Thetownend.com

Williams wants fans to return
           
           


  ANDY Williams hopes Swindon Town’s display in the 3-2 Capital One Cup defeat to Aston Villa on Tuesday will have convinced occasional visitors to the County Ground to make a return trip for the FA Cup clash with Macclesfield this weekend, writes SAM MORSHEAD.

           

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/10019076.Williams_wants_fans_to_return/?ref=rss
           
           
           

 I'd imagine most of the extras, will now go back to watching Oxford.....good of them to swell our coffers though.

I didn't go to the Villa game I was going to go on Saturday but now I feel unwelcome.

Good. No place for your sort.

I hope to see more come back but i can't see it as when we do get the bumper crowds all i hear from the regulars is look at all the plastics and pretty much doing everything they can to make them feel unwelcome. One guy behind me on Tuesday took it upon himself to start having a go at a guy who had his little kids with him ! What a bell end !

Before anyone asks yes i am a season ticket holder have been for many years.

Trouble is we are assuming the 7,000 are same 7,000 that show up every week when they're not. Granted we have core of ST holders (5,000ish) but many others drift in and drift out (the other 2,000). Lots drift in for big games - it's a fact of footballing life at League One level.

The more we keep peddling out the "plastic" line about the fans that show up to Villa games etc the more they'll be put off from coming.

I bet most of those 11,000 (presume Villa bought 3,000ish) will see at least a handful of games a season... And the ones that show up JUST for Villa are in minority.

Good post. I go to an average of 10 aways and 5 homes. Might make me a plastic home fan in some peoples eyes, but when a game like villa comes around I'm not gonna miss it. Don't think there were many true plastics at villa. Wembley on the other hand....

The only thing that annoys me whenever we get a big crowd, is the morons who can't put a row to the one that's printed on their ticket.

Ha ha.  It took us 5 minutes to get up the steps into the stand due to the number of people needing help from the stewards with directing to their seats.  Then when we got to our seats there were people sat in them.  The bloke wouldn't have it that he was in the wrong seat until the people who sit behind and to the side of us backed up that we've sat in those seats for 4 years!  Stupid fool then moved to the row behind and got shifted on again when the rightful seat holders turned up a few minutes later.

I drift in for cheap games,can't afford normal prices and cant afford to stump up in advance for a season ticket.. am I a plastic?

Absolutely :nod:

ace!


hip hip hooray for footballs!

let's be plastic together

[url width=500 height=375]http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2010/9/9/f0d91b01-3ff5-4e3e-a48e-51c8a93164d7.jpg[/url]

I used to go week-in week-out with my dad, then stopped for a while, then started doing so again. For the past few years, primarily because of Swindon being hours away on the train and University work , I haven't been to nearly as many games as I want to. Perhaps 9/10 in the past two seasons?

I can sit at home and do work listening to Player (shit as it is), and do for every match I can't go and see. Even so, when I do turn up, I am fully comfortable being back in the CG. Don't feel 'plastic' at all, though some would probably call me it because I'm not there every week.

Because I have taken yanks to a few games (and yanks have this habit of being loud and asking lots of questions without considering their surroundings), I often get funny looks and some really dickish comments from people who see themselves as 'better' fans. How is the club supposed to attract new fans to come back if the current ones turn people away by being twats? It's even worse when they're moaning about kids and parents being there. FFS, those kids, if they enjoy themselves, are gonna be the ones who pester daddy or mummy to bring them back next time, so that's 2/3 extra tickets being sold, maybe a shirt at christmas, and one or two more kids pried away from supporting the knobs at Chelsea or Man Utd.

I hate the one-upmanship so much of our fan base feels is necesseray. Knobheads.

That said, I do prefer it when we're shit and no-one comes, because it is SO MUCH MORE comfortable.

The only sporadic fans that annoy me are the ones who tell you off for being too rowdy, or who go once a year for a big game and then tell all and sundry how they have always supported Swindon and they're some sort of super fan.

