your kid could be a player "escort" for free

[bobjimwilly]

Another great offer on www.clubdoncasterchristmas.co.uk today - your kid could "escort a player" for free! 25 places up for grabs
(full details via link above)

Mascot experiences usually go for about £50 I think?

 

[glosterred]

Mine are 33 and 27so probably to old to want too, even for free


COYR

[anne honemous]

I know the club do their best, however this is really an area that we need to constantly tap into as we're losing young fans all the time that otherwise could be converted.

Someone mentioned on another thread just how many kids used to walk around town in McIndoe shirts back in the day, whereas nowadays things have gone back to how they were during the Conference years with United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs, England, etc, being the shirt of choice for the youngsters.

It'd be great to get back to those good old days. Success on the pitch will be the biggest factor in achieving this, but if our board insist on taking a more prudent (tight arse) approach to the squad/budget - thus limiting the chances of on-pitch success, then we need to do everything else possible, off the pitch.

[NickDRFC]

I know the club do their best, however this is really an area that we need to constantly tap into as we're losing young fans all the time that otherwise could be converted.

Someone mentioned on another thread just how many kids used to walk around town in McIndoe shirts back in the day, whereas nowadays things have gone back to how they were during the Conference years with United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs, England, etc, being the shirt of choice for the youngsters.

It'd be great to get back to those good old days. Success on the pitch will be the biggest factor in achieving this, but if our board insist on taking a more prudent (tight arse) approach to the squad/budget - thus limiting the chances of on-pitch success, then we need to do everything else possible, off the pitch.

I'm not sure any of that is true - seems to me that there are more kids than ever at the Keepmoat these days. And the engagement the club do with those fans (Donny Dog Deli or whatever it's called, the games areas pre-match) is better than it's ever been.

[andysly]

Never seen so many kids in Rovers shirts these days.

[drfchound]

Never seen so many kids in Rovers shirts these days.

Totally agree, loads of kids wear Rovers shirts.

[adamtherover]

Is this offer just the first 25, surely its gone 10 mins after being posted online?   Or is there some lottery system? 

[adamtherover]

Liverpool now seems to be the chosen prem team, deffo not man Utd anymore..

[DonnyOsmond]

Yeah, I grew up in probably the McIndoe era and that's probably where you'd see the least kids in Rovers shirts. Why would young kids support a team that's been in the Conference for the last 5 years? (I was one of those weirdos)

Nowadays has to be the best and there will always be the odd few dumb glory supporting (Liverpool?!) fans around.

[RoversAlias]

Since implementing the excellent chesp season ticket prices for kids I think the club has done a great job of getting more youngsters through the turnstiles to be honest.

[Jenny]

Annoys me that mascot experiences seem to be more about how much money you have now, rather than just picking names out of the hat if you are signed up as a Junior Rover. They may still do this, but it does irk me that it is something they make money on.

[anne honemous]

I'm not denying that the club do their best. What they have done so far is excellent and if it's maintained over a long period of time, then it will only serve as a positive.

However, I do think we've lost quite a lot of young fans since the bounce of the Penney/SOD/Championship/New Stadium era and as it appears that we're going to be in League One to stick around for a while, we need to make ourselves appear as attractive as possible for the youngsters.

I know success on the pitch determines a lot of things, but I do believe we were helped by John Ryan's outspoken nature and charisma when it came to attracting fans. Nowadays, we don't have a star player as such compared to 10-15 years ago and most people don't know the chairman's name, let alone would be able to recognise him.

[bobjimwilly]

Coppinger is surely the star player all young Rovers know about? And who cares if the kids know what the chairman's called?

Seems to me there are more kids watching Rovers than there ever was at Belle Vue, and that is down to the hard work of the community, marketing and foundation teams over the last decade and a bit.

[wesisback]

Coppinger is surely the star player all young Rovers know about? And who cares if the kids know what the chairman's called?

Seems to me there are more kids watching Rovers than there ever was at Belle Vue, and that is down to the hard work of the community, marketing and foundation teams over the last decade and a bit.

Stone me dead we agree on something. Copps is without doubt the player that all kids look up to and he takes that in his stride. When it comes to interaction with our younger support he above all takes that time out. If you look in the programme at the mascot and who their favourite player is, its generally Copps who takes the crown.
In my year in Primary school it was me and two others in a year of 60 kids. Nowadays there's Rovers fans galore. The work that does stretch back as far as JR and the original quid a kid scheme has been maintained right through by the current owners today. If I'm going to the game, why wouldn't I take my Lad for pocket change more? Even if he loses interest (which is pretty fair, I do most games) then I've lost next to nothing and hopefully a little bit has bitten him in some way.

