Fans need some clarification

[sandgrown]

It's more the fact that they do nothing to entice new fans. Overtime your existing fanbase always dies off due to other commitments.

Quite the opposite, I'd say. They offer free child tickets, go around some local schools, and have an active "community" section for young players, so they're actually doing quite a lot to get kids into the club.

There are loads of "mature" fans who have just walked away, not due to being old or not having money or having other commitments, they've just lost the motivation to keep coming down. That's the travesty of the situation. I can understand natural loss with age/disability, but the sheer number of people who "could" come but make a decision not to bother is very worrying.

My brother in law is a classic example - been a season ticket holder for 20+ years, regular attender, but didn't renew last Summer and only came down a handful of times last Autumn. I see him regularly, he's just completely lost interest in coming down - still keeps an eye on what is going on, always asks me about the latest match, but he's not been to a game for months. He's literally ripe for the picking to be enticed back again, but he needs "something", a reason to return.

Another is the guy who sat immediately in front of me in the PGM - again he's been there, same seat, even since the move to the Globe, but didn't renew last season - his seat has been empty all season except for one game when they must have sold a ticket! He wasn't old, wasn't inform, another who throughout last season was getting more and more annoyed at the crap on the pitch, started to leave early towards the end, at one of the last games of the 14/15 season, he told me he'd had enough and wouldn't be coming back!

spot on post, I could give my own list of former regulars who are no longer willing to put up with the absolute dross that's been dished out for far too long now !

[Keith]

spot on post, I could give my own list of former regulars who are no longer willing to put up with the absolute dross that's been dished out for far too long now !

Do you still go to games?

[sandgrown]

spot on post, I could give my own list of former regulars who are no longer willing to put up with the absolute dross that's been dished out for far too long now !

Do you still go to games?

yes unfortunately

[RedRedWine]

Interesting point that's been inadvertently highlighted; whilst I applaud the clubs desire to have greater communication with the fans though not necessarily by the means which they've chosen in terms of selection and bypassing the existing supporters club; how does the club gather feedback from fans that no longer attend games? In a way these people are more important than those that already come to games and form the basis of the communication group.

[Keith]

Interesting point that's been inadvertently highlighted; whilst I applaud the clubs desire to have greater communication with the fans though not necessarily by the means which they've chosen in terms of selection and bypassing the existing supporters club; how does the club gather feedback from fans that no longer attend games? In a way these people are more important than those that already come to games and form the basis of the communication group.

Which is basically where I was heading... How do the club reach out to those fans and get them back? How do we stop further losses of support?

[Shrimpy]

Interesting point that's been inadvertently highlighted; whilst I applaud the clubs desire to have greater communication with the fans though not necessarily by the means which they've chosen in terms of selection and bypassing the existing supporters club; how does the club gather feedback from fans that no longer attend games? In a way these people are more important than those that already come to games and form the basis of the communication group.

Which is basically where I was heading... How do the club reach out to those fans and get them back? How do we stop further losses of support?

I was a season ticket holder for well over a decade. A couple of years ago I didn't renew and have since been picking and choosing what games I attend. In that time I haven't received a single letter, text message, phone call, e-mail or any other method of communication to ask why I haven't renewed, what can be done to make me renew or special offers / discounts to entice me to come back.

Certainly an area the club can improve on in terms of communicating with lapsed fans.

[mrpotatohead]

The meeting with 2 directors last month was attended by 10 fans , myself included, I think 3 were from FCOM, I suggested that maybe a director should attend an FCOM meeting and it was considered, I think the club and FCOM should look to inprove communications ,and I am sure they will, but the key to improving gates is still , Entertaining football, and reasonable matchday conditions for fans, niether will be addressed before the club is sold.

[Seasider9601]

Fans who have put their names forward for the Supporter Liason Commitee (aka seemingly SADARSE) also need some proper channels of being informed also.

I emailed our General Manager to register my interest in the idea the morning after the Fans Forum.

Outsider kindly told me by word of mouth about the date of the first meeting - which I couldn't make due to working away that day. A couple of fans have also mentioned to me in passing yesterday about the date for the next meeting.

All very well and good this "word of mouth" lark. But. The club have my email address. Why can't fans who have expressed an interest be emailed "officially" advising of dates and times? This business of "oh, I'll tell such and such" is no good. What happens if only so many are told of the meeting? A proper, simple email out to those who (were) interested wouldn't take much. Or would it??

As Spandau Ballet sang, "Communication let me down".

Still. No change there is there really.

Email now received - thanks Mike H.