Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Lol, ok. Will have to look back through old post to see who put the price on their own head then.:confused:

Do say hiya though.:)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Lets not give up just because of today. Yes a fantastic performance from the lads, but perhaps a game that was viewed as lowly on the attendance list. I did my part & got five old faces back to this game & they all stated how they were amazed at the vast improvement in the way the team played against when they last came & all have vowed to return. Rome wasn't built in a day but keep on plugging friends, family etc & lets hope the reporters from the Telegraph & Observer highlight how many fans who missed todays game missed a real festival of football. OK we are not in the same league as Chelsea, Man U etc but there is a vast difference in paying £12 against £30-45 too. After all our contributions today will ensure the development of the club tommorow! And a nice tribute too to Roy, You could hear a pin drop outside in the ground for the minutes silence, pity about the muppet in the clubhouse who yapped through it, but there is always one isn't there.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

not sure if I want to know now wynonie as we enjoy ourselves guessing too much!! At one point I think you were even a woman!!! :eek:

Garinda & I are always stood behind the goal so if you know who we are please do come over and say hello and introduce yourselves.

As for todays game, brilliant!! I have to admit I was close to not coming as I'd spent a freezing morning stood up at Blacksnape watching my son play footy this morning... but I am so glad I did. What an exciting match and what a penalty save by elliot (was stood right behind the goal when he saved it).

I think special offers on cup matches are always a good idea especially to season ticket holders and we are more likely to drag an extra friend when you are all in the same position of paying at the turnstiles

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Definitely not, although I sometimes whinge like an old woman on here.:)

I know you two from your shots in the photo gallery, so I'll come over and say 'ow do next time I see you.

Got to agree with all the comments about Stanley's game this afternoon. The team are playing better than I have ever seen them play. Some absolutely beautiful moves up front, Elliot is just as good as Randolph and even the defence aren't making me feel as nervous as I used to! If we carry on playing like this, surely the crowds must return?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

don't get much time to sit at my compter these days - so haven't read all the posts, apologies if my two pennoth duplicates. Saturday's gate was surely down to last chance for a lot of folks to shop for Christmas - wouldn't worry about a one-off. Long term, we still have the two B's on either side and history shows a lot of Accy folk don't count town pride in their make-up.
I think we must reconcile ourselves to always being a poor relation and obviously that must limit ambition. I see my fellow Roughlea-ite, Wynonie, has 'Stanley till I die' as his motto and I guess that goes for all the Stanley faithful. Either Accrington is in your heart or it isn't.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Sad, but true, LLS...and now even more disturbing news in today's NLP - Coley is raising the spectre of selling Craney and Roberts when the January transfer window opens, if gates don't improve. To quote him, "We are not that rich that we can turn down big offers. They have been outstanding so far and I fear some League club might take a plunge in January." The gate for the Halifax match suddenly assumes a new importance, in this light.

Although I can well understand Coley's disappointment with the response from the town, I really can't see why we should have to sell them. It was only last week that Eric reassured us that the club was on a sound financial footing. To quote him, "Obviously at the start of the season when we prepare our budgets we don't take it for granted that the team will do well. In fact we have to ensure that if we are struggling we can still cover our overheads with the lower gates that would reflect that situation." Or to quote Rob, "The football club have no loans or mortgages."

So, unless either player expressed a strong desire to leave, why do we need to sell them anyway?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

In fact, it's all the more strange because he issued a "hands off" warning to league clubs in Friday's Observer. To quote him, "we want to keep our best players until at least the end of the season just to see what we can do." So, what's happened since then to change his mind? Has yesterday's gate upset him so much??!!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

The Club are playing a dangerous game IMO. With headlines that threaten "Do you want a club?" and threats that we may sell our best players if people don't turn up. This could very easily backfire. Clearly the Club was not listening, as Rob claimed they were, when this thread became an appeal for a more positive light to be cast upon the issue of attendances.

