the club expect.

 

As you know, a lot of people have put a load of work into getting the club back to the town. The programme is another eaxample of this and like the ground, will continue to develop, I'm sure.

[Cookie]

Feedback is an essential part for improvement. However your points are valid and in them I dont disagree in the main.I was merely stating that discussion on this subject WAS made prior to the first game & its initial programme.

[Wellsie]

So it's you and me having a chat this afternoon then, Cookie!

[Cookie]

If you wish, but the items for discussion and inclusion in future programmes have already been mentioned in the above posts and by now am sure that you will be aware of. I know its easy for me to say as it is not I that will be producing the programme but it shouldnt prevent either myself or others from discussing the subject, as by discussing things in this way any ideas that may come to light and that may not have been thought of previously could be put to paper in the future should it be viable and be possible to do.

[jkmaskell]

The programme IMO isnt as bad as is suggested here. Admittedly it needs work done to it, but unlike other teams, CK was working till the end to find players to fill the roster, so the player list for example was always going to be provisional.

 

I support margateshots idea about having stories of past games or fans memories from past games. Sounds like a good idea.

[Guest]

www.kentishfootball.co.uk offers a service to clubs where a weekly news letter is sent out and can be used for programmes - be a good idea for ours.

[Guest]

i liked it actually. some very interesting articles

[Guest]

 

I thought the programme could have been a bit better. Id have liked to have seen a player profile and maybe something from Jeff Trice whos history website is really good.

But have to say it was just good to finally see MFC back at HDP and really thought the defence looked solid already!

[jkmaskell]

I think the player profiles would be quite good. I think the problem was that the team isnt complete yet. But all the same, good idea rayw.

[Guest]

Progman, you say that you couldn't access transfer news. Perhaps you could browse other Isthmian League sites and get the info that way. There are links to all official sites from the Isthmian site.

 

Luckily I am privy to this info but the large majority of our fans probably don't know who AFC Wimbledon's best players are or who we should look out for on Tuesday etc etc. A little bit of info wouldn't go amiss and there is always info on clubs via the internet.

[JeremyJacobs]

Kent Senior Cup. I think you'll find that Gravesend won it three times in a row as did Maidstone United ( the old one) or Northfleet United before the War