2nd best again

[PatMan]

Originally Posted By: DA11

I know we do kids for a quid but we need to shout it from the roof tops, take it to town do door to door flyers. Whatever it takes.

Really? Every game?

I know its expensive, but the only way to get consistant turn up is to have this kinda thing running ALL the time, not just every now and then. Much easier to promote this as well.
The Junior Fleet thing is great, but only once the kids are 'into' the Fleet.
The club have to compete with other attractions - CAFC have encouraged kids for years by discounting tickets, and now even after relegation (ha ha ha) the same kids are still turning up cos they have turned into 'fans'
The club (ALL clubs in fact) need to realise that turning up to watch a live game is EXPENSIVE for families. Its not just entrance, but travel, programme, food, drink all add up.

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: Hannah

Yeh my Dad took me when I was 14 and it was the first time I'd ever been to a football match and I was hooked from there.

Targeting youngsters is a good idea

Thats why we love our parents because of these things. My grandad took my dad down when he was a kid and he was hooked. My dad took me to my first game when I was 6 in 1973 and I was hooked. Me and my dad took my 5 year old daughter down last year. She has been four times now and loves it. Doesn't understand it, but loves it.

If I was a floater who once attended and my kid wanted to go and watch the Fleet then that would be the kick up the bum I needed. I would also find it difficult to say no to him or her if they wanted to go again. I've now realised how special it is to take your child to a game and know how my dad felt about me.

[PatMan]

Originally Posted By: DA11

Originally Posted By: Hannah

Yeh my Dad took me when I was 14 and it was the first time I'd ever been to a football match and I was hooked from there.

Targeting youngsters is a good idea

Thats why we love our parents because of these things. My grandad took my dad down when he was a kid and he was hooked. My dad took me to my first game when I was 6 in 1973 and I was hooked. Me and my dad took my 5 year old daughter down last year. She has been four times now and loves it. Doesn't understand it, but loves it.

If I was a floater who once attended and my kid wanted to go and watch the Fleet then that would be the kick up the bum I needed. I would also find it difficult to say no to him or her if they wanted to go again. I've now realised how special it is to take your child to a game and know how my dad felt about me.

The problem is with "kids of today" (thats it, am officially now OLD) is that they demand to be entertained.
Standing in a cold, windy football stadium, having to pee in a smelly shed, stand in the rain to get overpriced burger/drink, watching less than glamorous football isn't high on their list of priorities. Yes, watching that 'first' game is sometimes enough to hook them, but recently when the Fleet have tried any kind of price promotion the team haven't played to the best, therefore not encouraging any return visits. Now, I am not blaming the players - but if there was an-ongoing promotion, it would be easier to say "never mind, always next Saturday". But if its back to usual prices thats not really going to happen!

[KShep]

Originally Posted By: PatMan

Now, I am not blaming the players - but if there was an-ongoing promotion, it would be easier to say "never mind, always next Saturday". But if its back to usual prices thats not really going to happen!

EXACTLY. As fans we can constantly put posters up, hassle the local media, volunteer to man stalls, and in general, put Ebbsfleet United in the faces of the public. Let them know that we are their team, and not some club ostracised from Gravesham and all who live there like the fella in the Reporter suggests.

Back to Patman's point- Luring people in over a period of games will be much more effective. Over a longer period, not only do you get to see the good football which traditionally follows the poor performance of 'Kids for a Quid' Day, you get a better sense of the atmosphere, banter in the ground, the friendly faces, so on and so forth. As with anything, the more of a habit you make out of it, the harder it is to kick it!

[DA11]

volunteer to man stalls' date=' and in general, put Ebbsfleet United in the faces of the public.quote']

 

Sounds interesting K Shep. Who organises all this because I'd be interested?

[KShep]

Originally Posted By: DA11

volunteer to man stalls' date=' and in general, put Ebbsfleet United in the faces of the public.quote']

Sounds interesting K Shep. Who organises all this because I'd be interested?

There's nothing of this sort at the moment DA11 but I don't see why any idea we have should be rubber stamped by the club before we implement it. If there's sufficient interest, and everyone who asks 'What can we do?' volunteers, then we would be organising it ourselves.

