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Poor Gates
I notice that it was another poor crowd today and it is even mentioned in the brief report on the club site.
Can't say im the slightest bit surprised. When the crowds were fairly good, i.e around 1500 plus, it is because there were a lot of people there, like me, who support another team but would also come and watch Stanley when they can. The trouble is the club have let the tremendous momentum and interest that bulit up via the promotion and great cup run die a death. I hardly came last year because I knew that to SERIOUSLY compete several playing additions of a serious good were needed. They didn't arrive. The games I did go on I was bored to tears by some abysmal performances, maybe I just got unlucky I dont know?? From what I read on here and on the site I assume that it is a fairly obvious and recognised problem that gates are falling off. Why isn't it being addressed then?? Moaning about it and hard luck stories wont do anything, what is needed are few additions to the playing staff that will get the pulses racing. Lets have it right, its not exactly 'cheap' entertainment anymore so I think the least you can ask is that, some entertainment. I was dumbfounded to see what IMO were the clubs best two players being sold in pre season, Rory and Evil. I mean, what could make you feel less inclined to come to the game?? At least i'll be ok in the winter though, now the Clayton End roof is sorted. Oh...hold on!! I read lower down in another thread that in a recent programme some sort of financial trouble was alluded to?? For real?? How?? What has happened to all the Sky money?? They haven't exactly been splashing big on players. I know some of you may take offence to this but im just offering you an outside perspective. If you're not Stanley 'hardcore' you aren't going to be paying 12 quid to watch dross week after week. The conference is a really good standard nowadays and you can pretty much pick the serious contenfders from the start. Sorry to say, thats not Stanley at the moment. Its chicken and egg I know, but the facts speak for themselves. Build it and they will come. It has been proven that it wont happen the other way. people need inspiring, hard luck stories and begging columns don't work. Success is what attracts people not mediocrity. Another thing that has changed since I started coming on is the turnover of players. We used to have a settled side, players you could relate to. Now they chop and change and buy and sell every 5 minutes, its cr@p. If money really is tight I would suggest going part time again, its the only way. If the money isn't there to create a 'proper' team then it is futile. They may as well write the pro lark off as a bad do and go back as we were because peole wont come back for no reason. |
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Just started watching Stanley this season, and I have to say that we thought long and hard today whether we really want to pay £12 each per match. On Tuesday we went to watch Chorley in the F.A.Cup, at £6 a head, and the quality of footall wasn't as vastly different as one would expect.
The reason the crowds are poor surely has to be because it's so bloody expensive! |
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It isnt really expensive.. poor gates are because people would rather stay at home and watch sky sports.. or sit in the pub : /
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Stanley Till I Die, whether its £40 or £1, we support them through thick and thin, the highs and the lows, and thats the attitude some "FANS" need to take.
Today the attendance was shocking, no excuses really except from the England game, which could have been watched in the clubhouse. Staveros, can I just ask you are you a Rovers by any chance?, yes we should be worried about the attendance, but the thing is you come on here and complain about the numbers and you dont even come to Stanley yourself on a regular basis, isnt that contradicting your own post? Your saying you hardly came last year because you wasnt impressed by the standard of players we had at the club and it put you off.....whats all that about!? just because your not impressed by the playing additions you decide to boycott the games? Rory and Evil were sold in the summer as you said, why are you so dumfounded about the replacements? Gary Roberts IMO is every bit as good as Rory, yes we miss Evil at times, but he wasnt a gem and didnt help the overall team spirit did he? Your complaining about the roof? bring a coat!, stand in the shed, sit in the Main Stand, bring and umbrella! If your only bothered about the roof to keep you dry....Yes I'd love it, but the only reason why I'd love it is because we would make much more noise! not for the factr of keeping dry at a football game as you seem to be.... Also, your complaining about not splashing out on big players? why when that will surely just bring financial problems to the club which we dont have and we have a very reliable and sensible setup and the club is run by very sensible people. Your also complaining about the quality of our team this year, TBH with you and I think a lot more will back me up on this, is that we have the best squad at this moment in time than we have EVER had. You also go on to say about the chopping and changing of players and sayings its crap...so if you was the manager you would play the same team every game, I have full faith in the management team, if they believe that there is a change needed for tactical or other reasons why not change its making the team better overall....Going part time again, you cant be serious thats ridculous....you call us not a 'proper team'...remember were we was years ago? we have a team that are competing in a league with many ex-league clubs in, were winning games, we will be challenging for the play offs in to the football league and you call Stanley not a proper team? I think you need to look at your post again, this is a Stanley fans forum were we get behind our team and support them because at the end of the day as fans thats all we can do, everyones intitled to their own opinion, yes, but yours I feel is ridiculous |
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Admission prices for the Conference were dictated by the FA not by the club. £12 is still not a lot when you consider other modes of entertainment. Alton Towers will cost a hell of a lot more plus travel etc. I was seconded to spy on Burton albion 1st game in their new stadium. £14 for a seat & believe me it is not that spectacular a ground as loyal fans will see next week.