What would happen if one or more of our best players were sold in January and we fell from our lofty position at the top of the league and missed out on promotion? Such "betrayal" by the Club would not go down very easily with the fans that do turn out for Stanley games.

To talk of selling players is nonsense. The Club is on a stable financial footing and income will only rise in the New Year given the performances on the pitch. There is absolutely no need to cut costs. So the only reason to sell would be to maximise profits from selling players when the Club might command the highest fee for its players. If we were to sell players so they 'progressed' to a Club higher up the League structure, that can be done in the Summer and most of us would understand the need to do so and wish the player all the best with his new club. But to do so, or even raise the spectre of doing so, in January with promotion so close is a very different thing altogether.

I just hope the Club see sense and spend more time celebrating the fantastic football that we are playing and the prospect of a return to the Football League after 44 years than threatening the public. It smacks of desparation and that can only be unsettling to players and fans alike.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Yep I think that their hearts are in the right place when "rallying the call" for more paying public, however, the general attempt to shame people into coming will not work

A headline saying "Stanley keep 7 clean sheets" would be more help in getting fans in then "Do you want a club?"

But, at least they're talking about the issue & crowds will go up!

Selling Craney or Roberts WILL happen but like WR said in January it would be suicide & would effectively rule out promotion. There would be an UPROAR, led by me! Hopefullly, it is again an attempt to bring punters in

I hope...........

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Who was responsible for the headlines? I would have thought that selling key players before promotion would be tantamount to an act of treason on behalf of the club, was anything was learnt from the events leading up to 62. The only way of securing a wide spread fan base is positive promotion of the club by its managers and existing fans.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Why do newspapers have these headlines...........? to sell papers, Accy are top of the league and a paper will print what it thinks was said and then defend the right to free speech, if you think this is bad wait until we are in the league and pushing for promotion then we will see some headlines.
1 Leicester and Millwall are understood to be looking at Cheltenham's Grant McCann.
2 Sky Sports understand that Kevin Gall could be on his way out of Huish Park in January.

1 Grant is a great young player who has come through the ranks and they would be stupid to sell him, Cheltenham have had NO offers for him.
2. Kevin Gall is signing a new contract.
see the crap they write, just remember its only a rumor and we souldn't sweat the small stuff. :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think the club needs to jump on this story as quickly as possible. Did Coley say what he was quoted as saying or did the NLP, to use the old adage, "quote him out of context"? If he did say it, did he mean it or was it just said in the heat of the moment after Saturday's disappointing gate? Answers, please!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

unfortunately we can only give quotes, papers choose their own headlines.

coley's comments in the nlp were a very small part of the article. it would take a silly offer before the club would even consider allowing anyone to go during this season, after all the value to the club of the squad as it is now runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

saturday's gate was not a big talking point at the club, there is always a drop for the early rounds of the fa trophy, it was the week before christmas and the sixth of six consecutive home games. the mood is upbeat, eight wins in a row, six clean sheets in a row (9 hours of football!), we're looking forward to a big crowd for the halifax game on 2nd jan and a very interesting 2006!

rob

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Glad to hear it, Rob! Thanks for the info.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Thanks Rob, just what I thought & very easy to tell the mood is upbeat.
I really believe that we can win the next three games as Halifax although unbeaten at home aren't uprooting any trees & have just been told that there ground is for sale. Make sure you get to Yorkshire on Boxing Day & lets make the Shay like a home game

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

up for sale!!!! Lets see if they would sell us a roof???

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

i'll chuck in a tenner.

the roof over the away end won't be worth sh!t when we raise it, so i'll have the home end roof please.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

[QUOTE=garinda]The chat between gainda and Bagpuss is a reminder of something we fans really can do to help gates.
Be what we are, friendly northern folk, say Hi to the other supporters in the ground. Get our club a reputation for being the friendliest most welcoming football ground in the country.
This is something we can beat any of the soulless premiership clubs at, and its something that is bound to attract more support and goodwill for our club.

