daz
Junior Member
Posts: 95 
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Post by daz on Oct 19, 2017 22:27:48 GMT
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Post by bitbbh on Oct 19, 2017 23:01:32 GMT
We should be all over this like a rash.
There is nothing more disheartening for me as an able bodied blue looking at the facilities we have afforded those less able bodied in our fan base. Every other Saturday i look at the West Stand and feel we missed so many opportunities to make this club so much more inclusive.
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Post by Al on Oct 20, 2017 6:44:00 GMT
We should be all over this like a rash. There is nothing more disheartening for me as an able bodied blue looking at the facilities we have afforded those less able bodied in our fan base. Every other Saturday i look at the West Stand and feel we missed so many opportunities to make this club so much more inclusive. This is why I kept on banging the drum years ago about growing the club sustainably and working to improve facilities at the club instead of pumping every spare penny into the playing budget. We could have been a club playing Conference North football with a worthy Bar, and inclusive facilities for disabled supporters right now instead of staring into the abyss of conference north football like we are now with nothing to show for it. That's my biggest problem with the way we've ran ourselves since reformation. We've got all the memories of titles being won and champagne being popped from the title wins. But when the champagne runs out, and reality bites like it is now, you look around and think - what have we got to show for those early wins? We're still playing in the same ground with the same facilities with the same bar and the same abandoned boxes in the west stand. How are we supposed to grow as a football club if we aren't improving or looking to invest in those facilities above? |
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Post by avfo on Oct 20, 2017 17:05:52 GMT
We should be all over this like a rash. There is nothing more disheartening for me as an able bodied blue looking at the facilities we have afforded those less able bodied in our fan base. Every other Saturday i look at the West Stand and feel we missed so many opportunities to make this club so much more inclusive.
The inclusive Blues have made it clear they are not interested in being placed in the West Stand, quite rightly they want to be accommodated within the East Stand and have the same access to facilities as everyone else - Inclusive Blues Statement - Viewing Platform 12 August 2017 The Inclusive Blues wish to issue the following statement with regards to the proposed installation of a viewing platform for wheelchair users at the Swansway Chester Stadium. Firstly, we wish to thank everyone at the club for their continued efforts and all those who have contributed to the fund towards a viewing platform. The concern displayed by fellow fans for the welfare of their fellow supporters who use wheelchairs is humbling and hugely appreciated. It makes us proud to be part of this great club. We are also very much aware of the work that went into the proposal to install a viewing platform in the West Stand which is the latest of a series of proposals that included shelters over the existing bays in the East Stand. With regret, the Inclusive Blues do not feel any of the ideas put forwards completely met our needs. The thing is, it is almost certain that we are only going to have one shot at establishing a viewing platform and then it will be our only option of watching from a sheltered location for a number of years so we want it to be the best possible solution. Many of us wish to remain at the heart of the action which we feel is in the East Stand. We also have other issues in addition to a covered viewing area, particularly with regards to facilities in the East Stand. We do not have access to the Legends Lounge or Board Room therefore Chester FC is not a fully inclusive operation. As a football club with a strong community ethos, we feel it should be.We are therefore continuing to press for a platform located at the back of the East Stand which also gives access to the second floor of the office and hospitality block.Preliminary estimates indicate that such an installation would cost in the region of a quarter of a million pounds. This is a substantial sum of money for our club and, if available, could be used to transform Chester FC rather than helping a small number of disabled supporters (although we hope better facilities would increase our ranks). We want to emphasise in the strongest possible terms that we couldn’t agree more! First and foremost, we are supporters of this football club and we want success on the pitch just as much as everyone else. The last thing we would wish is for sums to be spent on us to the detriment of our squad of players. We have requested that the board obtain a fully costed plan for a development in the East Stand. This would enable us to approach charities and trusts with a view to raising community-style funding from external sources. We understand this often takes the form of a matched grant where one organisation contributes 50% of the total while another provides the remainder. We do not wish to consider any other proposal until this avenue has been fully explored. We hope this clarifies the situation and we will continue to receive the marvellous support from our fellow fans. Dave Williams on behalf of the Inclusive Blues 50 Grand would certainly help towards bringing this to fruition. Notice that David Williams has now been voted onto the CFU board. |
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Post by Captain Duff on Oct 20, 2017 18:35:45 GMT
