Losing a bit of love

[Fazered]

What was it, about 3 games where we were winning 1-0 at home and conceded a late goal to drop 2 points each time. I didn't feel very happy going home on those occasions. A few times when we had an improved crowd and had a bad result or a poor performance. Route one football, head tennis. There is no line drawn because it's a funny old game.
I have been cajoling people all last season to come and see Barrow with no results.
As for the research the results have not been published. Many of the ideas were those you and others on this forum have proposed at one time or other nothing really new. One area is the use of social media and this has improved recently with a better presence. Another was catering. Also a presence in the town centre. (have you ever had a walk round some of the shops in Sunderland town centre? I know not comparing like with like) Advertising (look at all the Barrow Raiders posters around)

[The Real Slim Azza]

I have been cajoling people all last season to come and see Barrow with no results.

Out of interest do you ask them why they don't want to attend?

As for the research the results have not been published. Many of the ideas were those you and others on this forum have proposed at one time or other nothing really new.

Might have been worth asking me and a few others on the forum who brought those ideas here to attend the said meeting. Theres no feedback quite like fan feedback.

I genuinely believe that having much better facilities would draw crowds in. Barrovians love new things to do. The Townhouse is fairly new and its always drawing people in, it was the same with the Boat and Club M when they opened/reopened. There was a buzz to do something new in the town. Theres not a lot here for people to get excited about apart from the odd new chinese opening or that Tv Personality Chef Woman with a new restaurant each week which lasts a few months.

Holker St is falling apart, its in bits, you have to [SwearFilter] into a drain which overflows and absorbs into your sneaks, the food is highly untempting to the average punter, its a bit of a depressing venue. There really is nothing to be there on a match day for other than if you are a fan wanting to watch football.

There are many things that can be done to it to bring it up to scratch. Fyldes average attendance now eclipses ours massively with the use of a new ground. I think youll see the same with Salford this season. Fylde have got the fans in and now they are tasked with keeping them interested. Barrow AFC is still at question one "How do we get them in?" . I think if you asked 10 random people on Portland walk how much it is to get into a game they wouldn't know because the info isn't smashed into them enough.

There needs to be some real effort towards brand exposure. I keep saying it but there needs to be an actual 5 year plan of what the aim is , how it will be achieved and what to do if it isn't achieved by a certain time period. The fans need to know every detail of the plan so they can help towards it.

My heads full of ideas, ready for people to attach themselves to or to shoot down as they see fit. The whole point of it all is to start talking about it, create a buzz, let new ideas breed into reality because at the moment things are not working as they should.

We all argue on here but we all want the best for the club. Why don't we try and find out what that is together alongside the club.

[Fazered]

Cajoling people, the most frequent answer is they are ****. My arguments against this carried no weight. Second most frequent answer was they were doing something else. Barrow AFC has never become a habit for them.

The meeting was open to anyone who was willing to attend.

The toilets were brought up and they are being demolished.

The investment in a new ground will never be recouped by the Fylde owner. What ever attendances they achieve. Therefore a new ground for us would have to be funded out of the owners pocket.

Brand exposure requires money to be done effectively and the results would be uncertain but it is an area the club needs to address.

All the ideas require a certain amount of investment and that all comes down to the owner.

No passion no argument

[The Real Slim Azza]

Cajoling people, the most frequent answer is they are ****. My arguments against this carried no weight. Second most frequent answer was they were doing something else. Barrow AFC has never become a habit for them.

The meeting was open to anyone who was willing to attend.

The toilets were brought up and they are being demolished.

The investment in a new ground will never be recouped by the Fylde owner. What ever attendances they achieve. Therefore a new ground for us would have to be funded out of the owners pocket.

Brand exposure requires money to be done effectively and the results would be uncertain but it is an area the club needs to address.

All the ideas require a certain amount of investment and that all comes down to the owner.

No passion no argument

and its me who is known as the negative one.......

[Fazered]

Didn't write the post with negative intentions just the truth as I see it. Wouldn't want to be called a happy clapper

[Wintergreen]

The playing side of the club has been quite exceptional under the present regime. However off field matters continue to see the bond between the the club, supporters and the wider community stagnating due to a lack of communication and publicity. A situation hard to understand in this age of information technology and social media.

Most of us will now have come to the conclusion that redevelopment is is not going to happen in any structured way if at all. The owner is a decent enough guy but rather laid back and whimsical in nature with this attitude reflected in his approach to redevelopment I think.

Keeping things in perspective, we've had more serious issues in the past and sheer good fortune has brought us to a point where we have become a little spoilt. So my message to BigMac is - keep the faith, prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Semper Sursum!

[Londonblue]

We just need to wait and see what will happen. Next season will be key both on and off the field.

If nothing changes by the end of next season then i think the fans are entitled to question the owner on his intentions at the very minimum.

[DIXIE]

We just need to wait and see what will happen. Next season will be key both on and off the field.

If nothing changes by the end of next season then i think the fans are entitled to question the owner on his intentions at the very minimum.

How on earth can anyone question Paul Casson's intentions. He came along , saved us from going under and gave us the best season we have had in non league football.
His hand has never been out of his pocket week in week out. He may have misjudged the situation in not realising how few genuine supporters we have.
But he has done work around the ground that was needed and given us a team and manager that are competetive. I don't expect much more from him, unless the people get behind him, which up to now is not happening.

