Background
I have no idea about the value or interest in such a blog but a lot has happened in a short time which makes me think it would be worthwhile noting some of the main points down whilst I still remember them (my memory is like aftershave - only the useless stuff lingers).
To summarise things to date, we (www.harmony.co.uk) sponsor our local football team Biggleswade United and have got to know them well during the past 2 years.
Recently, I read a few news items online and signed up for myfootballclub.co.uk. For those who don't know, it is a site where over 50,000 people have paid £35 each in order to raise enough money to buy, and then via the web, democratically run the club.
They have a paradoxical problem in the search for a team capable of getting to the Premiership - the club needs to be solvent and must willingly accept their new owner. The search continues and may, ultimately, even be a fruitless one.
So my over active mind pondered (probably during an overly lengthy meeting) ... I love the myfootballclub concept but have doubts a club could be found. Further, it would be great if BUFC could really progress in the next few years but nowadays you need investment as much as ambition.
BUFC have operated under a non-profit charitable status for years, they have no borrowings, a ground, a youth structure, a central location, a history, an ambitous volunteer board and a web company for a sponsor. But surely no-one would be interested in being a part owner of a grass roots club?
After talking to suitably enthusiastic friends, I pitched the idea in a very informal way to the board who - after some initial sceptisism - decided that taking a risk for potential success (but more importantly long term survival) was worth the fear of losing control of the club they have worked so hard to build to a large bunch of strangers on the Internet.
And so, here we are are today. The initial web site is built ready for my last items of copy to be written, the board are waiting for the last few details before signing the future of the club over to the collective wisdom of anyone with £23.50 to spare and I am still wondering if this is really a good idea.
I want this to work because the club deserve it, we can do it and most importantly, I enjoy doing my weekly shopping without having fruit and vegetables thrown at me.
Will e-democracy successfully hatch free and show us a way forward for the future or, like the proverbial village idiot, will it fail to punch it's way out of a wet paper bag? Only time, and the Internet, will tell.
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
and so it begins...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Just a thought, but why don't you see if MyFC are interested in Biggleswade Utd ? I would bet the members would be - it seems there is a club here just 4 steps away from the National Conference that many people would see as a great one to get involved with....might be worth debating on the MyFC Forum ?
The principle selection criteria of myfc is that the team must be realistically capable of getting into the premiership. BUFC simply aren't in that catagory.
The proposition is different - this isn't just picking a team each week - this is building a club from the grass roots upwards.
Nothing stopping people from doing both though!
A lot of people are proposing we do the same with MyFC, get a very small club and build it up from the level of BUFC.
Why not start a thread on the MyFC forum to guage support? At the very least you'll probably get people stumping up cash to help BUFC !
I am more than happy if MyFC is interested in but looking at what so many members have said about much larger clubs I can see a real problem.
I will add a post and see what happens - if you see a puff of smoke, you'll know I've been flamed for it :)
Well, I for one would be interested in this little venture...is there a website yet or an email address where I can register my interest?
Cheers.
The best thing to do is to have the Board of your club approach the MyFC team with a view to talks. MyFC isn't going to approach clubs perse, but have clubs that are interested in the project, approach MyFC.
Post a Comment