Post by scdave on Aug 29, 2022 8:45:58 GMT
Around 25 years ago, Robbie Sparkes, Nige Cockram, James Packwood and myself were traveling back from a cold, wet and thoroughly miserable away defeat.
As Robbie commented the best thing about the game was that we were away.
At that the time the Mem was a two sided ground. The Centenary was pretty much the same as it is now, the South side was just an empty space with a huge wire fence to stop stray balls going down Alton Rd, the West side was a construction site and the Clubhouse was an uncovered terrace.
If we had a home game, we were exposed to the emements. In those days you couldn't even go into the bar at half time such was the draconian authorities rules at the time, despite Geoff's best efforts. (While I was on the SC committee, the fanzone idea was brought up by Geoff about 20 years ago, but it was not permitted by the powers that be at that time).
We knew the club was skint, as it took on a mortgage it couldn't really afford, but the Board couldn't afford not to take a (seemingly) once in a lifetime opportunity of a ground in Bristol.
At the time, players, management and directors regularly went into the clubhouse bars after games (how times have changed!). We spoke to Ron Craig who said that any money raised would be gratefully received and the club would endeavor to use these funds to make improvements for the fans.
We started putting up posters at the stadium and the SC shop asking for donations for a car boot sale and held a quiz and effectively Robbie, Nige, James and myself became the initial Raise the Roof committee.
Despite a few negative comments saying it will never happen, we raised a few hundred quid in no time.
From memory, one idea was that we would bulk buy some waterproof ponchos and use the profits from the sale of these to buy some terrapaulin sheets to make a bodge job "lean to" from the clubhouse roof!
Luckily Nige was a long serving SC committee member and spoke to Steve Burns who came up with the idea of the 50/50 draw.
A lot more people now got involved and helped to sell the 50/50 tickets as well as the regular programme sellers - too many to mention but for example Sue Dry on the Mem Gates joined Sarah Hedges, a Twerton programme selling veteran and they have been doing it ever since - club legends in my eyes.
Since the conversation on that long away journey, I would have thought over half a £million has been raised through ticket sales, plus there has been additional revenue for the club earnt via sponsorship; Mike's School of Driving, Blackthorn and Thatchers, plus how much extra revenue has been earned through match tickets, programmes, food and drink sales, if the clubhouse roof didn't happen and it was tipping down so fairweather fans wouldn't have bothered coming?
If Robbie did not provided the initial Sparke (pun intended), I think we may still not have a roof on the clubhouse even now!
It is therefore very disappointing to see the 50/50 results this season. No doubt the cash v card issue is making a big difference, but we are also short of sellers.
Most volunteers spend around two hours selling and personally, I don't get into my chosen position on the West stand terrace until 10minutes or so after kick off. However, I am sure that if someone could help for an hour, say 1.45 to 2.45 in the fanzone, that could make a sizeable difference.
Maybe someone has the scope to help out for 30 minutes from 1.15 to those fans who turn up awaiting the turnstiles to open? You could then pay the money in and still have an hour plus with your mates in the bar.
Long before covid, my sales area was the Welly, Vic and Draper's, before walking pitchside as the stadium filled up. Due to the lack of sellers, I have had to move to a more valuable spot so a decent number of potential sales are being missed out on.
Maybe someone drinks in the Sportsman etc and could help out by just selling pre match in that one location as long as the mine host agrees?
I know there are lots of issues; cost of living, contact post covid, cash v card, freedom of choice, etc etc but I have contacted Tom and Dave Bright with a list of quick wins to help improve sales. ie transparency, with results put on FC website, Twitter and recorded in the next home programmme, results shown on the big screen at the end of the match, non selected players taking the time to do the draw at half time and have a photo with the winners etc, but if anyone has an ideas just add them to the thread.
Also, if anyone has time to help out, please contact Jamie at the match day shop.
Thanks for your continued buying of tickets.
