Or maybe the title should say, what can I do, to help Pools.

My season ticket is already purchased, I attend as many home games as I can, dragging people along is not really an option any more as I live out of town now.

One thing I have thought of is trying to raise the public's perception of Pools, there's too many people think Pools are shite because they've been told by a muppet that we are shite.

Doing this on the bunker is a waste of time, on the whole it's the converted that are preaching on here, so I've already started my campaign this afternoon, I've registered a comment on the Northern Echo Joe Gamble story, I reckon I'll pen a positive letter to the Hartlepool Mail as well. Maybe I'll start calling the Leg-ends on Real radio. We need some more positive publicity.

Any other ideas?

You could try and get on air with other local radio stations?

What have Radio Hartlepool got to offer?

You're right though in what you say, and the more you can do the more impressed I'll be.

Maybe we could organise a meeting with club officials, let's see what we the fans can do to help instead of the usual criticism on the board.
My favoured option would be on the spot fines for anyone wearing a football shirt other than pools but I don't think that would get past the human rights bill.
Positive letters to the local press is a good start.

It would be nice if the club could arrange to meet a delegation from the boards to discuss postive ways forward.

Disagree.

It would be nice if the club were interested enough in the fans opinions to arrange to meet with a small delegation of fans to discuss what positive things can be done but I don't think that it should be a "delegation from the boards", it should be more inclusive than that.

And then what? do these non board delegates go and tell the fat bloke down the pub or maybe mention it to their granny?

The whole point is that you have to then get the information out and the only way to do that easily is the internet - hence the boards. Most Pools fans read the boards, not all post but judging by the number of guests we get on a daily basis its roughly a 12-1 ratio. 12 being the lurkers.

No, they spread the word in the pubs and clubs that they drink in, or at their work, or the lads they play footie with, or down the golf club, or to their neighbours, or via the letters in The Mail or the various radio phone-ins.

I take your point with regards readers and posters, as I was talking to a guy just like that at The Mill on Saturday who reads but never posts. But he already goes to the matches, like I suspect that a lot of these other "lurkers" do so is it necessarily them who the club needs to attract back to the match?

The Sheff Wednesday game is an ideal chance to attract the floating fans, they are still seen as a 'big' club and have sold their allocation. It should be a decent atmosphere, if I was in charge I'd be lining up some deals or offers to get season ticket holders to bring a friend or two. We MUST capitialise of games like this one.

It's all well and good reducing prices of the JPT game to a tenner, but you can't polish a turd, the JPT is the JPT.

Back in the day pools had open days with football games on the pitch for the kids and dads with stalls under the stands and a meet the players it was never out flash but it got loads of kids and pools fans there for a good afternoon out.

I sent an e-mail for the attention of Ken Hodcroft to the media dept at pools with questions on pro active communications, falling attendances and what they are doing to reverse the trend, suggested marketing lapsed season ticket holders to find out why etc and everything was a positive and no mention of Turnip or squad deficiency!
I also suggested that mediums like the bunker would be beneficial for viewing as the passion and frustrations of genuine fans could be utilised in a positive way.

To my surprise I received a reply stating it would be forwarded to Ken and thanking me for my continued support and interest

I can only remember one open day at pools back in the day of Keith houchen when we had the green away kit and the players all had them boots from lotto..

My oldest has still got a photo taken with Joe Allon, on a open day at the Vic.

It was around the time he started going, which would have been around 95/96.

Good idea! No way can we survive on crowds of 2800. There are a lot of things wrong at the club, but it is no use whingeing, we are where we are, if their is a way out of this mess it is by staying together. The club in the meantime could help themselves though , for instance such as fielding a full strength team in the JP trophy and making a concerted effort to win it. Early exits in cups only adds fuel to the critics fire.

There has been 2 and i worked on the stalls for both selling pools stuff and garden ornaments all money made went to the club.
They work these open days people want to be apart of the club given a chance.

Playing devils advocate here...

Why should we worry? The club have already said attendences are not an issue, so let's just relax.

Why don't we organize a poolie march pick a game were there will be no away support.
every pools fan man.women and child draped in blue and white meet at the war memorial have a wee sing song and all march to the club offices on Clarence road have another song or 2 then disburse and go into the game.
Let the people of Hartlepool see we care about pools and they should as well..

Just an idea like.

Do you believe that? I don't, there's got to be a point when our owners think if the town can't be bothered, why should we? Perhaps that's where we are at now.

Plus, and I'll be totally honest here, it's fucking embarrassing, I'm sick of seeing our attendances the lowest in the division and lower than most of league two as well.

I think the open day is a great idea and hopefully Pools take it on board. Have an open training session at the Vic and then a oppertunity to meet the players. Could sell food and get a lot more people buying shirts etc were they could get them signed off the players.

Throw in a kids penalty compertition involving the players and hangus and it would be a big hit. Give out prizes like a ticket to the following home game and t-shirts in the club shop, to show that Pools really want to attract the people of the town.

Would say this should be done on a Sunday though to get the maximum number of people into the ground.

It sounds like a cracking idea, but best suited to a pre-season weekend when player availability would be greater and people would be thinking about buying season tickets, new shirts etc.

We could all make an effort in the ground to create an atmosphere which might intice people back. It's been like a morgue the last few seasons. It was noticable on Saturday that an effort was being made in the Town End. If we can get that all over the ground it would be great. It would also translate to the boys on the pitch.

I know it doesn't sound much but word of mouth does actually help. I know loads of people who stopped going coz of the shite atmosphere/embarrasing songs about Darlo as much as the entertainment on the pitch.

I think that part of the reason that things were so good at the turn of the century was the general positive atmosphere. Ok we were performing well on the pitch, but I remember going in the Town End every week and having a great laugh with some great characters week after week. The last time I was in there, you could have heard a mouse fart. (I sit in the Cyril Knowles now btw)

Which brings us back to the points made by Mr Mutley and Mr Parmo with regards the banning orders that have been dished out in recent years.

Well my first email to the Legends was read out at around 7:15ish last night, prime time radio. Letter to the Mail is being written today.

True, but if they're banned, they're banned. I'm talking about the fans who are already going. The 2,500 die hards who are already there. Are we all unable to make a noise like?

I've actually seen some of the old fellas in the Mill House scowl at kids that sing.

That will be Mr Ripper scowled at the singing section as well.

I'm not old and I don't do scowling!

We used to regularly have a right sing song on the Millhouse Terrace, but a combination of severly declined numbers and not getting to the pub so early due to family stuff means that it doesn't happen anymore!

I'm with you lot on this one, we CAN do stuff to help out here. I don't know about you, but I'd be lost without Pools. Just look at Darlo, Conference Football, new owners every five minutes, Managers last slightly less. The Ground Name changes weekly and they've got to play in that soulless bowl.

Seriously, I can see Pools doing the same (apart from the bowl bit) if we, thats the SUPPORTERS OF HARTLEPOOL UNITED, don't get behind the club. (that's the Football Club..not Chris Turner/Ken Hodcroft/Insert this weeks Hate Figure Here).

Icidentally, the first time that Singing Section happene4d, it was outstanding.

i think the club shop is run by somebody else and not the club so it would be up to them to sort something out,was just talking about this the other day that some people would be put off going to the club shop with it being out of the way