Increasing the fanbase

[maccawozzagod]

At the last OSC meeting it became knowledge that out of just over 220 members of the club were from outside of the borough. That means that there are less than 110 fans within a populace of 75000 that are members of the official supporters club. Is that on? I know that we have people who come in to see us from further afield but I am sure that the vast majority of the 2000 weekly customers are Accrington based. We have over 400 season ticket holders but less than a quarter are members, is that on?

I know that people have formed opinions of the club mainly through this site and the voice of various people, myself included. The whole point of voicing our opinions was to try and force change. That change has already begun with my election and will hopefully continue with this seasons first initiative. That is to attempt to reach 1000 members.

Please back this target not just yourselves but by badgering the people you stand with. 1 in 10 is not good enough and we need to get it to 1 in 2 at least.

We will be having a recruitment drive on the saturday of the MK Dons game 5th December game. This will begin in Accrington town centre in the morning. We need volunteers to be handing out leaflets on the saturday morning to shoppers (should be plenty in the lead up to Christmas), the week before we need foot soldiers to go around the town centre shops appealing for window space for the match poster. In the afternoon we need volunteers to man Supporters Club stands outside the ground at the Crown corner, the main turnstile and the old season ticket turnstile. I would like three to a stall so that nobody misses out on their chance to sign up. There will be advertised prices for membership on the day and there will obviously be reductions for OAPs and children. We will also hand out leaflets to every single member of the gate that day which will explain what the OSC is, what it stands for and what we hope to acheive.

If anybody would like to offer their services please feel free to do so.

Normally an OSC initiative would involve being proposed, seconded and all in favoured, all well and good if an idea is open to interpretation, yes or no-able etc. This idea has not been proposed, seconded or all in favoured. We aint got time to wait for a meeting to vote on something that has to happen, so its going ahead anyway.

[spud]

Well i'm in, who else is?

[lancsdave]

which will explain what the OSC is, what it stands for and what we hope to acheive.

Macca, even though I'm not a Stanley fan ( and therefore not an OSC member ) can I ask what that is ? Always interesting to see how clubs interact with the fan base and vice versa. Too much of it has gone out of the game with the greed of the bigger clubs.

[maccawozzagod]

Official Supporters Club Dave. Sorry, there has been a lot of talk on here recently about the OSC and rather than type that every time it was abbreviated. You always assume that everybody else is up to speed.

[Bazf]

Why not give free membership to anyone that wants to join and the if they want a badge charge for it, to cover costs do some money raising events and then give out membership cards at say 2 quid each, try getting something set up with the club shop and bar where you get a % discount if you show your card. Over here our little club does a lot of community events to raise its profile and the card goes a long way to funding our team. If some of the shops in town or local business's would take it as well you could end up getting a lot of members. Imagine a couple of quid off a round at the bar or a few quid off your shirt or scarf in the club shop, even 20 or 30p off your half time pie and peas, all for a 2 pound investment.

[maccawozzagod]

have you ever deal twith Eric Whalley Bazf? lol

I think its worth thinking about, I'd like to consider giving em away for next to nowt and not giving the badges. However, over 200 people this year would be miffed at what they have already paid without being given the choice. Therefore nowt can happen this year.

As far as discounts can go, I dont envisage the club doing anything as firstly the pie shop is run as a seaprate entity and is tendered out (folly maybe?). The bar is already running at a severe disadvantage due to segregation and only happy hour or something could save that. I know that we could do something as regards entry fee's to the functions that we will run, but that needs to get up and running first and start to have some successful events on regularly so that people can start to see that they will make a saving over the season. Maybe Fraser Eagle will offer 50p discounts on away travel. All stuff to think about Bazf so thank you for the thoughts.

[accymel]

Which Match & what time macca??? could do some member grabbing [now that got your attention] before match as long as i dont miss the match or something whilst on pc just let us know

[maccawozzagod]

sorry Mel, forgot that I left room to put the game in as I couldn't remember which game it was. Walsall is too soon and Hartlepool may not be attractive enough. MK Dons should be a half reasonable draw for the punters and gives enough time for us to get it right and recruit the foot soldiers.

Mel, we need our members swelling so grab as many as you can

[accymel]

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

sorry Mel, forgot that I left room to put the game in as I couldn't remember which game it was. Walsall is too soon and Hartlepool may not be attractive enough. MK Dons should be a half reasonable draw for the punters and gives enough time for us to get it right and recruit the foot soldiers.

Mel, we need our members swelling so grab as many as you can

I shall sure try

Yeh thats plenty of notice & least it can be put to the meeting before then for more ideas & help

[Bagpuss]

Macca think we could ask KSH if he could do some sort of poster along the lines of "If you need something extra or different to pop in a Christmas stocking why not sign somebody up for the Accrington Stanley Supporters Club" or something like that. I'd put one up at work and get a few more in pubs and shops.

[ossyclogger]

OK then, my curiosity has got the better of me.

WHO THE HELL ARE fc stanley of accrington ?

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

within a populace of 75000

Really? Has Accrington grown since I left???

[Bazf]

Thanks for the reply Macca, I am on the fund rasing committee at the club and some of the things we have done may or may not work for you but heres the list.

1. Flea market (car boot in England) we charged $10 a space, buy as many spaces as you want and we sold burgers, drinks etc..

2. Car magnets with the sc club logo, you could put asfc sc or something, we had them made in the shape of a football, cost about $1 ea to make sold for $5

3. Casino night, all proceeds to the SC.

4. Kids Tshirts, which we sold to home and away supporters, My Mum/Dad has just watched FC Tampa play and all I got was this lousy Tshirt.
(sold 100 at one game)

5. Every home game we have an after game "eat and drink" member's brings food and sell it. probably woundn't happen in the uk with the weather etc..

6. Auction, Each member brings something to Auction and gives 50% of the price to the club. sounds daft but belive it or not we have sold a lot of crap for a good price and made a lot of dosh. Got $50 for an old crown paints Liverpool shirt.

Even if you can't do any of them maybe it will open the eyes of other people with better ideas, Good luck.

[Bagpuss]

Originally Posted by ossyclogger

OK then, my curiosity has got the better of me.

WHO THE HELL ARE fc stanley of accrington ?

I just copied off one of Jase's banners, as seen on Kipax's pics, first seen at Exeter away, there is more than likely a story behind it which I will leave to someone who knows.

FCSTANLEY3.jpg

[Tin Monkey]

Isn't it just a play on FC United of Manchester?