Try looking at the new blood brought in this season. Ok Rory & Lee have gone but the club has never stood in the way of players progress. There is a nucleus of reformating what I consider to be a young new team who will be as good if not better once they have gelled. & just wait for Boco to start. The speculation regarding his arrival at Stanley is purely that, management know nothing other than he is an exiting prospect, brilliant on the ball & has superb prospects for the future, & only 20 yrs old. OK we are in the shadow of two league teams but I have seen as dull a game at Blackburn for double the money. They may be premiership but are still only a low to mid rated team there & their best gates come from when the top end teams play there. Stanley still have ambition & drive. We all want to see the club back where they belong, in the league & that will cost & has to be paid through the turnstiles. So yes, the club will bully people to come back & so will us loyal fans because we have faith that Accrington Stanley will restore exiting football & achieve the dreams of its chairman & fans. The best thing is that when it happens we will be able to say "WE WERE THERE!" [I] |
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Well said Smiffy and Big Al. I wish I could get to more Stanley games, but due to work commitments (i.e. I work for the emergency services) I can't. I still have 2 season tickets though, and will go to as many home and away games as my budget and work will allow. I can't make Burton next week due to the fact it is my granddaughters 1st birthday, but I shall follow the progress as much as possible. Today's attendance was very disappointing, but we shall just have to get on with it. I also agree about the team. They are just beginning to learn how each other plays and how the manager wants them to play. There are some very exciting prospects and lets face it, we have been somewhat unlucky with goalkeepers this season (even more so than last). Monsiuers Brown and Roberts and Andy mangan look very useful assets, but I do think we need to sort out our defence, Robbie williams is just not reliable at this level and I think we lack a bit of height. Well thats my two'peneth.
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Excellent posts, Smiffy and Big Al, I agree with every word you say.
As for Robaldo, this was the guy who only three weeks ago was enquiring about joining the supporters' club to help boost attendances! Now he's shopping around for another club! So I take it you won't be wanting a Stanley Til I Die T-shirt then, Robaldo?:) |
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There's something a bit unseemly about shopping around for clubs. If you're support for a club is affected by items such as results, we'd all be on our fifth or sixth club by now. I know I certainly wouldn';t have stuck with southport under that theory! |
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There's no point having a go at each other about this subject, is there? Of course the gate was disappointing yesterday, but I really do believe that upping the admission price to £12 is a decision the club will come to regret. If that means I'm not a true fan because I question a club decision then so be it. Accrington is a low wage area and lots of people only get paid minimum wage. If you're on minimum wage and you have a family and a mortgage then £12 is a lot of money to pay. Also, when the gate is up to 1500, some of the people on the ground will be Rovers or Burnley supporters who watch Stanley as a second team. At £12, there isn't as much differential between their admission prices and ours and that is bound to put some of them off. Frank Martindale made an impassioned plea for fans to spread the word and bring friends to the Stanley and boost the attendance. I'll try it, obviously I will, but even if I can persuade my friends to come along I know damn well that the sticking point will be the admission charge. Smiffy, you imply that whatever the price, true fans will turn up anyway. Sorry, but if it cost £40, I couldn't afford to go, much as I would want to. The only reason I can go to all the games home and away is because I don't have a mortgage or rent to pay and I don't have any commitments or responsibilities. If I did, I would not be able to go to anywhere near as many games as I do.
Stanleybabe :( |
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Probably the same amount of stanley fans where at the exeter game as the woking but the figure may have dropped under 1000 becuase of the very few away surport!
I would love it for attendences to be huge but lets face it the major percentage of people from hyndburn dont give a toss for there local club! and thats the what we need to change.... we need to get kids through the gates!!!!! becuase kids will come and parents will follow! Why arent we offering deals for example family tickets, pay for 4 games get one free!!! etc Yes it may be a risk at the very beggining becuase but football is a business and stanley needs to take a risk!!! Also i think we could improve massively by advertising the club!!! |
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Some good balanced views there, very good.
