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Post by Jack on Oct 22, 2017 11:16:10 GMT
Yesterday was depressing on all fronts. The ground was empty, the team were appalling and there was nothing to suggest we are a fan-owned, community football club.
We've undeniably lost our mojo. I don't think it's too late to rectify the situation, but steps need to be taken now because if things don't change, we're going to continue losing money hand over fist and become marooned in the Conference North or even cease to exist. We mustn't forget that we are a decent sized club at this level, capable of drawing crowds of 3K+ when things go well. We can't accept that we should be grateful to simply survive year on year, that's a very unfortunate hangover from the McCarthy era that is engulfing the club from top to bottom right now.
So a thread on devachat won't make a blind bit of difference, but it will make me feel a bit better to vent somewhere. Of course the board should be pro-active and investigating all potential improvements, but I've no idea whether they are or not, so this is better than nothing.
I'd start with targeting areas of the city and incentivising them to come and watch the game. Leaflet and door-knock an area like the Lache, Blacon, Upton etc all week and lay on a deal for them. Tickets £5 for your first three games etc, we could even look into laying on a coach to transport potential supporters. I know things like that cost money, but there are football fans all over the city and unless it is put on a plate for them to come and visit us, they will not bother. I've no idea the parts of the city where we are traditionally better supported, but the surrounding areas are a huge catchment area and we should be tapping into them.
What ideas do you have to re-find our mojo?
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Post by Captain Duff on Oct 22, 2017 12:04:05 GMT
Agree with all of that we need loss leader ticket pricing for some games beyond a doubt (although not to the extent that it undermines the season ticket offer). Getting those groups of school kids back on the away terrace would also help in terms of ground atmosphere, although again it doesn't bring in any immediate income (but can if they ask their parents to take them again of course). But it is a bit chicken and egg, we can get more new supporters into the ground but the won't come back until we start playing like a proper team again.
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Post by bluboy79 on Oct 22, 2017 12:04:37 GMT
As much as I hate to say it unless the club seeks some kind of external investment maybe a 50/50 split then we are going to go bust, we have reached a limit as a fans owned club and the only way is backwards to the Conference North or lower.
Fans have lost interest as the the club is so being run so poorly on and off the field, gates are falling badly as well.
People need a little hope of some success, being happy to fight relegation every season just isn't good enough.
No one can be surprised our crowds are so bad, 15/18 pound to watch absolute shite every week is something only real die hards will do.
I can see sub 1000 crowds soon unless by some miracle we start showing promotion form, ground was empty Saturday and I dread to think what the crowd will be Tuesday v Barrow.
I haven't made my mind up on MM yet but doing a bit of research into his past he leaves clubs in a mess when he leaves, things have certainly not improved since he has been here. I feel he is running the club now not the board. Is he going to turn this club around or take us into the abyss?
If we do drop into the Conference North then admission prices need to be £10 terrace and £12 seats or we will be lucky to get 1000 fans through the gate, we need to bring the lost fans back fast !
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Post by Captain Duff on Oct 22, 2017 12:12:08 GMT
Yes, we need money bluboy, always have. Barrow are 1 point ahead of us, they have had millions in investment from their rich owner for some years now, millions, and it has got them 1 point lead on us so far. It is not just about the money.
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Post by Rio Doherty on Oct 22, 2017 12:45:32 GMT
Maybe we could introduce a loyalty card. Something like, ‘’attend 4 home matches then get the 5th one free.’’
We definitely need to be doing something though as the current matchday experience is soulless and won’t inspire new supporters.
I’ve noticed Eastleigh have been getting big gates recently with a lot of offers. Also, our club don’t do half-time penalty shootouts or crossbar challenges anymore. As a community club we need to be engaging with fans and the surrounding area. Something needs to be done.
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Post by Firestick Frank on Oct 22, 2017 12:51:34 GMT
Threads like this literally appear every few months, and have been for the last decade or so. Nothing is ever done.