I know that its something we do now anyway, but we can realy make it a big feature.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

just over 3 years ago I finally realised my lads were growing up, yes they were only 9 & 10 at the time but they were finding their own independence. I wanted something that we could all do together and that would interest us all. My first thought came to footy as I already spent sat mornings and sun afternoons watching them play in their local youth league footy sides. We'd been to a few rovers matches and I saw an advert for the next match at stanley and thought I would give it a go. It was a pre-season friendly, so we went along and I immediately felt at home. Everyone was so friendly, the players, staff, stewards all made it feel such a welcoming place to come.

A couple of weeks later I found I came into a smallish amount of money and thought, hmmm how about buying some season tickets... Now I could afford rovers ones for all three of us.... but no I chose the stanley and have never looked back!!

Nowadays my lads have become teenagers and don't come along to all home matches (although I still purchased the season tickets) but I have no problems coming along on my own (although I seem to have managed to drag garinda). I attend every home match and some away (when poss), I am also a patron (extra money for the club), sponsered Boco this season, and have pledges for any Robert's goals or assists. No I'm not flush with cash, but somehow stanley has got into my blood and only many other fans on here and who go every week know what I'm talking about.

I suppose what I'm saying is, it's people like me that we need to capture, not the rovers/burnley fans when their playing away, but those who are looking to fill a gap and who then can think of nothing they would rather do than get down to the IES on a sat pm :D

Right waffle over, just thought I would share that with you, (please no karma deductions for being a saddo ;) )

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Thanks for the info Rob, it's just the words the fans have been waiting for. No folly for this club, league 2 next season, hopefully with a roof as well

cry for more fans
 

i am sure that you all read the Accrington Observer cry for more supplorters by John Coleman i am told he was echoeing Eric Whalleys slagging off of fans not attending games. if i can tell you why i think this is the case . i appreciate now the football team are full time and need paying etc but do the people who decide on entrance fees not think that 12 per adult is alot when you can go to burnley for less i understand this is set by the conference but £7 per child is extortionate and when you have two boys who both like football especially Accrington Stanley £30 is the cost of every home game minimum when you have a programme and drink.
i truly hope Accrington stanley progress to the Football league but come on Eric have a hearet for those with children make some offers like bring a child for nothing then the parents would attend and the spin off from that will make up for the £7 entrance fee im sure???

would love to hear anyones view

Re: cry for more fans
 

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=18512

try reading the above thread, there are loads of comments from people who have ideas on why the gates are so low, admission costs being one of them. When you say kids I'm presuming you are talking about the over 12's as under 12's are £3 not £7.

Re: cry for more fans
 

im talking about my two sons 14 and 12 the price is stupid they should even make under 12s free when they are accompanied by parents mind you some over 12s need accompanying

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

people are saying things about attendences being low because of the prices well how can we blame it on that when some other clubs charge more e.g halifax charge 13 pound for adults but that doesnt stop them gettin a good crowd also some other clubs charge to sit down e.g burton hereford ...

Re: cry for more fans
 

A ticket costs 12 pounds? imao! this s really expensive

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

im a birmingham city fan and wish u all the best this season and hope u stay up. watching the championship this mornin and seeing that adults are £15 to get in i was shoked it is cheaper to watch a premiership club.After looking on ur website and seeing that season tickets are £315 for adults and concessoions £210 it is cheaper for a season ticket at most premiership clubs and birmingham city. so are u all happy with the prices?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

we are the cheepest priced league two club...that says it all!!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Unfortunately, football is more of a business then a sport nowadays :(

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

on individual adult prices you can't do much better than being the cheapest in the league, and bearing inmind that our facilities are the poorest in the league, this is fair. However I think the club could and should do a lot better with season ticket prices to attract more season ticket holders. £275 for the season is a saving of £24 based on £13 and 23 home games. I know that I will probably miss more than 1 home match this year so I didn't buy a season ticket ticket. If the saving was four or five games then I would certainly have got one.

