Thetownend.com

This will have to do.....

Fleetwood is near Blackpool. Blackpool has a Tower and some rides and donkeys.
We should win.

Nathan Pond, Fleetwood's centre back, is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the only professional in the world to have played for his club in 7 different divisions.

They've also got Martin Paterson and Stephen Dobbie up front which, on paper, is a good front two.

I'll go for a 2-0 win.

They are big into fish.

I used to sell fish.

I had a big customer in Fleetwood.

I have been to the ground and watched Fleetwood beat Oxford.

I hope we win today.

Herthab, you really shouldn't refer to the local female population as donkeys and rides!!  3-1 for me.

Tl:dr

We will win 2 0

Hope ShawRosso is OK.  Probably just a case of writer's block.....or wanker's cramp.  :)

Anyway, I hope we can manage a performance and a win today, but actually I'm feeling a bit 'Smeeton-ish'.  Banana skin alert.

Swindon's style of play makes predicting our results especially difficult.  If we click we'll win comfortably.  Be interesting to see whether the invasion of first time fans has a positive or negative impact.

I'm feeling positive. 3-1 win in front of largest 'home fans' attendance of the season.

I still can't quite get my head around the fact that Fleetwood are in the Football League, let alone L1. They really have come from nowhere in the last 10 years - fair play to them. I just hope the owner doesn't do a 'Max Griggs' on them.

You would hope our players have learned from Cheltenham that you have to be on top of your game every single time. All of Fleetwood's defeats in the League have only been by a single goal and they've had some good wins so it won't be as easy as I suspect some might be hoping. However, I have a feeling they will come and have a go which will suit us.

2-0 Williams, Obika.

Edit: They've got the full 90 minutes of their last game v Walsall on their OS. Presumably it will be the same for today  :hmmm:

Fuckity family 'do' means I miss one.

4-0, 10,765, Smudge x 2, Turnbull and Luongo

It's less than a month since the Cheltenham debacle, so hopefully fresh enough in everyone's minds for us not to take our eye off the ball.  (Bad cricket/football metaphor mixing.)

I'm hoping for a few early goals.  Played 'Happy Heart' at breakfast in Andy Williams' honour.  Come on Swindon!

Kids have their tops on already.  We're up for this.

3-0 win today with Smith,Williams and Turnbull scoring the goals. 9996 with 107 of the cod army

Been looking forward to this all week. Sun shining, good football and a decent crowd for a non-derby. Come on you reds!

Hopefully we continue the momentum and get 3 points - a bit wary of Fleetwood but think we'll have enough to beat them. 2-1 win - Stephens and Obika - in front of 10,182

Too much positivity here for my liking.

3-1 defeat with Williams scoring, smash and grab long ball conceding with Nathan sent off in front of 10,455 with 125 from shrimpland.

Looking on the Fleetwood forum it appears there is not one thread about todays game so they aren't overly bothered, they seem more concerned that thier upcoming game with Coventry is too dear....that is of little concern as it only affects their 101 regulars or the 50 mob they have ;)

This is exactly the sort of game we should win. Good form, playing well, mid table opposition, with a big gate expected. So a 1 - 2 loss then.

Although I'm always wrong, so that prediction should ensure that actually we win. Erm, I think...

1-2, we're all too positive

On paper an easier game than the three recent wins. Will be interesting to see if the team can avoid becoming complacent and play well. A professional performance will see us win. 38 points in November would be impressive; 12 more points on top of that and the pessimists among us can relax and start dreaming...  :beach:

If we don't win this I'll eat my own dirt

remind me, how did you come to get the name "Audrey"?

That figures - you look a bit like a fishmonger

:D soon to become "Audrey dirt eater" I feel :D

Still sweating it on the Hitler moustache - I've looked into the temporary tat option. Lasts 4 or 5 days.

It'll be worth it

Corrected for you!

2-0 win

Branco, Smith touch and go, Kasim and Luongo to start, so I hear.

Foderingham; Stephens, N Thompson, Turnbull; Byrne, Luongo, Kasim, L Thompson, Toffolo; Williams, Obika
subs: Belford, Bell, Reeves, Rodgers, Gladwin, Barker, Smith

fuck it we're due to win by a huge score so a 7-1 win to impress the crowd  :toocool:

Two minutes in and the ref has given a free kick for the keeper bring impeded by his own man. No town within 5 yards

Close from Willo on the break.

Gruffalo seems to be playing well so far.

Paterson hamstrung

Fleetwood making game scrappy, can't get any rhythm or sustained pressure.

They've gone all chawambawama...I get knocked down...

Doesn't sound the livliest game ever.

We sound just on top but not taking our chances.

They're chalking up the yellows. Every time we go forward one of their players pulls one of ours back!

Won't somebody teach Parkin to say 'Luongo' properly for fuck's sake.

Sounds pretty attritional so far. Hope we can break them down a bit more as the game goes on.

Word of the day R4E!

Not the sort of game to have the kids begging their dads to bring them back then...

Nothing here to inspire the 3000 to come back again, even if the tickets are free. The chips kiosk as been doing brisk business all the game.

Pretty poor so far.  Far too slow on the ball and complete lack of movement.  Have to say the midfield has looked better for the last couple of games without Kasim and Luongo.

They look like they are there for the taking, but the stop start game and not quite playing the right ball has limited us to not many changes.

In contest Fleetwood have not shown much but Wes made a great save after Thompson cobbled up, and in a rare Fleetwood attack it looked like it was cleared off the line.

Piss poor start to this half. Now Nate is down and out

Blimey, just back from my son's game near Dursley. Not a lot happening in the Swindon game obviously.

Is it just my wonky memory or is there always a poor game when there are promotions to get new supporters in?

Today's attendance: 10,506 (110 away supporters)

 :zzz: 0-0 or 0-1 written all over this game.

Sounds like it's all us now.

10,506 there today.

dont like the sound of this

Lots of possession but not really happening for us. 5 minutes to go...

GOALLLL!!!!!!

Get in Gladwin!

Whoops. I just scared the shite out of the wife and kids.

GLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDWWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad. All over!

Get in!

Hoo fucking ra

Assist by the Hertford boy I see !!

Thank fuck for that.

Tea will be an entirely different meal

I DO like the sound of that!

One very relieved chappy there

Never in doubt!

These are the sort of games we need to win.

Poorish performance  but 3 points - happy days

Phew. Big win given the results around us. 4 straight wins, and keeps the pressure on others.

Phew an ugly win is still a win,!

My sentiments entirely.

Sounds like Toffolo's a bit of a player.

 :pint: :clap:

Arse of a game. Shame the 3000 had nothing to shout about.
Fleetwood as bad as they are deserved a point.
I'm very disappointed even with this win

Were the youngsters still on the bank for the goal ?

I am never EVER disappointed with a win. And I think you will find the goal would have given the kids something to shout about.

 :wotjump: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :dancer: :spoton:

Thank fuck. Great sub by Cooper.

