Suggestions to raise attendances

[Hempstead Gaz]

Everyone has an opinion on how to improve attendances, a lot of ideas, some good, some bad and some already tried have been mooted on here many times before.

My question is, does anyone empowered by the Club actually take the time and effort to check this forum for any ideas,or is it left to the individual supporter to contact the board to make suggestions?

From experience, Brian and the board do listen and act when the club/spectactors can benefit, but there does seem to be a lack of a proper conduit in which to channel ideas.

Regular Board meet supporters meetings might be one way forward. Written ideas would need to be submitted to the board BEFORE the meeting, enabling analysis and effectiveness of the idea. But one meeting per year is insufficient.

We saw at the last big public meeting (when over 150 turned up, including RK) that there is interest in these dialogues.

If the club were to really show that it is not only listening to us, but actively wants our views, many of the good ideas viewed on here could be quickly implemented, with the result of a higher local profile and better attendances.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Something like this, perhaps.

http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=2305

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Unless Brian and the board are completely different from previous boards, you will be told, "The running of the club is nothing to do with the supporters."

I have heard that speech several times from previous Chairmen.

[Hempstead Gaz]

I did qualify my missive with the proviso that only a few of the ideas promoted by supporters are actually worthy of implementation.

From your long range viewpoint, AFF, you will have only read that our crowds are down.

In reality, most of us still on the terraces see it a a serious problem, as the crowds are down by 25% on last year, at a time when the product on the pitch is as good as it has ever been, and we need the income to sustain the on field efforts.

 

Stats from Confguide bear this out..

Posn. Ave. Total /games 2004/5 all 2004/5 same period

19. 1075 [6448/6] [1336 -20%] [1456 -26%]

 

We need marketing.

Promote the product.

Spread the gospel.

As you said, the running of the club is nothing to do with the fans, but the club sure has hell cannot do without us.

[David Holden]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:
Something like this, perhaps.
http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=2305

I believe that there is such a forum next week, it was announced at the last home match, but I missed the whole announcement.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Thanks, Dave. I heard a bit of it too, but couldn't make all of the announcement out. Hopefully, will be mentioned in the Distorter and the York programme.

I for one, will be there, work permitting.

[Ronnie]

Quote:

David Holden said:

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:
Something like this, perhaps.
http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=2305

I believe that there is such a forum next week, it was announced at the last home match, but I missed the whole announcement.

This sums up the lack of communication from the club at the moment. If a forum is going to take place Dave should be told so the info can go on the website <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Hempstead Gaz]

That is only part of the problem, Robbie. probably less than 20% of the diehard fans actually visit the website, and probably half of those use this forum.

Many, many of our more senior fans are either reluctant or cannot afford computers/internet.

Vera, for example regards herself as "rarity" amongst the more mature supporter, by using the forum.

I'm sure Dave H could crunch some registered user numbers and find out how many Fleet "regulars" are registered on the forum.

My money is on it being less than 100.

[Ronnie]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:

My money is on it being less than 100.

Bet it's considerably more CG <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[FleetFanatic]

Quote:

AmericanFLEETFANNo1 said:
Unless Brian and the board are completely different from previous boards, you will be told, "The running of the club is nothing to do with the supporters."
I have heard that speech several times from previous Chairmen.

I'd have to disagree, as Brian seems very approachable.
Hence the introduction of the new flexible advanced ticket purchase scheme.....

[David Holden]

Quote:

Ronnie said:

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:

My money is on it being less than 100.

Bet it's considerably more CG <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The current figure is 394

[Hempstead Gaz]

A surprisingly high number, dave. I did qualify my question with "regular" supporters.

I would imagine a good number of those registered have lost interest over the years, or through simple logistics, such as AFF, Ray Ellingham and inca mark (where is he now?) are/were contibutors, but nor regular supporters.

I am frequently on here and I see no more than about 70-100 different posters on a regular basis.

Clearly our message only reaches about 20-30% of our supporters through the internet.

