Something I've been thinking about for a while now
Sept 17, 2010 14:43:20 GMT
Post by lomax on Sept 17, 2010 14:43:20 GMT
At Oxford City there is always a lot of talk of what can be done to increase attendances and get more people through the turnstile. As a non-league football club run on a tight budget, gate receipts are integral to the clubs survival. The more money taken on the gate, the more programmes purchased, the more money put behind the bar, etc etc. Many trends have been discussed: more advertising; more offers for students; a closer bond with Oxford United. But for a club run by volunteers, time, money and effort are all limited.
The club clearly needs more exposure within the city and county. Many football fans in Oxford are unaware that a successful non-league club exists in their city. The link with Oxford United is also very important. OCFC currently offer a discounted rate for Yellows season ticket holders, which is a start. Now it's time to combine the United link with the need to expose the club to the casual football fan in Oxford. Below I've proposed a measure that, with the backing from local media, could have a massive impact not only for Oxford City FC, but also Oxford United and the general state of football in our wonderful city.
Oxford Football Day will give our city’s football clubs a chance to shine, working in harmony and showing the rest of the country that football is thriving at all levels in Oxford. On a Saturday when Oxford United and Oxford City are both playing at home, both clubs will encourage it’s supporters to attend both matches, with Oxford United kicking off at the standard 3pm, then it’s non-league counterparts City kicking off at the later time of 6pm.
As well as regular football supporters being involved with both matches, through the local media and online social networking sites we will encourage the casual football fans and general public to attend what will be a special day for the Oxford. It may even be a chance for people in Oxford to attend their first ever football match!
The Non-League Day earlier this month was a wonderful idea and showed what can be done with the support of the clubs involved and the local media. I am sure that the likes of the Oxford Mail, Jack FM and BBC Oxford, who already support local football in the area, would back such a campaign. With this local media backing plus exploring all the online social networking avenues, I can see this day being a real success story.
With both Oxford United and Oxford City involved, the Day could go a step further by going a few steps lower, integrating the lower leagues into the programme. I am positive that the likes of Old Woodstock Town, Kidlington (both Hellenic Premier), Headington Amateurs (Hellenic Division 1), Marston Saints and Horspath (both Oxfordshire Premier League) would love the attention surrounding the day and would be willing to kick off at 12 noon, allowing football fanatics to take in three matches in a day.
Obviously there are some things that would have to happen for this day to work. The full and unequivocal backing from Oxford United is essential. Without it the day cannot work. They are a club that prides itself on its community values, and one would hope that they see this as a fantastic opportunity to spread the word of football across the city and county. Furthermore, with the buzz of the Oxford Football Day, they stand to increase their attendance with non-regular fans turning out to be part of the Day.
With United’s backing, this idea really has legs. The Oxford Mail, Jack FM and BBC Oxford would definitely get on board with a community based idea such as this, and with Oxford United throwing their weight behind it they would struggle to ignore it. This would create a great deal of publicity surround Oxford Football Day. A website, Facebook and Twitter page would all help greatly, and would act as a further way of spreading the word. Posts on online messageboards will also create free publicity.
Oxford Football Day would have even more success if Oxford United were to offer a reduced ticket price for the one-off day. With a venture like this, the publicity and media backing can have a great effect but the “Special Offer” reduced ticket would really see an influx of interest. Furthermore, as part of the spirit of the day, Oxford City would also have to let people with a Yellows season or match day ticket in for a reduced price. These suggestions are clearly for the financial people at the respective clubs.
Oxford United stand to increase their popularity by showing they are a peoples community club, for the city of Oxford. Oxford City FC would get great attention from the publicity and would undoubtedly double if not triple their average attendance on the day. Both clubs would stand to make new supporters and followers.
There's a lot of things I've not thought about. It needs everyone involved to really back the idea. It needs a correspondence between both clubs, and then to utilise the media links they already have. It needs a lot of support. I'm only outlining an idea, there is a lot of things that need proper thought through planning to get this to work.
With both clubs involved, as well as the local media, this venture opens up to the whole of Oxford. A Day dedicated to the celebration of football in Oxford. What self respecting football fan could turn that down?!
The club clearly needs more exposure within the city and county. Many football fans in Oxford are unaware that a successful non-league club exists in their city. The link with Oxford United is also very important. OCFC currently offer a discounted rate for Yellows season ticket holders, which is a start. Now it's time to combine the United link with the need to expose the club to the casual football fan in Oxford. Below I've proposed a measure that, with the backing from local media, could have a massive impact not only for Oxford City FC, but also Oxford United and the general state of football in our wonderful city.
Oxford Football Day will give our city’s football clubs a chance to shine, working in harmony and showing the rest of the country that football is thriving at all levels in Oxford. On a Saturday when Oxford United and Oxford City are both playing at home, both clubs will encourage it’s supporters to attend both matches, with Oxford United kicking off at the standard 3pm, then it’s non-league counterparts City kicking off at the later time of 6pm.
As well as regular football supporters being involved with both matches, through the local media and online social networking sites we will encourage the casual football fans and general public to attend what will be a special day for the Oxford. It may even be a chance for people in Oxford to attend their first ever football match!
The Non-League Day earlier this month was a wonderful idea and showed what can be done with the support of the clubs involved and the local media. I am sure that the likes of the Oxford Mail, Jack FM and BBC Oxford, who already support local football in the area, would back such a campaign. With this local media backing plus exploring all the online social networking avenues, I can see this day being a real success story.
With both Oxford United and Oxford City involved, the Day could go a step further by going a few steps lower, integrating the lower leagues into the programme. I am positive that the likes of Old Woodstock Town, Kidlington (both Hellenic Premier), Headington Amateurs (Hellenic Division 1), Marston Saints and Horspath (both Oxfordshire Premier League) would love the attention surrounding the day and would be willing to kick off at 12 noon, allowing football fanatics to take in three matches in a day.
Obviously there are some things that would have to happen for this day to work. The full and unequivocal backing from Oxford United is essential. Without it the day cannot work. They are a club that prides itself on its community values, and one would hope that they see this as a fantastic opportunity to spread the word of football across the city and county. Furthermore, with the buzz of the Oxford Football Day, they stand to increase their attendance with non-regular fans turning out to be part of the Day.
With United’s backing, this idea really has legs. The Oxford Mail, Jack FM and BBC Oxford would definitely get on board with a community based idea such as this, and with Oxford United throwing their weight behind it they would struggle to ignore it. This would create a great deal of publicity surround Oxford Football Day. A website, Facebook and Twitter page would all help greatly, and would act as a further way of spreading the word. Posts on online messageboards will also create free publicity.
Oxford Football Day would have even more success if Oxford United were to offer a reduced ticket price for the one-off day. With a venture like this, the publicity and media backing can have a great effect but the “Special Offer” reduced ticket would really see an influx of interest. Furthermore, as part of the spirit of the day, Oxford City would also have to let people with a Yellows season or match day ticket in for a reduced price. These suggestions are clearly for the financial people at the respective clubs.
Oxford United stand to increase their popularity by showing they are a peoples community club, for the city of Oxford. Oxford City FC would get great attention from the publicity and would undoubtedly double if not triple their average attendance on the day. Both clubs would stand to make new supporters and followers.
There's a lot of things I've not thought about. It needs everyone involved to really back the idea. It needs a correspondence between both clubs, and then to utilise the media links they already have. It needs a lot of support. I'm only outlining an idea, there is a lot of things that need proper thought through planning to get this to work.
With both clubs involved, as well as the local media, this venture opens up to the whole of Oxford. A Day dedicated to the celebration of football in Oxford. What self respecting football fan could turn that down?!
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