Beer supplies at Ealing?
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Forum Name: The Championship Cup
Forum Description: Another competition in which the same clubs play each other...
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Topic: Beer supplies at Ealing?
Posted By: OldNick
Subject: Beer supplies at Ealing?
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 09:49
I don't know how many Coventry supporters will be at Ealing tomorrow, but I hope Ealing have got some extra beer in.
Confirmation has come from Coventry Rugby Supporters Club that they are bringing four coachloads of supporters, and our friends at Earlsdon RFC are bringing a coachload too.
That's on top of the supporters who'll be coming by car , and the handful using the train.
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Replies:
Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 10:44
I think Cov supporters will outnumber the home crowd!
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 12:33
Fingers crossed that they open the outdoors shipping container bar (it's nicer than it sounds). As a reminder, there is a bar in the clubhouse, a shipping container bar, and another bar in the upper tier of the grandstand. Usually copes well enough.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 13:01
Stalwart wrote:
I think Cov supporters will outnumber the home crowd!
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We'd probably outnumber them by about 4000 to one had it been at the BPA ![Wink Wink](smileys/smiley2.gif)
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: Robb
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 13:11
They could always bring some of their leftover CAMRA beer festival beer down too. ;)
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 16:43
I hope Ealing have got some extra beer in too - the PR consequences of hosting a final & running out would be considerable...
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 20 May 2022 at 23:12
islander wrote:
I hope Ealing have got some extra beer in too - the PR consequences of hosting a final & running out would be considerable... |
Aye, it'd almost be as bad as the RFU being unable to run a p-up in a brewery.
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 21 May 2022 at 01:48
Almost as bad as striving for a 150 years to get to the very top , winning Championship and failing to have the required number of seats .
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 21 May 2022 at 09:16
No 7 wrote:
Almost as bad as striving for a 150 years to get to the very top , winning Championship and failing to have the required number of seats . |
Ah, but you've probably got twice as many pitches as the RFU. ![Wink Wink](smileys/smiley2.gif)
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: Peter_B
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 01:49
It’s the lack of supporters that is Ealing’s problem
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 08:06
Peter_B wrote:
It’s the lack of supporters that is Ealing’s problem |
The RFU don't seem to agree. Take yesterday's game: an 'estimated' (why?) crowd of 1400, with an alleged majority of travelling support. Had this game been allowed to be played at the BPA, and the Cov club made many representations to the RFU to have it moved, there would almost certainly have been a capacity attendance, and that would have done a huge amount to raise the utterly lacklustre profile of this unloved competition. But no, the body that rules our 'community' (sic) game insisted it should be played in SW London at the ground of a club with possibly some of the least-committed support in the division, in competition with games at Twickenham, Wembley, and elsewhere. Again, why? Fit for purpose? I don't think so.
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 08:32
Kimbo wrote:
Peter_B wrote:
It’s the lack of supporters that is Ealing’s problem |
The RFU don't seem to agree. Take yesterday's game: an 'estimated' (why?) crowd of 1400, with an alleged majority of travelling support. Had this game been allowed to be played at the BPA, and the Cov club made many representations to the RFU to have it moved, there would almost certainly have been a capacity attendance, and that would have done a huge amount to raise the utterly lacklustre profile of this unloved competition. But no, the body that rules our 'community' (sic) game insisted it should be played in SW London at the ground of a club with possibly some of the least-committed support in the division, in competition with games at Twickenham, Wembley, and elsewhere. Again, why? Fit for purpose? I don't think so. |
So you wanted even more people to see Coventry lose? I'm confused about the point of this post. Okay, I'm not really confused, but I am pretty tired of people going on about Ealing's 'lack of support'. Tired, tired, tired.
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Posted By: Runitback
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 09:05
Gerg you are obviously a dedicated and loyal fan but the lack of home support is an issue. What a shame the game could not have been played at a sold out BPA.
