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Public Relations
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Max responds to some constructive feedback received this week
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By:
Max Bygraves
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04/02/2022
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This article has been viewed 1490 times.
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We anticipated a bit of response to Wednesday’s article ‘Breaking point?’ but admittedly, not perhaps the volume or indeed wide range in viewpoints...
The previous article was not a ‘cry’ for AFC Barnet or similar. In fact, it outright said it shouldn’t come to that. The point being made was that I personally would sooner see Barnet playing at a temporary (not permanent, also important to note) ground share with a non-league club in the borough and perhaps have to drop a few leagues than the turgid, miserable scenario at present.
There has been subsequent debate on Twitter as a bit of a spin off from this related to the phoenix idea, with some arguing the example of AFC Wimbledon as a successful club reborn whilst others have (probably rightly) rebuffed this as pie in the sky. Any AFC attempt would much more likely end up like Northwich Victoria / 1874 Northwich. The club I honestly thought of when writing the original piece was Scarborough.
Currently playing probably two leagues below their ‘natural level’ but averaging crowds near the 1000 mark and back in their home town, a few hundred yards from their old ground. This after a nomadic existence miles away (although in the different context of a financial collapse). They’re on their way back slowly and most importantly, playing where they belong, in their fanbase’s community. Give me that equivalent in a heartbeat.
That’s my personal view. And all very hypothetical anyway but it seems the strength of feeling for this kind of thing isn’t particularly shared. Totally fair enough. What’s most important about someone’s football club is different for everyone. Where the team plays, it’s ‘feeling’ and identity is clearly a bigger deal to me than some others. Playing at the highest level possible is the primary thing for many and clearly a lot feel that as long as the name is Barnet, then it’s Barnet wherever it is.
It seems a good chunk of fans are happy to stay at The Hive and sit tight in the hope of better days. If that’s you and you feel it’s ‘your club’ enough as it is, then I fully respect that. I hold nothing against those who continue to go and admire your loyalty, although must admit I do struggle at times to fully empathise with it.
It is worth pointing out that whilst far from a regular, I have actually attended a few games this season. I’ve also joined the new BFCSA and offered the club some voluntary media service back in August. This isn’t someone writing with no recent experience of being there or any personal investment. I’ve previously written on here and spoken on the podcast of making an effort to try and find a bit of love and get back into it. It’s proved tough, though.*
*Equally, on a personal level, I’ve just had my second child and they’re both under the age of two. Even if I were still the dedicated season ticket holder of the past, I think right now my attendance would be patchy at best. These articles are being written in the notes section on my phone with a baby in the other hand. My free time is at a premium, currently!
There’s also been a few people asking where the solution is in the article. The intention wasn’t to provide a solution. It was all suggestion. The main point being that if you’re not happy with things, make your feelings known. Perhaps some will, maybe most won’t. Notoriously, this doesn’t happen at Barnet.
It’s hard to relent on the comment of our fans being apathetic, which upset some. This is not a new thing and certainly not exclusively since the move to The Hive. Perhaps it was the years of failed attempts fighting on fronts such as the KBA in the early 2000s that eventually led to the resigned approach to just accepting each omnishambles that comes along.
No other club in the country has allowed seemingly such an unpopular chairman (if you read social media posts, anyway) to continue running the club in a way that many claim to be dissatisfied by, yet not really put up any form or protest or shown their discontent.
There’s a lot of people saying that he won’t go anywhere. They’re probably right. But does that really just mean you just accept so little and grin and bear it?
From the response the article received, there is clearly quite a split view amongst Barnet fans as to what the best way forward looks like. I think we can all agree it’s not what any of us would want it to be now, we just perhaps have differing views on how things can be made better and indeed, what exactly that would look like.
As I said to someone on Twitter, if I do end up at The Hive again in the future in a further attempt to try and buy into it all, I’ll happily have a pint with anyone whether they agree or disagree with this point of view. To coin a phrase that’s certainly been uttered after a few beers in the past when solving a quarrel related to this and referenced by our editor elsewhere this week: “We’re all Barnet, aren’t we?”.
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