Isthmian Pub Leagues 2016/17

[pinknblue]

So, 0-0 at Braintree in the FA trophy and another drawn game we should have won! I don't think we've played a draw we shouldn't have won this season and we've drawn 11 in the league. It's our perennial undoing of dominating matches, creating loads off chances and failing to convert them.

Last week at Leiston we played them off the park and created so many chances we should have beaten them by 3 or 4 goals, but came away with a 2-2 draw. It's soooooo... frustrating!

On the other hand, I can only think of one game we've lost (at Canvey) that we should have got anything from.

Anyway, we're playing some good stuff at the moment and I'm hopeful we can at least secure a play-off spot. I would laugh quite loudly if Havant don't go up; some of the guys on their forum seem to think they have divine right to do so. We haven't played them yet, but I'll be absolutely stoked if stuff them twice!

 

[pinknblue]

Hello!

 

[pinknblue]

One of our supporters had caught onto a post on the K's forum about how to best go about promoting crowds which prompted some responses on Stonesnet (which can be found here). The options put forward were do K's try and increase crowds via going down the route of Dulwich (hipsters), Lewes (families) or Wealdstone (lads).

We are NOT hipsters!! Sorry, but that's a lazy, inaccurate and rather wearing tag!

We have grown our crowds from an average of 300 a few years ago to 1200. This has been achieved by a lot of people putting in a lot of hard work, by savvy use of social media (we have 1.25 million Twitter impressions per month, over 9000 Twitter followers and 10000 unique website visitors per week), by great community work raising money for numerous local and international causes including Britain's only dedicated anti-homophobia match against Stonewall F.C., and a huge collection for Calais refugees (we are the Football Foundation's current community club of the year), and by playing great football that people want to watch. I've never seen so many women and children watching football as I've seen at Dulwich and I absolutely love it! We're creating a whole new generation of Dulwich and non-league football lovers.

The long and the short of it is 'How much do you actually love your club and your community and what are you willing to do about it?' The Dulwich growth has happened because people genuinely care about social issues and about their football club and have been prepared to do something about them! K's fans wanting a 'quick fix' might be disappointed that this takes a fair amount of time, effort and skill; it's not a quick fix, but steady growth will happen if a dedicated group really have the desire to make it happen. I'm sure if you asked Mishi or one of the other folks on the committee nicely, that they'd give you some help and advice on how to go about things in the right way!

A few good ideas about targeting different groups there though Aberstone. How about having a 'pay what you want' day once or twice a season and aggressively marketing it at local fairs and community events? But don't act like salesman, just be friendly! They often bring in our biggest crowds - usually 2,000+



Blessings!

 

[Paddy]

Embrace the hipster tag, Pinknblue, wear it as a bagde of honour! It's often quoted in jealousy. I'd love K's (or at least the fans as a majority) to have the sort of ethos that the Dulwich fans have because it's the core values that I also believe in. To be fair there is a bunch of us that do, we had 'refugees welcome' banners the same time you lot did (although we got no coverage for it) for example.

The original post on K's forum wasn't (for once) mocking you guys for being hipsters. It was complimentary to the fact that you've found your market & are honing in on it well... just as Wealdstone with their lads. If anything it's pointing out two aspirational methods to attract new fans, or a 'type' of fan.

For all the hipster jibes Dulwich, like K's, are a famous old school London non-league name. You guys had your dip in fortunes & have now turned it around, with the future only looking brighter. We're just about to hit rock bottom (hopefully) in that process & looking at you as a potential example of how to revive ourselves.

 

[townsendaround]

http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/steps-3-6/bognor-hamlet-the-horn-twins-and-the-orgasmatron/

Bognor, Hamlet, the Horn Twins and the Orgasmatron. A Ryman Premier League odyssey- kind of a match report!

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

'ere. PinknBlue - you slumming it out East tamorra night? (I'm not BTW!)

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

'ere. Townsendaround. You just want a couple of Horn Twins? We got a whole churchful of 'em.
So then, tonight's quiz question for you all ... which came first, the horns on the church, or the name of the town?
(As you can tell, I'm bored).

 

[townsendaround]

'ere. Townsendaround. You just want a couple of Horn Twins? We got a whole churchful of 'em.
So then, tonight's quiz question for you all ... which came first, the horns on the church, or the name of the town?
(As you can tell, I'm bored).

Do you know, I've never been to Hornchurch. That's an omission I'll need to put right. But I can't answer your question!