That said well done on such a good season, I really wish you had been allowed into the Premiership . . next season?
------------- Run with it
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Posted By: oneagainstthehead
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 10:54
Kimbo wrote:
Peter_B wrote:
It’s the lack of supporters that is Ealing’s problem |
The RFU don't seem to agree. Take yesterday's game: an 'estimated' (why?) crowd of 1400, with an alleged majority of travelling support. Had this game been allowed to be played at the BPA, and the Cov club made many representations to the RFU to have it moved, there would almost certainly have been a capacity attendance, and that would have done a huge amount to raise the utterly lacklustre profile of this unloved competition. But no, the body that rules our 'community' (sic) game insisted it should be played in SW London at the ground of a club with possibly some of the least-committed support in the division, in competition with games at Twickenham, Wembley, and elsewhere. Again, why? Fit for purpose? I don't think so. |
“Least committed support”?? That’s a bit harsh. The numbers may not be high but the level of commitment is as high as anywhere. As for choice of venue for the final, it was clearly laid out in the competition rules from the start. It was done in an attempt to even out the number of home games, given that the league champions did not play in the first round.
------------- Speak softly, but carry a big stick.
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Posted By: Trailfinder
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 12:14
Firstly, well done Cov on a supreme effort, it really could have gone either way which made for a great final. However, the fact that this competition was used by most (all?) teams as a method for blooding youngsters/giving squad members a run out, even in the final, goes to show what a farce it is.
I have a proposal which I have no doubt will never happen but I will give it a go anyway.
1) scrap the European Challenge Cup 2) Also scrap the Premiership Cup and Championship cup 3) the bottom 7 Premiership teams play in a domestic cup with the 11/12 Championship teams 4) games are played home and away in both the pool and knockout rounds 5) the winner gets a place in the following season’s Europen Champions Cup
Along with a tv deal and prize money, this should make the competition competitive until the very end.
how do the academy players get game time I hear you say? Well I’ve long said that the RFU Academies should be taken away from the Premiership clubs and instead integrated into the University system with BUCS being the elite competition for under 21’s.
Thoughts?
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Posted By: oldman
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 12:56
Trailfinder,Just one question re your proposal. How do less academic players get serious rugby? Only 50% of the population go to university (assume same proportion of 18 yr old rugby players), and many good players do not go to good rugby playing universities. Many good rugby players do not want to or cannot go to university. My own club field a very good prop forward who struggles academically. Would not survive at university.
------------- oldman
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Posted By: Trailfinder
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 13:50
It is a fair question oldman, there must be a vocational/apprenticeship offering, not everyone wants to go down an academic route. Likewise for those who are supremely talented at 18 (e.g. Maro Itoje) should be allowed to bypass university if they can be signed up by a Premiership team. This is how basketball works I understand, eg Kobe Bryant bypassed the college system.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 14:56
It depends how you define 'committed support'. I obvs didn't make myself clear enough when referring to a body of supporters, not individuals, who I've no doubt are very committed, so apologies if that's the way you saw it. Mind you, I didn't see many of those committed Ealing supporters at the BPA not so many weeks ago.
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 15:44
Peter_B wrote:
It’s th
e lack of supporters that is Ealing’s problem |
All teams in the Championship have a lack support. The numbers are very low throughout the league. I have sat in the big stand at Coventry several times and at best it is half full.
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
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Posted By: OldNick
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 15:57
The stand at Cov holds over 2,800. (originally 3000 before a few rearrangements. The ground currently holds 4500. The Coventry crowd is normally between 2000 and 2500, ignoring special occasions.
A supporter of a club which makes up suspiciously rounded figures of 600, finally claims an average of 1000 for the season, and which for a cup final, with a computerised QR code entry system can only estimate a crowd of 1400, and admits to being outnumbered by the away visitors is really in no position to speak for all the clubs in the division.
