[Jimmy MCcabe]

The SFA in their wisdom have decided not to help fund clubs under 17 teams this season.

[Hoss]

t4rff, on Jul 10 2008, 22:34, said:

I see in this week's Free Press Stranraer under 17s have folded due to lack of funding. Can't really get my head round this....

Why are they wasting money on a reserve team, instead of investing in their future?? Let's face it how many of their reserve squad are ever going to make a mark at first team level....surely funds would have been better invested in you? If they have some playes in between the team, why not loan them out? Makes more sense than a team mostly over 25.

Athletic going out has helped the reserves and Wigtown who will both be strong,how are Creetown and N Stewart profiting from the demise?

[Clayhole Blue]

ferrytoonbhoy13, on Jul 12 2008, 18:56, said:

any truth in the rumour that stranraer big team are having money trouble now as well

Have had for the last few years! Debts were run up which the club can't afford and this is hampering the current committee.

[boyfaethetoon]

Clayhole Blue, on Jul 15 2008, 12:45, said:

Have had for the last few years! Debts were run up which the club can't afford and this is hampering the current committee.

For a long time the so called supporters were shouting to get the old committee out and the crowds would go up i haven't seen this so whats wrong when the locals dont turn up. Also there never seemed to be money worries highlighted when the old committee were there so why are they struggling now is the knew committee paying higher wages or not getting as many sponsors whats the answer?

[FC_1919]

boyfaethetoon, on Jul 15 2008, 18:55, said:

For a long time the so called supporters were shouting to get the old committee out and the crowds would go up i haven't seen this so whats wrong when the locals dont turn up. Also there never seemed to be money worries highlighted when the old committee were there so why are they struggling now is the knew committee paying higher wages or not getting as many sponsors whats the answer?

Says the guy who supports Rangers.

[Jimmy MCcabe]

As I have said before sorties into Div 1 are expensive and apart from the expectations of the fans give very little return financially due to our location, this is also a factor in transport costs with most of our squad based in the central belt every week is an away game. Add to that the reluctance of many locals to go/return to Stair Park for what ever reason, the Social Club fire at one of the most important times of the year for any business, the credit crunch meaning people have less money to sponsor events, buy club lottery tickets etc etc and you should get the picture but on reading Stranraer FC the first 100 years local journalist, club historian at the time and a lifelong fan John S Boyd wrote

" In the course of a century they (Stranraer FC ) had many ups and downs. There were moments of triumph, times of despair, great victories, sad and unexpected defeats.
On more than one occasion the club faced extermination, but always someone rose to the occasion and the team was carried on in the face of adversity".

This extract was taken from his centenary book of 1970 and little has changed, we try to punch above our weight and often succeed in this aim, while there are people at the club who care there will always be a Stranraer FC.
We are not alone in feeling the pinch the difference between ourselves and many other clubs is our members club status meaning no sugar daddy can bail us out every time the going gets tough but is this such a bad thing we do not have to look to far down the region to see that , that system is also fraught with danger.

[boyfaethetoon]

FC_1919, on Jul 15 2008, 22:17, said:

Says the guy who supports Rangers.

And what does it matter who i support I'm on about people who said they would go to stair park when the old committee were out well they are out and the crowds are no bigger if anything smaller and for your infomation i never said i would go to stair park as a football fan that takes an intrest in footbal i was stating a fact so pull your head back in

[Jimmy MCcabe]

You are right, many used that as an excuse for years the other favourite was "the teams sh*te I'm not going out there" but even when the team did reach the first division they still found an excuse, "I'm no going they will get beat anyway" or Na they play on green grass or the ones of the other persuasion Na the sky above the park is blue.
Most of us who do go know that many will never bother venturing out unless they have one of the big guns in the cup but this is the reason for targeting the youth of the town now, get them interested and at least a percentage will remain Stranraer fans for life, sure we will lose a fair few to the O/F but what club doesn't. It's hard work but people throughout the country at all Scottish clubs are trying similar ideas to at least retain some local support.

[FC_1919]

boyfaethetoon, on Jul 15 2008, 23:13, said:

And what does it matter who i support I'm on about people who said they would go to stair park when the old committee were out well they are out and the crowds are no bigger if anything smaller and for your infomation i never said i would go to stair park as a football fan that takes an intrest in footbal i was stating a fact so pull your head back in

Just saying, fans say a lot of things. The ammount of folk that dislike Queens in Dumfries is outstanding. I can imagine its the same in Stranraer.

Poor crowds and money are generally attributed to folk going to watch one of the ugly sisters.

[Clayhole Blue]

boyfaethetoon, on Jul 15 2008, 18:55, said:

Also there never seemed to be money worries highlighted when the old committee were there

They were maybe never 'highlighted' but that's when they started!

