Promoting the club

I wonder if the club are particularly interested in promoting the matches at the moment

Looking at the seating behind the goal , closed off now for a couple of seasons, I would conclude that there is no anticipation of a large crowd.

This state of neglect is presumably due to uncertainties regarding the future of Belfield Park along with licensing and other regulations.

What is the current effective capacity ?

Would it be fair to say that the base support is strong relative to previous years and growing ?

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Originally Posted by Bluesky

Looking at the seating behind the goal , closed off now for a couple of seasons, I would conclude that there is no anticipation of a large crowd.

This state of neglect is presumably due to uncertainties regarding the future of Belfield Park along with licensing and other regulations.

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The seating behind the goal is closed off because it's not safe at the moment. Any bit of rain at all and wooden walkway is incredibly slippy (as I discovered a couple of times while hanging up falgs there!). I'd say you're right that the reason it's not been fixed is due to the uncertainty over the ground.

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What is the current effective capacity ?

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I don't know the official capacity but the stand holds about 850 and if you could fit people three-deep around the pitch, that would come to about 1,500 so maybe 2,500 as a maximum.

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Would it be fair to say that the base support is strong relative to previous years and growing ?

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I think so, our lowest crowds have been better than they were three or four years ago. I can't speak for much longer ago than that though.

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Originally Posted by Schumi

I don't know the official capacity but the stand holds about 850 and if you could fit people three-deep around the pitch, that would come to about 1,500 so maybe 2,500 as a maximum.

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1900 for UEFA Licencing purposes, as far as I know.

The new ground thing is a pain in the arse, to be honest. There were plans drawn up two or three years ago for a new stand on the hill, but sure there's no point now wasting money on it if we're going to get moved. So at the moment, we're stuck groundwise until something definite comes out of the move.

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Originally Posted by Bluesky

Would it be fair to say that the base support is strong relative to previous years and growing ?

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Definitely. Even five years ago, games against Monaghan and Galway in the Premier were getting crowds of 100 or so. In the First last year, they got more than twice that. It's still low, but it is an improvement. Our average last year was just over 300 (might include on average 50 away fans, with Bray bumping up that average hugely), but from the likes of the Derry, Waterford and Cork games, the home crowd at games is about 400 this season.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

CTID those are decent suggestions and it also occured to me seeing the Milan kids that perhaps it might be a good idea to think about all the foreign language students on the campus during the summer. ?

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Thats a good idea IMO.

You would not believe the amount of foriegn language students that were at Bray's under 21 match against Belgrove, and there was also a considerable amount at the first teams match against Longford. They really got involved in the match and were great for boosting the atmosphere in the ground.

(Although they did nearly cause a riot at the Belgrove game but that's a matter for another day)

I think we should attempt something while crowds are up and we're doing well. Is there anyway we could have a meeting with the committee or McNally and thrash out some of the ideas we've outlined here? There's little point in all of us with no position sitting here and debating ideas which we can't really implement.

Student, how did Bray get this to come to an U-21 game?

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Is there anyway we could have a meeting with the committee or McNally and thrash out some of the ideas we've outlined here?

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Sounde like a good idea. We should have a meeting ourselves first and decide on what action to take.

Macker will happily let us market the club any way we want so long as he doesn't have to do anything and it doesn't cost the club any money up front.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Student, how did Bray get this to come to an U-21 game?

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Well actually Bray followed in the great tradition of many an EL team to get the foriegn students to their game.

That is they did nothing. :) :)

It seemed like many of the students were hanging around at the bowling alley and saw the amtch going on so they went in. there was probably about 100 to 150 of them at the match.

The solution is obvious then, locate a bowling alley across from Belfield Park. :D

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Originally Posted by Schumi

The solution is obvious then, locate a bowling alley across from Belfield Park. :D

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Don't you meen locate belfield park accross from a bowling alley, since we're moving it anyway.

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Originally Posted by Bald Student

Sounds like a good idea. We should have a meeting ourselves first and decide on what action to take.

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Well lads, any of you on for this?

How would McNally feel on the idea of giving out free or discounted tickets?

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Well lads, any of you on for this?