[anne honemous]

Coppinger is surely the star player all young Rovers know about? And who cares if the kids know what the chairman's called?

Seems to me there are more kids watching Rovers than there ever was at Belle Vue, and that is down to the hard work of the community, marketing and foundation teams over the last decade and a bit.

Attendances, generally speaking, compared to a few years ago have dropped off though so which type of fans have we lost? Adults? Kids? Pensioners? Away fans? A combination?

Whilst I've no doubts that events on the pitch (and totally outside the marketing department's control) have been the main reason, is there really more kids watching us nowadays compared to 5/10/15 years ago, or is it just a myth? In the Penney years, there was loads of youngsters wearing Rovers colours round town, at the front of the Pop Stand every week, etc, or maybe I'm just being nostalgic and it felt that way at the time.

I also agree with Coppinger being the star player and idol for the youngsters, depending on their age, but his best years are behind him - as sad as it may be.

Only Marquis gets close to being 'the main man' and replacing Copps in that respect, but he's still a long way off mesmerizing a generation of local kids like McIndoe, Big Leo, Greeny, etc, did back in the day.

[idler]

IT was as different as chalk and cheese though. McIndoe came at a time when we were coming back from a decade of depression and general hopelessness. It was a breath of fresh air where our fortunes shot up.
We have had cup wins promotions and championships since those days, we could never really maintain that.
 We were bound to lose some of the newer glory supporters. Every time that we lose one of our older fans it is usually a longstanding supporter that has stuck with us through thick and thin. Disappointing as our present position is to some fans it is still a place that we could only dream of not too long ago.

[swintonrover]

Only Marquis gets close to being 'the main man' and replacing Copps in that respect, but he's still a long way off mesmerizing a generation of local kids like McIndoe, Big Leo, Greeny, etc, did back in the day.

As someone who first started really paying an interest in Rovers in 2003-04, that group of players were iconic. I could probably name more of that squad from when I was a 7 year old than last years squad. Whether it's names from my childhood that have burnt into my memory or something more I don't know. The way I judge it, say a shirt number and see who you think of. The vast majority that jump in to me are either from then (3 Tim, 20 Greeny, 21 McIndoe, 9 Leo) or 2007-8 (26 Copps, 1 Sullivan, 2 O'Connor). That's who is iconic to you. Is Lawlor as recognisable as Warrington or Sullivan? Don't think so.

[Bentley Bullet]

Funny you should say that, Swinton. I can identify with the players from the 60's and 70's better than the team now! In fact, if a current player walked past me in the street I doubt I'd recognise him (apart from maybe Copps). However, show me a bleary old picture of a player from 50 years ago and I'll more than likely name him.

[anne honemous]

Only Marquis gets close to being 'the main man' and replacing Copps in that respect, but he's still a long way off mesmerizing a generation of local kids like McIndoe, Big Leo, Greeny, etc, did back in the day.

As someone who first started really paying an interest in Rovers in 2003-04, that group of players were iconic. I could probably name more of that squad from when I was a 7 year old than last years squad. Whether it's names from my childhood that have burnt into my memory or something more I don't know. The way I judge it, say a shirt number and see who you think of. The vast majority that jump in to me are either from then (3 Tim, 20 Greeny, 21 McIndoe, 9 Leo) or 2007-8 (26 Copps, 1 Sullivan, 2 O'Connor). That's who is iconic to you. Is Lawlor as recognisable as Warrington or Sullivan? Don't think so.

I think this is where good marketing comes into play.

Even though we know this bunch aren't as good as previous groups we've had, the club have to market our current players as the creme de la creme for impressionable youngsters who know no different as we're providing them with their first football memories.

Any kid we get through the turnstiles is an opportunity to sell, both tangibly and intangibly, and get them wanting more.

This is where JR was very good with his attitude of being noisy, rubbing people up a certain way and generating interest and excitement by mouthing off and saying 'We're Going For It' or 'Destination Championship' or 'We're signing X players in X days'.

