live

[toonarmy]

Bloody hell when did they find that, it's the first I've heard of it, why has this been kept such a secret

[Deleted]

The council have also said that while they 'may consider' selling the extra bit of land up to the bridge path along the riverside it would only be after the other phases of development have been completed.

Hard to imagine what it will look like with 3 well developed sides and that long gap. It should totally transform the atmosphere when that side can finally be developed.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2014 21:20:30 GMT @islandstone said:

Nov 11, 2014 20:06:13 GMT @southwick1 said:

If both covered ends were moved back just three feet and placed on higher concrete bases,then that would improve the sight lines quite a bit.Wouldn't cost that much either.

£75 cube of rc40 + mesh steel fixing labour planning moving the stand putting stand back 5 minute job.

RC40?
How many Big Micks are you expecting?

[Deleted]

One thing - since they said profit from last year was going into ground improvements, we've had a windfall of about another £45-50K!
Any artist impressions (or guesses!) of what a developed Town End would look like - similar scale to the Stevenage away end, or would it be terracing?
I'd not be at all unhappy if I heard the squad got bonuses off the back of it.

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 9:47:16 GMT @oxford said:

One thing - since they said profit from last year was going into ground improvements, we've had a windfall of about another £45-50K!
Any artist impressions (or guesses!) of what a developed Town End would look like - similar scale to the Stevenage away end, or would it be terracing?
I'd not be at all unhappy if I heard the squad got bonuses off the back of it.

It's believe a developed Town End would look something like this...

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 9:47:16 GMT @oxford said:

One thing - since they said profit from last year was going into ground improvements, we've had a windfall of about another £45-50K!

Windfall? The team have had to work bloody hard to earn that money!

[Deleted]

I think it will be some time before we see a major development at the Town End, the reason being that it makes no financial sense to build, say, a stand for 800 and then find in five years time that isn't big enough. If I was one of the directors I would want to wait until we have the finance to build something that will last for at least 15 - 20 years, with a capacity of at least 1,500 and ideally more than that. The Town End has the space for a very large stand indeed, something you can't say about other sides of the ground and so when it comes to developing a capacity that will allow us to play in the football league, what we do there is very important. It should be possible to integrate an underground car park in a major stand, and perhaps new changing facilities / bar because at some point in the future when we look to develop more capacity, the present bar and changing block is going to get in the way.

[tjh]

With all this talk of increasing capacity. I did some research into attendance averages. The average league attendance is down from 1819 last season to 1624 this season. This season average drops to 1531 after you take into account cup games. I'm not entirely sure why they are down, I'm sure after all this publicity from the amazing cup run, the attendances will go back up.
Last season we had 6 league games which over 2000 people attended, this season we haven't had any.
I understand, that the FA cup and trophy will bring a lot of people in, but it's the league support and atmosphere we need.
Increasing the capacity will help with 'big' league and cup games. But i think some research needs to be done on the drop in attendances.

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 10:16:08 GMT headstone said:

Nov 12, 2014 9:47:16 GMT @oxford said:

One thing - since they said profit from last year was going into ground improvements, we've had a windfall of about another £45-50K!

Windfall? The team have had to work bloody hard to earn that money!

[sigh]

www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/windfall

A large amount of money that is won or received unexpectedly

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 10:46:50 GMT tjh said:

With all this talk of increasing capacity. I did some research into attendance averages. The average league attendance is down from 1819 last season to 1624 this season. This season average drops to 1531 after you take into account cup games. I'm not entirely sure why they are down, I'm sure after all this publicity from the amazing cup run, the attendances will go back up.
Last season we had 6 league games which over 2000 people attended, this season we haven't had any.
I understand, that the FA cup and trophy will bring a lot of people in, but it's the league support and atmosphere we need.
Increasing the capacity will help with 'big' league and cup games. But i think some research needs to be done on the drop in attendances.

Some of us have asked this question but there has been a little bit of denial from some quarters. As far as I can see the FA Cup has brought out some casual supporters but it is what happens in the bread and butter league games that should determine whether there is a need for huge expansion. Personally, I can see little reason for an expansion to the levels that some people think we need. It would more than likely mute the atmosphere.

I didn't go to the supporters meeting so don't know if anything was said there about expansion. It would make sense at present to increase a little now but it doesn't need to be loads. Most games are going to be around 1500 probably and if we have a poor season at some point then that will probably fall. I would be surprised if a promotion into Conference South would send attendances flying up. Most of the teams there would be little more attractive than what we play now. The Conference National with it's array of ex-league teams might make a difference. I don't think we need a 5,000 capacity stadium for some time yet (if at all - unless silly rules dictate that it is required).

[tjh]

I agree. I think some fans are getting carried away with Increasing capacity as soon as financially possible. If we were getting an average of 2000 every game, then I could see the reasoning. But I do agree with small expansion and development and improving the stadiums facilities.

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 12:10:52 GMT tjh said:

I agree. I think some fans are getting carried away with Increasing capacity as soon as financially possible. If we were getting an average of 2000 every game, then I could see the reasoning. But I do agree with small expansion and development and improving the stadiums facilities.

Conference South requires a capacity of 3,000 with the potential for 4,000. If we've got aspirations of promotion then increasing capacity is a serious concern.

[butlerisalegend]

Nov 12, 2014 12:18:39 GMT @captainmosh said:

Nov 12, 2014 12:10:52 GMT tjh said:

I agree. I think some fans are getting carried away with Increasing capacity as soon as financially possible. If we were getting an average of 2000 every game, then I could see the reasoning. But I do agree with small expansion and development and improving the stadiums facilities.

Conference South requires a capacity of 3,000 with the potential for 4,000. If we've got aspirations of promotion then increasing capacity is a serious concern.

That is why as explained at the supporters meeting they confirmed they would be extending main stand and adding more exits etc which would increase the capacity to 3,000.

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 9:58:04 GMT @captainmosh said:

Nov 12, 2014 9:47:16 GMT @oxford said:

It's believe a developed Town End would look something like this...

If a stand that big went at the town end we'd have to move the railway and the high level bridge - water-main childs play

[Deleted]

I was talking about how we might develop the town end when we reach a higher level of the game, i.e. at least Conference Prem and looking for promotion.

Personally I think the drop in attendances isn't the surprise you think. After the euphoria of the new stadium and being back in the town, there was a huge wave of interest. There were bound to be some curious supporters who came for a season or a bit longer and then got bored and drifted off. Real fans stay. I personally thought that effect might happen, it's one of those things. Our attendances are still superb, and far better than the directors thought they would be before we moved. I remember telling Oliver before we moved in that I thought a move back to the town would see instant attendances over 1,000 and he seemed surprised I thought that - as it turns out, I underestimated it myself!