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Post by hibzy2k7 on Apr 27, 2007 17:00:26 GMT
If eastbourne were to beat braintree tommorow and the games involving the other play-off sides, paticurlaly newport and bishops stortford went in our favour, and we made the play-offs, and if we got to the final! and if we won!! and we earned promotion to the conference! Its a hell of a lot of ifs, but it's deffinately possible and could happen, and if it does-how does everyone reckon boro will do in the conference next season?? Plummit straight back down?  Just avoid relegation and stay up there for at least one more season? Finish mid-table???..or even push for the play-offs...orrrr win automatic promotion....to league 2!! ;D ;D...ok..ok.. im getting carried away now, im sure thats deffo not going to happen!! I think if we were to make it that far, we would just about survive the season without getting relegated, straight back down to the conference south. What do you guys think? |
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Post by davidb on Apr 27, 2007 17:25:53 GMT
I don't really want to think about it right now, there is too much still to be decided tomorrow - suffice to say it would be tough. On the pitch I think we might just about hold our own, but there is still a lot to think about off it.
Having said that I think we are better prepared than say, St. Albans were this season, but there are lots of things that would need to be budgeted for: players, travel, officials' costs, not to mention a full-time Secretary. Don't forget that off the pitch, the Club has only one paid employee: Lorna, and she's not full-time.
We would also find out just how much the population of Eastbourne wants Conference football. Would they be prepared to pay extra for it? and more importantly would they pay to see a team struggle in 'Blue Square National' rather than challenge in 'Blue Square Southern'?
It would be absolutely essential that the hard-core of support was 100% behind the Club, Garry & Nick, and the players ... rather than moan and look for a scapegoat if things got tough.
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Post by brains on Apr 27, 2007 17:41:54 GMT
Better than most of you think, a number of the players have played in the conferance and played well, playing at a lower level has made them work a lot harder this year, as it is often harder to play the poorer clubs. The players will preffer to play well in a higher league. Some of the players that have not been there will struggle to start with, but will soon enjoy a better quality of football. It will need higher fitness and more awareness, but players like Armstrong,Tait, Jenkins to name a few ex Crawley playes have performed well before and Should do so again. Everet, Ramsey and Crab will have to work hard at getting back to fitness, but I am sure they have time to.
Go for it. Even if the management have doubts, it will be a challenge for them to!
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Post by Robert Parker on May 2, 2007 16:03:34 GMT
Bit academic now but here is my view.
Borough would struggle in the Conference, the standard of football would be nowhere near where you are now, you would also certainly finish bottom of the pile. Your fanbase would go down due to the fact that you was losing, the club would be at a huge financial loss and it would put you in grave danger overall.
Eastbourne Borough are and never will be a Conference team, for any fan to think above that level is wishing far beyond there dreams. There is not the squad nor is there the scope for movement for the squad to improve.
Some may slate for this point of view but let me stress that it is not just me that think this.
Parker
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Post by Jim "Convertedeagle" Stewart on May 2, 2007 20:27:29 GMT
Bit academic now but here is my view. Borough would struggle in the Conference, the standard of football would be nowhere near where you are now, you would also certainly finish bottom of the pile. Your fanbase would go down due to the fact that you was losing, the club would be at a huge financial loss and it would put you in grave danger overall. Eastbourne Borough are and never will be a Conference team, for any fan to think above that level is wishing far beyond there dreams. There is not the squad nor is there the scope for movement for the squad to improve. Some may slate for this point of view but let me stress that it is not just me that think this. Parker Academic it maybe, but I along with all TRUE Boro fans would refute most if not all of your ramblings... Eastbourne Borough are and never will be an conference team??? We have been in Conf Sth for three seasons now, once in the play off final and narrowly missed a go this season. Look at the squad we have put together this season. I would say at least 75% of that squad have Conference or above experience. The infrastructure is all in place to go to the next level in the way of ground and facilites ( pitch improvements in hand) The Committe ( and not a board of directors!!) at the club run an excellent budget structure allowing us to progrees up the ladder and not incurring debts that have crippled others before us. The only thing that goes against us is our geographical location, being as far south as you can go. All in all Parker, you talk out your backside, and your views have been filed where they should be, IN THE BIN!!! |
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Post by shadwellarmy on May 2, 2007 23:28:59 GMT
Wasn't there a dissenting voice from Sussex FA when Langney Sports first asked to join the Eastbourne & District League that we were, and would only ever be, a sunday park team?
For what it is worth, I have said, and still believe, that had we gone up it would have been a season fighting against relegation. Possibly successfully, possibly not, but unless several new players could be found, we would be in the position of one or two injuries or players out of form, and we would not be able to replace them.
I think that we have probably 14 players, maybe 16, who would be capable of being a comfortable mid-table team in the premier, but nobody else. It would be a good first team, but no strength in depth for injuries (and we all know that Crabby, at least, has to suffer at least one career-threatening injury a season, normally in the first six games), suspensions (Ben and Hooky starting the season suspended) or just plain knackered or unable to play due to work or family commitments.