[gaspode]

Originally Posted By: Hannah

Yeh my Dad took me when I was 14 and it was the first time I'd ever been to a football match and I was hooked from there.

Targeting youngsters is a good idea

We were doing this to some extent a couple of years ago.

I have mentioned this before, but my son's old school was visited by club representatives (and a couple of players I think) and free tickets were handed out. I took him and we both loved it enough to get season tickets for the last 2 seasons, my father-in-law saw an opportunity to get some quality time with his grandson and he is also a season ticket holder.

So from 1 school visit, we have three regular fans. I think that my son is sufficiently hooked to continue his attendance when he is too old and cool to be seen with his dad. And of course my love of the club will last as long as I do.

This initiative needs to be resurrected and all local schools should be targetted with a visit at least once each season. The players are full time and therefore should be able to find the odd afternoon to push this.

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: KShep

Originally Posted By: DA11

volunteer to man stalls' date=' and in general, put Ebbsfleet United in the faces of the public.quote']

Sounds interesting K Shep. Who organises all this because I'd be interested?

There's nothing of this sort at the moment DA11 but I don't see why any idea we have should be rubber stamped by the club before we implement it. If there's sufficient interest, and everyone who asks 'What can we do?' volunteers, then we would be organising it ourselves.

But surely any official promotion of the club should be rubber stamped by them. At the end of day we are now a full time club that employs a sales and marketing manager.

I would be more than delighted to walk the streets for the club but it does need someone at the helm.

[Harry J Allstars]

I apologise Gary for my childish outburst and name calling but I was a bit angry at your comment. Anyway I've now calmed down and have managed to come up with something better.

 

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

The usual crew, as you well know are in general the younger fans who inhabit the forum who have little or no experience of the problem times at Fleet, have been raised during times of comparative success including a 3rd round FA cup match and some excellent promotions. You probably do not recognise the symptoms that can

be the start of a slide.

These include falling gates, passionless performances, financiall problems, but not poor results.

The more veteran amongst us have been there before and believe me, the club DO NOT want to go there again.

We are not at crisis point, I have merely highlighed an important problem (falling gates), that left unchecked can quickly lead to other problems.

The last time the club had serious problems was over 15 years ago, most youngsters under 25 will have little experience of seeing Fleet flounder, so you hardly argue from a position of strength or experience.

 

So what you're saying Gary is that lower attendances leads to less cash to spend in the transfer market which leads to not having the best players available which then leads to not playing the best football which then leads to lower attendances. Wow, being young and inexperienced I had no idea how commerce worked so it's a good job you're here. Can you show me how to use my calculator? What does the "On" button do?

[eufckev]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

My next game will be Grays on New Year's Day!

Maybe our attendances are the way they are becuase of the same reasons why you don't make some of the games?

[Hannah]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

The usual crew, as you well know are in general the younger fans who inhabit the forum who have little or no experience of the problem times at Fleet,
You probably do not recognise the symptoms that can
be the start of a slide.
These include falling gates, passionless performances, financiall problems, but not poor results.

Now, I'd like a show of hands fellow young folk!
Hands up if you didn't understand that financial problems can lead to big problems for a club! ?

[eufckev]

Is it those under 25 Chavtown Gazza stated?

 

My hand stays down, I've heard from the older supporters of the good and bad times the Fleet have had.

 

 

[jc]

Originally Posted By: Slartibartfast

Originally Posted By: Hannah

Sometimes you just have to settle...you can't expect amazing football and billions of goals every game from a small club like ours. I think Daish has done the best he can with what he has got. We're not doing very badly at all so far.

All I know is that I enjoy every game that I go to win lose or draw and I think the people who already go ought to get behind them a bit more. I don't think it's right when the crowd boo at the end of a match when we have been defeated, I think the meaning of supporters gets lost there.

But then that's just my opinion.

Hannah thats an opinion shared by many.

Including myself - and not just because if Slarti agrees I seldom disagree. It's always nice to win, of course, but placing too much importance on this as a supporter isn't healthy. For me, I will always enjoy attending Fleet matches regardless of the results, safe in the knowledge that it's the defeats that make the victories all the sweeter. Instead of placing lofty expectations on the team and over-analyzing to the point of identifying a 'rut' that doesn't exist, it's far better just to keep an open mind, see what transpires, and accept that what will be will be.

