25 replies to this topic

[LOYALION]

What is going on at all? Called at Wilkinsons for tickets today but they don't sell them so I went to the office in Walkden and it was closed at 1550 and I wasn't the only one knockling at the door! Do we want people to attend matches or what!!!!!!

[RIGGY]

I am sure the website said tickets from the office and from Cliffs Shoe Repairs on Chorley Road. Don't remember Wilkinsons being involved.
You can use your membership to get in Loyal Lion !

Cheers
Riggy

[PhillH]

Free entry to all Salford City Reds members as well apparently. http://www.reds.co.u...he-cup-for-free

[kitey]

why whats happening on Sunday.I`m going on saturday.

[GLENNGARY]

loyal lion the match is on saturday kick off 1-45pm. You can get your ticket from cliffs show repairs which is i00 yards past the police station on the other side of the road ,next door b&b tool hire.

[PaulT]

Fair play to Salford on their website, they're really promoting us well on there. Credit where credits due.

[kingspeedbump]

I'm not being funny, but how unprofessional is selling tickets through a shoe repair shop!!!

Good to things are going well on the pitch, but a lot of work is needed off it!

[PhillH]

Good to things are going well on the pitch, but a lot of work is needed off it!

Hear, Hear.

Deeply ironic to make the game all ticket to supposedly prevent trouble but then give unrestricted free admission to Salford members. Bonkers.

As for Salford City Reds promoting the Lions on their website, this can only mean an agenda is being followed. Perhaps Salford City Reds are getting a cut in some way (bar takings etc), or perhaps there is a level of attendance that is perceived to be the point at which it will become viable for Swinton Lions to take a portion of the overhead at Barton next year.

[mike9]

It says on the lions site that you can now pay on the gate

[Bryce]

Is anoyone actually bothered about this game or just moaning about tickets? If you want to go you'll get a ticket (or become a member), simple.

Will hopefully be some revenge for the embarrassment in 2004. Also good to see Dana Wilson back in the starting line up. Let's hope for a decent cup run this year, one to rival that of 2003!!!

My choice of team would be......

1.R.Hawkyard
2.Foxen
3.Dodd
4.Thompson
5.Hurst
6.Ainscough
7.Watson
8.Wilson
9.Smith
10.Morrison
11.Cuniffe
12.D.Hawkyard
13.Joseph

subs
Mort
Ashall
Gallagher
Rigby

[kitey]

just got a lift up to Cliffs and bought my ticket then came home and found out i didn`t need it.What a waste of time.does nobody know whats going on!!!!

[PhillH]

Its a relief to hear the club has dropped the idea of having the game all ticket, probably after realising late in the day that not many tickets had actually been sold and there was likely to be an adverse effect on tomorrow's crowd numbers if they did not have a change of plan.

It is unfortunate for the loyal followers who have already taken the time and trouble to go out of their way to get a ticket, but better to make this change late in the day than stick with a flawed idea. An apology to those supporters would be a nice and respectful thing to do.

The club needs to rediscover the concept of customer focus if it is ever going to realise its potential. That includes not putting barriers in the way of people attending matches unless it is absolutely necessary.

[marshy1]

[quote name='PhillH' timestamp='1299249720' post='2218406']
Its a relief to hear the club has dropped the idea of having the game all ticket, probably after realising late in the day that not many tickets had actually been sold and there was likely to be an adverse effect on tomorrow's crowd numbers if they did not have a change of plan.

It is unfortunate for the loyal followers who have already taken the time and trouble to go out of their way to get a ticket, but better to make this change late in the day than stick with a flawed idea. An apology to those supporters would be a nice and respectful thing to do.

The club needs to rediscover the concept of customer focus if it is ever going to realise its potential. That includes not putting barriers in the way of people attending matches unless it is absolutely necessary.
The loyal followers whom you refer to Phil would have known that their membership qualifys them for free entry to the challenge cup, thus them not requiring a ticket.
Whilst i know there are a number of loyal fans who can't attend due to where they live or illness or work commitments I would have thought the really loyal fans would be club members already and taking advantage of the discount offered by the scheme.