I also think that friendlies should be free, and there should be a free cup game as well. Reward the loyalty.

I also think that because of the pricing structure it leaves no room for manouevre with fan initiatives such as kid for a quid day. Maybe next year they could identify three or four games where crowds would be anticipated low such as Torquay at home on february tuesday night ain't gonna pull the numbers is it? Printed on the ticket should be a kid for free or something similar. If we tried this now then a number of people would complain that they have been ripped off. Wrongly in my opinion as the club would be trying something.

If the people are not coming then we need to give away tickets. Get the money of them through the bar or the pie shed. Oh hang on we have no bar on 3/4 of the ground and the pie sheds pay rent and keep the income don't they! Anyways against Barnet there was room for another 3400 people who all may have bought a programme or a fanzine (all money goes back to the club one way or another) or a scarf or a pen.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Sorry mate but I think I am right in saying that Wigan Athletic are the cheapest premiership club unless someone knows different and their season tickets are way more expensive than ours, I know, My sister in law and niece are both season ticket holders (1 concession and 1 full price) even at last years prices (which they bought theirs at) they are still more expensive, and admission prices for this season is £25 pounds minimum. OK so they have a roof over all four sides, but that does not mean you aint going to get wet, again I have practical experience of this when sitting in the south stand at the JJB wind always blows in your face.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Totally agree with ya there Macca certainly those ideas are viable, my prob is affording going every week with 2 rugrats in tow its not exactly a cheap day out hence does limit how many times i can go :( i support my club best i can plus getting my 2 interested in stanley - securing our future generation of supporters is one of the best ways of improving our fanbase attendance.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Exactly, brainwash the buggers from a young age. That's the way forwards!!!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Aye & its working so far;):D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I reckon Eric should 'shout' the travel expenses for fans registered on Accyweb that live downunder.In return,I promise to pay doubleadmission price for at least 4 home games.Two for the price of one.Thats fair..

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

[quote=maccawozzagod]on individual adult prices you can't do much better than being the cheapest in the league, and bearing inmind that our facilities are the poorest in the league, this is fair. However I think the club could and should do a lot better with season ticket prices to attract more season ticket holders. £275 for the season is a saving of £24 based on £13 and 23 home games. I know that I will probably miss more than 1 home match this year so I didn't buy a season ticket ticket. If the saving was four or five games then I would certainly have got one.

this exactly the reason i never bothered with a season ticket, a four or five game saving would have been great, as i work shifts so that would be more of an attraction for me.:engsmil: :engsmil:

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think that you will find that Macclesfield are a lot cheaper than we are - Visiting Supporters Seats £13.00, Visiting Supporters Terrace £10.00, Under 12's FREE and Under 16's £5.00 http://www.mtfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...403583,00.html

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

ok good spot, was told otherwise but never queried it tbh, But still 2nd cheepest in the league :rolleyes: :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Rochdale cheapest ticket £11.00 dearest ticket £15.00. OAP £7.00, 8-16 year olds £3.00, under 7's FREE.
http://www.rochdaleafc.premiumtv.co....,10441,00.html

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

you dont see them complaining about rovers and burnley ticket prices just becuase were a little club does not mean we have to charge smal prices! were going up and up in the league so the club is going to want better things!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Poor arguement, it's all about attracting the fans through the turnstiles which is what we aren't doing at the moment. A few people I spoke to today who went to the Darlington game said they couldn't afford to go to both so maybe the Barnet game was one where some sort of incentive could have been used.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I think Macclesfield & 'Dale can afford to set this admission structure because they are established league sides.
For a Conference club moving into the league for the first season I think our admission prices are quite reasonable; though IMO, terrace prices should be lower due to the severe lack of facilities, and season ticket prices could be made more affordable & worthwile.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Now that's a better arguement, well said.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

When we won Unibond Division One with a last game attendance of 2468 it was only about £5.00 to sit in the stand and only £1.00 for a programme, that was in 2000. Now six years later we are charging £15.00 to sit in the stand and £2.50 for a programme. I know that we are in a higher league, playing against better teams and expenses have risen BUT, the admission prices have trebled - has anybody's wage trebled during this period ? I think not. Our first home game in Unibond Premier Division - after the 2468 gate - attracted just 1006 on a Tuesday night against Alty, our next home game attracted 700. People will make the effort if there is something at stake, but not for a normal league game. Six years ago a part-time supporter might have attended quite a few home games at £5 but now may be put off by having to pay £15.