What we really need are more new fans who will get involved in the atmosphere, particularly not creating 'template chants' which are starting to annoy the fuck out of me. Some tidy football rat would be good too.

I haven't been to watch a game yet this season, because I have taken a second job and work every Saturday afternoon and every Tuesday evening.

I always enjoyed the atmosphere during a match more with a bigger crowd, but equally got pissed off at half time because the queues for the food were too long and they often ran out of chips/carvery bap before I got to the front. So in essence, casual supporters are good as long as the regulars get preferential treatment when queuing for refreshments.

I just love a packed full house at the CG.
Unfortunately we don't witness it enough.

When that second goal went in the other night the noise level was incredible.
Surely we all want the same thing a packed CG plastics or not.

Imagine that every week......I for one would not get bored.

I noticed at the Villa game how unwilling some people are to bother singing. I've always been vocal at football matches, so it bothers me a little when pretty much all the Arkells is quiet for the whole game. Town end did a pretty good job on Tuesday, and the South side of the DRS did try a little. Didn't one football club trial 'song sheets' at some game? Anyone know how that turned out?

I've been sporadic for several years.  Family circumstances - and the fact that I left Swindon 13 years ago - have seen to that.  I'll bet there are thousands of others like me.  Plastic?  Fuck off.

The crowd is always going to be a mix.  Sporadic supporters with a lot of history, occasionals who have only recently started going, season ticket holders, school kids, friends, OAPs who have barely missed a game in 40 years.  All with one thing in common.

Exactly right....

I can concur totally and am in exactly the same boat as yourself having left Swindon 12 years ago.

I haven't been to the CG for over a year, the team are doing well so I'll continue to stay away  :). Plastic? Nope. I have been going for 23 years and will no doubt go again. Being married, with a family, I can't justify the cost.

Dont even go there, 90% of our songs have that same unoriginal "he does what he wants" tune these days anyway

Nearly half a century on, the Beach Boys know that they have finally arrived.   ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdov2UIjUpY

Spot on. Season ticket holder for years in 80s and 90s, gave up due to Mcmahon/Hunts treatment of fans/club. Moved away but still go every season about a dozen times home and away.  Plastic - nope

Seems like there's quite a few people with a chip on their shoulder today ;)

I left Swindon 10 years ago - but am returning in January.

Do they still do those half-season ticiets?

They haven't done, but i know of people who have negotiated deals/bundles through Nick Watkins?

The thought of missing a home game knots my stomach.
Missed one last season due to being ill (Daggenham). I still attempted to go but got off the M40 and was sick and felt like dying.
Stupid really as I was not fit to get in a car.
Go to the majority of away games.

Don't even come from Swindon but watching the Town is a way of life for me.
No better supporter than anyone else but it is just the way it is.
Still married and the Wife has always understood this was never going to change.

All fans have different circumstances and again that is the way it is.
I have spent thousands of pounds supporting STFC and don't regret anything as I have great memories.

As for the term Plastics I direct that to the once a season "Big game Wembley" types, or once a season if we draw a Premiership Club. Would love them to attend regularly as the bigger gates the more likely we get better by having a bigger budget.

Loyal Supporter - Yes and proud of it. Nothing wrong with this either.

Ah, but how long did they have to queue for that chip?

Why are people justifying why and how often they go to football? Its not like Williams is really that bothered guys.

should've phoned up.

If we ever set out song sheets I will be utterly fucking embarrassed. Reading and Arsenal have been known to do this in the past and I found it hilarious.

There's only one way to know if a chant works or not and that's try it. If people think it's good then not only will they join in after a couple of go's but you'll hear other parts of the stand starting it. (Alan McCormack chant as an example)

If people think it's complete shite, you can try it as many times as you want but it will only ever be a few of you singing it for your own amusement ('more than a winger' for example)

Is it a plastic chip? Or an RFC chip? Maybe that's why their season tickets aren't scanning properly?

