If season tickets still include the pre-season games then surely this is the year for anyone who has been thinking about getting one, to get one. I imagine the Arsenal game will sell out.
The WSU are free to hand these out at the Danson Festival this year as it will be a great chance to get some people to the friendlies and they might get tempted to get a season ticket or attend a few matches and bring others.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
I'll print loads of those posters out and leave them in whatever pubs i end up in during the next month or so. Will try to find some other useful places to put them as well.
The WSU are free to hand these out at the Danson Festival this year as it will be a great chance to get some people to the friendlies and they might get tempted to get a season ticket or attend a few matches and bring others.
that's why these big friendles are so important for the fact we can maybe pick up a few more fans - especially Arsenal where we can maybe become fans "second" teams if they like what they see
have to get the word out Arsenal are playing and have to also say a thankyou to them for coming no matter how many first teamers they bring (and im sure they will bring one or two)
The WSU are free to hand these out at the Danson Festival this year as it will be a great chance to get some people to the friendlies and they might get tempted to get a season ticket or attend a few matches and bring others.
Regretably WSU will not have a presence at the Danson Show this year.
It was not possible to hire a speedball at a cost which would ensure that attendance did not result in a loss.
-- Edited by bruno on Saturday 29th of May 2010 02:03:20 AM
-- Edited by bruno on Saturday 29th of May 2010 03:03:54 AM
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Chris it shows a lack of imagination and lack of Marketing skills which is what i have said all along.
No speedball so we dont bother and miss out on a fantastic chance to spread the word?
How about..
Five a Side goals and penalties? Skills challenges, Keepy Uppies, controlling the ball etc Putting some cones out and having fitness tests? Target shooting hanging some targets in the goals? Face painting for the nippers A Welling Mascot? A pegasus called Peggy? Or Willy the Wing? handing out stuff and having pics taken with the young ones? Youth coaches there trying to get more kids into the youth set up? Flyers for the friendlies given out and a poster up at our display stand? A Raffle/Tombola for a season ticket, shirt/ training kit/polo shirts etc etc, Evertyone gets a carton of drink or sticker etc?
There are many many other things you could do but this is all 2 minutes off the top of my head.
To miss it one year is bad to then miss it the next year is just abject and dire completely unacceptable imvho.
Sorry it sounds like having a dig at the WSU but for me its clueless and shows they make too many gaffs and dont maximise bringing money in or spreading the word of the club to the community when given the opportunity to do so on a plate.
They have no imagination or skills in Marketing and it costs us, if they are the designated supporters arm then they need to do a good job, not miss open goals .Or they or its officers need to be replaced by an Independent Association that may be embraced by the supporters as a whole and possibly have some people in it who think Marketing exists and have some creativity.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
I would dispute that WSU is the designated supporters arm, it is a very small number of independent supporters who voluntarily do what they can to raise funds. Whilst on results it may not be the most effective fundraising group in the world it has to be recognised that every pound they raise is a pound which wasn't there before. They are not a replacement for the Club having a Commercial Manager and as such any shortcomings there may or may not be in terms of marketing skills etc should not be regarded as costing the club.
WSU is the only existing group raising funds for Welling United and new participants are always welcome particularly if they have ideas for and are able to give their time to help organise and run fundraising events.
Without WSU there would be no quiz nights, no band nights, no end of season presntation night, the Club Shop would still have more than half of its small area taken up with old programmes, and there would be no alternative to paying £5 or £10 to watch Englands World Cup games on a big screen in a pub.
The fact that there isn't an Independent Association seems to suggest that either there isn't the demand for one or there isn't anyone (group of supporters) with the skills and time to organise and run one.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
Bruno, the WUISA was brought down to enable a smaller closer to the club "arm" to be the only choice. (Since then a lot of those in with WSU at the start have stepped down, leaving a few good intentioned fans who sadly cant make a go of it)
A true supporters association will bring in more funds and have more knowledge. Sadly with this 2nd no show at Danson, the WSU has clearly shown it cannot maximise openings and it has no marketing abilities.
Where everyone goes from here i have no idea. What is very clear, is this is unacceptable to have no presence at danson AGAIN. There is no plan b with WSU and plan a isnt that much cop either. They appear not learn from mistakes either.
It may seem like criticsm but i think its warranted and if you have an Organisation that misses open goals and is not very good, then discussing it may either give them a kick up the arse or... See something better take over.
If you put your self up for something then do it well and dont just give up which is what it looks like happens with WSU. Oh we cant get a cheap speedball so forget it.
Everything has to fall in the lap of the WSU or its a complete balls up.
I hope they do a better job in the club shop and have it stocked from the first pre season game and not when our biggest crowds been and gone.
-- Edited by JgFc on Saturday 29th of May 2010 07:45:07 PM
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
I would dispute that WSU is the designated supporters arm, it is a very small number of independent supporters who voluntarily do what they can to raise funds. Whilst on results it may not be the most effective fundraising group in the world it has to be recognised that every pound they raise is a pound which wasn't there before.
This is where the WSU is going wrong. The aim of the WSU should not be exclusively to raise funds. We do not have enough supporters to raise enough money for something significant like a covered terrace.
The title on the top of the WSU website says Wings Supporters United- Working for the development of Welling United. Well the most important thing for the development of this football club is supporters and the desperate need for new ones.
The promotion of this club in the borough of Bexley is absolutley dire. In my opinion the club (the Hobbins) should invest in a commercial manager who as well as other things, (ie. securing sponsorship), should organise WUFC presence at the Danson Festival but failing that its down to supporters.