How would McNally feel on the idea of giving out free or discounted tickets?

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Well I'd feel hard done having to pay €15 in every week!

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Originally Posted by Colie

Well I'd feel hard done having to pay €15 in every week!

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Colie you'll never recover from the 'free programme' stunt will you? :D

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Well lads, any of you on for this?

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Definitely. Probably best to meet up first to decide exactly what we're going to suggest. The problem with this is that I'm away from this Friday to Saturday week, while you're away for most of August I think? That said, it's not necessary to get everyone in attendance, especially with the thread to post to. Our next home game isn't for three weeks (Harps at the start of August), so if we want to get something in before then, it'll have to be a midweek or weekend meeting. The Montrose is a fairly handy place to meet I suppose - central, has beer but you won't get drowned out like you could in a pub.

I am away from August 2nd to probably early September. Sometime this week maybe before you head? I'll basically be gone after that. Is Thursday too soon?

I'm in Derry on the Friday, so Thursday is the last day possible. Wednesday's out for me too. How about others?

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I'm in Derry on the Friday, so Thursday is the last day possible. Wednesday's out for me too. How about others?

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Wednesday's pretty much out for me, going to the Shels game. I think this has to be reasonably early if we're gonna get anything constructive done other people's work permitting.

Woohoo! First thread to get to 100 posts in this forum! :)

Let's aim for Thursday so. In the Montrose, say from 7:30? (I can be there from 6:00 or so, but allowing for others in work, etc.)

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Woohoo! First thread to get to 100 posts in this forum! :)

Let's aim for Thursday so. In the Montrose, say from 7:30? (I can be there from 6:00 or so, but allowing for others in work, etc.)

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I think that's grand for me. Earlier the better if others can do. You could even send an e-mail out to all supporter's club members telling them the time and location (when we agree) on the off chance an extra head could turn up.

I can't make it myself but I was chatting to Bald Student there and he said to say he'd be along on Thursday.

Fickle fecker. :rolleyes:

At least Bald Student's a real fan who wants to help his club!

Thursday should be OK for me too.

Put your proposals that you make to the club up here please!

I think it'll probably be mainly discussing ideas put up here but will post some summary of what went on up for the rest of you.

So this is 100% on then? At 7:30? Can anyone tell me where the Montrose is exactly?

Across the road from UCD, over the flyover.

Heading in from Stillorgan, go up the flyover as if going to UCD, then turn right instead of left and the Montrose is ahead of you to your left.

For those who weren't there the basic gist of the meeting:
- work on getting foreign lanuage students on campus to the games, get in contact with their supervisors to do this etc.
- work on establishing better links with local underage football clubs to offer free/discount tickets to players, get in contact with their coaches etc.
- canvas on registration day for students handing out flyers with offers of free or discounted tickets for the first two home games of the college year, drop overheads in the projectors before lectures to remind students of games
- get tickets for games sold on campus SU shops, also get some club merchandise sold there too
- see if we can get posters announcing games put up in local shops and possibly local schools
- get family tickets sold at the club, say €30 for 2 adults/2 kids or 1 adult/3 kids
-get in contact with local summer camps and offer day trips to matches with cheap price per head

That cover it I think. Pinapple is going to meet McNally to discuss the ideas and discounts today. Also make sure you are at the Bohs game in Dalymount next week and try to wear the club colours and bring any flags with club colours if you have them. We are gathering in Block B of the Jody Stand. The game is live on TV so we want some good colour.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

For those who weren't there the basic gist of the meeting:
- work on getting foreign lanuage students on campus to the games, get in contact with their supervisors to do this etc.
- work on establishing better links with local underage football clubs to offer free/discount tickets to players, get in contact with their coaches etc.
- canvas on registration day for students handing out flyers with offers of free or discounted tickets for the first two home games of the college year, drop overheads in the projectors before lectures to remind students of games
- get tickets for games sold on campus SU shops, also get some club merchandise sold there too
- see if we can get posters announcing games put up in local shops and possibly local schools
- get family tickets sold at the club, say €30 for 2 adults/2 kids or 1 adult/3 kids
-get in contact with local summer camps and offer day trips to matches with cheap price per head

That cover it I think. Pinapple is going to meet McNally to discuss the ideas and discounts today. Also make sure you are at the Bohs game in Dalymount next week and try to wear the club colours and bring any flags with club colours if you have them. We are gathering in Block B of the Jody Stand. The game is live on TV so we want some good colour.

