Thetownend.com

Just to satisfy my idle curiosity.......

How many current ST holders will be stumping up the cash to watch League 2 next season?

No way.

I'm not. Mainly due to moving away. However, that might just be a convenient excuse - I've seen us relegated 4 or 5 times already and renewed last time we fell to L2, but for some reason I can't fathom, this year has wound me up more than ever... I think I need a break.

Yeah, fuck it, I will be.

i'm 98% sure i will

Doubt it

nope

Of course. Not even a question to me.

Nope. Got better things to do.

6 of us not renewing will pick and choose games next year

Before the Walsall game we were renewing our three tickets, having seen Mr Negative Cunt's tactics for both Walsall and 'Muff I am not so sure now.  Would not want to see a season of that sort of footy!

Yeah, me and the bro-in-law and the two kids' freebies (or nearly freebies once I've paid the "shocking" 15 quid for JR membership). If nothing else it's a useful disciplinary tool ("If you don't behave, your Dad will make you go to the game at the weekend")

Nope. Redundancy on the horizon and just had a baby so it's not a decision I have to take! I'll have to pick and choose my games next season. I really hope if we do go down we don't end up getting stuck there

The football is only part of my day out....probably renew

I will because my mum is paying.

If I was in work I would anyway because my son still enjoys it. If it was just me, well I'm not sure, the way I feel I'd probably just pick and choose the games and stand in the TE. Not sure that would hold when push came to shove mind.

One thing though, I think the club needs to extend the early bird price period. I guess they were trying to get retention whilst we didn't know what league we were in. Now most people are resigned to being down, so  no point in playing that card again.

I'm not renewing but only for financial reasons.
However, if the rumours of Trollope being the new manager are true then I wont turn up for the occasional game either.

nope, nor my dad, hes moving to spain. i will pick and choose, i have missed 8 or 9 this season already and cant be arsed with driving up again this season.

Yep!

I want to renew but my wife won't let me, which is fair enough because we're flat broke at the moment. I'll try to attend as many games as I can next season.

My mate got one for the first time in 6 years this season and he's not renewing because we're crap and he'd rather wash the car on a Saturday afternoon  ::)

Nope: hoping to move, slightly uncertain work circumstances and a real lack of value for money or even enjoyment on home matchdays this season has made up my mind. Writing off an entire afternoon to go and feel frustrated, angry and bored does not make good financial sense if you don't have much cash to play with!

Nope, moving away.  Can't justify coming back every other weekend to watched us get beaten by the likes of Stevenage and Crawley.

this will hopefully be a wake up call to fitton and his board that they have made a right fucking balls up of the football side of the club.he needs to realise that he isn't has clued up as he thought he was.any idiot with money could have done what he has.even stfc gazza would have made better decisions.we would have worn red at wembley at least.
get someone in,set them a budget, and leave them to run the football side of it.
hopefully then the turn up on the day fans will make up for the huge losses the club will see from those ditching their season tickets.
a big name manager might help in tempting some to renew also.

Highly unlikely.  It's not just the thought of League 2 football, it's the concern of struggling in League 2 and who will be managing us.  

There's nothing on show that makes me think next season will be any better and the fact that Fitton has shown he's crap at appointing managers fills me with little hope either.  

Fitton and the board have had a hand in royally fucking up this season and the repercussions could be huge.  We'll be lucky to get 2500 season ticket holders next season.  I wouldn't be surprised if he walks in the summer when he realises the impact League 2 football will have.  

Decided sometime before the start of our terrible run I wouldn't (been a season ticket holder for some years now). Even if we survived and totally changed the squad and actually got some players who aren't bullied by every other team in the league I've just had enough - it's not just STFC but football in general. When I went to Dagenham in October and the players once again put no effort in I just thought "if they can't be bothered why should I?" so right now that might well be the last time I ever go to a Swindon away game not sure whether I will go on Saturday or give my ST to my son (even he doesn't want to go really)

Never thought I would feel like this after all the times in the past taking leave to go and support the Town and I can't entirely put my finger on the reason why I feel like this now, after all I've seen us relegated often enough but, for me there is something that just doesn't seem right at the club these days and it's not entirely on the pitch I feel.

