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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: taxi Phil on February 16, 2016, 12:19:54 PM
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I logged on expecting the forum to be on fire with people expressing their opinions after the financial revelations at last night's AGM. The £110K we still owe on the CSH is quite a burden, but I'm actually more worried about the projected £36K loss on the season when our reserve is only £2K more than that for next season !
It isn't good however you look at it.
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i was expecting the same with the usual f**kwits complaining etc etc , it is quite worrying but thats the price you must pay for playing in this league and its not good when we get so little for playing on bt , the griffith saga and the way the weather has hampered home game revenue
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Sinnout. Sack the board.
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Those figures are for last season, not this. So loanee's will be adding more burden.
Revenue streams need to be increased somehow, it shows how difficult it is to operate a club at this level, with minimal match income and other avenues. The Rowley's especially work tirelessly. Helped by most of us where we can. Its a struggle for sure. CSH is helping, but we need other avenues of income, whilst I am against 4g pitches at a competitive level perhaps this needs to be looked at?
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I'm a little bit concerned that what previously seemed to be a £50/60k shortfall on the ch is a £110k one and I'd wonder whether the CH really is helping. I'm not entirely certain where the shortfall is accruing.
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I'm a little bit concerned that what previously seemed to be a £50/60k shortfall on the ch is a £110k one and I'd wonder whether the CH really is helping. I'm not entirely certain where the shortfall is accruing.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing.
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The short fall for the CSH will not impact on the playing budget. We have already been gaurenteed that
It needs to be paying for itself now though and surplus generated ploughed into the football club so we can sustain this level of football. This is after all our legacy, something which was built to help us engage with the wider public of the town and get them interested in the club. It is NOT just a bigger match day bar, but a facility which needs to be utilised
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It was very worrying listening to what was said last night.
Not just the finances, but how we need more people to get involved in running the club.
As said at the meeting, a lot of volunteers are getting older, and fresh blood is needed.
Not going to name people, because we know who these volunteers are.
I'm sure it would be appreciated if anybody, could give some time to help the running of OUR CLUB.
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Just to clarify the CSH element of this discussion, the £110k that has been mentioned is the figure outstanding at the end of the last financial year (May 2015). This has now reduced to £36k, as a result of final grant payments, sponsorship, further fund raisers, etc. These repayments have not impacted the AFC playing budget, nor will they, and the completion of repayments is on schedule for early next year.
The other comments that Grahame Rowley made at the AGM re the need for more revenue streams and volunteer support to enable the club to continue at the current and higher levels of football do reflect the current situation.
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Just to clarify the CSH element of this discussion, the £110k that has been mentioned is the figure outstanding at the end of the last financial year (May 2015). This has now reduced to £36k, as a result of final grant payments, sponsorship, further fund raisers, etc. These repayments have not impacted the AFC playing budget, nor will they, and the completion of repayments is on schedule for early next year.
The other comments that Grahame Rowley made at the AGM re the need for more revenue streams and volunteer support to enable the club to continue at the current and higher levels of football do reflect the current situation.
Thanks for the clarification.
Reducing a £110k burden to a £36k one can only be positive, and I'm sure the club wouldn't recruit loanees if the situation was that fraught - well done to all concerned.
However, the issue stands - we're probably not quite pushing the use of the CSH to its full potential, and we're certainly not ready for a 'change of the guard' re: volunteers across the club whatsoever.
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Not quite sure what people were expecting, the CSH will not be a cash cow for the club and definitely not in the short term. The very nature of the place as a community asset means that they can't charge exorbitant rates for hire, also bar profits won't be massive after overheads including stock and staff etc. also given its a seperate company and a charity some monies will be ring fenced.
As for volunteers, what roles are needed, with such a wide variety of tasks available surely it would be beneficial for the Club to advertise the roles. Maybe they could look at at setting up a skills database so that supporters can declare their skills and/ or what they can offer. Also what is in it for prospective volunteers, the club could put a benefits package together that would be little or no cost so that volunteers are rewarded based on number of hours per month etc with free match tickets, seats in sponsor lounge, signed balls, seats at sportsmans dinners as rewards. Even an end of year party for all volunteers at the end of each season would be something. Many people who volunteer these days expect something back even if it's just a token gesture.
