Name Change

[John Pearce]

I note with interest that there are a further 2 letters in this weeks edition of the Distorter both argueing strongly against the recent name change. I and many others have also expressed similar feelings on this forum. I am amazed however that the usual abuse of those daring to criticize the name change and questioning the boards decison has still to appear on this forum. But no doubt there is still time?

 

I believe that the decision to change the name will ultimately come back and 'bite the board on the bum' and prove to have been a big mistake. That said, the name has been changed, it has been registered with the FA and the Kent FA etc. etc. and with some sadness I believe that it is time to move on.

 

I still think the new name 'stinks' and that the reasons given for the change are both flawed and extremely questionable. I await, with interest, to hear details of the new sponsorship deal to see the real reason for the change!

[Hempstead Gaz]

Hi John,,

What rankles with most fans is not the actual name change but the secrecy, stealth and manner with which it was done.

Jessica only found out on the Saturday - ludicrous. If Jess of all people cannot be consulted what hope is there?

The supporters were not consulted - but it all seems tied in with the mysterious announcement on the 5th. Yet more secrecy.

Just wish the club were a bit more open.

Why were we not given the opportunity to have our say?

[Richard C]

We are a tinpot Sunday league team and was not even mentioned to us. Not that it matters - but considering we thought of the idea first it would have been nice for them to say.

 

I have mates who are noi longer going to watch the fleet next season, so it has definitely 'bit them where it hurts'. I will still be there though, although 3 of us rather than 6 or 7!!??

[Hempstead Gaz]

A cricket chum of mine - TP (porterzoid) is still fuming and won't be coming again.

I guess the proof of the pudding will be in attendances and the number of G & N shirts, caps, scarves, anoraks on display next year.

I for one refuse to swap/discard a shirt that I have only worn about 6 times.

[kaizen]

I agree, it's not so much the change of name but the complete and utter surprise of finding it's happened - I can live with the new name too, but the first I heard was when a friend who doesn't even live in the county rung me up and told me. That's my main bugbear with the club, the total secrecy with which everything is done

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

I believe that the decision to change the name will ultimately come back and 'bite the board on the bum' and prove to have been a big mistake. That said, the name has been changed, it has been registered with the FA and the Kent FA etc. etc. and with some sadness I believe that it is time to move on.

Deep down John I think you are right. I hope it doesn't but IMHO I think it will.

Chatham Gary. Ditto. Again this is my opinion. I think it goes to show just what the board actually think of the fans. Don't get me wrong, I want success at this club as much as everyone. But at the end of last season it was all about the fans. They wanted us to do this, do that, do whatever it took to get behind the boys.

Then another thing. Why did they let the trust re order GNFC scarves, hats, car stickers when thy already knew they were changing the club name??????????????? What a waste of money.

This lack of communication does p*ss me off a little. The secret squirrell society also. It makes the Da Vinci look like Janet and John.

But as JP has said, what's done is done. We now have to move forward. Looking forward to the 5th.

Onwards and sideways

[jc]

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

I note with interest that there are a further 2 letters in this weeks edition of the Distorter both argueing strongly against the recent name change.

One of them may, but the other, by a certain Alan Parker, is actually predominantly in favour - it's just that it's been given an incongruous headline by those master scribes at the Distorter that implies he's firmly against it.

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

The supporters were not consulted - but it all seems tied in with the mysterious announcement on the 5th. Yet more secrecy.

We must have been through this a million times - why would the Club want to make premature announcements, which could jeopardise the whole deal, before contracts are fully signed and sealed?

That said, the name change itself wasn't handled in the best way. It's quite revealing that there seem to be more people unhappy with the 'consultation' process than with the change itself.

[DA11]

I agree JC. It is the way it was handled that has left a bad taste. You can't advertise a consultation evening when it has already been decided. That's making a mug of the fans. This debate will rumble on and quite rightly so.

 

 

[Hempstead Gaz]

Originally Posted By: jc

Originally Posted By: John Pearce

I note with interest that there are a further 2 letters in this weeks edition of the Distorter both argueing strongly against the recent name change.

One of them may, but the other, by a certain Alan Parker, is actually predominantly in favour - it's just that it's been given an incongruous headline by those master scribes at the Distorter that implies he's firmly against it.

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

The supporters were not consulted - but it all seems tied in with the mysterious announcement on the 5th. Yet more secrecy.

We must have been through this a million times - why would the Club want to make premature announcements, which could jeopardise the whole deal, before contracts are fully signed and sealed?

That said, the name change itself wasn't handled in the best way. It's quite revealing that there seem to be more people unhappy with the 'consultation' process than with the change itself.