 :badmood:  

3.5k would be good for league 2. I don't think we'll break the 2k barrier, judging by the comments on here!

I wouldn't say that. It seems the finances and contacts have lead to good foundations off the field - managed debt and brought in big name sponsors. Not sure how much of that has been undermined if we go down though.

I've edited, I meant to put 2,500!

Nope, I will pick and choose!  The only thing that will change my mind is if they show intent within the next 3 weeks.  They haven't done that in the past 3 months so I am not holding my breath!

Hart is not the man for us, neither will be Trollope (albeit only a rumour)

I am. This is swindon town not man Utd, we have lots of downs and the occasional up. That's the way it is. Last year was one of the most enjoyable in 15 years. Then we have a bad season and everyone jumps ship? Not for me. It's th shut times that made last year all the more sweet. Yes the board have made mistakes... It's fotball, if it wa an exact science everyone would do it. It's not, so they don't. No they're not free from critisicm but some of te shit our fans come up with is laughable. Perspective required I think... Otherwise we're all doomed I tell thee!!!! 

This sums up watching lower league football and I will be renewing.

I'd be surprised if a fraction of current season ticket holders renewed.

I've been seriously considering getting a season ticket for the first time in a few years. The money I'd save on a matchday ticket would cover most of my travelling expenses and it might persuade the missus to come along once in a while.

I personally know of 16 people who will not be renewing which is out of 18 I know who have ST!!!!

Lambourn - Are these people 'occasionals' that bought on the back of last season, or die hards that have had enough?

This will be only the second time I will not renew since 1983

The first time was a few years ago for obvious reasons

Banned?

Not renewing - but decision was taken months ago, little'um has been playing footie on a saturday morning this season and quite often he has been playing away when town have been at home, and havent been able to get back in time, so have missed more than a handfull of games, he has been offered at scholarship at Reading from next season, which means same amount of travel but he also has to attend Reading home matches as the have matchday jobs to do, dont fancy going on my own, but will pick and chose the bigger games

That's what is worrying. When people like yourself and Mex don't want to renew something has gone wrong.

not wishing to line the old regimes pockets

still went every game but paid on the day

So in then end, you wound up giving them more money by paying each week? :clap:

someone explain to crispy, i cant be arsed.

A mixture of both, I would class myself in the die hards as I have had a ST for years but my kids just do not want to go anymore and with the wife working Saturdays it is just too much hassle organising babysitters . I have a few mates that bought a ST off of the back of last season as they were going to most games anyway and my parents who have gone for donkeys years who have had enough and will not be renewing. The saddest thing will be losing my seat that I have had for years and the people that sit around you that you get to know just through football.

oh dear Crispy, you are not the sharpest tool in the box are you.

you see when you pay your season ticket money you give it to them all in one go to piss up the wall on vodka and hookers.

Drip feed them it a little each other week meant they only got their hands on a fraction of my money before they fucked off

Don't agree with the "any fucking idiot with money" bit - as I think Batch said, there was a lot done on the commercial/business side that takes some real nouse. But you're bang on that Fitton (or whoever, may be more of a collective board than we realise) has made a proper balls of the football side. And the bit in bold should be carved into the boardroom table

Didn't realise the Season you didn't buy one was the season they fucked off  :doh:

like I said


you're not the sharpest tool in the box are you ?

 ;)

Know exactly what you mean there. It's not the only reason I'm renewing, but it's certainly one reason why I keep the season ticket, to keep the seat, because of the people.

We are seeing diehards who've probably seen far worse times jumping ship now and that's very very worrying. I think it's because we seemed to have real hope and real prospects and it's just been wasted. Sometimes, having that hope dangled in front of you and snatched away can be worse than not having it in the first place

I am going to do a Flammable Ben and just stay in the Merlin then go home at 4.50  :D

That's a bit harsh. The lad's not psychic. Even if a pink jumper does make him look a bit like Russell Grant

harsh but fair

If you arent renewing for money, family, time/work reasons, etc then thats totally understandable but if you arent renewing because its league 2 and we are going through a tough period then i dont get.

