FGR stadium plans unveiled

[B2TF]

Your personal tale serves only to enhance the "Stepford Wives" feel around your strange little club in its weird little village.

 

[Si Robin]

I don't think it's a load of crap at all if I'm honest with you. A lot of you guys on here being financial experts seem to think they know the ins and outs of our club.

If they stopped to think about how much exposure FGR gives vince and ecotricity and how much his business has grown in the past 5 years they'd be gobsmacked. From working at his company for a year, I can tell you our customer base increased by 125%(ecotricity). Since I've left it's gone even wilder(approaching 200,000).The net worth of the company has increased by 23 million alone in the past year.

It's quite simply been a investment period into the club, whether people like it or not, our future is looking relatively good.

Whilst I may not fully agree with the move personally, I can see the reasoning behind it, and it shows a great level of commitment from Dale to base half the facility around FGR.

Cheers

So why does that mean that fans from Tewkesbury down to North Bristol will suddenly start flocking to see FGR. They didn't flock to Cheltenham when we were in League One and beating the likes of Leeds United. People in Gloucestershire are apathetic about lower league football, and putting a stadium next to a motorway isn't going to suddenly get them coming.

Forest Green will never be a big club, they'll remain a decent advertising tool for Ecotricity for as long as they're needed, but that's about it.

 

[GTFCfish]

They didn't flock to Cheltenham when we were in League One and beating the likes of Leeds United.

I used to work with a Leeds fan who went to every single Leeds game home and away.
Always remember him telling me after Leeds lost at Cheltenham that Cheltenham were the worst team he had ever seen Leeds play in his lifetime.
Then when the return fixture was coming up he said Leeds would absolutely murder them at home, I can't remember the score but I remember Leeds lost again.
He was very quiet at work that next day lol!

 

[Si Robin]

2-1 and it should have been more, one of our players (Steve Brooker) missed an absolute sitter to put us 3-0 up. They then scored late on to make it look respectable.

In fairness, in the game at Whaddon Road, they should have absolutely battered us. Jermaine Beckford missed a hatfull, although Shane Higgs in goal was part of the reason for that. We then nicked it a few mins from time. Absolute scenes in the C&G that day.

 

[EnglishRed]

Being a reatively small club in the league and doing well against more illustrious names is fantastic. I remember going to Maine road to watch us draw with City. Or when we beat Sheffield Wednesday at their place. I suppose that's how it feels to be a Hyde or Guiseley when they beat 'traditional league clubs' like us, Luton or Grimsby down here.

Football. Marvellous isn't it? Jumpers for goalposts etc.

 

[Tom Fgr]

So why does that mean that fans from Tewkesbury down to North Bristol will suddenly start flocking to see FGR. They didn't flock to Cheltenham when we were in League One and beating the likes of Leeds United. People in Gloucestershire are apathetic about lower league football, and putting a stadium next to a motorway isn't going to suddenly get them coming.

Forest Green will never be a big club, they'll remain a decent advertising tool for Ecotricity for as long as they're needed, but that's about it.

What would football be like if everyone had your levels of optimism. It's great to have ambition, ask Bournemouth! Completely agree regarding the new stadium, I don't think suddenly people will flock, but you must admit the current positioning of our ground isn't ideal! If we did get promoted, and the stadium move went ahead, then I have no doubts our attendence would rise.

Just look at our attendence figures over the last 6 years, steady improvement from around 1000 a game to 1700 nowadays.

 

[Tom Fgr]

Your personal tale serves only to enhance the "Stepford Wives" feel around your strange little club in its weird little village.

Haha, you are one strange individual

 

[EnglishRed]

Going to Irlingborough to see us play Rushden and Diamonds in their big white elephant ground in the middle of nowhere was a surreal experience. The concourse was carpeted. Barmy.

 

[Si Robin]

Loved my trips to Rushden, only disappointment was that I didn't got to the 1999 game.

 

[Sparrow]

Being a reatively small club in the league and doing well against more illustrious names is fantastic. I remember going to Maine road to watch us draw with City. Or when we beat Sheffield Wednesday at their place. I suppose that's how it feels to be a Hyde or Guiseley when they beat 'traditional league clubs' like us, Luton or Grimsby down here.