Spot on Ian.
Most of us can live with the name Ebbsfleet. It was mooted last year, and frankly came as no great surprise.
Why the club felt it couldn't consult us is the main problem.
Why couldn't it simply have said "it will help with future sponsorship deals" and left it at that.
Most of us are grown up enough to understand about commercial confidentiality, we do not particularly need to know who the new sponsor will be - to us the fans, we care more about how much extra money will be pumped into the club.

[Hirsty]

Greetings pop pickers !

 

Let's see what next week's anouncement may bring a ?

 

GC, as has already been said, you raised your hand for the "aye" camp at the announcement meeting.

 

I think Alan Parker's letter in the Distorter was the most sensible comment that I have seen. Well done Alan.

 

If we were all consulted prior thereto ....how many would have voted yes to a name change.....1% ? People ( and for this purpose I include myself, just to show that there is no malice to any individuals) are naturally reluctant to change....just as well The Luddites were overuled...although I would imagine that they had total faith in their cause.

 

So, let's see what is announced next week at Canary Wharf ( ooh err !)....and see where we think we are going from there....

 

You know it makes sense......

 

Are there any older readers, or documentation, to say what the views were when Gravesend Utd & Northfleet Utd joined forces ?

 

Cheers,

 

 

[DA11]

I thought you could answer that one Hirsty. Oh sorry...you were too young to remember.

 

It's the Weekend

[Hempstead Gaz]

Originally Posted By: Hirsty

Greetings pop pickers !

Let's see what next week's anouncement may bring a ?

GC, as has already been said, you raised your hand for the "aye" camp at the announcement meeting.

I think Alan Parker's letter in the Distorter was the most sensible comment that I have seen. Well done Alan.

If we were all consulted prior thereto ....how many would have voted yes to a name change.....1% ? People ( and for this purpose I include myself, just to show that there is no malice to any individuals) are naturally reluctant to change....just as well The Luddites were overuled...although I would imagine that they had total faith in their cause.

So, let's see what is announced next week at Canary Wharf ( ooh err !)....and see where we think we are going from there....

You know it makes sense......

Are there any older readers, or documentation, to say what the views were when Gravesend Utd & Northfleet Utd joined forces ?

Cheers,

But as you selectively ommitted, Hirsty, we weren't acually voting for or against the name change - as that had already been done, signed and rubber stamped. From memory, the hands show was in principle did we approve of the idea.

As the deal had been done, the show of hands was a fruitless and futile vote - probably designed by the club to put a favourable spin on the idea for the media present.

[Hirsty]

CG,

 

a) yes, the fans were not consulted about the name change, that has been established.

 

at the meeting, don't recall you voicing your opinion. Why stick your hand up then ? in principle or otherwise, for a move that you seem to now oppose ?

 

c) as I said earlier, why don't we await what comes out of next week's announcement and see where we go from there ?

 

No doubt discuss further post next week's news.

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

[BustaGut]

OK week after week time after time,I have seen written, why dont the board do something!!! why dont the board change things, why does the board not try something new,why dont the board try and attract new interest, get a big sponsor

Well they have a changed things , the sponsorship is yet to be seen.

Now that the board are trying to do all of the above there are so called fans that still do nothing but complain.

Sulking because they have changed the name????? were they ever really supporters of there local team, or just a name ???

The club has the chance to make changes, maybe some of them large ones, we as fans may not like some of them,but tough changes have to be made to move on I feel.The true fans of there local side will return this season, and I will be there ,shouting, moaning and cursing, like most of you. If and I know its a big if, Ebbsfleet get into the football league all the true fans will be as pleased as punch, and be proud to be a Ebbsfleet supporter.

The name change!! who the hell did the board have to ask to change there name,they pump thousands probably, into a sinking ship to keep it afloat, yet they are expected to ask fickle people. who do not turn up for weeks when we lose, and sulk when we change our name,and threaten not to to watch a club they have said in the past they love, would die for etc etc.

Hopefully, yes hopefully the club will move on to better and bigger things.and all those fickle fans will come back through the turnstyle, with there tails between there legs, wanting to share in the glory, and claim they have always been a FLEET supporter. yea ok

Get over it for god sake, support the board, support the new sponsors who ever they are and above all support Daish and the guys on the pitch.

In short our names been changed, now get over it and move on its TIME TO CHANGE

 

Ohh is just a opinion, as well as a whinge

[Hempstead Gaz]

Originally Posted By: Hirsty

CG,


at the meeting, don't recall you voicing your opinion. Why stick your hand up then ? in principle or otherwise, for a move that you seem to now oppose ?