I think the point some of you are missing though is, as pointed out in the original post, that I and others you are trying to appeal to are not Stanley hardcore. When you say results/players shouldn't matter you are being naive in the extreme. Likewise comparing Stanley to Alton Towers. As a fan of another club and not being a charitable trust I expect some entertaining for my 12 spondoolies. To be fair, I think Alton Towers would be way more fun but thats not the point. The reason I come on Stanley is to support the team and the club. Personally I have become demoralised though. The cup run should have resulted in the club really 'kicking on' and giving it a real go for the league. Signing some players of proven quality at conference level or higher. It didn't though. Either the money has gone into some prudent rainy day plan, which doesn't tempt me to part with my money anymore, OR it is simply filling a black hole in a business plan. Either way, it doesn't look good. Compound that with selling your two best players over the summer and apathy amongst people like me couldn't be any worse. Someone says Roberts is as good as Rory, I couldn't comment on that ive not seen enough of him. The point is though he should be complimenting Rory, not replacing him. One step forwards two steps back. Likewise, the clayton end roof. The roof doesn't matter, its the principal. How long has that been going on, what is going on?? I dont really care anymore its a joke, a farce. This sort of debacle is costing the club its credibility. For me what is needed now is a player who will make back page news in the local rags to get people back interested. Its a basic concept but one that works. Be it a 'big name' old pro or a real 'current' talent. Speaking of which, I am happy to see Pawel Abbott doing so well for Huddersfield at the moment. I was on Stanley a few years ago for a friendly against Preston and I picked this lad out as one to watch. Glad to see he's making his mark. If we could unearth someone like him or Grant holt at Rochdale, players with the CLASS to make it at a higher level, I think it would get people creaming again. |
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This money was used to help turn the club from semi pro to full time! and the wages and extra staff and costs which come with that transition. Which I and i am sure many other stanley fans has thought to be a huge success |
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Again I'm not complaining, but money is tight for a lot of people on a limited budget, or with finacial commitments. Of course it is a lot cheaper for a family to come and see Stanley than to go to a theme park, but you don't go there week in week out, and that's what the club needs fans to do.
The club is lucky in the fact that it has a very committed hardcore of fans who will be there rain or shine, win or loose, sadly the fair weather fans are more fickle. From a business point of view, unless there was maximum attendance, I would be looking at ticket pricing and packages. A weekly family ticket is a great idea, bearing in mind that it doesn't have to be a Mum and a Dad, but just two adults and a given number of children. Again I'm not critising anybody, but my job in London was to raise the profile of the fashion company I was working for on a minimum or non existant budget, so I know it can be done, but the profile of the club needs perhaps to be raised, and not just in the back pages of the Observer. I would perhaps be trying to get the press to do a main feature on our new international Romuald Boco's take on playing in Accrington, I would also be onto the press, including tv, trying to get them to do a feature on the forth coming cheer leaders. We are lucky, we have a famous name, lots of people who don't even follow football know our name, even if it is only because of that bloody milk advert! Yesterday was a great day, perfect weather, a good match, and three points. Lets hope we can build on this, and hopefully see a bigger attendance soon. To anybody who is reading this who doesn't go to support the team, as a new fan myself, it is a great afternoon out, and worth the money just to listen to the Ultras and their sometimes very witty repartee. If I can perhaps help in anyway with the skills I have gleaned working in Google Page Ranking, I would be more than happy to. |
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Doing some market research why lack of attendance when the attendance is gr8 not just here but at the ground or around locals, so that the club can aim at its weaker levels
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I don't know the inside story, but I would imagine that the club has experienced a considerable increase in costs, with the transition from part-time to full-time status, so surely a £2 increase is justified? In my opinion, reverting to the £10 admission charge won't bring back the missing hundreds. However, I agree that the club could do more in terms of budget family packages.
Like every other die-hard, I'm fervently hoping that yesterday's result is the start of a consistently successful run that will attract the casual fans back to the fold! |
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We've had this discussion many times and many ideas have been raised, particularly getting younger people into the ground. The club has shown a willingness to take on our ideas such as the free kids ticket if they attended a Stanley soccer school. But lots more needs to be done such as family tickets or mini-season tickets or free tickets distributed to a different local school each week. The cost of running a football game are virtually no different if there are 1,000 people attending or 2,000 so the income from any 'new' attendees because such promotions would be pure profit. Plus it would add to the atmosphere of the place.
There is really only one good reason why the club would not want to be more aggressive in offering free or discounted tickets and that is it would make buying season tickets less attractive in terms of the savings that they offer over buying a ticket at each game. But it is something that needs to be studied and attempted, even if on just a trial basis. And as for the Clayton End roof, whatever the projected impact upon attendances or crowd atmosphere, it has become a Google Page Ranking embarrassment. Another good FA Cup run is the best remedy for our attendances, but there is a lot that the club can do in the meantime. |
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Just an idea,next week FCUoM are letting all under 18s in to Gigg Lane free of charge probably because of the Manchester derby.Do you not think doing something like that may help out at the Interlink or has this already been tried?
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I doubt that will happen mthead, because thats only boosting our attendance....no money is coming in through the turnstiles from it.... maybe Under12's free if they are accompanied with a paying adult is a good idea??
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The concept of letting kids in for free is to give them a taste and hopefully they will come back on a semi or regular basis... so no money made on the day but in the long run.......
FCUoM might be in for the same shock we had when we did try something simmilar.... It was a nightmare with gangs of kids of all ages roaming the place.. running about and causing all manner of headaches.... free kids with an adult is a better idea... |
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Oh dear!!!! Never thought of it like that.They dont have to be accompanied neither,they were handing fliers out yesterday at the game and ive just re-read it.Hopefully it goes ok though.They are also giving free pin badges to the kids who have season tickets to,to compensate for them already having paid for game.