The club have no need to apologise to anyone Phil,it seems to me that yet again you are making a mountain out of a mole hill,your attendance would be greatly appreciated and I assume you are a "member" as well.!!

Indeed you was quick to point out that Salford are allowing there season ticket holders in for free.

Edited by marshy1, 04 March 2011 - 02:53 PM.

[Shizonamy]

I think Phil H's point is more than valid and does not deserve to be shot down, I for one had to ask my Old Fella to get me a ticket this week as getting a ticket at a cobbler's during the week is nothing short of crazy!

Once again another opportunity to use the website to sell the tickets has been missed, if you could by a ticket online, have it confirmed via email, then print it off and bring it to the ground or get a reference number and just quote this at the turnstile.

Edited by Shizonamy, 04 March 2011 - 03:48 PM.

[marshy1]

I think Phil H's point is more than valid and does not deserve to be shot down, I for one had to ask my Old Fella to get me a ticket this week as getting a ticket at a cobbler's during the week is nothing short of crazy!

Once again another opportunity to use the website to sell the tickets has been missed, if you could by a ticket online, have it confirmed via email, then print it off and bring it to the ground or get a reference number and just quote this at the turnstile.

Become a Member you don't need tickets and your match entrance is discounted.!!

[PhillH]

The loyal followers whom you refer to Phil would have known that their membership qualifys them for free entry to the challenge cup, thus them not requiring a ticket.
Whilst i know there are a number of loyal fans who can't attend due to where they live or illness or work commitments I would have thought the really loyal fans would be club members already and taking advantage of the discount offered by the scheme.

The club have no need to apologise to anyone Phil,it seems to me that yet again you are making a mountain out of a mole hill,your attendance would be greatly appreciated and I assume you are a "member" as well.!!

Indeed you was quick to point out that Salford are allowing there season ticket holders in for free.

Alan, what you demonstrate admirably in your posts on this topic is a damaging mindset that has pervaded the way the club has been run for very many years. In my view it shows a lack of customer focus and this is an underlying chronic problem that needs to be addressed if the club is ever going to enjoy levels of support anywhere near the full potential.

The underlying sentiment has been a type of arrogance that Swinton Lions, with all its tradition and heritage, deserves support from the people of the town - and perhaps even beyond that, the club believes it has some sort of moral right to expect support. Perhaps understandable to some degree during the glory years, when it is likely this sort of attitude first emerged. But, when the support has not been forthcoming in great numbers there tends to grow a type of resentment amongst those who manage the club - like they are owed something. It seems to drive them to run things in such a way that barriers are put up, making it unnecessarily difficult for people to buy merchandise, get information on team affairs, even in this case attend a match. Its as though people are expected to jump through hoops before they can be considered to be a "true supporter". We then tend to get the view that "only true supporters matter", which is totally opposed to the need to persuade people who currently don't follow the club to change their behaviours and become fans. You won't get those people to change their behaviours without putting in some effort to do proactive things that persuades them that the club is worth buying into.

It is akin to Nike saying it won't sell you a pair of trainers until you have walked a mile over hot coals in bare feet. People just won't do it unless they are held captive by the brand. The vast majority will simply chose to shop elsewhere.

History suggests that this attitude is perhaps an easy trap to fall into if you are engrossed in the club day-to-day and have put significant personal money towards funding the wages of players etc, as it has happened with more than one individual at the helm. But the key point is that it does not reflect the perception of the general public of the area and this is where it starts to fall down.

You should not assume that everyone who might be interested in giving their support to the team tomorrow wants to be a Swinton Lions member. There could be very good reasons why some people who have given very significant support to the club might wish to remain as non-members. It is their right to give their support in whatever way they see fit.

Others may only wish to give a more fleeting level of support. The club should nevertheless be grateful for that support.

"The customer is always right" - the oldest adage in the book. The club has no automatic right to expect the people of the area to support it!