 

[townsendaround]

Dorking Wanderers swallow up Dorking FC. Well, that's the upshot anyway.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dorkingfc/news/new-look-for-football-in-dorking-1754572.html

 

[pinknblue]

Embrace the hipster tag, Pinknblue, wear it as a bagde of honour! It's often quoted in jealousy. I'd love K's (or at least the fans as a majority) to have the sort of ethos that the Dulwich fans have because it's the core values that I also believe in. To be fair there is a bunch of us that do, we had 'refugees welcome' banners the same time you lot did (although we got no coverage for it) for example.

The original post on K's forum wasn't (for once) mocking you guys for being hipsters. It was complimentary to the fact that you've found your market & are honing in on it well... just as Wealdstone with their lads. If anything it's pointing out two aspirational methods to attract new fans, or a 'type' of fan.

For all the hipster jibes Dulwich, like K's, are a famous old school London non-league name. You guys had your dip in fortunes & have now turned it around, with the future only looking brighter. We're just about to hit rock bottom (hopefully) in that process & looking at you as a potential example of how to revive ourselves.

That's good and noble reply. Good on you sir!

 

[pinknblue]

'ere. PinknBlue - you slumming it out East tamorra night? (I'm not BTW!)

I missed the game I'm afraid. Heard it was a close one with Carew and Tomlin coming off the bench to score two late goals for us. So we're still in 3 cups and have decent chance of play-off spot. We're also playing some really good stuff right now. Really looking forward to the FA Trophy 1/4 final v Macclesfield next week. Could well be sell-out.

Hope you're enjoying your footy down in deepest, darkest Essex!

 

[pinknblue]

http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/steps-3-6/bognor-hamlet-the-horn-twins-and-the-orgasmatron/

Bognor, Hamlet, the Horn Twins and the Orgasmatron. A Ryman Premier League odyssey- kind of a match report!

That's one funny, and quite accurate report! Love it!

 

[pinknblue]

http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/steps-3-6/bognor-hamlet-the-horn-twins-and-the-orgasmatron/

Bognor, Hamlet, the Horn Twins and the Orgasmatron. A Ryman Premier League odyssey- kind of a match report!

"Behind the goal, and seemingly every time the boys in pink and blue fired in a corner or a cross, a lone voice shouted “It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming.” He seemed to be having an almost sexual experience, as if he’d been abducted by Woody Allen and locked in an Orgasmatron. Mind you, anything to keep warm." LOL

 

[townsendaround]

http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/steps-3-6/terror-at-the-dripping-pan/
Terror(s) at the Dripping Pan- featuring Lewes versus Tooting and Mitcham United at the top of Ryman South.

 

[DarkSithLord]

So K`s will groundshare at Leatherhead, not Met Police

K's agree groundshare deal with Leatherhead
Following lengthy discussions, both clubs Leatherhead and Kingstonian have reached an agreement for K's to groundshare at Fetcham Grove in 2017/18

“The club are pleased to announce that we have today, formally agreed a one year Ground Sharing Agreement, with our friends at Kingstonian Football Club, to use Fetcham Grove for all of their home 1st team games for the 2017/18 season, following them vacating Kingsmeadow at the end of this season.

We will continue to play our midweek home games on Wednesday evenings, and Kingstonian will play their midweek home games on Monday evenings, with both clubs playing at Fetcham Grove alternative Saturdays as fixtured by Ryman Isthmian League, who have ratified the Agreement. There is an option for extend the agreement beyond one season.”

Richard Brady
Chairman"

 

[Paddy]

Oh fuck. This is bad.

RIP Kingstonian. Well, y'all better start selling me reasons on why to support your clubs when my one eventually goes tits up coz I doubt we'd ever get a phoenix club off the ground. Jared need not apply.

 

[Kim Mitten]

So Kingstonian have to play Saturdays and Mondays with this groundshare. Even if they got a decent squad together that's one way of making sure they won't trouble the top 5 places in the league.
Not necessarily the end of things but not great. What's going on with a permanent home Paddy?

As for teams to support, come and join the Southend bandwagon, after all you were the first non-league club to win at Roots Hall (and still only 1 of 2)

 

[Paddy]

We've been playing Saturdays & Mondays at Chelsmeadow since the Womble invasion, so that isn't so bad... but Leatherhead. LEATHERHEAD?! Don't get me wrong Fetcham Grove isn't a terrible ground & I have no particular animosity towards Leatherhead FC but this is abso-fucking-lutely ridiculous.