It all sounds a bit fair weather fan to me.

I'll probably renew. Not 100% sure as I'm not certain to be living within a reasonable distance, but savings v matchday prices are significant enough to take the risk.

Far far from it

I will reconsider my options once I see the football side of the club being run by a football man and not a business man

This is what I'm getting at. People who have seen worse times not renewing now. Very worrying if it turns out to be true.



Up until 6 months ago I'd have agreed. But I finally now see what tips people over into not going anymore after years of holding a season ticket. Something inside gives up hope and expectation declines, then it all seems a little pointless going. Of course hope can be restored,  that is what is needed now

I'll be renewing, but only because it's a lot cheaper than pay on the day, even if I miss a fair few.

Looks like I'll be moving though, as no-one else around me is renewing.

Spot on.

If you're not renewing because you don't want to watch that level of football then you are no better than a Milton Keynes-based Franchise fan.

But Fred's already said, that's not why he's not renewing.

Obviously the ideal situation is to have someone who is who is a sound business and football man, unfortunately i imagine their arent too many of those around.

I'd rather have the sound business man then the football man on the basis that a chairman should be looking after the business side and taking advice from those in the know about football decisions.  Whether Fitton does that is pure speculation, i dont know.

A yes here. Even as bad as it is now and the standard we'll see next year in league two, i won't stop supporting the club. The shower of shite we currently have will hopefully will be long gone and we can just hope we come straight back up.

I've been a season ticket holder for a long time except when i lapsed it under the Diamandis Regime.

This season has been a total disappointment from start to finish.  I accept that players were bought in to improve the squad however the fact remanins that both striker & central defender issue was addressed too late.  I am well aware that it's not always easy to bring in the right type of player however what i don't accept is the length of time it has taken and still taking to address this situation.

I'm trying to think of reasons why i should renew but to be honest i am finding it hard too. For me the match day experience has been poor.  

The food is awful, the entertainment is awful pre match & at half time especially the Swindon Rockets.  

For a team who is fighting relegation why are we playing negative football?  4-5-1 at home is just wrong imo.  I know it's early days but i just can't help feel Hart was the wrong choice as Danny's replacement even if it was until the end of the season.

Player budget will be set on season ticket renewals for sure but other than that the Board really need to do now is give the fans an incentive as to why they should renew. I accept that season tickets remain cheap, but if the football's dire, the match entertainment is dire then how will this attract fans to come back?

There is no reason what so ever that a football man could not take a position on the board at exec or non-exec level

Yep, I support the team and it doesn't matter what division we are in.

The price of a season ticket vs pay on the day makes it a no brainer if you are going to watch games

Who would you want? Phil King? Alan Mac?

Is fan representation a go-er with this lot?

Renewing - as someone else said it's part of a routine and a chance to catch up with friends. Too good a price not to do it in the early bird period either. (Even for League 2)

Indeed. Doesn't seem to have done Man Utd any harm having Bobby Charlton on the board.

Dunno - dad & Bob will cause it's cheap for OAPs really
I just hate the feeling of "having" to go
Oh and I'm like mega poor too

And therein lies my point





It hasn't been

Much as I am loathed to go with the continental model of a Director of Football, Fitton has demonstrated time and time again that he is out of his depth on professional football matters.

He needs a solid football brain within the boardroom to advise and act.

its probably the joy of sitting next to you every game

It's been a difficult decision for me, but I'm not renewing.

I was undecided on renewing last season because the wife was pregnant and I knew we'd be with sprog mid-way through the season. With hindsight I'm glad I chose to because it turned out to be probably the best season of football I've ever witnessed.

This season I again debated renewing due to the littl'un, given the prospect of another exciting season ahead chasing promotion I of course renewed.

This time round I've followed the same thought process of family vs. football. Call me fairweather if you like, but the very real prospect of League Two football next season made my mind up for me. Not renewing is kind of like my little "fuck you" to the club for promising so much yet delivering so little. It was the hope that killed it. I'd much rather spend my Saturdays with my kid.

