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Increasing Attendances

Emily

By Emily
in Ebbsfleet United Forum

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Emily Newbie

Emily

Posted
Posted

OK, firstly - apologies to the wife for hi-jacking her account, she is the 'Fleet fan, and I am the 'casual' supporter. And as such I think I am able to give a slightly different view of things!

1 - £12, yes twelve pounds, is still a huge sum of money. It's Conference footy, there are loads of competetion for your cash (and the way Charlton operate is going to affect EVERY other club).

2 - Facilities. So you pay your £12 - what do you get? The toilets are appalling and the queue for the food is a nightmare. This isn't meant as a 'dig', its to highlight the reasons why people dont return.

3 - Advertising. What 'Fleet need IMHO is to get casual fans to return again and again. Is there any real reason that a discount voucher cant be included with admission? So that for the next home match, the price is only £10? And then advertising this in the local paper?

4 - And, while I am in the moaning mood -- I was shocked by the club promoting a benefit for 'fans' watching the away game on TV at Fleet Leisure on 3rd Jan getting a free pint... FFS the real fans will be making the effort to see the game 'live' at the closest away fixture (even I 'have' to attend that one)- where is their incentive?

 

These are the easy points to moan about. Am sure there are many more - but I am posting these from a 'non-Fleet' view.

 

I fully expect this post to be attacked and holes picked in my points. Remember though - I am NOT a Fleet fan, yet have seen 6 home games so far this season - wouldn't you just love everyone else in the borough who wasn't a fan to say the same?

 

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Hempstead Gaz Newbie

Hempstead Gaz

Posted
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Why would anyone attack a posting with such salient points?

This has been brought up countless times on here, yet rarely is anything acted upon.

I posted this on here yesterday, it's worth copying here (in my opinion) as it is very relevent to this subject.

 

 

"We now have a first class full time team, backed up by a manager most fans are fully behind.

Where we are lacking is the forward thinking, dynamic and inspirational leadership from the board.

 

We are a full time business, and the attitude of the board should reflect this - at times it still seems like a gentlemens social club, or an expensive hobby for those lucky enough to able to indulge.

Many aspects of the club, such as the club shop, the web site are brilliantly run by hard working volunteers, but we need to turn it into a professional operation to get the best return.

To progress, we need a full time, Press, Publicity and Marketing office - running the shop, web site, football in the community,etc, etc- we own Fleet Leisure - let us capitalise on that. God knows , there are many Football league chairman who would die for such a facilty.

Publicity stands are needed at Bluewater and Hempstead Valley (which has been absolutely packed recently).

Take heed of the fans, they are the barometer of public needs and wants, listen about the catering, act on segregation issues, where 50 away fans can have a 1500 ? capacity terrace to themselves, when COMMON SENSE says give them the corner - allowing Fleet fans behind both goals.

This really isn't rocket science - but without incisive action the club is losing credibilty by playing at a ground befitting the 1950's, and a board who appear stuck in a time warp.

If teams like Margate, Dartford and Maidstone can ressurrect with new grounds (or definite plans) so quickly, why is it taking us so bloody long to sort out who is even going to arrange the job, let alone build the place.

Most of these subjects have been raised countless times on here, many brilliant ideas and suggestions are made.

Uptake of such ideas and suggestions by the club - probably less than 5%.

The new ground was mooted about 3 years ago. Whilst Mr Kilkullen is working hard behind the scenes to progress the project, it is us , the fans who are, as usual kept in the dark over progress.

Like all other Fleet fans, I only want what is best for the club.

Slow and steady progress does have it's place in football - but is better when you are a small, part time club.

In order to progress now and keep up with the big boys we have to change the mindset and become big boys ourselves.

Failure to do so will inevitably lead to a further dwindling of crowds, smaller playing budgets and the selling of our best assets (our best players) simply to stay in the Conference".

 

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Slartibartfast Newbie

Slartibartfast

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Posted

Firstly, congratulations Emily on dragging your husband along to six games this season keep up the good work.

Secondly, having attended six games this season fella you probably know more about the current team than many who post on here and certainly have as much right as any to your own opinions.

