Fleet Frustrated by the crowd numbers!

[Hempstead Gaz]

Originally Posted By: gnfc_guy

Quote:

Went to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday & heard barely 1 swear word amongst the crowd - a real delight (mind you the game wasnt great & made me realise how much passion I have for my little old Gravesend & Northfleet - I couldnt care less whether Arsenal or Reading won & actually spent much of the second half with my ear glued to Talk Sport for news of our (far more important!) game). Mind you, it also emphasized how hard it is to get new fans - I certainly wouldnt be rushing back, having felt so dispassionate, and I guess many neutral newcomers to our Fleet games have the same feeling.

I also went to this game, and also didnt give two f**ks who won to be honest but purely went just to see the stadium - which is amazing. So i do feel if or when we do get the new stadium this will attract more fans.

However in the short term i think most ideas on here are very good, especially the stand at Hempstead Shopping Centre (as i know a few fans that way, who cant always make it..maybe a bus service like charlton? Also the free tickets for kids is a great way to increase numbers as kids are hooked very easily, and parents would still be paying!

I know we are always saying we hope the board read this forum etc...why dont someone or maybe every one email their ideas to this mysterious marketing manager and tell him (or her?) your ideas! Its obvious they arent doing much else at the moment so give them an e-mail n see what happens! As they say wats the worst that could happen! Up da fleeeet!

We could all email our marketing man but yet again it us, the fans who already are supporting the club would would be doing all the donkeywork. I presume he has access to a computer - why doesn't he simply read this forum to get an idea of what the fans think?

[David Holden]

Quote:

Since we seem to be getting ourselves on sky more and more

 

but sadly only away from home.

[1 F in Fleet]

True - at Muff , at Grays . Told you before - Sky don't like us . And they don't like Branson/Virgin Media either ... so why don't we ask Branson to sponsor us when Austrian Airlines finish with us after this year ? Could be LOOKrative !

[gnfc_guy]

Exactly we are the fans, so whats wrong with a some 'donkeywork' to try and give some ideas that could possibly benefit the club. I know a lot of fans already do and im sure the club appreciates this!

 

And to the question, I do not know why he doesnt visit the forum thats something you would have to ask him! Maybe you should put in ya email

[Hempstead Gaz]

I have just sent Greg Bettles an email - nothing nasty, just pointing him in the direction of this forum with a link (if he hasn't already got it).

[The Cameraman]

Originally Posted By: 1_F_in_Fleet

True - at Muff , at Grays . Told you before - Sky don't like us .

I think you'll find it's because they would have to bash another hole in the stand roof to get the extra scaffolding up for their commentators, etc.
The current gantry is only big enough for two cameramen.
A live game on Sky involves more than that.

New ground = more Home games live on TV.
No doubt about it.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

If we make the playoffs though, they may HAVE to show us at home!

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

I have just sent Greg Bettles an email - nothing nasty, just pointing him in the direction of this forum with a link (if he hasn't already got it).

You can't blame Greg. He is not a marketing man. He is a sales man. There is a huge difference. What we need is a proper marketeer that is going to take the club to the people not expecting the people to come to the club because it isn't going to happen.

[UP FLEET]

coming out of the match last night i heard some stupid old goat say, "that,s twice ive come to a tuesday night match and theyve lost , so im not going to bother any more." if thats the mentality of the local surport we are fighting what chance do we have in atracting locals?

[thatguy]

They would still moan if we won every game, they would moan about coming out on freezing days to watch the fleet, complain it too hot to watch the fleet. Its a lose lose situation.

[hopeful]

people go to watch a football game for two reasons, first to see a good game, then hope their team wins.the weymouth game started well then it be came obvious weymouth were a poor side and we lost to them.Offering free tickets to see that, isnt good enough. Winning home games is paramount, people will pay for good entertainment.The old goat is awise old goat, a fool and his money are easily parted.

[DA11]

I'm a fool

[hopeful]

dont worry so am i.

