FGR
#1

Posting this in the main forum because it’s relevant to City. 

Within the last month FGR have held a girls football talent event and a FGR women’s match at Plock Court. What are peoples thoughts on this? I believe that it’s been done intentionally to ‘test the waters’ before a further expansion of the FGR community programme, which incidentally is run by the same bloke who started Gloucester Athletic. There are plenty of other venues closer to Nailsworth but they have specially chosen Gloucester. 

I think it’s bad news we shouldn’t stand for it.

“There’s a mole. Right at the top of the circus. He’s been there for years.”
Reply
#2

I noticed one of these taking place whilst I was out walking the dog.

What realistically can we do? I don’t see how it can be stopped, it’s a free country. If we’re worried about it we need to compete with it, in a coherent way that we can sustain.

The fundamental threat to us posed by FGR is their new stadium making them much more accessible to what we might think of as potential fans in “our” catchment area. I wonder if this is starting to lay the groundwork for that.
Reply
#3

Of course they are - where else can they access a large population in the county to increase their attendances. Unfortunately, a few Gloucester people will go along with it, which is why we need to be a lot more visible with our community schemes. There's a lot of innovative community work that we could do to give the club better local optics. We don't appear to have a thought-out strategy involving experienced people to grow our own numbers - unless our new owners are onto it? We need to 'get a move on' - and that includes promotion, otherwise we'll lose potential support.
Reply
#4

(23-04-2023, 11:23 AM)Tigermatty 2.0 Wrote:  Posting this in the main forum because it’s relevant to City. 

Within the last month FGR have held a girls football talent event and a FGR women’s match at Plock Court. What are peoples thoughts on this? I believe that it’s been done intentionally to ‘test the waters’ before a further expansion of the FGR community programme, which incidentally is run by the same bloke who started Gloucester Athletic. There are plenty of other venues closer to Nailsworth but they have specially chosen Gloucester. 

I think it’s bad news we shouldn’t stand for it.

Matty, as you know I am quite closely connected to FGR ladies set up.

As far as I know there is nothing in what you say, although they have just appointed a new head for the women's team and girls teams below it, so I don't know what his plans are yet. The club's training and matches are mostly focused on Hartpury College, but they also train and play on the pitches outside or even at the New Lawn. For example, after next week's match at Chorley I will be dashing up to the New Lawn to watch my daughter play against Oxford United on the pitch that the men have just lost on.

Most of the girls are based in the Gloucester area. The ladies are in the 5th tier of women's football, the girls have been awarded ETC status - basically second level below the Academies, so its a very decent level and one that attracts players to it, and needs good facilities. Most of City's team have players from all over the country and we wouldn't turn them down because they should be playing for their local club. 

If the Haresfield stadium gets built then I guess they will all play/train there, but until then these facilities are available to use for people outside of Gloucester.

I suppose the point about community outreach has already been covered. If City need to compete then it needs a rethink and resources, but until then there's a vacuuum being filled by C********m, FGR, West Brom etc. So I share your fears, but I think this is about growing the ladies side of the game, where there is massive potential to tap into, and not so much about attracting new supporters.

I think City are doing a pretty good job in terms of their own ladies set up, but payers will normally want to play at the highest level they can......

Bloody hell, you've got good eyesight!
Reply
#5

(23-04-2023, 11:32 AM)TP1 Wrote:  I noticed one of these taking place whilst I was out walking the dog.

What realistically can we do? I don’t see how it can be stopped, it’s a free country. If we’re worried about it we need to compete with it, in a coherent way that we can sustain.

The fundamental threat to us posed by FGR is their new stadium making them much more accessible to what we might think of as potential fans in “our” catchment area. I wonder if this is starting to lay the groundwork for that.

"our" catchment area is Gloucester. We all know football fans are fickle but taking Forest Green Rovers out of Forest Green should have football fans up in arms, you know, like Milton Keynes Wimbledon. But then Gloucester people are a special breed.

FGR Ladies are in the fifth tier? City Ladies used to be in the third tier 12 years ago. Shows how much the game has diluted in the past decade.

Tiger Roar is always your friend http://www.tigerroar.co.uk/index1.php

Comprehensive City press cutting archive http://www.tigerroar.co.uk/cuttings.php
Reply
#6

Even if it is growing the ladies game, they can still get lost as far as I’m concerned. C********m have always respected the city boundaries.

“There’s a mole. Right at the top of the circus. He’s been there for years.”
Reply
#7

(23-04-2023, 01:02 PM)Tigermatty 2.0 Wrote:  Even if it is growing the ladies game, they can still get lost as far as I’m concerned. C********m have always respected the city boundaries.
I was going to say something similar with regards to C********m respecting the boundaries but thats because they are an organic football club like ours so they understand the dos and donts which Ecotricity FC clearly dont,Clear where they want to get there future fans from.
Something the Chambers need to look at, There must be some sort of goverment help It terms of working in the community?
Reply
#8

(23-04-2023, 12:57 PM)Neil Wrote:  FGR Ladies are in the fifth tier? City Ladies used to be in the third tier 12 years ago. Shows how much the game has diluted in the past decade.

Opposite - its a world apart, and far far stronger.

I've seen both City teams you refer to, the 2000s version were good but not a patch on today's City ladies team. The fact that a much better team is some leagues below shows the quantity and quality between now and then

Bloody hell, you've got good eyesight!
Reply
#9

I recall a game they played against Avening Angels. It finished 22-0. One of their players just stood and caught the ball in the six yard box, "well I've never played before". I felt embarrassed that she was allowed to set foot on the pitch at Meadow Park.

Tiger Roar is always your friend http://www.tigerroar.co.uk/index1.php

Comprehensive City press cutting archive http://www.tigerroar.co.uk/cuttings.php
Reply
#10

They were a great group of girls. Used to come down and watch first team games close knit. I wonder what they're doing now

Bloody hell, you've got good eyesight!
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)