Football. Marvellous isn't it? Jumpers for goalposts etc.

That's why it's hilarious that we're doing so well this season. Part-time, 300k budget, Rendell and Yakubu injured within the first seven games, 1 win in 11 back in October/November, yet here we are, one point of the play-offs.

Bloody love football.

 

[The_Boss]

That's why it's hilarious that we're doing so well this season. Part-time, 300k budget, Rendell and Yakubu injured within the first seven games, 1 win in 11 back in October/November, yet here we are, one point of the play-offs.

Bloody love football.

Fuck me have Woking won a few games again? 2 months ago it was little poor Woking, part time clubs getting reffed out of it, squad all up for loan. Didn't have you down as the fickle type.

 

[Sparrow]

Fuck me have Woking won a few games again? 2 months ago it was little poor Woking, part time clubs getting reffed out of it, squad all up for loan. Didn't have you down as the fickle type.

But don't you get it? ^THAT'S^ why it's so funny! There's no way we should be where we are given everything that's been thrown at us. Three more points and we're safe.

It also shows how poor this division is, and is continuing to get. No wonder Bristol, and now Cheltenham, have got out of it at the first attempt with a bit of nous and belief. Strangely, the failing ex-League types are still buying into the 'really difficult to get out of' mentality.

 

[Tom Fgr]

But don't you get it? ^THAT'S^ why it's so funny! There's no way we should be where we are given everything that's been thrown at us. Three more points and we're safe.

It also shows how poor this division is, and is continuing to get. No wonder Bristol, and now Cheltenham, have got out of it at the first attempt with a bit of nous and belief. Strangely, the failing ex-League types are still buying into the 'really difficult to get out of' mentality.

Didn't realise cheltenham got promoted already..

 

[Southern Shayman]

That's why it's hilarious that we're doing so well this season. Part-time, 300k budget, Rendell and Yakubu injured within the first seven games, 1 win in 11 back in October/November, yet here we are, one point of the play-offs.

Bloody love football.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34931745

Making 437k losses on a 300k budget. Impressive!

 

[Sparrow]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34931745

Making 437k losses on a 300k budget. Impressive!

Yep. We've been through this before on here. Ask our board why there are losses...oh wait they won't tell us, but that's fine because we're just expected to keep providing money for the Boost the Budget scheme and then every other bucket collection there is.

 

[Sparrow]

Didn't realise cheltenham got promoted already..

Well you're not going to win it, are you? Even in this distinctly weak division. Anyone could be 2nd with the amount of money you spend.

 

[Jemfy]

Going to Irlingborough to see us play Rushden and Diamonds in their big white elephant ground in the middle of nowhere was a surreal experience. The concourse was carpeted. Barmy.

Not to get the whole capacity thing going, but that was (I guess still is) ~6,400. 5,000 with room to expand is more than reasonable for FGR IMO. I think a lot of clubs want bigger capacities than they have any need for, maybe hoping for the big pay day every now and then from a cup game.

 

[Football Purist]

All of these tinpotters with visions make me sick. Bring back re-election (after we get back, of course).

Yep,re-election should never have been done away with.
It ensured that only clubs with decent potential would stand a chance of joining the League fold.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Yep,re-election should never have been done away with.
It ensured that only clubs with decent potential would stand a chance of joining the League fold.

You call yourself a football purist with comments like that?

 

[Davidimp]

After the way you packed our away end today should be a sight to behold when you move!

 

[Football Purist]

You call yourself a football purist with comments like that?

Well the Football League has definitely been cheapened by the inclusion of all these small town/no fans outfits.

 

[Tom Fgr]

Well you're not going to win it, are you? Even in this distinctly weak division. Anyone could be 2nd with the amount of money you spend.

I wasn't in any way saying we will definately win it. Just mentioning that we are currently in January, and there's still 18 games to go. If you look at the table you'd be able to see we are only 2 points behind, so you never know!

Seems a bit dilusional to say Cheltenham have got out at first attempt, when they literally haven't

 

[ROBH]

Going to Irlingborough to see us play Rushden and Diamonds in their big white elephant ground in the middle of nowhere was a surreal experience. The concourse was carpeted. Barmy.