You have an unsupported club, dependent totally on the funding of one man's vanity project. How many more years will he have to fund before promotion is granted?
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Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 16:03
You miss my point we all have low low support numbers in the Champioship
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 20:56
OldNick wrote:
The stand at Cov holds over 2,800. (originally 3000 before a few rearrangements. The ground currently holds 4500.The Coventry crowd is normally between 2000 and 2500, ignoring special occasions.
A supporter of a club which makes up suspiciously rounded figures of 600, finally claims an average of 1000 for the season, and which for a cup final, with a computerised QR code entry system can only estimate a crowd of 1400, and admits to being outnumbered by the away visitors is really in no position to speak for all the clubs in the division.
You have an unsupported club, dependent totally on the funding of one man's vanity project. How many more years will he have to fund before promotion is granted?
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On the point of estimated crowd sizes, I would suspect that it is due to the generous policy of not charging entry for children. I will agree that a more accurate tally should be possible.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 22 May 2022 at 23:33
Free entry or not, they surely must be counted? I would think there are legalities that cover such things?
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 02:22
The support for Championship Rugby is low and on the decline. Crowds of 3,000 will not sustain a pro squad.
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
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Posted By: kempstonblue
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 06:25
No 7 wrote:
The support for Championship Rugby is low and on the decline. Crowds of 3,000 will not sustain a pro squad. |
A competition that has bad marketing Run by a sports body that wishes it dead
Yet locally, other sports have had a season of major publicity, dominating local sports news (a weekly free sheet) despite playing 8th tier of their sport. Whilst two, second tier rugby clubs are in the same catchment area.
The diagnosis for patient Championship is with help, it could achieve more 3,000+ attendances. However just like a health system, it needs investment, leadership with passion to see it survive.
Sadly the sports body concerned is more than happy to remove the care package, life support.
------------- The older I get, the more the RFU leave me confused.
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Posted By: kempstonblue
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 06:42
However even as a teetotaller I was shocked early in the season to see the queues at one ground when a bar suffered from lack of gas. People were doing emergency runs to a local shop for 12 packs of Cider and Beer.
Thankfully they still had bottled water, so I survived. But it appeared desperate for those wanting more flavoursome liquids.
------------- The older I get, the more the RFU leave me confused.
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Posted By: OldNick
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 08:18
As to the original question of this post, I don't know if they ran out.
On arrival I went to the main bar, passing the shipping container bar, which at that time did not appear to be open. The only bitter on offer was Greene King IPA - I cannot imagine why any bar still serves that dreadful stuff now it is not part of a mandatory sponsorship deal to do so. The poor chap serving it pulled through line cleaning water for ages until one of his colleagues told him the beer was connected on the single unlabelled tap next to the labeled one he was using.
There was no food served in the bar, but outside, beyond the servery counter I got an excellent chicken wrap for £7.50. A colleague got something from the other van for £9.00..
I forgot to check whether the container bar was open as I headed around to my position for the match by the player benches.
After the match I was photographing on the pitch while presentations were made, and when I finally left the pitch it looked as if the container bar was shutting up shop - so zi would guess it had been open.
I left without going back into the main bar - I had several hundred photos to sort out.
I've not heard andy reports that they did sell out - but given the choice of bitter I feel it would be unlikely! As said, the externally-sourced wrap was excellent.
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Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 08:55
I am not sure how marked the decline in attendance is. In the last season of National 1 the average attendance was 1,744 and in the last season before covid it was 1,614 numbers from Statbunkler so to be taken with a huge pinch of salt.
Could it get to 3,000? The attendance in the Soccer Championship is roughly a third of that in the Premiership, so not unreasonable.
But only with a huge marketing effort. And that is only going to come from the 12 clubs pulling together. The impression I get is currently the 12 clubs have about 24 opinions And the likelihood of a concerted joint effort is infinitesimal - especially if it means spending money.
