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Post by Slide away on Oct 10, 2014 19:20:32 GMT
I recently had a baby daughter and to keep money going into the club and stand her in good stead for the future she (i) applied to become a Young Pirate. This cost £8 for the season which I thought was reasonable.
I remember when I was a Young Pirate we would get news letters, birthday and Xmas cards and a membership card which you could get stamped to show you had attended matches.
What I recieved today was laughable and summed up just how far into the dark ages we are when it comes to this sort of thing...we recieved a paper membership card which wasn't cut straight with name and number wrote on in pen and a voucher offering £2.50 off this seasons kit. Again- not cut straight and looked like a child had designed it and printed it at school. There was no cover letter or a list of benefits that are offered or anything...I was actually embarrassed when I had to explain to my mrs what she had just opened!
You may all find this a pointless moaning thread, but when there is such a emphasis on fans of the future from the club, quid a kid etc, I found this extremely poor!
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Post by Slide away on Oct 10, 2014 19:24:35 GMT
Duplicate thread. Admin please remove
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 19:27:21 GMT
Your child will receive a birthday card and I assume Xmas card.
Yes, the membership card is cut wonky (Hugo the Youngers is too) but for 8 quid you get 2 cards delivered from the Club and a 2.50 voucher.
Seems like a good deal to me.
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Post by Mark Ash on Oct 10, 2014 19:38:07 GMT
Your child will receive a birthday card and I assume Xmas card. Yes, the membership card is cut wonky (Hugo the Youngers is too) but for 8 quid you get 2 cards delivered from the Club and a 2.50 voucher. Seems like a good deal to me. Do the youngsters get any other interaction with the club, such as a chance to meet a player or two, or a visit behind the scenes, autographed photos, I wonder? Such things mean a huge amount to kids, but would be easy and inexpensive or free to deliver. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 19:45:18 GMT
Not that I'm aware of, but I try to make an effort to get his programme signed. It's a huge pain in the south stand though because we have no access during the warm up.
Last weekend we hung on 5 mins and saw 3 players warming down. They all spoke to our kids and posed for a photo and signed stuff. Players are accessible to a fashion.
I dont know what people expect for 8 quid.
Maybe I should also mention free season tickets for U12s for Young Pirate members with a full paying adult?
Best 8 quid I ever spent.
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Post by Mark Ash on Oct 10, 2014 19:56:21 GMT
The free season tickets are excellent. I wasn't really moaning about value, just wondering about easy ways to hook (sorry, encourage) children into supporting our club. The football club itself presumably would want to help out the supporters club, where it can. As for the £8, I'm not sure why such extras as autographs or a once-year tour behind the scenes would cost anything. I speak as a new grandparent, mindful that at some point in the coming years, the Gas will have to compete with the telly-world of Man United etc. for my little fans.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 19:57:13 GMT
Do the youngsters get any other interaction with the club, such as a chance to meet a player or two, or a visit behind the scenes, autographed photos, I wonder? Such things mean a huge amount to kids, but would be easy and inexpensive or free to deliver. There is a Christmas party, attended by a few of the players, one of whom plays the role of Santa Claus. There used to be a small charge for the ticket, as it included food + a disco, plus a present - not sure what the format is now. When my son was a member there was always a "meet the players" training session at Fry's, which was for Young Pirates only. Each player took a group of youngsters for a mini training session, and there was plenty of time afterwards for the kids to get autographs and photos. There were also YP coach trips to some away games, which usually included a pre-match game against youngsters from the home club. These trips were very reasonably priced, as I think the clubs had a reciprocal arrangements re. free tickets for the kids. One of the best trips used to be to Millwall, as they were working really hard to get families involved in their community stuff. One time they also gave us a guided tour of the stadium, which was quite exciting as Sky were filming for "Dream Team" that weekend. YP used to run by volunteers, I presume that this is probably still the case. |
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Post by Mark Ash on Oct 10, 2014 19:59:14 GMT
That all sounds much more like it. Thanks Tilly.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 20:00:42 GMT
That all sounds much more like it. Thanks Tilly. Should have said that this was about 14 years ago - so don't know if they still provide all this! I think that they still have a YP member drawn out of a lucky dip to be mascot at home games. My son was lucky enough to do it at Villa Park for the FA Cup game, and also at Twerton Park. He also got to play in a goal for a penalty comp on the pitch at Wembley before the Huddersfield game, so certainly got our money's worth over the years. |
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Post by Mark Ash on Oct 10, 2014 20:02:19 GMT
No, I understand. I hope they do. Can't see why on earth they wouldn't. It's so important and kids are so easy to impress.
