100% Linnets

[Blue_and_Gold]

No Storm Clouds over the Walks tonight as Tommy's lads blow them all away.

Lynn win 2-1 with two second half Gold goals after trailing at HT.

Linnets are now the only Club with a 100% record.

Attendance 733.

[Anton]

Great result tonight for the Linnets. Great goals from Gold. Thought we played well and took control in the 2nd half. 

[Saddlerlinnet]

Sounded like a good game against better opposition and a great if some what later winner.
Guess the only downside was the dismal attendance hopefully the crowds pick up if the success continues as not sure they can survive long in the current format with such low incoming cash.
Looks like we still waiting for fans to return after the chairman's last few seasons of disastrous ticket prices

[TonyM]

Sounded like a good game against better opposition and a great if some what later winner.
Guess the only downside was the dismal attendance hopefully the crowds pick up if the success continues as not sure they can survive long in the current format with such low incoming cash.
Looks like we still waiting for fans to return after the chairman's last few seasons of disastrous ticket prices

Guess the attendance, as ever, is a combination of things and everyone will have a differing view of how much each is a factor but (relatively) high pricing and inflation reducing many people's disposable income will make football twice in a week too much for some.  In terms of last night specifically the weather won't have helped either.  Problem is that SC hasn't really given himself much wriggle room, does he drop prices like last year and upset season ticket holders or does he hold out hoping that fans will return to support a winning team?  At some point he may decide that a full-time team and all that goes with it such as the training facilities at Ely, player digs etc can't be run sustainably in West Norfolk.  I see lots of posts on social media about how people 'should' support the club which is getting the cart before the horse, whilst the club must do what it can to encourage supporters, and TW can't do a lot more on the pitch at present, ultimately the club has to cut it's cloth accordingly, not ideal for those of us who do go regularly to the Walks but I would rather see that than put the existence of the club in doubt.

[Blue_and_Gold]

Sounded like a good game against better opposition and a great if some what later winner.
Guess the only downside was the dismal attendance hopefully the crowds pick up if the success continues as not sure they can survive long in the current format with such low incoming cash.
Looks like we still waiting for fans to return after the chairman's last few seasons of disastrous ticket prices

Guess the attendance, as ever, is a combination of things and everyone will have a differing view of how much each is a factor but (relatively) high pricing and inflation reducing many people's disposable income will make football twice in a week too much for some.  In terms of last night specifically the weather won't have helped either.  Problem is that SC hasn't really given himself much wriggle room, does he drop prices like last year and upset season ticket holders or does he hold out hoping that fans will return to support a winning team?  At some point he may decide that a full-time team and all that goes with it such as the training facilities at Ely, player digs etc can't be run sustainably in West Norfolk.  I see lots of posts on social media about how people 'should' support the club which is getting the cart before the horse, whilst the club must do what it can to encourage supporters, and TW can't do a lot more on the pitch at present, ultimately the club has to cut it's cloth accordingly, not ideal for those of us who do go regularly to the Walks but I would rather see that than put the existence of the club in doubt.

We don't really know what level of support is needed, with regards to people coming through the gate, to make this sustainable. If Tommy can continue to do his bit with what he currently has available to him, then I believe the gates will increase. If they will increase by the amount required, is an entirely different matter.

[Mallard]

B&G,  in SC’s Proggie notes he was saying he needs everyone to bring a person to make it sustainable.   So that says to me he needs 1400 average.   The Club has lost £70k from central funding.  Admission has come down in price but everything else has gone up.   

Maybe if TW keeps the wins coming and we get on an FA Cup run that could help balance the books.    770 was disappointing for the Club last night. 

What can be done, in these tough times to attract more people through the gate ?

[Ytsejam]

Whilst 770 isn’t a big crowd it isn’t too bad for a “wet” Tuesday evening and with Norwich at home too. Remember last season we were a league higher and apart from the “big club matches” the home support was around this figure for a lot of the time anyway.
May well not be anywhere near enough but think it’s a good base to start with and if the club continues with good results then it will be going up a hundred or two within a few weeks but never going to get to around 1400 I’m afraid.

[Blue_and_Gold]

........................but everything else has gone up.   

That's everywhere. Not unique to football.

In many ways football has become a victim of its own success. Its now regarded as a luxury item by many (due to the cost) and in tough times we all know what happens to luxury items.

