Stayaway Fans

[Kenhead]

I find when i'm not at a game on a saturday afternoon that i do find myself at abit of a loose end. Fair enough that theres probabily better things to do on a friday or saturday night than be at withdean, but what can be better than going to a match during the afternoon than can only be done during that time than any other?

 

[cjd]

I,m not going Tuesday either. At the moment I find it difficult motivating myself to going to League games....(and I do have a ST).I find I,m going out of blind loyalty rather than anticipating an exciting win.....(had that knocked out of me in the last three years.).Once the building of the stadium begins, I,m hopeful that will generate some interest from the "stayaways".
Personally, I would prefer to see another person in control of the club. DK has done well, albeit at a snail,s pace,but the club needs someone more dynamic (and considerably wealthier) to re-generate interest.

 

[Beach Hut]

I'm going Tuesday and looking forward to it providing no rain.

I enjoy all league games but despise Withdean now, still we should move sooner rather than later so I will put up with it.

Think the club should try harder - say offer ponchos free with a season ticket for starters, something very simple costs £1 yet instead they charge me an extra pound for all three season tickets to post them to us.

 

[dougdeep]

Doug

You take a very simplistic view of all of this.

There are a million and one reasons why people do not go at the moment. To make a trite comment like yours above is rediculous as that is exactly what has happened to supporters watching every single club in this country, the difference being if it rains, unlike 99.9% of clubs, we do not sit in covered accomadation, therefore the choice of watching shite football in a shite stadium and getting wet in the process may not be appealing to them self same fans.

Instead of constantly carping on about stayaway fans, as does HB&B etc etc, perhaps you should see the other point of view and appreciate that this club is not attractive at the moment.

When Falmer comes on stream, there will be a groundswell of support return to the club and all will be fine and rosy...until then, I suggest the club will have to revise its forecasts and put up with gates of around the 4500 to 5000 mark. If that means we have to dig deeper in the directors pockets or the banks goodwill to support the day to day, then that is how it must be, but to constantly harangue and badger people for not going is getting very tedious.

BTW Out of choice, not playing other sports or holidays I am not going on Tuesday. I cant be arsed after saturday's performance. If that makes me one of your pet "bad fans" then so be it!

No Dave, I was serious.

 

[Trigger]

Think the club should try harder - say offer season tickets free with a £1 poncho for starters

 

[British Bulldog]

Think the club should try harder - say offer ponchos free with a season ticket for starters, something very simple costs £1 yet instead they charge me an extra pound for all three season tickets to post them to us.

Surely if you can afford to buy a season ticket you can afford a coat?

 

[wadhurstseagull]

Simple truth is people have lost the habit - and it will take a very good season for many to come back. Glory hunters? Maybe. I decided to give up my season ticket when I could no longer justify paying the price to my bank manageress. I Still have a very fulfilling Saturday without live football. And no - it doesn't involve shopping but does involve spending time with my kids. My daughter (aged 9) has been to Withdean once (last season) - middle of Winter, rained heavily the whole game, team were inept and we were wet through for the journey home to Wadhurst. For some reason she is not pestering me to go back - oh and the cost was not an issue - she got in for a quid.

 

[Bry Nylon]

My daughter (aged 9) has been to Withdean once (last season) - middle of Winter, rained heavily the whole game, team were inept and we were wet through for the journey home to Wadhurst...the cost was not an issue - she got in for a quid.

Sounds like you were ripped off! I'd contact BBC's "Rouge Traders."

 

[Beach Hut]

Surely if you can afford to buy a season ticket you can afford a coat?

Yes I can but I am just saying simple things that cost little would go down well with the vast amount required to buy season tickets - sort of customer service type thingy

 

[Silent Bob]

But I don't want any more ponchos, the ones we got free when we first came to Withdean are enough.

 

[Dave the OAP]

No Dave, I was serious.

tsk tsk...bad fan

 

[British Bulldog]

Yes I can but I am just saying simple things that cost little would go down well with the vast amount required to buy season tickets - sort of customer service type thingy

Customer service and a poncho? I think you may be pushing your luck a bit there fella!

In all honesty the club do well to keep getting the crowds they do given the whole match day experience at the withdean, i'm not sure it would happen with many clubs.

 

[DJ Leon]

So how will you know when we start playing decent stuff again? Rely on someone telling you, read about it here?

Yes, I shall know by reading the papers, talking to people that went, watching highlights, reading NSC etc.

I admire people that stuck with it (I have done it - I went to Gillingham every game) but I do think that they should accept that a lot of people won't put up with a cost which gives you the Withdean and a poor level of football. We have some of the most expensive tickets outside of the Premiership and arguably the worst league ground in domestic league football. It's entirely understandable why people don't go.

Nor is this unique to us. The premiership has a lot of clubs who suffer the same problems - Birmingham, Man City, Sunderland etc.

Out of interest, would you go no matter what happened? If we were relegated and the tickets went above the £30 mark would you still go? And if you would, do you actually think that's something to be proud of?

 

[Yorkie]

Yes, I shall know by reading the papers, talking to people that went, watching highlights, reading NSC etc.

I admire people that stuck with it (I have done it - I went to Gillingham every game) but I do think that they should accept that a lot of people won't put up with a cost which gives you the Withdean and a poor level of football. We have some of the most expensive tickets outside of the Premiership and arguably the worst league ground in domestic league football. It's entirely understandable why people don't go.

Nor is this unique to us. The premiership has a lot of clubs who suffer the same problems - Birmingham, Man City, Sunderland etc.

Out of interest, would you go no matter what happened? If we were relegated and the tickets went above the £30 mark would you still go? And if you would, do you actually think that's something to be proud of?

Yes and yes, but it's not just about the football. I meet up with mates and it's practically a 12 hour time out if not more.

 

[mona]

I used to go on NSC regularly but there is no atmosphere now. Don't call me a bad NSCer but it's just that I've fathered so many kids recently that I've got other responsibilities. NSC is still cool, a sleeping giant and part of my identity. When it comes to it I would rather spend time walking my dog, telling my daughter about 60s and 70s rock bands, reading Ian Rankin novels and watching the Albion play than wasting time posting on NSC.

How dare you accuse me of being a bad NSC poster!!!!