It is to the remaining 70-80% we need to publicise our potential.

[Riverview Red]

I feel I'd like to comment on some of the above notes:

 

1. Increasing the admission fee by a whopping 20% has seriously reduced attendances - I know this through talking to a number of what were regular supporters last season. These people now pick and choose which games to come and see. This is down to them simply not being able to afford the extra when paying for them and their children etc and/or feeling that the club is out of order introducing such a huge hike in price.

 

2. A number of people who come onto this site and use the forum seem to think that it has some level of importance within the club and that Directors etc actually take the views of those who leave comments seriously. I think Liam Daish summed it up when questioned a few weeks ago on Radio Kent, when he stated very accurately that anyone can leave messages on a forum, including non-supporters of the club who purely want to stir things up. So, in essence no-one should take any notice of postings whatsoever.

 

Forums should be taken for what they are, a form of amusement !

 

3. It should be noted that a lot of people have come onto the forum, who most certainly do have PC's and internet access, but find the drivell that is posted here too much to bear and never come back !

 

A good friend of mine, NB Super Red, is a prime example of this.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Don't forget, RR, you were one of the most negative, Daish out, relegation by Christmas posters on here until you realised we were actually not a bad team after all.

[Riverview Red]

All tongue in cheek mate !

 

As I said, this forum is for amusement only and at times I do get amused seeing how you "regular" guys bite on my wind ups !

[Slartibartfast]

Quote:

Riverview Red said:
All tongue in cheek mate !

As I said, this forum is for amusement only and at times I do get amused seeing how you "regular" guys bite on my wind ups !

Was this tounge in cheek then?

Quote:

Riverview Red said:
I take back my pre-season prediction of us being relegated by November with this manager and collection of players - I amend my prediction to October !

This is a digrace - being thrashed by Grays.

If action isn't taken soon we will become the league's whipping boys !

And for Daish publically criticises his players in the press shows the sort of guy he is ..... however bad your team plays, you defend them in public and take the rap as their manager

Poor manager + unfocussed team = relegation

Top wind up RR.....had me fooled. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" />

[Matt (GNFC)]

Im a firm believer that the reason why we struggle to increase attendances is due to the facilities. People have this view of Stonebridge Road of a tin pot ground which to be frank it is, it hasnt developed over the last 30yrs whereas club all around us in the area have refurbished their grounds. If u look at other clubs who have moved to new grounds i would say all of them have increased attendances. If when we move in to our new ground i'd expect the same.

[UP FLEET]

Quote:

Matt (GNFC) said:
Im a firm believer that the reason why we struggle to increase attendances is due to the facilities. People have this view of Stonebridge Road of a tin pot ground which to be frank it is, it hasnt developed over the last 30yrs whereas club all around us in the area have refurbished their grounds. If u look at other clubs who have moved to new grounds i would say all of them have increased attendances. If when we move in to our new ground i'd expect the same.

two examples spring to mind and they are, the toilets are bl00dy discusting and the food bars are a complete joke.If any thing needs addressing its them. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

RR is right.

The main reason the attendances are down 20% this season is that prices have gone up 20%.

Whilst the regulars will be there whatever/whenever, those occasional fans which could easy make up 30/40% of our gates won't visit as often when they have to pay more.

Agree over toliets & food too.

Also think we need the Northfleet End fully open again which attracts younger fans along to sing along with the drummer. Without that end the atmosphere is more flat & some occasionals might not find the game attractive enough to pay £12.

[Richard C]

We will and are IMHO losing supporters who enjoy an atmosphere. I believe over the last couple of seasons we have had the best atmosphere in the league. This season we are one of the worst. I know its not all about singing and drums etc etc BUT it plays a big part with people wanting to let stress out at the weekend. We have gone from one end to the other on the atmosphere stakes. The plough end is as good a kop as there is in non league and we can t use it to help the players and attract the crowd.

 

We want our home end back!!