In reply to JR - a dissapointed fan

[angiepayne]

Just to clarify a couple of points in JR's post.
The Stand at Staines actually holds 438 not 300 as he quotes.
We had 2 turnstiles open, (but 1 was adequate), as soon as the queue reached 25 we manned the 2nd one. No one had to wait more than about 1 minute to get through. Where else would you expect dug outs to be, if not by the pitch? and why should that effect a spectator. Our ground hosted three games last season all in excess of 2800 with Stockport & Peterborough, with only 1 complaint, and that was about a hot cup of coffee spilling over.
Our programme porblem was beyond our control, when only 2 boxes of progrmmes were deliivered by a courier from Crewe, at 6.50pm. Instead of 4 boxes at 3.00pm ! 'How the hell can we expect to go into the Conference South'? Simple!... By beating Sutton and
hopefully Carshalton on Saturday. I am sorry JR, you did not enjoy the experience last night! Are you sure that maybe your not just a tad pissed off cos you lost?

[Andy K]

From my point of view Angie, compared to somewhere like Margate or Ashford Town, your ground is positively blissful!

[taz]

If I'm honest, I thought one turnstile open 30 mins before KO was a bit crap as well. Sorry Angie!

[os]

Whilst not being the best ground we have visited its certainly not the worst, if Hampton can get theirs accepted by the Nat Conf I don't see any problem with the Wheatsheaf in the Conie Sth. I wasn't uncomfortable last night but I can see that crowds of 700-800 on a cold wet December day might be. My amazement is one of how Staines can hold together such a side with crowds of 300 or less, I mean who is paying the wages?

[Gareth]

Angie - why were there so many police there last night for a crowd that size?

[1hughjaynus]

Angie,

Lovely ground and facilities, great pitch, good football from the home team and hospitable home fans. Nice burgers, but at half time I was breaking my neck for a leak and the que to the blokes john was immense. I'd hate to think what it was like with 2700 in the ground. Next time I'll come in drag as there was no que for the ladies.

[medibot]

Plenty of room for a wazz behind the terrace

[fluffy rascal]

How about a mention to all our fans who stated how well Staines played and liked your ground, and didn't piss on your terrace

[Stewart]

Don't worry she was told off by her own fans when she mentioned JR's comments on the Staines forum.

[jr]

Oops I've opened up a can of worms and hit a nerve.

FYI I have no axe to grind with Staines at all and thought they were excellent last night and no I wasn't pissed off that we lost as I expected nothing else given the excellent reports I have had about your team and the fact that I believe that we are not ready to go up to the Conf South yet.

I was merely expressing my opinion on my disappointment of the ground (not the pitch I might add which was excellent). If You're hoping to play in the Conference for example you may well have to move grounds as I cannot see how they will allow you in with a ground so small, exits that all lead to the same place and such a small stand. I'm not an expert of course and I stand to be corrected however I would have thought the money from your cup run could have been spent more wisely. How you wish to run your club is up to you and as I say I have no axe to grind it's merely an observation.

I can assure you that it took more than a minute to get into the ground and there were no officials outside when I was queueing. I was also informed by one of your officials that you often sell out of programmes. Perhaps you need to change your couriers!

My other observation about the gaps behind the goal I think is valid and with larger crowds i think could be dangerous. I certainly wouldn't want to stand there!

[holmes]

Angie

Your grind is basic, but sufficient. Compared to some in this league, it's quite good, although not as god as most in the Conie South. The new stand dominates, but with no terracing behind one goal, not that it's your fault as there are terrible space restriction, the only descent view for those who wich to stand is down the far side. At least you have good standard covered terracing there (allowed us to make some good noise ). From my experiences in the Conie South. your ground is more than sufficient. Just make sure that you can get enough people to man those turnstiles .

As for programmes, I feel you did a bloody good job getting what you did at such short notice. While you were safe in the play off places for quite a while, the info for the opposition could have only come through late on, so your editor would not have had much time to complete the programme and get it off to the printers. I'd say well done for that!

Good luck in the final.

[pete]

Apr 29, 2009 10:55:15 GMT angiepayne said:

We had 2 turnstiles open, (but 1 was adequate), as soon as the queue reached 25 we manned the 2nd one. No one had to wait more than about 1 minute to get through.

Why would you let a queue reach 25?!! And I certainly waited more than a minute!!

[medibot]

Apr 29, 2009 15:45:13 GMT fluffy rascal said:

How about a mention to all our fans who stated how well Staines played and liked your ground, and didn't piss on your terrace

I didn't go for a wazz on it, that honour went to the rusty BMX behind the terrace

But yes, could do with another toilet and another entrance but they're simple things you knock up when you need to tick off a grading list. The concern would be how to get it up to 500 seats and the possibility for crushing behind the goals.

I'd love their pitch though, probably the best surface not at Bognor Regis Town.

[angiepayne]

I seem to have raised a few questions here. I will try and answer the ones that I can.
Our ground was built to Conference South standards, so we do not have to carry out any adaptions should we go up.
There are 5 turnstiles in total, but we only use the Main three at Capacity games. We have enough staff and ticket machines to operate all 5 if necessary. Our turnstile was open at 6.00pm for early birds.
When fans leave it til the last dying seconds to leave the bar, obviously there will be a rush, and a panic in case they miss something. There definately was no one queing when we kicked off. So everyone had come through.
There are extra loos up stairs by the bar - failing that, do what I do, if the queue is long and I am busting. I've often used the mens. For max capacity games extra portaloos are brought in.
The money we received during our cup run, paid off debts - like most clubs in our league - apart from Dover and Dartford, we are not making a profit, as we do not own the bar - all our revenue must come from gate receipts and the sponsorship deals I bring in. and a very generous Chairman, who makes up the deficit. But we must become self funding, that can only happen by going up, and getting more fans through the gate. All our staff are voluntry (like most clubs)
We can house 600 in the covered area opposite the main stand.which gives us over 1000 under cover. Seeing as our average gate is 350 no one gets wet!
We cannot put a covered stand behind the goal, as it would overhang onto the pitch.
The police are booked through my safety officer. Personally I felt
they were unnecessary expense, as we know Sutton fans are great, and we were pleased with how many children turned up.
But when they were booked, we could have been playing two different teams, who bring problems with them.
I hope this answers most of the questions and criticism that were raised. I hope that a lot of your fans come back to see us
take on Carshalton on Saturday.

[garethl]

I wonder if anyone was there for 1pm? And if they were whether they were still conscious for the game?!! Good luck with the final anyhow and next year in the Conf South if you make it there. You'll find it quite a step up in standard but it looks like you'll have a competitive side if you can keep it together.