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The Falkirk FC Thread


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1 minute ago, Shadwell Dog said:

Davie's always been a major grass fanatic. He brings it up at every AGM. We'd all like to get back to grass but there's a lot of things to take into contention.  Where do we train?  Loss of pitch hirings, what about the shire,more postponements, more upkeep and standard will drop in the winter unless you plough(no pun intended) a fortune into it . 

Untrue.

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1 minute ago, LatapyBairn. said:

From my limited knowledge of it I don’t think the club is in a position to be reverting to a grass pitch any time soon, surely with a predicted operating loss of 400k we don’t have the luxury of ditching the 4G surface and losing the additional revenue it brings added to the increased costs of maintaining a good quality grass surface. Also regarding BFL, I was under the impression it had a merged with the FSS and all the money now went to accruing shares? Surely any change to the distribution of funds raised would need to be put to the membership and not unilaterally decided by Mr Lapsley? It’s not his money after all nor is it the gift of any other committee member to be making such bold statements. 

I'm sure the majority of folk putting cash into bfl would much rather see the cash used for signings to get us out this league than for a bloody pitch. Get promoted and we should have more cash available to go towards replacing the pitch.

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Just now, Ranaldo Bairn said:

Untrue.

Surely there's noone on here that wouldn't prefer to see us playing on a beautiful grass surface instead of artificial. Nothing beats a good quality grass pitch. I can only presume anyone otherwise minded has never played the game. Artificial is preferred due to its easy upkeep and all weather use and I get that but if I had the choice and nothing else came into it grass is far better.

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Just now, Shadwell Dog said:

Surely there's noone on here that wouldn't prefer to see us playing on a beautiful grass surface instead of artificial. Nothing beats a good quality grass pitch. I can only presume anyone otherwise minded has never played the game. Artificial is preferred due to its easy upkeep and all weather use and I get that but if I had the choice and nothing else came into it grass is far better.

That's pie in the sky though as we're not going to get one of those Barclays pitches. It would revert back to the absolute disgrace we had pre 2014 within a year, especially if the Shire continue to share.

In times when we need every possible income stream then losing groundsharing revenue, pitch hire, concert revenue, savings from not hiring elsewhere to train etc, plus the cost of ripping it up and laying grass again would be rank stupidity. I get it needs refreshed but to even entertain the idea of grass at the moment is lunacy.

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3 minutes ago, LatapyBairn. said:

From my limited knowledge of it I don’t think the club is in a position to be reverting to a grass pitch any time soon, surely with a predicted operating loss of 400k we don’t have the luxury of ditching the 4G surface and losing the additional revenue it brings added to the increased costs of maintaining a good quality grass surface? Also regarding BFL, I was under the impression it had a merged with the FSS and all the money now went to accruing shares? Surely any change to the distribution of funds raised would need to be put to the membership and not unilaterally decided by Mr Lapsley? It’s not his money after all nor is it the gift of any other committee member to be making such bold statements. 

B4L agreed at its last AGM that it would merge with FSS and as a result all B4L members would have a vote in the Directors election. David Lapsley unilaterally stopped that without any consultation and refused to hand over the membership lists in time to give his members a vote in FSS. He now says he has lost the membership lists.  He also wanted shares to be given by the club to B4L for their contributions which the club refused to do because of the lack of any democratic structure to B4L - effectively the way it is currently run the shares would have been given to one person who has been acting erratically. 

At the AGM David Lapsely announced that all money from B4L would go only to youth development - which didn't happen - but that encouraged the then member of staff to go out and make absurd promises to parents that caused the club a lot of problems (European training camps anyone?) and led to the sacking of the staff member.

The problem here is that B4L raised money (and for that Lapsley should be praised) but once it is in the bank account it is treated like his own personal donation and he makes demands on the club that the B4L members almost certainly do not want (he also interfered in the attempt to sign Kingsley by insisting he have a say in what the contract said). B4L is a good thing but it cannot be run as one person's fiefdom. 

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4 minutes ago, Kevin James Left Knee said:

B4L agreed at its last AGM that it would merge with FSS and as a result all B4L members would have a vote in the Directors election. David Lapsley unilaterally stopped that without any consultation and refused to hand over the membership lists in time to give his members a vote in FSS. He now says he has lost the membership lists.  He also wanted shares to be given by the club to B4L for their contributions which the club refused to do because of the lack of any democratic structure to B4L - effectively the way it is currently run the shares would have been given to one person who has been acting erratically. 