Surely the loss of 70k  of funding is based on us dropping a level and having lower running costs. I would have thought we would have been well aware about this and it would have been taken into account when working out budgets etc. 

As I said in an earlier post. I can see the gates increasing. Maybe averaging out at around 1000/1100 if we continue on this run. As soon as we get a couple of dodgy results, we know which direction they will go again. IF, we need 1300/1400 average throughout the season, I personally don't think that will happen.

This means a really good cup run is so much more important for us this  season.

[Mallard]

Yes without a doubt Football at this level is now a luxury item.  Factor in the pandemic where people got out of the habit of attending a football match.  Plus fuel costs. It’s almost a perfect storm.

Last nights attendance would not have been helped by a false call off being posted on Facebook.  I was on my way when I heard this news.  I nearly turned around and headed home.  Having bought an online ticket.

FA cup runs can really support clubs in terms of prize money and having the possibility of pulling a ‘biggie’ in round one/two/three ( dream)

[Saddlerlinnet]

Agree with Mallard whilst a few hundred on the gate would be very welcome I m.sure you can't beat a good cup run especially with some decent home draws for generating some good lump sums of money.
Whilst the  current squad probably is not the most gifted in technical ability they do seem to have developed into a hard to beat side who never give up something that could serve them well on their cup exploits .

[Southlinnet]

B&G,  in SC’s Proggie notes he was saying he needs everyone to bring a person to make it sustainable.   So that says to me he needs 1400 average.   The Club has lost £70k from central funding.  Admission has come down in price but everything else has gone up.   

Maybe if TW keeps the wins coming and we get on an FA Cup run that could help balance the books.    770 was disappointing for the Club last night. 

What can be done, in these tough times to attract more people through the gate ?

I'm not disputing the fact it's costing money to run the club but every time I hear about the programme notes its to do with money, SC having to struggle and put more money into operating costs. It just gets a bit tiresome.

[Blue_and_Gold]

B&G,  in SC’s Proggie notes he was saying he needs everyone to bring a person to make it sustainable.   So that says to me he needs 1400 average.   The Club has lost £70k from central funding.  Admission has come down in price but everything else has gone up.   

Maybe if TW keeps the wins coming and we get on an FA Cup run that could help balance the books.    770 was disappointing for the Club last night. 

What can be done, in these tough times to attract more people through the gate ?

I'm not disputing the fact it's costing money to run the club but every time I hear about the programme notes its to do with money, SC having to struggle and put more money into operating costs. It just gets a bit tiresome.

I can't understand what the problem is. Putting money into the Club was his chosen operating model from day one. I think most understand the higher you go the more it costs, so the more the owner will have to put in. Surely he can't be the only one not to understand that. 

It looks as if he's found a rough diamond with his appointment of Tommy, and that could help with the finances as fans return to watch a winning team playing good football, but if SC thinks that's going to bring enough people through the gates to make the club self financing at this level, I think he's going to be dissappointed.

One way or another (unless there's a good cup run), it looks as if he's going to have to keep operating his favoured business model and keep ploughing the money in.

[Mallard]

In a lot of ways I have sympathy with SC.   Look at the current situation.

He is running a club that is pulling in what 800/900 average per home game. He needs more to make it viable.

Currently has no commercial department to speak of as the last person had to walk away through ill health.

He has no Supporters group currently active raising much needed funds. According to his programme notes £5k has gone ‘missing’ from the FOTL that was earmarked for the Club. ( ok whose got it, own up  )

Again in the programme notes he wants local business to get onboard with the Club. I know of a good few Lynn firms who are sponsoring other clubs ( in various forms) in the region.
Why ?

He has a full time squad to pay for plus backroom staff, plus overnight stays now for most away games.

Honestly who would want to own a Football Club at this level, let alone moving back up to the next level.
 

[Blue_and_Gold]

Honestly who would want to own a Football Club at this level, let alone moving back up to the next level.

Obviously, Stephen Cleeve does.

If he didn't, he'd be trying to sell the Club.

[TonyM]

...He has no Supporters group currently active raising much needed funds. According to his programme notes £5k has gone ‘missing’ from the FOTL that was earmarked for the Club. ( ok whose got it, own up  )

Haven't read the programme notes yet but in terms of the FotL, it was just waiting for Barry F to do the final draw at yesterdays game (as promised at the EGM) and then final winning cheques could be written and then funds could be allocated as per the EGM in conjunction with discussions with the club