The newbies wont give a sod if that was their first game, a win is a win, and nothing like a late one either.

It's the late goal and all the excitement after it that they'll remember. For kids, the previous 88 minutes didn't really happen.

Just kill yourself

Which end did the goal go in - did the kids on bank get a close view?

My thoughts exactly. They saw a goal down in front of them, late in the game, which was the winner. That's what they'll remember.

At the end of the day, we won and we're still second. I'll take that.

Stratton bank end. They had a great view.

No, they were sacrificed in Quetzocatl's name for the win.

Just wondered if the'd all gone home by then, if it was a crap game

bloody hell - glad I am not spending the evening with you  :badmood:

It's OK everyone. I'm quite confident that we will stay up this season.

All very close at the top. Franchise are the team with games in hand but these are their next 4 games...

Away vs Sheff United
Away vs Preston
Home vs Oldham
Away vs Notts County

Goal was at the Stratton Bank end and it was luckily just in time. Any longer and the families would have given up and started to head for the exit. All the kids will remember is the goal at the bank end and that we won. That's what is important.

The burger van seemed to have a constant line as well and I would assume this isn't linked to the catering company kiosks? Also most kids seemed to have hats, scarves, gloves and programmes. All very positive.

Well done again to all involved.

4 wins and two draws away from safety.

Little targets and all that.

Surprised by the crowd 10,500 including all the boys.
Without them around 7,000 not good enough Swindon fans.
No wonder Power is worried about finances.

If we dont go and bring the numbers out we will sell come January, get to the games chaps and bring your mates. We have a great chance this season

Not a good game, they came to frustrate us and they almost succeeded!! In games like that you need a bit more forward running and less of the sideways and backwards ball, deserved to win - the ref certainly didn't like 'wood's attitude, think he booked five of them but that was fair enough as they niggled away and he punished all their shirt tugging.  Kasim was technically good, bit when he looks back on the game he could have done a lot more.  Byrne was frustrating, but was always faced by two defenders who were going to stop him by hook or by shirt tug!!  Link-up play was not as good as usual.  One of those games where if we had scored an early goal it would have been altogether different, they couldn't have sat back and frustrated.

Worth noting that if those 3500 each come back to just one more game this season, that's an extra 270 on the average gate over that period, and an extra 150 onto the season average.

A great initiative. Some of them would have been bored, some would have loved it regardless and most would have just loved the winner and aftermath. Regardless, it was a great initiative and a great 3 points. Yes there have been and will be better games this season but sometimes you have to "win ugly".

Ineptandcrass; I know we need the fans and I appreciate the money but are you really still coming you miserable twat?

I bet there are a load of buzzing kids in Swindon tonight,  remember how excited for days afterwards when I went to games as a kid.

Also however hard the parents tried bet the kids have learned some new words this afternoon!  :D

Quetzalcoatl may be cruel and barbaric but if the human sacrifice of kids on the bank is the price of promotion, then the Trust will have to deliver more of them.

His protégé, Audrey, must be protected at all costs.

You're always going to get games during the season where you don't pay well or the oppo don't let you settle. The important thing is to grind out the result, which we did. In the context of the last few results against the teams around us in the table it's a fantastic result which is far more important than the performance.

Happy days!

Thompson has ruptured ankle ligaments

Fuck off? :-(

I bullshit thee not, unfortunately

Not much to add really. If the Bristol city fans thought we fall over a lot then I hope they still have to play Fleetwood to get some  perspective.


In the first half the game was very stop/start as Fleetwood players either fouled us or fell over to break up play. Thankfully the ref spotted it and had a word with their captain as one or two walked the ref card tightrope. When we attacked we threatened to look threatening. But weren't.  Fleetwood had two good chances, the first when Thompson gave the ball away leaving a one on one which wes smothered, the second right on the  stroke of half, the shot blocked on the line by I know not who.

So they had the best chances but I was confident we would push them back in the second half.

I'm not sure if Fleetwood made a tactical change or we were simply asleep, but we looked poor for 15 minutes after half time. Slowly but surely we started to open them a bit, but not in a sustained way that would make you think we'd score any minute. But score we did, and from a corner too which was a surprise as up to that point our corners looked as threatening as an unset angle delight. Did Fleetwood deserve a point, possible, but the points are ours.

Great to see so many turn up with free tickets - always a danger that the 'meh, they were free, let's not bother' attitude would surface. But it didn't. From experience it's difficult to keep the young ones interested, but I think the best majority eye still there when the goal went in!

One of my my earliest memories of N Thompson was him playing on through a fractured (?) leg.

Wasn't that Macklin?

Oooh. Maybe

Chuffed with the win and will take the 3 points gladly! Fleetwood set up for 0-0 as soon as the red blew his whistle and whilst today we were nowhere near our best we ground out a result!

My only gripe today - tesco park - took an hour to get out of! Fucking traffic!

Expected to be fit for the next game, though!

One advantage of having a week off !!!

Although being out of the cups is a bit shit....given our situation, it really works out for the best. The proponents of the advantages of a mid season break, extol its vritues.....we're in effect getting one.

Yeah,  but I would imagine quite a few of the 3000 are probably regulars.

Great ball in for the goal.

The official attendance figure of over 10k would say otherwise. There would have been a few I'm sure but think they were in the minority.

Said to my mate with 5 mins to go, at the start of the month I'd have bitten your arm off for 10pts from this run of games, but now a draw would feel like a let-down. Superb to keep the winning run going, keep the pressure on Cotterill's bottlers, and delighted for Gladwin getting the winner. Sign of a team that's going places - winning when you're not playing well. Onwards and upwards

That was a crap game but Fleetwood weren't interested in a game of football. All they wanted was to park the bus and ensure there was no flow to the game. They nearly succeeded as well. Their no 29 was a cheating cunt. Other than early on when the ref fucked up when two of his own players took out the keeper, I thought the ref handled the game well.
I thought the pitch looked a bit rough today - loads of sand up in the air when the ball was kicked.
Toffolo will be a very good player and has a great delivery on him.
All in all a crap game but a great three points and another patient performance from the players. One negative was that we were so slow getting the ball forward.
   

Almost as pleased that Fleetwood lost as I am that Town won.  They were well organised but with a shite attitude.  The dive for the 'penalty' was a disgrace.

I thought we played a bit better than been given credit for on here; they were a difficult team to break down, easy to see why they have such a strong defensive record.

A very frustrating game without a doubt. Fleetwood obviously did not come to take us on playing a classic game but sat deep when necessary, broke the game up when necessary and nearly got away with a point which they would no doubt been very happy with. Got to say our midfield was rather ineffective today, far to ponderous and seemed to lack the simple ball at times. Having said that it is another three points and keeps us well and truly in the hunt.

 :nod:

Yep.

Apparently they've not lost by more than 1 all season. If that's right (and I'm sure someone'll correct it if it's wrong) then you can see why.

That's correct....also of interest is that we've won the last 3 home games 1-0.  Now I'm not sure if we've done this since 68/69, when we had 4 home games in a row due to earlier postponements and won the lot 1-0, with late goals.

