: Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:59 pm  

but now I am getting concerned for the future for the first time

Why now- We have a new manager who appears to be getting the marketing side of things going.

It will take time but lets give it to him- Hudds was a decent crowd, yesterday not to bad considering we are on a bad run.

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:59 pm  

wire-quin wrote:

Why now- We have a new manager who appears to be getting the marketing side of things going.

It will take time but lets give it to him- Hudds was a decent crowd, yesterday not to bad considering we are on a bad run.

I agree with you that Paul Blanchard appears to be doing a good job in boosting attendances. I believe the crowd on Saturday was significantly higher than normal.

However, when you mention Huddersfield, it reminds me that they've implemented a fan-based idea that we could usefully copy.

No one who watched our recent home game against Huddersfield could have missed noticing that all their players came across to the edge of the pitch, to chat to fans, sign autographs, etc, after the game. Those who watch Sky will also know that this happens at Giants' home games too.

Chatting to some Huddersfield fans afterwards, I gather this recent tradition only happened after a concerted campaign by their fans.

While I recognise that our players are great at interacting with fans after home games by coming into the bar. However this doesn't cover all fans (especially youngsters) who might want to see them at close quarters after the game.

Clearly this idea has worked for Huddersfield in building both home and away support, wouldn't cost anything, and could actually be helpful in terms of engendering fan support.

I also think our players would be brilliant at interacting pitch-side with supporters.

Would any other subscribers support this idea?

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:32 pm  

Whats happened since last week then when we were apparently wonderfully committed for 80 minutes with players giving it their all? Or was it a load of rubbish spouted by McDermott apologists?

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:01 pm  

Dave Lister wrote:

Whats happened since last week then when we were apparently wonderfully committed for 80 minutes with players giving it their all? Or was it a load of rubbish spouted by McDermott apologists?

Hi Dave,

To whom are you replying in the context of a thread called "Another New Opportunity to Attract Fans Goes Begging!!!!"?

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:10 pm  

RugbyLeague56 wrote:

Hi Dave,

To whom are you replying in the context of a thread called "Another New Opportunity to Attract Fans Goes Begging!!!!"?

BRONCO BILLY, PTB, Surreyben, mickyb1234 all commented on a lack of passion.

Briali1 commented on no drive, no effort, no pride.

I completely agree with all of them but think this has been the case for a while tbh.

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:25 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I didn't go to the match but listened on Radio Murkeyside. From what I heard, Quins made a lot of mistakes in the first half. However, apparently we played really well in the first half (presumably because you let us!). If a visitor comes along and sees one team playing very well then if they are going to be watchers of rugby league, even though the other team are not playing so well, they will still admire the skill on offer. Then came the fight back in the second half when, according to our esteemed commentators on Murkeyside, Quins perked up. Fight backs are exciting and remembering the Catalans-Bradford CC match, it was not impossible for you to turn us over in that second half. Now if a visitor not only had the skill of one side to watch in the first half but also a come-back in the second and they still thought it was flat and boring, that visitor wouldn't come back whether you won or lost because their issue isn't with Quins, it's with rugby league.

I took two friends to see Saints last season. One had a first visit to a Castleford match which was as dull as ditchwater. She came back for the Wigan match, along with another friend. Neither had been to watch rugby league before last season. Neither have been back. Yet the Wigan match, which ended in a draw and upon which our league leader's shield rested, was a gripping match with a fantastic atmosphere and a sell out crowd at Knowsley Road. We really couldn't have offered my two friends any better a spectacle to watch. It even had some biff, just for good measure.

Some people will come along and simply not enjoy rugby league. Some will come and be hooked, regardless of win or lose. No-one can predict which a visitor is going to be but the club can only try its best to keep on spreading the message in the hope that gradually the numbers will improve. You're in a highly competitive sporting environment sharing a stadium with a rugby union club in a rugby union part of town - I think it's great that you get the number of supporters you do. I hope too that now you are getting your playmakers back, Quins will start to win games again and reward those supporters by offering the great performances everyone knows they are capable of.

Excellent post. Couldn't agree more