I am pretty sure that Stanley are more financially sound than either Rochdale or Macclesfield, and if Stanley want to attract more supporters surely they should set a more attractive admission structure. Last season we were told that Stanley had to charge £12 as this was the minimum set by the Conference, when somebody investigated this they reported that the minimum set by the Conference was £7.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

my wage CERTAINLY hasn`t trebled, good valid point jeff.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Bog standard admission at our place is £24 on the day

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Not surprised - never knowing which league you're gonna be in next season must be hard work with the accountants.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

the reason for poor attendances is a accumilation of events
1.lots of people still on holiday .
2 no roof on clayton end.
3 slagging people of accrington off [its not going to help even if it true or not its not going to encourage vey many people .
4 prices. for not so much more you can go and watch the premiership.plus thei deals theyve got on e.g. season ticket holders get second child season ticket for £70 .
5 dont encourage enough of the community to come e.g.from deprived areas
6 should have more outlets to buy merchandise from .:mad:

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

In the year 2000 we didn't have profesional players to pay.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

7. high unemployment area

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

8. Fans who brand newcomers "band wagon jumpers" & not see them as another £13 in the kitty

:D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

:) the band wagon jumpers have all but dissapeared just as i predicted....no not a riot:D :D :D :not_ripe: :not_ripe: :not_ripe: :not_ripe: :not_ripe: ps what happened about card display is there any organised for future games.........

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

notts forest......:)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Well you learn something new every day, I must have missed this point the last time it was mentioned, the number of people that I told incorrect imformation.:mad:

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Yes Jeff, but if you had moved your career on from office junior, to departmental manager, your wage WILL have trebled!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Seriously, I think the 'powers that be' who sort out the fixtures, should be taught a little about 'marketing'

Say they made sure that, as Stanley had promoted so much interest nationwide, they capitalised on this interest....

just imagine... if our first game had been away at Bury.... our first home game (on a Tues night) we entertained Rochdale... next game, home or away, vs. Stockport.....

D'you think Eric would be complaining about attendances?

And what a boost for the following games, having experienced such good 'gates'!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

And another point!
(Sorry, I'm on a roll here!)

Football, these days, is a business.

If I managed to increase my turnover by 10%, year on year, I'd be delighted.

So, if our average attendance last season was 1700, if my memory serves me right, & we get 10% more, say, 1900, this season, we're doing OK.

Following on, we get 2100, 2300, 2450, in next three years... is that sounding more acceptable?

In 10 years, we're gonna buy the 'Theatre of Dreams' from the bankrupt Glazers!!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

This season terrace tickets have increased from £12 to £13 this is an increase of over 8%, stand tickets have increased from £12 to £15 this is an increase of 25%. This is quite a considerable increase, especially when people were complaining last season about the cost of watching Stanley. A family of two adults and two children over twelve will have to pay £50 to sit down and watch Stanley, this is a lot for part-time supporters to pay.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Remember also last Saturday Blackburn were at home to New Zealand with cheap admission, their attendance was over 25000 so maybe some part-time Stanleyites went to Ewood. Let's hope for a bumper gate at home to Rochdale on 26th August, Burnley are away at Crystal Palace and Rovers aren't playing till Sunday 27th so no competition for supporters. Plus it's a local Derby.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

i was sprised wen i heard bout ur attendences thort ud get at least 3000+. u should make season tickets cheaper for kids £200 is a lot to pay for a 13-17 year old i got mine at county for £50 which i think is exellent value for money. anyway hope it gets better for u during th season an tht we both avoid th drop :D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