Quick bit of research....we won 3 home games in a row in 74/75, 1-0.  A decent season, PO finish in today's money. We also won 3 in a row, under Hoddle at the end of 91/92, and backed it up winning the first of 92/93, 1-0. 

So winning games at home 1-0, is suggestive of a decent team....

My family have supported the town since 1903 (7 generations now) took my boys loved every minute been indoctrinating the kids slowly since birth this was their 2nd game (the first was the Orient goalie fiasco last year) there has been talk of Arsenal and Manu but I think finally today the sword has been cast. Thank you to the trust and all at the club we've been through hard times but a brilliant result for everyone today 15/10

To follow on from that...we won no fewer than 5 games by one goal to nil in 92/93 when Paul Bodin (left back no less) was the scorer of the winning goal. In total we won 10 games 1-0 (home and away) that season.

And there's everyone thinking the season would be littered with 4-3s and the like.

One goal conceded in 4 games against decent opposition is just what the doctor ordered!

Now with 3 out of the next 4 games at home we have a chance to cement our place at the business end of the league.

Whilst it was frustrating to watch, you can't blame Fleetwood on setting up the way that they did re: 9 men behind the ball for the majority of the game.

The modern day football fan expects the opposition to turn up and surrender.

That was a massive 3 points what with the results of the teams around us.

Thanks Batch for that write up.

Hoddle's a doddle......apparently.......whatever that was ever supposed to mean.

I thought for the first 20, we looked far the superior side, passing with confidence. Toffolo put a couple of great crosses in, Luongo looked positive. A couple of crosses flashed across goal which would have been tap ins had Obika on the first occasion and Louis on the second, gambled and slid in. Then, it all went a bit flat. Fleetwood came to spoil and they spoilt. Terrible with the ball, very effective without it. Banks pf four, sometimes five. Sadly no record breaker Nathan Pond on show though.

They doubled up on Byrne, which meant he came inside every time and narrowed the game. His least effective game for us for some time (ok, since Whaddon Rd). Yaser was strangely not at the races from the word go. Luongo drifted out of it. The front two just didnt see a great deal of the ball. All that said, we rarely felt in danger, bar a very good one on one block as Wes stayed on his feet well during the first half and then Dobbie (I think) blazed over from 10 yards in the second when he was unmarked with the goal gaping.

Gladwin was very positive when he came on. If Luongo does end up going, he is a player that could flourish. I said after the City game that I was concerned that he doesn't move the ball quickly enough. He was livlier today. He looked to shoot when he could, spread play quickly and it was a good solid header.

It was a fantastic day for the Trust and hopefully for investing in the club's future. The Bank and the old Block A was a great sight. I did my best to get the South side singing a couple of times, and whilst the Town End followed, the South didn't. Maybe next time. If people are worried that the turgidity of the game may turn the kids off, don't worry. My nephews were happy with the goal celebration and will remember that rather than Fleetwood's negativity (although, hats off to perhaps the single most impressive rise in English football bar AFC Wimbledon).

Job done.

Fleetwood came to spoil and get a point and very nearly got it. We need to get used to it because it will happen again.

I must confess that I had given up when the ball went in and accepted a turgid draw. I was as negative as Fleetwood to that point and a town gave me a right slap at the death.

Excellent ground out three points.

i think it's 2 from the next 6 games away from home,Donny and Port Vale

Hope Donny's pitch is better than the shit heap we played on last time.

It's 2 at home and 4 away.

We don't got there until mid-March - and it's a mid-week game!!  Hopefully, they have improved it!!

Watched the goal on SSN, our floodlights truly are awful compared to other clubs.  surprised the FL have not asked us to improve them, just a few new bulbs would help!!

This win must mean Cooper lands manager of the month for November surely? Grayson won it for October with the LMA website saying it proves to to be 'the best manager in the division'.

Screw month, I know it's a bit early but he deserves manager of the fucking season. What he's done goes against everything those 'in the know' were predicting at the start of the year. And he's done it with a limited budget, working with a young group of players playing fantastic football.

He won't. Robinson will probably.

yes,typo,should have said at instead of away

MK :flaccid: had 4 wins and 1 draw, we had 4 wins and 2 defeats, Robinson is a shoe in.

Any photos of the Bank yesterday?

Courtesy of STFCinBmth.

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/bank_zps84106056.jpg) (http://s56.photobucket.com/user/jjedmunds/media/bank_zps84106056.jpg.html)

We got 12pts and Franchise got 10pts  so Coops should win it.He won't of course because Cotterill is convinced they should have 15 pts and it's rightfully his title,prick

Another of the bank
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r66/batch_2001/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141129_150612_zpsd8cfdc3e.jpg)

Not the most of enjoyable of games; dont think we really got into gear and Fleetwood defended solidly. Good win though ahead of two weeks off. Seeing as we've got no cup games left this is basically a half season break for us which could be useful.

Luckily primary school children are more likely to get hooked to the sights/sounds of a football match rather than the quality of football on show. A goal to celebrate should hopefully bring a few of them back.

Nice to see a few faces on the Bank! Championship football would surely see her full more often...

Thanks for the photos chaps. A good showing of red from the new boys.

What do the Trust do next? Select another 30 schools from round the county I hope.

Secondary schools as well if possible from around the county, lots of potential there as well

As I said in another thread - ethnic communities.

Other good news from yesterday is the accumulated bookings now being written off

I don't agree. Stick with youth which covers all ethnicities.

V good point re attracting the ethnic communities in Swindon. The schools initiative is probably the best way into that though?

I think the schools/youth idea is the best way forwards, long as it involves parents too, as it will inevitably bring in those communities on the back of it.

Youth has worked well for the first team, why shouldn't it for the supporters too?

Not an inspiring game but, when you consider the tactics we played against, solid, relentless build up was the only likely way to take it. That is what we showed.

I am as guilty as many when it comes to getting irate about the lethargic passing about behind the half way line sometimes but when I think about it away from the game, that is often the tactic we need to use (and will continue to require) to overcome opposition whose game plan seems to revolve around stifling our sweet passing game which we excel at against open attacking opposition.

Mass and Yass weren't at the top of their game but that is not really surprising after their spell away.

I didn't think Nathan T was at the top of his game either but, having learned about him playing through the injury, I'm of the opinion that he is now Captain Courageous. GWS Nathan.

Byrne was given a hard time, getting double teamed every time the ball came anywhere near him. he kept trying though and I think we would profit from a bit of interplay, with Byrne coming infield and swapping with a central midfielder occasionally (which seemed to work a treat when he and Gladwin swapped against Shitty).

The Gruffalo is developing into a dangerous winger and anyone in a Swindon shirt who can make a short corner routine result in a goal is OK in my books.

Apparently Gladwin can't head a ball? A bit of practice and he'd be dangerous.

COYR!