At the AGM David Lapsely announced that all money from B4L would go only to youth development - which didn't happen - but that encouraged the then member of staff to go out and make absurd promises to parents that caused the club a lot of problems (European training camps anyone?) and led to the sacking of the staff member.

The problem here is that B4L raised money (and for that Lapsley should be praised) but once it is in the bank account it is treated like his own personal donation and he makes demands on the club that the B4L members almost certainly do not want (he also interfered in the attempt to sign Kingsley by insisting he have a say in what the contract said). B4L is a good thing but it cannot be run as one person's fiefdom. 

I'd like to say I'm gobsmacked by this behaviour but I can only laugh.

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Guest FFC1965
44 minutes ago, Dawson Park Boy said:

That is appalling.

From what I can judge, it is now a totally different set up and the new Commercial Manager along with a great bunch of volunteers is dedicated to sort things out.

Please give them another chance.

Aye I know Graeme Stewart from way back.  I don't doubt that things will indeed be sorted out.    

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3 minutes ago, Shadwell Dog said:

Surely there's noone on here that wouldn't prefer to see us playing on a beautiful grass surface instead of artificial. Nothing beats a good quality grass pitch. I can only presume anyone otherwise minded has never played the game. Artificial is preferred due to its easy upkeep and all weather use and I get that but if I had the choice and nothing else came into it grass is far better.

How busy is the artificial pitch at TFS,   if it is hired out extensively is should be a good money maker or is it not yours to hire out...???

Technically the Excelsior is not owned by the Football club a seperate entity it just happens to be the club owner Hetherington..  Post covid the stadium has been booked out basically 6 days a week,   Celtic B, and Ladies ,  Glas Univ, being resident teams......

 

If this is not making money at TFS then a grass pitch would surely make more sense..

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1 minute ago, Passionate said:

How busy is the artificial pitch at TFS,   if it is hired out extensively is should be a good money maker or is it not yours to hire out...???

Technically the Excelsior is not owned by the Football club a seperate entity it just happens to be the club owner Hetherington..  Post covid the stadium has been booked out basically 6 days a week,   Celtic B, and Ladies ,  Glas Univ, being resident teams......

 

If this is not making money at TFS then a grass pitch would surely make more sense..

The pitch is ours and not the councils.

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3 hours ago, Kevin James Left Knee said:

B4L agreed at its last AGM that it would merge with FSS and as a result all B4L members would have a vote in the Directors election. David Lapsley unilaterally stopped that without any consultation and refused to hand over the membership lists in time to give his members a vote in FSS. He now says he has lost the membership lists.  He also wanted shares to be given by the club to B4L for their contributions which the club refused to do because of the lack of any democratic structure to B4L - effectively the way it is currently run the shares would have been given to one person who has been acting erratically. 

At the AGM David Lapsely announced that all money from B4L would go only to youth development - which didn't happen - but that encouraged the then member of staff to go out and make absurd promises to parents that caused the club a lot of problems (European training camps anyone?) and led to the sacking of the staff member.

The problem here is that B4L raised money (and for that Lapsley should be praised) but once it is in the bank account it is treated like his own personal donation and he makes demands on the club that the B4L members almost certainly do not want (he also interfered in the attempt to sign Kingsley by insisting he have a say in what the contract said). B4L is a good thing but it cannot be run as one person's fiefdom. 

That’s an absolutely horrendous state of affairs if true and an abuse of the fans/members trust in the set up, it isn’t being run as a democratic members organisation. Unless things change people paying they’re money every month should be made aware of this and perhaps transfer membership and direct debits over to the FSS which is obviously fully democratic. We don’t need more people involved who treat the fans money and our club as they’re own personal play thing, if you want to play the big man and make demands on the club without consulting the fans/members who raised the cash then don’t take they’re money trying to play the big shot.  Walk the walk yourself, let’s see the colour of your own personal cash to fund it. 

