CaleyD

This is all stuff that was done regularly before. Not sure about the current policies, but it used to be that any school could phone up and request tickets, the community department had tickets to pass out at kids courses for every home game etc.. The challenge for some schools is/was getting enough volunteers to accompany the kids...and that's not just with bringing them along to football, getting volunteers (from staff or outwith) is a growing issue. The 100 kids v players thing started back in Terry Butchers time....and wasn't even limited to 100 kids! The day was a bit more structured with skill stations and fun football challenges before having a mass kick around. Even better still, there was no need to purchase anything to qualify....all kids were welcome, regardless of whether their parents could afford to buy a shirt or not (or what preference they had for home/away shirt). D&E provided/help with transport for bringing in school groups. There was open training sessions where the team were put through their paces whilst the manager/coaches provided commentary over the mics...the first one of these we ever did had over 1000 fans in attendance, and it was pouring rain! Exclusive events for Season Ticket holders etc are great for adding value, but they should be in addition to the open, free offerings.....not instead of. Unfortunately, the "nothing for nothing" approach seems to be the direction the club is being taken down just now.

Being apathetic towards poor results is the thin end of a very fat, barbed, poisoned wedge.

IMO, Scottish Football is already squeezing every penny it can out of the fans who still attend...so any plan based on getting more from them is destined to fail. First thing that needs done is to stop the rot. Having taken part in, and seen the results from, fan satisfaction surveys...and what keeps them coming back (or not)...I can say with certainty that positive results on the park come a pretty long way down the list. It's an often given reason, but when you drill down into it you realise that it's actually just an easy excuse and the cause is a bit more complex......lacked identity with the club, didn't feel valued, poor treatment by club, poor value from the matchday experience etc. Deal with those things and you then have a more positive, engaged support who do the next bit for you...mostly...and that is to encourage more people to attend more regularly. From there on it's about tweaking the offering to ensure that resources are concentrated where they provide the biggest benefit...to club and fans. That's inevitably going to be supporting families and attracting new young supporters to the club. Build from the bottom up : 40+ yr old fans who have been attending since 1994 and who have weathered the good and the bad aren't going to need as much convincing/pampering to keep supporting the club as an 8 yr old who's having his head turned towards following a Champions League team that he'll never likely get to see live in person. Not saying the older fans should be ignored, just that it's easier/cheaper to find things to improve their matchday experience.

I think TV money is pulled and included in prize money for this tournament....same as IrnBru Cup.

Had people tell me they were told that is the case, but club not advertising it...not seen anything official though.

I think you may be making the same point I was!!

One sure fire way to ensure it never changes is to take the attitude that it will never change.

Bad enough when Hearts used to do this for league matches, but it was their money to lose. However given that this is a cup game for which we are due a split of the gate, then ICTFC should not be allowing it.

Before my time.

Was about to suggest you use your Hearts season ticket...but that won't be valid for this game ?

Not against the idea, it is/was the best option available to us....but it also means that they get Highland League quality training, match prep, tactics etc.

That was hilarious, and I think I may have bought just about enough for an open sandwich...best bus trip ever.

Nobody is suggesting another level, as such. What's needed is a means for these young fringe players to be getting regular competitive game time in a more experienced environment to allow them to properly develop and realise their potential.

Because they had been on shift for hours, needed water, the ambulance doesn't fit into the bays and the only other option was a disabled space....also those double yellows are in a private carpark, so legally mean nothing.

Never touch the stuff....well, it never touches the sides, at least!

Should rules always be rules?

It is that gap in progress/development that the SPFL/SFA have constantly failed to rectify....and one which Project Brave also fails to rectify. As the song goes.....Rip it up and start again!!

And that is how football should be decided....on the park. Hearts made an administrative error and the player was there's, had been there's and had agreed the extended contract...it just hadn't been registered. It is not as if they played a player who could/would not have been eligible if not for that fact. We can go with all the faux outrage, but in reality, they gained no real competitive advantage.

It's the friends I've made through ICTFC that, above all else, keep me coming back.

The only thing missing from the decision is awarding the deducted points to Cove, IMO. Mistakes happen and I don't think this was of such magnitude to warrant killing off their chances in the group stages. Only thing that is of concern is that every case such as this that comes up seems to be dealt with differently, and that inconsistency will ultimately lead to claims of favourable treatment...or otherwise.

Ya glory hunting kant!! ? (watch the red dots pile in from those not in the know)

Agree...let's do what needs to be done without relying on any point deductions or the like ?

I'm a little unnerved by the number of times I find myself agreeing with you lately ?

Yeah because we treated him with the utmost respect by trying to force him out in January and then placed his value as being on a par with a player loaned out to the lower leagues last season with an ongoing medical/injury issue. Then there was the respect we showed David Raven, Gary Warren, Owain Fon Williams etc. Not sure we're in much of a position to complain when it comes to the subject of anyone showing us respect!!

That rental income has been written off/set against other things*....and they have continued to invest in the club (by far the largest investor in the past 2 years, even)....so it's not accurate to suggest they have had any finacial benefit. Tullochs even went to the extent of donating all their shares to the football trust (not Supporters Trust). *It's only just over a year since they wrote off £300k in rent arrears as a good will gesture to coincide with the stadium gift...which the current board are yet to accept, despite telling us it's "close to happening" for the best part of a year! Not to say they didn't make mistakes, they most certainly did! But they have, and continue to, prove that it was 100% with the clubs best interests in mind.