Been a season ticket holder for 15 of last 20 years i guess.  Seen some great town teams seen some very poor ones.  This season we could go down with less than 40 points.  After last season its just mind numbing.  My renewel papers came through the post today.  Had swindon town written all over the envelope, i just hope my neighbours didnt see as at present im embarressed.

 The price to renew is a great price.  But ive simply lost my heart to go after this season crap.
I think the first division is crap.  I havent seen a good team all season.  And we are the worst of the lot.  I dont wanna watch 2nd division football.  I did last time and to me it was just putting a wrong right in getting back up.  I got no fun out of it.  From all the work that Fitton and co have done we will be starting from scratch.  New manager,  new team, sadly new division.  I cant see us getting back up at the first attempt.  Look at Bradford they struggle like mad.

Its easier to stay away than the board think it is for fans.  We have been kicked in the balls week in week out this season.  This really could be the worst season EVER.  For those of you who renew i hope to god you are rewarded.  But sadly for me my money is in short supply.  Getting my car though its MOT just cost more than i hoped and you have to pay the bills first and foremost.  As far as home games go im a die hard.  But this season has killed me. I will only be back next season if i pick and chose.

Renewing.
Done with this season, fed up with the whole bleedin lot of 'em but next season is a clean slate no matter what league we're in and I'll be there ....... it's how I roll  :D

Renewed.

Good price.

Yes, most likely. Football wise I see very little difference between League 1 and League 2. Shit teams in this league and shit teams in that league.

I know we're poo but I'll still renew
Next season could be sweet like Riesen chocolate chew

All you fucking not going bandwaggoners, you'll be straight back when we're good. I didn't go through one of our best seasons in recent history, it's not something you stop in the light of cheap season tickets and success.

Fucking part timers.

Not renewing.

If all goes to plan, I should be at one of Portsmouth, Southampton Solent or Chester university, so the prospect of having to travel back every other weekend and even on week nights just for 90 minutes doesn't appeal. Pair that with amount of debt I'm set to get myself in what with University fees, maintenance and lifestyle loans, travel expenses ect, having to fork out for a season ticket just isn't a possibility for me.

Having said that, this season has pissed me off so much I'm not too upset about missing next year's inevitable League Two campaign. I'll still support Swindon, and probably attend Oxford away for the "experience", but the club will get no money off of me next season.

I've had ST for the last few years with the kids, seriously considering not renewing. Because the kids are still quite young, we dont tend to go to many mid week games, so the savings over match day prices aren't that great. And if I dont renew it will mean we have the option to pick the best games to go to and to do other stuff on a Saturday, watch some rugby (Premiership matches at Gloucester or London Irish can cost less than a pay on the day ticket at STFC), maybe some local non-league games. Enthusiasm is really waning at the moment, and unless the next couple of games show any signs of progress, I cant see me renewing before April 3rd or whatever it is. And if I dont get the early bird renewal I definitely wont renew as it wont be worth it.

Good point.

Only way I'll be there next season is if i'm in the dugout having been appointed manager.

Yeah probably. Assuming I get paid sometime soon.

Spot on. All this whinging about our board is doing my head in. Where has all this fitton medling in team affairs talk come from?where was all the anti board slanging as we were taking our place at wembley last May? Were our board shit at football decisions then? Get a grip...  

Fuck off

Hit a nerve sweetpea? Bless x

I'm not sure that's what I was trying to say at all.

Not really you just seem a bit German.

after spot on it was my own rant nothing to do with your post.

Yes, we played in White.

Tongue in cheek warning for the excessively literal...

I think you will find plenty of reasons sherlock if you read this forum instead of just coming on and picking up on one thread.

How about the demise of a squad that got us to Wembley in the first instance, yet alone the piss poor excuses we have drafted in as replacements.

Failing that you could also have a chat with Divinhio

Get a fucking grip

 People come in and out of fandom all the time, often as shown by this thread, it is some of the loudest and most "diehard" who jump ship first.

 This season has been absolute gash....the worst side I've seen at this level, and I started going just about 50 years ago.