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Post by chesterfc1972 on Oct 22, 2017 13:01:20 GMT
Team wise Bignot has had just about a Month with the squad he now needs to sit down with all Board Members and tell them who is in his plans and who is not then get the ones who don't feature out on the market so he can start building his own team
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Post by oldnotdecrepit on Oct 22, 2017 14:05:05 GMT
How about getting the team fit? That would be an improvement, Astles is embarrassing for a professional sportsman.............others simply can’t compete or run for 90 mins..
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Post by Lobster on Oct 22, 2017 17:53:20 GMT
As much as I hate to say it unless the club seeks some kind of external investment maybe a 50/50 split then we are going to go bust, we have reached a limit as a fans owned club and the only way is backwards to the Conference North or lower.Fans have lost interest as the the club is so being run so poorly on and off the field, gates are falling badly as well. People need a little hope of some success, being happy to fight relegation every season just isn't good enough. No one can be surprised our crowds are so bad, 15/18 pound to watch absolute shite every week is something only real die hards will do. I can see sub 1000 crowds soon unless by some miracle we start showing promotion form, ground was empty Saturday and I dread to think what the crowd will be Tuesday v Barrow. I haven't made my mind up on MM yet but doing a bit of research into his past he leaves clubs in a mess when he leaves, things have certainly not improved since he has been here. I feel he is running the club now not the board. Is he going to turn this club around or take us into the abyss? If we do drop into the Conference North then admission prices need to be £10 terrace and £12 seats or we will be lucky to get 1000 fans through the gate, we need to bring the lost fans back fast ! You make good points but I disagree with your first paragraph. I would say the only risk of going bust comes with outside investment. As a fan-owned club, we may have to lower our ambitions, but provided we budget responsibility, there should be no way we get in financial difficulty as a supporter-owned club. It's why I can't really get on with the idea some people are floating that we need to take gambles and spend our way out of the bottom four. We could double or triple our wage bill and still go down, and what then? If we go down, we go down, I think. It would be gutting but I can deal with relegations. What I can't deal with again is winding up orders, transfer embargos, PFA inventions etc. That needs to be in our past, and would be an embarrassing situation for a supporter-owned club that should've learned from past mistakes. |
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Post by jb on Oct 22, 2017 21:09:16 GMT
The match day experience at Chester is poor and needs improving massively. At the heart of the experience should be the "our community" ethos. How do they do this? Easy. See below:
The club should be handing free kids tickets to junior league clubs for the South Stand for the rest of the season. Clergy can announce some of the junior league results and scorers at half time if the junior club manager sends it in. A young lad/girl would be delighted to have his name announced to 2000 fans and would make him feel that he has a connection to the club.
Give local businesses the chance to showcase their products at the ground. For example "Backford Belles" ice cream are a family of Chester supporters. Allow them to promote their products (samples, leaflets etc) at half time or pre-match. The fans get to sample etc and It makes the company feel part of the club and no doubt the club would be rewarded by the company for the brand exposure.
Use Twitter to name the Match and Matchball sponsor. If they are a company put a link to their website etc. The club gets re-tweets and the presence becomes more widespread. Also Tweet, Facebook the club's sponsors and their services. Local companies want this brand exposure and encourages them to support the club.
Allow fans the chance to request songs before the game and at half time. I'm fed up of hearing the same old Foals and Blossoms songs every time.
Have a local charity promote themselves for a day. It would generate goodwill and show we are a community club.
Bring back the half time legend. A great five minute filler at half time.
Half time competition such as crossbar challenge.
"Bring a mate increase the gate" type promotion.
Whilst we are at it a bit more of a professional approach from some of the club officials wouldn't go amiss. When I was buying tickets for a match recently I saw two paid employees acting childishly with one sticking the"v's" at the other. If that had been one of my staff and I'd caught them doing that I'd have dragged them over hot coals. Not a good impression was created.
Tony Allen to go on a customer relations course.
This club has 23 days a season to milk it from the fans and at the moment it's failing big time. It's only 23 days out of 365 and at the moment it feels like no effort is being made at all.
If any officials from the club want my help then send me a message.
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Post by Al on Oct 23, 2017 4:05:04 GMT
Sorry lads, but you're wasting your time posting ideas on here. It's been done every year for the past 5 or 6 years and nothing gets done. If you're lucky enough to contact the club and offer assistance they'll probably do it once or twice then it'll fall by the wayside again. (Remember the social media "like and share" initiative? They did it twice and then never done it again).