What you've got to remember is that Stockport is approximately three-and-a-half times bigger than Accrington. So, per head of population. our support levels are about the same. However, I think we could learn a lot from clubs like yours with regard to attractive pricing deals for kids.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

My sister has been a Burnley fan for donkey's years, so obviously her kids go there too. She was saying that a child's season ticket at Stanley was more expensive than the same ticket at Burnley. There's no competition really is there?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Yeah i have a friend thats a serious Burnley fan & have dragged him to stanley on the odd times, he made that same point that its worthwhile him getting a season ticket cos of the cheaper cost of child season ticket for his child. The point of that is that its encouraging parents to bring their kids along for season - wheres the encouragement for kids to support the club??? except those parents that can afford to take them along every match regardless - lucky so & so's LOL:p:D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

To the unknown person who sent a comment about sitting higher up and using common sense should firstly not cast stones in glass houses. The whole reason I sit at the front of any stand in any football ground is because I am a carer for a disabled person who cannot climb steps. Would have replied via the comment or PM'd you but you could not even have the decency to leave your name.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

what chance have we got when rovers are doing a season ticket for £270 with 10% off if its your first season ticket where just too expensive

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Maybe, but credit where it's due, the deal for existing season ticket holders from last year was an excellent one. I was able to buy mine and my two lads' tickets at last year's prices which was a godsend because I certainly wouldn't have been able to afford this year's prices for all three of us.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Ticket prices for Burnley and Stanley are both way to high.

Should be no more than £12 Burnley and £7.50 Stanley as it would be pretty well anywhere else in Europe.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

here here, although wishful thinking i think:engsmil: :engsmil: :engsmil:

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Nonsense! You can't compare the UK to Europe. It's like comparing chalk and cheese.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

According to Eric on t'fishy site the club are looking to make matches more appealing and affordable to families. "Details of a family ticket are to be announced ahead of the Rochdale match." A move in the right direction! :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I agree, but I think that any concessions should be made available when we are playing a game where the opposition will not be bringing many supporters. Rochdale should be a good attendance anyway with Burnley away and Rovers not playing till Sunday and Rochdale should bring a few hundred. But anything that increases the gate is a good idea.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I say there is NO short term answer. If there was then every club would be doing it.

You have to stop current fans from leaving
You have to get the kids interested now for the future

Do both the above or we will be sat here in 5 years wondering why half the town support blackburn and burnley and no one comes on stanley.

Time has passed quickly.. had the club listened three years or more ago when we where all going on about the exact same subject and told them to go into the schools then we would have more fans now.

Theres nothing much we can do about short term... everyone in accy knows there is a club, knows where it is, knows football is played on a saturday... If they dont want to come then thats that.... Look at the future and the kids and look at the fans that are here....

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

With all the history about Accrington Stanley and all the hype which was in abundance last season etc etc etc, I am stunned that people don't want to go at the moment.

I could understand it in three months time if Stanley were playing crap and it was cold wet miserable and chucking it down. But I would have thought that the revival factor would still be in effect at the mo' , in much the same way as clubs with new grounds tend to start with a flourish

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

like kipax said and ive said before it will take time for a solid commiteted fan base to develop :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Sorry Jeff I was on duty at Ewood last Saturday and I would have to say that if there was 25,000 on the ground then it was the empty seats. Rovers only requested 1 Ambulance to be in attendace so that means a gate of 5,000 to 15,000 after that more vehicles would have been requried. A crowd of 25k would require 2 Ambulances and ISU with 2 Officers, 3 Paramedics and 3 Technicians.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I agree it's too expensive.I also think that the lack of roof puts a lot of people off and will have an even worse effect when the really bad weather comes along;no retreating to the stands or the bar this time;that in itself is enough to put me off attending with my youngster.The prices go up and the promises aren't fulfilled;it's not rocket science really.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

:) there is a short term answer to this problem reduce prices. if all clubs reduced the over inflated wage bills and cut costs for the supporters instead of trying to bleed them dry every football ground would be full look at all the so called superstars of the england team couldnt even score penalties .... what wage are they on ..every supporter in the land should boycott games charging over 10 quid:) a well ill wake up now and have my cornflakes.......:D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

John Alty used to say it APATHY :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

:) well we need to shake them out of it . any idea how to do it:p instead of keep saying it:D

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

To be honest the season's hardly started yet, it's the middle of summer, people are on hols, playing cricket, having barbecues etc.

