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Posts tagged ‘fans’

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 27

Dream Team at Bury FC

What do fans want?

The “Social and Community Value Report” published by Supporters Direct (SD) outlines some snippets of fans-feedback to dispel the myth – that it’s only results ‘on the field of play’ that matter. These included in response to the question: ”What do you think is the most valuable thing about your club?”

“The involvement the club has with the community”
“The opportunity to meet socially with friends to enjoy a beer and the game”
“It is a family club, approachable right up to director level”
“With us being a small club I like how close you can get with the players especially at away games… It makes you feel part of club and part of you feels you have helped them win”
“It represents the town and puts it on the map to an extent”
“My fellow supporters (who I know) are like a second family to me”
“You can identify easily with your local club because it becomes YOUR club. There is always a sense of passion and loyalty about everything the club does”
“Something for my son to follow, which helps him understand ups and downs of life, at a distance”
“It gives me a sense of belonging”
“It is easy to get to, and usually I don’t have to pre-book tickets: I can just turn up and watch a game if I feel like it”
“The fan base. Even when things not going well on the pitch, the fans still come, and stick together, to support the team”
“The fans and the community based projects”
“The belief that I, as an individual, am a real part of the club and that we, the club, are not reliant on a sugar-daddy to fund us”
“That their activities extend into the community beyond football”
“Supporters are allowed to take part in the running of the Club. We are able to communicate with anyone at any level and express an opinion. There is no ‘them and us’”.

I suppose some of the feedback is to be expected given SD’s reason for being.  So I need to look further into research methodology, questioning formats and samples.  Yet in this so-called ‘brand football’ many of the issues highlighted warrant attention in best practice, marketing strategy and relationship-building.  I’ve decided to go to SD’s “Fans’ Weekend” to learn more.

Jun 25

Football Fans Girls
1 Comment

Football blog directory

Recently, discovered the Football Blog Directory.  It does exactly as it says on the tin. 

It has listed “S’PORT” (this blog) under the category of Stockport County – which of course, I support, but regular browsers will appreciate we are even more besides. For any passionate football people generally interested in the musings of other fans, mainly with allegiances from around the UK, though opinions related to football worldwide, in the words of good old Nike (not in favour with County at the moment) ‘just do it!’.

To pick on a few for no rationale reason, the following have caught my eye:
 
Rochdale fan’s blog “Girl on a Terrace” particularly liked the ‘my top ten worst football shirts’.  Was that Mexican goalkeeper sponsored by Johnstone’s Paints?

Fellow “County” supporter’s “Bin bag full of rubbish”.  Are you a football mongrel?

“The hand of blog” (connotation of Maradona in case you needed it pointing out?  Not to be confused with the ‘In bed with Maradona blog’). Interesting that Forest Green are likened to ‘Harry Houdini’.

and finally “Jumpers for goalposts” and “Two footed tackle” with its strapline “Going studs up into the world of football”.

Especially like the Football Blog Directory as it lists Stockport County as a League Two team when apparently not even the BSP has formally accepted us yet.

Jun 19

Brad Friedel

Stereotypes

Not looking to antagonise anyone but time to ponder a few likes and dislikes from my time as a football supporter. 

Likes: 

Of course, ignoring in the main the obvious “Stockport County”; 

  1. Behaviour and attitude of Northern Ireland fans in welcoming Turkish team and its’ supporters immediately post the 1999 earthquake in Izmit, Turkey.
  2. Found friendliest away grounds, in terms of courtesy of staff to be Rochdale AFC and Huddersfield Town AFC.
  3. Nicest player met, David Ginola (ex-Tottenham etc) or Brad Friedel (ex-Galatasaray).
  4. Success of our first Conference in Turkey this Year.
  5. “County’s” Argentina kit 1979-1980.
  6. Going to Stockport fixtures with my Grandad, Bill and Grandma, Marion (R.I.P).
  7. Away games.
  8. The hymn “Scarf my father wore”.
  9. Rapport with Alex Kotler, CEO of Football Partnerships.
  10. The Events related to my Book “B&B: Friendship and Football beyond frontiers”. 

Dislikes: 

  1. Admission price paid for me and 4 years old son, Kaya, to visit Elland Road and watch a League One match.
  2. Aggression by Millwall fan – the only time received a ‘blow’ at any game.
  3. Losing so often at Wembley.
  4. When “Vernon Bear” was replaced by “Harry the Hatter” as mascot.
  5. Fearing loss of life when uncontrolled surge of fans after Kocaelispor versus Erzurumspor match.
  6. Waiting for England winning the World Cup again.
  7. Chorus of “Delilah” from Stoke City AFC supporters.
  8. Sticking out like a sore thumb as the only Englishman in a hardcore area of Fenerbache terracing.
  9. Challenge by a fellow ‘County’ fan for my assisting saving Oldham Athletic AFC (2004).  That’s my job and what I do for a living!
  10. Fan who sang for 90 minutes at Chesterfield (away) “I’ve got a song that’ll get on your nerves” (repeated over and over and over again).
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