What a welcoming club we are

[nws]

Today, the A249 was shut at the M2 end and, consequently, I ended up in country lanes encountering blockage after blockage, finally arriving at the Gallagher at HT. Firstly, I had to search around for someone just to get in. When I did get through the gate I was told there was no ticket machine available. I explained that I'd been in my car for 1.75 hours and was getting a bit desperate and asked if I could go to the toilet. I was told I couldn't until I'd paid. I asked if this was the club we had become and sarkily suggested maybe I could go in the corner. At this moment, a true hero of the hour swung into action and threatened to throw me out. When I asked he said his name was Fred. I am surprised Fred is allowed into society at all. However, I resisted the strong temptation to tell Fred to eff off and paid an OTT entrance and watched the second half.

I'm gonna try and trundle down to Torquay Tuesday but I think I will aim for away games over home ones more and more, if this is how it's going to be

[Dan]

Says everything about how supporters are treated at the Gallagher these days

[jackster]

Lousy bunch of officials.

How the club has changed for the worse.

[Benny]

Could have watched from the trees, with plenty of toilet facilities.

But yeah, not good. We are a business, but more than just a business.

[Sword65]

Nov 9, 2024 18:55:08 GMT nws said:

Today, the A249 was shut at the M2 end and, consequently, I ended up in country lanes encountering blockage after blockage, finally arriving at the Gallagher at HT. Firstly, I had to search around for someone just to get in. When I did get through the gate I was told there was no ticket machine available. I explained that I'd been in my car for 1.75 hours and was getting a bit desperate and asked if I could go to the toilet. I was told I couldn't until I'd paid. I asked if this was the club we had become and sarkily suggested maybe I could go in the corner. At this moment, a true hero of the hour swung into action and threatened to throw me out. When I asked he said his name was Fred. I am surprised Fred is allowed into society at all. However, I resisted the strong temptation to tell Fred to eff off and paid an OTT entrance and watched the second half.

I'm gonna try and trundle down to Torquay Tuesday but I think I will aim for away games over home ones more and more, if this is how it's going to be

Been saying this for 2 years,this is no longer the club I fell in love with. 😪

[pwoodstone]

I’ve never had any problems but NWS has clearly met some right jobsworths today.

[nick]

I fairness I know things are not perfect at the Gallagher, but my personal exoerience is a lot better than what nws suffered today.
Having said that there was a time when this simply couldn't have happened because all the staff were so obliging.
Must admitthough, that the welcome I've received in the last couple of seasons is less welcoming than of old.
Swordy won't like this but I find the contact with the Tonbridge Angel's staff to be a lot better at 'customer services' and friendlier overall.

[pwoodstone]

Almost everywhere we go in this league it feels like non-league. And, without being bill big bollocks, lots of the smaller clubs revel in seeing us turn up in numbers and are great hosts. I love that it’s unsegregated again at home.

What is missing is the kind of approach where they need to make an impression to have you come back. Trouble is, they know you’ll be back whatever and they treat like they know nothing they do will change that.

It isn’t everyone by a long way though.

[deadly]

Maybe nws was just unlucky today because there are still some friendly volunteer staff at the Gallagher in my experience

What Woody says is true as well, most of the smaller clubs seems much more friendlier and positively welcoming with visiting and home supporters alike.

Tonbridge Angel may not be a small club any longer but their volunteer work force seem a happier bunch.

Shame really. Stones is more 'professional' in lots of ways but I wouldn't describe many of the voluntary staff and def not the security staff, as being particularly friendly any longer.

[OldBoy73]

Nov 9, 2024 20:19:05 GMT nick said:

I fairness I know things are not perfect at the Gallagher, but my personal exoerience is a lot better than what nws suffered today.
Having said that there was a time when this simply couldn't have happened because all the staff were so obliging.
Must admitthough, that the welcome I've received in the last couple of seasons is less welcoming than of old.
Swordy won't like this but I find the contact with the Tonbridge Angel's staff to be a lot better at 'customer services' and friendlier overall.

Tonbridge is a club that is like Maidstone used to be, albeit with a crappier ground and cheaper players but it is a humble family focussed friendly old style non league club that Maidstone could learn from. NWS experience coupled with the disabled being moved together with no Maidstone shirts to be worn in the posh seats etc etc shows why Sword had fallen out of love with the club. I am desperately trying not to but it’s becoming difficult.

[Benny]

Meanwhile the junior barrier wankers were back in force when we scored.

Is it really that hard to control a bunch of 12 year old boys?

[Harry]

Mmm, difficult to disagree with you oldboy.

I think the club has moved in the wrong direction in some ways and I don't blame the owners or player management.

But somewhere along the way we have managed to lose some of the non league welcome and friendliness we used to experience. The added menace of security personnel has hardly helped.

Having said that is was not the security staff who 'abused' nws today. Loyal supporters should NEVER be treated this way.
Shocking PR, I hope someone at the club is sufficiently concerned to do something.

[Dickie]

Well I guess the buck stops with Ian Tucker.
From various contacts over the years I'm 100% sure he never treats supporters like nws described.
But obviously there are some jobs worth type underlings who the club would be better off without.

[joe]

If Fred is a real character the it's time for him to be shown the exit door.

[pwoodstone]

Nov 9, 2024 22:25:12 GMT Harry said:

Mmm, difficult to disagree with you oldboy.

I think the club has moved in the wrong direction in some ways and I don't blame the owners or player management.

But somewhere along the way we have managed to lose some of the non league welcome and friendliness we used to experience. The added menace of security personnel has hardly helped.

Having said that is was not the security staff who 'abused' nws today. Loyal supporters should NEVER be treated this way.
Shocking PR, I hope someone at the club is sufficiently concerned to do something.

I guess it’s hard to manage aspect of the club and get it all right. Some feedback should be given and some actions taken. I am sure the staff get enough shit from some of our less intelligent fans, and let’s face it we have a few, but how Nws was treated isn’t on and should never happen. Just thinking about it I can’t quite work out in my head how anyone would act like that to another adult