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With Gravesend being in the Nationwide Conference they have the ideal chance to reach out to football supporters throughout Gravesham, who are keen football fans but for various reasons have not woken up to what I would describe as the ‘joy of watching the Fleet’.

 

The time is right for the club to make valuable inroads into the local community before it is too late, but in my opinion are simply not doing so. GNFC is the football club for the people of Gravesham, and it needs to go out of its way to make people aware of the fact.

 

People have more and more money in which to spend on social and leisure activities these days. I regularly speak to people who follow various clubs in London who complain about the availability of getting match tickets nowadays and people who complain about the lack of things to do on a Saturday in Gravesend – isn’t this an opportunity?

 

I recently put a message on here complaining about the fact that the Fleet doesn’t do enough to advertise themselves towards a certain age group. Predictably I did not receive a reply from anyone who has any influence in the club so I am left to draw the conclusion that certain people connected with GNFC simply don’t care about this.

 

Do GNFC actually have people who know anything about marketing and the commercial aspect of running a football club?

 

As a Fleet supporter I would desperately like to see the club retain its position in the Conference this season and in the future secure its place within the league. I do not think this target is un-realistic considering the ever-growing population of its catchment area.

 

To go some way towards achieving a target like this the club would need to increase it’s standing within the local community, increase it’s core following by marketing itself better, and generate more money commercial and through ticket sales.

 

There seems to be an opinion about the club that we can keep on with the way we are doing things and we will achieve success. I don’t agree with this at all, I think the club needs to be positive thinking and ambitious and look to the future. We are enjoying our highest sport for a good few seasons at the moment but if the club don’t make it count, it could sadly be back to the feeder leagues and attendance’s of 300 again.

 

You probably asking yourself what this have to do with a mascot right? Well if the club introduced a mascot and made children in local schools aware of it and incorporated it into the commercial aspect of the club, then maybe children would what to wear clothing and the like with the mascot on it. That in turn may help increase attendances and revenue.

 

Unfortunately it’s probably an idea which the club wouldn’t even think, and after seeing the suggestion here will probably ignore. In doing so it’s quite ironic that they’re probably ignoring a financial gain as well as much needed support in the process.

 

Up the Fleet

 

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Halifax Lass Newbie

Halifax Lass

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Good idea 'Fleet Fan'. Halifax Town have links to local schools and offer Birthday Party Packages which includes the birthday boy or girl being mascot for a game. Halifax Blue Sox (Rugby League) have even stronger links into schools. From what I understand they do coaching sessions in schools and invite schools down to the ground to have a look around and see what goes on. They offer complementary tickets to the kids who then drag their parents along who have to pay!!

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JimGNFC Newbie

JimGNFC

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Fleet Supporter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif" alt="" />

 

The Club can only do so much . . . as Super Daz points out GNFC is largely run by part-time volunteers, who devote much time and energy to the club.

 

Personally, I feel the Club has really made an effort to "embrace the local community", especially since the arrival of Mr. Kilcullen and Co. Examples of this include:

 

a) The formation of Reserves and PASE sides - the latter in association

with North West Kent College gives youngsters the opportunity to

develop both their footballing and educational skills. Coyle, Grace

and Carter are examples of this.

 

B) The existence of GNFC junior teams at U18, U16 and U14 level.

 

c) The Junior Fleet Membership scheme seeks to encourage youngsters

into the ground - just £2 per game!

 

d) Relations with the local council appear to be good.

 

e) Coverage of the Fleet in the local Reporter has been excellent.

 

Local public attitude towards GNFC has by and large changed for the better in my opinion. Its now possible to walk down the street with a GNFC replica top on without people taking the p*ss!

 

Overall, the Club is clearly seeking to develop and strengthen ties with the local community. This season is very much a learning curve for the volunteers behind the scenes, who work tirelessly - some patience and faith in these people please! Its all about establishing GNFC in the Conference in the short term.

 

However, as you point out - the club mustn't rest on its laurels. It needs to ask itself, how can it bridge the gap and compete with the Big Boys in the Conference?

 

With this in mind, the club *MUST* seek to strengthen the Fan Base through increased Advertising:

 

a) A club mascot would be fun and would appeal to the younger kids,

especially if it gave away "goodies".

 

B) A Supporters Information Pack - outlining the different ways those

supporters can help the club financially. (And Yes I did suggest this

last year).

 

c) Posters around and outside the ground advertising forthcoming

fixtures. Didn't Super Daz have the excellent idea of advertising

matches at all the local train stations? Whats happened about this?

 

d) Have a few "glamour dolls" distribute leaflets about the club etc in

Gravesend town centre a couple of times a year at weekends. Any

takers Halifax Lass? <img src="/forums/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

 

e) Wider advertising of the Clubs Website Address - most people have

access to a PC and Dave is very good at keeping it updated with the

latest news. Why no billboards advertising www.gnfc.co.uk around the

ground - maybe outside the main gates? Couldn't the Reporter be

pursuaded to put the Club's URL on the back page of the latest

edition?

 

f) A letters page in the club programme offering fans the opportunity to

write in and suggest in an uncritical manner, how the club could

improve in a given area.

