Club Fine

[Ex Attendant]

A 4k fine seems excessive when compared to those handed out to Chelsea and Shamrock Rovers.

[brian bloomfield]

If you have been reading Shotsweb over recent times, abee, you will know that it in my considered opinion it is a gross error to think of a football club as a business, like any other. I get a lot of stick for this. It's because of the post-Thatcher orthodoxy that everything has to be treated as a business and that the only people who can run an enterprise of any kind are businessmen/women. Because it's orthodoxy, people don't think to question it. If they did, and really thought hard about it, they might start to see how shallow the dogma is, like much of Thatcherism.

Yes I have seen your posts Old Bob and I half agree with you.

A football club is both a business and an important community asset but it cannot be run like other businesses.

The mistake is to think that because a local businessman writes a cheque and goes onto the board that everything is going to be great. What they are invariably doing is plugging the financial hole that the 'businessmen' before them created.

My own philosophy in any business/football club is that:- 'Them's that got you into the **** ain't the ones who are gonna get you out of it'.

The sort of statement from any lower league club that makes my blood run cold is on the lines 'Jim Goatgrabber who runs a successful chain of dry cleaners in Nearbytown has bought shares/provided a loan (delete as applicable) joined the board and we look forward to his contribution and expertise'.

It's garbage.

Tell me......ATFC has had businessmen join and leave the board over the past decade but can any supporter truly say and believe that the professionalism and running of the club off the field has improved in any way at all.

I can't see it and the board needs beefing up with well known supporters who can bring their own expertise probably in lieu of any investment. I'd sooner see any new board appointments highlighted for what they bring to the board rather than someone who writes out a cheque and is automatically able to say that he is a big important director at his local club.

Alan, good to see you in fine fettle on the message board. You are completely right re quality of day to day club management application over quantity of monetary input.

One thing I've definitely learnt in football is you can't run a successful football club by committee, you have to run it from the top in an authoritive manner, but that does mean the person running it has to have the club at heart.

I think Terry who was chairman for 6 years got us 3 promotions and left something like 40k cash in the bank. Different times I know but keeping a type reign on the cashflow was always his priority.

[Old Bob]

Bit simplistic Bruce, If the six counties are sold out to Eire we would have more of the ethnic cleansing that has already started.

Maybe but it's Ireland....Though I must admit I would not be bothered if anything North of Watford if the powers that be sectioned it off and gave it to Scotland, that's even more simplistic )

Ireland is an island with two countries on it Eire and Northern Ireland, much like Hispaniola has two nations on it.

True, but doesn't this bald statement rather ignore an important difference? Namely, the two countries on the same island, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, are independent sovereign countries. Ireland and Northern Ireland are not both sovereign. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

There is also a telling similarity. Namely, there is a long history of conflict between Haiti and the Dominican Republic due to their political and economic differences.

[ShotOnTarget]

I think Terry who was chairman for 6 years got us 3 promotions and left something like 40k cash in the bank. Different times I know but keeping a type reign on the cashflow was always his priority.

I believe it was substantially more than £40k Brian but that of course doesn't detract from your point. Also Terry understood the Club, the Supporters, the town and the local area which are priceless attributes.

I do often wonder that should the Trust bid have succeeded and a board with the likes of Terry, Graham, Yourself and others put in charge, whether we would be heading for NLS from the opposite direction, perhaps even with some stadium enhancements completed.

We'll never know.

[WTF]

If you have been reading Shotsweb over recent times, abee, you will know that it in my considered opinion it is a gross error to think of a football club as a business, like any other. I get a lot of stick for this. It's because of the post-Thatcher orthodoxy that everything has to be treated as a business and that the only people who can run an enterprise of any kind are businessmen/women. Because it's orthodoxy, people don't think to question it. If they did, and really thought hard about it, they might start to see how shallow the dogma is, like much of Thatcherism.

Yes I have seen your posts Old Bob and I half agree with you.

A football club is both a business and an important community asset but it cannot be run like other businesses.

The mistake is to think that because a local businessman writes a cheque and goes onto the board that everything is going to be great. What they are invariably doing is plugging the financial hole that the 'businessmen' before them created.

My own philosophy in any business/football club is that:- 'Them's that got you into the **** ain't the ones who are gonna get you out of it'.

The sort of statement from any lower league club that makes my blood run cold is on the lines 'Jim Goatgrabber who runs a successful chain of dry cleaners in Nearbytown has bought shares/provided a loan (delete as applicable) joined the board and we look forward to his contribution and expertise'.

It's garbage.

Tell me......ATFC has had businessmen join and leave the board over the past decade but can any supporter truly say and believe that the professionalism and running of the club off the field has improved in any way at all.

I can't see it and the board needs beefing up with well known supporters who can bring their own expertise probably in lieu of any investment. I'd sooner see any new board appointments highlighted for what they bring to the board rather than someone who writes out a cheque and is automatically able to say that he is a big important director at his local club.

Alan, good to see you in fine fettle on the message board. You are completely right re quality of day to day club management application over quantity of monetary input.

One thing I've definitely learnt in football is you can't run a successful football club by committee, you have to run it from the top in an authoritive manner, but that does mean the person running it has to have the club at heart.

