Silvio Dante Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 …but what about a third? I’ve posted here before about Yate Town - pretty much smallest club in their league at level 7, and last night won their 4th game on the bounce to hit the playoffs. Weston Super Mare are one place behind, and the game at Lodge Road in two weeks looks set to be a cracker. Anyhow, it got me thinking. Yate are punching above their weight now, and although there are plans to improve the infrastructure, getting anywhere higher than Conference South seems optimistic - unless there was a Salford style takeover. So, if there was something of that nature to Yate, Weston or another club in our catchment area, could the Bristol area sustain a third league club, and where? I’d assume attendances of 2k-5k tops and the question becomes if that’s new fans or taken from us/Rovers. Would it impact? Is it sustainable? It would, however, be a fantastic laugh to see Yate beat Rovers in a League 2 or Conference match! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Hitler Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 Weston has a 76k population vs Yeovil's 45k and also more than Taunton. Maybe they should do a Tranmere and start to play games on a Friday night so that all the City fans, and maybe some Rovers fans, who travel up can watch them as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nbafc Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 Would love Yate to do so, always had a soft spot for them and Lodge Road. Forest Green & Cheltenham, a bit further away, have shown its possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nbafc Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 minute ago, Eddie Hitler said: Weston has a 76k population vs Yeovil's 45k and also more than Taunton. Maybe they should do a Tranmere and start to play games on a Friday night so that all the City fans, and maybe some Rovers fans, who travel up can watch them as well. Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Army 75 Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 With rovers being so shit for so long. And there ageing fan base it would affect their attendances IMO. City have hoovered up a lot of young support and it’s good to see the amount of young supporters at the gate. It wouldn’t affect city IMO. Concerning for the fewers if it did happen. Come on the town 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted January 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 13 minutes ago, Eddie Hitler said: Weston has a 76k population vs Yeovil's 45k and also more than Taunton. Maybe they should do a Tranmere and start to play games on a Friday night so that all the City fans, and maybe some Rovers fans, who travel up can watch them as well. That seems like a fantastic idea. I remember when Tranmere did that in the 90s and it galvanised the club - Weston look to have the biggest potential to do the same (although with the development of Yate/Sodbury, we’ll be nudging 40-50k conurbation population soon) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 The plans for new stand, gym, pitch, sports bar etc etc sound great. I understand one stand will be similar in principle to the Carol Embry suite at FGRs, where it will be two tier, top section behind glass. Certainly what's planned looks great for the local community. Open 7 days a week, sports pitch and gym, electric car power points, sports bar, even allotments etc...all will bring extra revenue to the Club. They are miles off ever being League...however, they are punching big time this season. With games in hand, and a bit of luck they could even make top 2. If a miracle ever did happen...the new proposals with housing would make the club land locked so to speak. With really no further room to expand. Very limited. I guess the new park and ride could be utilised for visiting supporters in future if attendances increased. As with everything these days, parking is the issue. Double yellows on the nearby trading estate. The council doing everything they can to stop street parking. The same happening in near Sodbury. Proposal for is it 750 new homes...yet they want to make Sodbury high st, a car free zone, with no parking. It's full to busting already with local residents cars, and car park generally full each day. It's not practical or feasible. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redysteadygo Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 31 minutes ago, Nbafc said: Would love Yate to do so, always had a soft spot for them and Lodge Road. Forest Green & Cheltenham, a bit further away, have shown its possible. Sunnyside Lane in my playing days. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pongo88 Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 Nailsworth only has a population of approx 6,000 so if Forest Green can reach League 2 level (and probably League 1 next season) anything is possible. It just needs someone with some money to invest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Watts Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 32 minutes ago, spudski said: The plans for new stand, gym, pitch, sports bar etc etc sound great. I understand one stand will be similar in principle to the Carol Embry suite at FGRs, where it will be two tier, top section behind glass. Certainly what's planned looks great for the local community. Open 7 days a week, sports pitch and gym, electric car power points, sports bar, even allotments etc...all will bring extra revenue to the Club. They are miles off ever being League...however, they are punching big time this season. With games in hand, and a bit of luck they could even make top 2. If a miracle ever did happen...the new proposals with housing would make the club land locked so to speak. With really no further room to expand. Very limited. I guess the new park and ride could be utilised for visiting supporters in future if attendances increased. As with everything these days, parking is the issue. Double yellows on the nearby trading estate. The council doing everything they can to stop street parking. The same happening in near Sodbury. Proposal for is it 750 new homes...yet they want to make Sodbury high st, a car free zone, with no parking. It's full to busting already with local residents cars, and car park generally full each day. It's not practical or feasible. The park and ride will only be a 10 minute walk from the stadium, however, which would help. And most residents will live within 3 miles, so the younger/fitter among the fan base are in walking distance. 1 hour ago, Silvio Dante said: It would, however, be a fantastic laugh to see Yate beat Rovers in a League 2 or Conference match! Would be even funnier if it were to happen in a Southern Premier League South match! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 53 minutes ago, Nbafc said: Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed? Tranmere are surrounded by by far bigger clubs so that’s why they play home games on Friday evenings. They’ve done so for as long as I can remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted January 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 Just now, Steve Watts said: The park and ride will only be a 10 minute walk from the stadium, however, which would help. And most residents will live within 3 miles, so the younger/fitter among the fan base are in walking distance. I’m saying nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted January 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, Robbored said: Tranmere are surrounded by by far bigger clubs so that’s why they play home games on Friday evenings. They’ve done so for as long as I can remember. Except they don’t any more. Factually correct as ever. 2 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Watts Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 5 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said: I’m saying nothing. There's a reason I changed my wording from "us" to "the fan base" before I pressed "Submit Reply"!