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Post by bing on Oct 23, 2017 6:53:35 GMT
Could we do something to entice adult football teams to come along - perhaps add a competitive element? I'm not just talking about established 11 aside teams, but Monday night league etc... Get teams to sign up for the 'CFC Team of the Year Competition' (or a catchier name!) and invite 10 members from each team to take part in a few challenges at half time to gain points for their team (crossbar challenge, score a goal from a corner etc). In the final game of the season, the 3 teams with the highest points face each other to become winner?
I'm sure it would entice a few extra to watch and would also give us free advertising as we could create a 'media pack' to give to each club with twitter and facebook graphics to create some buzz around the idea.
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Post by soulseal on Oct 23, 2017 7:01:55 GMT
I hate to admit it, but being relegated to a level where we can win games regularly would be a benefit for crowds and player confidence alike.
Most of my time suppprting Chester has been through seasons where we are relegation material with the odd season of success. Our current situation is no different. We need a season of success which is more likely if we get relegated.
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Post by devadiva on Oct 23, 2017 7:52:12 GMT
The match day experience at Chester is poor and needs improving massively. At the heart of the experience should be the "our community" ethos. How do they do this? Easy. See below: The club should be handing free kids tickets to junior league clubs for the South Stand for the rest of the season. Clergy can announce some of the junior league results and scorers at half time if the junior club manager sends it in. A young lad/girl would be delighted to have his name announced to 2000 fans and would make him feel that he has a connection to the club. Give local businesses the chance to showcase their products at the ground. For example "Backford Belles" ice cream are a family of Chester supporters. Allow them to promote their products (samples, leaflets etc) at half time or pre-match. The fans get to sample etc and It makes the company feel part of the club and no doubt the club would be rewarded by the company for the brand exposure. Use Twitter to name the Match and Matchball sponsor. If they are a company put a link to their website etc. The club gets re-tweets and the presence becomes more widespread. Also Tweet, Facebook the club's sponsors and their services. Local companies want this brand exposure and encourages them to support the club. Allow fans the chance to request songs before the game and at half time. I'm fed up of hearing the same old Foals and Blossoms songs every time. Have a local charity promote themselves for a day. It would generate goodwill and show we are a community club. Bring back the half time legend. A great five minute filler at half time. Half time competition such as crossbar challenge. "Bring a mate increase the gate" type promotion. Whilst we are at it a bit more of a professional approach from some of the club officials wouldn't go amiss. When I was buying tickets for a match recently I saw two paid employees acting childishly with one sticking the"v's" at the other. If that had been one of my staff and I'd caught them doing that I'd have dragged them over hot coals. Not a good impression was created. Tony Allen to go on a customer relations course. This club has 23 days a season to milk it from the fans and at the moment it's failing big time. It's only 23 days out of 365 and at the moment it feels like no effort is being made at all. If any officials from the club want my help then send me a message. This is all spot on. Over the last 5 year’s I’ve been bringing my young lads to matches - we are all season ticket holders. I’ve managed to wean them off supporting the predictable premiership teams like their mates in favour of the Blues. They have really looked forward to matches and that’s a big thing when prising them off a gadget is like asking someone to give up crack cocaine. The lack of a spectacle (in addition/despite the football) has been commented upon. There’s nothing to enthuse the kids anymore. Lupus is as regular an attendee as a chester win and at half time the only thing for them to do is decide what flavour Haribos they want for the second half. I’m really proud of them for sticking with it and still being enthused and really want to give them what I would call a “real” team to support for life rather than premiership prima donnas. But I really dread this petering out due to the lack of entertainment/spectacle at games. The result on the pitch does matter for kids, but as long as they had a good time they’ll mostly forgive losses and still want to come next time. So please, would someone st the club/on the Board sort this out before we lose the future life blood of this club. |
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Post by jb on Oct 23, 2017 9:19:06 GMT