Appeals in the paper for people to support the club in greater numbers never work, what is needed is real effort in marketing and selling the club and making it relevant to people. In some ways this is impossible to achieve until the club is fully committed to the direction in which it wants to grow - to resolve that it simply has to fix the ground issue. But inspite of that the club needs to sell itself, not make it unnecessarily difficult for people to provide backing.

If you were to consider the situation of the people that have taken the trouble to go and buy tickets in advance this week it might have involved transport costs, time and inconvenience, possibly an impact on work, possibly having to call in a favour from friends or family. You don't know the details of these people's circumstances and neither does the club. Having done this they now find that they may as well not have bothered because the game is not in the event going to be all ticket. An apology from the club would be a simple matter of respect for any inconvenience caused.

[LOYALION]

My apologies for the mistake on the match day and going to the wrong shop (doh!)
However I object to the insinuations that I am not a loyal fan as I don't have a membership card. I have watched the Lions ever since Don Preston used to slip me a free ticket at school in the early 70's and have travelled home and away since then. I have used up holidays, swapped duty shifts, missed family functions and probably lied through my teeth to get to games. I now find I am unable to say which games I can get to because of work commitments and so do not have a membership card. I do however attend every game I possibly can and don't appreciate being given the runaround when I can!
Do NOT make out that i am anything other than a loyal fan.....ever.
And so Bryce it 'ain't simple......

[marshy1]

My apologies for the mistake on the match day and going to the wrong shop (doh!)
However I object to the insinuations that I am not a loyal fan as I don't have a membership card. I have watched the Lions ever since Don Preston used to slip me a free ticket at school in the early 70's and have travelled home and away since then. I have used up holidays, swapped duty shifts, missed family functions and probably lied through my teeth to get to games. I now find I am unable to say which games I can get to because of work commitments and so do not have a membership card. I do however attend every game I possibly can and don't appreciate being given the runaround when I can!
Do NOT make out that i am anything other than a loyal fan.....ever.
And so Bryce it 'ain't simple......

I did actually address the point of loyal fans not making the games due to work etc.
I acknowledge there may be some who don't wish to become members but when you take into account the cost savings and benefits of having one then it seems strange not to..accepted that if games attended are intermittent then the cost saving wouldn't be so great.
No slant was intended at your good self.
But similarly the club in my opinion don't need to be offering apologies either.

[marshy1]

Alan, what you demonstrate admirably in your posts on this topic is a damaging mindset that has pervaded the way the club has been run for very many years. In my view it shows a lack of customer focus and this is an underlying chronic problem that needs to be addressed if the club is ever going to enjoy levels of support anywhere near the full potential.

The underlying sentiment has been a type of arrogance that Swinton Lions, with all its tradition and heritage, deserves support from the people of the town - and perhaps even beyond that, the club believes it has some sort of moral right to expect support. Perhaps understandable to some degree during the glory years, when it is likely this sort of attitude first emerged. But, when the support has not been forthcoming in great numbers there tends to grow a type of resentment amongst those who manage the club - like they are owed something. It seems to drive them to run things in such a way that barriers are put up, making it unnecessarily difficult for people to buy merchandise, get information on team affairs, even in this case attend a match. Its as though people are expected to jump through hoops before they can be considered to be a "true supporter". We then tend to get the view that "only true supporters matter", which is totally opposed to the need to persuade people who currently don't follow the club to change their behaviours and become fans. You won't get those people to change their behaviours without putting in some effort to do proactive things that persuades them that the club is worth buying into.

It is akin to Nike saying it won't sell you a pair of trainers until you have walked a mile over hot coals in bare feet. People just won't do it unless they are held captive by the brand. The vast majority will simply chose to shop elsewhere.

History suggests that this attitude is perhaps an easy trap to fall into if you are engrossed in the club day-to-day and have put significant personal money towards funding the wages of players etc, as it has happened with more than one individual at the helm. But the key point is that it does not reflect the perception of the general public of the area and this is where it starts to fall down.

