York has a population of just short of 90,000 people , whereas Keighley has just over 51,000.If you also take into consideration

On that basis (taking into consideration the economic and ethic make up of our town and the fact that the Knights have very little competition from other Pro RL , unlike ourselves n Dewsbury with the Bulls n Rhinos just up the road) if York cannot draw in a bigger crowd than us, then if I were them I'd worry.

Prior to Thursdays game their best attendance was only 1300 and odd against Dewsbury ,with the other NL1 games averaging only around 800 and
if you read their message board , what a suprise, a big percentage of those attending last night were on free tickets.

Maybe so, but if a proportion of those on free tickets liked what they saw, maybe they'll be back, p'raps bring a mate and so the crowds grow.
Above all, it needs to be friendly, so if someone wants to come but they'll be on their own, they won't feel left out. It's all about feeling that you're part of something.
What about each area having it's own little 'fan club', with an easily reachable point of contact for would-be, but shy, new fans?

free tickets exactly

It also eventually took the club into administration....



We are currently seeing the very real effects of a club throwing it all in to try and achieve the impossible and failing (Doncaster)...having been in that situation before at Cougar Park ,do we really want to go there again?

Ambition, yes , but not a the risk of financial suicide.

On the subject of free tickets , I've been told by the Development Lads that over the past few weeks 600 free kids tickets have been distributed

I'm fairly sure that I've seen a poster advertising a limited amount of free family tickets available on a first come first served basisfor the Dewsbury game.

I think I saw one

You may well have, they're on the little Dewsbury game flyers. I think it's 200 of them, first come first served.

Rach as i said it also brought a lot of good things to the club.

Maybe getting someone who was involved, at the time of Cougar mania might be a good thing.

I am pretty certain i have seen Mike Smith down at Cougar park.
Now he really was a man of ideas.
I wonder if anyone at the club, has ever thought of approaching him to see what ideas he would have.
If he didn't want to be involved. What have the club lost?

I must admit i to am like goosey. In that i have my doubts if the classroom thing will bring in a lot of new supporters.

You are in a good position to answer to this.

How many kids who regularly attend the classroom sessions, also turn up regularly at home games?

Is the success of the scheme meeting the forecasted growth rate?

This is something that the club must surly be keeping a count of. If for no other reason than to work out the success of it.

I can see the benefit of the classroom scheme for the work in the community. This also ties in with getting new sponsors on side as they love that type of link.

I see no reference in Gooseys post to doubting the classrooms success.......

But anyway I digress

if you actually bothered to read up on the Pride Centre you'd realise that the project is not just a 'bums on seats' exercise but is part of a national DCFS strategy called 'Playing For Success' ,funded in the main by Local and National Goverment , to provide study support focusing on literacy , numeracy and ICT , for those students becoming disengaged with learning or needing to boost confidence and self esteem ,using Sporting venues as classrooms and clubs as a basis for learning activities.

The Cougars provides the venue , and are involved in the running of the centre with Neil being part of our steering group. The centre works closely with all sections of the club especially the community foundation, though is a separate entity in itself.

It seems to us that a couple of posters on this topic are quite happy to talk down the undoubted success of the pride centre and the work in schools etc and in my opinion I find it embarassing.

If the club does nothing there is criticism and same if they do.

Any sport anywhere is having difficulties getting bums on seats and this is not just at the cougars.

Regarding Mike Smith whilst its good to see him at games we cannot see point in resurrecting the past especially because whilst we had success ultimately there was failure, why do we need to do that.

A lot of folk at club do work that goes unnoticed and instead of being criticised should be applauded.

Very disappointed with some on here we are totally with Rach, stop sniping and get behind the club.

Yes Rach you are right. After reading the post by goosey again i see i misunderstood what she meant.
Sorry about that.

In saying that i still wonder how many people come and watch the Cougars who use it.



Rach i never said it was just about bums on seats.
I pointed out how it can help in the community and the way that can then lead to sponsors getting involved.

Rach i am not saying its a bad thing far from. Don't think i am knocking your work.

What ever you say [i"girl" power[/i

Looks like someone backtracking have you ever been an mp?

Rach i am not saying its a bad thing far from. Don't think i am knocking your work.

Pet? Not baiting wanted simply to point out the obvious you seeemed to slag off club and Rach then backtracked very quickly.

:1j3nx2jj

Without wishing to get into petty squabbles , then why question the numbers of children attending the classroom that attend home games ?

[i:1j3nx2jj'How many kids who regularly attend the classroom sessions, also turn up regularly at home games?

Is the success of the scheme meeting the forecasted growth rate?

This is something that the club must surly be keeping a count of. If for no other reason than to work out the success of it. [/i.

GW as our kids would say you have been busted. Rach clearly caught you out.

Book him Danno

Rach i a wasnt knocking any 1 at the club i was seeing why nothing is really changing. But like i said in my previous post, Kifds will bring money to the club. I.e When kids get ideas into thier heads they wont stop untill they get it which bribgs parents down who pay full price and then they will be wanting burgers and pop not to mention merchandise from the shop. Just and idea!

Yes some of these so called snipers have done things behind the scenes thats why sum of us feel so strongly about it. Being Freedie Cougar, Painting the stands, Makeing a c.d that gets the crowd behind the team amoung some of them.

whose freedie?

I could be Freda

Young Tom could be Frodo???

I just want to point out that the 'active U18's National Youth Squad' is not based at Cougar park, it is based at Utley with all the other cubs age groups, they are only allowed to play at cougar park when the cougars or silsden are not at home. The Cougar Cubs finance and train THEIR U18's National Youth Squad.