Sorry lads, but you're wasting your time posting ideas on here. It's been done every year for the past 5 or 6 years and nothing gets done. If you're lucky enough to contact the club and offer assistance they'll probably do it once or twice then it'll fall by the wayside again. (Remember the social media "like and share" initiative? They did it twice and then never done it again). Well that is very sad to hear. The club is on it's knees at the min and needs to make the matchday a money-making whilst relatively entertaining experience. The powers that be at the club are not realising that Chester FC is a brand which can be exposed to the full. People want to be a part of it there's no doubt. However, the club needs to entice them and not await for them to knock at the door. Local businesses would love to have a pitch from the club and I'm surprised there has never been a Local Business Expo at the club which could help sponsorship opportunities and gain local support. Has the club contacted the makers of FIFA 18 to get them down on a matchday with some games consoles (seen this done at other clubs) so that fans can play the game and add to the entertainment level at the club. It wouldn't cost the club anything and the manufacturers of the game would come down at no cost. Little things like this would add to the match day experience at no extra cost. |
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Post by bing on Oct 23, 2017 10:01:40 GMT
Sorry lads, but you're wasting your time posting ideas on here. It's been done every year for the past 5 or 6 years and nothing gets done. If you're lucky enough to contact the club and offer assistance they'll probably do it once or twice then it'll fall by the wayside again. (Remember the social media "like and share" initiative? They did it twice and then never done it again). Well that is very sad to hear. The club is on it's knees at the min and needs to make the matchday a money-making whilst relatively entertaining experience. The powers that be at the club are not realising that Chester FC is a brand which can be exposed to the full. People want to be a part of it there's no doubt. However, the club needs to entice them and not await for them to knock at the door. Local businesses would love to have a pitch from the club and I'm surprised there has never been a Local Business Expo at the club which could help sponsorship opportunities and gain local support. Has the club contacted the makers of FIFA 18 to get them down on a matchday with some games consoles (seen this done at other clubs) so that fans can play the game and add to the entertainment level at the club. It wouldn't cost the club anything and the manufacturers of the game would come down at no cost. Little things like this would add to the match day experience at no extra cost. Have to disagree Al. In order for the matchday experience to improve, we need two things - people to suggest ideas and then for people to instigate them. We've got new blood on the board now, so we have to give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll do the latter. |
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Post by g1 on Oct 23, 2017 11:30:18 GMT
Leadership on the pitch haven't replaced horan and his leadership skills also fitness off the booze too
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Post by Al on Oct 23, 2017 12:32:38 GMT
Well that is very sad to hear. The club is on it's knees at the min and needs to make the matchday a money-making whilst relatively entertaining experience. The powers that be at the club are not realising that Chester FC is a brand which can be exposed to the full. People want to be a part of it there's no doubt. However, the club needs to entice them and not await for them to knock at the door. Local businesses would love to have a pitch from the club and I'm surprised there has never been a Local Business Expo at the club which could help sponsorship opportunities and gain local support. Has the club contacted the makers of FIFA 18 to get them down on a matchday with some games consoles (seen this done at other clubs) so that fans can play the game and add to the entertainment level at the club. It wouldn't cost the club anything and the manufacturers of the game would come down at no cost. Little things like this would add to the match day experience at no extra cost. Have to disagree Al. In order for the matchday experience to improve, we need two things - people to suggest ideas and then for people to instigate them. We've got new blood on the board now, so we have to give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll do the latter. We've had ideas and people coming forward offering help and support for the past 7 years. Successive boards have let themselves and the supporters down. I touched on this on a previous thread but what have we really got to show for the past 7 years? Is the legacy of the initial board just to have a club yo-yo'ing between the Regional and National leagues? When are we going to see real progress down there. Serious plans to improve the facilities at the ground so we can expand our operations off the field and really have a proper good go (sustainably) at promotion to the football league? When I signed up to the supporter owned model I bought into the idea that we were going to do things differently, that this time as a supporter owned club we would break the mould. 7 years on, what's different between the likes of us, and the likes of anyone else in the lower half of the Conference? We're fan owned but we're run in exactly the same way as everyone else. That to me is the biggest disappointment that the original vision of a innovative supporter owned football club has been almost dumbed down, passed into hands less capable than those previous and we have now fallen into this general feel of lethargy. |
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