Nathan B made the Lge 1 Team of the Week here:

http://the72.co.uk/20665/league-one-team-of-the-week-week-sixteen/

Just goes to show that hard (but unspectacular) work gets noticed.   :sherlock:

They're starting to get into the age where they have their own pocket money & getting their first jobs though, not to mention most kids in secondary school already have their interests. So the possibility of them coming back may be lower. At least with Primary School kids, they just get excited by anything regardless of them enjoying football or not.

I could be wrong, but feels like a better investment may be the younger kids. Get them hooked.

A funny thing happened to me after the game, someone said "Hi JayBox325" from behind me in the post-match-crowds. Turns out he is a spectator of the forum yet to sign up because we usually cover all the opinions. He must have recognised me with the flag.

The club, in my opinion, also need to run more football workshops in primary schools which also include schools outside swindon.

Oxford run a 'football club' in Watchfield Primary School, which infact is closer to swindon!

And this is why I don't put my picture up. Anonymity is always good.

This definitely highlights that in the longer term the trust need to broaden their horizons a little. Would I be right to assume that it was only Swindon schools targeted for this first go as a Trust family day? Medium term would be good to go after the whole of Wiltshire but we need to be targeting 'ourside' of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, etc. too.

I believe it was 30 schools within Swindon on this occasion. Yes, even though distance will put some off, we should be extending this initiative to schools within say 25 miles of Swindon. A small number of proactive fans have shown how much difference they can make. The Trust need to move quickly to keep momentum on the back of this success. Are there enough people willing to help the Trust spread the word further afield?

I'm more than happy to distribute leaflets/posters etc for primary and secondary schools.

We should target schools in Oxford  ;D

I sometime have meetings up at the Kassim...

Did I mention the time my old company did a corporate event at the Kassam with music provided by a band called Three's A Crowd? I got to do a short speech in front of loads of Oxford fans, and asked: "Am I the only person who'll be taking home the poster for tonight's entertainment? Three's A Crowd at the Kassam Stadium." Well, made me chuckle at the time...

 :rocket:

FitC already run after school sessions in 30 schools in the area
http://stfitc.co.uk/?page_id=250

It also rely's on stfc willing to give the tickets away for free again, dont I remember reading though that the trust had a head teacher of a school on their board so that is their in with the local schools

The Trust had a sponsor so the club didn't give the tickets away for free

More 'exciting news' from the Trust in the next 2 weeks according to reports

In the last few weeks we have formed a Schools Working Party, whose job is to sort all this out, who are all head teachers, with the Chair of the SWP, now on the Trust board.

Whether we are able to do this again in the future is mostly down to one thing...whether the club gives us the tickets again. Undoubtedly, after the success of Saturday, we'll have more schools getting interested, and it will be then up to the SWP, what schools are next, assuming we get given the go ahead by the club.

In the meantime, we will be having a review of the day, which will happen at our next board meeting on Thursday.

I'll be dissapointed if its anything other than installing slides at the back of the DRS for easier egress.

If you do get the chance to do it again, one suggestion would be to give all those who attend on the freebie tickets a voucher offering them a tenner off an adult ticket for a future game (maybe one per family). Appreciate this would increase the cost still further but it might help with getting the first-timers back in, so it's not just a one-off for the freebies, but actually becomes the start of a habit. The idea being that going straight from zero cost to £25 is a bit of a leap, so a cushioned route in might help get them that bit more hooked?

 :clap:

Have you looked in to running similar schemes for other groups?

Maybe with charities, either for the people they help or their volunteers?

Or the Job Centre, for people actually trying to get a job?

Neither is likely to boost the attendances long term but it's a good way for the club to show it's community support.

To help the club keep costs down, what about Trust members staffing the turnstiles, being stewards, running the burger stand on the Stratton Bank? If it didn't cost the club to open the stand I'd guess they'd be more willing to do it more often.

Bouncy castle, for me.

Hopefully some figures can be brought about as to how much money the free tickets were able to generate from extra sales of programmes, shirts, scarves, etc. comparing that to a regular game?

If so, you may be able to show the club that after these extra funds on top of the Trust sponsoring, they're not actually losing anything (or maybe even making a nominal amount) by offering up the free tickets, then there's a good chance they'll give it another go and maybe make it a twice a season deal?

If we're looking at going again this season, then we probably want to avoid giving tickets away in the run in, when ticket sales will be doing pretty well on their own if we're still in the running for promotion.

It may well be something the club does already, but a very common scheme you see in america is discounted tickets for the armed forces and their immediate family.

Did he say I was good ?

Jacuzzi's and cocktails

My point was that although the school is based in Oxfordshire, they are closer to swindon. We are missing a trick.

OUFC have posters all over these schools.

FitC cover after school sessions, Development Centre sessions in Swindon and elsewhere across the county most nights of the week, the Girls' Centre for Excellence, Advanced Development Centres for kids they're hoping might feed into the Academy and a whole load of community initiatives as well, like the Disabled football centres, Twilight football and so on. There's only so many of them and only so many hours in the day.

Why? Life choice not conscription.

Brave people and all that but free or discounted tickets...not to my mind.

I agree...maybe one game a season around November 11th but all year? not for me.

You think it's better to leave the Stratton Bank empty?

Yes, because that's exactly what The Flash was saying.  ::)

It's all very well using promotions to try to create new fans and what not but a line has to be drawn. It needs to be run as a business, not a charity. An otherwise empty bank could be used for the club's long term benefit, not for the benefit of adults that are able to pay the full amount.

Nearly posted something like this yesterday but didn't because I thought it would just be aggravation!

Where does it stop. Nurses? Software engineers?

Anyway the point was to encourage the youngsters in the hope they'd come back. Not sure this is true of one of for adults, not sure the uptake would be big even if it was .

My local non league side, Dulwich Hamlet, includes NHS workers in it's concessions.

While this is personally handy, as it means I only have to pay £4 for my nurse missus, I've often wondered whether Consultants on six figure sums shouldn't have to pay a tenner like me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow1S4DJtLOk

Fair enough. I'm not necessarily for or against it, I'm just more throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Perhaps it's something to explore as a one off for the home game closest to remembrance Sunday next season or something like that, but probably not a permanent all year round thing.

They might be able to pay the full amount, but people who don't go aren't paying anything.

If the stand is empty and can be opened at a low cost to provide tickets for free to people that wouldn't otherwise go, I can only see a benefit. They will spend money on match day (programmes, alcohol, food, merchandise) and there is a chance they'll come back again.

Don't see why it is any less valid a way to increase attendances and revenue than giving kids free tickets.

We've already done at least one discounted Armed Forces Day within the last five years. Agree it wouldn't be a bad thing as an annual event each November. (And they'd be unlikely to complain much if there was a little rain on the SB that afternoon.)

In fact, I'd rather all the nation's retailers offered the armed forces a discounted day or week of the year than to leech onto another American festival for the sake of shifting more cack.

The other option, of course, is to open the Bank to all for a tenner.

I honestly wouldn't think too many regulars would change their usual place in the ground just to get a cheaper ticket.