------------- Sweeney Delenda Est
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 09:42
Camquin wrote:
I am not sure how marked the decline in attendance is. In the last season of National 1 the average attendance was 1,744 and in the last season before covid it was 1,614 numbers from Statbunkler so to be taken with a huge pinch of salt.
Could it get to 3,000? The attendance in the Soccer Championship is roughly a third of that in the Premiership, so not unreasonable.
But only with a huge marketing effort. And that is only going to come from the 12 clubs pulling together. The impression I get is currently the 12 clubs have about 24 opinions And the likelihood of a concerted joint effort is infinitesimal - especially if it means spending money.
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It's 40 percent for 20/21, (16000 vs 40000 rounded) but irrelevant to rugby as AF is the national game. Apples, pears etc. To add to the irrelevance, it'll be closer next season with Sunderland added (30k+) and Bournemouth (sub 10k) and Posh (10k) taken away (Prem attendances will likely lower slightly, and Champ should increase a bit). As you were. ![Embarrassed Embarrassed](smileys/smiley9.gif) ![Wink Wink](smileys/smiley2.gif)
------------- Our City, Our Club
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Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 10:10
Actually it is relevant, as in Previous seasons the Rugby Championship figures has in the past been boosted by the presence of a relegated Premiership team, with home gates of 10,000 and 2,000 away fans. Though perhaps only Northampton and Quins back brought quite that many.
The key thing is build it, and they will come is a Hollywood myth. You need to go and tell it on the mountain and keep telling it until you are bored with the message. Only then will others have started to hear you.
------------- Sweeney Delenda Est
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Posted By: 373
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 11:33
Trailfinder wrote:
how do the academy players get game time I hear you say? Well I’ve long said that the RFU Academies should be taken away from the Premiership clubs and instead integrated into the University system with BUCS being the elite competition for under 21’s.
Thoughts?
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How many 13 year olds go to university, out of interest?
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 13:20
Yes, to get back to the original question, the beer supplies didn't run out. The queues were very long at halftime, but when I nipped in for a drink at about 60 minutes, I was in and out within a minute or two. I do think that they should have opened the mobile bar behind the East stands (big metal ones) - I reckon the club missed out a pretty good chunk of revenue.
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Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 17:49
OldNick wrote:
The stand at Cov holds over 2,800. (originally 3000 before a few rearrangements. The ground currently holds 4500.The Coventry crowd is normally between 2000 and 2500, ignoring special occasions.
A supporter of a club which makes up suspiciously rounded figures of 600, finally claims an average of 1000 for the season, and which for a cup final, with a computerised QR code entry system can only estimate a crowd of 1400, and admits to being outnumbered by the away visitors is really in no position to speak for all the clubs in the division.
You have an unsupported club, dependent totally on the funding of one man's vanity project. How many more years will he have to fund before promotion is granted?
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Nick at his finest ....rude, inaccurate and no understanding of a man ( Sir Mike Gooley ) who has contributed more to rugby than any other individual I can name.
To say my club is unsupported is insulting to the faithful , dedicated supporters that follow their club home and away.
The sources of revenue are way above any other club in the Championship. There is not a blade of grass or 3G, all floodlit that is not used day and night . I have always travelled to the away games at Coventry and always enjoyed my visit win or lose. I have watched from all sides but have sat in the main stand on the last four occasions and always been able to sit close to half way line a few rows back. My only gripe is the booing home crowd whenever a decision does not go their way. It is a particular dislike of mine and really belongs at a football match.
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
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Posted By: Trailfinder
Date Posted: 23 May 2022 at 18:43
373 wrote:
Trailfinder wrote:
how do the academy players get game time I hear you say? Well I’ve long said that the RFU Academies should be taken away from the Premiership clubs and instead integrated into the University system with BUCS being the elite competition for under 21’s.
Thoughts?
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How many 13 year olds go to university, out of interest? |
My guess is probably 1 or 2 a year but I’m guessing you are being facetious.