We should be all over this like a rash. There is nothing more disheartening for me as an able bodied blue looking at the facilities we have afforded those less able bodied in our fan base. Every other Saturday i look at the West Stand and feel we missed so many opportunities to make this club so much more inclusive. This is why I kept on banging the drum years ago about growing the club sustainably and working to improve facilities at the club instead of pumping every spare penny into the playing budget. We could have been a club playing Conference North football with a worthy Bar, and inclusive facilities for disabled supporters right now instead of staring into the abyss of conference north football like we are now with nothing to show for it. That's my biggest problem with the way we've ran ourselves since reformation. We've got all the memories of titles being won and champagne being popped from the title wins. But when the champagne runs out, and reality bites like it is now, you look around and think - what have we got to show for those early wins? We're still playing in the same ground with the same facilities with the same bar and the same abandoned boxes in the west stand. How are we supposed to grow as a football club if we aren't improving or looking to invest in those facilities above? Sorry, but I think this is pretty wide of the mark. The potential grant in the OP article is for two clubs. Since reformation there have been similar types of grant offers and competitions every so often for similar facility/community/equality access development, and in each case that I remember the club applied, along with hundreds of other clubs, and like hundreds of other clubs were unsuccessful. So the money we had for such development was the money we had for everything else, including the players budget, so decisions on investment had to be made on that basis. That is why we couldn't extend the Blues Bar despite every board members that has ever been asked saying that they agree it would be great to do it if the money was there. That is why we still haven't got the disabled facilities our disabled supporters deserve, and that is why those Vaughan era 'executive' boxes are still lying unfinished, unused and unsafe. If you can tell me any grant that was potentially available and that you know the club didn't apply for then fair enough you will have made a good point, but otherwise as I said, I think you are wrong. |
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Post by Al on Oct 20, 2017 21:38:35 GMT
This is why I kept on banging the drum years ago about growing the club sustainably and working to improve facilities at the club instead of pumping every spare penny into the playing budget. We could have been a club playing Conference North football with a worthy Bar, and inclusive facilities for disabled supporters right now instead of staring into the abyss of conference north football like we are now with nothing to show for it. That's my biggest problem with the way we've ran ourselves since reformation. We've got all the memories of titles being won and champagne being popped from the title wins. But when the champagne runs out, and reality bites like it is now, you look around and think - what have we got to show for those early wins? We're still playing in the same ground with the same facilities with the same bar and the same abandoned boxes in the west stand. How are we supposed to grow as a football club if we aren't improving or looking to invest in those facilities above? Sorry, but I think this is pretty wide of the mark. The potential grant in the OP article is for two clubs. Since reformation there have been similar types of grant offers and competitions every so often for similar facility/community/equality access development, and in each case that I remember the club applied, along with hundreds of other clubs, and like hundreds of other clubs were unsuccessful. So the money we had for such development was the money we had for everything else, including the players budget, so decisions on investment had to be made on that basis. That is why we couldn't extend the Blues Bar despite every board members that has ever been asked saying that they agree it would be great to do it if the money was there. That is why we still haven't got the disabled facilities our disabled supporters deserve, and that is why those Vaughan era 'executive' boxes are still lying unfinished, unused and unsafe. If you can tell me any grant that was potentially available and that you know the club didn't apply for then fair enough you will have made a good point, but otherwise as I said, I think you are wrong. What about fundraising initiatives from our own supporters so we cold raise money through them, what about tapping into our business contacts and partners to see if they can help to pug towards it? Sell the sponsorship rights -rather than the Blues Bar sell the name and call it the MBNA Lounge or whatever brings the funds in. 200k wasn't it we were originally quoted for the extension? If we'd have put together a plan in place in those early days to raise x amount over 5 years we could have had enough by now to build the bloody thing! How much did FC United fans raise to build their own ground? (Not including grants). Do we not look at the success they've had at fundraising and think - why can't we do that!? |
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Post by Captain Duff on Oct 21, 2017 6:33:05 GMT
Al, I don't even know what point you are making now. Community fundraising? Yes, we've done it, we are doing it, and we will do it again. Could it have been done better? Probably on a number of occasions yes, but then as was constantly said when we were really pushing it you can only squeeze so much juice out of the same lemon. Sponsorship? Yes, we've got it, we need more of it, but unless you can say where that is going to come from we can only use what we have.