Or £10 for an adult with a free accompanying child.

Audrey speaks sense

It's a good idea, but I think you run into issues with FL rules about away fans being charged the same as home fans for the same stand.

For games where away fans only use the Arkells it's not an issue, but when someone like City sells out the bank we'd only be allowed to charge them £10 a ticket.

It's not even a good idea. Best way to add extra cost while losing gate money. The Trust's way is a much better investment.

Best idea so far IMO. But it does raise a few doubts as Samdy says but that could be overcome if the stand is given entirely to Swindon fans all season at £10 or even £15 with a free under 16 seat included and reduce the amount of away tickets available to just the Arkells corner.

The FL states that 10% of all tickets must be offered to away fans, the capacity is about 14,500 so that obviously means we only HAVE to offer all away teams 1,450 tickets.

The capacity of away fans in the Arkells is currently 1,200 so that only means releasing another 200 seats (which most teams will never need).

As I have said previously on another thread a while back the kids prices are too high all over the ground just bring them down to 2 or 3 quid for U16 as long as bought with an adult ticket(or an Adult Season ticket holder) and then you will see attendances go up slightly . I have 2 boys who don't go all the time but attend at least half the games and £24 a game for the 2 of them is a joke. You can then also offer the SB for certain games (Fleetwood, Crawley, Rochdale, etc) for £10 as Audrey has said with a free kid ticket chucked in with it.

I agree, I think this is a big part of the problem. People usually only look at the adult price when looking at ticket prices but I think knocking a couple of quid off a junior and maybe even extending the young adult from 16-18 to 16-21 would make a massive difference in my opinion.

IMHO they need to knock at least a tenner off of the kids prices from £12 to £2 or £3 you will then see more adults come who are not prepared to part with £25 for adult plus another £12 for a kid . I know a few dads around Lambourn who would go now and again but are not prepared to shell out the best part of £40 (and that is only 1 kid), I saw a couple of them on the kid a quid day so the proof is there.

I spoke to a woman work colleague who took up the offer Saturday with her husband and 8 year old son.

They thoroughly enjoyed it but when I asked if they would return as paying customers I got a very quick 'God no - not at those prices'.

It seems £10-15 would entice them back, though

quid a (accompanied) kid would see us going more often.

Would it though? What every week? We'd need to fill the bank every week at £10 that's for sure, just to make up for those it takes from the main stands paying £25 a pop. I'm not saying i disagree with the principle but the maths behind it needs to add up to.

If the bank is a tenner how many people are going to pay double in the Townend just to have a roof?

Sorry for being a bit of a killjoy! Agree about them putting the kids prices down a bit too FWIW but then our prices are too high in general anyway.

Yes, I think the maths and marketing of a £10 Bank ticket don't add up. But while reducing the price of kids' entry will lose some revenue from current attenders, it will bring in more families and help to build crowds for the future. People are prepared to buy a £60 family ticket for a theme park, but not for something they're expected to come back to every fortnight. If the Bank is reserved for accompanied kids, with adults at £18 and kids £7.50, that makes an adult and two under-16s £33. Is that reasonable?

Sorry: edited as I'd counted an adult at £25 on the Bank, which isn't right.

I agree. I think where the club are missing a trick is family deals. £25quid twice a month for an employed adult is overpriced (as are all football matches in the country) but not unacceptable. For a family of 4 to attend a match it would cost £74 per game in the side stands- that's just too much. Family incentives are the way forward IMO.

Just make the kids ticket prices negligble they are the future if kids are not going because of prices then we are losing the next generation of supporters. If an adult could take 2 kids for £30 or under then I think we would see crowds rise as long as they market it correctly and emphasise the overall price rather than showing £25 for an adult which psychologically would still put people off.

I never actually realised it's £12 for a kids ticket. That is absolutely outrageous and needs to change. It's one thing asking an adult to pay £25, but the club are dreaming if they think they can get families back at £12 per kid on top of that. It's just not realistic.

Either the Under 16s prices need to come down drastically, or they need to start doing some family tickets or promotions. Two adults and two kids for £55 might be more realistic, or even better a quid for a kid up to three kids per paying adult, etc.

Don't disagree with any of the above but by way of some balance, U10 kids do get free tickets if they sign up to the Junior Robins which is about £25 IIRC. So U10s season tickets are very cheap. But that doesn't take away the problems people are talking about here and does nothing to help attract (back) casual fans with kids

Problem with that being, how likely are the very casual element of our support likely to sign there kid up to junior robins for £25 when the parents themselves are perhaps only going to be able to afford to take them 2 or 3 times a season? Maybe the solution is a lot more simple, for next season drop the junior robins membership price to a tenner and maybe up the age to 12?

Also the thing with kids, as long as you get more in, you'll always make any nominal loss back because they always want something. I remember what I was like as a kid at football, I was a pain in the arse, always asking for a programme or a mars bar or a coke or something. It's what kids do.

Hopefully, next season the Bank will be used fairly often by the bigger followings in the Championship anyway.

I might be well off the mark but it seems to me that the Trust are indeed heading towards a nearly fully corporate subsidised family style enclosure area in the ground.  Stage one, show the local community can be dragged in, stage two get corporates on-board who see a way of targeting an audience while showing community spirit.  Stage 3, section off an area (maybe bigger than they initially thought), get the corporate sponsors to effectively all but pay for those people to attend (via the schools route so it is a local community effort and not diverting other audiences) in an area where they get coverage/advertising and also a way of targeting a very proactive and engaged audience.  Sounds like a plan, and if they can 3k through the gat each week, bully for everyone involved.

This. If we went up, the away followings would go up hugely, let alone the extra 2,000 odd we'd get from our own fans. It would make much of this debate redundant providing Power did the sensible thing and didn't increase prices.

Could still do a family day too for a game against a team with shit support who won't take the bank like Wigan or Rotherham or someone.

The under ten ST is a decent idea, season for the price of two games even if the adult doesn't go every game its a winner ( my two nephews take advantage of this and grandson will in a couple of years )
Its when they reach 11 ppl have a long hard think.
Remember a few on here mentioning it as it's a massive price hike.

There must be scope for a family ticket, I guess we have a family section somewhere  :hmmm: tho I haven't a clue where

You might be right. We're all here reacting to the good work by The Trust, brainstorming our own ideas...but I get the impression The Trust are probably 5/6 steps ahead of most of us in this thread. Getting a sponsor to cover the lion share cost of discounted/cheap tickets through schools in a designated family area would be eutopia, but probably not all that unrealistic.

In terms of the area of the ground for the final all singing, all dancing, family sectioned off area, it must be a straight choice between the block nearest the Town End in the Arkells and the block nearest the bank in The Don Rogers.

Yes, I completely agree. That's why I said "that doesn't take away the problems people are talking about here and does nothing to help attract (back) casual fans with kids"

The average Championship away following last season was 1,320.

Only 2 teams would really sell out at the CG - Leeds and Wolves - others may depending on how they are doing.