In comparison, the current directors/chairman, when they do speak, are a bit like 'Twiddly Diddly Diddly Doo... Club Doncaster... Twiddly Diddly Diddly Doo' and they don't really say anything to generate any level of excitement,

[knockers]

Anne, I think if you look around the ground there are many kids that are happy with the Rovers experience.

There's a little lad sits near me and he was still singing 2 minutes after the final whistle on Saturday

The current owners let the promotion guys do their job and don't need to be involved and the promotion of the club towards the kids is the best I've ever seen it. They have the right people in the right seats where as JR would try to be involved in everything and generally screw it up spouting drivel, when it was often better just to shut up!

Club Doncaster works on many levels!

[Ldr]

Only Marquis gets close to being 'the main man' and replacing Copps in that respect, but he's still a long way off mesmerizing a generation of local kids like McIndoe, Big Leo, Greeny, etc, did back in the day.

As someone who first started really paying an interest in Rovers in 2003-04, that group of players were iconic. I could probably name more of that squad from when I was a 7 year old than last years squad. Whether it's names from my childhood that have burnt into my memory or something more I don't know. The way I judge it, say a shirt number and see who you think of. The vast majority that jump in to me are either from then (3 Tim, 20 Greeny, 21 McIndoe, 9 Leo) or 2007-8 (26 Copps, 1 Sullivan, 2 O'Connor). That's who is iconic to you. Is Lawlor as recognisable as Warrington or Sullivan? Don't think so.

Leo wore 14 / 13??

[swintonrover]

Only Marquis gets close to being 'the main man' and replacing Copps in that respect, but he's still a long way off mesmerizing a generation of local kids like McIndoe, Big Leo, Greeny, etc, did back in the day.

As someone who first started really paying an interest in Rovers in 2003-04, that group of players were iconic. I could probably name more of that squad from when I was a 7 year old than last years squad. Whether it's names from my childhood that have burnt into my memory or something more I don't know. The way I judge it, say a shirt number and see who you think of. The vast majority that jump in to me are either from then (3 Tim, 20 Greeny, 21 McIndoe, 9 Leo) or 2007-8 (26 Copps, 1 Sullivan, 2 O'Connor). That's who is iconic to you. Is Lawlor as recognisable as Warrington or Sullivan? Don't think so.

Leo wore 14 / 13??

So he did, clearly my memory is going!

[graingrover]

Club strategies have moved on 'massively ' ,'very very bigly' sic
http://www.clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk/key-facts/

[Herman Hessian]

have any of the (ex) vikettes ever thought of offering an escort service ?

those little wrap-round red skirts they used to wear at Belle Vue - mmmmmmmm....

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

It's working with the youngsters and the improved cheaper young adult prices will make a difference in retention.  Always be tough keeping people post teens as so many move away.  Most people I went to watch DRFC with live out of town now as adults as there is a real shortage of quality jobs in the town.  I moved back a few years ago now but still haven't worked in Doncaster since, that's a problem.  Sheffield/Leeds etc actually gain at that point as people from out of town start watching the teams where they live even if they supported someone else as a child.

If Doncaster improves and grows the football club would move with it.

[mrfrostsdad]

Why do kids have to pay 50 quid to be a mascot anyway? Is that a general thing at every club? Surely it should be free every week to encourage kids, and more importantly their parents, into becoming regular attenders

[IDM]

Probably because there is demand for it?  In some respects £50 is a lot of money but for the parents or grandparents of a Rovers mad young kid, this might be within reach for a birthday or Christmas present, probably a once in a lifetime thing..

[i_ateallthepies]

Why do kids have to pay 50 quid to be a mascot anyway? Is that a general thing at every club? Surely it should be free every week to encourage kids, and more importantly their parents, into becoming regular attenders

Perhaps because the club are doing their damnedest to increase income and give us the success that we all crave?

[silent majority]

Its a general thing by every club, the EPL clubs charge a small fortune to do this.

And the kids get more than just escorting a player, although that can vary from club to club. Most get hospitality for the day, a ticket for an adult or guardian, and they get to keep the kit as well I believe.

[1879Rovers]

I remember doing it in the mid 80s against Bolton. I remember asking Ian snodin which end did he want me to go to and Dennis Peacock chirped up, 'not in front of their fans'. He had not long since come back to us from Bolton. Rovers won 2-0, Glyn got one from about 20 yards but I can't remember who got the other. My parents missed it as they were still drinking in the social club. They got in at 3.10.