SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Save Our Stanley or SOS for short
Things are changing it seems on a daily basis the time to act is now!
Reading through the posts makes grim reading!
Somethings going to give I just hope it is not the Club!

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Don't know about SOS, way things are going its going to be RIP

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I remember having a SOS (Save Our Stanley) in the past. Was it in the early 90s? That was pretty ineffective too.

Anyway, it's not looking good at all. Something will give very soon. You could feel it today.

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I felt it, I come home in a right mood :mad:

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the players need a serious coming down a peg or two.

coleman has to improve his team selection and tactics.

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Unemployment and a few other problems detained me to day; but my mood was the same KSH. Fortunately at least the safe drivers of Lancashire didn’t have me to contend with on the motorways back.

I was fortunate to have benefited from Burnley’s commentary problems and get the full sorry display over the net. From what I was hearing I’d say we’ve lost heart, pride and direction. It’s time for Accrington Stanley to reinvent itself if it is to survive this.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

I was not at today's game, but the posts in various threads make depressing reading.

It seems to me that we have not progressed from last season, at least on the field. There is still too much emphasis on the performance of the match officials and not enough on the performance of the team.

I'm not saying anything I have not said before - but I am going to say it again! In the games I have seen over the last year, I have seen little evidence of planning or tactics worked out on the training ground. I have seen no evidence of tactics being used to minimise the effect of the opposition's danger men. There is recent criticism of the midfield - do these players know what their role is? Do they know who they should be covering - and when? I have seen little evidence of players knowing where to run to collect a pass, of a timed run from midfield that other players will anticipate.

I think there are one or two weak links in the team, but generally our players are as good, man-for-man, if not better than those on view elsewhere in League 2. We are simply not getting the best out of these players. So that's my two penn'orth.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

went today 1st time & last absolutely rubbish time 4 change i think manager,board & team not up2 it

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i think u may have a point - coleman focuses more on his own team than stopping the opposition.

with less able players - u cant afford that luxury.

vs lincoln - we went there for a win. how many teams will be going there with the same attitude and tactics?
not many.

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Interesting this 'Somethings up' attitude people are referring too...Trainspotters might've noticed I only posted once during the game thismorning as I had an uneasy feeling during the match whilest listening to Dan anf Karen.Seems these 'vibes' have travelled 12000 miles.I never like to think negatively,but I did feel very uneasy thismorning.....

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It's what we do, it's got us where we are.

If you want Revie style dossier football, you've come to the wrong place.

Admittedly it takes a bit of getting used to, but persevere, just a blip at the moment. :)

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I remember the one in 1961 and that was even more ineffective!

I think the club needs to undergo a massive change, if it is to survive at league level. Eric seems to want to have his cake and eat it. If I've understood him correctly, he wants a large investor to come in, but he still wants to be in charge. I would urge him to go further than that and put the club up for sale. Let's see if there is someone out there who is prepared to invest the large amounts of capital that this club needs.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

I totally agree. Put the club up for sale and see what happens. I just wonder if Eric would do that?

The other thing I fear is, with a lack of customers/interest, who is going to want it? It's a bottomless pit if it can't pay for itself. Maybe the answer is to drop back to a level that the club can support itself? Maybe that's the plan? :(

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

I may have read this wrong; but.

We’re dragging our balls in the dust certainly, but we’re not dead. Marcus I would implore you to think again and keep coming back until these lads can prove to you that your time isn’t wasted. I’ve seen some first class football from Stanley over the last two seasons, yes, too little, too late, too often. But something as got to give, we’re at the deep end of the table, four games in. If we the supporters, the team, the club and the town in general get stuck in we can drag ourselves back to respectability. Be part of it.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Grim, if no one bites and we can’t sustain ourselves then what?

Some Ideas……

What about a release of shares to the fans?

Buy a brick campaign (building fund for future development)

Memorial Wall, (name of a loved one; on a brick) built in a nice area of the car park or on the free areas of the end walls of the terraces.

A new quality line of mercantile goods. Let’s use the crest and title more effectively.

Good positive communication between the club and Fans.

Smarten up the advertising for purchasers and sponsors.

Joint forum or working group made up of Club, Community and Fans to brain storm ideas, and to develop and support new incentives to promote a positive image.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

They tried that in the past Doug. I dug deep and bought shares in the club, but since Eric took over I don't even think there's been a meeting of shareholders. I bet he doesn't even know we exist.