As to how much does Eastbourne want Premier football, I don't know. At a higher price? probably not. Ticket prices, imo, are already high for the level of football, and they have played some really terrible games this year (along with some sublime ones), and a family, two adults, two kids, plus bugers and programemes ect, are not seeing much change from £40. If they have picked a duff game, that is a lot, and doesn't encourage a return visit. I know several people in Hampden Park who attend just once or twice a year, but would love to come regularly, but are on the dole and are simply priced out.
I know that the money through the turnstiles is what keeps the club afloat, and that everyone would love to be able to get in free but that just won't happen, and that we are competative compared to other teams in the division, and I am also going to talk now without having done any research and no knowledge of the facts and figures (so no change there), but I have always thought that lower prices = more bums on seats, and if prices were reduced to, say, £5 an adult, £2 a child, plus £1 if you want to sit, then gates would be up to about 1,000 a game, and that loss of turnstile revenue would be made up by the profit on the extra 300 cups of tea, sausage and chips, programmes and lottery tickets. Plus most new fans would want to buy a scarf or replica strip, to look like 'proper' fans, more potential members for the supporters' club, more people at the ground would make it easier to sell advertising for the programme and pitch surround, plus the extra vocal support might just be enough to help the lads on to a few extra points over the season (and we know what a difference that could make, especially this year!).
But so long as gate prices don't go to stupid levels, I'll be there next year. And if prices drop, I promise to buy two lottery tickets each game, plus drag one or two new faces along when I can!
O, and as a final word, I don't see Boro as a Premier side either - I see us as a League Two side in the making! A few new players, a larger squad and a bit of extra money, and in a few years time I could seriously see the curent squad being the core of a mid-table League Two team. If things go our way. Which they won't. But they might. Perhaps. If we're lucky. OK, I'll shut up now.
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Post by sportspool on May 3, 2007 0:11:56 GMT
It was when Langney Sports applied to enter County League Division 3 that people from Sussex FA were saying about only ever being a parks team. Personally, I think another season in connie south (I refuse to call it Blue Square Southern. It takes away the meaning of Conference) will do wonders to the likes of Pat and Dominic. IMO just being in Conference National would bring in a few more fans just because of the league status. Then there is the exposure the TV deal would bring in. Might even be able to attract people from the likes of Brighton etc just because they "saw that Eastbourne team on TV when I was flicking through the channels. Lets go see what thats all about." Then if it was a good game they see they will hopefully come back when Brighton are away or even come back on a regular basis. Then there is extra income due to the TV rights and increased sponsorship.
I presume the club has the money for the pitch improvements as I dont remember seeing anything to raise funds for it. Perhaps the committee knew major work was needed on the pitch as none was able to take place during the last close season and factored that into the players budget for last season?
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Post by vern on May 3, 2007 12:32:24 GMT
Now this is what the forum should be about...  Feisty opinions, heartfelt and provocative. Last season and the beginning of this one stretched my patience and my own reasoning and sense for having bought a season ticket! However, as I mentioned earlier, GnN have managed to produce a silk purse out of a sows ear. I wasn't a fan of theirs and thought, on more than one occasion, that they may be out of their depth - tactically, etc. BUT, I respect what they and the backroom staff and players have managed to achieve to date. Boro, don't have the financial clout to survive in Prem' / Conference....yet!! You have only to look at more established sides than ours to see this. The squad is too thin, though of a good quality. The pitch needs professional care, to keep games on and to help us play the best football we can and are capable of. THe Club woould be required to have full time secretary etc....money and more money!! I have chaged my opinion and believe that it is important that we achieve promotion, that will ensure bigger gates and tv money, etc. But, only when the Club is well and truly ready for the seismic move up the pyramid. Parker - I have no doubt that the Sports will prove your pessimistic forecast to be wrong. But, it may take a while. SLOWLY SLOWLY CATCH EE MONKEY! |
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Post by Robert Parker on May 3, 2007 14:45:30 GMT
As regards to the comment made to myself about Borough being a conference team now, I was actually referring to them going up to the Nationwide Conference (ie one step away from Division 3)
In my views, and thankfully in this world at the moment you can still have a point of view, however to say that Borough are a team that is good enough to maintain football that is one step shy of being league football is a joke, the club will not and could not cope with that at all. Apart from the squad not being good enough, there would not be the finances to fund that either. You only have to look at the shambles this season to prove that.
Parker
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Post by sportspool on May 3, 2007 15:17:42 GMT
So being in with a chance of making the play offs until the final whistle is a shambles??? Which team do you support Parker??? The way you keep on saying "you" makes me think you are a fan of another team.
