Ideas for Mr Candy

[portugull]

Hi Andrew,
Reference the Membership Scheme I have just read your recent reply to AustrianAndyGull .
Yesterday I sat in Bristows Bench and all the fans I spoke to, including Colin Bratcher, who has been going to Plainmoor for ever, had not heard of the Membership Scheme. This did not surprise me!

Colin introduced me to Dave Thomas who said he would have a chat to you. I find it very hard to understand why the club are happy to launch the scheme for the second time but still seem so keen to keep it all a secret.

To me it is incredibly simple that if you want to make the scheme a success you have to market it because not everybody reads the official site and of course there are quite a lot of older supporters who may never read the official site. one gentleman I spoke to is definitely going to sign up after chatting to me as he spends 4 months a year in Australia.

the following very simple initiatives would spread the word at minimum cost and effort:-

one page in every home programme detailing the benefits of the membership scheme.
a flyer which is issued to every supporter coming through the turnstile.
a dedicated member of staff or volunteer in the ticket office at every home match for 2 hours before kick off to sign up new members.
an advert on the big screen which promotes the Membership Scheme
an advert, sponsored by a local business, in the Herald Express once a month promoting the scheme.
a prominent place on the official website telling all users that the scheme exists (at present the official site makes no real reference and you would be very lucky to come across the fact that we have such a scheme)

these are just a very few ideas but I am sure fans using this forum could come up with many more.

Regards
Tony

[ggggg]

I`ve got a brilliant idea Andy, drop this forum while it`s hot! Get out when you can, there`s plenty of distractions right now!
Read it at most, the silly season decends! The morons can`t even work out how tickets and seating works!

[Brightboy]

I'd like to see the big screen in the ground put to more use, perhaps showing highlights of the match during or at half time?
I'm aware that it's not possible to show contentious decisions, and the reason that no other highlights are shown is probably down to finances but it's just an idea me and my friends had.

I hope this hasn't already been posted and apologies if it has.

[ferrarilover]

My friends and I.

I think the operator is still coming to terms with the screen and we will see improvements in its use throughout the year.

Matt.

[taxilady]

good to see the match timer on the screen !!!!

[KlinK]

Andrew,

Sorry to trouble you on here but I did email the club last Sunday but have not had a response as yet.

Following the official site announcement concerning the change in accessing the Gull's Nest this season, confirmed on the Wimbledon match day by the lady in reception at the bottom of the stairs to the Gull's Nest, my understanding is that once turnstiles have opened access to the Gull's Nest is only via the turnstiles. This appears very straightforward but as popular side season ticket holder I would appreciate some clarification.

Will my popular side season ticket be accepted at the family stand turnstile in order that I may get to the Gull's Nest ? If it is not accepted then I assume I would need to enter the ground via the popular side turnstile. If this is the case will I then be able to transfer to the family stand to gain entrance to the Gull's Nest?

I would appreciate your thoughts prior to the Oxford match.

[A Candy]

Hi Klink
I will check this out for you and reply more fully on Monday.
Regards,
Andrew

[A Candy]

You can access the Gulls Nest through Main Reception if you have a match day ticket, including a Popside ticket, until the turnstiles open at approximately 1.45pm but after that point access is denied to Popsiders. If you have accessed the Gulls Nest in this way you will be asked to leave no later than 2.45 to be escorted to the Popside by a steward. It is not possible to enter the Gulls Nest with a Popside ticket once the turnstiles are open as it is not possible to control where supporters may end up i.e. someone could buy a Popside ticket and end up in the Family Stand which apart from lost revenue causes problems with the Police and the Safety Officer knowing whether the capacity for each stand is going to be exceeded. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Andrew

[ferrarilover]

Andy, I don't really follow that. What difference does the status (open or closed) of the turnstiles make? If a Popsider enters the bar at, say 1330 (while the turnstiles are closed), what is to stop them simply wandering into the Family Stand at, say 1445 and how is this affected by the turnstiles being open?

Matt.

[SteveDeckchair]

You're right, but I guess this minimises the amount of popsiders in the Gulls Nest.....? It's fairly quiet in there before 2pm.

[A Candy]

Hi Matt,
The steward on the stairs takes the tickets so we know how many Popsiders are in the Gulls Nest before the turnstiles open and therefore have a degree of control in making sure that they do not get lost or confused and end up sitting in the family Stand( obviously by mistake) on their way to the Popside. Once the turnstiles are open and thousands of fans are entering the ground we do not have that control and the less honest among our brethren could buy a Popside ticket and sit in the Family Stand without even parting with their cash for a glass of lemonade. This may not be perfect but it keeps the law upholders happy.

[ferrarilover]

I see, that makes sense, at least it offers some control and deterrent.

On a completely different note, I see that Tim has announced, via the OS, that there is a friendly tomorrow. Thanks to him for that. Could we please continue this trend and also announce (perhaps a few days beforehand) details of the ladies matches? I'd like to come and see them in action (and perhaps playing football, too).

Matt.

[A Candy]

I will speak to Tim and I am sure that is not beyond our capabilities. I imagine the women's team will benefit from your support!

[Glostergull]

Hi Andy
What happened to the page for those trying to car share to Plainmoor from exiles who live a fair way away.

[KlinK]

Andrew,

Thanks for your time in getting back to me.

I am a little disappointed in the response given that myself and my other popsider friends have been utilising the Gull's Nest for our pre-match libation ever since it opened without any limitation upon the time we may arrive. During last season we were already limited to leaving the Gull's Nest at 2.45 (although we were never escorted by a steward) and this has never been a problem. I appreciate the club has to abide by any rules set out by the police and/or health and safety but there appears to be no apparent logic in this change that could affect our enjoyment of the matchday experience. Surely there cannot be an issue, even for the police or health and safety personnel, with identifying seating areas that are over capacity as I would have thought the capacity was the known number of seats and those people without a seat having sneaked in from the Gull's Nest (thus causing over capacity) could be easily spotted as they will have nowhere to sit. Therefore the only possible health and safety/policing issue could be the popside capacity and knowledge of the numbers that will be transferring there at the last minute from the Gull's Nest/Family Stand. This would only become a problem for those matches anticipated to be fully attended ie Plymouth, Exeter etc. and in the past, and I assume the future, us popsiders have been barred from the Gull's Nest for these matches whatever time we pitch up with or without a match/season ticket so I just cannot see where a problem could arise.

At the end of the day we are going to have to abide by the club's position and my friends and I will try to arrive before 1.45 but should we not be able to do so then I suspect we will take our pre-match drinks at a pub on Babbacombe Downes as we are not over keen on Boots and Laces which means loss of revenue to the club albeit not great amounts. I am not sure how many others will be in a similar situation but perhaps it may be worthwhile rethinking the situation as surely any potential loss of revenue should be avoided if possible.