MyFC Members - motivation for joining

[Dewsbury SAFC]

Presumably this has already been discussed in detail on the MyFC forum, but maybe a few MyFC members could share their views on this.

 

What was your prime motivation for joining MyFC? Was it for altruistic reasons - i.e. you wanted to help out a football club? Was it because you strongly believe in fan ownership of footbal clubs? Or was the main attraction the notion that you could have a say in a team and its tactics each week?

[Kentish Expat]

I am a fan of football. My prime interest is a good clean fight and a good game.

 

I also believe that the increased globalisation of the English game, with numerous foreign owners who have little notion of the heritage of clubs nor the concept of the views of supporters turns the sport into big business, where season tickets rise exponentially to service debt and the supporters have to pay more and get even less say in things.

 

I also thought £35 was reasonable.

[bramleyebby]

I joined because i was sick and tired of being taken for a ride by my current club.

 

We were relegated from the Championship and bought by a new board who subsequently sold the ground and all the clubs assets to try and re-structure the clubs crippling debts left by the previous owners.

 

We went almost straight into administration, a legacy of championship wages on sub 5000 crowds. We paid creditors 1p in the pound and were very close to going under.

 

We went straight down again and another bunch of crooks bought the club, one is being investigated for money laundering and they've given their mates jobs, oh and season tickets are now £350 for League 2 football in a half demolished ground that they don't own whose rent is crippling the club.

 

The idea of starting again with this initiative and putting my hard earned into a new club seemed an attractive prospect. I'm happy to make the 3 hour train journey for every other home game because in reailty i won't be much worse off.

 

No doubt my post will invite peoples opinions about MyFC fans not being wanted etc. but from the forums i think there are a few like me that want to be part of a club again and put something in.

[1 F in Fleet]

Bram - the question WE keep asking - why not put your hard earned into another LOCAL club - you are just being told what to do by someone else now . Frying pan and fire ?

[bramleyebby]

I expected as much

 

Two reasons, first off i couldn't bring myself to support another local side.

 

The other reason is that there's only so much money in my back pocket. If i was a millionaire i'd buy a club on my own, instead being one of 20,000 people putting a small amount into a scheme like this means we can make more of a difference.

 

No one is telling us what to do, we all signed up to this model of our own free will.

[1 F in Fleet]

It's just that you signed up before a club was picked , and now you're TOLD it's us - did you vote on a particular club ? I bet you did - I bet it was you're team . I'm not suggesting you go off to Bradford or that , but a non league team like Farsley or similar , and spend less of your hard earned on travel . Does not make sense to me .

[JohnB]

Basically, I thought it could be interesting to be involved and £35 wasn’t a lot to risk on what could have been a dodgy website.

 

My parents have always moved around – I am no different. Mum’s family are Tottenham, Dad’s are Arsenal, we lived in Buckinghamshire - I chose West Ham as my main team ‘cos they had won things and that’s who all the kids were supporting. I suppose I was about 11 or 12 at the time (I’m old – that’s mid sixties). During my teens, I worked Saturdays at football grounds around London selling news papers - although most weekends we were at Watford. Then I spent a year or so going to Portsmouth. More recently its been Basingstoke and MK Dons - because that’s where I have lived.

 

My son lives in Oxfordshire and supports Newcastle, my wife is American and supports Celtic. I still follow the results for most of those teams, even though West Ham is the one I really look out for.

 

Am I a die-hard fan, who has got to go to every game? Nope. I am an occasional supporter, but one who has quite a long history of watching and enjoying football.

 

I joined MyFC because it looked like an interesting project. I wanted to see how it would work out. Do I see myself spending hours picking the team every week? Nope. I expect to leave that pretty much to the coach, and following his advice. I have never played Football manager and don’t intend to start now.

 

I have been quite surprised at how excited I have been over the last couple of days - although as a grumpy old man , my excitement is a very low key thing now-a-days. My son is really excited though. He was texting me non stop yesterday - Can we get season tickets? (No. We live too far away) Can we get shirts? (Yes, probably) Can we go to games (Yes, a few)

 

None of us are interested in changing club names, club badges, club colours, club kits – or anything else. We would like to be a part of what is happening.

