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Post by mehewmagic on Sept 4, 2018 16:30:00 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them?£85 to watch Spurs, £20 to watch the Rovers economics will drive who can watch Premier league football soon Sadly football is just a game on TV for many. And for wearing a posh shirt & saying 'i'm a Barca / man u / Chelsea' fan etc. I think what Hugo & others are getting at is that local kids can often just become one of the millions who 'support' a big team via social media & various nothingness rather than actually come to a real game at rovers (or even city). If that filters through the problems in the future could be immense.
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Post by swissgas on Sept 4, 2018 16:51:05 GMT
I understand and respect the views expressed by the OP but someone needs speak up for those of us who may well be classed as moaners but who in fact think and care deeply about the way the club has declined during our lifetime. In the early Twerton years I was fortunate to be close to the centre of the club and was able to witness first hand how the business was run. We are all aware of the contribution Denis and Geoff made but should not forget the other board members or those who were completely out of the limelight but still played an important part in keeping the club afloat and building the springboard from which we achieved promotion to the second tier in 1990 and were eventually to return to a home in Bristol. From this vantage point I am able to vividly discern the striking contrast between the way Denis ran the club and the way Nick Higgs ran it and now Wael appears to be running it.
It is hard to put it into words but I think the main difference is that Denis and his team sincerely believed it was a privilege to have the responsibility of owning Bristol Rovers, they took the job seriously and they felt a personal obligation to do their very best for the club.
I was a big critic of Nick Higgs because I think he came to believe that we were lucky to have him as the owner and that rather than listen and learn the technique of running a football club he preferred to rely on bluster which eventually backfired on him.
Wael also I feel has approached his ownership from the perspective of us being lucky to have him rather than the other way round. Like Nick he becomes tetchy when criticised and does not see the need to get his act together and communicate with us in a polished and businesslike way.
There is one striking example of what I am talking about in a video clip which surfaced a few months ago and which I hope someone can find and put up again on here. It was part of a documentary made around 1987 and showed Geoff arriving at the Hambrook training ground in his Porsche to be greeted by Vernon Stokes. Vernon is carrying some papers which he is going to present to a board meeting and the film segment ends with him striding purposefully away accompanied by Geoff. I can’t tell you what Vernon presented to the board that day but what I do know for sure is that he would have spent time and trouble getting his facts together and he would have made his presentation in a forceful and passionate way because he cared deeply about Rovers. Working like this illustrates an attitude of mind which is timeless and so, although we are apparently in the digital age of social media, the same principles apply today just as much as they did then. And if you want to earn success you need to apply those principles.
If fans are unhappy is it because we have unrealistic expectations and aspirations or is it because we are lacking in leadership ? If we are in the age of social media shouldn’t our leaders be using that to enhance the fans perception of the club and encouraging us to follow their vision instead of complaining that we don’t understand them ? Are we sure that our leaders are really putting in the time and effort to do their jobs to the best of their ability or are they just going through the motions because, after all, the club is lucky to have them ?
When you get a chance take a look at that clip and see Vernon striding purposefully towards a meeting where he would present his facts and figures in a forceful and passionate way because he cared deeply about Rovers. Ask yourselves whether you truly believe our leaders are doing the same today.
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Post by scoobydoogas on Sept 4, 2018 17:26:03 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? [b Exactly this ^^^^ If / when city get into the prem , I genuinely believe without a shadow of a doubt our days will be numbered. It pains me to say it infact it near enough breaks my heart that my lad , who has been coming to games with me since he was 7 years old , no longer attends games with me or even with his mates ( he’s 14 now ) as he has just lost interest. I ask him why ? His reply is , he just wants to watch football in a proper stadium and not a dump ! The younger supporters of our club will lose interest if things don’t change in regards to our ground or long term ambition, the worst thing is , I think a lot of the kids will turn to the dark side as let’s be honest , on paper they are a much bigger attraction than we are. Looking at it from a neutral prospective and you were unaware of the history of both teams in Bristol , it’s quite obvious that we will not be the choice. It’s worrying times at the moment as they are getting further and further ahead of us. I'm faced with exactly the same situation as you. Scrappydoo followed Rovers all over the country with me before and while we were in the Conference. The conference was an adventure for him - new grounds, decent football for that league and we were winning. I have great photos and tv recordings of him at Forest Green (play offs) and Wembley. Pleased as punch with his lot as a Rovers fan. Then in league 2 we toured new grounds together and I have a great photo of us together at the final whistle after the Dagenham game. All smiles etc. First season back in league 1 and he was fine but with a few less away games as we had been to a lot of the grounds already. 2nd season in league 1 and we started badly - we lost 3 of the first 4 home games that he was able to attend and he started to become distracted. He persevered for a while as a bunch of his mates congregated at the back of the Blackthorn so I let him stand with them. But the results and the quality of football tailed off and we went on that bad run and he stopped coming. I used to stand outside the turnstiles on match days hoping to catch some lad heading towards the pay turnstile and I would offer him my lad's season ticket for that game so he could get in for free. So this season, I have renewed his season ticket but I haven't been able to get him to come. I know he still gets match updates on his phone cos he sometimes mentions it to me but he is just not interested in coming to the ground while we are playing crap football and losing. The real issue is that the longer this situation continues the more likely it is that he will find something better to do on a Saturday and he'll never come again. The only saving grace is that he will never turn to the darkside.