It's hard to see that there's anything original left to say on the issue of attendances on this forum. We can surely all recite the possible reasons for falling crowds in our sleep. As for potential solutions, I wish I had the answers, but if someone thinks they've got a workable idea, I can only suggest they approach the club, rather than repeat it on the monthly attendances thread.

No doubt I've left a subliminal message somewhere in this post for Gary that translates as 'attendances aren't a problem' - for that, I apologize. Of course, I wouldn't know anyway, since (and I know it was remiss of me) I foolishly failed to go to games at Stonebridge Road before I was born.

[Jimmy]

Quote:

I foolishly failed to go to games at Stonebridge Road before I was born

 

I don't have that excuse.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Originally Posted By: Harry J Allstars

I apologise Gary for my childish outburst and name calling but I was a bit angry at your comment. Anyway I've now calmed down and have managed to come up with something better.

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

The usual crew, as you well know are in general the younger fans who inhabit the forum who have little or no experience of the problem times at Fleet, have been raised during times of comparative success including a 3rd round FA cup match and some excellent promotions. You probably do not recognise the symptoms that can
be the start of a slide.
These include falling gates, passionless performances, financiall problems, but not poor results.
The more veteran amongst us have been there before and believe me, the club DO NOT want to go there again.
We are not at crisis point, I have merely highlighed an important problem (falling gates), that left unchecked can quickly lead to other problems.
The last time the club had serious problems was over 15 years ago, most youngsters under 25 will have little experience of seeing Fleet flounder, so you hardly argue from a position of strength or experience.

So what you're saying Gary is that lower attendances leads to less cash to spend in the transfer market which leads to not having the best players available which then leads to not playing the best football which then leads to lower attendances. Wow, being young and inexperienced I had no idea how commerce worked so it's a good job you're here. Can you show me how to use my calculator? What does the "On" button do?

Just thought I would dig up this old thread again.
I am not going to say "told you so", because no-one could have envisaged the upheaval this week.
However, my points raised then WERE pertinent, clearly we had financial problems with a rising debt of £350,000+.
The board couldn't or were not prepared to service that debt.
Falling crowds were obviously affecting the board.
LD even spoke on RK this morning about the club would probably have reverted to part time.
The club did seem in a rut.
Jason and the board obviously looked long and hard at every possible solution, and found this to be the best (even the only one).
Curiously, some of those who lambasted my original comments have not appeared to have made ANY comment on the takeover.
Perhaps their computer has broken, or they are on holiday on the moon, or maybe they just cannot bring themselves to join in the debate.
Like Fleet Fanatic, I think this this the only realistic way to keep the club going, or to progress it.
Like many regulars I still have reservations about the scheme (and no, Hirsty I haven't yet subscribed), but as there appears to have been no sensible or realistic solutions other than this, I will go along for the ride.
And if the deal is signed, we will be out of the rut.

[Harry J Allstars]

Would reverting back to part time have been so bad?

 

MyFC members meet Chatham Gary, he's an idiot, your going to love him.

 

And yes I have signed up

[Hempstead Gaz]

LOL.

Coming from you, Harry.

Side splitting. Another rib has gone!

Brilliant.

And I have just utilised the ignore poster facility for the first time

[Slartibartfast]

C.G. I hope you don't take this as an insult because it genuinely isn't meant as one but I would have thought that this MFC thing would be right up your street.

 

You like to pick the team, formation and tactics and discuss them on the internet.

You have the opportunity to do so with thousands of like minded individuals who will not criticise you for not attending matches as they won't be there themselves.

The only way that the MFC members will stay interested is if they get to see their team in action, so MFC will have to make the Fleet matches available online. Because the members are all over the world the matches will need to be available on demand not just as they happen, so you will be able to see the games that you miss through work.

The club have got the publicity you, and others, where demanding.

I believe that the increase in gates that we have all been after is now likely to happen.

 

Again this isn't meant as an insult but when I heard about this on Tuesday I thought immediately that this was an idea that would suit you.

 

 

[Harry J Allstars]

Oh no, my life is slowly starting to fall apart.

 

If you had said to me at the end of the 2005-2006 season that you were thinking about doing this then I would have paid you £10 to make sure you did. From February 'til July that season you were particularly awful.