BTW Morecambe got only 50% of normal gate on Saturday versus the mighty Brewers.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

we all have a favourite pub that we go to through pretty much thick and thin. Favourite bar staff come and go, landlords who give tick come and go, the guest beers change frequently and the prices go up but never come down. Sometimes a new regular may come and sit on your chair at the bar or a non-local may raid your bandit. BUt you still go back every day/week.

Now imagine if that same bar that you love so much put the prices up but stopped giving you beer for 105 minutes during the afternoon. Imagine if the slates blew off and the rain leaked in whilst the central heating also failed. No product, no shelter, no heat and no money in your pocket.....would you still go back every week?


The club needs to get more money off the people who do go. Sounds money grabbing but if you look at the fact that they are losing a hell of a lot of pre-match and halft time bar takings as well as the increase in wages but no increase in attendances then you see the point. The only money they are taking off us is £13/£15 and maybe a programme.

There should be an afternoon out and all your money going to the club.

There should be three bars (affiliated to each stand) and each should be different in ambience to the others. Every pint a Stanley fan has in another pub is a pint lost. 1000 fans having five pints in an afternoon is about four grand lost per match.

There should be a larger shop selling things other than just ASFC merchandise, big enough for a family of four to browse around whilst other customers are in.

The catering facilities should be a bit cheaper to encourage a higher turnover but more importantly they should be owned by the club. The deal was no doubt negotiated quite a while back but just charging a flat rent on a lucrative source of income is negative economy. I dont know what they charge in rent but if 500 people visit the vans and spend three quid each say then we have lost some more money. I bet away fans spend a fortune. Two pies and two bottles of coke cost eight pound at Chester and about £1.75 at ASDA. How do I tender for the next contract Eric?

Has anybody seen things to spend your money at other grounds that seem a good idea? Maybe a funfair on the car park just to really please Livingstone Road Residents committee.

Maybe we should have a designated family stand where any entertainment such as The Angels could perform directly in front of. The sound system, whilst better than last year is still bad. Every word needs to be crystal clear at the right volume. Getting to the ground early enough to guarantee your spot is very lonely with struggling sound for company.

Yes we need to brainwash the kids from young. Free tickets for under 10's when accompanied by an adult. Over 10 for a fiver (at the most),

Same price for pensioners or registered disabled. Students I would charge a little more for as it their choice to learn (http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/i...ons/icon12.gif). And they could get jobs working in our bars to pay for the admission.

Season tickets should be a real incentive. 20% off the cost of attending all the matches (£239 this year). Kids should be an absolute maximum charge at £50. There is no way on this planet that we, as the smallest and least successfull (in terms of football league standing) should be outpriced by either Blackburn or Burnley. They are our competition and we cannot sell an inferior product for more money than they do. To any age group.

Finally, and most importantly, we must, must, must look after the existing fan. We have waited patiently (ish) for too long for a roof over at least one end. We have no hope of retaining a large number of new fans without it. Dry and warm go hand in hand with comfort, wet and cold go hand in hand with miserable. Also it goes without saying that the Ultras would ensure that the Clayton End rock like no other ground at our level if you keep the noise in!

Yes Kitchener I agree with you that most businessmen would be more than happy with a 10% increase in turnover year on year and viewing it from that angle then we are already really successfull. However, if anybody at the club starts to think that the margins are getting too tight then what are they going to squeeze next for extra revenue? Where could they cut back?