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Theres a guy managing a bunch of part timers called Algarve Utd who I think would solve the problem immediately.
Dont know how long he plans staying over there but the lure of the english league and a pro club could be tempting?? Or maybe im mad?? |
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Gazza??!!
Yep...you're mad! |
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I like the idea of the family ticket or child free with paying adult. If putting season ticket holders noses out of joint is stopping them then there could be an incentive to them re: cup matches. But all in all if the attendance is boosted us "die hard" fans would just be happy for the club |
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I went to the match yesterday & I must say my heart sank when I saw the gate - despite everything being positive, weather, time, new transfers in etc less than a thousand attend. It must be very disheartening for Eric & his management team who I am sure will have given much consideration to all the foregoing suggestions & more many times over. We can support him & the club by making sure we are there in support & bring someone along with us if we can - I know this is not a new thought. I did think it was an excellent game yesterday with some skillful touches from Craney & Roberts particularly & there are real signs that the team is beginning to gel together really well. It was a comfortable win - more so than the scoreline suggests. There are a lot of positives about the club - if only the gate would reflect the progress made over the last few years! Then we'd all be happy!!
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And Tommybrook's right...let's each and every one of us die-hards try to make a "convert" this season. I know "bring a friend" has become a cliche, but let's all try to do it! But, most of all, I hope that on-field events will start to lift the gates of their own accord. Bring on Mr Boco! |
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Trouble is... most of us on this MB (apart from exiles) went to the game and go to most if not all games..... so unless we are preaching to the converted... who are we talking to ?
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I would've thought the most of us know people - friends, relatives, neighbours, workmates, regulars in our local -who are interested in football to a greater or lesser extent, but don't come on the Stanley. I've managed to make a convert and I live in Stockport!
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Staveros, please refrain from posting that kind of content. If you want to contact me by PM then feel free, but I'm not going to be drawn on a public discussion.
Please accept this as a warning. Thank you. |
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Starting a new college tomorrow so I will be spreading the word for new fans............. :)
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yeah get yer sandwich board ready smiffy ;)
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hehehe :D The Stanley shirt will be on full show tomorrow :)
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good lad smithy ive worn mine as often as possible will see you there on wednesday
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Staveros, did you go on Saturday -- yes or no?
Because if you did, you could hardly have classed that as "crap". It was an entertaining game only let down by the crowd size and the usual defensive lapse -- that needs sorting.. I went with a friend who is an "irregular" supporter and two others who were from outside the area. We all agreed it has been a good game and that skill levels and commitment were better than last year. As for kids, give 'em free tickets, low admission or whatever, but handcuff the little beggars to their parents and make em either siddown or stand in one place. They two little tearaways at the back of the Clayton End on Saturday afternoon were a real menace and their dad did sod all to stop them. :rolleyes: |
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I was one of the missing fans on Saturday, having been a virtual ever present for the past few seasons. There were a few reasons why I wasn't there, namely:
1. The kick off time. 1.00 is too early for a Saturday game. It should have been brought forward to the Friday night. 2. I wanted to see the England game, and would have missed a big chunk of it travelling back from Accy. 3. The admission fee is becoming too high, from £8 to £12 in a couple of seasons. What are we getting for the extra 50% apart from names on shirts and a few broken promises? Certainly the standard of football is no better. 4. I don't enjoy going in the club after the game as much. The prices are ridiculous and the service is abysmal. At the final whistle at the Exeter game, there were 2 bar staff on and about 50 people waiting to be served. One of the barmaids then decided that was a good point to take five minutes out to check the change in the till and restock it with 20p pieces from the back room. Unbelievable! Also, the Man of the Match award has been devalued by the opposing players never turning up (understandable if they have a long coach journey ahead) and our own players hiding away in another room (unforgiveable). Not to forget the unforgivably rude manner in which Frank addresses the assembled supporters. I will pick and choose my games from now on. And to all the "Stanley till I die" brigade, I would say, no I'm not one of you. I'm an Everton fan, and will be Everton till I die. There aren't enough of you, so you must depend on those of us for whom Stanley are a second choice team to support. And not give us excuses not to attend. |
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yeah but so is 1:00pm in afternoon!!!
We should have just moved it to sunday |
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:) :) :)
But you must agree there are issues there that the club must address if it is going to attract people who, like me, can find something better to do with our Saturdays. |
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All clubs have the same issues.. Stanley have tried to address these and surely will keep trying... You would need to be an idiot to think the club doesn't know or try.
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£12 is a lot of money. £48 (which is what me and me woman have to find this week) is a hell of a lot of money! We're supporting Stanley, so we'll pay it. Might I suggest that the missing 800 'supporters' think that they can find better things to do with their £48? |
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I would say £12 is a fair price to pay to watch a game of professional football at the highest non-league level in the country...and where do you get £48 from?
