Wanderers need positive backing from its town (From This Is Local London)

Well said. The article from Alan Feldberg was hugely partisan against the Trust run club. I wonder what Mr Feldberg's agenda was?

To casually claim Feldberg's piece simply suggested "there might be a disconnect between the football club and the town" lets him off the hook for an astonishingly ill-informed, factually-inaccurate piece of thinly-disguised contempt for the club, trust and fans from some one whose sporting loyalties appear to be questionable and which would appear to compromising his journalistic integrity, for which both he and the BFB should be thoroughly ashamed. This article goes some way to redressing the balance, so well done Dale for that.
Few if any would suggest the BFP should be an unquestioning supporter of Wycombe Wanderers but for Feldberg to metaphorically stick the boot into the club after remaining suspiciously silent while the previous regime led it to the brink is nothing short of disgraceful.

Why isn't the headline "Wanderers need positive backing from its local paper". Time for BFP to step up and get behind the team and if Mr Feldburg cant manage that then the BFP should recruit a sports editor who can .

evenflo:

I agee the BFP could do a lot more to promote the club in a positive light. However, that's not their function: they are meant to be impartial journalists. Clearly I didn't think Feldberg's was impartial and I responded as a result. Of course I agree that the local paper should help the club more (natural as a WWFC supporter). Hopefully through improving relations with its editor and once Wasps buzz off, things can take a turn for the better. I was pleased to see this article printed on the back page. The editor pushed that and was keen for it to run, so perhaps if more people sent pieces in along these lines progress can also be made that way.

ChilternsBlue wrote:
Well said. The article from Alan Feldberg was hugely partisan against the Trust run club. I wonder what Mr Feldberg's agenda was?

mmmm To post such an inaccurate, partisan article and to praise the universally derided franchise Mk Dons. What on earth could be Mr Feldburgs motives ??.

djwyc14 wrote:
evenflo:

I agee the BFP could do a lot more to promote the club in a positive light. However, that's not their function: they are meant to be impartial journalists. Clearly I didn't think Feldberg's was impartial and I responded as a result. Of course I agree that the local paper should help the club more (natural as a WWFC supporter). Hopefully through improving relations with its editor and once Wasps buzz off, things can take a turn for the better. I was pleased to see this article printed on the back page. The editor pushed that and was keen for it to run, so perhaps if more people sent pieces in along these lines progress can also be made that way.

First off well done for contacting the paper and responding to that article. When I said it was time for the BFP to get behind the team I was trying to highlight the real disconnect the original piece indicated, that between the BFP and Blues supporters, personally I would love a return to the BFP just being impartial to the club rather than openly hostile and if you can help work toward that you have my full support.

Guys, say what you want but ultimately the original article was correct. I live near Wycombe and take my 2 boys whenever I can. I'm from Sheffield originally so me and the boys are Blades but I want them to support their local team. I joke with them that the only 2 teams I will let them support and take them to games to see are the Blades and Wanderers.

This clearly isn't true elsewhere looking at the hundreds of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal shirts around town. Cencus data from 2011 shows Wycombe District has a population of 171,000, to be getting crowds of 3,500 from that catchment area is appalling and unfortunately backs up the article.

I'm not sure what can be done to change this in the days of Sky TV etc but now the academy has gone it going to be more difficult to develop the youngsters to be sold on to keep the club afloat. Unless more people come through the gates I fear the worst I'm afraid.

djwyc14 wrote:
evenflo: I agee the BFP could do a lot more to promote the club in a positive light. However, that's not their function: they are meant to be impartial journalists. Clearly I didn't think Feldberg's was impartial and I responded as a result. Of course I agree that the local paper should help the club more (natural as a WWFC supporter). Hopefully through improving relations with its editor and once Wasps buzz off, things can take a turn for the better. I was pleased to see this article printed on the back page. The editor pushed that and was keen for it to run, so perhaps if more people sent pieces in along these lines progress can also be made that way.

