Supporters Communications Manager

[JJ Sefton]

Well, that's all quite cheap & cretinous.

Richard has been a good mate for many years, and one thing I can guarantee is that he is certainly not a yes man. I am sure that Mike McDonald, amongst many others, will attest to that.

Would love to see some of those retards say stuff like that to his face though.......

Sadly I think that most of the scrotes that post on that site think Mike McDonald was the gourmet chef with the white face and red nose who cooked their last posh dinner in a restaurant.

 

[SwissBlade]

don't talk daft 90% of the 30,000 er i mean 25,000 sorry 19,000 oh hang on 14,000 Blades at BDTBL want rid ! its fooking embarassin, mind yer so is a lot more at BDTBL !

Wasn't it nearer 17,000 in the ground and I read Villa brought 5400, so lets say nearer 11,500 Blades fans.....

 

[beightonblade]

Wasn't it nearer 17,000 in the ground and I read Villa brought 5400, so lets say nearer 11,500 Blades fans.....

its hard to keep up swiss were dropping quicker than a whores knickers !

 

[dkc Blade]

I also want to get rid of Tom Hark. However,on Saturday when Ward put that penalty away, it looked like over half the United fans in the ground (including G&H block) were bouncing up and down to it. Maybe we aren't representative.

I hate it but I have been known to dance to it, or at least jump up and down when a goal is scored. If they put on the "Funky Gibbon" I'd probably dance to that too. The euphoria of scoring a goal makes you do strange things. People aren't going to stand still when a goal is scored.

Why not just ask the fans the simple question: "Do you want "Tom Hark" to be played after a goal is scored, or would you prefer no music to be played". Ask for a show of hands on all four stands, one after the other, at half time. If a majority is in favour I have no problem with that. But I suspect that most supporters over 18 will want to get rid.

 

[bartman]

or just get,say,3 staff for each stand take a random straw poll before a match just ticking yes or no and maybe indicating whether under 16 or not ...not very scientific but it would give an indication

 

[Pinchy]

We certainly have Richard to thank for keeping us as a site in the loop. Not mentioned is the fact that he's refused to work away matches

I have to say that the news has been received less enthusiastically elsewhere...

One of the sad consequences of being a Teenage Illiterate Lager-drinker is that you have to use Bladesmad. Perhaps they could resurrect the singing section? Or send a petition to the club in txtspk?

I knew Richard on the BIFA steering committee many years ago. Best of luck to him.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I knew Richard on the BIFA steering committee many years ago. Best of luck to him.

This suggests that we also know each other, Pinchy?

 

[bricktop]

After barely missing a game for 20 odd years, this season i've become a bit ambivelent towards going to the match. I've missed a couple of games because i've just not had the inclination to go, and missed a couple of more due to going to town and an afternoon on the beer has been more appealing, and walked out on the Palace match after 10 minutes so i could watch it in the boozer instead.

I used to love my trips to the Lane, so my question would be what can the club do to make me want to attend again, as i'm seriously considering not getting a season ticket as the way things are going it might not be cost effective for me to get one.

 

[JJ Sefton]

After barely missing a game for 20 odd years, this season i've become a bit ambivelent towards going to the match. I've missed a couple of games because i've just not had the inclination to go, and missed a couple of more due to going to town and an afternoon on the beer has been more appealing, and walked out on the Palace match after 10 minutes so i could watch it in the boozer instead.

I used to love my trips to the Lane, so my question would be what can the club do to make me want to attend again, as i'm seriously considering not getting a season ticket as the way things are going it might not be cost effective for me to get one.

Very similar to how I feel.

 

[essex blade]

Myself being a supporters club member and an organisor of the Essex branch of s.u.s.c. , i would be interested to know if the official supporters club are represented at BIFF meetings with s.u.f.c.

 

[lenners]

Another broken record post (there's an open goal for yers) but this has got to be first and foremost about ideas to encourage fans to buy season tickets.
The other stuff about organising forums, the availability of Bovril, the price of shirts, the temperature of the beer, the quality of the pies can wait for now.
Season tickets, season tickets, season tickets.
Mr Batho, get posting on here and over with the other mob and seek out those ideas.

 

[Pinchy]

This suggests that we also know each other, Pinchy?

