Clubhouse

[MargateFan]

Well, I am not usually one to moan, but I am less than happy.

 

The clubhouse was on a yellow card from the friendly with Dover, when it took nearly all of the half time interval to get served, and then you had to bolt your drink if you wanted to get out and enjoy the second half.

 

But today was disappointing, for the following reasons:

 

1) The layout. When you walk in, you are met with a long bank of tables reserved for the players. Fair enough, they deserve a feed, but then the only place you can go is to stand around the edges and dodge the people going to and fro, or sit behind a pillar and not see anything, or sit in a seried row of chairs like a schoolroom and look at a big screen.

2) Service. You can't get it. My husband waited at least 10 minutes to be served, watching his turn edge nearer and nearer. Then when it looked like it was finally his turn, the barmaid peeled away to serve the vip's. When that was done she came back and served somebody else. At that point we gave up. OK some people got served, please tell us how you did it.

3) Ambience. The clubhouse has about the same amount as a hospital ward. Actually hospital wards are more cheery. Could the management please decorate the bland walls? I would like something interesting to look at, because if I venture in there again, I will need something to occupy my time while I wait.

4) The porch. What purpose does this serve? You cannot get out of it, it is locked, so you have to double-back to seek an exit, but I suppose it could be useful for dodging the through traffic whilst you are standing round the edge of the room waiting for a drink.

5) At the end of the game, whether the result was good or bad, I liked to join my friends in the bar, sit at a table, have a drink, talk over the football we had seen, and share greetings with players, club officials and other fans that passed by. It was a social thing and it was as enjoyable as the game itself, and all part of the entertainment package. You cannot do that any more.

 

Probably none of this will interest the club, I am sure the fact that we did not have our customary 4 pints, or enjoyed ourselves matters very much in the greater scheme of things, if the bar takings for today are acceptable. I am sure that if we are not there, they will still get a buck or two and go home happy thinking that it is all going swimmingly. But I feel very let down, having supported the club through thick and thin. I felt unwelcome and irrelevant in my own club.

 

It wasn't broke, so why the hell did they fix it?

[Boney Crisp]

is the smoking ban getting to you June?

[michael]

My main concern is that any semblance of shelter has now been removed, so what happens to everyone when it rains ?

 

Many more will stay at home ,rather than risk getting wet.

 

There is now no sheltered standing cover (well -is for about 20 people i guess !!

[Boney Crisp]

There the same amount of cover as last season if with the new buildings, as when you stood there to watch you game you could see much of the pitch because the bar was in the way.

[Porka]

MM there's room for about 200 under the cover if everyone stands on each others toes and you don't mind any sense of personal space being invaded. As MF says above, of course the club doesn't care about us supporters.

[michael]

I guess we miss the point-rumours circulating that a new ground is planned.

Possibly the same rumour doimng the rounds for last 6 years !!

 

However, what could be done is to erect 3 temporary standing stands at Tivoli1 road end.

The company who supply the 'temporary' seated stand similarly provide'temporary ' standing cover'

 

(think Billericay have them along part of one side)

[Drummer]

Not being a drinker and having a 50+ mile drive back home after each game I am not too worried about what happens in the bar but I sympathise with MF's points.

 

However, I agree completely with MM's points about the covered area and that very thought crossed my mind today. It could put off the fringe supporters in the winter, although hopefully they will support a winning team. No good anyone saying sit in the stand because a) I prefer to stand anyway and there isn't enough room if it's chucking it down for everyone to get in there.

 

I would suspect that the whole situation, though, is one of doing things by stages.

[MargateFan]

Alex, it has nothing to do with smoking. I had as many fags as I normally do. It is about feeling welcome and being part of things. You can have that without having a fag. But you can't have that in the clubhouse as it is now. I have always been ready willing and able to put my money over the bar at games, as I have always believed in contributing towards the club's future. Same as I buy a programme and food and raffle tickets and join MISA and make flags and do match reports when asked and help on the turnstiles when asked nicely and try not to bad-mouth the club when I do not know exactly what is going on in it.