"when Wasps Buzz off" The BFP shows the same disconnect to Wasps and it's fans as do many Wanderers Supporters. Firstly this season at least as many local people have been going to Wasps as to see the football and many of us are getting really fed up that Wasps as a team are being blamed for all of Wanderers ills. I have no idea whether Wasps owes Wanderers money and until both clubs make a statement rather than "well I met a bloke in the pub who knows someone who really knows the truth" type reports I think it unfair for anyone to comment. Secondly Wasps are spoken of in the same breath as Hayes. Hayes had as much to do with Wanderers as Wasps. Wasps existed perfectly well before him and have just managed to survive his regime. I am really saddened that the football fans seem happy to wish rid of a premiership rugby club in a town which needs to do everything to attract people and provide local people with employment. It is also a club that massively supports local kids who will be devastated if (well lets be honest after local hostility WHEN) Wasps goes. Wasps fans aren't flying in from the moon; they are local as well. Are Wanderers really going to be better off without Wasps? Maybe, just can't think how.

Would now love an article from someone who went to the ground and now doesnt. We have had con wycombe and patheticly pro now for impartial.

onthefells wrote:
Guys, say what you want but ultimately the original article was correct. I live near Wycombe and take my 2 boys whenever I can. I'm from Sheffield originally so me and the boys are Blades but I want them to support their local team. I joke with them that the only 2 teams I will let them support and take them to games to see are the Blades and Wanderers.

This clearly isn't true elsewhere looking at the hundreds of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal shirts around town. Cencus data from 2011 shows Wycombe District has a population of 171,000, to be getting crowds of 3,500 from that catchment area is appalling and unfortunately backs up the article.

I'm not sure what can be done to change this in the days of Sky TV etc but now the academy has gone it going to be more difficult to develop the youngsters to be sold on to keep the club afloat. Unless more people come through the gates I fear the worst I'm afraid.

Fortunately not everyone is as fatalistic as you. The original article was unresearched hogwash and sneering nonsense. It's hardly the first time that lower-league clubs have been scratching around to make ends meet and struggling for crowds, but they pull through the vast majority of times. There are many factors as to why crowds are at the level they are at the moment, but to deride them as 'pathetic' is a cheap shot. The main issue at the moment is cashflow, when that's resolved the club have a decent base to break even from and build from there. And how do you sell on youngsters for a profit when EPPP will drastically reduce the fee received for the youngsters?
We need to make WWFC a club to be proud of, and local media giving the club respectable coverage is an important part of that. It will be a challenge in the age of murdochvision and computer games, but going down to Adams Park (and previously Loakes Park) and watching football live has had a magnetic attraction to thousands for generations, and long may it continue!

billsheppard wrote:

onthefells wrote:
Guys, say what you want but ultimately the original article was correct. I live near Wycombe and take my 2 boys whenever I can. I'm from Sheffield originally so me and the boys are Blades but I want them to support their local team. I joke with them that the only 2 teams I will let them support and take them to games to see are the Blades and Wanderers.

This clearly isn't true elsewhere looking at the hundreds of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal shirts around town. Cencus data from 2011 shows Wycombe District has a population of 171,000, to be getting crowds of 3,500 from that catchment area is appalling and unfortunately backs up the article.

I'm not sure what can be done to change this in the days of Sky TV etc but now the academy has gone it going to be more difficult to develop the youngsters to be sold on to keep the club afloat. Unless more people come through the gates I fear the worst I'm afraid.

Fortunately not everyone is as fatalistic as you. The original article was unresearched hogwash and sneering nonsense. It's hardly the first time that lower-league clubs have been scratching around to make ends meet and struggling for crowds, but they pull through the vast majority of times. There are many factors as to why crowds are at the level they are at the moment, but to deride them as 'pathetic' is a cheap shot. The main issue at the moment is cashflow, when that's resolved the club have a decent base to break even from and build from there. And how do you sell on youngsters for a profit when EPPP will drastically reduce the fee received for the youngsters?
We need to make WWFC a club to be proud of, and local media giving the club respectable coverage is an important part of that. It will be a challenge in the age of murdochvision and computer games, but going down to Adams Park (and previously Loakes Park) and watching football live has had a magnetic attraction to thousands for generations, and long may it continue!

well said bill especially about the EPPP the details of which i believe would cause uproar if more smaller league club supporters knew them including our friend from sheffield.

unfortunately watching lower league football is a minority pastime. Why would cash strapped punters pay £30.00 to take there kid to a game when they can pay the same each month to watch several Premier League games on the Box.??