I think I'll leave it for tonight, as I'm struggling to find anything positive to say. I'm going to have a malt and watch some CSI. ;)

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The way I see it, is that I cannot believe that we are in league 2. Its a massive achievement considering things. I cannot see why people are complaining. What do you expect? Its okay to blame everybody but how do you expect to run a decent team on 1500 crowds? Full Time status. It must be bloody difficult to be manager when you cant attract decent players to the club because i guess we dont pay wages like other clubs (i stand to be corrected)

I have been going to Stanley since the early 80's and I have to say I enjoyed it more in the unibond and conference!

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Early days but I’ll say it again, look at Morecombe. What are they doing that we’ve missed? The town’s behind them, their playing well, money is going into the club, the supporters are ecstatic, what are we missing?

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Sea and Sand ;) bring some from Blackpool next time you come over :D

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No way, it's full of dog **** and stinks of fish.......:D

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If no one bites, then we've lost nothing. However, I think it's worth taking a chance just to see if there is someone out there who would be prepared to buy the club.

It really is going to take something drastic like this to preserve the progress we have made over the last few years. Because the simple fact is that we are NOT going to stay in the football league on gates of 1,400.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

i was shocked as to how few people in the town centre had shirts or scalves.

even when i go around southport on a saturday, you still see shirts and scalves.

it must really upset Eric that the council dont invest in the club.
The Wirral council are Tranmeres main sponsor!

At Wycombe, all overthe town centre where banners and signs saying 'your town, your club - with a list of up and coming fixtures'.

Hydburn council should do a similar gesture.

What is the council? labour? lid dem? tory?

you should go and see your councillors and give them hell.

I think after playing Grimsby - we wiill have a better idea of how far we have progressed from last year.

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How the hell do we get someone to invest in us in the state we're in. If we where winning and marketable it wouldn't be to difficult, but whoever puts in is going to need bloody big pockets and even bigger balls.

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My last visit was Saturday last. I saw Three Burnley Shirts, two Rovers, four Liverpool, a **** load of MU and not one Stanley shirt.

Football is a form of street fashion, maybe we should get ourselves a cool looking shirt......of course I exclude Burnley and Rovers from that statement...:rolleyes:

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I could be wrong, but didnt a certain Iylias Khan show an interest in our Club a few seasons ago?...............Just a thought

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I've no idea whether anyone will invest in us or not. I'm simply suggesting that Eric puts the club on the market to see what happens. To buy the club (along with its famous name) lock, stock and barrel is surely a more attractive proposition than making a large scale investment in it, while Eric still continues to take charge.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Reading through all the posts the one thing that comes across is the affinity for the club!
There are positives as some people have pointed out:
We probably do have the strongest squad we have had for many a year!
The roof is on!
Things are moving in a positive way off the field with the leasing of the Crown!
Best corperate facilities the Club has ever had!
The most amazing and passionate fans you could ever wish to meet!
The Club has given me something back that money can't buy and that is a sense of belonging, being able to take my family and friends along and becoming involved in whatever small way to help the club whether that is by buying a season ticket, football shirt, having a pint at the Crown, buying a 50/50 ticket it is now in blood and I will do whatever small part I can to ensure the club carries on moving forward!:)

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I'm with you all the way on the subject matter, just trying to see how it could be brought about with the current climate.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

A lot of positives there, It's good to talk up the club. Faith builds, pass us a few more bricks..... :)

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I don't think that the council should invest in Accy Stanley. I've got nothing against the club I just think that a lot of people would complain if the council did give money to any cause that not everybody has an interest in. It was the same with St John's church facing closure, some people said that the council should give money to keep it open but why should they? Individual cases like these are down to the people of the town to support and uphold, not the council.

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The case for St John's would be a matter of Christianity being a State Religon and for the club and sport in general the council should consider the case of civic pride and promote the team as a centre of sporting excellence for the whole of the town. When both have gone, you can't replace them.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

It's only a matter of time before somebody posts what a few have hinted at.

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Like I said, I have absolutely nothing against Accy Stanley and agree that promoting the club around town would be a good idea. My only beef is with the idea of the council investing large sums of money in one particular venture. I think it would get a lot if people's backs up if they did. The council hasn't got the money to give to individual cases so it's better for them not to get financially involved with any particular case.

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OK, suppose Eric did sell the club to a major investor. And supposing that investor had the resources and ingenuity to market the club in a new and exciting way to broaden its appeal to the public at large. Doug, you've already cited the example of Morecambe as a smalltown club who've come into the league and caught the imagination of the townspeople. Imagine how Stanley could do that even more effectively with the financial clout that a large investor would bring.

