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Post by poorblue on Jul 15, 2019 13:04:09 GMT
Whilst I respect other fans opinions I do wonder why IMO it is sometimes overstated in rather strong language the state of The Mem.
This crops up everywhere on different threads coming from all angles on many diverse matters.
On the matter of players who would not sign for Rovers (20 year old Irish college player Liam Scales the latest) based on "poor crap disgusting vile" etc comments as a description of facilities I make the following comments
Eastville Stadium following South stand fire and greatly reduce capacity. Training ground Eastville Park? and Hambrook
Terry Cooper ex England full back signs as player and later becomes Rovers manager. Alan Ball ex England midfielder and World Cup winner signs as player Mike Channon ex England striker signs as a player. Different class but same point Booby Gould ex 1st (premier) division striker signs as player and then as manager Etc Bath City Ground (Lovely antiquated family ground!) training ground based in a portacabin on a flood plain at Fry's Gerry Francis ex England midfielder signs as player then becomes manager. Gets Rover promoted to 2nd (championship) Carl Saunders Championship striker signs as player. Kenny Hibbitt ex England U23 signs as player
Memorial Ground (Stadium) rented uncovered undeveloped ground becomes owned and better covered over time. Training grounds The Beeches, Clifton Rugby Club Vitalijs Astafjevs Current midfield Latvian international Mark Walters ex England wide midfielder signs as player Jermaine Easter ex Welsh international and Premiership signs as a player
As the facilities didn't appear to put those above players off why would the likes of Liam Scales be quoted (without ITK) as he wouldn't sign for rovers because of current facilities?
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Post by spiess1 on Jul 15, 2019 13:05:45 GMT
Smart post, pb.
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Post by South Stand Ultra on Jul 15, 2019 13:06:36 GMT
Where did Liam Scales say that?
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pirate
Forum Legend
Posts: 18,489
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Post by pirate on Jul 15, 2019 13:12:31 GMT
The ground is diabolical and one of the worst in the Football League and certainly League One. We train on pitches used for the Western League. How anyone could ever say they are fit for purpose is beyond me. Eastville was over 30 years ago and we left Twerton over 20 years ago, but some things never change and we're still rag bag Rovers.
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Post by gasandelectricity on Jul 15, 2019 13:32:45 GMT
The ground is diabolical and one of the worst in the Football League and certainly League One. We train on pitches used for the Western League. How anyone could ever say they are fit for purpose is beyond me. Eastville was over 30 years ago and we left Twerton over 20 years ago, but some things never change and we're still rag bag Rovers. I think people sometimes get carried away with the character of the ground ie tents, weird shaped stands etc. The condition of the interior isn’t as bad as we make out. I certainly remember going to The County ground for a soaking a few seasons back and whilst the ground is more conventional and there is the odd decent stand I certainly left thinking it was all a bit of a sh** hole. Granted, they’re not in the league any more but going to York I was afraid of touching anything in case I left needing a tetanus jab. I’m lead to believe Kenilworth Road is similar. Roots Hall wasn’t pretty. Yes it needs flattening and yes it’s down there with some of the worst but surely the Mem is up together compared to those few examples even if the stands are a bit odd? The poster made a good point as well that this won’t nexessarily stop players wanting to play for us as it gives our heritage and identity a disservice. They’re draws for the right player (those we want signing for us)
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Post by spiess1 on Jul 15, 2019 13:43:27 GMT
The ground is diabolical and one of the worst in the Football League and certainly League One. We train on pitches used for the Western League. How anyone could ever say they are fit for purpose is beyond me. Eastville was over 30 years ago and we left Twerton over 20 years ago, but some things never change and we're still rag bag Rovers. Best not to confuse what a player wants from a stadium and what 'entitled', chip-on-shoulder, axe-to-grind, fans want from said stadium. Pasties, tents, toilets, rooflessness, poor parking, understocked shop, etc. etc., mean nowt to a young possible signing who has no allegiance to, and doesn't even live in, Bristol (which is what he probably calls Rovers as well(!). No?
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Post by rosssgb on Jul 15, 2019 13:52:04 GMT
Appeasement by our fanbase has always been an issue. But generally in wider society anyone who questions things or demands better/change is regularly shouted down and told to drink the coolaid
Remember the black and gold campaign etc where a group of supporters wanted better for the club and could foresee that we were sleep walking into oblivion - they were abused beyond belief but not long after that we fell into the conference.
