Quote: TheClubsVoice "
We are moving forward on a range of fronts to gradually raise the crowd to sufficient levels. For example, offline we need to win more games (which is gradually coming together), we have had our first go at distributing 20,000 free junior season tickets and we have learnt some interesting things from this so we will be better at it next season where we will be distributing 40,000. Further, we have built good relationships with a range of schools and this will bear fruit in the coming years. We have finally got some budget to promote now and again so you will see adverts in the KN and T&A raising the profile of the club and fixture lists were distributed in the KN a few weeks ago. We will do a season ticket offer prior to Christmas this year in much the same vein as Christmas 2011 and we are in conversation with Keighley Town Council to try to get signs on the Keighley boundary signs which state "Welcome to Keighley. The home of Keighley Cougars." and similarly, we intend to have a conversation with Bradford Council to have brown signs indicating where the ground is. Online our Twitter following has passed 2,200 and is increasing at a rate of 150 per month, our Facebook has over 700 Likes and our new website (to be implemented very soon) will be kept up to date in a way that makes it very attractive for people to come and visit it. We have also just signed up for Welcome to Yorkshire which will help promote the club online and offline. Bear in mind, this list is a tiny part of the things we are doing and we are doing it in a sustainable way that does not de-stabilise the club financially unlike various attempts in the past.
We have the club financially stable. As the seasons progress we will gradually strengthen the team in much the same way as Featherstone have. The race to Super League and staying in Super League is a marathon, not a sprint. The club will continue developing its young players and it hopes for a powerful partnership between the club and Craven College whereby the young academy players end up almost being developed full time and provide coaching services back to our children in the community to further develop rugby league in the area.
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It [isounds like [/ithe directors are doing plenty of good work behind the scenes. It would seem to be a big task though with only 3 directors, very few employed staff and apparently very few volunteers mobilsed just at present.
Financial stability is good if the club can gradually increase its level of expenditure whilst still breaking even.
But getting the crowds up is a bit of a chicken and egg thing. What comes first? The crowds and then the money and then the quality players? Or money first? It's right to put in place a sustainable business model - but those putting themselves forward as rugby league club directors have also traditionally put their hands in their pockets to finance one or two top signings to really fire up the other good work that lays a firm foundation.
In Keighley's case, periods of success and fervour have been kick-started by a signing of a high profile player that's fired up people's support and team performances:-
Ted Spillane (NZ) in the 1930's (leading to Keighley getting to Wembley)
Mick Clark (GB-from Leeds) in the 1960's
Trevor Skerrett (GB-from Hull) in the 1980's
Joe Grima (NZ-from Widnes) in the 1990's.
What is the chance of the directors making a one-off personal financial commitment to sign that calibre of player today to leverage up on all the other good work and kick-start the road to Super League in 2018 in a big way?