 

g) Downloadable forms such as season ticket renewal forms etc

available on the Website.

 

h) The provision of half time entertainment i.e. Allow kids to play a "mini-

match" at half time or take penalty kicks against the Fleets

substitute keeper. The Club mascot could officiate!

 

i) The Club really ought to look at making Andy Ford a full time manager.

The money may not be there but the club could ask the fans to

subsidise his wages by either an annual donation or a

direct-debit scheme. 3-400 members could probably make this viable.

 

Andy could therefore have greater involvement in the PASE scheme

and whilst the club may not be able to afford the expense of a team

of pro's - the introduction of a few talented full time PASE lads into a

team of experienced part-timers may be the catalyst required

for League football.

 

 

I'd be more than happy to put the money up for a), B), c), d) or e) myself if the club were interested. Well, the offer is there at least . . .

 

In the longer term, the Ebbsfleet development will no doubt swell attendances but the benefits of this may be a few years off yet.

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FleetFanatic Newbie

FleetFanatic

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Hmmmm - couldn't see the posters on display at the stations they should be - I will try to ascertain WHY this is the case when more people are about to question.

 

I have revised the posters to show only the remaining fixtures and will be printing them today - then I will deliver them myself to the railway stations in question.

 

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

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Guest

Guest

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there are(or where) summer football training schemes because i used to do them, i met andy ford and he spoke to me and have took the p**s out of me! nice man. in response to the question of why dont i volunteer i gladly would,free of charge(as long as the club bought the suit... <img src="/forums/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

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mikef Newbie

mikef

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Quote: JimGNFC

B) The existence of GNFC junior teams at U18, U16 and U14 level.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The GNFC junior teams do not only consist of the above there are also U13,U12,U11,U10,U9 & U8. The U8 - U10 play in the Gravesham & District Primary Football League and the U11 - U13 play in the Medway News Youth League and they are all doing very well.

 

Quote: Alan W & Mascot

You also forgot to mention the Football in the Community scheme, which I assume is still operating??

And, come to that, the holiday training schemes for the kids - so there is a lot done to attract the kids.

 

and

 

there are(or where) summer football training schemes because i used to do them, i met andy ford and he spoke to me and have took the p**s out of me! nice man. in response to the question of why dont i volunteer i gladly would,free of charge(as long as the club bought the suit... )

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The summer football training schemes certainly do still run and are headed by Ian Docker.

As to the Football In The Community Scheme, i have not heard anything about the scheme for a long time although i suppose the summer schemes could be called part of the FITC scheme.

I agree that more involvement in the local schools (both Charlton and Gillingham do this) can only help the club.

 

Mike F

 

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

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Guest

Guest

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Here we go go again moan,moan,moan,did no one read my message under race night,mascots suits cost money so in order to afford this we need support at our fundraiser nights etc so instead of sitting on your computers trying to put the club to right try supporting all the good things it does . <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angryfire.gif" alt="" />

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David Holden Newbie

David Holden

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<blockquote><font class="small">Quote True supporter:</font><hr />

Here we go go again moan,moan,moan,did no one read my message under race night,mascots suits cost money so in order to afford this we need support at our fundraiser nights etc so instead of sitting on your computers trying to put the club to right try supporting all the good things it does . <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angryfire.gif" alt="" />

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

So you will be at the Quiz night next Thursday then!!

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JimGNFC Newbie

JimGNFC

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In replying to Fleet Fan I was simply trying to show that:

 

a) The club does a lot of good things for the local community

(Alan W. and Mikef. have since corrected me over a few

points - fair enough!)

 

B) The Club does run a lot of good schemes but *sometimes*

does not do enough to promote them.

 

If the Club is serious about buying a Mascots suit but as True Supporter implies needs to raise money for one then I don't mind putting up the money to cover the cost as long as it doesn't exceed a £1000.

 

A Mascot would not only be good publicity for the club, but would get the crowd going for big games. All we need now is someone crazy enough to volunteer to be the mascot!

 

It would be good to have something like this in place for Boxing day and the visit of Margate followed by Yeovil.

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Guest

Guest

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I Wasn't having a dig at anyone involved with the club at all I realise that the majority of the people connected with the club in the capacity discussed above are there on a part-time or voluntary basis, and I am grateful for that as I am sure other GNFC fans are.

 

I posted the message because first and foremost I am a Fleet fan and I would obviously love to see them remain in the Conference and built on that next season.

 

I was just trying to point out that we should all be thinking about what needs to be done to help the positive progression of this club, and what part we should ALL be playing in helping the Fleet achieve their potential. North-west Kent is a heavily populated area so in theory we have a large population with many potential supporters to attract.

 

I for one believe that it is setting our sights on the Third Division within a 3-5-year period is certainly not un-realistic. Funds may be tight at present that is why it is imperative that we strive to get as many supporters as we can to the Fleet, buying merchandise and refreshments. Hopefully that way the finances will improve.

 

Good idea about putting posters up at railway stations. – I would be keen to distribute similar posters to local shops, pubs and sport centres?

 

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