I'd agree with some of your points but £12 is pretty much the going rate in this league, it is a bargain compared to Gillingham or indeed compared to going to the theatre. I buy a season ticket each year and whenever we win it seems like a bargain and when we lose it seems like a waste of money, whatever happens I will be buying one for next season.

For the Grays match there are two points 1) Not everyone can go to the away match. 2) Fleet leisure will make money out of people watching the game there.

 

 

 

 

 

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kmj Newbie

kmj

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Gary, please re-read that part of your post regarding holding up "Margate, Dartford and Maidstone" as teams to envy and follow by example. Surely you can't be serious? All three have led nomadic existences, some for over a decade. One went out of business and has since reformed at a very lowly level. One only recently had to drop out of the Conference because it didn't have a ground of its own. The situation here is difficult because we do not own Stonebridge Road. Its not as if we can sell it and use the money to build a stadium elsewhere. We are totally reliant on the money of others to be able to move and finding the right investor is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Criticise the Board if you must, but at least try and appreciate the scale of the problem that is before them.

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Alan W (GNFC) Newbie

Alan W (GNFC)

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At least the attendance was marginally higher today than Tuesday - even if the increase was down to a few extra away supporters. At least it meant the home attendance was no lower despite the awful weather.

 

What on earth possesses people to stand out on an open terrace though, getting thoroughly soaked (and destroying their brollies!)when other options are available? THe word "Madness" comes to mind!

 

 

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Hempstead Gaz Newbie

Hempstead Gaz

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I think you misuderstand the gist of my posting kmj.

Whilst I am fully aware that all 3 have been, until recently, nomadic, it is the timeframe I am most concerned with.

All seem to have gone from decision to build a new ground, to getting the project started (or in Dartford's case, finished) within 3 years.

None had grounds to sell, like us.

We have, however the added advantage in that we are a significantly higher profile club than the other 3, have larger gate receipts, and better opportunity to attract sponsorship.

I have no doubt the BK is pulling down trees to get the project underway, but the longer we remain at Stonebridge Road, the more difficult a move will become, because of the potentail threat of dwindling crowds and the need to sell assets to keep financially afloat.

My point is that 18 months on, we haven't even settled on a company to progress the project, let alone find funding, find a plot,_draw up plans, get planning permission, build the ground.

There is still much needed to be done.

I realistically cannot see us in a new ground before 2010.

The question is, can we sustain a viable Conference club on gates of 1100 until then?

 

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Slartibartfast Newbie

Slartibartfast

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As KMJ pointed out all three of the shining examples you used were forced to play away from their own towns due to losing/knocking down their own grounds, all three lost a large portion of their fanbase and dropped more than one league in the process, none of the three have yet regained the position or the fans which they enjoyed at their old grounds. Dartford would still be playing at Stonebridge road if left to their own devices.

It would be hard to pick three worse examples.

Moving to a new ground is probably the most dangerous thing a club at our level can do, surely it is more important to do it right than to rush into something that everyone will regret later.

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Riverview Red Newbie

Riverview Red

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I think Emily's husband's views are superb and very well ballanced from a "non-supporter".

 

I have been coming to the Ground for over 40 years and the entrance fee nor the condition of the stadium would affect that.

 

However, to attract new supporters and hold onto the odd floaters, we need more to offer. Yes £12 is the going rate for the Conference, but if like me, you go to away games, you will see that the majority of clubs have nice stadiums with good facilities.

 

I sometimes bring along friends who support other (mainly Premiership) clubs and their view of the whole "Stonebridge Road experience" is terrible. For £12 you expect to at least be able to get a cup of tea without waiting in line for 20 minutes in the rain and have a jimmy riddle without standing in 2 inches of jimmy riddle!

 

The place is an absolute disgrace these days, with little or no maintenance being carried out and no thought for the supporters, by the Club who are forever moaning about low attendances - what do they expect !

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Slartibartfast Newbie

Slartibartfast

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Posted
Originally Posted By: Alan W (GNFC)
I think thats "New Stadium Syndrome" - certainly cant be improvement on the pitch as FGR are no better off this season than last! Seriously, though, it does show just how much a new stadium could assist us as well.


It could either be that or the fact that 2,000 away fans turned up when Oxford where in town.

I know which one my money is on.

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