[Hempstead Gaz]

This debate has been going on forever.

this forum thread was made in 2005.

It is still as relevent today (except the Plough End)as it was then.

Viable suggestions, please.

[UP FLEET]

Originally Posted By: Riverview Supporter

Harry has hit the nail on the head with his analysis.

Maybe we need to think more with our promotions. Image in any business is important. Although I appreciate we need to spend money on the team , a few quick wins can be made.

1) Think before offering free tickets. The club will have no idea who uses the freebies this week.

2) Signage inside the ground directing people to the shop , bar , toilets etc......

3) Advertise more in local press. Dartford do it , but I cant recall seeing a fleet one recently.

4) Free tickets to kids with a paying parent £12 for adult and two kids.

But as harry says , you cant but history.

i had a text message this morning, asking if i wanted to go to brands hatch, bike racing, and the price was £12 adult and kids under 12 go free. so others are doing it, my mate cannot afford to come to fleet to often as he brings 3 kids and the wife, its expensive when you look at it like that. i know they would come far more often with the kids for free. in this way we still get £24 more often.

[BustaGut]

Originally Posted By: UP FLEET

Originally Posted By: Riverview Supporter

Harry has hit the nail on the head with his analysis.

Maybe we need to think more with our promotions. Image in any business is important. Although I appreciate we need to spend money on the team , a few quick wins can be made.

1) Think before offering free tickets. The club will have no idea who uses the freebies this week.

2) Signage inside the ground directing people to the shop , bar , toilets etc......

3) Advertise more in local press. Dartford do it , but I cant recall seeing a fleet one recently.

4) Free tickets to kids with a paying parent £12 for adult and two kids.

But as harry says , you cant but history.

i had a text message this morning, asking if i wanted to go to brands hatch, bike racing, and the price was £12 adult and kids under 12 go free. so others are doing it, my mate cannot afford to come to fleet to often as he brings 3 kids and the wife, its expensive when you look at it like that. i know they would come far more often with the kids for free. in this way we still get £24 more often.

I believe its only about £27 at the fleet if you purchase a family ticket, or around that price anyway for two Adults and two children, sure he can negotiate about 3rd child

[Fezpian]

The problem is that Kent has been a soccer 'backwater' for far too long. Even when success is reached by some soccer clubs the crowds have been low. It has been this way for the last four to five decades. When Maidstone United had their run of success in the 1980/1990's the crowds were disappointing. There appears to be a limit of soccer interest in Kent. Unfortunately, the North Kent area has suffered economically for decades and although there is much talk-up of the area becoming rejuvinated there is still the situation of employment being limited and highly skilled high paid jobs not being available. The new housing will be dormitory accomodation with people commuting and working long and hard to pay the mortgage. Time and disposable income might become even more of a luxury and following football pushed further down the needs list.

[Wobbly Wayne rides again]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

This debate has been going on forever.
this forum thread was made in 2005.
It is still as relevent today (except the Plough End)as it was then.
Viable suggestions, please.

I have no more to add than suggestions back in 2005. They were same as 2004 and 2003.

Long term is only real strategy that will deliver sustainable success - v cheap tickets for under 16's ( give out as many free as possible )
a cheap and staggered price structure for over 16's still in education / or the equivalent of whatever YTS is called now days. ( I may be wrong here but I believe it is cheaper for 16 - 18 years to watch Charlton than it is the Fleet at the moment)

Get them down down there when they are young, don't scare them off with full price at 16, and hopefully they stay with you for life.

If we had kicked this off when were being successful in the Rymans and getting promotion , I would suggest we might now have seen the fruits of our labour just coming thru'.

We didn't , we haven't - But lets not keep making the same mistake with our usual short term thinking, which was displayed in the 2005 thread above, and still continues today. ( albeit to a lesser extent).

I also believe that the board over the years has not wanted to increase attendance levels ( as mentioned on here earlier by someone) in certain age groups and this has had an effect on our inability to get fresh blood coming through the turnstiles.


i will now crawl back under my stone.

Up the Fleet