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Post by Gashead73 on Nov 5, 2015 11:21:22 GMT
I was having a bit of banter with a couple of the DooDoo heads that work at my place and we were having a chat about young Bristolians supporting big clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal ,Man.Utd and the like, etc etc........
I myself' would much prefer to see our younger generations wearing City or Rovers shirts as opposed to most Premiership club colours. These two fine upstanding pillocks of the community were also in agreement with me, however' how do any of you feel about this and what do you feel the FA or even our local clubs could do to bring in a newer generation of supporters?
I for one would like to see young people aged 7 or under allowed free entry into any L1 or L2 ground until their 8th birthday where upon a small entrance fee of say £5.00 would be made payable until they reach the age of 11years.......
Does anyone agree or indeed have a better idea?
Thank You for your attention
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Post by peterpirate on Nov 5, 2015 11:28:15 GMT
I would rather go to every Carlisle game on a push bike than support the ghastly red team
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 11:30:07 GMT
Get 'em when they're young and they'll more likely follow you when they're older. A freebee now for £X amount when they're older.
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Post by curlywurly on Nov 5, 2015 11:47:06 GMT
I share your opinion that more should be done to encourage young supporters to attend. Where I differ is I'm not bothered about other L1 & L2 clubs, but I am about what Rovers do. In their defence there is the Young Pirates incentive for season ticket holders, but this affects a limited number and doesn't encourage the floating supporter to attend.
As Wembley appearances have demonstrated, we know that there is a huge latent supporter base for Rovers and this should be tapped into. My view is that we should have a permanent "quid a kid" approach for under 11's with a full paying adult in the Family Enclosure or South Stand. Both areas of the ground that are rarely full and more "child friendly".
As a non season ticket holding parent, I'm constantly faced with a decision whether or not I can afford to go to a game and take the kids. I am sure there are literally thousands that are in the same position.
When we are two divisions below the other lot, we need to work that much harder to attract the casual supporter, let alone the competition with other attractions.
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Post by nailseagashead on Nov 5, 2015 11:50:21 GMT
Get 'em when they're young and they'll more likely follow you when they're older. A freebee now for £X amount when they're older. You say that but imagine a young boy going to a c*ty game and seeing that drivel I actually think they're less likely to follow when they're older.
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Post by Gashead73 on Nov 5, 2015 11:51:08 GMT
I share your opinion that more should be done to encourage young supporters to attend. Where I differ is I'm not bothered about other L1 & L2 clubs, but I am about what Rovers do. In their defence there is the Young Pirates incentive for season ticket holders, but this affects a limited number and doesn't encourage the floating supporter to attend. As Wembley appearances have demonstrated, we know that there is a huge latent supporter base for Rovers and this should be tapped into. My view is that we should have a permanent "quid a kid" approach for under 11's with a full paying adult in the Family Enclosure or South Stand. Both areas of the ground that are rarely full and more "child friendly". As a non season ticket holding parent, I'm constantly faced with a decision whether or not I can afford to go to a game and take the kids. I am sure there are literally thousands that are in the same position. When we are two divisions below the other lot, we need to work that much harder to attract the casual supporter, let alone the competition with other attractions.
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Post by Gashead73 on Nov 5, 2015 11:51:59 GMT
I find myself in very similar circumstances and to add to the cost of me taking two of my three kids I also have CSA costs on top of my financial circumstances to consider. My eldest daughter loves the gas and my 5 year old is showing the bug now, however I cannot always afford to take them with me, on top of that again mrsgashead73 has started to tag along ton the games I can afford to get to.
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Post by curlywurly on Nov 5, 2015 11:59:34 GMT
The topic is a bit of a hardy perennial, but I genuinely think there is a real benefit in increasing the incentive to young supporters to attend with paying adults. I fear that quid a kid is viewed as short term lost revenue, when instead I believe it has both short and long term benefits.
A bit of market research would confirm this IMO.
I am sure others have tried in the past, but it is definitely something that should be proposed through the supporters club directors.
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Post by tommym9 on Nov 5, 2015 12:06:04 GMT
I share your opinion that more should be done to encourage young supporters to attend. Where I differ is I'm not bothered about other L1 & L2 clubs, but I am about what Rovers do. In their defence there is the Young Pirates incentive for season ticket holders, but this affects a limited number and doesn't encourage the floating supporter to attend. As Wembley appearances have demonstrated, we know that there is a huge latent supporter base for Rovers and this should be tapped into. My view is that we should have a permanent "quid a kid" approach for under 11's with a full paying adult in the Family Enclosure or South Stand. Both areas of the ground that are rarely full and more "child friendly". As a non season ticket holding parent, I'm constantly faced with a decision whether or not I can afford to go to a game and take the kids. I am sure there are literally thousands that are in the same position. When we are two divisions below the other lot, we need to work that much harder to attract the casual supporter, let alone the competition with other attractions. Easy solution and wouldn't cost the club anything as it's not like were near capacity at the moment anyway. Question is, why aren't the club doing this? Seems like an easy win?
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Post by Staffordshire Gas on Nov 5, 2015 12:16:13 GMT
Youngsters everywhere go for 'The Big Clubs sadly, but we could do with a major initiative at local Universities,Colleges etc.The Sport's outlet at Bristol Airport doesn't even sell Gas shirts.PR is not high on our club's agenda it seems and yet we produce a superb match day programme.Potential Gasheads of the future need to be evangelised with our massive catchment possibilities.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 12:26:13 GMT
We could definitely do more.