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Post by davidb on May 3, 2007 18:22:12 GMT
As regards to the comment made to myself about Borough being a conference team now, I was actually referring to them going up to the Nationwide Conference (ie one step away from Division 3) In my views, and thankfully in this world at the moment you can still have a point of view, however to say that Borough are a team that is good enough to maintain football that is one step shy of being league football is a joke, the club will not and could not cope with that at all. Apart from the squad not being good enough, there would not be the finances to fund that either. You only have to look at the shambles this season to prove that. Parker I hardly think that this season has been a shambles, unless you are referring to the number of postponements due to problems with the pitch. Even an unlimited pot of money would not have been able to rectify that this season but Borough - like any other well-run NL club - has applied for the available grants that will enable it to address the problem ... which was always the plan before the 2006-07 season even kicked off. It's true that the budget is small, and will remain so relative to many other clubs at this level. So yes, if the size of squad alone and money paid to attract players is a yardstick for success then yes, Borough would undoubtedly struggle in the National division. On the plus side we have a Football Club that will remain solvent and players who are at Priory Lane because they want to play for the Club and for the management team. I am sure that the majority of Sports fans would prefer the latter to a success-chasing big-spending club funded by a fickle sugar daddy, that implodes and ends up in admistration once the bubble bursts. The truth is that with the possible exception of Newport County, there is no CS club currently 'big' enough to sustain football at a higher level. Salisbury have maintained their momentum from last season and have the gates, but perhaps are not yet strong enough in other areas. Borough still need another season or two and continued work will be done both on and off the pitch to give the Club a realistic chance of consolidation if and when the opportunity arises but I have no doubt that is ultimately achievable and sustainable. However, much would depend on the local population getting behind the Club. |
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Post by Jim "Convertedeagle" Stewart on May 3, 2007 20:39:59 GMT
As regards to the comment made to myself about Borough being a conference team now, I was actually referring to them going up to the Nationwide Conference (ie one step away from Division 3) What a bizarre comment Parker... How long ago did division 3 vanish??? Are you sure that you have the where with all to comment on football at this level???I think you will find that the national conference ( NOT the Nationwide!!!) is in fact one league below Football League 2... Me thinks this Parker is a bitter and jealous fan from some other team, maybe local, maybe a few divisions below us??? Who ever he is , he is still talking out the crack of his @*$# ( In my humble opinion, of course!!!) |
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Post by shadwellarmy on May 3, 2007 22:57:33 GMT
Finances is the only problem with Boro surviving in the Premier (well, that and the fact that we didn't make the play-offs). The squad is certainly good enough to survive, and survive comfortably, it just isn't large enough to deal with injuries or other problems. The ground is better than several already in the Premier (apart from this season's playing surface problems and they are, fingers crossed, being sorted as we speak), crowd levels are, while not fantastic, certainly high enough for the Premier. Behind-the-scenes support is still on a voluntary basis, and almost certainly not up to promotion standard - and that is not a dig at the people putting time and effort into keeping the club running. It is simplay a fact that volunteer staff are not full-time permenant staff, and that is what is needed to keep things running in a Premier league outfit.
I agree with davidb, a year or two at this level is probably best for the club, and if the core of the current squad is kept, and the right players added to it as needed, we will have a truly phenomenal team when we do go up. If other things can be sorted out, ie an increase in gates, more secure advertising revenue and whatnot, then there is no reason at all why Premier football should be anything other than a stop on route to League football - and Eastbourne is positioned nicely to have a large enough catchement area to make League football a genuine amition.
The level of skill on the field, passion on the terraces and commitment behind the scenes are all there to take us far - the biggest problem we have is not having the money to do it with! Everyone buy an extra Euro Millions ticket this week - it may solve all our problems!
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Post by Trevorfuggle on May 5, 2007 9:08:45 GMT
I agree wholeheartedly that Boorugh will be in the best situation to compete in the Blue Square Conference Premier (or whatever it is called!) in a couple of seasons. The club is and needs to continue to be on a solid footing.
Where I disagree with shadwellarmy is that the crowds are not enough to sustain a premier/national club. The cost of maintaining a side in that league is considerably higher - consider the distance you have to travel for a number of away games, many of which would happen in midweek.
In addition with our players having other jobs you would have a situation where some couldn't play in some of these midweek games thus you need a bigger squad.
To maintain a bigger squad you need more income - hence greater crowds. Realistically Borough could have regular crowds of about 1,000 in the league we are currently in, providing we are successful.
I for one will be pleased to see the level of football we have witnessed in a number of games this year with the same squad of players with one or two additions. (Danny Leach is a good start, I have seen him a couple of times this year and he looks a useful player.)
I know SK and others are looking at our players enviously - why not, we have had a good season. But with our solid management team the players would take a lot of persuading to leave.
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Post by Jim "Convertedeagle" Stewart on May 5, 2007 9:25:04 GMT
With regard to the financial side of things, I think Lorna has already proved her ability this season gaining new business partners etc, and her experience of commerce at Oxford can only move us financially forward
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Just avoid relegation and stay up there for at least one more season? Finish mid-table???..or even push for the play-offs...orrrr win automatic promotion....to league 2!! ;D ;D...ok..ok.. im getting carried away now, im sure thats deffo not going to happen!!