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On the fund raising side, how many supporters would like to use other fans for jobs? We could set up a "Robins working for Robins" database, so plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, taxi drivers, accountants etc could pay a nominal amount to register on a list maintained by perhaps TASC in order that someone having a job done could use another Alty fan. I know it wouldn't raise a packet and would not be a continual source but it could bring in a few hundred quid and give a few people a bit of extra work for say £30-£40 per year? Just an idea.
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On the fund raising side, how many supporters would like to use other fans for jobs? We could set up a "Robins working for Robins" database, so plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, taxi drivers, accountants etc could pay a nominal amount to register on a list maintained by perhaps TASC in order that someone having a job done could use another Alty fan. I know it wouldn't raise a packet and would not be a continual source but it could bring in a few hundred quid and give a few people a bit of extra work for say £30-£40 per year? Just an idea.
I vaguely remember this suggestion popping p before (it may have been your good self SW). I think it's a decent enough idea. No harm in trying it, in my eyes.
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I probably did raise this before, some time ago, I came across the idea from AFCW who have a "Dons for Dons" thing running, heavily advertised on the ground and in the programme.
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I think its time for a ticket price rise - the way I see it - if we fund raise its just the same home fans paying in, if we add it to the ticket price then it spreads the burden over everyone - but more importantly gets the away fans paying it too.
Average home attendance so far this season (excl Chester tonight) is 1190, 23 home games, every £1 added = £27k - that goes over halfway to making up the shortfalls?
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We need to get more school kids in for free as well they are the future
Get into schools and give tickets out like we used too
They will buy drinks and chips as well so it's self funding really
We need all the support we can muster to stay up
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I agree, little point in charging £2 for under 12s, make it free. We seem to go through the same thing of generating ideas and offering assistance etc every couple of years but nothing happens.
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We need to get more school kids in for free as well they are the future
Get into schools and give tickets out like we used too
I know some were given out for the Lincoln game at schools, and we gave some out at Saturday Soccer Club for the Altrincham Juniors U6/U7/U8.
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I suggested this a while back but it fell on death ears. Basically companies in the local area pay to be part of a scheme, and offer incentives to Alty FC card holders, these cards could be bought by alty fans or be given to TASC holders
http://www.lewesfc.com/support-and-save/ (http://www.lewesfc.com/support-and-save/)
Another thought is no other charity would ask for generic volunteers - they'd ask or specific types of volunteers. So we should either recruit people via a skills pledge, or Graham and the board should sit down and decide where the gaps are. Most fans aren't going to want to steward or shake buckets - but they might be willing to cold call companies, or work on school links because thats what they do day to day.
Thirdly, we have several Grammar schools, several colleges within a walk or met ride. Students need stuff on their UCAS. Give them a proper job title, and utilise the skills they are learning. You could even run a dragons den style event with their business and marketing students.
Point 4, How do we approach sponsorship opportunities : FCUM produced this - they paid for materials, C21 - an ALTRINCHAM design agency - designed it (http://www.c-21.co.uk/images/content/work/items/5_FC_clubSponsor_mailer.jpg)
Point 5, Do we also have an incentive scheme to bring in new people? Where I work, I earn £1000 for introduce new clients, and £1000 for new employee recommendations, could we offer an incentive scheme to get fans to actively go out and search for new sponsor boards or bigger investors
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I sort of ignore most of what fcum come up with as, good or bad, they have an amazing (counterfeit) brand that we don't have (or want or need) but fair play to them for being pro active.
I do like the commission idea. I think people would be able to sell advertising space on calendars, in programmes, boards etc to their bosses, place of work much better with that incentive and their work probably looking on the pestering more favourably.
I can't tell you how desperately 15-18 year olds need good volunteering bits on their cvs and application forms. The problem is, saying you swept the terraces after a game isn't really great for them.
