voyager1

5 hours ago, Tamworthram said:

Finally, I don’t really think a substantial number of supporters really think it will be easy and are expecting a battle most weeks.

I hope so.

Just looking at various social media, there are some who think Derby will automatically bounce back at the first attempt. I've seen this type of thing before (not with Derby) and it becomes a vulnerability when such fans start getting restless and venting frustration if the score at home to Forest Green Rovers is still 0-0 after 30 minutes even though Derby haven't played badly.

2 hours ago, Anon said:

I didn't know their run had been quite that terrible. Losing to already relegated Crewe was a hammer blow. I've not had chance to go the new Plough Lane yet. I went quite a few times to Kingsmeadow, which was a nice stadium, but nowhere near well enough equipped to handle the size of the crowds Wimbledon have.

Its definitely worth going to the new Plough Lane. It is a small ground surrounded by flats. Don't know what they'd do if they ever got into the Championship or Premier League.

22 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

I imagine with entire premier league placing's from 7th to 11th from 20 years ago in there, it's probably not going to be that big an issue.  It's the norm.  The top 5 teams in League 1 will probably bigger than the top five in the championship.

Yes, there are other big teams down there but the problem still exists - and not to mention they are also battling to get out. I guess the main thing is that its not the National League which is a real horrible place to get out of with only 1 automatic and 1 playoff winner going up.

However, the main weakness of big teams is the expectation among the fanbase. This is what the little teams will exploit.

On 19/04/2022 at 16:30, Anon said:

I want Wimbledon to stay up and MK franchise to stay down.

Even though they're long trips, I'd quite like to see Forest Green and the Grecians come up. We should all smuggle meat products into the New Lawn next season.

Sadly its going to be a tall order for AFC Wimbledon to stay up. They've only got 2 games left and they need to get at least 4 points to stand any chance of staying up assuming the other teams down there don't pick up points.

Not to mention that AFC Wimbledon are still waiting for their first win of 2022.

I'd like AFC Wimbledon to stay up myself. I went to the new Plough Lane and its a nice little stadium. Not to mention the history of AFC Wimbledon is very interesting.

Going to League One for a club like Derby is definitely no ride in the park. All the smaller clubs will up their game when they play Derby - it will be like an FA cup tie whenever the smaller clubs turn up at Pride Park.

They will come on a cold Tuesday night in October with the initial aim of silencing/frustrating the home crowd. Get the home fans to turn against their own team. Given a significant amount of Derby fans will be expecting Derby to win League One by Christmas, the crowd will get restless when the score is still 0-0 after 30 minutes. The players will sense the frustration and I'm sure you can see how this turns out. The visiting team nick a 1-0 win in the 88th minute and spend five minutes celebrating "winning the FA cup" in front of their 200 travelling fans (you would think they had by the nature of their celebrations).

The important thing is not to get deluded. Following a big club in that league doesn't guarantee instant promotion. I'm sure there's plenty of Sunderland, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and even Nottingham Forest fans who would happily recall horror stories of getting beaten at home by some team they've never heard of and can't locate on a map.

12 hours ago, Carnero said:

Simple solution: club together to buy MK Dons and shift them over to Derby instead.

The Derby Dons with concrete cows as the mascot sound even worse.

15 hours ago, Oldben said:

Imagine derby is liquidated, that's bad.

Yet it gives the opportunity to totally rebuild under a new name.

It gives the opportunity to buy a club in League Two and rebrand that club as say Derby AFC.

Still keeping a version of Derby as  a club.

It removes the hmrc debt, msd debt, arsenal debt etc

I'm not sure Derby if there would be the money to buy Chesterfield or Burton  and rebrand them.

That could leave a club like Mansfield vulnerable.

A mansfield rebrand wouldn't give Derby much, there grounds not great, there players are not great and how do you move the ground to Derby.

Recall Wimbledon afc plays in Milton Keynes a very long way from Wimbledon, that club was rebranded.

It might be an extreme solution.

It might appear strange to buy a club in League Two for about 10 million and rebrand, but I don't think there's anything in the rules that says that cant be done.

Under that scheme finding new owners seems more probable.

 

Taking someone else's club might seem like a shortcut but would result in many years of hatred both from other fans and even locals.

AFC Wimbledon took about 10 years to get their league position back.

MK Dons have been around for 18 years and have this ball and chain (the past) still welded to it, hindering its growth. They are still hated for their history by other fans and also the locals. Whilst they are slowly growing, they are still hindered by locals not wanting anything to do with what they perceive to be a franchise monster on their doorsteps.

36 minutes ago, Gritstone Ram said:

I mean if I already have a ticket can that be taken off the price? Otherwise it isn’t all that attractive for STH’s.

Your best bet will be to contact the hospitality team regarding this. Details on the website.

6 hours ago, Gritstone Ram said:

Are the prices quoted on the web site with a ticket. Is it a bit cheaper for STH’s?

Prices on the web site include a ticket. I'm not aware of any discount for STHs.

31 minutes ago, GboroRam said:

Did you get to throw tomatoes? 

If I'd have done that, everyone on here at the time would think I was mad. Don't forget, this was pre-everything and in those days, MM was regarded as a hero with "the EFL on strings"

5 hours ago, tinman said:

Have you done hospitality at any other grounds? You’ve not mentioned it. 

Yes, the following grounds:

Luton

Reading

Nottingham Forest

Middlesbrough

Brentford (Griffin Park)

Milton Keynes Dons

58 minutes ago, Boycie said:

How much was a pint of mild?

I don't drink alcohol so I don't know. I only had soft drink and can't remember the exact prices. It was a few months ago since I done that and since then, I've done corporate in other stadiums.

7 minutes ago, Ellafella said:

Care to enlarge? ?‍♂️ 

When I say other experiences, I mean the other lounges. When I was in the Pedigree Suite for Luton Town match in 2019, the seating was in the South West corner so I could hear the South Stand and also the Luton fans clearly. It was also bar style (high) seating.

I did Captain's Club for QPR match some years ago. It was hot buffet food and a more casual like environment. Its been a few years since I did Igor's Lounge (also for QPR) - if I remember correctly, it was like Pedigree Suite but in the north west corner.

In all the lounges, you'd normally have Roger Davies greeting you and talking to you at some point. Before the events of the past couple of years (Covid and administration), Mel Morris would also make an appearance.

The food is always nice - normally a choice between a carvery or something vegetarian.

Before Covid, the packages would sometimes include a visit to the changing rooms and you'd also might have a pitchside photo with a legend.

Whatever lounge you go in, the staff are always friendly and helpful. When you've been a few times, they start to recognise you - even if the few times span multiple seasons.

I've done corporate hospitality at other stadiums as well.

I've done hospitality a few times - Igor's lounge, Captain's Club, Pedigree Suite, Toyota Suite.

The Toyota Suite was the best with the Directors Box seating but I also enjoyed the other experiences as well.

Only thing to bear in mind, there is a dress code and you can't wear replica kits. You can also find some away supporters in the lounges but there's no trouble - some go in there to avoid the yob element of sitting with away fans. I remember encountering a Luton Town couple in the Pedigree Suite - one of them had a hip operation and they said they usually go for corporate hospitality for a more comfortable experience. 

The hospitality staff are good and will look after you.

I've done corporate at other grounds as well.

Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

190 mile round trip. Drove there and back same day.

I have emailed my MP in Central Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous). Being in a Luton Town catchment area, I reminded him that Luton Town also nearly went out of existence around 15 years ago so its a well known thing in this area.

I used the template but worded it slightly differently putting personal information (why I'm writing about a club that's 95 miles away).