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Morecambe £11 Tamworth £10 Forest Green £9 Grays Athletic £10 etc, etc, etc How do these clubs get away with it if the lowest price allowed by the Conference is £12 |
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The club has got a lot going for it, and the facilities are better than many away grounds I have visited (eg Leigh RMI - a vision of hell!). The clubhouse is very comfortable, especially now it has been extended. The seating is adequate and offers protection from the elements. The team play reasonably well - they havent made a bad start to the season, despite the disappointing results against Exeter and Cambridge). The website is excellent (thanks to Rob and Kipax) and won a prize last year did it not? But the club doesn't have a god given right to expect people to attend. My comments about the entrance charges, prices in the bar and quality of service are intended to be constructive. Unfortunalely, I have been complaining about the quality of service for a couple of seasons, but it always seems to fall on deaf ears. Why can't someone realise that there will be short periods where the bar is mad busy. (eg at half time and for 10/15 minutes after the game.) For those periods, flood the bar with extra staff, even if it is volunteer staff who you can trust to use the till. |
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I cant resist any longer :) Speaking of idiots and early kickoffs, my bro turned up on Saturday at 10 to 3 just as everyone was leaving!!! HAHAHAHA
Jimbo T :horn8:blower |
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It was only after three calls from Harwood Red and the promise of a lift, that I got there on time, even though the earlier kick off time was well publicised. |
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Does nobody else think that we just dont advertsie the game enough???
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I'm willing to pay £12 to watch a game of professional football at the highest non-league level... all I'm suggesting is that there are lots of people who wouldn't be - most of Accrington, by the look of it! Not meaning any offence, but Accrington doesn't look to be one of the most affluent towns around. Most of your 4x4 people-wagon drivers seem to put on their jester hats and pootle off to their pre-warmed premiership seats leaving us working class folks to go and watch Stanley. Perhaps the choice is Sky subscription or non-league football? |
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It won't cost you £48, because the Harwood match prices will be well below £12.
Obviously, you're not on your own in thinking that the admission prices are too high. I, personally, don't think that knocking a quid or two off the gate prices will bring the missing hundreds back. A consistent spell of success on the field of play would be a far more effective way to get people through the turnstiles. |
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It seems money is the problem or should I say price, if its 12 quid a time why not sell a 10 game pack for 100 pounds, lose 20 make 80 if thats to much to lose have a six game pack for 60 and the you only lose 12 quid thats one persons attendance. Season tickets are on a cheaper rate 220 seems a good price, but still not 12 quid a game. I presume that selling season tickets are to get money upfront and if you can't make a game tough, this is the same idea on a smaller scale.
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Is it just me.....
or do I really not give a stuff in all honesty, whether another 500 fairweather non Accy Stanley come on? Although I was disappointed by the gate I am only disappointed because I know that people like Eric, Rob etc thrive on how many come through! As far as 22 people kicking a footie around, the beautiful game, the atmosphere, the matchday experience, I am happy that the "die hards" where there..... We have still progressed SO much in a very short space of time, yet we still demand instant success, big name signings, cordon bleu cuisine, 40 bar staff! Jesus, its Accy Stanley! My quaint little non league team that can stay in the confernce as far as I am concerned for 40 years. There is too much sponsorship & business accumen attachjed to what used to be a pleasureble sport. Too much talk about revenue, men in suits, budgets, attendances, balance sheets, player wages arrrrgh enough already! This ain't BRFC! Remember, how far we have come, keep spreading the word, keeping winning the games & it will all fall into place...... (;) ) STANLEY TILL I DIE! ASFC Benin Ultras |
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Could not disagree with you more. It's not Eric or Rob who thrive on the gates, it's the CLUB! Bigger gates means more revenue for quality players. And don't forget there'a salary cap based on a percentage of turnover.
I don't want to be a "quaint little non-league club" and I don't want to be in the conference for the next 40 years. I'll be pushing up daisies by then anyway! But before I do, I want to see Stanley back in the lower divisions of the football league as a strong, thriving, yet still grassroots club! |
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On the Accrington Stanley Web Forum a discussion is taking place regarding attendance levels. Of course one of the reasons cited is the admission charge, included is a post from the discussion: "The conference is the body that requests a minimum admission charge which I believe is £10." I wonder if you could be so kind as to verify the accuracy of this statement. I received the following reply half an hour ago: Thank you for your email, I have passed it on to someone who should be able to assist you. Joanna Adams The Football Conference Ltd 51 Highfield Road Dartford Kent DA1 2JS When the answer arrives I will, of course, post it. |
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& more money means more journeymen full time footballers on our books.... I am being romantic but the lure for cash & turnover somehow takes the magic away! Just look at the Premiership !!!!! Sorry, but we will have to agree to disagree :) Jase |
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I don't think anyone from the Club has said that £12 is the minimum admission charge. Please point me to the correct post if I am incorrect.
The decision over ticket pricing has been, as far as I can remember, to base our ticket prices on the average for the Conference. That is a business decision by the club, not a Conference diktat. |
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OK, fair enough, mate. Both Stanley-Til-Die, but in different ways, I suppose.:)
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The naivety of some of you is astounding.