I can see why the WSU have not gone for a speed shot game (£400 hire charge+ prize money + several hundred £ pitch hire). Similar with a 5 a side or penalty shoot out comp. These events could loose money as easily as make money and also require much organising, preperation and staffing.
But the cost of a 6X3 metre pitch would have cost £172 with a early bird price. The cost is now £264:38. Even that has got to be worth it for 2 days of promotion to the local public and the chance to sell items from the club shop and tickets to our 3prestigious friendlies. CAFC will be there giving out free goody bags- no wonder most of their support comes from Bexley- theres no competition!
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh When the Wingssssss
I Saw danson as a great opportunity to get new blood through the turnstiles, spread the word of the club and try and connect with thousands of local people.
Well done on the prices Chris. I feel we could have made that back through tickets, raffles, selling merchandise and getting some families through the turnstiles.
Sadly another opportunity goes begging. Work out what it would cost to advertise to 50,000 local people , probably more than £172!
Great shame.
Chris they cant afford to pay a commercial manager £500 a week to do the job so thats not going to happen. But the WSU had a chance for ALMOST free publicity and chances to make some money and get the club in the local minds.
Frankly a second no show at Danson is an almighty error.
-- Edited by JgFc on Sunday 30th of May 2010 12:03:39 AM
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
JgFc, Its all very well to say a true supporters association would bring in more funds and have more knowledge but the reality is there isn't one and as far as I know nobody is setting one up.
Having no WSU presence at the Danson Show is regretable but perhaps if more people people paticipated in it, alternatives to the speedball may have materialised and there would have been a presence. Criticising the only people who are actually giving their time and energy to raise funds and suggesting they need a "kick up the arse" for not promoting the club at the local show (which surely is a remit which lies with the Club anyway) is hardly likely to improve the situation.
Where do we go from here? I predict that over the next 12 months an independent supporters associoation will not materialise, WSU will continue to do what it can to raise funds for the Club, statements such as "Why aren't WSU doing x" or "WSU could do y" will continue, and what WSU do organise successfully will continue to be overshadowed by things which others consider they should have done/achieved and for whatever reason didn't. A bleak picture for anyone in WSU - lets hope I'm proved wrong.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
On reflection some of the above is a bit OTT but for goodness sake its harsh to criticise a small group of supporters who are actually doing what they can to raise funds.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
That is exactly how I read it, Bruno. The WSU is the only game in town, whatever its shortcomings. I cannot criticise it because I am not involved. I buy scratchcards, raffle tickets, sponsor goals every year, buy my beer in the club bar and, when asked, buy bonus ball entries. If I lived closer to the ground I would become involved.
Bruno is right, it is really down to the Club itself to promote the Wings at the Danson festival with, or without, the help of the WSU. While Jgfc makes some good arguments, I cannot see another option. Who is going to put their head above the parapet and involve themselves in oodles of work with precious little thanks, and an abundance of criticism, to set up an alternative supporters organisation?
The WSU is run by good, well-intentioned, people who give of their time and effort to help Welling United and its supporters. As long as it exists, I will support it as much as I can from afar. But to raise the Club's profile and to gain support from local businesses and organisations, the Wings must have a commercial manager. It does not have to be a wage of £500 a week, it could be a small wage but with a bonus of 30-50 per cent of whatever money he or she brings in. That way, more money could be raised and the person appointed would be motivated. And there should not be any quibbling about the percentage commission because the money raised must surely exceed the current proceeds.
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Oh, a mighty god is the god of gold, His empire never decays; In every age, in every clime, The hearts of men he sways.
The way i see it the WSU rake in extras money that is mostly from Fans who are already there. The way to increase money coming in is to bring in new money (The same with the club too).
Danson Festival, provides a cheap(ish) way of reaching thousands of local families and having the chance to attract them. There is no other way through the season for such an opportunity to do this on this scale.
It looks like the WSU have decided that Danson is a no go or its beyond their capabilities.
That being the case... Do we have a community officer still? If so then make Danson 2011 his remit.
All of the WSU who are raising money well done. You are probably right Mark, when you say put up or shut up. However if you dont want to get involved as you have doubts about the abilities of those in the organisation, then you probably do have the right to make comment as long as you arent personally abusive?
Thats all i have to say on the matter. Carry on chaps and apologies if Bruno and others think that highlighting shortcomings is bang out of order.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
What I am saying is that there are some great ideas that we are missing out on........Your right a small number of people cant do everything and neither should they
It just seems to me that there is a group on here that maybe if they got together then we could have more events covered
Five a Side goals and penalties? Skills challenges, Keepy Uppies, controlling the ball etc Putting some cones out and having fitness tests? Target shooting hanging some targets in the goals? Face painting for the nippers A Welling Mascot? A pegasus called Peggy? Or Willy the Wing? handing out stuff and having pics taken with the young ones? Youth coaches there trying to get more kids into the youth set up? Flyers for the friendlies given out and a poster up at our display stand? A Raffle/Tombola for a season ticket, shirt/ training kit/polo shirts etc etc, Evertyone gets a carton of drink or sticker etc?
All good ideas but I can't see one of the above raising money. I agree it would raise the clubs profile and if that's the case then the club itself should have a pitch, suffer some short term losses and then hopefully re-gain with the punters coming through the gates. The WSU has been raising money but looking at the figures for a pitch at the festival it just doesn't seem to be worth it financially. Down to the club I think this one.
Also - i went to the Danson Festival 3 years back - i saw the same traders at Twickenham and elsewhere! plus lots of teenagers acting hard, fat dads on the lash, overpriced fairground rides and lots of cheap tat. It was much better several years back. Throw in the fact that we've had awful summer weather the last three years and the world cup is on, I'm not overly bothered. But perhaps the club should be?
