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Discussion Thread

Gravesend & Northfleet.

(55 posts)
  1. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    posted today on MYFC site
    -----------------------------------------------

    I know this subject has been done to death on here in the past and no doubt on Fleet forums and Gravesham pubs in the past.

    I have never really got involved in the club name issue much as it was a decision done and dusted before MYFC's time. When Will first mentioned the club as a potential purchase, I hadn't a clue who they were and it was not until the previous name was mentioned that I knew.

    Is it not the case though that changing the name of the club, something that would be an emotive issue to ANY clubs fans, anywhere in the country, has done more than anything to estrange the local population from the club?

    We have talked about price rises affecting gates and about results. Both no doubt have an effect, certainly in the short term, but perhaps the main issue, as many with local knowledge have said, is that the local people do not really have enough of an emotional tie with the club.

    While I understand, or think I do, why the club did change its name, and that it did secure a good sponsorship deal better than it could have otherwise hoped, maybe ultimately it was a mistake.

    Pretty soon the intention is to contact as many local fans as possible regarding end of season games and some mention I hope will refer to the plight of the club.

    Is it not time to have this debate once again and this time ask the fans, or ex fans, or the local population generally, and ask them properly in a Gravesham wide poll.

    Just doing this will create much needed publicity, get people in the area talking and thinking about the club. It could be an email based poll, advertised in our mailings and in as many papers and media outlets that we could persuade to run it. People answer by emailing the club on a particular email address.

    Not only could we get the opinion of the fans and local population but we would also have contacts to for future use.

    think about it, before you just groan.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  2. Jeff

    Jeff Member
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    As much as I don't care for the new name and prefer the old one, changing it back would not be a good move looking forward.

    We have a very confused identity as it is.

    Keeping the club going is the main aim at the moment, not new shirts or further silly changes.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  3. User has not uploaded an avatar

    Rutters Member
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    So many people claim to have strong views on the name. If we charged £5 a vote we might crack the name and the finances in one hit

    Posted 1 month ago #
  4. Hirsty

    Hirsty Member
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    Oi.....stop being negative Jeff ! We'll get V saying that we are all prejudiced again !!

    On a slightly more serious note, I think is a great shame that the go ahead was not given to the building of a new stadium by the A2. Just think of all the little luxuries we could have had to try & entice people to the ground. Nice toilets with sinks, soap & hot water. A couple of nice bars with big screens, even one for away fans so we could get a bit more revenue. A nice function hall/restuarant to cater for private functions. Nice stands to watch the game from....etc. etc.....still, thanks KCC....I am sure the 5 people that cycle about on a cold Saturday afternoon in January will enjoy the new cycle park !

    Cheers,

    Posted 1 month ago #
  5. User has not uploaded an avatar

    J.J. Zucal Member
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    Working in community newspapers, I have read about readers abandoning papers when they remove a town name from the banner to a more generic or regional name. While it would be legitimate to poll residents about the name change and effects (in person, at sites, or perhaps inform the Reporter or Kent News, maybe they would pursue as a story with a reference to the Web site for opinions), we must realize there is one ultimate reality to attract fans: win, and they will come.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  6. Busta

    Busta Member
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    So the club is trying to stay afloat, and we are trying to isolate our main sponsorship.(at the present time) with a name change, good thinking

    Posted 1 month ago #
  7. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    So the club is trying to stay afloat, and we are trying to isolate our main sponsorship.(at the present time) with a name change, good thinking

    That is a very narrow, one sided view really with respect. Estranging the sponsor is one thing but consideration should be made of whether the club have estranged the whole community too. If I was a sponsor, my prime concern would be that people were engaging in the club I was sponsoring and seeing the name of the sponsor on the shirts.

    I am not suggesting WE change the name, I am suggestig that we ask the people of Gravesham. Just asking the question may engage many of itself. The results of such a poll may give us a gauge of the strength of feeling and would help in the making of any future rational decision.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  8. Trystero

    Trystero Member
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    Are Eurostar still commited to this football club anyway? The deal expires at the end of the season.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  9. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    I think Duncan will be in talks with them shortly.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  10. AFFNo1

    AFFNo1 Member
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    Personally I would love the Club to go back to G&N(but reluctantly I could see the reason for the change at the time) and I applaud the initiative. there might be a "silent minority that were offended.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  11. kaizen

    kaizen Member
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    I think there's a series of points here.
    Firstly, Hirsty hit it on the head when mentioning the quality of the ground for new supporters to walk into, it's really not a good experience on that part and whilst the more die hard supporters tolerate it, the more modern casual supporter is accustomed to something a little better than SBR offers.

