A roof for the Bank at last.

[random_five]

I was half excited about this until I read this thread.

I fucking hate Town fans.

I'm with you on this one

[herthab]

We'd probably all like a mega millions redevelopment of the ground, which includes The Arkells, Town End & Stratton Bank, Unfortunately we don't have either the money to do it ourselves or the backing to get someone else to do it (Yet). So the choice is do something, like getting a roof on The SB, or to do fuck all, which seems to be the default position of STFC over the last few years. I personally can't see a negative to getting a roof on the bank; it's not taking money from the Club so what's the problem?

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I was half excited about this until I read this thread.

I fucking hate Town fans.

Don't look at me...

[Ardiles]

What concerns? They're just putting a roof on a stand. Bloody hell  

I'm really baffled that so much offence is being taken at a range of views being held on this.  We're a fanbase.  Opinions will be split on many issues.  And this is a discussion forum.

In short, my concerns are that this development represents poor use of money.  It feels like a sticking plaster solution that will further push back the point at which we finally do get round to building something worth having.

Constructive criticism does not imply pessimism or lack of ambition.  Quite the opposite.  We need more of it, not less.

[Arriba]

I'd rather wait in the hope that something better can be done with it. It can still serve its purpose without a roof on it.
Even with a roof it'd still be a shite terrace with bolted on bowl seats. Why bother?

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

I'm really baffled that so much offence is being taken at a range of views being held on this.  We're a fanbase.  Opinions will be split on many issues.  And this is a discussion forum.

In short, my concerns are that this development represents poor use of money.  It feels like a sticking plaster solution that will further push back the point at which we finally do get round to building something worth having.

Constructive criticism does not imply pessimism or lack of ambition.  Quite the opposite.  We need more of it, not less.

I'm not offended at all my friend, I just don't share your concerns. See my earlier post which sums it up for me as best as I can manage...

Maybe I'm just seeing things too simply.

The Stratton Bank is crap - we can all agree on that.

Ideally, it needs to be bulldozed and started again. At the very least, it needs a roof, which is what is happening.

People are saying that it is rarely used but when you are running a Football Club you have to have at least a modicum of optimism and courage and be a little bit proactive - a word we are not used to hearing in relation to STFC.

The way the Club is being run, there is a very realistic chance that we will be in the Championship in the next couple of years, which means it will get used a hell of a lot more.

The Club is doing what it can to improve the Ground within its financial constraints and yet people are not entirely happy. This confuses me (it's easily done to be fair) - maybe I'm missing something?

In the absence of any plans for a multi million pound redevelopment, it's better to be doing something rather than nothing. That's all I can say really...

[janaage]

Well said OST.

[Ardiles]

I'm not offended at all my friend, I just don't share your concerns...

At last.  So you do, at least, accept that it's OK for other people to have concerns - even if you don't?

If someone has an opinion that differs from yours, it does not make it wrong.  It's just a different perspective.  Comments along the lines of 'I despair at Town fans' (not a direct quote) simply because they have a different outlook is not helpful.

[janaage]

Bloody hell Ardiles is it your time of the month or something?

[Batch]

fuck me. this forum is bollocks sometimes.

what's the point of it if you can't offer differing views.

doing nothing isn't an option, but it may be preferable to doing the wrong thing for the sake of it. the harm is that 500k is a lot of money, the trust will probably only get to raise and spend that once.

it needs more explanation as to why it's needed. based on the information provided you can't  say it's clear cut.

[The Million Pound Man]

somebody said the actual terracing is sound? If so, then the stand isnt THAT bad with a roof, proper toilets and catering facilities. of course the back of the stand needs smartening up but i think some people are being a bit unrealistic... the SB is always going to be the worst stand in the ground due to having houses very close behind it; youre never gonna get a casino/hotel/conferencing suite in underneath there so in my opinion its not worth spending millions on when it can only ever really serve as purely a stand. i support the roof and hope it hurries along a proper arkells and town end rebuild.

[jayohaitchenn]

At last.  So you do, at least, accept that it's OK for other people to have concerns - even if you don't?

If someone has an opinion that differs from yours, it does not make it wrong.  It's just a different perspective.  Comments along the lines of 'I despair at Town fans' (not a direct quote) simply because they have a different outlook is not helpful.

How is crying that we've done nothing in 20 years, and then crying about the first plans that pop up helpful? You've been the biggest advocate of developing the ground, when it looks like the worst part of it might get a small upgrade you're still not happy? And I'm the one being unhelpful. Grow up.

[Arriba]

Nice to see some passion on here. Everyone has been too tepid for a while. Bring it on I say, makes the site worth reading.

I definitely remember the bank being broken up and reconcreted. Early 90's was it? The base is sound. If it was safe standing with the roof on then it would be a goer. Don't think the patch up plan is though. If we get promoted then it will have fans on it regardless. Let them get wet and plan a proper replacement for it I say.

[Ardiles]

How is crying that we've done nothing in 20 years, and then crying about the first plans that pop up helpful? You've been the biggest advocate of developing the ground, when it looks like the worst part of it might get a small upgrade you're still not happy? And I'm the one being unhelpful. Grow up.

I've been a big advocate of developing the ground properly.  Your world is very black & white, isn't it.

Not sure the 'grow up' advice is really called for.

[Peter Venkman]

At the start of 90-91 the away fans had the Town End for a while, after it had been seated in the summer. I remember Middlesbrough having it in Sep 90.

Wolves had the Town End too and filled it out, I think we gave the TE to at least 5 teams that year.