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 6 minutes ago, Steve Watts said: The park and ride will only be a 10 minute walk from the stadium, however, which would help. And most residents will live within 3 miles, so the younger/fitter among the fan base are in walking distance. Would be even funnier if it were to happen in a Southern Premier League South match! In theory...but when it's freezing cold and raining heavily, or extremely windy, the chances are, most won't walk any distance. This is the problem...That's British weather in a nutshell. No one these days wants to stand soaking wet and shivering whilst watching a game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 34 minutes ago, redysteadygo said: Sunnyside Lane in my playing days. Me too...then onto lodge road. Changing in the old wooden cricket pavilion was fun...not :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Hitler Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Nbafc said: Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed? I remember that was why Half Man Half Biscuit wouldn't appear on The Tube because it was broadcast live 5 - 7 on a Friday which clashed with Tranmere games. The Tube's production team offered to helicopter them to the ground after playing but they refused this as they wanted to remain ordinary fans rather than big time Charlies. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petehinton Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Nbafc said: Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed? I wonder how the opposition react to this request to play on a Friday night ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 18 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said: Except they don’t any more. Factually correct as ever. Probably because the local PL clubs rarely kick off at 3pm these days because of Sky/BT - not that I pay attention to Tranmere Rovers……………. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Balls Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 40 minutes ago, petehinton said: Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years. Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwwtk Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 7 minutes ago, Dr Balls said: Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that. The highest Weston got was Conference South. Also a strange one was that their relegation to the Southern Premier recently was the first relegation in the club's history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Watts Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, spudski said: In theory...but when it's freezing cold and raining heavily, or extremely windy, the chances are, most won't walk any distance. This is the problem...That's British weather in a nutshell. No one these days wants to stand soaking wet and shivering whilst watching a game. Parking won't make much of a difference in that situation right now as 2/3 of the ground is uncovered anyway. Obviously covered terraces change that somewhat, but at the moment the club aren't there. Would be great for them to see some sort of success, for sure. The cup run showed the potential. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted January 20, 2022 Admin Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, petehinton said: Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years. Would not say a massive club, sadly the following is still low for the size of Weston. But much of this is because Weston has become a commuting town over the years so people already have affiliation with other clubs. There is a big City following in the town already that follow regularly, Weston will always struggle to push on to the next level The association with the college is a massive thing for the club and town and hopefully see's the club bringing local players through. As for getting to the National league, as much as the Bliss family have done an amazing job over many decades running the club, the step up in finances to compete at the next level up would surely need additional financial input The league is certainly looking interesting, but lots of clubs are on the verge of the play offs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted January 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 3 minutes ago, phantom said: Would not say a massive club, sadly the following is still low for the size of Weston. But much of this is because Weston has become a commuting town over the years so people already have affiliation with other clubs. There is a big City following in the town already that follow regularly, Weston will always struggle to push on to the next level The association with the college is a massive thing for the club and town and hopefully see's the club bringing local players through. As for getting to the National league, as much as the Bliss family have done an amazing job over many decades running the club, the step up in finances to compete at the next level up would surely need additional financial input The league is certainly looking interesting, but lots of clubs are on the verge of the play offs Sorry Phants, as a Yate boy I have to correct your table: 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted January 20, 2022 Admin Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 9 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said: Sorry Phants, as a Yate boy I have to correct your table: How odd, I'll tell the guys at Weston later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted January 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 minute ago, phantom said: How odd, I'll tell the guys at Weston later I’m assuming mine is right - Yate tweeted last night they were into the playoffs and the table is from the Southern League website. I’m guessing Weston updated the games played but didn’t put the result in. Crafty trick to make the playoffs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepy1968 Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said: I’m assuming mine is right - Yate tweeted last night they were into the playoffs and the table is from the Southern League website. I’m guessing Weston updated the games played but didn’t put the result in. Crafty trick to make the playoffs! Has Mel Morris found a new club? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Dr Balls said: Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that. Trowbridge were, not Weston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atyeo's lift Posted January 20, 2022 Report Share Posted January 20, 2022 2 hours ago, pongo88 said: Nailsworth only has a population of approx 6,000 so if Forest Green can reach League 2 level (and probably League 1 next season) anything is possible. It just needs someone with some money to invest Should someone tell Wally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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