If they could get a package where they do six games and a different thing each game, I don't know, assisting Richie/Dawn with catering, office work, terrace sweeping, golden goal selling, something assisting the CSH, Alty TV work etc and then a reference from the chairman explains they completed Alty Volunteer Course 1/2/3 or some think it could be more favourable.
As I said elsewhere, I expect the volunteers plea was more just for volunteers in general as it wasn't specified how it linked to the finances.
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I sort of ignore most of what fcum come up with as, good or bad, they have an amazing (counterfeit) brand that we don't have (or want or need) but fair play to them for being pro active.
I do like the commission idea. I think people would be able to sell advertising space on calendars, in programmes, boards etc to their bosses, place of work much better with that incentive and their work probably looking on the pestering more favourably.
I can't tell you how desperately 15-18 year olds need good volunteering bits on their cvs and application forms. The problem is, saying you swept the terraces after a game isn't really great for them.
If they could get a package where they do six games and a different thing each game, I don't know, assisting Richie/Dawn with catering, office work, terrace sweeping, golden goal selling, something assisting the CSH, Alty TV work etc and then a reference from the chairman explains they completed Alty Volunteer Course 1/2/3 or some think it could be more favourable.
As I said elsewhere, I expect the volunteers plea was more just for volunteers in general as it wasn't specified how it linked to the finances.
Give them a skill they can put on to UCAS - 'communication' etc. associated with each task and it all suddenly becomes relevant.
The other alternative is to launch a brief with a university course such as event management and then they can reference 'working with a live-client' in their CV/Portfolio. Event Management, Business Studies etc all would benefit. Think of it like the apprentice on bbc 1
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With regard to distribution of free tickets for school age children. For each Saturday game the club distributes hundreds of children's free tickets together with reduced price ticket for accompanied adults. These go to the attendees of mini kickers, Saturday Morning Club, and schools. I think the figure for the Lincoln game was around 350 of each.
The weekly take up of these can be low however we know that many supporters have ben introduced via this scheme since it was started several years ago.
If anyone would like to distribute tickets to a particular school or club then by all means ring the club, and we will arrange for tickets to be available for you to collect.
Incidentally, many good ideas are mentioned on the forum but if they are not taken up it will usually be that either they have not been seen, or that none of the existing volunteers at the Club have the capacity to take them on. I'm sure that if someone comes along with an idea that they are prepared to explain and to run with they would be very gratefully received.
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With regard to distribution of free tickets for school age children. For each Saturday game the club distributes hundreds of children's free tickets together with reduced price ticket for accompanied adults. These go to the attendees of mini kickers, Saturday Morning Club, and schools. I think the figure for the Lincoln game was around 350 of each.
The weekly take up of these can be low however we know that many supporters have ben introduced via this scheme since it was started several years ago.
If anyone would like to distribute tickets to a particular school or club then by all means ring the club, and we will arrange for tickets to be available for you to collect.
Incidentally, many good ideas are mentioned on the forum but if they are not taken up it will usually be that either they have not been seen, or that none of the existing volunteers at the Club have the capacity to take them on. I'm sure that if someone comes along with an idea that they are prepared to explain and to run with they would be very gratefully received.
Without wanting to suggest that the solution to our problems are more volunteers, perhaps what we need is someone willing to volunteer to be a volunteer coordinator?
Their role would involve them being a conduit between the fans and the club. From the club side they could help get word out about what exactly the club need in terms of volunteers, and from the fan side, they could be responsible for assessing the viability of the ideas put forward by the fanbase (such as the one's mentioned in this thread).
I get the impression that there are plenty of people that would like to help, or have ideas that would help further the clubs interests but there is no obvious place for this enthusiasm to go and as such it gets lost in the ether. If there was an obvious person (or people) to go to then this might help.
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With regard to distribution of free tickets for school age children. For each Saturday game the club distributes hundreds of children's free tickets together with reduced price ticket for accompanied adults. These go to the attendees of mini kickers, Saturday Morning Club, and schools. I think the figure for the Lincoln game was around 350 of each.