Looking at online ticket sales for tomorrow we'll be lucky to see 4000.

Will Macclesfield beat the 38 that came last time?

Or just put them in stocks in the market square maybe?

Cunt.

Sadly I can't make tomorrow due a london meet up with my old uni mates, friday and saturday night on the pop and here's hoping we do what we need to get through to the next round!  :pint:  :beers:

Seconded. You can add Wes' chant to the list that have taken off though.

I try to do my bit whenever there is a big game or a promotion...usually I get at least 10 extra family members along...the problem is that most are interested in how the town are doing, but just don't have enough time to go to every game. I really think things would be different if we can turn a day of 'Go to the game - go home" into "turn up early,, get a nice, reasonable sit-down meal, have something for the kids to do, then take in the game".

It would also generate more revenue for the club,too.

On a personal note, I'd love to hang around before and after thegame if the facilities were there...but standing up in Digby's Bar, knocking back a pie isn't my idea of a relaxing time.

If they build it, they will come...

I don't know that they will tbh. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that one of the key issues is people just don't have the time these days. And I'd add to that, the money which is something else that's in short supply these days for most families - it's prohibitively expensive for the casual fan to just turn up (unless there's an offer on) and food/drink etc when they get there is also very expensive. Turning it into a lengthier (albeit more varied) experience won't fix that.

There may be an untapped market among the existing fanbase to make more of a day of it in the way you suggest but I suspect it's being adequately served by pub+football. And I doubt being able to spend even more time/money at the football ground would drag in many new punters. You need to get them in first, then work out ways of getting them to spend longer there.

Did I see somewhere that you have got the bug again Mr D and have returned once again to the promised land and bow down and hail to the great Paolo and his warriors

May as well try and be different as opposed to usual fast clapping generic shite you hear at most home games.

Yeah, I definitely get what you are saying. A big part of increased revenue will be getting people to the CG early, rather than stating at the pubs until 2.45pm. But at the moment, for the casual fan (who may, over time, go to more and more games) there aren't enough options of getting a decent, simple meal beforehand or afterwards in a clean, safe environment. You're right; the key to increasing revenue is getting people at the CG earlier, and keeping them afterwards. But I think the same applies for getting more, newer people down there, too.

Who are you trying to kid - you're a plastic and you know it. :nod:

It's so easy. My matchday routine used to be

11.30 Chris Graham's bookies in Stratton for a few doggy bets

Midday retire to the Crown - get stuck into the Stella

1pm get taxi from Crown to CGH

More beer, game of pool, Pistols on the jukebox.

Leave CGH at 2.55pm

Get turned away at turnstiles at 3pm!!!

Sorry did I hurt the boy band at the backs feelings?

At the moment, they can't even manage to not run out of chips 5 mins into half time on a 6500 gate. Which is quite pathetic (and no it's not a one-off, happens pretty much every time I forget how crap it is). Until they can sort that out, they should forget all the grandiose talk of "sweating the asset" and all that - get the basics right first, then think about more advanced stuff.

I know what you mean about the food.

Legends opened at 5 on tuesday, got in there at 515 and wanted a pie. Was told it wasnt ready, be 10 minutes.

Fucking pisstake.

Bang on Paul...been saying it for a long time......kids go to footy to eat food,drink pop and generally have a good time.
Most blokes at footy have had a beer and are hungry...very hungry.

Sort it out Town.....its not fucking Rocket Science....ask the burger bar owners outside who are counting the money that you could be counting.

Pretty sure the club are charging the buger vans a fair bit just to be there

For all the good that the current board have done...food is one area that has deteriorated. Obviously you expect a premium to pay of some sort within the ground but the price has increased and quality has gone down dramatically. The quality of the food in the Townend for example hot dogs is quite frankly a joke...

You cant even buy chips in the legends anymore. As for that Di Canios Deli, what a load of fucking wank. Even the burgers have more sweat on them than Jimmy Savile outside the playground, fucking foul.