You just can't seem to get it through that the people you NEED to boost the attendances dont think like you. Im the same as the other lad, im an Evertonian, I have had a season ticket there for the last 11 years and used to go to most aways as well. Its only the last few years ive cut back on the aways, hence I started having spare weekend to come to Stanley. I started coming in the Unibond promotion season, which was awesome, and then continued into the conference. The first season, again, was awesome. Since then though I have lost interest. The prices have risen dramatically but more importantly the football hasn't progressed, in fact last season I felt it went backwards. I came to 4 or 5 games last year and left distinctly unimpressed after all of them. maybe I got unlucky, I dont know?? He is right about the service in the bar as well, its horrendous. I had taken to getting in 10 minutes before half time just to get served but on one occasion the football was so bad I didnt bother coming out for the second half i just watched the tele instead. The rubbish teles might I add. That was another bone of contention I had in the past, supporters providing teles, eh?? Whats that all about?? I think last time I was in a widescreen had arrived(5 years behind the times) which was at least some improvement. Seriously though, would THE CLUB getting a couple of 42" Plasmas be a ridiculous suggestion?? You can get a pair for £1500 nowadays, then claim the VAT back of course. Not much more than a grand all in, hardly a bank breaker is it?? Besides, Im sure if you contact some of the local TV stores ie Panasonic or Harry Garlick that they would do a deal, say 500 quid and an advertisement or summet?? Anyway, im going off the main point now. The main point is that it is what happens ON the pitch that matters. They may well have been great on Saturday but I didnt see it because I wasn't there. I wasn't there because last season when I came I didn't feel it was value for money. If I were involved with the club I would have recognised the problem over the summer and acted upon it in a realistic manner. To me, ticket deals and word of mouth is futile. It wont work. It hasn't worked at Blackburn and it certainly wont work at Stanley. What was needed in the summer was a big news story, the signing of a big name player. Even if it were a journyman pro, just someone to capture the imagination, to get people down to the game to see what all the fuss is about. Didn't happen though, in fact quite the opposite. the club sold its two best players. A more certain recipie for disaster I never have seen. Thats gone now though, we must look forward. Where are we then?? Well, the way I see it is this...there are two possible solutions. 1. hope and pray that the team plays well over the coming months and can hold a place in the top 4 say approaching Christmas. I think then people will be interested to see whats happening and come back. 2. Sign the 'big name'. Be it a league player having troubles or a journeyman coming to the end, just someone who will make the news and get people down to have a look. The worst missed opportunity of all time must have been when they let Payton pass. Madness. I hear they were worried about his attitude yada yada. Say what?? Football is a business now, big business. Not to tell Eric how to suck his eggs but he would have been a cash camel. I was excited at the prospect of getting him and im not even a claret!! The crowds would have increased sizeably IMO. At the end of the day, is it that important if these signings work out?? The way I see it is you want to raise the gates, they will do that. If it means 'carrying' a player for a little while then my business logic would say 'lets give it a go'. Once you have people at the ground then you have your chance to 'hook' them. until you get them there your chance is zero. Its a no brainer for me. Everyone knows that the lower league clubs are struggling money wise, Stanley should be far more stable than some of them. Surely we could tempt some of their players away with a decent offer?? Theres nothing between the conference and the next few leagues up really is there?? Money talks at the end of the day, it would certainly create a buzz. Like I said previously, im just being realistic. If none of these things happen nothing will change, I guarantee it, so then you have to ask ,where are we going'? I jumped on the bandwagon, as did planty of others. Its time to get it rolling again. |
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Re: Poor Gates
Received 5 minutes ago. From the horses mouth:
The Rule regarding admission charges is clear for Football Conference Fixtures. The minimum charge is £7.00 with clubs allowed to set concessions for juniors (16 and under) and Senior Citizens. Admission Charges club membership concessions must be the same for home and away fans. John Moules Operations Director The Football Conference Ltd 51 Highfield Road Dartford Kent DA1 2JS |
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God its depressing reading this lark, Remember Accrington 2-1 Woking, be happy..... |
Re: Poor Gates
We won on sat... we should beat harwood and lift the VMI trophy and then if we beat burton away we come back to the IES to face Crawley on a good run
If the gate is about the 1k mark then thats that...its our level for this season... we just have to live wiht it and those of us who do go.. enjoy it.... for those that find better uses for there money then good luck to them... The people of accy know the club is here.. they know football is usually on a saturday.. you cant force them to come.. they have to want to come... if they dont turn up when we are winning then thats that... Roll on tuesday :) |
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Andy Payton, please.......... We can't gamble that a big name player ( and a fat huge salary!) would "maybe! tempt fans of other clubs through the turnstiles..... Your club is your club, few change & if they do only on a part time basis. We need young new Stanley fans & they will come with time. Fair weather fans will come if we win games & Mr Coleman has been doing that for a good few years now. Just check out the terrace on a Saturday, there is sooooo many young faces, they will grow up to be only Stanley fans not Everton & Stanley or Claret & Stanley but Stanley! through & through. Till then we have to live within our means & not gamble to please Everton fans (sorry mate, or BRFC or Man Utd! etc) I'm sorry but spending £1500 on tv's to attract punters...................... I belly laughed at that one! |
Re: Poor Gates
Also fella, it ain't just us who SOLD our best players to League clubs...