 The only interest has been how the fuck did it happen? Buggered if I know.  But the future is now fascinating....can we really rule out a drop to the Conference?  Or maybe we'll use it as a springboard to fight back.

It's never been easy being a Town fan....

i ditched going to games pre christmas as i was not enjoying it anymore.I'd been going to nearly every home game and plenty of away for the past 10 years pretty solidly until then.
The last time i did this was when going to raves on friday night was a better prospect during the 90's.Got the bug back when i was able to start taking my son to games.
Now the raves have been repleced with golf,horse racing,the dog,and even shopping with the mrs.

No doubt the urge to go to football will return,as it will with plenty of others.
Not for the forseeable future though.

If i'm being honest I will be renewing. The simple reason for it is that basically I will more than likely end up going to games anyway as I dont really have much else to do with my time these days. I actually enjoyed L2 last season but that's not to say i will this time around. Really the decision to renew is based on financial logic. If you're going to go to more than 10 games then it's much better value in the long run to renew. For this reason I will. Even if i miss about 7 or 8 i've still spent less than paying on the day.

I have to admit though this is probably the season I have least enjoyed as a Town fan. Even 05/06 had some plus points to it like the win at home to Bristol City etc. And back then we were just shite on and off the pitch. I think given the circumstances of the club now it's been a real let down this season and I like many other no doubt am feeling very deflated by it all. Have to say the match day experience has gone right downhill as well. I just dont look forward to home games anymore because the atmosphere is shite more often than not, the pre-match entertainment and half time entertainment are shite as well. Even 4 or 5 years ago these were things that didn't bother me much. Having said all that we all experienced the way things turned around the last time we went down and like I said i enjoyed league 2 in the end because put simply we were winning. I'm not going to complain if that's the case again so i'm prepared to take the risk again.

Ugh... yeah I expect so.

Renewing.

My ST price is good, even for L2 football and I'd rather be at the County Ground than listening on the radio, which is what will happen if I don't go.

Will renew next week.

I'll probably renew, in the hope we'll do something decent next season.

Don't know how many more home games i'll bother going to this season though. Missing this saturdays to go to a gig in the evening instead, which is by far the flimsiest excuse i've used for not going. It's just not enjoyable at the moment. I know it will pick up sometime in the future though, and I want to be there when it does

Football is fickle always has been always will be and for that reason I'm not renewing next season...will buy a half season ticket though if we're top at Christmas.

1000 and out.good nite.

I'll renew. I've had 40 years of watching this lot, another one won't kill me. I remember the Ken Beamish days and as bad as this is, its nowhere near as shite as then.

No from me as I live to far away but on the odd weekend that I return I will pop in to see how we are getting on.

I do hope Julie Watts renews for next season tho  :)

;)

Not for me..........will be picking and choosing,my passion has gone and just dont enjoy it.....will spend a little more and go to a few more away games.

Can everyone please stop using this godawful phrase "Matchday experience"? It's not an "experience", any more than we're "customers", it's supporters going to support their team. Sure, I'd prefer the food/programmes etc to be reasonably priced, warm-ish and available without queueing into half way through the first half but I've never yet come away from a match saying "Well, we may have won 4-0 but I have to say the whole experience was undermined for me by an inadequate choice of hot and cold beverages at half-time" or "I know we played like absolute shite and deservedly got gubbed but fortunately those dancing ponies at half time rescued the day for me and made for a thoroughly entertaining day out".

It's fucking football - whether it's enjoyable or not depends pretty much exclusively on what happens (or doesn't on the pitch). You can stick your experiences up your arse.

(not aimed at leefer, even if it was his use of the phrase set me off, as I suspect he no more goes for the "experience" than I do)

With football you make your own matchday experience.

I dont think you do.

I have no control over whether Swindon win or not.

Not renewing, but I've only spent 2 years as a season ticket holder anyway.  Not to do with the team, more to do with the restriction on seating and also sheer annoyance at people around me - I'm becomming rather nasty at games now in retaliation.  Think I need a little break or open the Bank for me.

I'm renewing.