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Post by gasstrictband on Sept 4, 2018 17:40:51 GMT
The Shxt will be reading this thread with glee.
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Post by Midsomer Murderer on Sept 4, 2018 17:47:29 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? I do get what you are saying my friend but this is more than envy. We are Rovers the poorer side always have been but let's enjoy this. If u want success on a plate then thete is the sh** and i know u dont want that
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Post by Midsomer Murderer on Sept 4, 2018 17:53:04 GMT
the last tbing i wa t is more arguement. We are all Gasheads and pay our money. I want us to be in the pram and hope it happens before I die but I want to.have fun and we should just try to enjoy ourselves and not slang off everything
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Sept 4, 2018 18:03:29 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? I disagree a bit about this. If you think why you yourself are a GasHead, is it anything to do with free will or choice? Did you consciously choose blue over red after carefully considering both options and even exploring? Of course not! Few actually do. Rovers choose you.. (By geography, pier pressure or in my case I was conditioned and groomed by a family member in pre pubescent era)
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Post by toddy1953 on Sept 4, 2018 18:29:44 GMT
As fans we have thrived on the adversity in the past. Football as well as society has has changed dramatically over the last 30 years but Bristol Rovers have been left behind. It was fun in the early 90's being in today's equivalent of the Championship, with big clubs coming to Twerton, but due to the infrastructure we couldn't keep pace. There was renewed hope when new apparently rich owners came on board & Wael, for example, couldn't get enough of the limelight. Two & a half years down the track, Planning permission for a stadium, has gone, the club is in more debt, albeit we own a field in Almondsbury, in the last 8 months we have sold our best two players & for me got nowhere near replacing them and this has helped the playing side to stagnate or even decline, we have more Chiefs on the non playing side than ever before. All we hear from the owner nowadays is ' it takes time can't say anything due to legal reasons'. With all the Chiefs we have no one appears to b able to give a coherent plan for the future of the club - and people wonder why there Is negativity? I have said before, in today's football environment you cannot afford to evolve the infrastructure of the club., in the timescale Wael spoke about in his last comms. You can afford to evolve the playing side and dare I say if the infrastructure is there, you can afford a poor season or two, whist the next batch of players reach their development potential. In the last 10 years or so we have managed to PP for a Mem redevelopment PP for UWE & still no nearer to that now than before. Time for the owners to s**t or get off the pot.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2018 18:43:12 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them?£85 to watch Spurs, £20 to watch the Rovers economics will drive who can watch Premier league football soon Adult tickets at Chelsea are £36; kids £15. Doesn't look bad value to someone with a kid badgering them to take them to the football.