 

But it should be a two way street. I shall spell it out for you. I spend my hard-earned cash, I expect value for money. Else there are other leisure pursuits out there that will probably give me more than I get here.

[margateshot]

Totally agree the table in the middle of the room is stupid. If I was a player I wouldn't want a group of people standing around me trying to watch TV when I'm eating. Why not put smaller tables on the dance floor out of the way leaving the bar for what it supposed to be, for the supporters. I thought the hospitality room had been extended for that purpose. That would also allow people to watch the big screen. As for staff they need more!!! I suppose its the first game of the season so lets hope they get rid of these problems.

[margateshot]

The club should go onto the history site and download pictures of our greatest players and mount them on a theme wall like a "Rogues gallery". We have a great history and we should show it off.

[Boney Crisp]

Originally Posted By: MargateFan

Alex, it has nothing to do with smoking. I had as many fags as I normally do. It is about feeling welcome and being part of things. You can have that without having a fag. But you can't have that in the clubhouse as it is now. I have always been ready willing and able to put my money over the bar at games, as I have always believed in contributing towards the club's future. Same as I buy a programme and food and raffle tickets and join MISA and make flags and do match reports when asked and help on the turnstiles when asked nicely and try not to bad-mouth the club when I do not know exactly what is going on in it.

But it should be a two way street. I shall spell it out for you. I spend my hard-earned cash, I expect value for money. Else there are other leisure pursuits out there that will probably give me more than I get here.

Woah calm down, i was only having a joke with you. I do agree with you about the layout of the clubhouse though.

[P.W.]

Originally Posted By: MargateFan

The clubhouse ....

It wasn't broke, so why the hell did they fix it?

This also encompasses a mystery which I'm sure I'm not the only one to be foxed by. The bar was (very successfully) run by MISA, who's labour was voluntary. This enabled them to donate a sizable sum to the Club over the past few years. Now the bar has been 'reclaimed' by the Club, who have employed someone to run it for them - I presume these people are not doing it for free as MISA did, so why are the Club (who are struggling for cash) doing this as it can only make them less money - can't it?

[differentgame]

Agree with MF. I walked up yesterday with the intention of a drink at half time, took one look and turned round. I guess the way to look at is that only a few times a season will there be an 804 crowd and as the winter rolls in the bar will be more accessable. On the other hand reserve games it`s the other way, and you have to move around to make a crowd.

I thought there was a blanket bad on smoking but saw quite a few enjoying a smoke. No signs as far as I could see.

Up the Gate

[P.W.]

Originally Posted By: differentgame

....
I thought there was a blanket bad on smoking but saw quite a few enjoying a smoke. No signs as far as I could see.
Up the Gate

Not a blanket ban Differentgame - the announcement before the game stated a ban in enclosed or roofed areas (ie nowhere inside as is with all public buildings or under the stand at the Hartsdown Road end or the in the seating area) elsewhere there is no ban.

[margateshot]

Agree with MF. I guess the way to look at is that only a few times a season will there be an 804 crowd and as the winter rolls in the bar will be more accessable.

 

can't agree with that comment. The way the team looked today if we continue to perform we will get the crowds. Not only that but we have Ramsgate, Wimbledon, Folkstone, Tonbridge and Maidstone to come here yet and all potentially much higher attendances.

[Pagey]

I got there at 2 and queued for ages for the first pint, started to queue for the second and gave up !!!

 

 

[Boney Crisp]

Maybe the club could hire some more bar staff, i think there will be quite a few people out there who will do it.

[Cookie]

I agree about the walls.Very boring.Wheres the old photos of days gone by.Our history! Get them back up there for folk to look at(probably whilst their waiting for a drink maybe).

 

[Pagey]

there were very few stewards as well, saw just the one

[I am Spartacus]

The fact that this topic was started by MF should be an early warning to the club that thier relations with the supporters is reaching rock bottom.

 

Please wake up MFC and do something soon.