So we will offer discounted memberships to fans who've never seen a game of RL.


We gave deals to the fans of Charlton, Brentford, quins,Barnet and Ealing.....of the 250 who rocked up last season, maybe 1 was as a result of the previous 25 years of offers to our landlords...
....einsteins definition of insanity is the marketing mantra of this club

It is to be hoped this is part of a broader fan attraction strategy, and that a fan retention strategy is being launched. The presence of a Community Stand suggests the first part at least is true.

I fear that side may prove harder than some expect. I can name a relatively big name football team that built a small stand and aimed to use it for free ticket initiatives with community groups. It's usually empty, they have found it hard to give away tickets. This is down to a combination of disinterest locally in their offering (their support has melted away in a manner reminiscent of Broncos) and child protection laws. Schools have proved a particularly tough nut to crack as teachers don't want to work weekends acting as responsible adults. However: I can also name a football side that had two schools and two hundred people present last weekend. The big difference is their local community are engaged, they sell out most weeks and the offer of free tickets is viewed as a welcome opportunity.

Giving away free tickets in a meaningful manner which will drive supporter base growth is often tougher than people expect in my experience.

Edited in case the club read this. I know a third club who do free tickets for schools days. Their route is not to arrange formal school groups but to work with the school to publicise that family groups can attend game X free if they can prove one of the children attends school Y. It works quite well, they have recently started so not possible to comment on long term success yet. Worth considering if you hit a reluctance from schools to engage and arrange formal groups

Especially not after they've already worked anything up to a 60-65 hour week teaching kids, marking work, lesson planning, doing after school clubs, dealing with fractious parents who 'know their rights', doing pointless meetings with management etc...........

...but the holidays they get

And do not forget. teachers will not be around for six weeks in the summer , due to their holidays

Neither will (some) of the kids!
And remember we're going to be on the road for 5 consecutive games ( i think) when the Dons season finishes but before the schools break up!

That's OK, we can't play home games then.

I'm well aware. My mum was a teacher and worked well over the hours you cite most weeks - she was senior management as well. My comment was a factual statement and in no way a criticism of the teachers concerned. I wouldn't work at weekends for free so I don't expect them to.

It's just flagging a factor lots of clubs fail to take into account, they assume free tickets to schools will be snapped up as everyone wants to watch their club as much as they do. Back in the real world ...

Re the six week point, the same protection laws apply to youth clubs etc. My personal experience is the take up from them is usually a bit better than from schools but again a fair chunk will say no.

I'm glad you put those laughing faces there.

Those hols are well -earned , considering teachers ( I'm not one but my wife is) only get paid for approx 27-32 hours work per week - ie only for the time they spend in front of a class of kids. Nothing for the rest of the hours put in.
As Michael Caine probably didn't say, 'Not a lot of people know that'.

That's the problem - the teachers will be around when we can't play at PL but won't be from late July til early Sept.
Double whammy.

The Plan is sounding better by the minute!

I .well aware of the effort and toil of teachers. It's a vocation, not an occupation....and they're mainly unpaid for about 33% of the stuff they do.