Regarding a permanent home, we are still being informed that project Chessington is still happening despite Sadiq Khan being against building on green belt land. So, if not that then honestly I don't know. A few of us have this idea of getting involved with the redevelopment of the Athletics Stadium in the Kingsmeadow complex but that's as unlikely as the official plan.

I don't know about Southend... having been double-teamed by AFC Wimbledon & Chelsea I don't know how well I'd cope with blue shirts. I'm a bit picky. If I chose Doncaster, Hamilton or Harlow I don't really have to buy any new shirts... that's a bonus.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

On a personal level it's fine (Leatherhead's actually somewhat easier to get to from my Guildford abode) but in every other respect this is pretty shit news. Levred's not even close to Kingston. Genuinely filled with a certain amount of dread for the future. Basically feels like the footballing equivalent of BREXIT

 

[Paddy]

On a personal level it's fine (Leatherhead's actually somewhat easier to get to from my Guildford abode) but in every other respect this is pretty shit news. Levred's not even close to Kingston. Genuinely filled with a certain amount of dread for the future. Basically feels like the footballing equivalent of BREXIT

The public transportation links aren't great either so people, like me, will now drive to games... which means no beer... so bar takings will be less (if we even get any bar money in the deal...)

 

[Rocky 11]

What happened about Imber Court, did the old bill want too much dosh ?
Surely Levred is well too far away from Kingston, it's outside the M25 FFS.
Hope it's not the death knell for another great old London club.

 

[Paddy]

First it was reported as being King George's Field in Torworth (Corinthian-Casuals FC)... this made perfect sense. Then it was reported as Imber Court in Esher (Metropolitan Police FC)... this made less sense. Then we get officially told we are moving to fucking Fetcham Grove in Leatherhead.

This isn't the death knell. That was a long time ago. This is one of the final nails in the proverbial coffin that was commissioned by our shit-or-bust glory days, blueprinted by our administrators at the time, built by the Kholsa family, polished off by AFC Wimbledon & delivered by Chelsea.

Good thing this is a one year rolling deal for the 2017-18 season, coz I don't see there being a 2018-19 season.

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

Certainly not the best location for K's - the thing is to try and hang on in there until you can get somewhere closer, and also try to make any temporary ground feel a bit like home (like Hendon did at Wembley). Talking of whom, it seems to have worked out OK for Hendon (who have a smaller fan base than Kingstonian) but then I guess they still had the money from Claremont Road sale (though I'm not certain on this).

Anyway - hope it works out OK -and do not despair or that will become a self-fulfilling route to oblivion

 

[rudebwoyben]

I don't think Hendon got any money from Claremont Road as it was owned by "football loving" Barnet council but yes Hendon have survived although their first season at their new ground isn't going too well (and gives the lie to the belief that a 3G pitch automatically gives the home side a big advantage!)

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

Oh - right. Wasn't sure about ownership. Hendon have done doubly well in that case.

I know they are not doing fabulously on the pitch, but they've got through their exile and survived... and can look forward to a relatively stable future (I hope). On the other hand we can of course think of many who have unfortunately withered away

 

[rudebwoyben]

Oh - right. Wasn't sure about ownership. Hendon have done doubly well in that case.

I know they are not doing fabulously on the pitch, but they've got through their exile and survived... and can look forward to a relatively stable future (I hope). On the other hand we can of course think of many who have unfortunately withered away

Very true, especially as I think it's tougher for non-league clubs in London to survive than anywhere else.
It definitely looks very positive for Hendon off the field now.

 

[Silver Stone]

I don't think Hendon got any money from Claremont Road as it was owned by "football loving" Barnet council but yes Hendon have survived although their first season at their new ground isn't going too well (and gives the lie to the belief that a 3G pitch automatically gives the home side a big advantage!)

Both Sutton and ourselves generally do better away from home too.

Hopefully K's can ride this nonsense out at Leatherhead :/

 

[Aberstone]

#BIGBIGGUN Paul Konchesky is going to be announced as a Billericay player tomorrow.

 

[Raymondo316]

#BIGBIGGUN Paul Konchesky is going to be announced as a Billericay player tomorrow.

They must be paying him absolute stupid money

 

[Aberstone]

They must be paying him absolute stupid money

Beggars belief. Also seems a strange signing when they signed Ollie Sprague from Hendon (no idea if they paid a fee in the process) to play at left back. Given the tear they've been on recently you'd have to fancy them if they can sneak into the playoffs.