I can understand anyone not renewing after the shite thats been mostly served this season, but that's what you get supporting a lower league team.

I do think Fitton needs to put his hand in his pocket and get a manager in that makes that ones who are not sure about renewing, to change their mind, which Wise did when he was appointed. We need a similar appointment, and maybe appoint a 'big name' player who has just retired and wants to get into managing.

I still think we will get in excess of 3k, but we've got to get players who are going to get us out of L2 asap.

Will probably renew which feels a little bizarre as I really can't be arsed to go on Saturday, never mind face another 23 games of L2 shit next season.

However, even the mention of not renewing has freaked my boys out. They're not bothered about 5 year plans, 4-5-1 or early bird super saver interest free instalment plans but with a watch the small print administration fee plus another £15 quid for JRs.

Oh for a life of simple, childish logic: you have a team, you go and support them.

If there is hope, it rests with the young.

No chance! I have had enough this season, when you think things can only improve....they don't. I've had a season ticket for the last three years, the last one before that was for the prem year; I went to about 5 games between 1999 and 2006 (I had lost interest then). Went to a few games in 2007 and my interest was rekindled. Over the years it seems to me that players have lost that passion for my club, so what am I supporting  ???

Fantastic post Christy

The affection between the everyday fan and the players who play for their football club is at an all time low.

Depressing really.

you know, judging by some of the posts on here there does seem to be some half intellignet town fans out there.

Whilst every town fan I meet out and about seems to be a fuckwit...whats going on?

Everyone else on the site is simply sonic posting under different aliases to reflect the many different facets of his character. And he actually lives in a mountain fortress in Norway from where he controls his army of minions in his ongoing plot to take over the world so doesn't get to matches very often. The chances of you meeting him are slim

Yes i will be before the end of this month because i don't want to pay more than the £259 and will pay £15 so my son can have a ticket.Part of me doesn't want to but i know if i don't i will be bored on a Satureday afternoon next season. Oh what an exciting life i lead !

That's essentially how I see it....but I'm an old fart.

I think for the young, it's more you have a team STFC, but buy a Chelsea/Arsenal/ManUre shirt to save having the piss ripped out of you at school.

Maybe in general, Rooney seems to lead the way in plumbing new depths.

But I honestly think Swindon fans are more much more positive about the players than we were 2 and a half years ago, during the Aljofree/Malpas debacle. Some of the players have continued to try very hard this season. But the problem is terminal this season, not enough quality up front.

I have sat in the same seat for 24 seasons since I was 4 years old, seen the club in all 4 divisons and seen some awful Town teams. But this year has been the worst and most heart breaking season I have ever had because in all those years I have never looked forward to a season as much as this one. After last year I went into the Brighton game believing that we were in for an even greater season than last, But that game was a real wake up call for what was ahead.
I have never till this year realised just how Swindon results effect my moods. Saturdays are like groundhog day at the moment waking up with a sense of optimism but come 5pm feeling it all sucked out of me, in fact almost every saturday for 3 months has left me feeling as empty as after the wembley game.

That said its those emotions and feelings that make me realise I cant give it up, I will be renewing because regardless of if we win or lose being a Town fan is part of who I am, its in my blood and If I didn't renew I would just be sat next to a radio or updating the town end on my iphone anyway.

Has anyone received a renewal letter or email yet? I haven't (which won't make any difference anyway  :()

yes had an email the other week

It's worse than that Reg....in the new year my eleven year old struck a safe looking bet with his Pox supporting teacher.....so if Swindon are relegated he gets to choose a song to sing, on his own, in whole school assembly.....

This is in Witney.  He won't be banking on having a load of mates to help him out.  I don't know what the other side of the bet is, that's become rather more irrelevant.

Just had a look at the stats.....

STFC last six home games we have scored 1 goal.
D&R last six away games = 7 goals scored.

Odds I have just seen on a D&R away win 11/4

With sublime timing my renewal letter dropped on my door-mat the morning after the Plymouth game sealed our fate. Imagine my guffaws as I read the opening sentence:


Still, at least the uncertainty's been cleared up