I came in a few weeks after it all started, having been invited by Paul Blomfield [M.P.]
I remember Paul [M.P.], Howard, Martin [who defected to form SUISA!], Matt Bell of course and Simon who worked hard to get the Red and White Wizaaaaard fanzine going. Also Charlotte who I met again quite recently in unusual circumstances. I got to know Andy Nicholson only briefly because circumstances were such that I was on my way out at that stage. As to others I would need to be reminded. Memories fade with the advancing years!

I'll meet you under the clock at Waterloo station for a reunion!

 

[bartman]

After barely missing a game for 20 odd years, this season i've become a bit ambivelent towards going to the match. I've missed a couple of games because i've just not had the inclination to go, and missed a couple of more due to going to town and an afternoon on the beer has been more appealing, and walked out on the Palace match after 10 minutes so i could watch it in the boozer instead.

I used to love my trips to the Lane, so my question would be what can the club do to make me want to attend again, as i'm seriously considering not getting a season ticket as the way things are going it might not be cost effective for me to get one.

Surely the question should be the other way round. What do you want the club to do to make you continue attending ?

 

[shorehamview]

Well, Blades Mad is a cess pool sancturary for the witless, retarded and brainless.

It's akin to the youth club of United forums, for wayward youths and the not-so-young too.

One of the sad consequences of being a Teenage Illiterate Lager-drinker is that you have to use Bladesmad.

Well, it's not often I agree with Pinchy - he fails to see that Monty is in fact the Son Of Zidane (Harry Zidane, Pork Pie Maker To The Stars) - but he and Brownie are bang on with these statements.

The other stuff about organising forums, the availability of Bovril, the price of shirts, the temperature of the beer, the quality of the pies can wait for now.
Season tickets, season tickets, season tickets..

Sure, the season ticket sales thing is important, but it's not a quick fix with that. Some of the other ideas are a quick fix though, requiring a lot less attention but reaping fairly instant rewards. Cleaning the ground properly, and general housekeeping can be done straight away and we'd get an almost instant result. I am well aware that the club needs to get more tickets shifted, be they for individual matches or next season's season tickets, but there are matters that can be addressed and sorted now, and the club should be looking at both the long term plans and the easier short-term matters too.

 

[lenners]

Shoreham, the knives are already sharpening for Mr Batho.
His position was announced several hours ago and he still hasn't spoken to his people...

I know there's other stuff but, as was the case last summer, I don't think the club realise how bad things are.
But I do think there are some clued-up brains on here - and maybe even some on the other site - that are capable of coming up with some imaginative, credible ideas on season tickets.

 

[grafikhaus]

Mr. Batho is not my first choice. I'd have preferred Brian the Blade...

 

[bartman]

Another broken record post (there's an open goal for yers) but this has got to be first and foremost about ideas to encourage fans to buy season tickets.
The other stuff about organising forums, the availability of Bovril, the price of shirts, the temperature of the beer, the quality of the pies can wait for now.
Season tickets, season tickets, season tickets.
Mr Batho, get posting on here and over with the other mob and seek out those ideas.

you are right,Lenners but everything else underneath is linked into giving fans a 'feelgood' factor,making them feel the club is 'theirs' which might give them that extra 5% encouragement to ensure they buy a season ticket.

Customers are less likely to buy a product if the service is poor. Football is slightly different as there is a high'loyalty' factor involved(you might decide not go go to M&S any more and go to John Lewis instead but you will always be a Blade).

For me,the club need to make things 'easy; for fans so they say 'go on then,i will buy a ticket/S.Ticket)

e.g SImple price structure(no categories)
pay over 12 months for s.tickets
simple online ticketing system...maybe with online discounts. The system would identify you via surname and postcode and find your customer number
Improve the customer facing areas. Why do we need glass panels in the Box offie and promotions office. / Banks,Supermarkets etc don't have them
Players visiing schools over the next few months,promoting the 'brand'
decent superstore online system
choose your seat facility
ticket machines outside grounds so you can collect your tickets without queing at the ticket office
seats and concourses clean
kids encouraged in the family stand..captain Blade and associates in the family stand and going round the edge of the pitch...not prancing about in the middle
cheap kids drinks,sweets and merchandice on match days
matchday draw for season ticket holders to have an execbox for a match
season ticket discounts for cup games available up to lick off rather than day before game
make the KOP corner unreserved seating and the singing area(stand up etc) max £10 adults and £5 under 16's
make sure toilets are clean and working before each game with decent lighting so it looks presentable
lick of paint wouldn't go amiss on the KOP

the list is potentially endless but all these little things add up......obviously a decent team would help as well

 

[Trigger Blade]

Shoreham, the knives are already sharpening for Mr Batho.
His position was announced several hours ago and he still hasn't spoken to his people...