The FA have let the Premier League take all the money away from non League and Lower League Football. If you care about football sign the e petition on grass roots football http://submissions.e
petitions.direct.gov
.uk

well without trying to be a spokesman for the club you can see the blues vs accrington for a tenner on good friday. A real football experience rather than the passive rather sterile facsimile you get on tv, yes i know you are going to say plenty more people choose to just sit at home but imo you haven't seen a game unless you are in the crowd at the match.

evenflo wrote:
well without trying to be a spokesman for the club you can see the blues vs accrington for a tenner on good friday. A real football experience rather than the passive rather sterile facsimile you get on tv, yes i know you are going to say plenty more people choose to just sit at home but imo you haven't seen a game unless you are in the crowd at the match.

Completely agree. It's really sad that we seem to have a whole generation of kids growing up who are happy just to watch football on tv. Nothing beats actually being at a match and being a part of the atmosphere and the whole occasion. The Good Friday Accrington game is the perfect chance for the town to get together and have a great afternoon getting behind the local team.

Oh for the days when football teams consisted of players drawn mainly from within their immediate area. I know they have long since gone but supporters could identify more with players.
These were the good old days which sadly will never come back. Who is going to watch a team of players most of whom are on loan from other clubs or are on short term contracts? Not me!

patanbry wrote:
Oh for the days when football teams consisted of players drawn mainly from within their immediate area. I know they have long since gone but supporters could identify more with players.
These were the good old days which sadly will never come back. Who is going to watch a team of players most of whom are on loan from other clubs or are on short term contracts? Not me!

I understand and to a certain extent agree with what you're saying, but I can only assume you're making a general point and not referring to the Wanderers? A large proportion of our team have progressed through the former youth set up and have been with the club since a young age and I understand that several of these players are local lads. I've not been able to make too many games this season, but the big joy for me in the games I have attended is watching these youngsters giving absolutely everything for the quarters and clearly enjoying playing for the club. They may not be the most talented side we've had at Adams Park (although we do have some good individuals) but they don't lack for enthusiasm and the passion they have for the club is clear to see.

Kingsley25 wrote:

patanbry wrote:
Oh for the days when football teams consisted of players drawn mainly from within their immediate area. I know they have long since gone but supporters could identify more with players.
These were the good old days which sadly will never come back. Who is going to watch a team of players most of whom are on loan from other clubs or are on short term contracts? Not me!

I understand and to a certain extent agree with what you're saying, but I can only assume you're making a general point and not referring to the Wanderers? A large proportion of our team have progressed through the former youth set up and have been with the club since a young age and I understand that several of these players are local lads. I've not been able to make too many games this season, but the big joy for me in the games I have attended is watching these youngsters giving absolutely everything for the quarters and clearly enjoying playing for the club. They may not be the most talented side we've had at Adams Park (although we do have some good individuals) but they don't lack for enthusiasm and the passion they have for the club is clear to see.

spot on again kingsley, in fact due to the club giving pro contracts to several youth team players by necessity at the beginning of the season you would be hard pressed to find another professional team in the country playing as many home grown players in the first team. Any more excuses " patanbry " or are you going to drop that remote control and get out to see some real football.

Its Great to see the youngsters in the team Richard Dobson was doing a brilliant job with the youth team and academy and it is to his huge credit that they are good enough to play in the first team.
Also Wycombe youngster Jordan Ibe got on the Bench for Liverpool this weekend spotted playing in Wycombe. No youth team, no Academy, no future youth players, Who do we blame the FA Elite Player Performance Plan designed to benefit the richer clubs. The lower league clubs need HELP!!
Taking this right back to Alan Feldbergs original article "should Football Clubs be Treated differently to other businesses" of course they should. Football Clubs should be given council support and tax breaks if they can show that they are encouraging sport and are central to the community.

bob500 wrote:
Its Great to see the youngsters in the team Richard Dobson was doing a brilliant job with the youth team and academy and it is to his huge credit that they are good enough to play in the first team.
Also Wycombe youngster Jordan Ibe got on the Bench for Liverpool this weekend spotted playing in Wycombe. No youth team, no Academy, no future youth players, Who do we blame the FA Elite Player Performance Plan designed to benefit the richer clubs. The lower league clubs need HELP!!
Taking this right back to Alan Feldbergs original article "should Football Clubs be Treated differently to other businesses" of course they should. Football Clubs should be given council support and tax breaks if they can show that they are encouraging sport and are central to the community.