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Post by Okebournegas on Sept 4, 2018 18:48:39 GMT
[b Exactly this ^^^^ If / when city get into the prem , I genuinely believe without a shadow of a doubt our days will be numbered. It pains me to say it infact it near enough breaks my heart that my lad , who has been coming to games with me since he was 7 years old , no longer attends games with me or even with his mates ( he’s 14 now ) as he has just lost interest. I ask him why ? His reply is , he just wants to watch football in a proper stadium and not a dump ! The younger supporters of our club will lose interest if things don’t change in regards to our ground or long term ambition, the worst thing is , I think a lot of the kids will turn to the dark side as let’s be honest , on paper they are a much bigger attraction than we are. Looking at it from a neutral prospective and you were unaware of the history of both teams in Bristol , it’s quite obvious that we will not be the choice. It’s worrying times at the moment as they are getting further and further ahead of us. I'm faced with exactly the same situation as you. Scrappydoo followed Rovers all over the country with me before and while we were in the Conference. The conference was an adventure for him - new grounds, decent football for that league and we were winning. I have great photos and tv recordings of him at Forest Green (play offs) and Wembley. Pleased as punch with his lot as a Rovers fan. Then in league 2 we toured new grounds together and I have a great photo of us together at the final whistle after the Dagenham game. All smiles etc. First season back in league 1 and he was fine but with a few less away games as we had been to a lot of the grounds already. 2nd season in league 1 and we started badly - we lost 3 of the first 4 home games that he was able to attend and he started to become distracted. He persevered for a while as a bunch of his mates congregated at the back of the Blackthorn so I let him stand with them. But the results and the quality of football tailed off and we went on that bad run and he stopped coming. I used to stand outside the turnstiles on match days hoping to catch some lad heading towards the pay turnstile and I would offer him my lad's season ticket for that game so he could get in for free. So this season, I have renewed his season ticket but I haven't been able to get him to come. I know he still gets match updates on his phone cos he sometimes mentions it to me but he is just not interested in coming to the ground while we are playing crap football and losing. The real issue is that the longer this situation continues the more likely it is that he will find something better to do on a Saturday and he'll never come again. The only saving grace is that he will never turn to the darkside. It’s really sad isn’t it ? My most fondest memories with my lad so far have been shared with the gas , we used to stand down the front of the blackthorn end along with my mates but it’s just not the same. Like your lad luckily my son will never support them lot but the bigger picture is there will many that will!
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Post by paulpirate on Sept 4, 2018 18:59:28 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? kids will normally follow who their dads take them to watch,and they will have a glory team as well Utd,Arsenal,Chelsea etc The turds will never be one of those
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Sept 4, 2018 19:09:04 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? I disagree a bit about this. If you think why you yourself are a GasHead, is it anything to do with free will or choice? Did you consciously choose blue over red after carefully considering both options and even exploring? Of course not! Few actually do. Rovers choose you.. (By geography, pier pressure or in my case I was conditioned and groomed by a family member in pre pubescent era) But that's my point. 30 years ago it really didn't make a lot of difference which side you "chose". There wasn't much to chose between the teams. My fear is that there really isn't any choice now. Seriously, without family connections how many of us would chose Rovers if you just starting out watching football?
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Sept 4, 2018 19:10:04 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? kids will normally follow who their dads take them to watch,and they will have a glory team as well Utd,Arsenal,Chelsea etc The turds will never be one of those If the sh** get to the Prem they will be that glamour team!
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Sept 4, 2018 19:12:11 GMT
I'm faced with exactly the same situation as you. Scrappydoo followed Rovers all over the country with me before and while we were in the Conference. The conference was an adventure for him - new grounds, decent football for that league and we were winning. I have great photos and tv recordings of him at Forest Green (play offs) and Wembley. Pleased as punch with his lot as a Rovers fan. Then in league 2 we toured new grounds together and I have a great photo of us together at the final whistle after the Dagenham game. All smiles etc. First season back in league 1 and he was fine but with a few less away games as we had been to a lot of the grounds already. 2nd season in league 1 and we started badly - we lost 3 of the first 4 home games that he was able to attend and he started to become distracted. He persevered for a while as a bunch of his mates congregated at the back of the Blackthorn so I let him stand with them. But the results and the quality of football tailed off and we went on that bad run and he stopped coming. I used to stand outside the turnstiles on match days hoping to catch some lad heading towards the pay turnstile and I would offer him my lad's season ticket for that game so he could get in for free. So this season, I have renewed his season ticket but I haven't been able to get him to come. I know he still gets match updates on his phone cos he sometimes mentions it to me but he is just not interested in coming to the ground while we are playing crap football and losing. The real issue is that the longer this situation continues the more likely it is that he will find something better to do on a Saturday and he'll never come again. The only saving grace is that he will never turn to the darkside. It’s really sad isn’t it ? My most fondest memories with my lad so far have been shared with the gas , we used to stand down the front of the blackthorn end along with my mates but it’s just not the same. Like your lad luckily my son will never support them lot but the bigger picture is there will many that will! Mine too. Love going to games with my boy but of the 20 odd kids in his Sunday kids team he is the only one to watch Rovers. Every single other kid he plays with has been to AG at least once.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Sept 4, 2018 19:17:18 GMT
30 years ago we could compete with the Teds. In 30 years time, unless things change at Rovers we won't exist. If they make it to the Prem before we even put a portacabin on our field we are f**ked. What kid is going to chose us over them? I do get what you are saying my friend but this is more than envy. We are Rovers the poorer side always have been but let's enjoy this. If u want success on a plate then thete is the sh** and i know u dont want that I'm not bothered about success and certainly not on a plate, but we are SO far behind almost everyone else there are refugees in France collecting money for our next tent!
