Can someone tell me this - I am lost for this knowledge

bazalini

If AFC Wimbledon get promoted out of the Ryman Premier league what division do they go into??

bazalini

Got it - Just got this which explains eveything

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English..._league_system

Alex

Wikipedia is god-like in its knowledge

bazalini

I have another question.

When FCUM entered North West Counties Division two they entered on Rung 10 of the Football League ladder.

How was it decided to enter that specific league??

Its all very well saying its the North West Blah Blah Blah, but t be more specific did the FA look at grounds, Fan Base etc etc

mickthered

AFC will go into the Conference South if they gain promotion

As for FC realistically that was about as low as they could start given the crowd base (And even most of the grounds struggled in that league to host the games)

There was also places available in the NWCL at the time as they were short of clubs
A lot of Anti FC people will try and let you believe that FC also done other clubs out of a place in the league even though this is not true

Even in FCs first season in the NWCFL there was still places going spare

As for the ground grading I think it was up to the NWCFL and not the FA

bazalini

Thank you Mick.

While I have you - Would you regard FC as a Socialist Football Club.

mickthered

Spose it depends on how you want to look at it

The club is set up as a non profit organisation and also putting help/courses/money etc back into the community
Everyone gets one vote no matter how much money he ploughs into the club

Putting it that way it does sound at least as though its based on socialist principals

Only problem the fanbase is that widespread and as someone once said you can ask a 1000 people and get a 1000 different answers

Everyone seems to have their own opinion

bazalini

I'd say they have socialist beliefs and work practices. And I have no problem with that - But I do think the club will have to change some beliefs if they reach their targets they set out. I cannot see a football club progressing without endorsing sponsorship for one.

mickthered

The club are not against sponsorship just sponsorship on the shirts
Although a lot have said they would be happy to promote a good cause on the shirts if needed
Maybe that will change in the future but that will be up to the fans
I cant see it in the near future maybe in the very distant future who knows

bazalini

How often do you get to the matches Mick. You seem to know your stuff.

Is the lad from Derry still playing? Also any idea what Bury charge for teh ground? Also have FC released financial statements to the members.

mickthered

Been to every game home and away bar one since the start

Rory still there came on as a sub in the last game and completely changed it with a hatrick

Bury are charging about 5 grand for the use of the ground but we also have to use their stewards and the likes who also need paying

The turnstile operators also needed paying but this season they have been manned by FC volunteers

There is a sort of financial statement but only in the minutes
However any member can ask to see the books if they wanted to

Due to IPS rules the books also have to be independently checked once a year

bazalini

Cheers for that Mick. Have always read up on them and as much as I want them to be a success I feel as time has gone on more alienated.

Alienated in a way that I feel a closer stand with Glazer. Is that something which the club have looked to address in terms of moving on. When It happened with Wimbledon there was clear boundaries which could be identified and clear lines which an opinion could be judged upon.

This was more like a bad family falling out with one side storming out. I think FCUM need to position itself better in the public perspective to achieve a bigger fan base which you need to achive your target of 5k attendence figures

mickthered

Only problem with that is as I said earlier too many people with different ideas

Keeps me happy as I still have home and away football which is affordable
can take the kids when I want and still watch United on the box

Watching a live football game once every couple of months is not an option for me and never has been

bazalini

Okay see my point which really think needs addressed by FCUM (Took me a while to write what I really wanted to say)

IMO FCUM will remain at the 2k attendence figure and get the olde 500 here and there with the so called ***- illusioned or to describe them more accurately day-trippers.

I see your guy is asking for Marketing and I would agree with that. The whole message that is coming out of FCUM is very Union Like and as the club will undoubtingly grow in the next 2-3 years it is not setting itself out right. Be that intentional or whatever I do not know, but unless you are doing excellent community work they could be tapping into a bigger fan base without distorting from its core principles

Again this could be ignorance on my behalf and what FCUM want to do.

mickthered

Personally I cant see the fan base growing that much until they get their own ground

The type of ground ideas that are going round are that it should be part football and the rest should be some kind of public area educational/doctors/ sports centre etc something that will be used all week and not something like the traditional ground just used once a week
The community work has been stepped up this season with a lot more going on
A lot of this has taken place where most normal clubs wouldn't even think of working

One story that I liked was about some damage being done to Gigg lane by some young kids
It wasn't your normal act of vandalism just a few kids at the back of the stand kicking the metal at the back of the stand to make a bit of noise but however it was still damaging the ground
No most clubs would have found out who was doing this then had them kicked out
Not FC they found out who they were then asked them to stay behind after the game where they were then taken into the changing rooms to meet the players who had a word with them about how it was costing the club money
Result the damage stopped and the lads now volunteer to work at the ground on match days

bazalini

Nice Story. Finally before I bore you with more I have heard that they might undertake an oversees tour and have sounded Ireland and then pulled back on it. Have you heard anything.

Also why did Rodhri Giggs leave??

mickthered

There has been quite a few rumours about a tour to Ireland and apparently there should have been one at the start of this season but it all fell through
Can not remember what club it was but from what I heard the club wanted FC to pay all their own expenses as they were worried about not getting a big enough crowd to make it pay

Rodhri seemed he was a bit too big for his boots
On the coach on the way home from a game asking someone to ring up the pub and get the fans to get the beer in for them did not help

And before the Wimbledon game at the start of the season all the players were told that they had to go and watch the fans match before the game
Rodhri wasn't happy with this and he and Rory missed the coach
Both players got a bollicking Rory took it like a man Rodhri didn't
Plus his "what sort of fucking club is this where the players are told to go and watch the fans play football " didn't go down to well

So with that off he went
Pity really as I always found him ok to talk to and thought he had a great season for FC and was my player of the year

ladybarnred

Fucking 'ell... you've opened Pandora's box!

Sometimes I think it's like The People's Front of Judea from the Life of Brian... basically there are a lot of ideas and a lot of "right on" people at FC.

That said if I had to nail the politics of the club down I'd say "Mancunian" by which I mean rebellious. Repeal of the Corn Laws, Birth of the Labour movement, Peterloo, Cobden, Engels, Suffragettes etc. etc. Some of things might look "lefty" from today's persepective but really they're just a ingrained "Nah fuck that!... This is how you do it!" attitude that permeates the city.

UnitedRoadRed

You're right, there was a place free - Prestwich Heys had won the Manchester League three years on the trot, but their ground at Sandgate Road in Whitefield isn't up to scratch for NW Counties matches.

As for the political stance, I would say that their isn't one; it's more that it's run by people who regard flatpack instructions as the manufacturer's opinion of how to put the furniture up rather than how it should be put up.

mickthered

If I remember right there was room for 3 or 4 teams to join the league

UnitedRoadRed

Probably, I just knew the Prestwich Heys problem well enough to confirm it.

mickthered

I think Prestwich are still having problems with regards to the ground

ladybarnred

Fucking genius!

UnitedRoadRed

The locals have objected to the floodlights, but they're making progress slowly I believe.
Sad losses of Norman Deardon and Adie Moran last year seemed to have destabilise the club - Moran more so, as manager. Norman was a club stalwart since the 70s.

mickthered

The problems with the floodlights is what I heard and it seems it is holding them back