Edited by LatapyBairn.
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2 minutes ago, Kevin James Left Knee said:

B4L agreed at its last AGM that it would merge with FSS and as a result all B4L members would have a vote in the Directors election. David Lapsley unilaterally stopped that without any consultation and refused to hand over the membership lists in time to give his members a vote in FSS. He now says he has lost the membership lists.  He also wanted shares to be given by the club to B4L for their contributions which the club refused to do because of the lack of any democratic structure to B4L - effectively the way it is currently run the shares would have been given to one person who has been acting erratically. 

At the AGM David Lapsely announced that all money from B4L would go only to youth development - which didn't happen - but that encouraged the then member of staff to go out and make absurd promises to parents that caused the club a lot of problems (European training camps anyone?) and led to the sacking of the staff member.

The problem here is that B4L raised money (and for that Lapsley should be praised) but once it is in the bank account it is treated like his own personal donation and he makes demands on the club that the B4L members almost certainly do not want (he also interfered in the attempt to sign Kingsley by insisting he have a say in what the contract said). B4L is a good thing but it cannot be run as one person's fiefdom. 

After the really positive steps being conducted, it would be a bloody tragedy for infighting amongst the people who are needing to match personal egos, when the club is trying desperately to win back the fans. Couldn’t make it up.

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2 minutes ago, Passionate said:

How busy is the artificial pitch at TFS,   if it is hired out extensively is should be a good money maker or is it not yours to hire out...???

Technically the Excelsior is not owned by the Football club a seperate entity it just happens to be the club owner Hetherington..  Post covid the stadium has been booked out basically 6 days a week,   Celtic B, and Ladies ,  Glas Univ, being resident teams......

 

If this is not making money at TFS then a grass pitch would surely make more sense..

The club own the pitch and any revenues from it are the clubs so replacing it with grass we’d obviously take a hit. 

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13 minutes ago, Passionate said:

Do you make much out of pitch hire or Is it under utilised

We ground share with the Shire, regularly host gigs/events through through the summer months and the place is lit up most nights with folk playing on the pitch so I’m guessing the club make a fair few quid if it. Going back to a grass pitch would presumable effect that income stream. 

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1 hour ago, FFC 1876 said:

I don't think it necessarily means that, our budgets will most likely be on a par. There could be a multitude of different reasons he's opted to go for the scum, they may be making him captain.

I heard it was down to money.  We'd offered over £1k a week and Dunfermline have offered more.  His first choice was a new contract with Rovers so maybe staying in Fife played a part too.  

Can't say I'm disappointed.  Signings have been solid if unspectacular so far.  Hopefully the next few will be more mouth watering.

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46 minutes ago, Ranaldo Bairn said:

That's pie in the sky though as we're not going to get one of those Barclays pitches. It would revert back to the absolute disgrace we had pre 2014 within a year, especially if the Shire continue to share.

In times when we need every possible income stream then losing groundsharing revenue, pitch hire, concert revenue, savings from not hiring elsewhere to train etc, plus the cost of ripping it up and laying grass again would be rank stupidity. I get it needs refreshed but to even entertain the idea of grass at the moment is lunacy.

Which was exactly my point in the first place.

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1 minute ago, Ranaldo Bairn said:

Yes, but I was really taking issue with the statement that "we all want to go back to grass".

We do do we not? Everyone would like to go back to grass but its probably just not feasible for a club our size. If top flight clubs cant keep their pitches from turning into a quagmire during the winter then there's hee haw chance of us in league one. In an ideal world though we'd have a grass pitch and I'm sure everyone would love that.

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2 minutes ago, Shadwell Dog said:

We do do we not? Everyone would like to go back to grass but its probably just not feasible for a club our size. If top flight clubs cant keep their pitches from turning into a quagmire during the winter then there's hee haw chance of us in league one. In an ideal world though we'd have a grass pitch and I'm sure everyone would love that.

No. I don't. The benefits of artificial far outweigh any negatives.

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12 minutes ago, Shadwell Dog said:

We do do we not? Everyone would like to go back to grass but its probably just not feasible for a club our size. If top flight clubs cant keep their pitches from turning into a quagmire during the winter then there's hee haw chance of us in league one. In an ideal world though we'd have a grass pitch and I'm sure everyone would love that.

Not bothered either way tbh. Pros and cons for both. Not sure how anyone can assume we are all desperate for a return to grass. Even worse that others can start making demands on the club

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