Most kids at a young age will go with an adult. If the club makes money from the adult ticket where it wouldn't have before, isn't that beneficial? Therefore if you give free kids tickets away, you're actually gaining an adult most of the time.
Also entices adults to spend money on kids whilst in the ground. Free ticket potentially means a drink being bought or similar. Walsall (I think) had an excellent idea whereby the child ST is £46, but each game they get a £2 voucher if they attend, to spend on food/drink/merch. Potentially an idea for 12-16 y/o fans.
School visits etc. do wonders for getting young fans in, especially if freebies are given away. Our red friends are far better at this than we are.
Depends how much the club wants youngsters to attend. Yes kids tend to support the big teams and watch on TV, but you only have to look at our prices for youngsters and students at the JPT game vs Wycombe to see why they don't come along.
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Post by peterpirate on Nov 5, 2015 12:40:58 GMT
I find myself in very similar circumstances and to add to the cost of me taking two of my three kids I also have CSA costs on top of my financial circumstances to consider. My eldest daughter loves the gas and my 5 year old is showing the bug now, however I cannot always afford to take them with me, on top of that again mrsgashead73 has started to tag along ton the games I can afford to get to. Make sure there is loads of dishes to do at home on a Saturday then,that will save you a score;)
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Post by Dirt Dogg on Nov 5, 2015 12:46:14 GMT
Unfortunately our marketing department is sh*te and doesn't do enough to attract people with no previous connections to come watch us.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 5, 2015 13:22:27 GMT
Get 'em when they're young and they'll more likely follow you when they're older. A freebee now for £X amount when they're older. You say that but imagine a young boy going to a c*ty game and seeing that drivel I actually think they're less likely to follow when they're older. I don't agree. Kids are not that bothered about results, it's all about the match day experience. Rovers do some of this well. Captain Gas is popular and accessible. Some players not in the squad have been seen around the ground before games most notably Sinclair and Easter who last season were regularly seen around the ground signing autographs and having photos taken. Penny sweets in the YP cabin. Access to players after a game for pics and such is always good. It's not all bad for kids at Rovers but I don't think they really promote themselves well enough for the good they do.
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Post by nailseagashead on Nov 5, 2015 13:36:25 GMT
You say that but imagine a young boy going to a c*ty game and seeing that drivel I actually think they're less likely to follow when they're older. I don't agree. Kids are not that bothered about results, it's all about the match day experience. Rovers do some of this well. Captain Gas is popular and accessible. Some players not in the squad have been seen around the ground before games most notably Sinclair and Easter who last season were regularly seen around the ground signing autographs and having photos taken. Penny sweets in the YP cabin. Access to players after a game for pics and such is always good. It's not all bad for kids at Rovers but I don't think they really promote themselves well enough for the good they do. [ I understand where you're coming from with the experience etc, but you'd still get that at the big clubs, I remember watching a rovers game when I was about 8 and I'm not going to lie I cried when we lost so I do think the results do matter to the children. Whereas if they were to follow a big club say man Utd and only see them once a year but get autographs of some of the Man Utd players, the win is almost guaranteed so they're going home happy as they have won the game and also got the signature of a big name(s). Imagine them going to school ' I got Fellaini's autograph ' the kids would be quite excited. Another young boy ' I've got Stuart Sinclairs autograph'. This is not disrespectful to Sinclair must most kids would probably be saying 'who ?'
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Post by ThisCharmingMan on Nov 5, 2015 15:45:07 GMT
Everyone on here has the right idea. Why doesn't our marketing department?*
*Rhetorical question...I know why.
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Post by pirateman on Nov 5, 2015 17:54:49 GMT
Could more be done in schools. My dad didn't go to football so I went with mates from school. If a bunch of kids from a school were going I amsure more would follow.
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Post by mjhgas on Nov 5, 2015 18:41:16 GMT
Give up paying for Sky Sports and take the family to your local club once a month instead!!!
Drink a bottle of wine less a week eat one less takeaway a month, give up smoking............
We can't have it all!!!
I was lucky as a kid - birthday was a week before the start of the season! Had a season ticket for my birthday for years!!!
Used to get a football kit at Christmas! And boots from Winfield!!! Kids these days don't know they're born!!!!
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Post by pirateman on Nov 5, 2015 19:07:09 GMT
Give up paying for Sky Sports and take the family to your local club once a month instead!!! Drink a bottle of wine less a week eat one less takeaway a month, give up smoking............ We can't have it all!!! I was lucky as a kid - birthday was a week before the start of the season! Had a season ticket for my birthday for years!!! Used to get a football kit at Christmas! And boots from Winfield!!! Kids these days don't know they're born!!!! Feck off
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Post by markczgas on Nov 5, 2015 21:48:26 GMT
The key is getting your team, be it The sh**e or The Gas as high up the leagues as possible where the crowds will be bigger. You won't get many kids interested in lower league footie where there are small crowds and a poor standard of footie.
We will only get die-hards persuading their children and relatives to be supporters and regular goers. I can speak from experience - I have just about managed to get my 8 year old to support The Gas - cos i am a passionate Gashead. His mates, who don't have Gashead parents have been to a few games with him and me but are not really bothered about going to games.
When I started going, my first game was v Bournemouth in 72 -73 - 18,000 crowd and then v Plymouth 73-74 - 22,000 crowd - I was overwhelmed by the crowd and noise just as much as by the footie - I was HOOKED and by the time I was 13 - I went to games on my own if no-one else wanted to go, even on 2 buses.
Lets PLEASE PLEASE have new owners and a NEW STADIUM then maybe things will change for us like they have for Swansea, Hull and Reading. UTG !
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