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Post by paulpirate on Sept 4, 2018 19:17:53 GMT
kids will normally follow who their dads take them to watch,and they will have a glory team as well Utd,Arsenal,Chelsea etc The turds will never be one of those If the sh** get to the Prem they will be that glamour team! glamour teams win things,if city went up they would win f all
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Post by Okebournegas on Sept 4, 2018 19:32:55 GMT
It’s really sad isn’t it ? My most fondest memories with my lad so far have been shared with the gas , we used to stand down the front of the blackthorn end along with my mates but it’s just not the same. Like your lad luckily my son will never support them lot but the bigger picture is there will many that will! Mine too. Love going to games with my boy but of the 20 odd kids in his Sunday kids team he is the only one to watch Rovers. Every single other kid he plays with has been to AG at least once. The same with us , all his teammates bar 2 support the sh** and pretty much all his school friends. The longer we stay the way we are the more young supporters we risk losing to them. As much as I hate them , they are really starting to progress massively on and off the pitch, I don’t care what anyone on here says , we aren’t any where near them in any department and sadly it doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. I will always love the gas , the future generations of supporters However.......
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Post by Topper Gas on Sept 4, 2018 19:38:42 GMT
When I was in my later teens, I used to go to Twerton to watch the Rovers. Me and my mates used to meet at the Carpenters Arms for a few then drive, I mean get a cab, to Bath have a few more and watch the Gas. Win or lose, rain or shine. We won some lost some, that's football. We sang and cheered and dometimes had a scuffle after all, we were young. But it was the highlight of thr week. We would spend the week chatting about the game and the result we hoped for. When did it turn into expecting so much, hating so much ? I don't understand. We've never had much have we ? in fact, the past few Years have been some of the best but because of a foreign owner so much is expected. It seems like a lot of forum members don't like Rovers and when I say Rovers if means everything. Why go then ? To moan and criticise ? I try to be light hearted on here but there is so much sh**. Yes I know we fans have the right to complain but we take it to the next level. We moan about everything. We talk about the spirit of the past but it's our spirit that's changed as I believe the club and players are trying. For years we've lived in hope of getting a new stadium, first there was the Mem re-development then the UWE but now there seems little hope we'll ever get a new stadium meanwhile "small" club's like Shrewsbury & Burton have new stadiums and the 82er's have completely re-developed AG. It seems we're going to suffer a slow death if something doesn't happen with the ground plans soon. As far as players trying, surely Upson, Nichols & Rodman can't be as poor as they were at Shrewsbury if they were actually trying?
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Post by gasify on Sept 4, 2018 20:10:29 GMT
There are two ways we can compete with them down the road:
1) Be at least in the same league as them, preferably higher.
2) Sell ourselves as a match day experience that you just don't get in an all seater stadium. Almost a retro approach to selling football. We need a never say die attitude and crunching tackles.
When was the last time we played in Division Two? We were only there for four seasons after our promotion after all.
I think lots of people need a bit of a reality check. The club has always been a little bit sh**, but they have always been my little bit sh** club. I will follow them to the day I die and I will sell Rovers to my premier league following friends as old school football in an old school ground. I have done this with a Liverpool fan friend of mine and he has been to see Rovers more than he has been to see Liverpool now!
What ever happens off the pitch, We need to support the team together on the pitch. This is what we have lost in the last few years, We have turned on players, management, owners when we would never had done in the previous 40 years.
We're Rovers supporters, were FAITHFUL and true.........
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Post by chilly1883 on Sept 4, 2018 20:24:58 GMT
When I was in my later teens, I used to go to Twerton to watch the Rovers. Me and my mates used to meet at the Carpenters Arms for a few then drive, I mean get a cab, to Bath have a few more and watch the Gas. Win or lose, rain or shine. We won some lost some, that's football. We sang and cheered and dometimes had a scuffle after all, we were young. But it was the highlight of thr week. We would spend the week chatting about the game and the result we hoped for. When did it turn into expecting so much, hating so much ? I don't understand. We've never had much have we ? in fact, the past few Years have been some of the best but because of a foreign owner so much is expected. It seems like a lot of forum members don't like Rovers and when I say Rovers if means everything. Why go then ? To moan and criticise ? I try to be light hearted on here but there is so much sh**. Yes I know we fans have the right to complain but we take it to the next level. We moan about everything. We talk about the spirit of the past but it's our spirit that's changed as I believe the club and players are trying. its called Internet and football forums, the benchmark for keyboard bullies and moaning bastards👍
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