I know there's other stuff but, as was the case last summer, I don't think the club realise how bad things are.
But I do think there are some clued-up brains on here - and maybe even some on the other site - that are capable of coming up with some imaginative, credible ideas on season tickets.

len, the OS article does talk about "the next few weeks". Yes, season tickets are important, but changes aren't going to be made overnight, nor should they be. Give the lad a chance.

I suspect you'll find that Mr Batho's pretty clued-up, if clued-up includes having bagged a job that you think you could do better. Wouldn't it be great if we found out that the application forms were handed out and had to be filled in and returned at the AGM. So near yet so far len.......

 

[lenners]

len, the OS article does talk about "the next few weeks". Yes, season tickets are important, but changes aren't going to be made overnight, nor should they be. Give the lad a chance.

I suspect you'll find that Mr Batho's pretty clued-up, if clued-up includes having bagged a job that you think you could do better. Wouldn't it be great if we found out that the application forms were handed out and had to be filled in and returned at the AGM. So near yet so far len.......

Trig, changes aren't going to be made overnight but time is short when it comes to projecting plans for season tickets.
If it's a serious role, he should be on here and asking people directly for ideas.
You could even come up with some yourself.

 

[Big Mart]

All these ideas sound lovely, but who gives a hoot if we have the most efficiently run club in the league, but one who are plying our trade in division four again? Some of the best times watching the Blades have been in the shittiest of grounds with the crappiest facilities, which have meant nothing because we're not there to be basking in comfort, we're there to watch football.

Arsenal have a lovely ground, so do Bolton, Reading, even Doncaster etc., and all with excellent facilities but that's it. These places have no atmosphere, they're too sanitized and as a result the whole match day experience becomes stale and passionless, in fairness a bit like the Lane sadly. We have a fabulous stadium now, and one that can still generate a bit of atmosphere but there's only one thing can do that, a team that gives us something to get excited about.

Nothing against this fella but surely his salary, and all the add on costs would be better spent on the paper thin playing squad right now, as we look to me to be in need of every available penny for investment in on the pitch and not off the pitch matters.

Get a team worth supporting and the support is there, regardless of the marketing strategy, keep watering the squad down though and watch the customers disappear.

To nick someone elses catchphrase, it's not rocket science.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Trig, changes aren't going to be made overnight but time is short when it comes to projecting plans for season tickets.
If it's a serious role, he should be on here and asking people directly for ideas.
You could even come up with some yourself.

I agree, and I hope he will be on here too. Wouldn't blame him for giving Bladesmad a miss though. I think he's a bit up to his eyes at the moment, give him a few days.

 

[SwissBlade]

Trig, changes aren't going to be made overnight but time is short when it comes to projecting plans for season tickets.
If it's a serious role, he should be on here and asking people directly for ideas.
You could even come up with some yourself.

Oh joy, the guy's in for a treat with you Lenners! It'll be like Lee Strapon for the Blades. I would much rather that he doesn't come on here, but speaks with the various groups in the right way. Rather than getting drawn into discussions with individuals who are prepared to tell him where he went wrong but aren't able/ prepared to offer solutions. You know the type, the ones that have billy big balls questions, but aren't prepared to go face to face and discuss their point with the Board. Just because they hold the meeting in the Copthorne

As for the season tickets, I would assume that success on the pitch and pricing will go a long way to help, but then again I can't really say too much as i've not given up my season ticket... yet

Arsenal have a lovely ground, so do Bolton, Reading, even Doncaster etc., and all with excellent facilities but that's it. These places have no atmosphere, they're too sanitized and as a result the whole match day experience becomes stale and passionless, in fairness a bit like the Lane sadly. We have a fabulous stadium now, and one that can still generate a bit of atmosphere but there's only one thing can do that, a team that gives us something to get excited about.

