Outdone by the rugby lot!

[Cliff_Corner]

Just reading in the Mail that Barrow Raiders are giving fans the chance to have their names added into the design of their shirts for next season (think Man Utd had something similar in mid 90's with ex players names on a blue and white shirt) with possibly upto 500 names going on a shirt at £15 a name. They say it would "create a bond between player and fan".

These are the sort of things we should be thinking of. Our complete lack of commercial thinkers on the board is costing us a lot of potential money with things like this. I'm no Carol Vorderman but 500 x £15 is a lot of money. Plus it would encourage fans to buy the replica shirts if their name is printed on it.

Sorry if this sounds like another negative thread but it just frustrates me when even the roiders can think of things like this but our board are so preoccupied with the here and now that we're neglecting possible future opportunities.

(I know we struggle to get a standard shirt out on time so something bespoke like this would probably be years in the making!)

[Cliff_Corner]

here's the link

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/b ... -1.1074138

[tictactoe]

Excellent idea imo

[barrowscuba]

It's nothing new, Workington are already doing it. Another opportunity that's passed us by.

[rockerlad]

We charge £50 and the cash raise pay for merchandise. So it's 100% profit on the merchandise as the club hasn't had to pay a penny for it.

[K-Man]

But it looks tinpot. In right it's acceptable to have whopper sponsors all over their shirt. Big Heinz soup is my favourite

[ron bacardi]

But it looks tinpot

It's a good idea for us then

[TLCW]

The fact is we are in direct competition with the rugby. Barrow is a small town and cannot sustain two semi-professional football clubs to a high standard. There is a limited amount of money in the town, a limited number of potential supporters and a limited number of businesses to provide sponsorship. On Easter Monday we were both at home and both attracted just over a thousand supporters-the split seems to be even. Any money they raise is taking potential money from us be it shirt sponsorship, lotteries or floodlight appeals. The rugby must die!! Relegation will do for a start.

[mickmike wilson]

The fact is we are in direct competition with the rugby. Barrow is a small town and cannot sustain two semi-professional football clubs to a high standard. There is a limited amount of money in the town, a limited number of potential supporters and a limited number of businesses to provide sponsorship. On Easter Monday we were both at home and both attracted just over a thousand supporters-the split seems to be even. Any money they raise is taking potential money from us be it shirt sponsorship, lotteries or floodlight appeals. The rugby must die!! Relegation will do for a start.

That's the glass half empty viewpoint, the other is,

Due to having no other semi or pro clubs in close proximity we have captive audience where with the right marketing we could therefore attract a higher ratio to attend games than clubs in the rest of the country.

[DaveP]

Got to agree Mike we should see it as an opportunity.

I know the share word is poison to some people but I'm not talking ground sharing.

Perhaps a joint approach to organise transport to both football and rugby from outlying areas may be more attractive to a provider than just one or the other asking them,.

Both clubs need to think outside the box on matters where they could easily pool their efforts to benefit both.