Woking on Saturday lost both of their Centre Halfs to League clubs..... maybe they should have bought some tv's ......sorry! You have got one thing right though & I'm sure Coley knows this, we haven't progressed since our first year but thats football, I am positive that Coley will get it right & we will have a real go but there is 22 clubs all trying to do this & we have no divine right to go up! KEEP THE FAITH & keep coming, you never know what you will miss! Anyone ****ed off with queuing & deciding not to come to ASFC because of queues, let me know & I will personally buy you a pint & you can sit & watch the tele! Regards Benin Ultras |
Re: Poor Gates
Whoa!!
What an excellent thread!! As most of you may know, (especially Garinda, who seems to keep tabs on who is on & off this forum at all times!), I am a regular reader, seldom poster. How many varied views have been expressed in this post.... I seem to be agreeing with one, then the other, opposing comment. From Staveros, to Smiffy, Kipax (see, I even spelt it right!), to WH, Robaldo, et al! The main theme, however, is that we are all concerned about the dwindling level of support..... this is now my fourth season, two as an ST holder.... I must admit that, this season, I thought long & hard as to whether I should renew my ticket, as, due to work commitments, I knew I could make no more than 80% of this season's home games. Like, probably, many others, I opted to renew, thinking that , at least, I am helping the revenue of the club....the same reason I buy a programme & draw tickets at each game I attend. That, however, is not enough for the club..... no matter how many 'diehards' we have, we will not, alone, be able to carry this club forward.... we need additional support!! This is where we should be looking at it from a 'Business' point of view. What does any business do, when confronted with falling sales??? I'm sure there are many of you on here who are by now shouting out the answers!! So, why are we not looking for 'new' customers? Trying to sell additions to our existing customers? Getting our existing customers to recommend us to a friend? Pure & simple MARKETING... that, I feel, is what we are lacking. As someone else (sorry, don't remember who) commented, we should be making the most of the fact that we have just signed an international player, no matter how remote the country!! We should have had a lot more press coverage on the fact that we sold an extremely talented left-winger (one of a dying breed!) to a League club (albeit for an 'undisclosed' fee!) And what about the other International we signed from a league club, got him fit throughout a season, then sold him on, presumably at a profit, (again 'undisclosed') to another league club? If we don't make money on this 'bit of business', we should, at least, be attracting considerable publicity! The football is good, despite defensive lapses, the entertainment value, to my mind, is excellent, although the skills displayed may not be.... however, why do we watch at this level, rather than travel a few miles down the road, in either direction? COMMITMENT!!! We get it from the players (well, most of the time!) Can we now expect that 'The Management' will commit to marketing this club, with all it's history & tradition, in the way that is so deserved?? C'mon, Eric, I knew you when you were in 'ceramics' at English Electric.... You've done brilliantly for yourself, & for this club in the intervening years...... don't let it all fail now!! |
Re: Poor Gates
IT ISNT FALLING
Like Willie miller said its just may have stopped progressing at such a speed but we are and still will go places we just need to be patient |
Re: Poor Gates
Do people not remember playing teams like Trafford!!!!! in front of half what we get now (& less)
1000 is poor, disappointing etc etc. But I certainly ain't ever gonna look at a football club in the same way as the chairman does ie a business, with a business plan & customers, & marketing strategy ARGGGGGGH! Never, ever, ever ............. So, who's on the coach to Burton? |
Re: Poor Gates
It does kinda spoil it when we have to think like businessmen... lets leave the running of the club to the people that know best.. and the rest of us enjoy the game :)
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Re: Poor Gates
I don't for one minute doubt the commitment shown by the board. In a previous life, I used to have regular meetings with Eric and John Demaine, and I used to dread meeting them if Stanley had lost the night before. They are 100% committed to the club.
This thread is all about discussing why the gates have fallen, and we are all trying to put forward constructive suggestions to address the problem. It is not acceptable to adopt an elitist view that the only worthwhile fans are those that are Stanley through and through. Manchester United is a club founded on fair weather supporters, and it hasn't done them any harm. Nor is it acceptable to bury your head in the sand and say that if only 900 turn up to games, then so be it. Two seasons ago there were 2,500 going through the turnstiles, and that potential has got to be exploited. The £12 admission fee, like it or not, is a factor that is putting people off. If you want to encourage kids to become Stanley fans, then for goodness sake make it attractive for them to come. Charge them a nominal £1 per head. Stanley has the advantage of being one of the most famous clubs in English football. If they get back into the League it will be national headlines. Let's exploit that to the limit! |
Re: Poor Gates
Willie Miller, you laugh at my suggestions? Right back at ya.