I think Terry who was chairman for 6 years got us 3 promotions and left something like 40k cash in the bank. Different times I know but keeping a type reign on the cashflow was always his priority.

Brian what skills etc in your opinion is required to run a football club, just wondering if I'm the right person LOL

[FloridaPhil]

As an ex-serviceman who served near 3 years in Londonderry with the UDR, these imbeciles need a history lesson. Sick to the back teeth, not that I have many, with my season ticket money being spent on these fines.

They’re singing AGAINST the IRA - what’s wrong with that?

It's the line about the Pope that's the issue. I don't know why this is so hard for people to understand.

I know that, but the way some people make a general moan give the impression that they object the IRA part.

[FloridaPhil]

As an ex-serviceman who served near 3 years in Londonderry with the UDR, these imbeciles need a history lesson. Sick to the back teeth, not that I have many, with my season ticket money being spent on these fines.

Thank you for your service.

However, I’m puzzled. You fought against the IRA and the chant in question contains anti-IRA words, so what do you object to?

[FloridaPhil]

https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/the ... -2025.ashx

Are all of this type of document publicly available?

Having read that, it proves how incompetent we are, but I bet some people will still defend against the criticism!!

[FloridaPhil]

Inevitable sadly. The behaviour of some attendees is,appalling and does nothing to get behind the team.

I'd be interested to know what the National League do with the proceeds of the fine if anyone knows. Does it go to good causes or disappear into already lined pockets?

It’s an FA fine, not a NL one.

[Stenhouse]

As an ex-serviceman who served near 3 years in Londonderry with the UDR, these imbeciles need a history lesson. Sick to the back teeth, not that I have many, with my season ticket money being spent on these fines.

Thank you for your service.

However, I’m puzzled. You fought against the IRA and the chant in question contains anti-IRA words, so what do you object to?

Putting it simply, what happened in the late 60's to 90's happened. I object to the chants against Catholics and the Pope; and I am not Roman Catholic. Believe me I have seen enough personally with the Troubles in Northern Ireland; time to move on. We do not need youngsters chanting about things that they have no experience of. Now let it rest FloridaPhil.

[Aldershot_Rob]

Tell me......ATFC has had businessmen join and leave the board over the past decade but can any supporter truly say and believe that the professionalism and running of the club off the field has improved in any way at all.

I can't see it and the board needs beefing up with well known supporters who can bring their own expertise probably in lieu of any investment. I'd sooner see any new board appointments highlighted for what they bring to the board rather than someone who writes out a cheque and is automatically able to say that he is a big important director at his local club.

Excellent post again, Abee. There is no shortage of brilliant content on here lately.

I have been left frustrated with the club over the past 10 years as any new initiatives usually end up with the same stock answer.
"Tried it once. Didn't make money"

I get it, profit is king. But so is looking after your fans. Catering for instance. Why not give an opportunity for local butchers, or food stalls to show case their grub. Even if it means practically giving away the pitch. it has to be better than continuing sub standard food being sold.
Then you can get incentives for fans in the door earlier, club house makes a better turn over etc etc. it builds connections with fans and builds connections with local businesses too.

[Roger D]

https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/the ... -2025.ashx

Are all of this type of document publicly available?

Yes, it's standard practice for the FA to release such documents. They have done so for a fair few years.

[brian bloomfield]

The Action Plan imposed on Aldershot Town is very robust and I fail to see whether we have the administrative set up to oversee its full implementation.

I cannot believe we didn't provide CCTV footage or a more concise defence report.

[Terry Owens]

Your correct Shots on Target, looking back through my Shots 1992 records the cash figure in the bank was closer to 60K when I retired as chairman,
with outstanding creditors of around 23K, so surplus cash of around 37K.

When we launched the new 1992 club we had around 12 Shots Supporters asking to be directors and we interviewed all of them as we knew them all
anyway. We finally chose directors who each could serve the club with different skill sets that would help to promote and run the club in the best
possible way, after a couple of seasons we added another two again with different skill sets that we needed. They all delivered what their individual
responsibilities were very well. We also without fail held board meetings every month along with monthly management accounts. Finally we always kept the
supporters informed on important information, including via the supporters club who had a very well deserved place on the board of directors with
Graham Brookland as their chairman and later on with Ian Read after Graham became club secretary, they rightly sometimes gave us a tough time if they
felt we were not making the right decisions ; ; ; ; ; ; Tough times ahead for the club now, both short and long term.

Meanwhile I keep doing my best as the Ambassador of ATFC, but I am never asked for any help or advice by Shahid and he has never spoken to me at
length for years. I also keep doing my best as one of the Shots in The Community Foundation Trustees. This football club is not in my blood, it is deep
into my bones.

[Rba]

Bit simplistic Bruce, If the six counties are sold out to Eire we would have more of the ethnic cleansing that has already started.

Maybe but it's Ireland....Though I must admit I would not be bothered if anything North of Watford if the powers that be sectioned it off and gave it to Scotland, that's even more simplistic )

Ireland is an island with two countries on it Eire and Northern Ireland, much like Hispaniola has two nations on it.

I thank you Sir.