Supporters
Following my article in the Godalming match day programme about the lack of support for non-league clubs in our area, I would like your views on the problem, and suggestions as to how to increase our gates. It is a fact that non-league attendances have been falling over the years and many clubs, like ours, struggle for support. Is it down to pricing or perhaps location, marketing, or too many local clubs The above four points can be argued. Pricing. £8 for ground admission is around the average these days for our level of football Location. Yes granted, not the easiest place to get to without a car, but plenty of local housing and schools Marketing. What better than our FA Vase run and the newspaper coverage Too many local clubs. In my opinion, its great to have local rivalry, its up to us to encourage support and make them want to come back. The players deserve better support than what they are currently getting

This is absolutly true: the players do indeed deserve more support and i as well as many others would be delighted to see a bigger croud each week. Unfortunatly the middlesex staduim is at a huge disadvantage for the reasons already stated, particularly with the high amount of competition nearby. Little can be done about this and i dont expect fans from neighbouring clubs to jump ship, however i believe that there are still plenty of football fans in ruislip, ickenham and eastcote who would be happy to come along on saturdays and lend their support but the problem is that they are unaware of the clubs existence. I think that despite the teams fantastic Vase run, if a survey was carried out in ruislip high street asking what league hillingdon played in, etc, and even where the middlesex staduim is! the results would show that very few people know. This is not helped by the fact that the staduim is in a very secluded area and very easy to actually drive passed without noticing. In truth I don't feel that the board at the entrance really attracts all that much attention, and I was disappointed to go past the ground the other day to see that the board was still advertising the match against Newport IOW several days after the match and only a few days before an FA cup tie! I don't mean to sound too critical of the club but perhaps this is a matter that could be resolved by having the board at the entrance refreshed and made more appealing to passers by and kept up to date. Also if possible, i feel that it would be a great help to the club if posters advertising the boro were placed in suitable shops down both ruislip and ickenham high street such as Action Reply sports shop in ruislip. The process of making local fans aware of non league football and getting them interested is not likely to be quick, but hopefully my views will be taken into consideration and hopefully it can make a difference. I'm looking forward to the match on Saturday and wish everyone involved good luck. Maybe this will be the year we make our FA cup run :)

To be fair I do not think pricing ia an issue as it is no more dearer than any, pretty much throughout the league. Amongst 'The Boro' has general harmony between members and staff but that, in my opinion, is what it seems....... a members club. I do not know how exactly to introduce more interest on match days but I feel a family atmosphere is required. I would generally like to know what the statistics are: Attendance v Number of youth teams. A child may aspire to be like someone they look up to. Senior players' attending youth games/training as an appearance may inspire and attract the youth when we do get teams. I strongly feel we are in danger of maturing past a youth section, not of our own doing but taking full responsibility individually and together.

personally i think even if we get promoted into the next division, even maybe into the conference south i still think our attendences will struggle! its no fault of our own,its just a case of where our ground is. The points nick brought up are indeed things that as a club are holding us back with support,BUT hes right the club is right bang in the middle of local schools and local housing, so is it a case of having better marketing? simon suggested going door to door and knocking and asking simple questions about local clubs? if they knew who we are? and where you find us? i think personally we should introduce leaflets,granted it will cost money but i think in the long run to let local people find out about the club etc, is a good idea! the leaflet could be like our match day programme, having info about the club, info about the players/staff/board etc etc..info about the the reserves and youth teams etc. i think focusing on the youth side of our club is massive, how about running a kids programme on a sat..they can come in on a sat morning,have coaching sessions on the astro,provide lunch and inturn can watch the first team match at 3 oclock..we all know to every 1 child there is at least 1 parent,why not offer discount prices if there child is on the course? obviously the programme will have a set price. but introucing ideas like these is always a step forward in the clubs future! we could introuce family prices etc etc..all these things will attract the 'family atmosphere' herbs was talking about! attending youth training sessions that herbs mentioned is not a bad idea, im sure the kids would look up to me and see me as a hero! alot of people do..hopefully doing well this season in the league and cup runs will attract more people at games and around the club.. kirbs

Come on the Boro ...
I also think that attracting the young players at the Club, and kids in the local community, to first team fixtures is the key to our success on and off the field. Kirby's Matchday Football Club is a good idea. Sessions could be run from 1200 'til 1330 (when the first team are playing at home), then we could give the little monkeys some nosebag and entry to the game. As a compliment, we offer discount family tickets to get their parents/siblings to the game that follows. I am willing run the sessions and coordinate the programme if the Club would like to proceed? The idea will need developing - ie prices, who's gonna watch over the kids during lunch time, if sessions will be run when first team is away, marketing literature etc - but advertising should be pretty simple through the website, team managers, leaflets on Ruislip High St and posters in shops. With a good quality package - which we will have - I can only see it being a winner. It will generate a few quid for the Club, attract new players/FANS/ATMOSPHERE and with a small coordinated effort from a number of people - including the players, if they are willing which i'm sure they will be - it won’t be impossible to do. Any thoughts? :roll: Rich

Supporters
Hello Evereybody... I am looking to advertise everywhere for Supporters to be invited as well as Familys!!! I NEED EVERYBODY WHO HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH HBFC to actively invite people to come, I am also looking the Idea of Complinentary tickets for Senior Citizens and Sponsership Companies to fill the HBFC arena... In the mean time please feel free to invite Anybody + Everybody!!! Thanks for all your time and support to HBFC RafikiOne COME ON U BORO Hillingdon Borough WANT IT WIN IT SCORE!!!! :roll:

I realise the bar was closed because it was being refurbished, but unfortunately for both casual and visiting fans, it is not giving off a good impression, particularly if it is a cold damp night like last night. I am trying to be constructive, surely the club could provide some patio heaters for half time? I notice you had a marquee up.. that would have done very nicely for some of our oldens and youngsters that visited Hillingdon last night. I know Bracknell isn't exactly a utopia itself, i'm just trying to offer my thoughts that at least whilst the bar is closed you might be able to offer something else because if I was a casual visitor I wouldn't be keen to come back! Just out of curiousity.. was the refurbishment started over the summer?