Post by btfc Supporters Club on May 1, 2023 14:41:14 GMT
Would you prefer us to stay in the Isthmian League and go in the Premier League, or move back into the Southern League and go in the Premier South? Your chance to vote
Isn't the Isthmian Premier full of teams in Essex and north Kent?[/quite]
Yep, and East Sussex, so not much fun to drive to, although I guess , except cost, it doesn't make much difference to train travellers. Certainly more 'local' away days in Southern, especially now Truro have gone up. We will find out soon enough I suppose, either way we don't have to go to Chipstead😃
Post by westcountryblue on May 1, 2023 16:27:22 GMT
Not a bad range of likely places to visit (furthest first) if we do end up in SLP South (and this is the league line up)...
Plymouth Parkway Merthyr Town Tiverton Town Dorchester Town Poole Town Hendon Chesham United Hanwell Town Beaconsfield Town Gosport Borough Swindon Supermarine Salisbury Hayes & Yeading United Metropolitan Police Walton & Hersham Sholing AFC Totton Didcot Town Hungerford Town Bracknell Town Winchester City
Not a bad range of likely places to visit (furthest first) if we do end up in SLP South (and this is the league line up)...
Plymouth Parkway Merthyr Town Tiverton Town Dorchester Town Poole Town Hendon Chesham United Hanwell Town Beaconsfield Town Gosport Borough Swindon Supermarine Salisbury Hayes & Yeading United Metropolitan Police Walton & Hersham Sholing AFC Totton Didcot Town Hungerford Town Bracknell Town Winchester City
Sorry apart from Plymouth Parkway, all boring and been done before, some many times. We should be seeking new teams new places, new challenges, not just the same old crap each season.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this forum belong solely to me a fan & supporter and in no way represent the club, organisation, committee or other group or individual.
I get your sentiment, Martin, although I can also understand the lack of joy about trips to deepest Essex or Kent from Basingstoke. The answer I guess is for the club to keep driving upwards, and remind themselves what playing in the NLS used to be like (many of the same grounds, of course). From there, the National League - definitely many grounds we haven`t been to before. Sorry - that dream keeps popping up.
More seriously, any more momentum upwards surely puts Winklebury under the spotlight. The South Park game was close to, if not over, its natural capacity. Would love to know what the off field planning is in terms of supporting more success on the field. It was those few terrace steps at the good old Camrose which made crowds of 5000 possible back in the day, adjusted to 3000 (I think) less far back in the day (Aldershot, 2006). Winklebury has virtually nothing, the view from around the ground is one level only. So, 1500 seems right at the max. With crowds growing with success, how will the club cope? Maybe we can ground share with Reading as they are about to drop into League 1. Joking, but my point is a serious one.
Just to confirm, work on a clubhouse, removing both terraced and seating stands, to put in much larger versions are to take in the following weeks and months. The turnstiles to be moved to a different angle. The seating in the main stand (at the top at least) is to be updated.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this forum belong solely to me a fan & supporter and in no way represent the club, organisation, committee or other group or individual.
Just had Jenny Vaux, the portfolio holder for sport put some local election flyers through my door. I managed to catch her for a chat and mentioned about the situation if we were to get promoted and the leisure park situation. She seemed to think that there wouldn't be any issues should we be successful, but did mention that she was speaking to the person who looks after football at BDBC tomorrow. In respects of the leisure park, she isn't keen for it to go there as she seemed to be saying it won't fit in with what should be there. We started to chat about other options but she had to go. She was happy for me to chat at organise a separate time to chat. I said to her, you seem a bit more real and human that those that have gone before you . On a separate topic, what are people's thought's about streaming matches for those that can't get to the game. I am aware of a number of supporters that write on this forum who don't live local and also some that are abroad (the Loki Doki project appeared to have interest from further afield). I have been reliably informed that this isn't something that is allowed to do to supporters in the UK but can be done to those abroad. With this in mind I did notice however that Waltham and Hesham we using a company called Recast to live stream their play off final yesterday (the cost was £5). I realise that this could possibly take away some of the people coming through the gate but it could also be a way to promote local business's that support us. Going back to the initial thread I voted for the Southern League mainly because of the possible longer travel times if we were in another league and also if this might be the same for some of our supporters.
Just to confirm, work on a clubhouse, removing both terraced and seating stands, to put in much larger versions are to take in the following weeks and months. The turnstiles to be moved to a different angle. The seating in the main stand (at the top at least) is to be updated.
