I remember a time when Oakwell didn't have a scoreboard

I never lost count of the score and I didn't have a mobile back then either.

 

I remember when it didn't have seats or a roof, or a proper merchandise shop etc.

That attitude is like refusing to buy a colour TV in 2016 because you remember when you didn't have one at all

 

How much money did the club make from businesses advertising on the area of thin air?

 

I remember when you could change ends at half time to stand behind the away goal.

 

and the old fella with his dog on the Kop.

 

I think you are blowing this all out of proportion my self. I have took note of your post scince you defended the police at chesterfield for stopping old blokes going toilet. And constantly critisised our away supporters last season but I think you have out done your self here. You called our facilities conferance standard? I'd say our facilities are above Wednesday, Burton, Brentford, Fulham, Burnley ect but I'm sure they is no changing your mind. Like I said in another post put some of your own money in and go half's with patrick on a new score board or go down oakwell and clean the seats or pay someone. Personally I'd rather the club bring in players that enable us to compete in this league first and foremost.

 

You do know that approached the club regarding improving the catering years ago right? And that I approached the club many times with serious, thought out revenue generating opportunities? Opportunities that have been adopted by many other clubs and two of which have been adopted by Barnsley YEARS after I contacted them.
You're aware that I made contact regarding supporters volunteering to spruce the place up a bit?

No you weren't aware of that? Oh

 

I remember when there weren't any stands, ne'er mind rooves.
You stood (sank) in a bog of slimy turds and waded round the touchline. I say touchline, cos all it was was a piece of string floating on the surface.
Changed ends at halftime.... you don't know you were born. We died during the first half.
String.... it weren't even string.....

 

I just noticed many of your negitivite posts about bfc and the fans last season. Unfortunately I have a job and a family and don't have time to read every post on here. Fair play if you did volenteer your service to help spruce oakwell up. Do you not agree that our facilities are on par or better with the clubs I have mentioned? Do you not thing the first priority should be the playing squad? or would you rather us be on league 2 with the biggest scoreboard in the football league?

 

That's nowt.

I remember having to sit it a bath of urine at half time to raise 3 schillings in sponsorship to keep the club afloat... even if I was drowning.

 

we've always had one, but you used to have to buy a programme to know who the scores on the 'tins'related to if memory serves!

 

In some respects they are on a par with those you mention, in others no we are light years behind.

This priority thing is what I don't understand. Not just from you but from many people. It's as if we are a tin pot club with only 4 members of staff. Paul heckingbottom sorts the playing squad out, why does that mean that somebody else can't climb a ladder and remover a 20 year out of date sign? Or why does it mean that somebody can't get on the blower to local businesses and ask if they can help out with a lick of paint? The same goes for a scoreboard. Sure if a scoreboard was something that would bring nothing financially to the club I'd agree, but it isn't. A video screen is a huge marketing tool which many businesses would love to advertise on. Done correctly it could be a money maker for the club. Surely that would aid in the acquisition of players because it would increase revenue and give us money to spend.

A few alternative options for a scoreboard with varying initial outlays

Option one: Spend roughly £100k up front and buy a big screen scoreboard.
Benefit: Highest quality screen, most likely to bring in advertising revenue. All advertising revenue is the clubs.

Option 2: Spend £100k up front purchasing a big screen on a lorry.
Benefits: All advertising revenue is the clubs. Screen can be hired out when not used on match days. Screen can be repositioned in front of ponty end for beam backs increasing revenue for club. Screen can be repositioned for use at events such as open day.

Option 3: Finance purchase. The option suggested by Ben Mansfield where the screen is purchased over a 10 year period.
Benefits: No large up front cost. All revenue is the clubs.

Option 4: The chesterfield model. A 50/50 ownership with the scoreboard providers.
Benefits: low up front cost. All services are provided by a third party meaning no management needed by the club.
Drawback: Only 50% of revenue is kept.

Option 5: buy a small screen
Benefit: it's cheap.

Surely you can see that option 5 is the least progressive and most restricting?

 

You were lucky to be able to stand. There were 50,762 of us, and we used to have to watch from a hole in the ground which was 6x6 foot. At half time we got to lick the side of the hole for refreshment and at the end of the game... The grounds man would bury us alive

Scoreboard... Hah!

 

They said that about not turning TVs on

 

Was a chance to form a good revenue stream and if showed action could get folk in ground earlier. Feel this is a wasted chance

 

I am honestly praying that the new scoreboard is switched off as folk enter the stadium on Tuesday night, and that it comes on at about 7.35pm and uses the exact graphics seen on the old one, missing bulbs the lot.

 

Hey, great idea. Kind of .... Retro scoreboard style. I like that