Would we open the Bank if there were only a couple of hundred away fans that couldn't fit in the Arkells.

Most home games would have to be ALL TICKET for away fans so we could gauge how many to expect and where to house them

I'm sure Reading would fill there's as they love us so much.

Also, yes I'm sure we would open the bank for a couple of hundred. Why turn down money?

How much does it cost to open it?

Don't forget there is room for about 11,000 home fans without the Bank. Would we fill that week on week?

Sheffield Wednesday always have a good travelling support don't they? Norwich, Birmingham, Forest and Derby all would I'm sure. and Brighton.

probably worth thinking about after May....

(dont jinx it!)

None of those would sell 3000 odd tickets but would probably be too many for just the Arkells.

Maybe they'd look at splitting it like way back before my time ;).

But that would rely on us selling out the DR, Arkells & TE week on week to put in the effort for that.

Are the highlights available for this yet?? Can't find them on the Sky website!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD-QC3hP-NA

Hope Shaw Rosso is OK/on holiday, they've not been on here for over a week.

How full was the Bank, from peering at the video it looked as if there were a few empty seats, one of the problems of giving things away can be that the person doesn't necessarily value it too much.

Have a look at the pics on reply#130, #132 in this thread (page 8/9 on my laptop, mobiles may vary). It was by no means a sellout, but the response was very good. Couldn't see the DRS where some freeby tickets were also given.

Also credit to the club, a relative of a friend got 3 free tickets, but they were a 2 and a 1 (yes I know the offer was 1 adult + 1 child). They asked was there any available so the 1 could sit closer, the club asked "where do you want to sit", so they got moved to the DRS and sat together.

Oh, Sheff U 0 Dongs 0 (HT). Good, good.

0-0 is good but if there is a winner I would much rather it was Sheff Utd got it.

There was a video on FB the other day by someone in the arkells around time we scored
End of DRS still looked very full at time of goal, bank not so
I guess many left before the goal came

Still a great effort by all involved - bank not the best stand to introduce ppl to STFC but you gotta go with whats available i suppose

I suppose the point I was trying to make is rather than give away free tickets, is it worth charging £5 but then giving the kids a scarf or something of that value, they get something to keep and because the dad has paid hes more likely to turn up and use the ticket

I don't think lack of take up was an issue to be honest. Bit I do think it can be with freebies.

The post numbers even shore up on tapa talk, top right. Your last is #219, search for 219 :)

1-0 Franchise

Arse

according to the bbc they have had one shot and scored 1 goal with no shots off target

Let us focus on consolidating a top 6 place at this moment in time for which there is currently an 8 point gap.

We are also 19 points clear of the relegation zone  8)

Where's the fun in sensible rich!

unbelievable.... 1 shot all game, 1 goal   :bad mood:

mind u those stats never show 'blocked shots' which imho they shud

Sign of a good team apparently. Dons are probably the best team in this league unfortunately. Just depends if a Karl Robinson side can stop bottling promotion which they have done a lot of recently.

With that budget, that stadium and quality of players they should be in the Championship. I bloody hope not though.

This will be Franchise's year I think.

I'd even put money on them winning the league.

I hope you feel dirty saying that.

It's not a bad bet... but seeing them in the Championship...  :suicide:

Could we put enough on it that if we win, we could buy them and close them down? That is the only good that could come of all that.

This is a great idea. Keep Grigg & Afobe then sell the stadium & players to Wimbledon AFC for a 1/3 of what we bought it for.

They'll bottle it again.

You wait and see.

Or, with any luck, another team comes in for Robinson.

AND they bottle it. And the ground collapses in a landslip triggered by the grease in Winkleman's hair/personality.

Sound idea!

You mean AFC Wimbledon

Also not sure AFC Wimbledon would want anything to do with those Franchi$e cunts.

I realise this may be a little late but I couldn't let it pass.

I have a couple of questions:

a) Are you suggesting that because a person doesn't speak English, they should be automatically entitled to a discount?

b) Because they have a different colour of skin compared to the average local, they should be automatically entitled to a discount?

c) What does that mean to local people who have supported the club for decades? Do we have to pay more and  the 'new Swindonians' get their tickets for less?

d) When you vote Labour in May and the country goes bankrupt a year later, will you throw your toys out of the pram when you get sacked and you have drive 60 miles for an A&E?

What you've suggested is illegal. You're a fucking wazzock.

Charmed I'm sure

I was advocating MARKETING the club to ethnic communities

In what way?

No you weren't.

You were advocating the oppression of the great white people and handing the keys of the club and the town to immigrants and their ilk. Next you'll be demanding that we turn the County Ground into a Mosque. I bet you'll be happy when Sharia law is put into place and women have to dress in bin-liners.

We know your type all too well, fucking libbies.

Nothing like some common sense to contribute to a debate...

Excuse me....it's my long standing idea to incorporate a mosque into a redeveloped CG (along with a legalised brothel)

This was what I was thinking but thought I would let someone else type it all out for me. Ethnic minorities in swindon to get free tickets  :doh: as I said previously at least with schools you will get a whole mix of people.

Fucked if I know. I'm no marketing expert.

I would imagine there is a largish Polish community who may be predisposed to watching football.

Some people just need encouraging and made to feel welcome

I like it. Distract everyone with a mosque and while they're busy getting angry on Facebook about it, slide a brothel in under the radar. Everyone's a winner.

So what's the point of suggesting it then?

Either these people are, or aren't part of the community. What is it?

They either integrate or they don't. The day the club start offering discounts to foreigners is the day I fuck it off forever.

Start advertising in Polish? What happens next, a fucking Polish section in the Town End? Songs nobody else understands?

Fuck off.

Fortunately for you, you'll be dead soon so you won't have to live with the consequences of such retarded comments. Unfortunately, life will continue to be blighted for those that remain.

Jesus. Wept.

Not
...sure....if...serious
..

 :popcorn:

More like the tears of Allah.....never say never again.

Fuck me I wondered where Nick Griffin had been lately.

"Fortunately for you you'll be dead soon?" What sort of person says that to another human being?

(http://i.imgur.com/mG7cK8T.gif)

Sorry, but didn't you fuck off to the Côte d'Azur? How's your integration going?

If you mean am I speaking the lingo, conforming with the local norms, obeying the law, paying my own way, not claiming benefits, paying national and local taxes, having health insurance and generally integrating without the locals subsidising me in any way shape or form, it's going well thanks...

Sounds like my Hitler moustache may go down quite well with you

Ironside favours the Petain....

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Philippe_P%C3%A9tain_(en_civil,_autour_de_1930).jpg/220px-Philippe_P%C3%A9tain_(en_civil,_autour_de_1930).jpg)

Ben à ce moment-là, pourquoi t'as un problème avec les gens qui font autant dans ton pays d'origine ? Ou bien est-ce seulement les remises pour les matchs qui te chagrinent ?

Better than your theory of giving away free tickets to people on the basis that they are not from Swindon...

I know it sounds like a childish thing to say, but Ironside does genuinely tend to go away once he is ignored.....