Well I turned up Andy. Fuck knows where you and most of the team were....

I'm glad I didn't

No need to touch the food inside the CG as long as those Burger vans stick around IMO

Dead right.  The chips in the Arkells suddenly jumped from £1.50 to £2 and you get half as many.

maybe andy will start paying for our tickets if he's going to keep performing like that!

Christ , he only had an off day. Do you pay more for your tickets when he scores?

tongue in cheek mate, thought he played quite well, tried to run at them at every oppurtunity, was one of those days when we could have played for hours and not scored

I agree about the food, how hard can it be to keep the chips coming? every single half time they always run out or there not ready when the whistle blows, I twittered the club before but they never twitter back and nothing has changed, and tbh I feel like a raging bull about it, SORT OUT THE CHIPS ASAP.

He didn't look his sharp self but I suppose expected due to being out for a few weeks. Thought today when he made himself half a yard he didn't get a shot away which is unlike him.

To be fair the chips need to be sat in the fryer for a few mins, so it's not as easy as you say, are you suggesting they fry up loads and loads and loads of chips during the first half and stock pile for the half time rush? There'd be a lot of shrivelly cold chips being served up.

The cheese burgers in the TownEnd I got no complaints about. I do find the need for half time imbibing and consumption a tad baffling. Get leathered pre match, gorge out in a takeaway/chippie, and if you really need to then spike a few bottles of cola with vodka (they only remove the cap)

i agree but did anyone look like scoring? there were a lot of hopeful balls into the box not really aimed at anyone. it was a bad day at the office, macc came with a game plan and it worked better than they ever imagined it would.

If they really can't get a production line going to fulfill the chip orders which I doubt anyway as I'm sure until a few years ago this problem never existed or at least I can never remember being annoyed about it, then the chips should be piled high on the commercial hot plates next to the fryers (which was once again EMPTY today in the DRS seat 1-49 section), as warm chips are better then no chips, funny how I never see this problem happening at any other grounds, and I refuse to accept that is not possible to keep the chips coming and I think they are just lazy.

The last page has made strange reading, moving between chips and Andy William's performance today.  I wonder if he likes chips?

And maybe this is why Wray got the push, great football chairman but unable to sort out important commercial issues such as the lack of chips in the DRS, I hope Patey takes the time to sort this shit out.

what the fuck?

 :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGdH9uYvOwU

I did a brief stint in a burger van at Aintree during the big festival and keeping the fries coming apace with the demands of the consumer was a tough ask!!

Chips with melted cheddar on, bloody lovely  :I'm a complete mofleakin Deak

and lashings of mayonnaise :nod:

Chinese chips are the best.

Stunning  :nod:

Proper Chinese chips are cooked in peanut oil. Bet you are glad you know that now  :)

Interesting thread which has passed me by until now. Anyway, I think some season ticket holders are arseholes, speaking and behaving like they are superior supporters. They aint, they just want to save money.

 Going to watch the town aint as important as it was to me anymore. I rarely go nowadays as I watch my son play but cannot be arsed anyway. Been to hundreds of games and used to hate missing fixtures but aint bothered now. I still go now and then and town will always be my team but it's not a priority anymore.

But why?

Have to admit I'm starting to go the same way a bit. I remember a while ago being absolutely gutted at missing a JPT (or LDV or whatever) game through purely forgetting about it. Even more so as we stuffed Southend 6-0 or something.

Yesterday I missed the FA Cup game, and was mildly disappointed for about 5 minutes (less so after hearing the score!).

Can't make Tuesday either, was more annoyed but its the Mrs 40th so what can you do (other than go :))

When and why did it change from being gutted at missing an LDV to being mildly annoyed at missing the FA cup.

Have I grown up or something. I don't think so.

For some priorities change. That's all I can put it down to. I remember 1 season as a teen I missed one home game all season as I was skint. It was palace and I still went to the county ground and went in at the end when the gates were opened. stfc was so big a thing for me then. Times change.

i stopped going quite so often when i moved to the midlands as i either couldn't afford it, was working or just couldn't be arsed. now i can't make it to games at all i miss it a whole lot more.