It is the sort of 'tin-pot' attitude that buying two plasma screens draws 'belly laughs' that is part of the problem here. The club supposedly has ambitions to reach the league yet they seemingly want to do it 'on the cheap'. You seem also to have misunderstood me, you imply that in some way I could be tempted to change my team alliegances?? Never. I will always be an Evertonian, come what may, my point is that there is also an opportunity for me to support my local club fairly often. Likewise Blackburn and Burnley fans. If you think that it is possible to create a good size support of loyal Stanley fans I fear you are sadly misguided. Its just not going to happen. Its people like me and the Rovers and Burnley boys you need to be appealing to. Whatever you say about Payton he would have increased the gate considerably, I dont think there can be any argument about that. Maybe he would have expected a decent deal, fair enough, so would I if I was him. You need to do a cost benefit analysis then but for me, as i said, it would have been an absolute no brainer. Anyway, what am i bothered for?? It doesn't hurt me if the attendances are rubbish does it?? Im just trying to make a point and I dont think Im only speaking for myself. Believe it or not East Lancashire isnt backwardsville anymore. There are a fair amount of forward thinking, ambitious people around. You are telling me that the club cannot afford a couple of proper tele's properly installed without fans charity?? B****x. Its a p*ss take. In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is king. |
Re: Poor Gates
Thing that annoys me about all this is the people who are complaining about the attendance didnt go on Saturday themselves.....
Kinda contradicts themselves really :) |
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Re: Poor Gates
who is this Payton fella. Never heard of him
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Re: Poor Gates
If you mean me smiffy, im giving you reasons why.
ive been on plenty in seasons past, im telling you why ive stopped. its not rocket science. |
Re: Poor Gates
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Not Rocket science :):) |
Re: Poor Gates
If u havent been to the club recently then u wont have seen the gazelle lougne
THAT TV GOOD ENOUGH??? http://kipax.fotopic.net/p19572055.html |
Re: Poor Gates
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I was at the Exeter game and there were only 1,300 there. Does that make my comments valid? |
Re: Poor Gates
No because you havent stopped coming then have you if you was at the previous game?
Notice the attendance in that game.....How many come in your car? ;) |
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You don't think anybody else in my family would be mad enough to come, do you? |
Re: Poor Gates
Them pics arent loading for me JT but i have seen the plasma in the Gazelle lounge and its boss.
Thats not for the masses though is it. smiffy, are you a little slow old boy or what?? Do you need every aspect of evry point spoonfeeding?? I have given you reasons for my discontinued attendance, i.e lack of progress, lack of VFM. Do you get it?? I need enticing back now. In fairness some of you are doing a good selling job and I feel I now owe you an appearance. I will check the fixtures and get myself down to the next game possible. Not some rola cola cup game against Harwood though!! Am I a rock thread starter or what by the way?? any prospective Evertonians out there feel free to come and have a look on www.bluekipper.com Its the most happening club forum on the net |
Re: Poor Gates
Staveros, I ain't gonna fall out with you, the club need the suggestions though not us! E-Mail them!
"Dear Accy, Buy some proper televisions, all the best Staveros!" Next time you come I will find you & queue for you, thats a promise, tell your friends! |
Re: Poor Gates
The Gazelle Lounge looks terrific.
Where the hell is it? |
Re: Poor Gates
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By the way, shouldn't you be Evertonguy? or did you register as the bandwagon came rolling past when we played Bournemouth! Its all good, i buy you a pint, honest (thats VFM Staveros!) |
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I'm not falling out with anybody - just putting forward constructive suggestions to improve things at the IES. |
Re: Poor Gates
[QUOTE=Willie Miller]Listen,
did you register as the bandwagon came rolling past when we played Bournemouth! Jase, I appreciate your concern, & everything you do with/for the Ultras, but, sniping at 'occasional' fans will not endear them to come to the next game!! They are the ones we need to convert!! |
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Re: Poor Gates
now to put my 4 peneth worth in i went to se woking play gravesend prior to us playing them, if we can only beat woking 2-1 then we sure as hell are going to get our buts kicked by gravesend because they should have beat woking by at least 7
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Re: Poor Gates
Well I'm in my 3rd full season as ST holder and I have to say it had nothing to do with tv's (who bases their decision on tv's anyway??) that drew me to stanley in the first place. It was grass roots, down to earth footy. I was drawn between local prem team and stanley won. Not as you may think because it was cheaper but because of the people I met at my first match who made me feel welcome and I have felt PART of the club and not just a spectator ever since! this year I brought Garinda along and you all know how he feels about the Stanley now. I also have on occasions persuaded colleagues at work to come down to the IES when their teams are not playing, but would never suggest they should change their allegience I am happy to see them when they do come to support stanley.
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