As far as the success of the team is concerned I dont care if we go back to the Conference next year, or the Unibond the year after, because I'll still be there. But, I would rather be at the top of this league under a roof as part of a fervent swaying full capacity crowd.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

There are plenty of ideas come from the forum but its very rare we get any feedback from the club, we all know that Rob Heys reads the postings but I doubt Eric does. Rob I challenge you to show us you are Chief Executive material and give us some feedback on Maccas post, one of the best I've read on the accyweb, I do understand as Kipax has said before that why should you, simple because we the fans want you to.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I feel a remake of a Hollywood classic coming on .....

Opening shot - aerial, zooming in on a northern town, then a football ground and finally on an individual standing at the back of a terrace in the pouring rain.

Pan round to show that Eric (for it is he) is counting 48 Ultras in pink shirts, with 96 flags and one illegal drum, outsinging 800 Hereford fans packing the Coppice end. The cowshed is empty, and the main stand nearly so.

As Eric turns away in despair, pan again to show him against a background of the town, damp grey slate roofs shining palely through the rain, chimneys smoking, milk bottles on the dorsteps, other northern cliches in abundance .... (OK I know you can't really pose the shot that way, give me some artistic licence)

And a ghostly whisper can be heard, becoming more insistent with repetition. as if the town itself is speaking ...

"If you build it they will come"

"If you build it they will come"

"If you build it they will come"

"If you build it they will come"

"Build what ?" Eric asks the rain clouds.... and as one the Ultras turn and cry

"The 'F' in Roof"

(Apologies to people who haven't seen Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams")

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Hmmmmmmmmm open shot of Kes is of Accrington

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

P.S. Didn't mean to take anything away from Macca's much more serious point - he posted while I was typing ..... :mad:

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Is that right? I always thought that Loach filmed the whole thing in Barnsley.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

You have got to look on the positives. I actually like the ground how it is, ok if it rains and your on the terraces you get wet but we're northerners we can take it. We do have possibly the worst ground in the league but this is an advantage in my eyes as other so called bigger teams won't like coming here. A perminant bar at the back of the Clayton End would be appreciated though. As for the low gates, lets see how many come to the Forest game, most clubs moan about low attendances for televised games but for some reason our gates double???

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

and we always win on the telly!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

am sure that if i'm wrong someone will tell me but think about it it may not have been Kes afterall but another film and that has been in the threads and I can't think of it just now

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

There was a film made in Accrington in the mid-80s called Nature of the Beast, which some people have compared to Kes. It might have been that you were thinking of?

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Just a suggestion what ever happened to the fans forum??? where fans could ask the club questions? can we not have it back please rob???

cause as you can see theres loads of ideas which can get overlooked on her :)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Nature of the Beast, Hetty Wainthrop, or Oranges are not the Only fruit?

or even Stanley always win on the telly

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

TM yes that the film

we'll see macca on monday lol

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit was filmed mainly in Burnley and Bacup I think, although the book was written by an ex-Accrington resident. Jeanette Winterson went to school with my sister.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

I knew that MA would come in useful one day. ;)

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

but the lesbian scene was filmed on top of the coppice! I was about eight or nine at the time and was playing army on the coppice at the time. When we knew what was going on we tied a good few commando rolls to get past security!

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

There's still remains of the play trenches up there, dug by the Pals.

I've actually read, "Oranges are the only fruit", but she's so sour faced she must be a Rovers' fan.

My mate reckons all Northern films have shots from Coppice.

Wow, only came on to say how good Boco is, and suddenly it's culture everywhere.

Bon chance et bon nuit.

Re: Reason for poor gates?
 

as a person that used to go stanley regulary, ill share the reasons i dont go, which may be useful for you

1. the ground is not a nice place, its horrible if we are being truthful

2. prices, £15 i heard is it? can get into ewood for that against poor premiership opposition


btw, i would have been at the darlington game but as it was raining didnt fancy standing in the rain, and i dont like sitting in the side stand.