The weekly take up of these can be low however we know that many supporters have ben introduced via this scheme since it was started several years ago.
If anyone would like to distribute tickets to a particular school or club then by all means ring the club, and we will arrange for tickets to be available for you to collect.
Incidentally, many good ideas are mentioned on the forum but if they are not taken up it will usually be that either they have not been seen, or that none of the existing volunteers at the Club have the capacity to take them on. I'm sure that if someone comes along with an idea that they are prepared to explain and to run with they would be very gratefully received.
Without wanting to suggest that the solution to our problems are more volunteers, perhaps what we need is someone willing to volunteer to be a volunteer coordinator?
Their role would involve them being a conduit between the fans and the club. From the club side they could help get word out about what exactly the club need in terms of volunteers, and from the fan side, they could be responsible for assessing the viability of the ideas put forward by the fanbase (such as the one's mentioned in this thread).
I get the impression that there are plenty of people that would like to help, or have ideas that would help further the clubs interests but there is no obvious place for this enthusiasm to go and as such it gets lost in the ether. If there was an obvious person (or people) to go to then this might help.
I agree. The forum seems the obviously place to put them but a dedicated person seems a good idea.
It feels like to get an idea in motion seems to have to go through a lot before it gets executed.
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Surely the coupon in the messenger idea doesn't need someone to coordinate it? Just a phone all to the messenger going "do you remember 5 years ago..."
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I went on the official site this morning and the appeal for volunteers (which is ongoing and very important) is now off the page as it has dropped down the list.
Instead we have several paragraphs relating to news stories at other clubs.
I think the official website is excellent in places and a hell of a lot of very good. hard work goes into it. Surely though we are missing a trick if we cant give prominence to our own club and needs on the main page?
My own view is that the news page should be 100% Alty. How about the non alty news on a separate page?
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For exiled supporters who maybe only get to a few home games like me, how possible would it be to have like a 6 game ticket purchased at the start of the season for use at any 6 home league games throughout the season?
It may offer up more funds up front at the start of the season rather than just £15 at 5 or 6 home games spread throughout the season.
I find It is difficult for exiled supporters to support the club financially and often go to many more away games than home matches, so this would be a good way of at least supporting the club each season and potentially encourage exiled supporters to go more often.
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If everyone of our 800/900 hardcore was a member of the Yankee lottery the club would pull in far more money on a weekly basis. Dunno how many exiles are members of the Yankee lottery, but it's ideal way to contribute to the club from afar. I pay by direct debit, £4.33 comes out of my bank on the 1st of the month and you don't even notice it. I don't even know what my numbers are. It may be a
Very old, tired and longstanding fundraiser but some football and rugby clubs have a fabulous income from it. You are informed if you win so don't even have to check it.
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I've joined the new buster.....another relatively cheap option. Mind you, getting United allocated to me wasn't a good start 😕
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The Chairman has announced a list of volunteering opportunities on the main website.
Altrincham FC Chairman, Grahame Rowley writes that "Following on from my plea for additional volunteers to help out around the Football Club, I have drawn up a list of jobs which people could potentially assist with. They are:-
Matchday Stewards
Matchday Gate Persons
People to divot pitch at half time and full time on the pitch - forks provided.
Litter pickers to clear the ground following games
Bar staff
Catering assistants
Fund raiser co-ordinators to take on a fundraising project either via the internet or in person at games. This could be arranging a social event to just running a competition like "Pontoon" or "Goal Rush"
Person to put up posters around the ground advertising next fixture.
Advertising / sponsorship - anyone who can cold-call local companies to generate further opportunities to sponsor/ advertise at the club. Commission available on success.
Raffle ticket sellers - on matchdays
Please contact Karen or Grahame Rowley at the Football Club on (0161) 928-1045 or via e-mail".
Whilst I find it a welcome move, I can't see how we can ask for volunteer bar and catering staff to work alongside paid staff when we have just recruited.