The K's In Point

Re: Official club website

By JD (JohnnyD)1/7/2023 10:44Sat Jul 1 10:44:18 2023In response to Official club website

Views: 3522

It never ceases to surprise me how fan unfriendly the club has become.

I remember dealing with you Gary way before I got into Ks. My lovely late father in law (Dick Skelton) had somehow talked me into sponsoring the Ks first team shirts - even though I didn’t know the slightest thing about Ks (other than as an away fan in the old pre-season friendlies v Chelsea). I think the original price was £8,000 or something and I kept declining because I just couldn’t justify the cost to the business. But he doggedly came back gradually reducing the amount and eventually I (very, very reluctantly) caved in. I remember paying it out of my own money rather than from the businesses because I just couldn’t justify it to my team. Anyway, Gary was an intrinsic part of that attempt to breath new life into the club, along with all the other usual suspects, and your passion, commitment, and dedication to the club has been evident to everyone - even those like me - who don’t know you at all.

I eventually got into Ks in 2006/07 after Dick arranged for my son to be a mascot for a game. From that moment onwards it was amazing. Whether it was Dowse, Ali, Vicky, Jonny & Denise, the lads behind the goal, the Royal Box, Paddy in the bar et al - every time you met someone at Ks they were incredibly friendly and welcoming. A major part of my, for want of a better phrase, “onboarding”, as a fan was the lively, informative forum and website. I’m acutely aware of how you Gary, and Ali, were such an intrinsic part of enabling all that. As were those who diligently conducted the post match interview and match reports.

I rarely attend games these days, mainly because I take my 89 year old man to see the Bees play in the top flight (he’s been going since 1946 and can’t go on his own anymore) but also because it hasn’t been much fun for years. But it was a long drawn out withdrawal from attending games. At one time I was paying for 3 Patrons Season Tickets (me, my son, and my old man) and had encouraged a couple of mates to also sign up as patrons too. I’d get to most home and away games for a few seasons. The process of how that level of support has dwindled and, frankly died, would make great material for a textbook, “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People”.

I don’t know what’s wrong with the board. Some kind of seige mentality or something. I think I only know Mark and John but they always seemed to be decent people with Ks in their hearts (certainly so in John’s case). My only real knowledge of Yiorgos was that he used to be the bloke who’d shout crap at Dowse whenever he left the pitch at half time or full time and constantly moan about him during games. At that time we seemed to be perpetually in the playoff spots all season - so I’m not sure what there was to moan about. Other than that he didn’t seem a bad chap.

Something is seriously wrong at the club and I don’t think anyone can present a valid argument against the people behind KBH Ltd being welcomed onto the board as per either of their previous proposals. Ks desperately need their (relative) youth :-) and expertise, passion, ideas, and commitment. The way the board have treated Gary here is beyond comprehension. Another extraordinary act of self-harm in the club’s painful descent into oblivion. A heck of a price to pay at the alter of, as far as I can see, the board’s selfishness, stubbornness, and ego.

Save Ks before it’s too late!!