FFS get your facts right.

I was on about marketing NOT replicating what the Trust did last week.

Oh, and BTW, I'm not from Swindon - OK with you if I go

Trolls only usually hang around when they are being fed.

The club should offer heavily discounted tickets to people on benefits.

Ironside is getting accused of racism, but he is actually the only one that is advocating equal treatment of all races.

Funny that

That is bollocks

 :nod: Don't they already?

I think they should also offer free tickets and the cost of flights to people that live overseas.

 :nod: And not just Lee Power.

No, bollocks to that. I'm stuck here again now and you can all suffer.

But I could bring my Asian wife and kids with me.......

Good point.

My Norwegian wife has been to the County Ground on a numerous occasions but that's fine, she's white.

Here we go.

I point out that what was proposed was not only illegal but an insult to all Swindon fans who've supported the club for decades, get attacked by the usual clique of self righteous cunts for pointing out the inherent inequality of the proposition (the irony of the proposition clearly being missed or wilfully ignored),  whilst having a cheeky dig at someone I haven't gotten on with for over a decade, and I'm a fucking troll am I?

You're right, people don't post unless they conform with the views of the 'few'.

I wonder why?

Nothing like people with ingrained prejudices eh?

Please don't interrupt my private conversation with Flashheart.

Will, Ironside has a bit of a point, but is a bit of a cunt. I'm so confused by it all.

Is your wife taking somebody else's job SY?

I made my first post very recently and have since posted very rarely.. I'm certainly not part of any clique here or any established regime.

I replied to your post because I found it fucking ridiculous and offensive.

Surely Google Translate can't be taking this long to work tonight?

No. She's unemployed.

Bloody scrounger ;)

I agree. He's right about Audrey's idea of giving discounts to ethnic minorities not being the work of a marketing genius, but then spoils it by going all Enoch Powell scattergun.

Aaaaargh!

I wasn't advocating fucking discounts.

I was advocating the possibility if targetting people to get them interested in the club - how that would be done, I have no fucking idea

Love it. Apparently by advocating equality and community, I'm also Enoch Powell. TEF living up to bollocks quota right there...

Why are you so cross Audrey, is it because you can't discount minorities, it's positive prejudice you know.

I'm off for a wank!

 ;D

Will you lot be quiet! They're nearly at the tank bit in A-Team (Film4)

You mean you'll give it a polish ;)

You can argue what you like but I sense positive discrimination towards any group will be like a red rag to you - I would certainly welcome any new members of Swindon and its catchment area as fans and if that includes eastern Europeans or muslims or any other minority, ethnic or otherwise, then so much the better.

You are coming across like you would perhaps be integrating very well on the Cote d'Azur where towns like Frejus have been spectacular supporters of the Front National and where Le Pen and Racheline would truly foam at Reg's Mosque and brothel idea.

Being a Town fan is a pretty exclusive brotherhood of misery but whatever our background we also deeply value its peculiar delights. 

When we sample glory or heartache we share it regardless of politics or gender or other background

There's no such thing as 'positive discrimination', it's merely favouritism towards a select group, or if you prefer, discrimination against anyone who isn't a member of that group so stop talking PC bollocks.

I welcome new fans, God help us we need them, but it has to be done from the ground up and that won't happen if you want to go down the road of giving preferential treatment to 'new Swindonian's' over originals.

As for FN, they're well on their way to being force in French politics but aren't nearly as 'bad' as the press in the UK portray. In any event, it's irrelevant to what's being discussed currently so stop trying to divert people's focus away from the issue.

Either people in Swindon embrace the club in greater numbers than they currently do,  or it fades and dies.

Oh Christ, now he's defending the FN. They are a deeply reactionary poison to a modern nation. You realise that like Pétain, you've "integrated" with the wrong people.

You really are red, anyway, back to the point...

Anyway.

Does anyone know where Shaw Rosso is? No sign of him for a couple of weeks.

I thought for a horrible moment it was going to be Wir mussen die non-Town fanzen ausrotten

and anyway... let's hope we have some good news from Shaw Rosso - a free Saturday at least this weekend.

That's an insult right?

Observation princess, observation...

How're you getting on with your French homework, Mr Mosley?

Careful sweetheart, you're in danger of exceeding the TEF Bollocks quota...

This is important.

Hope he's just on holiday or something.

28th October he said something about a trip to A&E. Hopefully that's completely irrelevant.

Fingers crossed.

I've been a fan for decades but unlike the earlier poster, I'd be delighted to see the club marketed, or even further, a ticket offer to Polish and other minority groups in Swindon, because if it has a chance of increasing our crowds on a long term basis and introducing new people to the club that may not feel part of the community already, we all win. Bigger crowds, better atmosphere, more income for the club and an initiative to be truly proud of.

Sadly the issue is fraught with danger and the club will avoid it because certain people will burst a blood vessel over the prospect of someone else paying less for something than them.

Which, to be fair, is quite understandable.

Yes.  Hope so, too!  Has anyone PM'd him?

I've just sent him an email.

Bizarrely, I'm with Ironside on this....selecting immigrant groups is clearly a racist proposition, ie it's as discriminatory as charging them more.

I'm not sure its "racist", but, as he said (prior to spewing out a load of bile) it would be unlawful. And not a particularly good idea anyway in my opinion.

Marketing, and making ethnic groups feel welcome = of course
Cheaper tickets = no

Well this got off topic a bit.

I could see where ironside is coming from on this though if it was discounted tickets as the idea being presented. There isn't any such thing as 'positive discrimination' that's a load of nonsense. It's like people who use the term 'reverse racism' to describe a person of a different ethnic background being racist towards a white person. Another load of bollocks.

Discrimination is discrimination and racism is racism.

Having said that, it's been stated it was more marketing the club to those communities, which can't hurt.

Might be worth dropping in the Bradford forum, for example, to see if their club does anything to encourage people from their large Asian community.

What have you got against large Asians?

From what I hear he's rather fond of them.

:D

It is racist....as it makes negative assumptions about people from different ethnic backgrounds.  

For example, Swindon has had a large Irish, Polish, Italian community since more or less 1945....you can throw in the Welsh if you like, since the start of the 20th Century....at no point in that time has there been any discrimination in favour of cheap tickets for members of those communities, yet over the years, many will have come to support Town, some will have stuck with it others, fallen away, as is always the case with fandom.

Should we be doing something to attract more ginger people to our matches ?

I appreciate that they would clash horribly with our club colours, but we should be doing something to get more of them in

Free tickets ?

Best not put them on the bank, as it may be sunny

FUCK OFF. If anything we should be driving them out.

Ha. Sorry, but what a load of old bollocks.

What negative assumptions are they then?

Audrey proposed offering free/cheap tickets to ethnic minorities, after someone asked who should the trust target next after schools.

The former is no more racist than the latter is.. er.. kid-ist.

Still a shit idea mind.

I think we should just get back-to-back promotions, dominate the Premier League for a decade or two and conquer Europe four/five times. That'll bring the masses to the CG....







