|
Post by philosopherstone on Mar 16, 2024 18:40:11 GMT
Their recent history and that of a few other clubs really makes me worry an out what will follow for us. Unless we have an owner like Fleet who can bankroll any amount of losses I worry that we will have a “fairly” wealthy new owner who will eventually reach the end of their capabilities. What happens if Terry and Oliver pull the plug and nobody wants to buy us? Do we the fans have to take over as a fans owned club? As Maidstone United fans we are all very well aware of the financial disasters that could befall us and where that can lead. But having spent so long in the wilderness, my view is we should enjoy the ride we are currently on and worry about things going badly wrong off the field as and when they do. For now, why don't we just enjoy having a team that plays in Maidstone once again, handily close to the town centre which has given us some fantastic experiences and memories since we came home, and bask in the glory of a team that made it to the fifth round of the FA cup this season, that knocked Ipswich out of the FA cup on their own pitch live on national television, and let the future play out as it inevitably will whether we worry about it or not. It is like spending your whole life worrying about the day you die. Let's just enjoy the here and now.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Jan 28, 2024 15:35:41 GMT
Bugger. Typical that Man City were still in there. Hillsborough used to be used for Cup semi finals back in the day. Do Coventry even play in Coventry these days? But so were Luton, which would have been about the worst tie possible, along with Bournemouth. Premier League side, with a ground capacity of less than 12,000.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Jan 8, 2024 11:19:06 GMT
Safe option: Manchester City away, as it would be quite something to have played the reigning European Champions in a competitive fixture.
Highly risky option: Eastleigh at home, simply because of the possibility of an upset and the chance to draw Manchester City in the last 16.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Jan 7, 2024 17:15:12 GMT
So £250,000 in prize money plus various gate receipts. That’s the new pitch and last year’s deficit covered. Anything from this moment is profit towards the new riverside stand? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 dream on. We need a new security hut as the current one has been in place for over a month. No new stand is needed. Our ground is perfectly adequate for the size of the club and its supporter base. Most games have an attendance well below capacity and the few that do not don't justify the expense of a new stand. The reality is we are never going to be a Gillingham or anything close to it. If the ground was bursting at capacity every week, it would be a different story.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on May 18, 2018 12:17:31 GMT
Should we (in my dreams) ever get to an FA Trophy final or playoff at Wembley how many from the town want a ticket 10,000 20,000? I don’t know just throwing it out there! Didn't Gillingham take 40,000 for their play off against Manchester City, despite averaging around 5,000 home fans? Charlton fans took part in the local democratic process to save the Valley. Probably not much chance of being elected, but councillors are sensitive about their small electoral majorities. If the Council can find £3,000,000 for the latest phase of pavements, they can come to a fair deal on a tiny strip of land no one else will ever use. They took even more for their Play-off Final against Wigan when their allocation was not hampered by a well supported opposition. The attendance for that Final was 53,764 with the Wigan fans estimated at around 10,000 according to Wikipedia, though at the time I remember talk of Wigan only having around 8,000ish with Gillingham taking about 45,000ish.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 25, 2018 11:37:41 GMT
Ah, the Leyland Daf Cup - before the wheels came off... For both Maidstone United AND Leyland Daf!
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 24, 2018 23:03:37 GMT
Funniest moment of the night? their spectator keeper being awarded the man of the match award. The only time he was called in to action was to save 4 Maidstone penalties, and personally I didn't think that went too well for him! So you missed the double save from Finney in the first half, or the block from Paxman. Let's be honest, it was him or no one, none of the outfield players shone. Fair comment. I think im just reflecting my disappointment at how little we created overall.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 24, 2018 21:49:01 GMT
Awful game but still glad I went along to see us win the Cup. Felt rather sorry for Folkestone, a brave effort from them and an awful way for them to lose. I also thought it was a shame so many people dashed off rather than see the trophy presented. Seems rather disrespectful to the team we are supposed to support (regardless of how badly they played). Personally I got down to the touchline at the Genco end so I could touch the trophy when it was brought over, which I did. You don't tend to get to do that supporting a big team Funniest moment of the night? their spectator keeper being awarded the man of the match award. The only time he was called in to action was to save 4 Maidstone penalties, and personally I didn't think that went too well for him!
