WFCSA Newsletter August 2021

Terras Times The newsletter of Weymouth FC Supporters Association.

August 2021

2018/2019 Southern League Champions 2019/2020 National League South play off winners.

Welcome to season 2021/2022.

We could have been adding “Conquerors of the Champions of Europe” to the mast header for this season, along with all the other trophies that people have yet to take off us!

But alas, despite my Chelsea supporting Father in Law offering me +6 handicap in a family bet, we were humbled in the match. However, off the park it was a totally different story with Thomas Tuchel being pictured addressing our players having gone viral and lots of attention being placed on the club and its intentions.

The marketing adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity has long been proved as nonsense. But our conduct has seen us win plaudits and hopefully fans so well done to the Manager for his part in making it happen.

Speaking of Brian Stock, I caught up with him before the big kick off to discuss last season and hopes for this campaign. You can find that on page 4.

Well done to the season ticket winners from the recent WFCSA draw. Congratulations and keep an eye out for more competitions.

My final note for this month is to mention the Terrace Memoirs podcast. It's a great show and I was delighted to be asked to represent the club on a recent episode. You can listen back by clicking here.

Right the talking is over and the football is starting… Up the Terras!

James

Stop Press!!!

The new away kit was launched last night. Stay tuned to order.

Members Draw Congratulations to the August draw winners; Calan Warren of Upwey Clive Rowsell of Weymouth Carl Price of Weymouth You all win gift vouchers to spend at the Club Shop.

https://www.wfcsa.co.uk/

Terras Times The newsletter of Weymouth FC Supporters Association.

Chairman's Update Hello and welcome to our August edition of the supporters newsletter. The off season went really quickly, short as it was and here we find ourselves starting our second campaign in non league footballs much changed top flight! I hope you enjoyed pre-season and were able to attend some of the fixtures? It was especially nice to visit our old friends Portland United for a summer evening game in fine weather, let us hope that once again becomes a regular feature,along with the fine weather of course!

If you did not managed to catch either of our two home pre-season friendlies, then you will notice quite a number of changes, not least of which is the new ticket entry system. I have mentioned this in my first programme notes and wish to use this platform to reinforce the facts of the matter regarding ticket prices. As your supporters representative, I was at the board meeting when the decisions were made, and entry prices were set at £18 for adults with the various other concessions also agreed. £18 is very competitive, certainly in amongst the clubs who are not bankrolled by owners. A question was then asked if we could afford to offer a discount to fans who purchased their ticket online, (online purchases carry less cost to the club with no ticket to issue or money to handle), subsequently, a £2 reduction on the £18 adult ticket price was agreed for online purchases, along with discounts for the other price categories. I was personally very pleased with this generous offer by the board, there was no compelling reason to do it, but they did it anyway! For this offer to be then twisted into the club 'adding £2' to ticket entry prices was, to say the least, deeply disappointing! It is simply not true and totally wrong!

Naturally, people are entitled to see the world through their own prism, that is fair enough, but let me be absolutely clear on this, £2 was not added to the cost of entry, it was the complete opposite! We are going to have to make adjustments to how we enjoy our afternoons watching the Terras, but it is not asking too much, in my opinion, to embrace something that has been common place for years now, online ticketing! We should surely be helping each other, if you, or someone you know is having difficulty with obtaining tickets, then please get in touch via queries@wfcsa.co.uk and we will always do what we can to help and advise. We cannot promise to change the world but we will pass on your difficulties to the relevant people.

We can all look forward to what will certainly be another challenging season. I hope you can all see improvements in the strength of our squad and get to see plenty of exciting football in the coming months. Only time will tell if we have what it takes to hold our own, but we can play a vital role in supporting and encouraging our team and be that vital twelfth man.

Until next time, stay well and stay safe.

Cheers, Pete Nash Chairman, The Terras Supporters Club

https://www.wfcsa.co.uk/

Terras Times The newsletter of Weymouth FC Supporters Association.

Membership update - with Ken Willis

Season ticket winners Sam Moors and Jacqui Connor accept their prizes from Pete Nash The past month has seen membership numbers increasing as we approach the new season.

We now have over 100 members that have taken advantage of the 5 year offer at £20 as well as over 250 on annual membership.

I will have a table by the Club Shop (weather permitting) at the home game against Boreham Wood for new members, renewals, upgrades and any membership queries.

Many thanks to you all for your continued support.

Look out for the first of the new season’s draw when we will have 2 of the new Terra’s shirt as prizes.

Club Shop - An update When you attend your next game at the Bob Lucas Stadium you will notice we have relocated the Club Shop to a temporary new location just inside the main turnstiles.

It is a kiosk type setup and although there is no room to browse, we do still carry the full range of items that we had previously. The old shop building is being transformed in something completely new and the football club will announce the details when they are ready. We will be having a new shop facility inside the ground, just to the left of the cafe window and under the stand stairs.

To keep costs down, we are going for self build so it may take the majority of the season to get it up and running, as we are all volunteers so it will down to the weather and volunteer availability!

You will however be able to follow our progress as it is in a very public place!

Rest assured we will still provide you with the same service you have become accustomed to. Keep an eye on the clubs news feeds for information on the away shirt which will have been launched by now.

We hope you like it?

The situation regards home shirt availability remains very fluid and is very much out of our hands.

Check out the new water bottles, baseball style t-shirts and other items we have sourced.

https://www.wfcsa.co.uk/

Terras Times The newsletter of Weymouth FC Supporters Association.

Managers preview - Brian Stock talks to Terras Times (1) When you finally sat down to take a breath how would you summarise last season in one sentence? (As Brian is the boss, we agreed he could have more than one!)

Very different. But an experience that would makes us stronger as a group. I don't think there'll be many managers that will go through an experience of having to furlough players during COVID. (2) Can you tell me which game last season had it all for you in terms of emotion, performance, result?

Kings Lynn at home.

There was lots of pressure to win, and we hadn’t had one at that moment in time. At 1-1 they had a penalty, and it was saved, and we went up the other end and scored. It was important to get that first three points. It had pressure on it that game. I couldn’t watch the penalty.

It's safe to say it’s about fine lines and to get that first goal, almost lose, and then go on to win. It was a relief for the staff and for me.

(3) We have historically been one of the bigger non-league sides in the FA Cup. That has not been the case for many years now. Do you think that even at our level there must be a sense of priority for league matches and survival in the division over the quick cash of a cup run?

Our focus is on winning every game, we were disappointed to bow out of both FA competitions when we did. The team is put out every match to try to win a game of football.

The FA cup is Important for finances and fans. It might not be so important for premier league clubs anymore. It is for us.

(4) What can the supporters at the Bob Lucas do to be the 12th man this season?

We have had a lot of joy and celebrations in recent times, but we are now building in a league with big teams. We need to understand that players are giving their all. It might take to the 90th minute to get a draw or a win but we are always trying. How we react, and that includes the supporters, is key to how we bounce back.

We need that cohesion between players and supporters.

When I came to the club the fans were very well spoken of. I’ve been told that the stadium will be absolutely bouncing. And it's something I'm looking forward to.

(5) What other teams in the division are you looking at and thinking "they will go well"?

Chesterfield, Stockport, Wrexham unbelievable levels of finance. Clubs are desperate to get back into the league. Their money drowns us, and I can see that one of 8 teams could win it.

I think the likes of Leicester winning the Premier League are the sort of success stories which gives everyone hope. I think if we start the season well and hit the ground running, if we can start this season as we picked up from January that will be great.

https://www.wfcsa.co.uk/