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Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 08:56
No 7 wrote:
no understanding of a man ( Sir Mike Gooley ) who has contributed more to rugby than any other individual I can name.
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Probably for another thread but that sounds like a challenge... are we talking rugby in general, or one club/local area? And financially only, financially and other things, or just other things?
Dickie Evans would probably be up there, Keith Barwell (on a slightly larger scale) maybe, sure there are others. Tony Rowe - he's probably done for Devon rugby what Mike Gooley is still trying to do for Ealing.
On the other hand, I'm sure there's a kit man somewhere who has worked hard behind the scenes for decades and doesn't have the money to have bought a club, so seems a bit unfair to rule them out amongst all the millionaires who chose rugby as the beneficiary of their largesse rather than steam engines or Rolls-Royces.
In fact, I'd be tempted to discount the moneymen from any competition on who has contributed the most to rugby.
------------- keep the faith
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Posted By: RobC
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 13:01
For what it's worth I really enjoyed my first visit to ealing - expecting a pitch in the middle of a field but finding a well-maintained ground with seating on three sides.
The bar was well-manned/womanned and efficiently run, with the staff all sporting cup final t-shirts specially made for the day (unfortunately not available for general purchase). I resorted to drinking Guinness in the absence of a drinkable ale/bitter, which was a bit disappointing.
As for support - the ealing crowd in our corner, whilst obviously outnumbered, gave it their all in shouting for their team and clearly had a passion for the club.
All in all a nice little set up but I was left wondering why they would want to give it up for a crack in the premiership. They would surely have to move and attract a totally new set of supporters - where from is the question...
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Posted By: backrowb
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 13:41
Cov - The only club where I have been told to F*&% Off for cheering for my club.
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Posted By: OldNick
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 14:00
backrowb wrote:
Cov - The only club where I have been told to F*&% Off for cheering for my club.
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Unacceptable, but by no means the only place where it happens.
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Posted By: CJB1
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 14:01
billesleyexile wrote:
... all the millionaires who chose rugby as the beneficiary of their largesse rather than steam engines or Rolls-Royces. | Alan Pegler as a rugby club owner would have been an interesting proposition ... how many times did he go bankrupt thanks to the Flying Scotsman?
------------- "What I need is a strong drink and a peer group"
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Posted By: billesleyexile
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 14:10
CJB1 wrote:
billesleyexile wrote:
... all the millionaires who chose rugby as the beneficiary of their largesse rather than steam engines or Rolls-Royces. | Alan Pegler as a rugby club owner would have been an interesting proposition ... how many times did he go bankrupt thanks to the Flying Scotsman?
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I think even he had stopped having fun by the end.
------------- keep the faith
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Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 14:31
RobC wrote:
For what it's worth I really enjoyed my first visit to ealing - expecting a pitch in the middle of a field but finding a well-maintained ground with seating on three sides.
The bar was well-manned/womanned and efficiently run, with the staff all sporting cup final t-shirts specially made for the day (unfortunately not available for general purchase). I resorted to drinking Guinness in the absence of a drinkable ale/bitter, which was a bit disappointing.
As for support - the ealing crowd in our corner, whilst obviously outnumbered, gave it their all in shouting for their team and clearly had a passion for the club.
All in all a nice little set up but I was left wondering why they would want to give it up for a crack in the premiership. They would surely have to move and attract a totally new set of supporters - where from is the question... |
Thanks Rob C - I would only add a few points: 1. The shirts were on general sale at the club store kiosk (set up between the shipping container bar and the clubhouse). If you really wanted one, you might still be able to get one by mailing the club. There were some left when I walked by around 65 minutes.
2. I feel that in terms of attracting supporters, the requisite numbers can be attracted with the right match ups available. I've seen 4k there for a match against London Irish.
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Posted By: RobC
Date Posted: 24 May 2022 at 15:28
That's the last time I believe what a barmaid tells me...
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