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 23, 2018 23:22:35 GMT
I don't see a time when our gates could regularly be 3500-4000. I think that's pure fantasy. Only time i could see us averaging that is if we were a League 2 team. I think sometimes we ought to be a little more realistic and indeed thankful for what we have given the past history of this football club. A team back in our home town, in the 5th tier with pretty good gates. Sure I would love to see the Maidstone United captain lifting the European Cup aloft, to add to the trophy cabinet alongside our English Premier League title, but if i'm entirely honest something tells me that might not ever happen.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 23, 2018 22:58:17 GMT
As supporters the objective should be to try and boost the gate above 3000 regularly toward 3500-4000 which is what is needed to maintain top national side. As for the team - it is clear that the club is not able to pay top full time wages - but as can bee seen by Daggers problems paying £1000 a week is suicide and if this is true clearly a waste of money. We can get the better part time players so maybe this is the way to go. The team lost its spine when Piggott left and I hope that Jay can get the support to rebuild with a strong spine for next season- Good Centre Forward ( with goals) good centre Midfield Playmakers and Big Strong Centre Back. What has been clear this season is that the team has not been big enough, fast enough or smart enough compared to the rest of the league. I do not blame referees although the standard is terrible, with few exceptions. Sadly the team were not quite good enough in key areas, however they were committed and worked hard and cared so thanks are due to them and the management team. Of course we shall all be back next season - C'mon the Stones I don't see a time when our gates could regularly be 3500-4000. I think that's pure fantasy.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 23, 2018 22:43:31 GMT
Personally really hope Sutton blow the play offs simply because if they go up and rip up their pitch can't really see 3g pitches being allowed in football league in the foreseeable future I beg to differ, if they go up and have to rip up their pitch it will be great publicity for the stupidity of the present rules. Among the general football supporting populace hardly anyone will notice they had to rip up their 3G pitch, even fewer will care, whilst grass pitch purists will be pleased. In reality it is a nothing issue to most fans, only the few clubs that have 3G think about it and obsess about it, whilst away fans are only interested in it as an excuse if their team loses on it. As for the anti-3G officialdom and anti-3G football clubs, Sutton bowing to the grass pitch rules will be seen as a victory against 3G. I think a short or medium term change in the rules for 3G is now dead.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 22, 2018 22:09:11 GMT
The worrying point is number 3; little or no profit. We know football is a bottomless pit to throw good money after bad. But somehow we convinced ourselves we had cracked it with the plastic pitch business model. No profits and lower season ticket prices mean a potential downward spiral if not handled very carefully. Jay is going to have to continue working miracles on a small budget at the lower end of the league. He and the owners deserve our continued support, no matter how tough that feels at times. The little or no profit bit was what concerned me the most too. Financial stability always worries me more than anything that happens ON the pitch.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Apr 10, 2018 20:51:36 GMT
Anyone remember drinking beer whilst watching the game? Looking forward to that come August. Ok, i'll join in the pessimism of assuming we will go down even though it's not yet reality. Wondering whether that would be allowed now given the incidents of immature idiots who had a habit of throwing their beer around instead of drinking it. Perhaps the owners will consign it to history, like non-segregated matches. Will have to wait and see if/when it happens. Can't actually remember if NS is dry anyway. My memory is getting so bad.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Mar 17, 2018 21:42:44 GMT
I think the lad should be given a chance to redeem himself.Maybe someone handing it back on his behalf would get him out of trouble. Or some community service cleaning the Maidstone players muddy boots after our home games, oh, wait, that's not going to work.
|
|
|
Post by philosopherstone on Mar 17, 2018 21:01:48 GMT
Have the Police been informed yet?
|
|