The training ground is a much bigger issue than the Mem, which is bad but manageable imo. It is no where near suitable for a League 1 club, I’ve heard that from people with first hand experience. Then you factor in our dev squad and academy teams having to train all around bristol at random locations. Hardly ideal if you’re trying to create a sustainable club with an identity and ethos
I’m amazed with the state things are in off the pitch we have managed to sustain L1 football, makes me very grateful for DC and Coughlan. With the signings made this summer I’m hopeful of a comfortable season in L1 (although we will be majorly reliant on Clarke-Harris for goals).
Overall, short term signings and good players we’ve recruited won’t paper over the cracks of the lack of long term infrastructure, and it would only take a long term injury to Clarke-Harris/sell him (very worrying that a buy out clause is mentioned in another thread) to find ourselves slipping back down the leagues
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pirate
Forum Legend
Posts: 18,489
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Post by pirate on Jul 15, 2019 13:57:34 GMT
The ground is diabolical and one of the worst in the Football League and certainly League One. We train on pitches used for the Western League. How anyone could ever say they are fit for purpose is beyond me. Eastville was over 30 years ago and we left Twerton over 20 years ago, but some things never change and we're still rag bag Rovers. I think people sometimes get carried away with the character of the ground ie tents, weird shaped stands etc. The condition of the interior isn’t as bad as we make out. I certainly remember going to The County ground for a soaking a few seasons back and whilst the ground is more conventional and there is the odd decent stand I certainly left thinking it was all a bit of a sh** hole. Granted, they’re not in the league any more but going to York I was afraid of touching anything in case I left needing a tetanus jab. I’m lead to believe Kenilworth Road is similar. Roots Hall wasn’t pretty. Yes it needs flattening and yes it’s down there with some of the worst but surely the Mem is up together compared to those few examples even if the stands are a bit odd? The poster made a good point as well that this won’t nexessarily stop players wanting to play for us as it gives our heritage and identity a disservice. They’re draws for the right player (those we want signing for us) Luton will soon be getting a new 23,000-capacity stadium, Southend have plans for a 21,000-capacity stadium and Swindon recently purchased the County Ground for £2.5mil in the hope of improving it (probably not tents or like that embarassing eyesore of a 'stand' we have for families).
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Post by gasheadontour on Jul 15, 2019 14:02:20 GMT
York are currently building a new stadium. It is being funded by their local council.
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Post by gasandelectricity on Jul 15, 2019 14:17:57 GMT
Everyone assumes nothing is going on for us but who knows, Wael may have an ace up his sleeves yet. Point is there are other terrible stadiums around the EFL
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Marshy
Proper Gas
Posts: 14,105
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Post by Marshy on Jul 15, 2019 14:23:12 GMT
Everyone assumes nothing is going on for us but who knows, Wael may have an ace up his sleeves yet. Point is there are other terrible stadiums around the EFL More like a joker.
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Post by Hudson1883 on Jul 15, 2019 14:28:01 GMT
We have two decent enough bars to drink in pre match (with all money going directly to the club) I still to this day watch home games stood on a terrace & my team currently play said home matches on a pitch akin to that of a very expensive snooker table.
Whilst things could be a hell of a lot better, they could be a whole lot worse. I still enjoy my Saturdays on home soil for now.
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Post by Colyton Gas on Jul 15, 2019 15:02:29 GMT
Kidderminster,Telford etc ,all three leagues below us but proper grounds ,no tents and only Macclesfield and Wimbledon worse than us. Our facilities for the disabled are pre historic.I wonder if our board get embarrassed when they visit other stadiums.Still,been saying this for so long now and the Mem still remains in the dark ages.Given up now despite regular 'Whispers' nothing ever happens and with no communication we just have to dream. Hope the FA don't give us an ultimatum to improve or we'll end up ground sharing.Recall when Mr Wael was interviewed and we all hoped real news would be forthcoming and he spoke of new hand dryers in the toilets which was so cringeworthy I thought it was a joke.Anyway,only repeating what we all know so promise not to mention the awful Mem ever again.Up here Stoke demolished their Victoria Ground well over 20 years ago and that was far superior to anything we've ever had.Stoke is a deprived area which makes Knowle West look posh but in fairness whatever level a club is at ,fans moan and I love our club warts and all. Pic of the Victoria Ground Stoke,25 years ago.