Thanks for the info Martin & it all sounds very positive. Is there a visual plan of works that we can see?
As regards the main question, personally, I'd prefer Isthmian Prem as it would mean away games at Horsham, Hastings and Cheshunt (all places where I've got relatives) and also I've got a good mate who supports Kingstonian. But Southern Prem is looking pretty nailed-on certain to be fair.
Whichever it is, let's hope it's just a one-season stepping stone back to NLS!
Thanks for this, Martin - sounds very encouraging. Do we know what the new ground capacity will look like once work completed (by August?). And can I assume that the "matchday experience" will be enhanced by the prospect of a pre-match beer in the new clubhouse? Nirvana beckons...
martinfrench
Administrator Supporters Club Chairman
I don't have a visual plan of the work to be done. I believe the work on the clubhouse which is a permanent building, so unable to be moved to our own new stadium, should be starting anytime soon, and could take upto six months. It will be accessed only via the turnstiles on matchdays. View of the pitch will be prohibited I believe during the game. The work on extended terrace and seated area, should be fairly quick. I believe the terracing will have eight levels and will be extended. This should not take along, however my question, is does more foundations need to be put in first, as may not have been done by council/Razzak the first time. The same situation sits with the extended seating area behind the goal. Most of this should be ready by the start of the season, although pre-season friendlies are likely to be mostly away from Winklebury.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this forum belong solely to me a fan & supporter and in no way represent the club, organisation, committee or other group or individual.
Post by rustysheriffsbadge on May 2, 2023 16:37:59 GMT
I've personally been to every ground on that list bar Plymouth parkway some several times and would like to see different places as well but the travel costs these days are beyond a joke, it's got to make financial sense for the club to go in the southern league, the price for fans on public transport is outrageous as well. We nearly didn't have a club three years ago , it's great we can talk about these things especially after a fantastic season.
I think that Dan, his team and the players need to be considered. Not sure how they have been travelling up to now but ease of travel to games is important for the management and players. The M25 is a major consideration, i.e. queuing on it!
No issue with being in either but the southern prem does appear to be the tougher and more exciting league with actual supported teams, Isthmian would be welcome to hand over Lewes though if they wanted just for sharing sake, one of my favourite away grounds.
I get your sentiment, Martin, although I can also understand the lack of joy about trips to deepest Essex or Kent from Basingstoke. The answer I guess is for the club to keep driving upwards, and remind themselves what playing in the NLS used to be like (many of the same grounds, of course). From there, the National League - definitely many grounds we haven`t been to before. Sorry - that dream keeps popping up.
More seriously, any more momentum upwards surely puts Winklebury under the spotlight. The South Park game was close to, if not over, its natural capacity. Would love to know what the off field planning is in terms of supporting more success on the field. It was those few terrace steps at the good old Camrose which made crowds of 5000 possible back in the day, adjusted to 3000 (I think) less far back in the day (Aldershot, 2006). Winklebury has virtually nothing, the view from around the ground is one level only. So, 1500 seems right at the max. With crowds growing with success, how will the club cope? Maybe we can ground share with Reading as they are about to drop into League 1. Joking, but my point is a serious one.Â
The plans sent to CC members show the capacity of the seated stand at the car park end being increased to 158 with additional seating being added to the main stand taking that up to 92.
The terrace behind the railway end goal is being replaced with an 8 step covered terrace with a capacity of 480.
Thanks, Rob, helpful. Pity that long side opposite the main stand can`t gain three or four levels of terrace, seems like it`s still one thin blue/yellow line watch at grasshopper level. And I`ll have to battle for my seat in that augmented 92 seat stand. But slowly getting better.
. On a separate topic, what are people's thought's about streaming matches for those that can't get to the game. I am aware of a number of supporters that write on this forum who don't live local and also some that are abroad (the Loki Doki project appeared to have interest from further afield). I have been reliably informed that this isn't something that is allowed to do to supporters in the UK but can be done to those abroad. With this in mind I did notice however that Waltham and Hesham we using a company called Recast to live stream their play off final yesterday (the cost was £5). I realise that this could possibly take away some of the people coming through the gate but it could also be a way to promote local business's that support us. Going back to the initial thread I voted for the Southern League mainly because of the possible longer travel times if we were in another league and also if this might be the same for some of our supporters.