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Post by jdl on Nov 25, 2019 21:11:45 GMT
No team has a 'right' to be anywhere. Looking across the leagues, we find Bournemouth (ground capacity less than 10k) coping well in the Premier League, but the likes of Coventry and Sunderland (to name but two) scratching around in lower leagues, despite being big city clubs. Meanwhile FGR are doing well in L2, despite being in little more than a large village. On that basis, Maidstone COULD be in L2 or L1, but we are not, because football is a curious blend of resources and skill, in both management and players, with the right blend difficult to find. Let's face it, if it was easy, all teams would win every game. Supporting your local team is about putting up with all the ups and downs. While we are having a few of the latter recently, we are still in the FA cup and FAT; were we to win our game in hand, we would be in a play off position. There have probably been more goals and wins at home thus far that the whole of last season and maybe the one before too. So, could do better, but it ain't that bad. Is it? All good stuff, but you do rather gloss over the fact that Dale Vince has been pouring vast amounts of money into FGR for years. It's a classic vanity club - come the day when he turns off the tap, they'll be just another lower league club struggling to survive.
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Post by hongkongstone on Nov 26, 2019 2:32:33 GMT
We are exactly where the owners can afford to be, they cannot afford for us to go higher, personally I think they are playing a dangerous game in thinking that they will always generate good crowds but there is a big chance that a lot of fans will get tired quickly an look elsewhere for Saturday afternoon football fix. We are a club on the edge of trouble bigger than a lot of people imagined. More money is needed into the club sooner rather than later. Do, for example, Halifax, Macclesfield, Wycombe Wanderers, Accrington Stanley or even Bromley have bigger budgets and potentially bigger crowds than us? Just asking in case maybe players and management might make a difference rather than hard cash. (puts on tin helmet).....
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Post by Bernie on Nov 26, 2019 6:39:16 GMT
Spitfire lounge was a beer desert though. Not a drop of bitter to be had. 2/10 (very nice lady served me) but must try harder with stock control. The spitfire lounge is a typical Shepherd Neame dive and less and less people are using it especially after the game when all they are interested in is getting rid of you quickly. The beer is overpriced Sheps rubbish and I only have one whilst watching the results. The Spitfire Lounge is more like Ashes or Bar 6 than a Shepherd Neame pub. Minimum furniture and comfort; maximum footfall during very rare busy periods. Doubling up as a conference room, I'm not sure it could ever be otherwise. We've all visited comfy and welcoming non league club houses, but now we don't even have the element of chatting to away fans. Could it be improved by sofa seating around the walls with tables that are removed on matchdays? More club memorabilia would clash with the need to rent out for corporate events. It is a barren space on the wrong side of a dual carriageway I wouldn't even consider visiting, apart from a quick pint before the game.
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Post by sword65 on Nov 26, 2019 8:02:31 GMT
The spitfire lounge is a typical Shepherd Neame dive and less and less people are using it especially after the game when all they are interested in is getting rid of you quickly. The beer is overpriced Sheps rubbish and I only have one whilst watching the results. The Spitfire Lounge is more like Ashes or Bar 6 than a Shepherd Neame pub. Minimum furniture and comfort; maximum footfall during very rare busy periods. Doubling up as a conference room, I'm not sure it could ever be otherwise. We've all visited comfy and welcoming non league club houses, but now we don't even have the element of chatting to away fans. Could it be improved by sofa seating around the walls with tables that are removed on matchdays? More club memorabilia would clash with the need to rent out for corporate events. It is a barren space on the wrong side of a dual carriageway I wouldn't even consider visiting, apart from a quick pint before the game. I agree with most of that but I see no problem with more club memorabilia after all it is a football club. I remember some years ago when I attended my cousins wedding at the clubhouse of Ashington fc,sadly now a supermarket, when I got bored listening to the umpteenth Stock,Aitken and Waterman drivel I spent the rest of the evening,beer in hand,looking at the photos and reading the clubs history that adorned the walls.
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Post by Bernie on Nov 26, 2019 9:50:33 GMT
There may be some available material soon from a museum exhibition.
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Post by daveu on Nov 26, 2019 10:58:22 GMT
There may be some available material soon from a museum exhibition. Once the stuff on loan has been returned to its owners, how much is likely to be left?
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Post by yorkshirestone on Nov 26, 2019 12:08:36 GMT
The Spitfire Lounge is more like Ashes or Bar 6 than a Shepherd Neame pub. Minimum furniture and comfort; maximum footfall during very rare busy periods. Doubling up as a conference room, I'm not sure it could ever be otherwise. We've all visited comfy and welcoming non league club houses, but now we don't even have the element of chatting to away fans. Could it be improved by sofa seating around the walls with tables that are removed on matchdays? More club memorabilia would clash with the need to rent out for corporate events. It is a barren space on the wrong side of a dual carriageway I wouldn't even consider visiting, apart from a quick pint before the game. I agree with most of that but I see no problem with more club memorabilia after all it is a football club. I remember some years ago when I attended my cousins wedding at the clubhouse of Ashington fc,sadly now a supermarket, when I got bored listening to the umpteenth Stock,Aitken and Waterman drivel I spent the rest of the evening,beer in hand,looking at the photos and reading the clubs history that adorned the walls. I had a similar experience at Burnley during the summer. It's easy to strike a balance between keeping a room relatively neutral but still have some stuff to look at. It's not like a proposal to paint the whole room in black and amber Even the downstairs bar at the Athletic Ground on London Road had big pictures on the wall. I seem to remember big black and white prints of a game against Udinese in some inter-cities floodlit competition adorning the walls.