I understand the above comments, It's expensive and time consuming following any team to the extent where you rarely miss a game. It's also the bug factor that gets to some people and also breaking a way of life can sometimes be very difficult.
Going to games for me is easier because I still get the buzz and by and large enjoy my match days. When you get shitty results/proformances  like yesterday it makes the next win even more enjoyable. There will be tonnes of reasons why people can't get along to matches on a regular bases and sometimes the reason could simply be that they just don't fancy it. Can't see how anyone can be better or worse whenever they choose to go to games or not.

I was fanatical in the 90's (even went to away friendlies), but the Quinn era killed it for me and I stopped going for a couple of years. The addiction's back but I have a wife and two kids to think about now, so can only really attend home games and the very occasional away game.

Our attendance yesterday was thirds highest.  About 50 behind Coventry and 1000 behind Portsmouth.  I suspect Notts county took more to pompey than mac did to us.  Not so sure if Arlesley took many to cov.

So it wasnt too bad really.

Its an age thing...i had to miss yesterday....fireworks and the fact that we have four matches in 10 days......Villa,Macc,Sheff all home matches means on one hand i cannot afford it and on the other i really do have to chose a match to miss to be with the family.
Also i like my golf and time and money means i cannot do both as much as i would like and now and again i miss a match....not often i may add.
As you get older family issues and events often get in the way of football matches....if i was loaded and didn't have to work i would go to every match home and away.....three home matches in seven days means that sadly lots of people like myself have to make decisions....for some its down to money,others time....others its both.
The football forum has given lots of people who dont or cant go a chance to get close on matchday through the medium of Broadband...thats a good thing i reckon.

Was suprised and pleased we broke the 6k yesterday. if we weren't home Tuesday it would probably of been a few hundred more. What sort of attendance could we expect against United? Shame it wasn't a Saturday fixture in terms of numbers but would still expect them to bring over a thousand.

About 8800 i reckon Notts.

It's the sort of game that would attract 10k plus on a Saturday, but being a Tuesday I doubt we'll break 9k. Ticket sales on the online thingy look pretty poor too.

That's not to bad then Leefer, and after Walsall away we have home games the following Saturday and Tuesday: Yeovil & Brentford so again should be looking at healthy attendances.

This is very similar to me, although swap the wife for husband.  

Me, my dad and eldest son have season tickets, so attend all home games.  I don't tend to bother with cup games tbh unless it's against a higher opposition team or there's something riding on it (JPT semi as an example) because of the extra cost.  Same goes for away games, I really only go to ones reasonably local or of paramount importance.  I love away games, but again it's too expensive with travel for me and my son and not fair on my youngest to disappear for the whole day.
I missed yesterday and like Batch wasn't bothered.  My son on the other hand suddenly made a fuss about missing it and went with my dad.  

For those that don't have season tickets, £25 is quite an outlay, particularly with a cluster of home games together.  I can fully understand if people think twice when it's freezing cold and our home form isn't great.

 :o Well that's an interesting offer.

It always amazes me that those attending nearly every game don't have other things to do at the weekends, some things that you just have to do but maybe don't want to (the misses friends/family weddings feature highly on this list) and some things that you'd quite frankly rather do.

I'm not really sure who anyone is trying to convince here.

I've cut right back on away games since I met my other half, that's the compromise. So I've got some weekends with her and some at football. I don't have any other hobbies or real interests, just Swindon and I'd definitely prefer to watch them than go shopping, gardening, decorating etc. Everyone's got priorities, maybe I'm more selfish than some.

I've cut back on home games rather away ones since general life activities meant I couldn't go every week.

Ill go to any away game within a reasonable distance as I find the whole experience more enjoyable than a bog standard home game.

Spud wants Williams to have a fucking shot.