    Secondly, the change of name never helped the club, gained us an awful lot of ridicule and also caused some seasoned supporters to stop coming. Whether changing the name back again would work I'm not sure. For the people of Gravesend the club is too far out of town, positioned on the far side of Northfleet - geographically, we'd be more correct in calling the club 'Northfleet & Swanscombe'. (Not that I'm offering that as a suggestion). I just feel the majority of people in Gravesend just don't have an affinity to the club so far out of town

    Thirdly, sponsorship. It really has to be taken into account what Eurostar's plans are - will they renew for a further period? What sort of sum would they invest and what's the most financially beneficial to the club - keeping the name for the sponsor or changing it back to hopefully improve the attendance figures from the locals....

    Decisions decisions.....

    Posted 1 month ago #
  12. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    Yes there is no doubt that losing that potential ground is a huge disappointment. the facilities would be many times better and no doubt would have attracted a lot of new or even old, faces. I do think there are smaller steps we could taketo improve the match experience even staying at Stonebridge Rd, but that is another topic.
    As regards the geography, i was just making the same point on MYFC. The name doesn't change the geography of course but i would have thought that it would at least help if the team carried the name of the populations that support it.

    Last year I uploaded post codes from the Wembley ticket DB to a routing and mapping program to create pushpins for each entry. Seeing this really graphically highlighted just how far way from its fan base the club really is.

    I don't think it is a decision to be taken "from high" so to speak, but do think that it might create some talk among the people of Gravesham, no bad thing itself surely? and may even enable us to judge the strength of feeling on the issue. perhaps, as others have suggested, the debate has had its day and that this is not the issue to trouble the good people of Gravesham about, but I have a feeling that it is something that still lurks in many peoles minds to a greater or lesser extent. The worst we could do by holding a poll like this is to just simply exorcise it.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  13. User has not uploaded an avatar

    ClubSecretary Member
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    Gravesham United?

    I'll get my coat

    Posted 1 month ago #
  14. kaizen

    kaizen Member
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    Gravesham United?
    I'll get my coat

    Close the door on the way out...

    Posted 1 month ago #
  15. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    Gravesham United?
    I'll get my coat

    Before you get that coat, it's not a bad idea, not the name, but there is no reason why suggestions for the most appropriate name for the club could not be asked. Personally I think that the word "Fleet" needs to be in there.

    I live in Leicester and when they moved to their new ground and came out of admin, there was a vote on whether Leicester City should revert to their original name "Leicester Fosse" the vote went in favour of keeping City but it did spark an awful lot of interest and was debated in the local press and radio for a while.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  16. Jeff

    Jeff Member
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    How old are you Arithon?

    There would be no debate as the locals are more interested in Jordan, riding mini motorbikes, robbing stuff anf thumping people.

    I can see that the Leicester change generated interest at the time in a large city.
    It won't be the same here.

    Same as reducing prices worked for Barnsley but would not work for the cash strapped Fleet.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  17. AFFNo1

    AFFNo1 Member
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    Secondly, the change of name never helped the club, gained us an awful lot of ridicule and also caused some seasoned supporters to stop coming. Whether changing the name back again would work I'm not sure. For the people of Gravesend the club is too far out of town, positioned on the far side of Northfleet - geographically, we'd be more correct in calling the club 'Northfleet & Swanscombe'. (Not that I'm offering that as a suggestion). I just feel the majority of people in Gravesend just don't have an affinity to the club so far out of town

    It doesn't have an affinity with the people of Ebbsfleet either!

    Posted 1 month ago #
  18. AFFNo1

    AFFNo1 Member
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    A poll of reasons, asking people to tick the boxes that stop them going to Stonebridge Road:
    Too expensive
    State of the stadium(including toilet facilities)
    Go to League Football instead
    Live Football on TV
    Change of name
    MyFC's takeover
    Position in League
    Are they not interested in Football

    And anymore people can think of!

    Posted 1 month ago #
  19. Busta

    Busta Member
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    So the club is trying to stay afloat, and we are trying to isolate our main sponsorship.(at the present time) with a name change, good thinking

    That is a very narrow, one sided view really with respect. Estranging the sponsor is one thing but consideration should be made of whether the club have estranged the whole community too. If I was a sponsor, my prime concern would be that people were engaging in the club I was sponsoring and seeing the name of the sponsor on the shirts.
    I am not suggesting WE change the name, I am suggestig that we ask the people of Gravesham. Just asking the question may engage many of itself. The results of such a poll may give us a gauge of the strength of feeling and would help in the making of any future rational decision.

    I believe you are just throwing more fat on the fire, by distracting from the real issue of keeping the club afloat. You can carry out as many polls as you like, but if the club goes under what a waste of time and energy that could have been spent keeping the club alive. we could change our name again, lets say Bismark utd

    Posted 1 month ago #
  20. AFFNo1

    AFFNo1 Member
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    The Club won't survive Busta, if the reason for the "stayaways" is not addressed. People have stopped coming for a reason, if you can find out why and remedy that problem then there is a chance for increasing the gates. Once again something positive is being put down.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  21. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    I believe you are just throwing more fat on the fire, by distracting from the real issue of keeping the club afloat.

    So you do not regard such a measure has perhaps good public relations then? That trying to get people talking about the club would not be good marketing possibly? That keeping the club afloat requires engaging with the local population?

    I'm quite surprised really to be honest.

    Posted 1 month ago #
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    stewart fowler Member
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    I feel many local people did not respond well to the name change although the reasons behind it are obvious. However if we lose our major sponsor I think a reversion to our original name would likely do far more good than harm.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  23. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    How old are you Arithon?

    19 earlier last month. I was disappointed you didn't bring me a card to Luton

    Seriously, people in Leicester and everywhere else talk about all that stuff too. The point is to try and get them to talk about us, NOT to just accept that they don't and slink off with our heads down.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  24. Busta

    Busta Member
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    I believe you are just throwing more fat on the fire, by distracting from the real issue of keeping the club afloat.

    So you do not regard such a measure has perhaps good public relations then? That trying to get people talking about the club would not be good marketing possibly? That keeping the club afloat requires engaging with the local population?
    I'm quite surprised really to be honest.

    Engaging the public is all well and good, but unless they financially help the club, by attending matches or sponsorship then it's a waste of breath, that could well have been spent raising funds. without the funds, no club, no club, the name is totally irrelevant. If Jacobs cracker,s took us over and said they wanted to call the stadium Cracker jack palace for 2 mil, who ever was it charge would take it and ignore the locals who have as yet not supported the club.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  25. Hempstead Gaz

    Hempstead Gaz Moderator
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    It has been done to death on countless threads, but regardless of owners, sponsors or myfc, the ONLY lasting way for thd club to thrive is to get 1500-2000 attending at every home game.
    I haven't got the answer how that can be done, but engaging with the population of Gravesend, Northfleet and Swanscombe is at least a start.

    Thd Distorter needs to run a front page appeal/campaign for locals to support the team and save the club.
    (slight exaggeration, but you get my drift).

    Posted 1 month ago #
  26. AFFNo1

    AFFNo1 Member
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    So has your post, Gary...............

    Posted 1 month ago #
  27. V

    V Member
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    Oi.....stop being negative Jeff ! We'll get V saying that we are all prejudiced again !!

    LOL. I guess that was a little prejudicial of me, wasn't it Hirsty?

    Good discussion this, though. I'm a fair few few miles away, but Paul has a good point with respect to trying to make the name issue a talking point in the community imo. Whether the time to shake this tree is right now (club in financial crisis - we need bums on seats) or later (if Eurostar sponsorship don't come through) is important to consider. I'm still uncertain what the timescale is for some resolution on that. Do you know, Paul?

    Eurostar's financial results have been decent despite the financial crisis and their service troubles, and the fact is they could (if they decide to strengthen their committment) be the all-important difference between survival and administration for us. If so then they'd presumably be interested in us retaining our name connection to Ebbsfleet International. But if they choose not to support us then you'd think we have little to lose by taking the issue to the wider population. Decisions, decisions!

    Posted 1 month ago #
  28. Daves nan

    Daves nan Member
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    It has been done to death on countless threads, but regardless of owners, sponsors or myfc, the ONLY lasting way for thd club to thrive is to get 1500-2000 attending at every home game.
    I haven't got the answer how that can be done,

    Win all of the home games and top the league.....simples.

    The trick is how do you fund a winning team when very few people will pay to watch them before they are a winning team.

    If we were getting two thousand turn up to watch The Fleet (G&N) every week and following a name change only one thousand turned up to watch The Fleet (Ebbsfleet) then there might be some merit in changing the name back to asee if the missing thousand would come back but we weren't and they won't.

    We could try a couple of Friday night matches they were fairly succesful, failing that we should change our name to Man Utd, most of the local rat boys are too stupid to notice that it isn't the same Man Utd that they watch on the telly.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  29. AFFNo1

    AFFNo1 Member
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    Aren't Man U in financial difficulties too?

    Posted 1 month ago #
  30. Arithon

    Arithon Member
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    Aren't Man U in financial difficulties too?

    Perhaps we can organise a whip round for them. That should create a bit of publicity

    Posted 1 month ago #

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