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Post by Sennockian69 on Nov 26, 2019 23:25:57 GMT
Well said Jayser ! Really surprised by jakeyboi's comments about the owners 'playing a dangerous game' and 'being on the edge of trouble bigger than people imagine'. Now those statements are rubbish and total scaremongering. Imo, our owners manage the club brilliantly, they minimise risks, take sensible financial management decisions and always put the stability and security of the club first. Just his passion coming through I guess. Nothing wrong with that Not passion - over reaction to conceding late goals - Get a grip.
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Post by Sennockian69 on Nov 26, 2019 23:29:15 GMT
Well said Jayser ! Really surprised by jakeyboi's comments about the owners 'playing a dangerous game' and 'being on the edge of trouble bigger than people imagine'. Now those statements are rubbish and total scaremongering. Imo, our owners manage the club brilliantly, they minimise risks, take sensible financial management decisions and always put the stability and security of the club first. Bick last summer I had a very deep conversation with Terry away from the ground he openly admitted that they cost of the club being in the National league is beyond there budget they simply cannot afford for the club to be there hence the need for another investor, when I say that it becomes a danger is what happens towards the end of the season when let,s imagine the club are on the brink of promotion an another expense both Terry an Oliver cannot afford what will happen then? As football fans we have to have our dreams each season on what we may or may not achieve so now we wait for an investor, an along with that comes risks, IMO I cannot imagine anyone investing millions without equal power to the other two, so it is riddled with risks an dangers. Never have I said that Terry anOliver have not done a great job but they have reached that point where they have no where else to go time will tell I hope I,m wrong an someone comes along with lots of cash available an they have no desire to have any input into the club other than cash. And theres hundreds of clubs looking for owners like that. I haven't believed in Santa Claus & the tooth fairy for decades - man up. As the Russians say - tough shitski - life is hard - grow up.
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Post by jakeyboi on Nov 27, 2019 7:19:36 GMT
Bick last summer I had a very deep conversation with Terry away from the ground he openly admitted that they cost of the club being in the National league is beyond there budget they simply cannot afford for the club to be there hence the need for another investor, when I say that it becomes a danger is what happens towards the end of the season when let,s imagine the club are on the brink of promotion an another expense both Terry an Oliver cannot afford what will happen then? As football fans we have to have our dreams each season on what we may or may not achieve so now we wait for an investor, an along with that comes risks, IMO I cannot imagine anyone investing millions without equal power to the other two, so it is riddled with risks an dangers. Never have I said that Terry anOliver have not done a great job but they have reached that point where they have no where else to go time will tell I hope I,m wrong an someone comes along with lots of cash available an they have no desire to have any input into the club other than cash. And theres hundreds of clubs looking for owners like that. I haven't believed in Santa Claus & the tooth fairy for decades - man up. As the Russians say - tough shitski - life is hard - grow up. I ,ve already grown up matey, sadly others around me have not, but dont worry because one day I,ll look back on comments like yours an will take great pleasure in reminding you of your response, you carry on doing what your doing as will I.
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Post by shamstone on Nov 27, 2019 7:29:23 GMT
Bick last summer I had a very deep conversation with Terry away from the ground he openly admitted that they cost of the club being in the National league is beyond there budget they simply cannot afford for the club to be there hence the need for another investor, when I say that it becomes a danger is what happens towards the end of the season when let,s imagine the club are on the brink of promotion an another expense both Terry an Oliver cannot afford what will happen then? As football fans we have to have our dreams each season on what we may or may not achieve so now we wait for an investor, an along with that comes risks, IMO I cannot imagine anyone investing millions without equal power to the other two, so it is riddled with risks an dangers. Never have I said that Terry anOliver have not done a great job but they have reached that point where they have no where else to go time will tell I hope I,m wrong an someone comes along with lots of cash available an they have no desire to have any input into the club other than cash. And theres hundreds of clubs looking for owners like that. I haven't believed in Santa Claus & the tooth fairy for decades - man up. As the Russians say - tough shitski - life is hard - grow up. Somebody’s had a few
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Post by Sennockian69 on Nov 27, 2019 7:34:17 GMT
I haven't believed in Santa Claus & the tooth fairy for decades - man up. As the Russians say - tough shitski - life is hard - grow up. Somebody’s had a few Too much cold medicine . Yes
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Post by shamstone on Nov 27, 2019 11:54:31 GMT
Too much cold medicine . Yes Funny old game, you saying get a grip. Then going getting the grips
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Post by headstone on Nov 27, 2019 11:58:09 GMT
There may be some available material soon from a museum exhibition. Once the stuff on loan has been returned to its owners, how much is likely to be left? As is the nature of such exhibitions, my educated guess is that 100% of the exhibits are on loan. So that won't leave a lot to put on display at the ground.
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Post by jakeyboi on Nov 27, 2019 12:59:23 GMT
Once the stuff on loan has been returned to its owners, how much is likely to be left? As is the nature of such exhibitions, my educated guess is that 100% of the exhibits are on loan. So that won't leave a lot to put on display at the ground. Might be worth the club contacting the owners of the effects on display and asking if they would consider loaning them to the club to put on display, you never know they may say yes if bribed with some free tickets or something similar.
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