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All good initiatives... but don't be too surprised by a less than enthusiastic response from your fellow students when term begins..............

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

don't be too surprised by a less than enthusiastic response from your fellow students when term begins

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Don't worry CTID. I might only be a Johnny-Come-Lately but I'm here long enough to not be surprised at that

CTID we expect no response so anything is a bonus. We must try anyway. Btw there is an away trip to Cork on Sept 30th. Pinapple said it would be ideal to see if non-regulars would be up for an overnighter in Cork. Anyone have any idea what came of Pinapple's discussion with McNally?

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

CTID we expect no response so anything is a bonus. We must try anyway. Btw there is an away trip to Cork on Sept 30th. Pinapple said it would be ideal to see if non-regulars would be up for an overnighter in Cork. Anyone have any idea what came of Pinapple's discussion with McNally?

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It's too far away to tell if I will be available on September 30th will think about it closer to the time. Was supposed to be going away around then. Looks like I will be here at this point.

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Originally Posted by Bald Student

Don't worry CTID. I might only be a Johnny-Come-Lately but I'm here long enough to not be surprised at that

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You're only Johnny come Lately to foot.ie Bald Student :D

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

It's too far away to tell if I will be available on September 30th will think about it closer to the time. Was supposed to be going away around then. Looks like I will be here at this point.

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Sorry CTID should have made myself a bit clearer. Pinapple had the idea to advertise an overnight trip to Galway (last season I think?) in the college. A few nobodys who possibly have never attended a single game expressed an interest in going but it fell through as something came up for him. By non-regulars I meant at any games. I'm just posting up about the Cork game to see what he thinks about doing it again as it is in the college year.

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Pinapple had the idea to advertise an overnight trip to Galway (last season I think?) in the college.

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That was a good few years ago, probably the play-off season (2000/1).

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Sorry CTID should have made myself a bit clearer. Pinapple had the idea to advertise an overnight trip to Galway (last season I think?) in the college. A few nobodys who possibly have never attended a single game expressed an interest in going but it fell through as something came up for him. By non-regulars I meant at any games. I'm just posting up about the Cork game to see what he thinks about doing it again as it is in the college year.

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`
Might be too close to the start of term but worth a try. I am not a regular attender at games outside of Dublin these days...

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

Anyone have any idea what came of Pinapple's discussion with McNally?

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We got a lift home from Derry with Looper Hooper, the team doctor, instead, so no talk held that night. Will try and arrange a meeting on Friday.

Incidentally, I was away for the week on a St John camp with 26 kids aged from 11 to 16. I'd say about one-third of them had been to a UCD game at some stage. I think that's actually a good percentage and it does show at least that we are creating some awareness in the area. One teacher in Hollypark gives out tickets every Friday there's a home game.

Pineapple on the foreign student thingy. There is definately potential. In the Bohs game about 30 (or possibly more) Spanish students came in after 20 mins and started cheering for UCD the whole game. Don't know why, cheering for the underdog or doing a course at UCD perhaps? But whatever it was it showed potential, definately something worth following up.

the new crest http://www.stigonline.com/crest.bmp

For the college itself and the club or just the club? So we're now UCDD or University College Dublin Dublin? :D

Report in today's indo about it. It's the new crest for everything in the College. Looks a bit like something an IT would have. The name is worthy of mockery, is it UCD, UCDD, or University College double Dublin?

They've also removed the two mottos, Ad Astra and Cothrom na Féine. WHich takes away a bit of the grandeur. Apparently a survey of staff and students said they didn't identify with the old crest...my solution would have been to look at who they were asking not to dump the crest.

I can sense a rant coming so I'd better stop and get back to work.

I think it's University College Dublin Dublin NUI Dublin in full.
Still the longest team name in europe.