You should not assume that everyone who might be interested in giving their support to the team tomorrow wants to be a Swinton Lions member. There could be very good reasons why some people who have given very significant support to the club might wish to remain as non-members. It is their right to give their support in whatever way they see fit.

Others may only wish to give a more fleeting level of support. The club should nevertheless be grateful for that support.

"The customer is always right" - the oldest adage in the book. The club has no automatic right to expect the people of the area to support it!

Appeals in the paper for people to support the club in greater numbers never work, what is needed is real effort in marketing and selling the club and making it relevant to people. In some ways this is impossible to achieve until the club is fully committed to the direction in which it wants to grow - to resolve that it simply has to fix the ground issue. But inspite of that the club needs to sell itself, not make it unnecessarily difficult for people to provide backing.

If you were to consider the situation of the people that have taken the trouble to go and buy tickets in advance this week it might have involved transport costs, time and inconvenience, possibly an impact on work, possibly having to call in a favour from friends or family. You don't know the details of these people's circumstances and neither does the club. Having done this they now find that they may as well not have bothered because the game is not in the event going to be all ticket. An apology from the club would be a simple matter of respect for any inconvenience caused.

[marshy1]

Alan, what you demonstrate admirably in your posts on this topic is a damaging mindset that has pervaded the way the club has been run for very many years. In my view it shows a lack of customer focus and this is an underlying chronic problem that needs to be addressed if the club is ever going to enjoy levels of support anywhere near the full potential.

The underlying sentiment has been a type of arrogance that Swinton Lions, with all its tradition and heritage, deserves support from the people of the town - and perhaps even beyond that, the club believes it has some sort of moral right to expect support. Perhaps understandable to some degree during the glory years, when it is likely this sort of attitude first emerged. But, when the support has not been forthcoming in great numbers there tends to grow a type of resentment amongst those who manage the club - like they are owed something. It seems to drive them to run things in such a way that barriers are put up, making it unnecessarily difficult for people to buy merchandise, get information on team affairs, even in this case attend a match. Its as though people are expected to jump through hoops before they can be considered to be a "true supporter". We then tend to get the view that "only true supporters matter", which is totally opposed to the need to persuade people who currently don't follow the club to change their behaviours and become fans. You won't get those people to change their behaviours without putting in some effort to do proactive things that persuades them that the club is worth buying into.

It is akin to Nike saying it won't sell you a pair of trainers until you have walked a mile over hot coals in bare feet. People just won't do it unless they are held captive by the brand. The vast majority will simply chose to shop elsewhere.

History suggests that this attitude is perhaps an easy trap to fall into if you are engrossed in the club day-to-day and have put significant personal money towards funding the wages of players etc, as it has happened with more than one individual at the helm. But the key point is that it does not reflect the perception of the general public of the area and this is where it starts to fall down.

You should not assume that everyone who might be interested in giving their support to the team tomorrow wants to be a Swinton Lions member. There could be very good reasons why some people who have given very significant support to the club might wish to remain as non-members. It is their right to give their support in whatever way they see fit.

Others may only wish to give a more fleeting level of support. The club should nevertheless be grateful for that support.

"The customer is always right" - the oldest adage in the book. The club has no automatic right to expect the people of the area to support it!

Appeals in the paper for people to support the club in greater numbers never work, what is needed is real effort in marketing and selling the club and making it relevant to people. In some ways this is impossible to achieve until the club is fully committed to the direction in which it wants to grow - to resolve that it simply has to fix the ground issue. But inspite of that the club needs to sell itself, not make it unnecessarily difficult for people to provide backing.

If you were to consider the situation of the people that have taken the trouble to go and buy tickets in advance this week it might have involved transport costs, time and inconvenience, possibly an impact on work, possibly having to call in a favour from friends or family. You don't know the details of these people's circumstances and neither does the club. Having done this they now find that they may as well not have bothered because the game is not in the event going to be all ticket. An apology from the club would be a simple matter of respect for any inconvenience caused.

I really do wish you would consider a takeover of the club Phil.We would be without doubt the best run and community friendly clud in rugby league.!!