[boyfaethetoon]

FC_1919, on Jul 15 2008, 23:42, said:

Just saying, fans say a lot of things. The ammount of folk that dislike Queens in Dumfries is outstanding. I can imagine its the same in Stranraer.

Poor crowds and money are generally attributed to folk going to watch one of the ugly sisters.

I dont dislike Stranraer i just dont support them but being a Stranraer person i hear whats being said in town all the excuses as to why people who say they support them aren't actually going to games and the most common excuse was i'm not going because of who is on the committee well its all change on the committee now so why is the people who say they are supporters not now going to the games. Another excuse was there's no local lads involved well now knoxy is assistant manager and bringing a couple of local boys through they still dont go, but fair play to the handfull of people who have stood by the club through good and bad times and attend games home and away

[FC_1919]

boyfaethetoon, on Jul 16 2008, 13:13, said:

I dont dislike Stranraer i just dont support them but being a Stranraer person i hear whats being said in town all the excuses as to why people who say they support them aren't actually going to games and the most common excuse was i'm not going because of who is on the committee well its all change on the committee now so why is the people who say they are supporters not now going to the games. Another excuse was there's no local lads involved well now knoxy is assistant manager and bringing a couple of local boys through they still dont go, but fair play to the handfull of people who have stood by the club through good and bad times and attend games home and away

It's all just excuses from people, I have heard them all before. Just in a different town, trying to justify not going to support the local team. Instead they go and support a team 70 miles away or in most cases don't go.

[Clayhole Blue]

boyfaethetoon, on Jul 16 2008, 13:13, said:

being a Stranraer person i hear whats being said in town all the excuses as to why people who say they support them aren't actually going to games and the most common excuse was i'm not going because of who is on the committee well its all change on the committee now so why is the people who say they are supporters not now going to the games.

Why don't you just ask them then? I'm guessing the ones who post on here probably do go!

[FC_1919]

marf-1870, on Jul 17 2008, 14:59, said:

Why do you care if you don't seem to care about your local team?

Which was the point I was making.

[footie fan]

FC_1919, on Jul 17 2008, 15:16, said:

Which was the point I was making.

Correct me if i am wrong its a free country you can live where you like and support who you like. And everyone entitled to their opinion

[southman08]

footie fan, on Jul 17 2008, 17:10, said:

Correct me if i am wrong its a free country you can live where you like and support who you like. And everyone entitled to their opinion

Isnt that what everyone else is expressing too ? Their opinions. All they are saying that if fans supported their local teams then they would have more money and probably be more sucessful. They would then be playing in higher leagues, attracting more fans home and away and bringing more people and money to their towns. For instance I wonder where the few hundred Gretna fans will be now ? Maybe away back to their first team....Rangers ? Or will the East league teams be in for a great bonus this season !

[footie fan]

southman08, on Jul 17 2008, 18:50, said:

Isnt that what everyone else is expressing too ? Their opinions. All they are saying that if fans supported their local teams then they would have more money and probably be more sucessful. They would then be playing in higher leagues, attracting more fans home and away and bringing more people and money to their towns. For instance I wonder where the few hundred Gretna fans will be now ? Maybe away back to their first team....Rangers ? Or will the East league teams be in for a great bonus this season !

I must be missing the point here. You can surely support a number of teams by going to the games and paying your money at the gate. Just because you say your a Rangers, Celtic Queens or Stranraer supporter doesn't mean you cant still support your local team.???????????????

[FC_1919]

footie fan, on Jul 17 2008, 17:10, said:

Correct me if i am wrong its a free country you can live where you like and support who you like. And everyone entitled to their opinion

marf-1870, on Jul 17 2008, 17:17, said:

Apart from nobody outside the old firm cares about there views.

B)

footie fan, on Jul 17 2008, 18:58, said:

I must be missing the point here. You can surely support a number of teams by going to the games and paying your money at the gate. Just because you say your a Rangers, Celtic Queens or Stranraer supporter doesn't mean you cant still support your local team.???????????????

It is strange, why support two teams?

[southman08]

footie fan, on Jul 17 2008, 18:58, said:

I must be missing the point here. You can surely support a number of teams by going to the games and paying your money at the gate. Just because you say your a Rangers, Celtic Queens or Stranraer supporter doesn't mean you cant still support your local team.???????????????

Your not supporting your local team when your at Ibrox though ? When clubs like Stranraer are really struggling with money problems do all the buses up the road stop and head for Stair Park instead ? If your a Rangers fan you can maybe have an interest in another teams results but I wouldnt say your another teams supporter !