Hopefully sales will reach a million before I am too old and decrepit to stand out in all weather's in another 25 years - but hopefully at a brand new stadium by then!
As Robbie commented the best thing about the game was that we were away.
At that the time the Mem was a two sided ground. The Centenary was pretty much the same as it is now, the South side was just an empty space with a huge wire fence to stop stray balls going down Alton Rd, the West side was a construction site and the Clubhouse was an uncovered terrace.
If we had a home game, we were exposed to the emements. In those days you couldn't even go into the bar at half time such was the draconian authorities rules at the time, despite Geoff's best efforts. (While I was on the SC committee, the fanzone idea was brought up by Geoff about 20 years ago, but it was not permitted by the powers that be at that time).
We knew the club was skint, as it took on a mortgage it couldn't really afford, but the Board couldn't afford not to take a (seemingly) once in a lifetime opportunity of a ground in Bristol.
At the time, players, management and directors regularly went into the clubhouse bars after games (how times have changed!). We spoke to Ron Craig who said that any money raised would be gratefully received and the club would endeavor to use these funds to make improvements for the fans.
We started putting up posters at the stadium and the SC shop asking for donations for a car boot sale and held a quiz and effectively Robbie, Nige, James and myself became the initial Raise the Roof committee.
Despite a few negative comments saying it will never happen, we raised a few hundred quid in no time.
From memory, one idea was that we would bulk buy some waterproof ponchos and use the profits from the sale of these to buy some terrapaulin sheets to make a bodge job "lean to" from the clubhouse roof!
Luckily Nige was a long serving SC committee member and spoke to Steve Burns who came up with the idea of the 50/50 draw.
A lot more people now got involved and helped to sell the 50/50 tickets as well as the regular programme sellers - too many to mention but for example Sue Dry on the Mem Gates joined Sarah Hedges, a Twerton programme selling veteran and they have been doing it ever since - club legends in my eyes.
Since the conversation on that long away journey, I would have thought over half a £million has been raised through ticket sales, plus there has been additional revenue for the club earnt via sponsorship; Mike's School of Driving, Blackthorn and Thatchers, plus how much extra revenue has been earned through match tickets, programmes, food and drink sales, if the clubhouse roof didn't happen and it was tipping down so fairweather fans wouldn't have bothered coming?
If Robbie did not provided the initial Sparke (pun intended), I think we may still not have a roof on the clubhouse even now!
It is therefore very disappointing to see the 50/50 results this season. No doubt the cash v card issue is making a big difference, but we are also short of sellers.
Most volunteers spend around two hours selling and personally, I don't get into my chosen position on the West stand terrace until 10minutes or so after kick off. However, I am sure that if someone could help for an hour, say 1.45 to 2.45 in the fanzone, that could make a sizeable difference.
Maybe someone has the scope to help out for 30 minutes from 1.15 to those fans who turn up awaiting the turnstiles to open? You could then pay the money in and still have an hour plus with your mates in the bar.
Long before covid, my sales area was the Welly, Vic and Draper's, before walking pitchside as the stadium filled up. Due to the lack of sellers, I have had to move to a more valuable spot so a decent number of potential sales are being missed out on.
Maybe someone drinks in the Sportsman etc and could help out by just selling pre match in that one location as long as the mine host agrees?
I know there are lots of issues; cost of living, contact post covid, cash v card, freedom of choice, etc etc but I have contacted Tom and Dave Bright with a list of quick wins to help improve sales. ie transparency, with results put on FC website, Twitter and recorded in the next home programmme, results shown on the big screen at the end of the match, non selected players taking the time to do the draw at half time and have a photo with the winners etc, but if anyone has an ideas just add them to the thread.
Also, if anyone has time to help out, please contact Jamie at the match day shop.
Thanks for your continued buying of tickets.
Hopefully sales will reach a million before I am too old and decrepit to stand out in all weather's in another 25 years - but hopefully at a brand new stadium by then!