....maybe.

The negative assumptions are (a) members of ethnic communities require a cheap ticket, because they are too poor to pay full price. (b) members of ethnic communities in order to integrate should be "helped" to watch the local FC.

I realise that Audrey's suggestion was posted with a good motive, however it's still racist...much racism is unintentional.

As for kidism....maybe, but the wider society does have a duty of care to its children, so it can be argued that a subsidised trip to the football is an educational experience therefore worthy of praise. It also has the advantage of being neutral, in terms of racism.

Is that some kind of Pledge ?

 :clap:

Not sure where you got a) from, given the context.

B) I sort of see where you're coming from, but again, it doesn't really tally with the context, which was purely to help *the club* 'hook' new paying fans, not the other way round.

Racism aside, and I do think it borders on it too, I don't see giving tickets/discounts to adults as a way forward really.

With a school you can create a bit of a buzz in the playground, get the kids talking about it, back it up with the FITC team and hope that kids want to come back to see LIVE footy.

I doubt it would work with adults.I reckon they mostly know about STFC and could go if they want to. Same could be said of the kids/adult that took them, but the kids provide the "motivation" (nagging :))

I would also be more understanding of the "why the hell should they get free/cheap tickets" brigade.

Great debate and I hate to say it but neither Audrey nor anyone else has proposed discounted tickets for ethnic communities - as opposed to STFC/the Trust simply considering targeting marketing at such groups.

That the latter idea provoked a hostile attack on imagined discounts to ethnic groups doesn't mean anyone ever advocated it, however great the rage shown.  The only discount suggestion for adults concerned servicemen.

Targeting schools with discounts and with making the match a great experience on the day for them and their parents  will be the best way to involve servicemen, ethnic communities, regional incomers and multi generational Swindonians IMO.

Other initiatives strengthening STFCs and the Trust's ties with the local community can also help.  That local community is most certainly schools but can be extended into other areas without involving discounts - look at what is on offer for the local business community through play on the pitch, conferencing and sponsorship, STFC's involvement with Help for Heroes and so on.

For the time being, we can only be grateful that the Trust is playing such a positive role working alongside the Club.  Just think what a new ground could do (a few free tickets tickets for the local authority might not go amiss) !

I've found it all quite amusing that a bunch of people are getting themselves worked up over a suggestion that was never actually suggested. While we're at it..... I think it's a terrible idea that women should get discounted tickets. It's sexist, are we not in the 21st century now? Fucking misogynists.

Hmm.. it was probably a reasonable assumption that he was talking about free tickets, given that someone asked who should be next; I.e. after the schools, who were given free tickets. Albeit he later clarified that wasn't what he meant.

Oh and I think it was only Ironside who was irate.  :)

So we're getting irate about people getting irate about something that was said, that wasn't actually said, when people aren't actually even irate?

Classic TEF

Stop getting irate at people getting irate about people getting irate about something that was said, that wasn't actually said, when people aren't actually even irate!

Irate? I find it amusing.

Im getting dizzy. Best go for a sit down...

What an iratist post.

I'm irate and so is my wife.

Oh, that's interesting.  What part of Iran are you both from?

As much as I rate Yaser I wouldn't want to invoke his ire and make him an irate Iraqi.

As we were moaning about kids prices in this thread I have just noticed that Walsall are charging £16 for kids for our game on Boxing day although the are doing a family ticket but that is for 1 kid.

Family tickets (1 adult, 1 under 18) - £26
To book family tickets, please call Walsall directly on 01922651416
Read more at http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/walsall-ticket-details-2124974.aspx#g70RB64MuDLbLMoX.99

Adult - £22
Over 60 - £16
Under 18 - £16
Wheelchair - Age related price
Carer - Free of charge
Read more at http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/walsall-ticket-details-2124974.aspx#g70RB64MuDLbLMoX.99

Got a reply from Shaw Rosso's misses. He's OK, but a bit sick right now.

Thanks flash h

Ooh err, hope Shaw Rosso gets well soon.

Thanks Flashy! 

I'm not Irate.

Don't make me Irate, you wouldn't like me when I'm Irate...

Fair point, hands up, having checked I don't see Audrey advocating free tickets for new Swindonians. Having said that, he did reply to a question asking about extending the recent trust initiative of targeting other groups of people and, taking into account the reply, in that context, it was a fair assumption that was what he was implying. I should have posted there and not here.

As for the subsequent commenters, let me just clarify a couple of things. You all appeared to be so desperate to accuse me of racism that you were all completely blind to your own hypocrisy and stupidity, it was laughable.  For all the precious council working sweethearts, (you know who you are), who should be fully indoctrinated into the cult of multiculturalism, you were very quick to have a go at me but unfortunately, you only wanted to see the posters name, but not their message.

I stand by everything I said. Giving free tickets to schoolchildren and their parents is fine because it doesn't unlawfully discriminate against a person based on their ethnic origin. Giving discounts to people based on their ethnic origin does. It separates people as a opposed to uniting them. It goes against everything you have been told to believe! Football is tribal, you either join the tribe or you don't. If you reject us, why would I embrace you? Join us and become one of us. It's your choice to join, I won't change to gain your acceptance.

Finally...

Not only is it illegal, it's a decisive kick in the fucking bollocks to anyone who has been a Town fan for more than 5 minutes. Many of us have supported the club in one way shape or form (in my case since '82) and seen the club go from bottom to top and back again. I've had unbridled happiness, and unbridled pain. Wouldn't change it in exchange for a fucking year of 'premier league' football. This is why few other football 'fan's' in this country can even understand.

You all talk bollocks anyway...

Edit: I see the Sage of Swindon (Reg) agrees with my point, therefore you MUST be wrong! 😊.

All I can really say is that as everybody seems to accept that I NEVER advocated discounts for ethic groups, this whole debate has been pretty pointless.

All I was ever advocating was the possibility of a more inclusive football club reaching out to those who may feel they would not be particularly welcome at the CG - misplaced in my view.

Including the bit about the FN not being as bad as their UK press coverage no doubt. Care to expand?

Not in this thread princess, you see, it kind of diverts the point onto something that is completely irrelevant. I suggest you start a thread that's a bit more relevant and appropriate, there's a good girl...

I think the only thing that's been confirmed in this thread is that Ironside is a bit of a cunt.

But we knew that anyway, so yeah, pretty much filling up the 80% bollocks quota for this week.

Why's that then?

Well seeing as it was you that made the point of defending them…

And I love your line in insults. They're so mortally wounding. :blowkiss:

Not sure it is insulting, at worst a little patronising but possibly a little flirty?

I didn't defend them, I merely stated that their portrayal was misconstrued if you believe what that paragon of unbiased and entirely impartial British press, said about them, the BBC.

I do love the way you focus on one small part of my comments, which aren't the comments relevant to the point that was made. Anyone would think you have some kind of vendetta in mind?

As for my line in insults, well, I was being gentle with you. If you upset fairies on here, well...