Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:53 am  

That concession is a step in the right direction, but aren't you 'preaching to the converted'?

I bet that everyone who reads the Cougars page on RLFANS already attends 'home' games (at least) but how is the club publicising the offers and importance of the game (and home games in general) throughout the town? (I don't live in Keighley so I don't know).

Someone passed a comment on the age-profile of Cougar fans when compared with that of Workington and, if correct (which it would appear to be) surely some initiatives need to be put in place to address this problem. This is something that I and my fellow supoorters have mentioned in the past, jokingly saying that if nothing was done to address the problem then in another 40 years there would be no supporters following our deaths!

We will do eveything in our persuasive power to bring additional support down but in the 60's every home game was publicised in the pubs and clubs of Keighley as well as posters stuck on street corners (not permitted nowadays).

Let's hope for more than last Sunday's gate.

Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:11 pm  

I think part of Keighlely's problem from an age of fan point of view, and attracting noisy fans in general, is that Cougars are up against various football clubs and RL clubs within a short distance.
Worky can attract the same kind of fans, because there aren't many local alternatives for people looking for a club to get behind to choose from in that area.
It does need addressing though, getting outsung at home is just embarrassing!

Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:13 am  

The club does a great deal or work with the local schools, but this doesn't seem to convert into subsequent attendance at games. Maybe in today's financial climate parents simply are not in a position to pay £20+ for a family day out on a punt, i.e. see if we like it. Maybe next season there needs to be some free tickets issued for kids. I know this was a common marketing strategy during Cougarmania version 1. I accept the club need to have some revenue stream and can't simply offer free this/free that, but those in the marketing positions should get out there in the schools/communities finding out what the barriers are which are preventing people from coming down and what could be done/offered to get people down.

Just aside from the above, for the past few games I have brought my two kids down who love it. However, on Sunday against Town I felt the atmosphere was flat from the moment I walked in the ground. The game previous against Haven the place was buzzing. GMB were giving freebies away which my kids loved (whistles, balloons etc). The shop was selling gear off, dancers on the pitch which all made for the atmosphere. On Sunday all this was missing, not even any dancers. Again, I accept the club is not in a position to give freebies away each game but there seemed a lack of planning/preparation into the production on Sunday which I feel contributed to the overall atmosphere. I'm sure there's a reason for it but it felt like the club just expected fans to turn out in force on Sunday. It's the fans that make the noise and agree that we have to shoulder some blame for Sunday, but the club certainly are a catalyst. On a positive, the club have made great strides this season in terms of the "experience" and maybe Sunday was a blip.

Lets get out on Sunday in force and give the lads ALL our support.

COUGARS!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:02 pm  

there wasn't even any music over the PA at half time and the even more dismal than usual crossbar challenge effort kind of summed up the first half.

still - onwards and upwards.

big win this Sunday please. in fact, any kind of win.

Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Fri Sep 23, 2011 6:40 pm  

Dominance is spot on in saying that the club do a lot of work in schools and we don't seem to get the attendance as a result of this community work

You would have to think that the schools themselves could offer some help in return for the cougars community work

Just some ideas here

Could the school (in agreement with cougars) introduce some points system for good behaviour? / a voucher?, a reward that would get them either

Free child entry with an adult at a reduced rate / free if they have enough points

Free child entry and 1drink for child 1 drink for adult (adult pays in)

The scheme could be introduced with something as simple as a 'helping others' campaign, this could be ongoing, posters around the school, teachers watching the children's efforts or hearing something they did to help others at the weekend and awarding points / handing out a voucher as they see fit - any reason basically

You get the idea, the school get well behaved / caring children, cougars get more people through the gate, a free reward for good behavour / helping others sets up competition within the school, something for nothing, a pint and a free child day out for the cost of 1 adult ticket may be all it takes to encourage a future fan

Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:30 am  

Some very good ideas there and I hope the club could have a look at these. It could benefit the schools and the Cougars so everyone's happy. Certainly worthy of further consideration.

On the atmosphere issue, I watched the international t20 last night and the England RU this morning. The one common theme was the carefully timed and repeated bullfighting song which certainly appeared to get the crown going. This could well be worthy of consideration for Cougar park to stoke up the crown at certain times and could be a catalyst for the fans.

Re: COUGARS vs ROCHDALE UPDATE : Sat Sep 24, 2011 1:08 pm  

The free tickets and kids coaching certainly works.
It was Matt Foster doing this years ago which got me coming down regularly when he go my eldest hooked on Rugby league whilst she was at Junior School.

It was nice to see him again at Cougar Park last Sunday and thank him for the introducing me to this cracking sport and the interesting characters who play and follow it also.