What do people expect from a football team and manager

[Hound]

Rob followed me last night on twitter and we’ve been chatting over PM. We are working on a face to face where I can put some of this stuff to him. Less Louisiana days and more grass roots days…

Sounds interesting

Share some of the suggestions on this thread - people who genuinely know what would help raise the profile in the community

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Rob followed me last night on twitter and we’ve been chatting over PM. We are working on a face to face where I can put some of this stuff to him. Less Louisiana days and more grass roots days…

As you have been quite outspoken in your opposition to him in the past, can I ask you to also emphasise a lot of us are very grateful for what he and his investors have done? I'm sure you'll be diplomatic about things.

I would say anything to raise the profile of the club in the whole region is a good thing. We've seen this season that success on the pitch isn't enough to get people coming back through the turnstiles.

Maybe try to get big local employers - not just Virgin and Bayer, but also Tesco and the local councils, to promote tickets in the workplace - competitions, ticket bundles, etc. Anyway to get over the perceived barriers to entry to people who've never been before.

I also think a lot of the casual Sky Sports Arsenal / Chelsea / Spuds fans from around here probably never actually go to see live football. The price and availability of tickets must make it almost impossible (I' don't know personally, as of course, I've never tried). The message to promote would be if you want to see football as it's supposed to be, in the stadium, go watch your local club. That's how I got hooked 25 years ago.

In terms of match day experience, even little things like there actually being soap in the dispensers is probably more important that a new big telly in the corner. And getting there is a problem. The buses are full on the way there, and more people join on the way back, so it can happen that you just can't get home. They also turn up just as the band is finishing, so the extended match day experience is on those using the bus. Also less time to drink beer...

The off site parking is a problem too. For bigger families it's really important to be able to park and get away in a reasonable time.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Rob followed me last night on twitter and we’ve been chatting over PM. We are working on a face to face where I can put some of this stuff to him. Less Louisiana days and more grass roots days…

As you have been quite outspoken in your opposition to him in the past, can I ask you to also emphasise a lot of us are very grateful for what he and his investors have done? I'm sure you'll be diplomatic about things.

I would say anything to raise the profile of the club in the whole region is a good thing. We've seen this season that success on the pitch isn't enough to get people coming back through the turnstiles.

Maybe try to get big local employers - not just Virgin and Bayer, but also Tesco and the local councils, to promote tickets in the workplace - competitions, ticket bundles, etc. Anyway to get over the perceived barriers to entry to people who've never been before.

I also think a lot of the casual Sky Sports Arsenal / Chelsea / Spuds fans from around here probably never actually go to see live football. The price and availability of tickets must make it almost impossible (I' don't know personally, as of course, I've never tried). The message to promote would be if you want to see football as it's supposed to be, in the stadium, go watch your local club. That's how I got hooked 25 years ago.

In terms of match day experience, even little things like there actually being soap in the dispensers is probably more important that a new big telly in the corner. And getting there is a problem. The buses are full on the way there, and more people join on the way back, so it can happen that you just can't get home. They also turn up just as the band is finishing, so the extended match day experience is on those using the bus. Also less time to drink beer...

The off site parking is a problem too. For bigger families it's really important to be able to park and get away in a reasonable time.

Staggering the timing of the buses so that there are options for pre-match events is a good one - currently both Caversham buses basically mimic each other and arrive 1 hour to 45 minutes prior to a Saturday 3 pm kick off - so you miss the bands etc.

If the timing of these two buses could be staggered - one early for those who want to see the bands and one as is scheduled now, that would be a start...

[Clyde1998]

Rob followed me last night on twitter and we’ve been chatting over PM. We are working on a face to face where I can put some of this stuff to him. Less Louisiana days and more grass roots days…

As you have been quite outspoken in your opposition to him in the past, can I ask you to also emphasise a lot of us are very grateful for what he and his investors have done? I'm sure you'll be diplomatic about things.

I would say anything to raise the profile of the club in the whole region is a good thing. We've seen this season that success on the pitch isn't enough to get people coming back through the turnstiles.

Maybe try to get big local employers - not just Virgin and Bayer, but also Tesco and the local councils, to promote tickets in the workplace - competitions, ticket bundles, etc. Anyway to get over the perceived barriers to entry to people who've never been before.

I also think a lot of the casual Sky Sports Arsenal / Chelsea / Spuds fans from around here probably never actually go to see live football. The price and availability of tickets must make it almost impossible (I' don't know personally, as of course, I've never tried). The message to promote would be if you want to see football as it's supposed to be, in the stadium, go watch your local club. That's how I got hooked 25 years ago.

In terms of match day experience, even little things like there actually being soap in the dispensers is probably more important that a new big telly in the corner. And getting there is a problem. The buses are full on the way there, and more people join on the way back, so it can happen that you just can't get home. They also turn up just as the band is finishing, so the extended match day experience is on those using the bus. Also less time to drink beer...

The off site parking is a problem too. For bigger families it's really important to be able to park and get away in a reasonable time.

Staggering the timing of the buses so that there are options for pre-match events is a good one - currently both Caversham buses basically mimic each other and arrive 1 hour to 45 minutes prior to a Saturday 3 pm kick off - so you miss the bands etc.

If the timing of these two buses could be staggered - one early for those who want to see the bands and one as is scheduled now, that would be a start...

Shuttle buses from different parts of Reading could be good and help with this. I think it's just the town centre/station; and Mereoak at the moment. Obviously the club would know the demand from these areas better than I do (the existing football bus demand; addresses of people who've been match tickets; etc.), but some potential shuttle locations could involve:

1. Caversham
2. Earley
3. Palmer Park
4. Prospect Park
5. Reading University
6. Tilehurst
7. Woodley

In terms of park and rides:

1. Something near M4 Junction 10 for those from the east (eg. Bracknell; Maidenhead; Wokingham). That park and ride site by Winnersh Triangle/the Showcase cinema could be something for the club to look at, if it's still there. Would also be close to Winnersh Triangle station too for an extra pick up/drop off location.
2. Something around M4 Junction 12 for people coming from the west (eg. Newbury). A deal with Arlington Business Park for Saturdays maybe? Would allow an additional pick up/drop off at Theale station.

More usage of park and rides would help encourage people from outside Reading to park away from the stadium or not even take their car if located near train stations and existing local bus services, reducing the demand for car parks to begin with.