I have NEVER said I was against the change of name - just the way it was done. TBH, as Bustagut said, we were/are punching way above our weight considering our gates, and our continued progress is probably unsustainable over a longer period. Change clearly was needed.
However, like most, I attended the "consultation" evening in the expectation that we would be consulted, not simply told that the name had been changed, signed, sealed and delivered to the FA at al.

I can live with Ebbsfleet Utd, although it doesn't really roll off the tongue. Gravesham/Ebbsfleet is a Borough, perhaps that bit should have been incorporated,United implies a joining of 2 parties or clubs.
We already were 2 clubs, if we were going to be a "United" it should have happened 60 years ago.
As I said, the finer points of the name to appease the fans could have been incorporated in a consultation.

At the end of the day the club exists for the fans, the people who pay through the gates. It is NOT a plaything for those lucky enough and wealthy enough to afford to pump thousands into the club. I regard the Directors as custodians of the club, spending our money wisely and moving the club steady and safely forward, but always with a good regard for the fans.

On the renaming of the club, I feel the whole event was clumsily handled, without due regard to the fans, who, given a little more information could have been hugely supportive of the whole thing rather than continuing this debate, which will not die down for a while yet.

[Hirsty]

Good comments Busta....nice one !

 

Re CG...ok...whatever ! wish I was "lucky" enough to be able to "pump thousands into the club" ! Just think, if they hadn't have done then we probably wouldn't be chatting now....or maybe we would, on the Kent League forum.

 

Anyway, let's see what's transpires this week a ?

 

Must dash.....got another 45 mins of boredom to sit through ( aka England v Brazil !).

 

Have a good weekend everyone...

 

Cheers,

[Hempstead Gaz]

It is bloody awful, isn't it! At least the Brazilian "ladies" are good to watch.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Originally Posted By: BustaGut

OK week after week time after time,I have seen written, why dont the board do something!!! why dont the board change things, why does the board not try something new,why dont the board try and attract new interest, get a big sponsor
Well they have a changed things , the sponsorship is yet to be seen.
Now that the board are trying to do all of the above there are so called fans that still do nothing but complain.
Sulking because they have changed the name????? were they ever really supporters of there local team, or just a name ???
The club has the chance to make changes, maybe some of them large ones, we as fans may not like some of them,but tough changes have to be made to move on I feel.The true fans of there local side will return this season, and I will be there ,shouting, moaning and cursing, like most of you. If and I know its a big if, Ebbsfleet get into the football league all the true fans will be as pleased as punch, and be proud to be a Ebbsfleet supporter.
The name change!! who the hell did the board have to ask to change there name,they pump thousands probably, into a sinking ship to keep it afloat, yet they are expected to ask fickle people. who do not turn up for weeks when we lose, and sulk when we change our name,and threaten not to to watch a club they have said in the past they love, would die for etc etc.
Hopefully, yes hopefully the club will move on to better and bigger things.and all those fickle fans will come back through the turnstyle, with there tails between there legs, wanting to share in the glory, and claim they have always been a FLEET supporter. yea ok
Get over it for god sake, support the board, support the new sponsors who ever they are and above all support Daish and the guys on the pitch.
In short our names been changed, now get over it and move on its TIME TO CHANGE

Ohh is just a opinion, as well as a whinge

Bit stupid questioning whether fans who have been following Fleet through thick and thin, good times and (mainly bad) for 40 or 50 years fickle, and not real supporters , but only of the name.
The real fickle fans are those who only came on board when we joined the conference, and jumped on the bandwagon, when they would never have been seen dead watching a Ryman's or southern league game.
That does NOT include any fans too young to see us in those days!!!

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

It is bloody awful, isn't it! At least the Brazilian "ladies" are good to watch.

Or is that Ladies with brazilians.

[BustaGut]

Bit stupid questioning whether fans who have been following Fleet through thick and thin, good times and (mainly bad) for 40 or 50 years fickle, and not real supporters , but only of the name.

The real fickle fans are those who only came on board when we joined the conference, and jumped on the bandwagon, when they would never have been seen dead watching a Ryman's or southern league game.

That does NOT include any fans too young to see us in those days!!!

 

 

 

One Gary I am far from stupid

Two how many of these so called fans have been coming for yeras?

two, three, four,maybe!!!

so if they cannot get there own way they sulk and threaten not to come through the turnstyles anymore, as I said in my Opinion. they are fickle, thats does not mean I am stupid for suggesting it.

Just for your clarification I have been attending football at Stonbridge road from 1963. I have also had family in the fleet squad.Plus I dont remember putting down the club, manager, in amyway.unlike some.