FA cup fourth round

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by lord stiffupperlip

the club have got to be realistic. The town of accrington is dying a slow death and local people are strapped for cash.
You only have to watch televised fa cup games to see that even non-league teams have better stadia than us.
It's commonly accepted that visiting supporters view our ground as a right s***hole, and who can blame them?
Uncovered terracing open to hail, rain & snow, with only a small basic covered area, aptly described as the 'cowshed'.
Never mind electric scoreboards, i submit that it should be a priority to improve the facilities for away fans, starting with a roof over the coppice end.
After all, we need as many away fans to attend as much as we need our own.

nail on the head.

[AccyMad]

Originally Posted by Lord Stiffupperlip

That's a bit short sighted IMHO.
How many away fans decide not to bother forking out on travel expenses, admission prices etc. because they know they're going to get soaked to the skin or frozen to death at the Wham?
We're talking about the type of basic standards available to all fans, even those in non-league.
Put it this way, there's no way I'd spend 90 minutes supporting Stanley in mid winter if the Clayton end had no roof.

We haven't always had the luxury of a roof on the Clayton End, in fact it's relatively recent & plenty of us saw the games through frozen to the marrow - it's just how it was

[st06nc2]

4th round will be played 28th Jan meaning our away match with Morecambe will be moved to midweek

[cashman]

Originally Posted by AccyMad

We haven't always had the luxury of a roof on the Clayton End, in fact it's relatively recent & plenty of us saw the games through frozen to the marrow - it's just how it was

Yeh and some owd farts were getting to the stage were they weren't going to come if the weather was real bad, the roof came at a damn good time in my view. yeh can tolerate crap much better when yer younger.

[Lord Stiffupperlip]

Originally Posted by Lord Didsbury

Lord Stiffupperlip - is Burnley thriving economically compared to Accrington? (I don't know the answer but suspect not much difference?) they don't have a problem getting fans...but they did in the 80s.

Ground improvements are being made: fanzone, new seats, better clubhouse and bogs and a big screen in the offing. Imagine seeing Sean's wonder goal on it. I bet even the freezing Luton fans would have liked that.

I've nowt but admiration for Andy Holt - things are going in the right direction and that's not always a given in football.

Lord D. The entire East Lancs area is economically depressed, but comparing Burnley to Stanley is rather unfair.
If Stanley had Chelsea, Man U & Arsenal visiting the Wham, the ground would be full.
Of course, the improvements made by Andy Holt for home fans have been much needed & appreciated, particularly the Clayton end fanzone.
However, facilities for away fans are well below football league standards.
I know we survive on a shoestring budget, but it annoys me when we prioritise flashy electronic scoreboards before basic facilities every fan deserves. And that must include away fans.

[st06nc2]

Originally Posted by Lord Stiffupperlip

That's a bit short sighted IMHO.
How many away fans decide not to bother forking out on travel expenses, admission prices etc. because they know they're going to get soaked to the skin or frozen to death at the Wham?
We're talking about the type of basic standards available to all fans, even those in non-league.
Put it this way, there's no way I'd spend 90 minutes supporting Stanley in mid winter if the Clayton end had no roof.

Some of us dos support Stanley in winter with no roof on clay ton end and I still would whatever the conditions I'll support my team, it could be a mound of manure i would still stand there and support them

[cashman]

Originally Posted by st06nc2

Some of us dos support Stanley in winter with no roof on clay ton end and I still would whatever the conditions I'll support my team, it could be a mound of manure i would still stand there and support them

And that tells me yer young n stupid, like i once was.

[AccyMad]

Originally Posted by st06nc2

4th round will be played 28th Jan meaning our away match with Morecambe will be moved to midweek

That's the only downside to getting through - had looked up train times & planned the journey, was really looking forward to a good day out at the seaside with some football thrown in for good measure - it'd better be a damn good draw to make up for having to visit the Globe on a Tuesday night

[Greeny]

and I will damn well miss it, I away on holiday returning 30th.******

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Greeny

and I will damn well miss it, I away on holiday returning 30th.******

I'm lucky goin away Feb 2nd

[Chrisr]

The price alone is not the issue, the away end facilities are awful. We should have a sound base of 2000+ for the length of time we have been in the league. I am delighted we have got through to the next round and hopefully, our league form will pick up. Last season we did not fill the stadium at any point despite the club saying it was sold out at certain games. There were plenty of gaps to be seen. However, we can't keep going over the same old ground. The only language the club understands is low crowds and then it is why is this happening. The idea of handing out questionnaires is that you will reach people who may not make the effort other times. Failing that try using the power of social media. We all know our club could not have survived without Andy Holt stepping in. The club started to progress last season and we all know what has happened this season. I used to follow Stanley home and away but not now. if the facilities are as bad as we have then I would not go. If a club want's my money then they have to make it good value in return. Stanley at this point are doing some things like the fanzone quite well but an ariel view of the ground shows where we are lacking. A good cup run would do a great deal to put this club on the right path to division one. If we can't achieve division one status by the end of next season then we will always be also rans. We have to progress on all fronts and there is little or no reason why we can't.

[cashman]

If we ever get outa the bottom tier it will create History, NEVER in Stanleys lifetime as a founding club have we been outa it, hope we can achieve but not holding me breath,

[Lord Stiffupperlip]

Originally Posted by cashman

If we ever get outa the bottom tier it will create History, NEVER in Stanleys lifetime as a founding club have we been outa it, hope we can achieve but not holding me breath,

Cashy, let's face it! It's a bleedin miracle our little club is still playing league football, considering all the problems we have to contend with.
That's what so marvellous about the FA Cup. For once we can dream the dream. To reach round 4 is something we can all celebrate and I intend to celebrate with Holly Willoughby when we meet at Old Trafford.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Lord Stiffupperlip

Cashy, let's face it! It's a bleedin miracle our little club is still playing league football, considering all the problems we have to contend with.
That's what so marvellous about the FA Cup. For once we can dream the dream. To reach round 4 is something we can all celebrate and I intend to celebrate with Holly Willoughby when we meet at Old Trafford.

I have always looked at it like that, how the hell we survive defies logic to me.

[Chrisr]

That is the point Cashy, People look at us as a second rate fourth tier club. We need an image makeover. I have said this for quite some time. Where are the brains that be who could develop the image. Oh maybe trying to make the scanners work, They didn't have much luck with the tannoy speakers in the main stand. but small details.