Got to agree with Bruno that if it wasn't for the Management, Team and usual suspects (and Hampton fans, who were more than welcome and entered into the spirit of the evening) it would have been a disaster attendance wise! Those that were there had a great time so..........where were the rest of you? Are the WSU, as they think, banging their heads on a brick wall? Free entry to a WELLING fund raising do and the chance to meet Andy, Jimmy and ALL of the players socially spurned by so many!!!! When the WSU, who have contributed a fair bit to the playing budget this year, wake up to the apathy displayed by SO many and go back to being regular supporters i promise, you'll miss them!
I feel that this post opens up a whole new debate and thus I have used the post to start a new thread rather than bury it in another.
Speaking personally Mogwai I think you'll find that WSU are fully aware of the apathy and some are questioning the point of expending their time and energy trying to raise funds for the development of Welling United with so little response.
Had it not been for the WSU input into this year's playing budget I have absolutely no doubt that we would not have the team we now have nor be in the position we are.
As supporters we have long criticised the Club for its lack of investment and ambition and whilst we may still believe that the commercial side of things needs to be properly addressed what cannot be denied is that the efforts of Barrie and Barry over the last 18 months have resulted in a more forward looking Club with genuine ambition. Regrettably during this period we have seen the support for events run by WSU dwindle despite their efforts. I for one find it hard to believe that there is a future for WSU as a serious fund raiser if the remaining events are as poorly supported as many of the events which have been organised this season have been.
In addition to the Sponsor a Goal Scheme, WSU '49 Club' Lottery, and the sale of scratch cardswhich are ongoing there are 3 more fund raising events organised by WSU for this season:
3 April Quiz Night
1 May Quiz Night
8 May Golf Day
Additionally there events on:
25 April End of Season Presentation Night (not primarily a fund raiser)
30 April Welling Vets v Charlton Vets match in aid of Dereck Brown who broke his leg causing the abandonment of in this fixture earlier in the season.(Only just confirmed and I will post further details when I get them.)
Are we supporters of Welling United or merely fans? I would suggest that the level of support for these activities and events will provide the answer.
-- Edited by bruno on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 09:47:46 AM
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i agree with the post above but speaking on a personal level i turn up to games by myself(have an occasional mate join me) and i dont really fancy just turning up to a wsu night as a "billy-no-mates" and have to try to join in on a table or annoyingly attach myself to a group of people whoare already mates
but as ive said i do agree with the above and it would be good if more did turn out to events
I think there are several reasons for low attendances at events.
The events are generally known to fans (or friends of fans) only. Even if local people did find out about events it's not the sort of clubhouse that would attract them. It's set back, directly within the club grounds, open at select times and amongst many local pubs and social clubs.
We are getting about 550 at home games, not all buy programmes, look for posters or go online. That might leave half who know about the event. Out of 200 people we are asking for say 50+ to attend - that's a high percentage of people who know about the event.
Bit of a catch 22 with the event after a game, on one hand you think it should attract supporters at the game, on the other, people have other things to do if they've been at football all afternoon. If the events are at non-football days then see my first point.
Personally if I've been at football I tend to get home earlier these days - young kids at home, nights out other times etc etc. It might be just one night for Welling but for me, one afternoon and one night. Other times I might be working late and other weeks have other things on - I doubt I'm alone on this.
Credit crunch? I dont think this affects attendances at all although neabry pubs charge a fortune for drinks.
Solutions? Tricky but the clubhouse isn't like others such as VCD, Eastbourne, Folkestone or Bognor (pre-fire). You can go into those places knowing they are open like a social club. Their location helps as does the surrounding facilities (VCD have other sports going on, sky etc). Mass advertising? Again a catch 22 with the clubhouse.
I agree with J. I go to games on my own, although I have now made a friend in Mr Cynical
For me as much as I'd love to give more time to the club, I just don't have the time. It takes a lot convincing the Mrs I should be at football rather than playing with the kids, and extending that to additional nights is rarely going to happen.
Wish I had read this thread before posting on another. I went to a couple of quiz nights but rather than be "Billy No Mates" I got a team of friends together and even though we came last we enjoyed the experience. Regretably my employer changed my working pattern which meant I had less Fridays off so I could no longer go to the quiz night. None of my friends who came with me are Welling Fans and in fact a couple probally could not describe a football, therefore they didnt bother to continue going. It is my intention to get a team together for the new season and once again get along to the quiz nights.
I for one appriciate what the WSU do and hope I can give them more support next season.
Note for the friendly Quiz Master who does the bonus ball (sorry dont know your name) Can I register the team name Charlotte Churchs cousins cat catches colds constantly?
"Note for the friendly Quiz Master who does the bonus ball (sorry dont know your name) Can I register the team name Charlotte Churchs cousins cat catches colds constantly?"
No, and enough with the alliteratic team names - I might have to start docking points!
Seriously, thank you and we look forward to seeing you at future quizzes.
I have been to every home game, always buy a programme and often transfer into the stand, so have given the club more than someone who has been to half the games and a race night. Now I am told I am not a supporter.
Supporters and fans are the exact same thing. This thread is about semantics more than anything else. No one has the right to judge someone else's commitment to the club!
Agree..no one has the right BUT it should be understood that the 550 who do turn up at home games all want a successful team (aprt from the away fans of course)....At this level it is always the fans that raise that extra ammount to have a better team/facilities
I know that some do not want to stay behind or turn up on another night due to commitments...I am the same as I live in MK BUT everyone could participate in say...SAG if we hade 150 in this scheme we would make real significant money
How about at the next few home games get people to leave their e-mail addresses for an electronic newsletter once a month? People don't always visit websites but tend to check emails. I bet there's people who go to games who don't even realise there is a forum or WSU site. Perhaps have the option for people to leave their e-mail address OR a mobile phone number for event reminders? A simple text message might help get numbers coming in.
The WSU try to make things better, I completely thought they were useless at the start and while they have made some big mistakes they do try.
I still have massive reservations about how it was formed and self elected. Still believe it is a few fans p1ssing against the wind that were never universally accepted as being independent and open.
I also have reservations about the effectiveness and marketing skills of the WSU but i do believe what they do is valuable. I would have liked WUISA and WSU to have merged, WUISA have quite a lot of (expired) members who were active who could be brought back to the fold that would provide a solid platform.
If people are not supporting events run by WSU you have to look at the whole situation and try to do something that will change things.
Is it truly United? I am not so sure and there in lies the problem. As i said they are trying but IMO have never been universally supported. How many of the hundred plus WUISA members support the WSU? doesnt sound very many to me.
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