The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

coltrane wrote:That's why some people just want to turn up to watch the game rather than getting involved with all the politics, I'm sure that 400 plus people is enough to run a club.

Maybe but the greater the membership then the more funds our club will have to play at the highest level possible.

Trek wrote:

coltrane wrote:That's why some people just want to turn up to watch the game rather than getting involved with all the politics, I'm sure that 400 plus people is enough to run a club.

Maybe but the greater the membership then the more funds our club will have to play at the highest level possible.

I see you point, but we will have to accept that some people only want to go to games..........this is fine as long as they pay on the gate and add to our coffers by buying merchandise, food, beer etc.

I have no problem with that and I expect there will be many more people that will do that next season, however the difference now is that MEMBERS get a say in what happens at our club, and if non MEMBERS start giving it large about team or club matters they will have no voice....................Just a thought 8-)

i don't understand why anyone wouldn't become a member.

The more members we have the stronger we are, it sounds more impressive when speaking to potential sponsors, or when applying for potential funding from say the football foundation, or even having weight for better press coverage.

if we are to achieve 1000 members we really need everyone possible and there are many reasons to join even if people just want to turn up and watch a match, it's less than a ticket to a conference match.

a) To get involved and have your say and help make decisions
or
b) to help make the club stronger
or
c) to take advantage of the discounts offered by the business partners
or
d) simply as a donation, however knowing that it will have a greater effect than just a donation.

To turn it around what could we do to get fans like Coltrane to become a member?, is there something we aren't offering that would do it, or is it that Coltrane doesn't want the hassle of signing up?, what can we do to make it easier or less hassle?

At the end of the day it's everyones choice, but i feel there are some many reasons for it, the main one being strengthening the club.

A lot of people don't want to get involved with a football club to have a say or to paint railings or to vote on it's committees, in fact most people who go to football matches only go to watch the football. Now what you have done so far with your new club is fantastic and I take my hat off to you for achieving so much as you have in such a short time but if you proceed along the lines of everyone has to be a member or they are "Glory Hunters" then you will turn a lot of what you might call "casual" supports off.

coltrane wrote:418 is good for a boys team but don't drive punters away by labeling those who just want to watch a team as "Glory Hunters" not everyone wants to be a member of the club just to watch a team play, wasn't it your very own piggers who refused to join the supporters trust last year?

Couple of points Coltrane, just to clarify a few things, my "glory hunter" comment was said in jest and was building on what had been said previously, the jest part indicated by the ;) - don't be so sensitive eh?

Also, to clarify some things, I refused to pay the same to stand as to sit last year, I was so incensed by that rule, and my perceived lack of action by the club to challenge what I still see as a stupid Conference rule, that I made a decision to boycott home games and only go to away games at the start of last season. I got a half season ticket later in the year when I realised I missed it so much and was cutting off my nose to spit my face (plus my efforts to get people to challenge the rule failed). I didn't refuse to join the Trust last year as such, I refused to be forced into joining to get a discount, so if you're going to point fingers ensure you quote all the facts to put it into context please?

We do agree on the membership thing though and you're right, some people won't want to join and they're more than welcome to just come to games, of course they are, the more the merrior and I hope people come in their droves and enjoy themselves, whether they join or not !!

We're pushing the membership thing because the more members we get, the stronger we are as a club, especially this year when we're negotiating which League we're to be in next season. Also, the members will have a far greater say in decisions than ever before, remember, One Fan, One Vote, One Community, One Club !! We'll be stronger with a larger membership, thats all we're saying.

Oh, and please don't refer to me as "your very own", as that implies a split in the support, different camps and all that and nothing could be further from the truth - we're all fans together and I've never seen us so "together" in 20 years of supporting Diamonds !! Whether fan members or fans, we're all the same and the one thing that binds us together is a love and a passion for Rushden and Diamonds.

bozzer wrote:Is there something we aren't offering that would do it, or is it that Coltrane doesn't want the hassle of signing up?

Or maybe that he's just a wind-up merchant with no intention of ever signing up? Look at his previous posts, far more negative than positive.

coltrane wrote:A lot of people don't want to get involved with a football club to have a say or to paint railings or to vote on it's committees, in fact most people who go to football matches only go to watch the football. Now what you have done so far with your new club is fantastic and I take my hat off to you for achieving so much as you have in such a short time but if you proceed along the lines of everyone has to be a member or they are "Glory Hunters" then you will turn a lot of what you might call "casual" supports off.

Why do you say "your" new club and not "our" new club? You're a Diamonds fan aren't you?

If you don't want to join thats fine, its your decision of course it is. Please don't feel we're all "getting at you", we're not, we're just trying to explain why its so important to have a strong membership. A weak membership weakens the club.

coltrane wrote:A lot of people don't want to get involved with a football club to have a say or to paint railings or to vote on it's committees, in fact most people who go to football matches only go to watch the football. Now what you have done so far with your new club is fantastic and I take my hat off to you for achieving so much as you have in such a short time but if you proceed along the lines of everyone has to be a member or they are "Glory Hunters" then you will turn a lot of what you might call "casual" supports off.

you are absolutely right, i used to be exactly the same, didn't want to get involved with the old trust, or the old club in that way just wanted to turn up watch the football have a shout and a sing, a pint and go home. We need lots of these fans next year along with lots of members.
The only reason i joined up to the old trust was to get my discounted entrance fee at NP.

So what i was trying to get at is, could we look at doing something which you would get back your membership fee in a discount say on the gate or with food or beer or something simple which would benefit you directly but which would mean you wouldn't have to have any further involvement apart from just turning up whenever you wanted to.

I don't know if it would be practical just wondering if there was a way to get some casuals to be members without having to have any involvement if they don't want to,

hi all,im a member and i will honestly say ive done nothing to help,doesnt make me any less of a supporter .......just havent had the time this year......even to the point ive only had a chance to get to about 5 games(all bloody freezing nights ) i will definatly be offering my help next season to anyone that wants it.400 odd members is fantastic and im sure when the weather gets better/warmer there will be more people turn up to games ...who are possibly not aware there is a membership as not every fan comes on here..........the small acorn is slowly germinating :lol:

discodunk wrote:hi all,im a member and i will honestly say ive done nothing to help,doesnt make me any less of a supporter .......just havent had the time this year......even to the point ive only had a chance to get to about 5 games(all bloody freezing nights ) i will definatly be offering my help next season to anyone that wants it.400 odd members is fantastic and im sure when the weather gets better/warmer there will be more people turn up to games ...who are possibly not aware there is a membership as not every fan comes on here..........the small acorn is slowly germinating :lol:

Good post...........I am certain that more people will join as members next season, as many find it difficult to watch Youth football (their loss it seems from this season's performances)

We will all do our bit for the club, in different ways, some dealing with the League matters, some selling raffle tickets, some stewarding, some selling programmes, some just turning up for games and spending money over the bar.

We must accept that some people don't want to get involved, that's fine, but spread the word about AFC R&D and you will be doing your bit, even though you don't know it 8-)