It'd certainly be preferable to the present small crowds=low budget=poor wages=mediocre performances=small crowds vicious circle which will surely lead us back to the conference.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

The difference between Morecambe and us, just like Carlisle, is that they have a niche group of fans who other than Preston, have no other club to support nearby!!

Stanley like you say are in an area of England that probably has the biggest number of teams per square mile outside of London to compete with who are in higher Leagues!! That's logically where the problem lies.

Karen x

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

plus the fact the club seems to want to push away the true fans at any opportunity, 20 suits in the clubhouse today, compare that with say the 200 they could have had in by keeping it to the fans.

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If we didn't have the Crown then giving up the clubhouse would have caused a riot. But 20 suits paying £50 (upwards) each is a £1000 that the bar never used to make, on top of any match day profit from the Crown.

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To be fair Doug, there isn't another decent football club for miles around Morecambe so they can attract bigger crowds and yes they're doing well, I put it down to the first season in the league syndrome in that they're still running on the adrenaline from their promotion and good luck to them - even if they were voted in a recent poll as the supporters who have the most unrealistic hopes for their club :rolleyes:

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Eric is not saying that the club is about to fold. When he talked about the Unibond League he was talking about the season ticket sales - not the club's finances. I gather that the club's finances remain in good shape and much better than most. I should think any one press or otherwise who might harm the club's commercial reputation by suggesting the contrary ought to watch what they say.

The club could do with outside investment if its to climb the leagues that's all Eric was saying.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Well, that's one interpretation. Many have interpreted what he said in a different way. Perhaps he should say what he really means, rather than leaving it open to interpretation?

I'm also glad that you seem to know that the club is in a good financial state. As an investor in the club, I wouldn't have any idea.

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It's not all he was saying at all. I quote, "Our average crowd last season was 2,200 but we need at least 2,500 to break even this year." After two home games against two of the better supported sides in the league, our average gate is around 1,600. Admittedly, we still have the big local derbies to come, but we also have matches against distant, poorly supported sides like Barnet and Dagenham. Which means that as things stand, we could well be way, way off the break-even figure. And don't forget, there's the little matter of a 1,000-seater stand to be built by the end of next season. As Eric has said, we'll receive funding for around half of that, but we'll still have to find the money for the other half. As the new roof cost, £200,000, I would imagine an all-seater stand will cost considerably more. So we'll either have to go into debt or slash the money from Coley's playing budget with dire consequences for the team.

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I have no personal knowledge apart from what I have been told by someone well placed to know what he is talking about.

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If the shirts were a more reasonable price instead of the extortionate £40 then you would see more of them don't forget these shirts are changed every year and on top of £300+ season ticket prices then its a struggle to buy everything else also maybe next year if we aren't GONE as we are lead to believe give all season ticket holders a free home shirt then there would be at least 120 knocking around the streets of Hyndburn.

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

the lack of shirts on the streets was one issue I tried to address with Red and White Fortnight last year - but nobody was interested in the idea.


Wear your shirt at every opportunity in town - the more it is seen the more it will instill the notion that this is a Stanley town.

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I do, even though I'm getting a bit long in the tooth for replica shirts. I wear it every matchday when I go for my lunchtime pre-match walkabout and I make sure I visit as many pubs as possible, so it receives maximum exposure (purely for the good of the club, you understand). I very rarely see anyone else wearing one, so come on you lot, get wearing them, or do I have to do it all on my own? ;)

Re: SOS (Save Our Stanley!)
 

Surely where you drink they are all wearing Man City shirts?

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They do, but I'm talking about when I come up to Accy for my pre-match mooch around.

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I see more and more Stanley shirts being worn in the ASDA, mainly by youngsters, but apart from my own, I havn't seen any in the town centre, on non match days.

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theres an idea try and get a deal to sell them in our local asda...its always busy in there ..

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Last seasons shirts in club shop Home/away Adults £10 Kids £5 various sizes but not all.:):)

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It says online that last seasons adult shirts are £20, are they really that cheap now??

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I live almost 3 hours away, it's a bit hard for me to pop down to the shop to see what the prices are like lol.

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what about picking up a phone???

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okay but i just believed what the online club shop said...so i had no reason to use the phone

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Good to see progress has been made since kipax gave up the job:rolleyes: