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Posts from the ‘Football misc’ Category

Sep 3

Stockport County Fan

Friday night

How I enjoyed last night’s football.  Plus a tipple in Ye Olde Vic and Our Lady’s as pre-match warm-up and post-match contemplation. A combination of a draw against fellow ‘Hatters’ Luton Town after trailing, and a return to Friday Night Football. 

I used to query with former marketing/commercial regimes at County whether they had undertaken any analysis to determine whether Fridays or Saturdays were best financially for the Club.  Must admit never got a reasoned response.  Naturally, there are pros and cons of the day we play, but for people like me with young children, I can enjoy my beloved County and have two full days uninterrupted for other pastimes that they might choose to pursue each weekend.  For some reason the entire family don’t necessarily want to visit EP every week.

I was brought up on a diet of Friday Night Football.  I seem to recall others like Tranmere Rovers FC and Southend United FC did similar.  I understand discussions have been held with a view to moving some Scottish Football League games to Friday evenings.  Ligue 1 in France will be scheduled in the same way under the terms of the French top flight’s television deal commencing 2012 – 13.  The Australian Football League (‘Aussie Rules’) promote matches on that night in conjunction with the Seven Network and remain convinced it is an optimum fixture for publicity and income.  Does anyone know any lower league clubs that have adopted Fridays and launched promotional tactics to entice supporters of other clubs successfully that are playing the day after?

Jul 31

Mersey Ferry Stockport

Mersey ferry

It reminds me of that old pub quiz question: “Which professional football club is closest to the Mersey?” (Obviously, asked before last season).  Punters ponder over Liverpool or Everton, or then could it be Tranmere – when the answer is in fact that it’s actually Stockport County. 

Yesterday’s pre-season friendly was a victory over Accrington Stanley, and at Edgeley Park. My elation was somewhat deflated by a wondering about the regime running ‘County’ and our future.  I’m just one supporter in a sea of blue and white that could have our fears removed by just a little more light on the facts.  You’ll recall I wrote about it before and National Media has continued pushing at that door since.

I suppose that it’s this ‘not knowing’ that means we continue to have reservations, despite the lads on the field putting it all in this fixture.  Scepticism breeds the worst accusations – and I note that of five new signings, Ryan Fraughan, John Miles, Sean McConville, John Nolan – they have come from Liverpool, Fazackerley, Liverpool and Huyton respectively.  Are we ferrying them in from Merseyside or is this just the Manager exploiting his connections?

Jul 5

Charitable football club

Charity begins at home

……and goes to Brighton, Old Trafford and further afield.  I know many embark on charitable feats and link to local communities, as indeed they should.  One Club I am currently associated with embodies all that is good with such an approach.  Huddersfield Town.

I choose to highlight last season’s bike ride by supporters to an away game in Brighton and their trip to the play off final in Manchester. 

In the former, 170 cyclists rode 270 miles, raising more than £250,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Club’s Academy.  Even David Cameron applauded the result. This on the back of a similar previous year’s adventure to Southend (A). 

More recently I was one of several businesses that made a donation so that 800 under-privileged children received free tickets and transport to watch Huddersfield in the npower League One play-off final at Old Trafford. 

Both the successes have led to the Club establishing a Foundation with my input.

Jun 21

Stalybridge Celtic Healthy Living Campaign

Healthy FC

Today launched the start of a ‘healthy eating campaign’ in Tameside using the football clubs of FC United of Manchester (FCUM) and Stalybridge Celtic FC.

I was able to secure the funding towards this initiative from The Community Club Development Fund.  This is a partnership between the Football Conference, the Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association.  Both the Premier League and the PFA have committed to contribute £400,000 each to the Fund in this its first year. The Scheme is designed to encourage member clubs develop their work in their local communities. 

It was a real joy to witness, Robin Pye – Community and Education Manager and  Karl Marginson – First Team Manager (note the First Team Manager!) educating the Year 4 pupils with such enthusiasm and skill.  As was the purpose, the children learned valuable lessons on healthy eating (it was notable early on  just how well they could recite the Domino’s menu on mentioning the pizza food type!). 

Anyone interested to know more can see: www.stalybridgecelticu21.co.uk but from my perspective it was pleasing to see something I got funded being delivered and witness FCUM doing it well as they so often do.

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