Mike Graham

I've a guy who works for me in my Liverpool office who is a PNE ST Holder. I'll share the document with him today to get a different perspective and maybe pick up some additional ideas.

Philip is right about the JJB tonight. Radio 5 report on an expected sub 11,000 gate at Wigan v Arsenal. My main concern is how many Mancs we will ahve in the home sections on Weds night. I realise that the Club try hard to stop this but I hope that we do not have a problem.

Thanks for the positive comments so far. BRISA are also of the view that we Press Release the document after the meeting with John and Tom. Please keep the comments flowing and thanks inparticular to Scotty for his work on this.

2-v-0 to Rovers 19,000 gate

The FS had the most in I have seen all season at about 50 to 60%. The JW upper where I was was its usual empty state apatrt from the BBE Wing. The key thing is getting more on; with our recent entertaining displays and fantastic goals we should be attracting more. The forthcoming BRISA meeting with JW and TF should be be fruitful.

beer based urine from visiting fans. photographs? no thanks!

It looked like a 22,000 plus. It was the first time this season the BBE was full, at recent games it has had a great many empty seats. strangely though it was the quietest BBE this season with hardly a sound apart from the occasional "M H's Blue and white Army". I supose the let down for the gate was the visiting Pompey support although what they lacked in numbers they made up for in noise.

sorry to put a dampner on this but can we put the Sunderland game behind us. I say this as one of the original wingers.

I was one of the naffed off supporters. Quite frankly from a personal point of view the impact on myself was minimal, and it will never affect my support. What I was concerned about was the impact on the floating support, the negative PR and the financial cost to Rovers at a time when they need every penny; never mind the cost in supporter goodwill. Yes the weather was appalling but the problem is how this impacts on our Club and the much needed support that we all want to see increased. Interesting article in the Daily Telegraph yesterday which says the NUFC postponement will cost Newcastle £100,000; I suspect that their refunds for supporters not attending the rematch will be for fewer numbers than ours and taking into account their greater loss on catering etc the cost to both NUFC and Rovers will probably be similar. What was of more interest was the quote that NUFC will not consider compensation (for travel costs, particually to Charlton fans I presume). However Rovers are to consider compensation! There is a great opportunity here for Rovers to win the hearts and minds of the floating fan. Yes it will cost money on top off the postponement costs but there is the chance of a long term gain in terms of treating the fans right. I do not have the answer here but a refund linked to a reduced price entry for 2 or even 3 games may be worth considering. Ideas?

The Red Robin (mainly away fans) outside the cinema complex near to JJB, or The Orwell next to Wigan Pier.

wish i had known...I have a spare going

I have a spare ticket (back row; no kissing until we score!). No charge. Anyone interested? Lift if reqd from the Hoghton area, or Fenni at a pinch

feeling confident for this one especially after Rovers had a welcome extra rest after last nights postponement, 2-v-0 to Rovers

at least Notlob wre honest enough to tell the BBC that their undersoil heating failed. Rovers undersoil heating obviously did not work properly; but the weather is to blame!!! Well stone me.

sorry Paul, I rarely disagree with you but it has been at least -1c all day in Hoghton. The Club must have expected that it would get colder when the sun dropped; it usually does! I was editing my quoted posted so I've edited the quote - Paul

thanks RB you make similar points to Radio 5. What I want are reasons NOT excuses from BRFC.

The word at the ground is that rovers f***ed up and this will cost tens of thousands of £'s. The ref was not called in until late and is blaming the Club for not contacting him earlier when he was available. To make it worse radio 5 say he didn't even wear studs when inspecting the pitch!!! lots of young kids around the ground are very fed up with their Xmas treat of a game being screwed up...never mind the 1000's of Sunderland fans. we need answers to what has happened and why the heavy investment in undersoil heating did not work...this is nothing short of a joke and a mega PR balls up, what a way to attract the floating fan at a time when we are assured a bigger gate.

revised to 24.500

Abbey I have a spare, wife can't make it. do you want it? no cost...it's christmas...well it was!

we will struggle to have good gates against Sunderland, Pompey and Bolton. The 1st two will be sub 20K and Bolton is usually only around 22k with us looking lucky to break 20k for the fixture this season. sadly I would put my dosh on wigan except....we do have Manure , Pool, Arse and Chelsea to come.

1 -v- 0 Dickov penlty 18,750

fantastic time last night. with the man urinal draw we may even top a 20,000 gate at home.

are you going to Boro? Fancy sharing the fuel??

just back. We were appaling for much of the game and a disgrace to the fantastic rovers support. MGP must be dropped, he is a 2 minute wonder boy and just does not have the ability, strength or speed reqd for thr Premiership. As for Gray and Emmerton please get rid, it is games like this that make me bloody angry; I should have gone Christmas shopping in Preston!

8 Bells (renamed 8 Pints!)