Why should they receive Council support over and above any other local sports club? And how do you consider thm to be central to a community? You might be right but I'd be curious to understand your thinking.

bob500 wrote:
Its Great to see the youngsters in the team Richard Dobson was doing a brilliant job with the youth team and academy and it is to his huge credit that they are good enough to play in the first team.
Also Wycombe youngster Jordan Ibe got on the Bench for Liverpool this weekend spotted playing in Wycombe. No youth team, no Academy, no future youth players, Who do we blame the FA Elite Player Performance Plan designed to benefit the richer clubs. The lower league clubs need HELP!!
Taking this right back to Alan Feldbergs original article "should Football Clubs be Treated differently to other businesses" of course they should. Football Clubs should be given council support and tax breaks if they can show that they are encouraging sport and are central to the community.

The don't call the EPPP The English Premiership Poaching Players for nothing

gpn01 wrote:

bob500 wrote:
Its Great to see the youngsters in the team Richard Dobson was doing a brilliant job with the youth team and academy and it is to his huge credit that they are good enough to play in the first team.
Also Wycombe youngster Jordan Ibe got on the Bench for Liverpool this weekend spotted playing in Wycombe. No youth team, no Academy, no future youth players, Who do we blame the FA Elite Player Performance Plan designed to benefit the richer clubs. The lower league clubs need HELP!!
Taking this right back to Alan Feldbergs original article "should Football Clubs be Treated differently to other businesses" of course they should. Football Clubs should be given council support and tax breaks if they can show that they are encouraging sport and are central to the community.

Why should they receive Council support over and above any other local sports club? And how do you consider thm to be central to a community? You might be right but I'd be curious to understand your thinking.

Answer for gpn01

I didn't say they should receive Council Support above any other local sports club.

I think any sports club, dance club or any other club that encourages and promotes sport and people mixing in a community should get more support from central and local government. I don't think that the football club is at the moment central in the community as they can't afford to be, With more support they could be. In other countries Holland for example Government put huge amounts into Local Grass Roots football which is linked into local professional teams. Wycombe do offer Community days cheap and free tickets to local football clubs, many kids will be watching Thursdays U21 game at Adams park with cheap and free tickets. watch JonJo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson play on your local pitch for £10.00 Adults, £5.00 kids at Anfield it would cost you 5 times that if you could get a ticket.

bob500 wrote:

gpn01 wrote:

bob500 wrote:
Its Great to see the youngsters in the team Richard Dobson was doing a brilliant job with the youth team and academy and it is to his huge credit that they are good enough to play in the first team.
Also Wycombe youngster Jordan Ibe got on the Bench for Liverpool this weekend spotted playing in Wycombe. No youth team, no Academy, no future youth players, Who do we blame the FA Elite Player Performance Plan designed to benefit the richer clubs. The lower league clubs need HELP!!
Taking this right back to Alan Feldbergs original article "should Football Clubs be Treated differently to other businesses" of course they should. Football Clubs should be given council support and tax breaks if they can show that they are encouraging sport and are central to the community.

Why should they receive Council support over and above any other local sports club? And how do you consider thm to be central to a community? You might be right but I'd be curious to understand your thinking.

Answer for gpn01

I didn't say they should receive Council Support above any other local sports club.

I think any sports club, dance club or any other club that encourages and promotes sport and people mixing in a community should get more support from central and local government. I don't think that the football club is at the moment central in the community as they can't afford to be, With more support they could be. In other countries Holland for example Government put huge amounts into Local Grass Roots football which is linked into local professional teams. Wycombe do offer Community days cheap and free tickets to local football clubs, many kids will be watching Thursdays U21 game at Adams park with cheap and free tickets. watch JonJo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson play on your local pitch for £10.00 Adults, £5.00 kids at Anfield it would cost you 5 times that if you could get a ticket.

Absolutely agree!

This 'Freeburger' character who wrote the original anti-WWFC article is a WUM - hence the responses that he got.
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To that extent he(she ?) has succeeded.
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However WWFC is a business and until recently was very badly run / managed one with the owner(s) having an eye to make a quick (subsidised) financial killing at local people's expense.
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When they didn't achieve their dubious ends ( in spite of help / support from some prominent Wycombe councillors) they did a runner , leaving the club in a parlous state.
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WWFC is however still a business employing professional sportspeople and needs , in the first place , to be successful as a business doing things that other successful businesses do.
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Until then it will lose money.