 

[Urchins]

Originally Posted By: bramleyebby

The other reason is that there's only so much money in my back pocket. If i was a millionaire i'd buy a club on my own, instead being one of 20,000 people putting a small amount into a scheme like this means we can make more of a difference.

But you don't need to have a lot of money to get involved in a club. There are hundreds of small clubs up and down the country crying out for people to make a committment to help them out. Through this committment you will undoubtedly get your chance to 'make a difference'.

[PatMan]

A solution could be... Set up a website, call it YourFootballClub.com. Members subscribe £35 and get an HONEST vote to which club the money goes to. The only stipulation is the money can only go to a recognised supporters trust. In return, the members get a little pin badge and a small cardboard wallet enrolling them into said ST. They have the same rights and privileges as every other ST member, but also have the knowledge that the lump sum donated will make an instant impression. There are no decisions about team selection, transfers - NOTHING except the fact they helped to SUPPORT a club.

 

Think that would have been as successful?

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: JohnB

Basically, I thought it could be interesting to be involved and £35 wasn?t a lot to risk on what could have been a dodgy website.

My parents have always moved around ? I am no different. Mum?s family are Tottenham, Dad?s are Arsenal, we lived in Buckinghamshire - I chose West Ham as my main team ?cos they had won things and that?s who all the kids were supporting. I suppose I was about 11 or 12 at the time (I?m old ? that?s mid sixties). During my teens, I worked Saturdays at football grounds around London selling news papers - although most weekends we were at Watford. Then I spent a year or so going to Portsmouth. More recently its been Basingstoke and MK Dons - because that?s where I have lived.

My son lives in Oxfordshire and supports Newcastle, my wife is American and supports Celtic. I still follow the results for most of those teams, even though West Ham is the one I really look out for.

Am I a die-hard fan, who has got to go to every game? Nope. I am an occasional supporter, but one who has quite a long history of watching and enjoying football.

I joined MyFC because it looked like an interesting project. I wanted to see how it would work out. Do I see myself spending hours picking the team every week? Nope. I expect to leave that pretty much to the coach, and following his advice. I have never played Football manager and don?t intend to start now.

I have been quite surprised at how excited I have been over the last couple of days - although as a grumpy old man , my excitement is a very low key thing now-a-days. My son is really excited though. He was texting me non stop yesterday - Can we get season tickets? (No. We live too far away) Can we get shirts? (Yes, probably) Can we go to games (Yes, a few)

None of us are interested in changing club names, club badges, club colours, club kits ? or anything else. We would like to be a part of what is happening.

John, Welcome. A very nice post. It seems that there are many who have the same ideals as you and unfortunately just a few patronising morons. I hope you and your son enjoy your fisrt visit to Stonebridge Road.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted By: 1 F in Fleet

did you vote on a particular club ?

I know this wasn't directed at me - but I guess it will be sooner or later

No - I didn't vote for a club. I waited to see what was on offer. Just as a point of information - I will get a chance to vote on whether we get involved with Ebbsfleet, there has to be a vote before the deal is done.

It matches up with what I signed up for - the MyFC team found an appropriate team, do the checking and then I get to decide whether I agree with them. It is exactly the same as many other decisions in life, where I appoint a specialist (accountant, insurance broker etc) to check something out for me before I make a decision.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted By: DA11

and unfortunately just a few patronising morons. I hope you and your son enjoy your fisrt visit to Stonebridge Road.

Aye. There are a few of those. I am sure we will enjoy our visits very much

[RickyT]

Dewsbury, in answer to your question, it was all three.

 

I've become disillusioned with top-flight football and, although I'll still be an Arsenal fan too, getting tickets to games at Highbury in latter years and The Emirates more recently has seemed more difficult than winning the lottery.

 

Therefore, my recent participation in football has been limited to watching it on the TV and reading about it in the paper.

 

There's also no way I can get involved with the team like I can via MyFC - on both the tactical level, as well as the altruistic.