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Post by Slide away on Oct 10, 2014 20:06:08 GMT
Perhaps I've just become a old moaner then!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 20:06:16 GMT
No, I understand. I hope they do. Can't see why on earth they wouldn't. It's so important and kids are so easy to impress. Indeed they are - my son used to ask me why Brian Parkin wasn't his Dad!  |
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Post by Mark Ash on Oct 10, 2014 20:07:48 GMT
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I'd like to have seen your face, answering that one.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 20:08:27 GMT
Perhaps I've just become a old moaner then! I don't think so, the membership cards did used to look more professional, so it's only natural that you'd be a bit disappointed to receive something on wonky paper! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 20:09:15 GMT
No, I understand. I hope they do. Can't see why on earth they wouldn't. It's so important and kids are so easy to impress. Indeed they are - my son used to ask me why Brian Parkin wasn't his Dad! Well could have been any of the first 11, so you can't blame him for asking.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 20:09:52 GMT
Perhaps I've just become a old moaner then! Heh heh, yeah I know that feeling. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 21:01:16 GMT
I think the Young Pirates is a pretty good deal to be fair, pop along to the cabin and ask what other activities they do for the kids, i've been told its great for the young ones.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 21:46:31 GMT
Indeed they are - my son used to ask me why Brian Parkin wasn't his Dad! Well could have been any of the first 11, so you can't blame him for asking. It was even more embarrassing when my husband turned up at the training ground with 11 DNA testing kits!  |
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Post by yattongas on Oct 10, 2014 22:53:22 GMT
Not that I'm aware of, but I try to make an effort to get his programme signed. It's a huge pain in the south stand though because we have no access during the warm up. Last weekend we hung on 5 mins and saw 3 players warming down. They all spoke to our kids and posed for a photo and signed stuff. Players are accessible to a fashion. I dont know what people expect for 8 quid. Maybe I should also mention free season tickets for U12s for Young Pirate members with a full paying adult? Best 8 quid I ever spent. Out of interest how old was Hugo the younger when you first took him to watch the gas ? Yattonyounger ( he actually lives nr Oxford with his mum ) loves football but has been brain washed by relatives into liking Man Utd . I have to save him ... Show him the way and inflict on him the yrs of suffering my father made me endure ! he's 3.5 yrs and keeps asking me to take him to watch " United" . Obviously this ain't happening and he WILL be a gashead but what age should I first take him ? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 6:11:32 GMT
Good question.
HTY was 5. We went in the dribuild because I felt he'd need a seat and a TV style view to hold his interest. I also wanted an area where there would be no swearing.
I also chose a game in the spring so the weather was good and one I thought we'd win because I desperately wanted everything about his first game to be prefect. We lost.
He watched about 30 mins of each half which I think is pretty good.
We did a mooch around the ground, got sweets in the young pirate cabin and I bought him a water bottle from the shop.
We watched the players warm up from the terrace and got Matt Harrold over to sign his programme (he was on the cover)
These days I tend to bring a blanket (its freezing in the south stand!) and my kindle for before the game and half time if needed. (Mainly so I get less boredom fueled grief and because I'm a bad parent)
I normally go with a mate I've watched Rovers with for years but for my lads first I decided to go on my own because I was fully prepared to have to leave early.
HTY absolutely loves Rovers now. He lives in his kit and has been overhead arguing with his mates in the playground that Rovers are better than Man U! He already knows its better to watch football live, though in fairness I don't have SKY TV so he's never been exposed to the premiershit.
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