[mickycarrol]

We just need to wait and see what will happen. Next season will be key both on and off the field.

If nothing changes by the end of next season then i think the fans are entitled to question the owner on his intentions at the very minimum.

How on earth can anyone question Paul Casson's intentions. He came along , saved us from going under and gave us the best season we have had in non league football.
His hand has never been out of his pocket week in week out. He may have misjudged the situation in not realising how few genuine supporters we have.
But he has done work around the ground that was needed and given us a team and manager that are competetive. I don't expect much more from him, unless the people get behind him, which up to now is not happening.

If you offered to take me for a meal at Abbey House but we ended up at Witherspoons I would be eternally grateful but I would also ask "what happened to Abbey House?".
He made promises at the forum that he ain't delivering on as regards to stadium development that is a FACT, maybe you shouldn't offer what your not going to deliver!
As I say that's not to sound ungrateful in any way shape or form I am but he won fans over that night with talk of a shiny new ground etc, I'm still getting rained on at the HS end every game!

[Londonblue]

We just need to wait and see what will happen. Next season will be key both on and off the field.

If nothing changes by the end of next season then i think the fans are entitled to question the owner on his intentions at the very minimum.

How on earth can anyone question Paul Casson's intentions. He came along , saved us from going under and gave us the best season we have had in non league football.
His hand has never been out of his pocket week in week out. He may have misjudged the situation in not realising how few genuine supporters we have.
But he has done work around the ground that was needed and given us a team and manager that are competetive. I don't expect much more from him, unless the people get behind him, which up to now is not happening.

As I said...let's see at the end of next season.

With regards to questioning his intentions...why not?
Yes...it's his club, and he may say bu**er off, but as far as I am aware we are still allowed to ask someone something whether they respond or not - especially if expectations were raised a number of years ago.

Do you have a picture of Paul Casson on your wall and say a little prayer to him every night? It sure feels like it the way you seem to fawn over him.

[finbar17]

I can understand where you are coming from bigmac. I also live away only in blackpool mind but new commitments mean I don't get back to many home games and also have to view the club from afar. though I can see where you are coming from regards the stadium promises/timeframe and the actual progress made. What's being missed is the fact that reality ( shotblasting, painting, toilets, floodlights) has got in the way of casson's vision ( new lid , one side every year etc, etc,) that does not mean cassons vision has changed. it has certainly being delayed thats a fact. But this delay could also mean that if the funding is there in league two and that is our goal!!!! then lets formulate a plan to get into the league and receive funding therefore attributing to atleast some sort of sustainability. What i also have to witness around these ere parts is afc flydes somewhat "meteoric" rise. now you might quoff at what a former member of this forum says but the facts are true. on the fylde coast due to the oyston unrest and a big shiny new stadium and a striker that bangs 50 goals in and turns down league one clubs ( millwall, bradford) the support and momentum is gathering rapidly. they have 3 club shops, loads of youth infrastructure and a fleet of 30 cars badged up to death with afc flyde .this only shows to me how far behind the times we really are at barrow afc

[glasgow_blue]

I posted on a thread weeks ago that there is a massive disconnect between owner and supporters, a lot are backing that up on this thread.

[Pedro]

We just need to wait and see what will happen. Next season will be key both on and off the field.

If nothing changes by the end of next season then i think the fans are entitled to question the owner on his intentions at the very minimum.

How on earth can anyone question Paul Casson's intentions. He came along , saved us from going under and gave us the best season we have had in non league football.
His hand has never been out of his pocket week in week out. He may have misjudged the situation in not realising how few genuine supporters we have.
But he has done work around the ground that was needed and given us a team and manager that are competetive. I don't expect much more from him, unless the people get behind him, which up to now is not happening.

Yes to much criticism of St Paul.
As to your point about he got us a team and Manager I think you are right , why do we have a Manager or players not as though you need them?

I worry the sale of our best players will continue,hands off Dixon!
It could be worst we could have the Venkys here. millionares who will not invest in the club or players

[paddy71]

We just need to wait and see what will happen. Next season will be key both on and off the field.

If nothing changes by the end of next season then i think the fans are entitled to question the owner on his intentions at the very minimum.

How on earth can anyone question Paul Casson's intentions. He came along , saved us from going under and gave us the best season we have had in non league football.
His hand has never been out of his pocket week in week out. He may have misjudged the situation in not realising how few genuine supporters we have.
But he has done work around the ground that was needed and given us a team and manager that are competetive. I don't expect much more from him, unless the people get behind him, which up to now is not happening.

Spot on Dixie

[geobarrovian]

I think football supporters of any football club are entitled to constructively criticise the way that their club is being run and it is entirely healthy to do so, I don't think any owner should be immune from criticism (providing it is within reason) at any club and we are by no means exempt from that. As adults it is possible for us to hold more than one opinion at a time and be grateful for the investment that Paul Casson has put in and the progress we have made on the pitch under Paul Cox yet simultaneously be slightly disappointed about how we are not really kicking on in terms of the ground, raising attendances and the like.