Bluebell Banter

Good afternoon.
My name Paul Woodford, known as Woody to most people.

I took over the running of the club website a couple of months ago.
My purpose in doing so is to update the website to a more modern version to improve the appeal of the club to prospective supporters. The new website gives an opportunity to integrate the many sides within the club into one website so the supporters could find out more about the other parts of the club and to help the club grow closer together.

A lot of time and effort has been spent on the website which I plan to improve further. However my time is limited as I run the Development Section of the club, run a business and am taking a Masters at University.

I do not intend to regularly comment on this website as my position within the club may be compromised. However, as the website is new and some people have made a few comments about the website on here, I thought it productive to post on this occasion.

Although I do not intend to respond publicly about individual comments, if anyone would like to comment about the website or make constructive suggestions about improvements to be made, they are welcome to send them to me at woodys1976@hotmail.com.

I am not an expert in computing, but I have friends who are. Although I may not be able to make things perfect straight away, I intend to make the website as professional as I can, within the limitations of time I have.

I can only post information from the club as soon as it is communicated to me. However, as soon as it is I will post the information straight away. Hopefully within the next few months I will be able to give access to officers within the club to input information directly without having to go through me. This will speed up the process.

I would like to add sections to the website. However, without volunteers helping me, I am limited in what I can do. For example, I rely on volunteers who can only help me on an occasional basis to take photographs on match days. If anyone has a decent camera and would like to take photographs on match days, then I will be glad to post them to the website as soon as I receive them. Please contact me at woodys1976@hotmail.com.

We are also hoping to add video highlights to the website in the near future. I have an excellent video camera, but again require volunteers to help with videoing the games.

If anyone else has any other ideas then please contact me and I'll do my best to add them, within my resources,

Best Regards

Woody

Hi Woody,

thanks for coming on to Bluebell Banter and explaining your role with regard to the website.

It's a shame it's taken so long, even though you've obviously been coming onto this site and reading the postings, but there you are.

First thing you could do with the official website is provide a link to this forum. The existence of this forum shows that there is a desire from Yate fans to express their thoughts and opinions, however uncomfortable that may be for 'the powers that be' at times, but if anyone at the club expects the supporters to be all sweetness and light at the end of a miserable relegation season then they are in the wrong business.

The 'powers that be' should be bloody thankful they've got any supporters left at all tbh.

Anyway, it's very commendable that you are putting the time you can spare into the website as is the goal of uniting all the different teams under one roof, which is as it should be.

Good luck with getting information out of the club. I'm sure you've worked out from the comments on Bluebell Banter that the lack of communication is a massive bug bear with us supporters. There is no excuse for it and shows contempt for us. ......I mean the club are quick enough to sign us up for the 50p per goal scheme or to buy a season ticket or a 50/50 ticket etc but as for anything else.......it's like dealing with the Omerta ...... a code of silence punishable by death!

Paul,

well done on doing the club website. Don't know how you squeeze it in, running a business and studying.

More than anything else on the website I want to hear the latest news. I want to hear what the chairman and manager think. I want to hear what the players think. What are the plans for the club. What players are being brought in? What players are leaving? Are there any plans to develop the site, what are the thoughts on next season's prices etc etc

I haven't supported Yate that long, but the feeling I get is that the management don't fully understand the need to communicate to the fans. I think if they opened the communication lines they would receive more popular support.

I noticed on the Southern league (British Gas) website that Farnborough have appointed a communications officer. They realise the importance of communication.

Spot on BS37, I have mailed Woody seperately to give him my thoughts on the website.

I had not visited it for a while, but must admit it is looking better already.

My mail to Woody reiterated the need not just for communication, but for communication in a timely fashion - I don't want to have to wait a week for a match report, or to find out there is a club night of some sort, but hear about it the night before it's going to happen?

I currently coach a girls team and reckon they would benefit from being backed by Yate Town players, and for the club they will receive more exposure etc For example, these girls will want to watch some home matches, which involves bringing parents which involves the parents spending money at the club, and hey presto more supporters and more income. All I would want in return is on the odd Saturday morning for a player to come and spend an hour with the girls - not too much to ask?

The trouble is, where do I start ? And I am sure I am not alone, there must be other members on this forum who have sons/daughters playing local football who could also consider this?

You are absolutely right, GH, about that direct contact with local youth football clubs. It's a great idea......and it works.

A friend of mine runs a girls under 10's side for St. Nicks and she also knows Paul Metheringham. Last season she asked Paul if he would like to attend a training session and Paul, being the sort of guy he is, duly obliged.
According to my friend it was a great success. The kids enjoyed the training session with a 'Yate Town Player' and my friend also benefited from watching a semi-professional player conduct the session, picking up a few tips along the way.
I know Methy enjoys working with kids and I know that was something Thommo, and I believe Chenny, were keen to develop.

It's a win-win, especially if it were to be done officially and a dozen free entry tickets given out at the same time.