As for FCUM, yes, they have been great at raising money. But they have more than twice the number of shareholder owners than us (perhaps three times as many now CFU membership is smaller than it was), they are getting higher home gates than us (and have done for years), and yes, they have had some good fundraising ideas, but don't get too starry eyed, behind that is the fact that the local council has subbed them to such an extent that it caused a number of serious political questions to be asked. E.g., a half a million loan a couple of years ago when front line council services were being cut to virtually nothing and thousands of council workers were getting sent down the road, plus lots of other council money that will never need to be repaid. Our peppercorn ground rent from the council just doesn't come close, and meanwhile FCUM having overspent are in some serious financial straights currently. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener...
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Post by Al on Oct 21, 2017 7:35:48 GMT
Al, I don't even know what point you are making now. Community fundraising? Yes, we've done it, we are doing it, and we will do it again. Could it have been done better? Probably on a number of occasions yes, but then as was constantly said when we were really pushing it you can only squeeze so much juice out of the same lemon. Sponsorship? Yes, we've got it, we need more of it, but unless you can say where that is going to come from we can only use what we have. As for FCUM, yes, they have been great at raising money. But they have more than twice the number of shareholder owners than us (perhaps three times as many now CFU membership is smaller than it was), they are getting higher home gates than us (and have done for years), and yes, they have had some good fundraising ideas, but don't get too starry eyed, behind that is the fact that the local council has subbed them to such an extent that it caused a number of serious political questions to be asked. E.g., a half a million loan a couple of years ago when front line council services were being cut to virtually nothing and thousands of council workers were getting sent down the road, plus lots of other council money that will never need to be repaid. Our peppercorn ground rent from the council just doesn't come close, and meanwhile FCUM having overspent are in some serious financial straights currently. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener... I'm talking about their ability to raise funds via various different means. All the initiatives that they launched to raise money towards their groun - which were ultimately successful. Could similar not have been copied with us to raise monies towards the like of the disabled viewing platform and the bar extension or other necessary ground improvements? If the initiative is right and is marketed correctly then supporters will back it to the hilt. All you have to do is look at the money WE raised to boost Burrs budget, and the money people are putting into the Bignot fund as an example. I don't want us to be sat here in another 5 years time having the same conversation asking the same questions about the bar, the disabled viewing platform or whatever else. Bignot is right in what he's said. This club has been standing still for far too long. |
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Post by Deva Chanter on Oct 21, 2017 11:18:29 GMT
I am with Al on this. I didn't think his original point was necessarily about us as fans and a club raising more money (correct me if I'm wrong).
Rather, I think he meant that the club is investing every penny it has on the pitch and currently throwing a lot of good money after bad - at the expense of investing in the club off the field.
I have to admit to being very concerned about an extra £100,000 that was put into the playing budget this season (not least because of the individual entrusted to spend that money) after a season in which we had just made a loss.
I would much rather all of that money had been spent developing the club off the pitch, rather than on this exceptionally generic "throw every penny at the playing squad" attitude of every other club in the land.
What happened to us being different?