Remember my first visit there, after years of visiting the Gresley Rovers sort of grounds utterly gobsmacked by it all.
"Diamond burgers" !! yellow lines everywhere patrolled by very official stewards, telly's in the concourse underneath the Airware stand !! incredible to know they are pulling it all down for more industrial units. Incredible demise which I never saw coming.

 

[Football Purist]

Remember my first visit there, after years of visiting the Gresley Rovers sort of grounds utterly gobsmacked by it all.
"Diamond burgers" !! yellow lines everywhere patrolled by very official stewards, telly's in the concourse underneath the Airware stand !! incredible to know they are pulling it all down for more industrial units. Incredible demise which I never saw coming.

Rushden were always going to be limited in what they could achieve for the simple reason that they had no decent catchment population to draw from.
So no real surprise went it all went to pot.
Very strange decision by Griggs to construct a football ground in the middle of nowhere.Someone should have had a word with him.

 

[FGR Stroud]

So why does that mean that fans from Tewkesbury down to North Bristol will suddenly start flocking to see FGR. They didn't flock to Cheltenham when we were in League One and beating the likes of Leeds United. People in Gloucestershire are apathetic about lower league football, and putting a stadium next to a motorway isn't going to suddenly get them coming.

Forest Green will never be a big club, they'll remain a decent advertising tool for Ecotricity for as long as they're needed, but that's about it.

Once (and if) the planning permission goes through and FGR move to new site, it is inevitable that they will have the potential to become the biggest club in Gloucestershire. FGR will have a bigger catchment area than Cheltenham and a ground a lot easier to reach than at TNL or even World of Smiles. Unlike some other clubs who have relocated to industrial estates, the new ground will not be in the middle of a maze. Okay it will be a outside a housing area and a steady walk to reach but it's well within a comfortable short bike ride. There will be plenty of car parking spaces plus I believe that Eco-Park might be put on a bus route.

And yes FGR is probably the very best advertising tool for Ecotricity, which bodes well for its future.

But all this will be a gradual process, perhaps even taking up to a decade. This year FGR and Cheltenham have been good for each other, with best attended games for both home and away matches.

Also another poster asks if the club will lose its historic name and when asked Dale Vince has stated that the Forest Green name will remain.

 

[FGR Stroud]

After the way you packed our away end today should be a sight to behold when you move!

I think officially 40. Agreed it is on the low side but your home crowd from the city of Lincoln was less than 2,000 while the average for the 'little club at top of hill' is only a few hundred less.
BTW your home crowd (drummer & choir) was fantastic. They have my admiration for dominating the whole arena for practically the whole 90+ minutes.

 

[Davidimp]

Worst Saturday attendance of the season, not helped by our crap run of results and the freezing weather I would think.
Our average for the season at home is around 2800.

 

[Chris FGR]

One thing that is definitely true is that our direct catchment area will be significantly increasing over the next 2 decades, with a lot of development planned for the district.

Stroud will expand rapidly, and there have also just recently been plans approved for 1000 new homes to be built between Stonehouse and Eastington. More will follow.

Whether we can tap into the increasing local population is another matter, but success on the pitch and the continuation of things like the Ambassadors scheme will certainly help.

 

[Etty Abrics]

Think that's the plan with us when our ground is fully redeveloped. 6,000 (currently around 4.5k) with room for expansion if needed.

 

[ROBH]

Rushden were always going to be limited in what they could achieve for the simple reason that they had no decent catchment population to draw from.
So no real surprise went it all went to pot.
Very strange decision by Griggs to construct a football ground in the middle of nowhere.Someone should have had a word with him.

They were getting good crowds though. But the fact is you have to balance the running of a club to the income generated, they paid the price for overspending. First club to pay a six figure fee in non league. Carl Alford !

Well the Football League has definitely been cheapened by the inclusion of all these small town/no fans outfits.

Hasn't "cheapened" it at all, what it's done is remove clubs who seem to have a divine right to football league status and given up and coming clubs the right opportunity to move up. I take it you favour the "old guard" approach where your status would be guaranteed if you got opposing chairman pissed up at the AGM.
You are where you are in any league, history, big grounds and gates mean nothing thankfully.