 

I guess you could say I've been looking to find a team where I can get involved and perhaps make a difference and that's what attracted me.

 

I fully understand the views of some of the 'original' fans from other posts on this site and I'll freely admit I'd never heard of Ebbsfleet until the deal was announced earlier this week.

 

However, like many of my MyFC 'colleagues', I'm really keen to get involved and learn about the club, just as any supporter would.

 

Sure, the accusation could be made that I could have chosen any club near to where I live to support, and get involved with. Well, yes, but I guess the wider concepts of MyFC appealed and the fact that someone else was doing it kind of spurred me into action.

 

I'm hoping that this works out and looking forward to seeing many of the posters on the forum at games in the near future.

[1 F in Fleet]

Sorry if some of you have gotten a "wrong" impression from my posts on this thread - I accuse no-one for a love of football . I see many top flight fans here are bailing out of Prem clubs because it's becoming increasingly difficult to get near one without a season ticket in hand , or are so disillusioned that their love of the game is put into serious doubt , especially at Leeds . We all need an outlet for everyday life , and for everybody on this forum , that outlet IS football - THAT I understand . But some of you are straight into non-league through this concept - all non-league teams , fans and staff are heartfelt 100% committed to this level of the game , and EVERYBODY should at least experience that at their local level first . And if you started out that way years ago , go back now locally and see the differences that you don't get at a league club .

[bramleyebby]

Maybe this thread should have been, tell us your reasons for joining MyFC so we can have a pop at you?

[PatMan]

Originally Posted By: bramleyebby

Maybe this thread should have been, tell us your reasons for joining MyFC so we can have a pop at you?

Its just that most fans just dont UNDERSTAND why!
Its hard enough to justify why people GO and support a team, turning up week in, week out. Watching poor games, losing to teams lower down in the league system. But thats what the majority of us do here... But to 'support' a team from the comfort of a sofa and keyboard - now thats really strange.

[banjoman]

I wanted to see my money make a real impact on a team. As we're chipping-in together the large total sum will enable us to do this.

 

My local in Hampton and Richmond FC but my £10 per match can only go so far in pushing the team onwards.

 

I know the guys behind MyFC and they love the game. If MyFC get a stake in EUFC it will be in safe hands.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted By: bramleyebby

Maybe this thread should have been, tell us your reasons for joining MyFC so we can have a pop at you?

Hey - Chill

People on here are upset, I would be if new guys popped up all over my forums and started posteding rubbish, like some of the MyFC guys have done.

People also have different perspectives on things - things that work for some people don't work for others. In the long run we will come to an understanding that allows us to get along together. If everything goes through - two or three years down the line there will still be diehard fans who go to every match and other supporters who turn up occasionally.

[waggamick]

Still can't get my head around the fact that two guys own 80% of 'your' club and you're complaining about someone else buying your club with the possibility of you (should you join MFC) becoming an owner of your club?

I know that some of you hold parts of the other 20% but given that the other two hold 80% I cant see you having any real control over the destiny of EUFC.

I know their is the emotional investment and I cant see why that should depreciate given that EUFC will run out on to the pitch regardless of who the owners are.

[Dewsbury SAFC]

Originally Posted By: waggamick

Still can't get my head around the fact that two guys own 80% of 'your' club and you're complaining about someone else buying your club with the possibility of you (should you join MFC) becoming an owner of your club?
I know that some of you hold parts of the other 20% but given that the other two hold 80% I cant see you having any real control over the destiny of EUFC.
I know their is the emotional investment and I cant see why that should depreciate given that EUFC will run out on to the pitch regardless of who the owners are.

Well, if this was happening to my club, I'd point out that in actual fact there is very little difference between the two. Let's say 500 'original' (for want of a better term) Fleet fans now join MyFC, and MyFC is successful in acquiring 100% of the shares in Ebbsfleet Utd FC Ltd. Let's be generous and say that the MyFC membership tops out at 30,000. This means that 'original' Fleet fans will in actual fact own 1.67% of their club. While this is of course a good thing, the benefit of that is far outweighed by having 29,500 fans of other teams deciding what happens on the pitch.