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Post by Al on Oct 21, 2017 11:34:24 GMT
I am with Al on this. I didn't think his original point was necessarily about us as fans and a club raising more money (correct me if I'm wrong). Rather, I think he meant that the club is investing every penny it has on the pitch and currently throwing a lot of good money after bad - at the expense of investing in the club off the field. I have to admit to being very concerned about an extra £100,000 that was put into the playing budget this season (not least because of the individual entrusted to spend that money) after a season in which we had just made a loss. I would much rather all of that money had been spent developing the club off the pitch, rather than on this exceptionally generic "throw every penny at the playing squad" attitude of every other club in the land. What happened to us being different? Exactly. It's an unsustainable level of spending on the first team. Rather than pump all that extra money on the playing budget why are we not thinking about where we want to be in the next 5 years. We should be looking to invest and develop the facilities that we do have so we can bring more money in through corporate hospitality, be more inclusive with the disabled viewing platform, increase takings from the bar and provide top quality conference facilities for local business. So that when money comes in from the likes of that we can spend that on the first team and it be sustainable. The ground and facilities that we have are the same that we've had since 1992!!! |
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Post by Al on Oct 21, 2017 11:51:45 GMT
Here's a question for those in the know. At our current levels of fundraising. How many years will it take to get enough money (quoted at 250k above) for a disabled viewing platform or the quoted 200k for a bar extension?
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Post by billyw on Oct 21, 2017 11:55:58 GMT
I am with Al on this. I didn't think his original point was necessarily about us as fans and a club raising more money (correct me if I'm wrong). Rather, I think he meant that the club is investing every penny it has on the pitch and currently throwing a lot of good money after bad - at the expense of investing in the club off the field. I have to admit to being very concerned about an extra £100,000 that was put into the playing budget this season (not least because of the individual entrusted to spend that money) after a season in which we had just made a loss. I would much rather all of that money had been spent developing the club off the pitch, rather than on this exceptionally generic "throw every penny at the playing squad" attitude of every other club in the land. What happened to us being different? Not being funny, but would you be saying the same if the summer signings had lived up to expectations and we were challenging near the top of the league. While I don't disagree about spending money on developing the club off the pitch, the fact is that the average fan wants to see success ON the pitch, and immediate success at that. |
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Post by Al on Oct 21, 2017 14:33:04 GMT
I am with Al on this. I didn't think his original point was necessarily about us as fans and a club raising more money (correct me if I'm wrong). Rather, I think he meant that the club is investing every penny it has on the pitch and currently throwing a lot of good money after bad - at the expense of investing in the club off the field. I have to admit to being very concerned about an extra £100,000 that was put into the playing budget this season (not least because of the individual entrusted to spend that money) after a season in which we had just made a loss. I would much rather all of that money had been spent developing the club off the pitch, rather than on this exceptionally generic "throw every penny at the playing squad" attitude of every other club in the land. What happened to us being different? Not being funny, but would you be saying the same if the summer signings had lived up to expectations and we were challenging near the top of the league. While I don't disagree about spending money on developing the club off the pitch, the fact is that the average fan wants to see success ON the pitch, and immediate success at that. Yes I would Billy. We all want success on the pitch, but how is that going to happen now we've hit a glass ceiling in the conference? We can't just keep throwing good money after bad and hope something sticks without having a plan to invest, (and a structured plan in place on how we are going to raise those funds in the first place) in our facilities. Like I said above, we're still playing in the same stadium with exactly the same facilities as we had in 1992. Clubs have moved on, the game has changed. Fan owned football clubs need to be ahead of the rest when it comes to growing our revenue from off the field activities. By investing in improving the ground to create something like the things I've mentioned above it would allow us to sustainably support an increase to the playing budget, which will mean being able to attract better players, have a larger squad, bring more kids through from the youth team etc etc. Just throwing money at it is exactly how Vaughan, Smith, Gutterman, Casson, etc etc have done it. Worked well for them didn't it... |
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Post by Deva Chanter on Oct 21, 2017 17:15:42 GMT
Here's a question for those in the know. At our current levels of fundraising. How many years will it take to get enough money (quoted at 250k above) for a disabled viewing platform or the quoted 200k for a bar extension? Given that the fundraising committee is now defunct, I'd suggest it would take a very long time. |
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