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Post by South Stand Ultra on Jul 15, 2019 15:06:34 GMT
Kidderminster,Telford etc ,all three leagues below us but proper grounds ,no tents and only Macclesfield and Wimbledon worse than us.I wonder if our board get embarrassed when they visit other stadiums.Still,been saying this for so long now and the Mem still remains in the dark ages.Given up now despite regular 'Whispers' nothing ever happens and with no communication we just have to dream. Hope the FA don't give us an ultimatum to improve or we'll end up ground sharing.Recall when Mr Wael was interviewed and we all hoped real news would be forthcoming and he spoke of new hand dryers in the toilets which was so cringeworthy I thought it was a joke.Anyway,only repeating what we all know so promise not to mention the awful Mem ever again.Up here Stoke demolished their Victoria Ground well over 20 years ago and that was far superior to anything we've ever had.Stoke is a deprived area which makes Knowle West look posh but in fairness whatever level a club is at ,fans moan and I love our club warts and all.
Why would the FA give us an ultimatum to improve or we'll end up ground sharing?
As long as we have 2000 seats which you need to enter the league we're fine.
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Post by 2nd May 1990 on Jul 15, 2019 15:12:37 GMT
Where did Liam Scales say that? I think the answer to that is that he almost certainly didn’t.
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Post by 2nd May 1990 on Jul 15, 2019 15:13:38 GMT
I love the Mem and will be sad if and when we leave. There, I’ve said it!
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Post by South Stand Ultra on Jul 15, 2019 15:18:08 GMT
I love the Mem and will be sad if and when we leave. There, I’ve said it!
Same here, IMO its not as bad as people make it out to be.
Would love it if we redeveloped it instead of moving, but Wael has ruled this out.
The South stand in the winter can be very cold, I'm no pu$$y though, I don't need a blanket!!!
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Post by gasheadontour on Jul 15, 2019 15:21:38 GMT
Consider the huge transfer fees being paid for the best young players. Rovers need:
1) Great style of play upon which to build the club. 2) A manager willing to promote young players from within the club. 3) Accept young players discarded by other clubs and to try to make them better. 4) Excellent training facilities and coaching.
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Post by chilly1883 on Jul 15, 2019 15:24:20 GMT
Whilst I respect other fans opinions I do wonder why IMO it is sometimes overstated in rather strong language the state of The Mem. This crops up everywhere on different threads coming from all angles on many diverse matters. On the matter of players who would not sign for Rovers (20 year old Irish college player Liam Scales the latest) based on "poor crap disgusting vile" etc comments as a description of facilities I make the following comments Eastville Stadium following South stand fire and greatly reduce capacity. Training ground Eastville Park? and Hambrook Terry Cooper ex England full back signs as player and later becomes Rovers manager. Alan Ball ex England midfielder and World Cup winner signs as player Mike Channon ex England striker signs as a player. Different class but same point Booby Gould ex 1st (premier) division striker signs as player and then as manager Etc Bath City Ground (Lovely antiquated family ground!) training ground based in a portacabin on a flood plain at Fry's Gerry Francis ex England midfielder signs as player then becomes manager. Gets Rover promoted to 2nd (championship) Carl Saunders Championship striker signs as player. Kenny Hibbitt ex England U23 signs as player Memorial Ground (Stadium) rented uncovered undeveloped ground becomes owned and better covered over time. Training grounds The Beeches, Clifton Rugby Club Vitalijs Astafjevs Current midfield Latvian international Mark Walters ex England wide midfielder signs as player Jermaine Easter ex Welsh international and Premiership signs as a player As the facilities didn't appear to put those above players off why would the likes of Liam Scales be quoted (without ITK) as he wouldn't sign for rovers because of current facilities? good post, but have we ever trained at Clifton Rugby ground?
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Post by BelieveItWhenIAmSatInIt on Jul 15, 2019 15:33:29 GMT
It is no coincidence that players whom leave us almost always mention the 'fantastic facilities' at their new clubs.... For the latest examples of this see both SC and JC's press conferences after joining Walsall.. Walsall mind.. Walsall!
Our ground is an absolute dump in it's current guise and anyone who honestly does not think that it is holding us back is very mistaken.
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