I think this is the point. Why can't we have a lovely ground, excellent facilities AND have an atmosphere. If fans give their comments and the club take them on board then we can avoid turning our wonderful ground into a stale, lifeless place

 

[lenners]

I don't want him to get drawn into discussions on here Swiss (though I've no idea what talking to groups the right way means. The word communications is in the job title, not 'have a few cosy chats with a couple of fans' groups and call it a draw')
But I would certainly expect him to initiate discussion on here and as regards season tickets it would be relatively simple for him to start a thread with a bit of context and simply ask for people to come up with some ideas.
Keeps them in one place, we can discuss among ourselves and it goes from there.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Rather than getting drawn into discussions with individuals who are prepared to tell him where he went wrong but aren't able/ prepared to offer solutions. You know the type, the ones that have billy big balls questions, but aren't prepared to go face to face and discuss their point with the Board. Just because they hold the meeting in the Copthorne

That's a bit unfair, Swiss. I have been amongst the first to jump on Lenners in the past, but go & read the Season Ticket thread, where he does put forward, in my opinion, some imaginative solutions. Credit where its due, we've all asked him to offer something positive for long enough, and he has.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Promising appointment if the intentions are genuine.
Monsieur Batho, it's all about season tickets maintenant.
You need to move quickly - how about placing direct messages on both this site and t'other one asking for potential initiatives to shift 'em?
Cannae hang about mind...

The club could help by reducing the prices of season tickets for those who live away from Sheffield - perhaps graded according to mileage away from BDTBL

For those of us who live in Leeds we should get free tickets just because we live in Leeds!!! That bit was a joke...

---------- Post added at 07:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 PM ----------

After barely missing a game for 20 odd years, this season i've become a bit ambivelent towards going to the match. I've missed a couple of games because i've just not had the inclination to go, and missed a couple of more due to going to town and an afternoon on the beer has been more appealing, and walked out on the Palace match after 10 minutes so i could watch it in the boozer instead.

I used to love my trips to the Lane, so my question would be what can the club do to make me want to attend again, as i'm seriously considering not getting a season ticket as the way things are going it might not be cost effective for me to get one.

I'm heading that way myself, Brownie but Mrs BoSS keep buying STs for me lol

It's the bit between 3 and 5 that spoils it isn't it? Bit like a game of golf being a good walk spoiled - as some might say.

We all just want exciting, entertaining football with players that are proud of wearing the shirt - the occasional win would help!

 

[SwissBlade]

That's a bit unfair, Swiss. I have been amongst the first to jump on Lenners in the past, but go & read the Season Ticket thread, where he does put forward, in my opinion, some imaginative solutions. Credit where its due, we've all asked him to offer something positive for long enough, and he has.

Unfair? Sorry, but this is the man that likes to try and slap people down for offering improvements and solutions and very often points the finger, but can't offer constructive improvements himself often telling people that theres no point, the club will feck it up anyway. Write this season off. So you'll excuse me when I say that I read his first post on Season tickets where he's suggesting incentives for fans that I didn't read any further on that thread.

On your advice I will sit and read through the thread with an objective view point.

I don't want him to get drawn into discussions on here Swiss (though I've no idea what talking to groups the right way means. The word communications is in the job title, not 'have a few cosy chats with a couple of fans' groups and call it a draw')
But I would certainly expect him to initiate discussion on here and as regards season tickets it would be relatively simple for him to start a thread with a bit of context and simply ask for people to come up with some ideas.
Keeps them in one place, we can discuss among ourselves and it goes from there.

I think its fine for us to put suggestions on here, I just don't think that this fella should be sat posting on here when he can utilise the groups like for example BIFF or Foxy/ Linz to gather the information and discuss these view points with him to see what can be done. One reason why i'm against this is that we have so many threads on here on similar subjects that very often the poignant points can get lost. This is what I meant by doing things in the right way.

I understand from Nick Jansky's post that you have started a good thread on Season tickets, but as I have grown tired of your point of view and constant negativity, it was lost on me (until now).

I get what you're trying to say, but I don't think that him initiating discussions on here is a particularly economic use of his time. I'd prefer a single group or single point of contact (someone without an agenda other than to act on behalf of fans and work for improvements, which I expressed concerns about when I first read about BIFF)

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

Well, the objection on BladesMad seems to be entirely the fact that apparantly he's overweight. I really can't see how that affects his ability to do his job.

 

[Bladesway]

Sounds like its a good positive step. I for one will be interested to see how it pans out. Its been said earlier that it could mean multiple things but lets see where it takes us. No risk and at last a positive step to recognise the fans. Sorry customers. Sorry clients. Oh you know what I mean.

 

[jacknat]

Well, Blades Mad is a cess pool sancturary for the witless, retarded and brainless.



all blades aren't we ??

 

[beightonblade]

Please don't knock Bladesmad .............some decent posters on there.