Wintergreen wrote:supporters advised to use the Crossbar where there are handwashing facilities and refreshments available. So junior football types could play in the morning and head to HS/FBSS for lunch and then watch the game. Reasonably cheap day out and the supporters of the future are engaged.
ENTICE folk to come don't TELL them.
Wintergreen, Cracking idea (RE) Junior football types, Invite 4 teams from say 2 fixtures, or 6/3, 8/4 what ever number they can handle........but you have to (( make it )) an enjoyable experience, don't just leave them to their own devices and hope they like it enough to come back, Provide the entertainment/interest to make it hard for them to NOT to want to come back.
IMHO This should be easy to do (Example) Provide "a to be paid for" lunch at a reasonable fee, (example) a local company delivers the pre-ordered bulk food at the right time, Have a dedicated room/s for them & have our greatest triumphs montage playing on a loop on a few big flat screen plasma's , give them a mini tour of the place (if time allows & obviously not interfering with game day preparations) have a player/guest talk to them in a question/answer session Proccy/Doc/Cowps/a.n.other also telling them of their Wembley/career experiences etc, Give out several scarfs, hats, mugs from not selling old souvenir stock, Parade of honour lap round the pitch at HT, Selected kid/s hand over the match awards after the game, Add other suggestions etc etc
Start with just 1 or 2 sides, build & expand the experience from the first few trial runs & create a buzz in the Junior Footy world where they all want their turn as guests.
Long term results would be a more BAFC aware/liking local community & gain more fans as a consequence, Win friends & Influence people, build bridges with the local footy scene...........win/win for BAFC & IT WOULD NOT COST MUCH MONEY to organize and run efficiently to begin with & would begin to pay for itself within time, Have a group of volunteers running it under the guidance of a BOD member.
Kids are impressional, cater for them, They would buzz off a tour,lap of honour, meeting and chatting to the Chairman & guests/players etc
Subliminal advertising as they watch our FA Cup / Trophy /Play-Off Triumphs
Invite Schools, Business's, Scout troops, Girl Guides, OAP clubs, whoever is a group .............end the days of reaching out to the same demographic (the fans) each and every time & help create NEW FANS spending new money at Holker St, Even if a small % came back on a semi regular basis it will have worked.
Rewards come from hard work, BE PROACTIVE.
