SoccerMom Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I've seen a thread on another fan who has died - RIP poor man. But it got me thinking. Does anyone else think that the OS should carry fan obituaries at the family's request? I wouldn't have thought so until just recently. However, my father-in-law died at the beginning of the month. He was a Hammers ST holder for over 70 years, and the WHU site put up a tribute to him on the day of the funeral. It was really important to the family, particularly my mother-in-law, who got a lot of comfort from it (and from the card sent by the community affairs person). It's fair to say that there were two on the page - one for my FIL and one for another man the same age, so it seems it's something they do on request. Once upon a time SFC prided itself on being a family club. Gestures like that could bring back a lot of goodwill - and we all know the club needs to rebuild and reunite its fanbase. Something to suggest to the new administration? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchards Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I always thought a great idea would be that the passing away of your death that you could leave 5% of your will to the club. In return get a whole page devoted to you in the matchday program as a tribute of your life as a supporter which is already written out by you. Also you will be honoured on a special wall for those that have contributed to the club In this system. The problem is what is 5% of nothing as some will find away to take advantage of it without paying a great deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysaint Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I have asked for this previously but the answer I got was that they do the "All Saints Day" instead where they list all those fans who have sadly passed away in the programme, but I am sure this is only done once a season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwantsapint Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 Remembering fans who have passed away is great idea. Do the club still sell the Paving slabs & Bricks? I only ask as I brought a Slab about 02 to dedicate to my Grandad , who was the person that started my real affair with this club, my reasons were I dont like sad graveyards so I wanted a stone in a happy place I think that the club should start a memorial wall / pavement for fans who have passed away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadeem Hardison Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I have asked for this previously but the answer I got was that they do the "All Saints Day" instead where they list all those fans who have sadly passed away in the programme, but I am sure this is only done once a season. Yes. When I pass away I would expect to have my death mentioned by SFC at least twice a season. I would be offended to have to wait until All Saints' Day for the football club to have recognised my demise. What if I pass away just after All Saints' Day? People will have to wait a whole year to read my name in the programme. What if people forget about me in that time? How can people mourn my death properly without a notice of my death being posted on the website? I just can't see how this current system is going to work. If I'm honest, it worries me more than death itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adelfas31 Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I think it's a nice idea. More generally, you'd think that football clubs would understand the value of connecting more deeply with fans than most seem to do, ours included, given that so many fans continue to buy the company product no matter how poor it may be. It would be nice to think that a new era might see the creation of a club website attitude that fans can feel more engaged with, rather than giving some of us the impression that we're little more than the last link in their marketing chain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I've seen a thread on another fan who has died - RIP poor man. But it got me thinking. Does anyone else think that the OS should carry fan obituaries at the family's request? I wouldn't have thought so until just recently. However, my father-in-law died at the beginning of the month. He was a Hammers ST holder for over 70 years, and the WHU site put up a tribute to him on the day of the funeral. It was really important to the family, particularly my mother-in-law, who got a lot of comfort from it (and from the card sent by the community affairs person). It's fair to say that there were two on the page - one for my FIL and one for another man the same age, so it seems it's something they do on request. Once upon a time SFC prided itself on being a family club. Gestures like that could bring back a lot of goodwill - and we all know the club needs to rebuild and reunite its fanbase. Something to suggest to the new administration? I think we do in the Programmes, but I think forums like this are better for saluting fans. The OS needs to be upbeat and positive, whilst we all try to be when celebrating someones life after their sad death it is still a downbeat and sad story. So I say, not for the OS, yes for match programmes and definitely for this sort of messageboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoccerMom Posted 30 May, 2009 Author Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I think we do in the Programmes, but I think forums like this are better for saluting fans. The OS needs to be upbeat and positive, whilst we all try to be when celebrating someones life after their sad death it is still a downbeat and sad story. So I say, not for the OS, yes for match programmes and definitely for this sort of messageboard. Well, maybe, but I don't think my 82-year-old mother-in-law is on any WHU forums! I'm sure my brother-in-law and nephew would bring her home a programme, and in fact, that's something even more permanent. But that is something that has more cost implications than putting a paragraph up on a website, and it would be a shame if that cost then fell on the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 Well, maybe, but I don't think my 82-year-old mother-in-law is on any WHU forums! I'm sure my brother-in-law and nephew would bring her home a programme, and in fact, that's something even more permanent. But that is something that has more cost implications than putting a paragraph up on a website, and it would be a shame if that cost then fell on the family. I didnt have any cost implications in mind to be honest. I'd have thought the match day programmes would do it for free. Afterall, they do for birthdays. A click on the internet to a forum like this is as easy as a click onto the OS, and it allows people to add a respectful comment. OS must only be for really positive and upbeat stories IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 Yes. When I pass away I would expect to have my death mentioned by SFC at least twice a season. I would be offended to have to wait until All Saints' Day for the football club to have recognised my demise. What if I pass away just after All Saints' Day? People will have to wait a whole year to read my name in the programme. What if people forget about me in that time? How can people mourn my death properly without a notice of my death being posted on the website? I just can't see how this current system is going to work. If I'm honest, it worries me more than death itself. I actually agree with you for once I think it's a bit ridiculous to expect the club to even care TBH. Next you'll be wanting your local COOP to send flowers because that's where you got your News of The World from on a Sunday, and BT to sponsor your coffin, because after all, you had a phone line with them for 50 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 I actually agree with you for once I think it's a bit ridiculous to expect the club to even care TBH. Next you'll be wanting your local COOP to send flowers because that's where you got your News of The World from on a Sunday, and BT to sponsor your coffin, because after all, you had a phone line with them for 50 years So we're just customers then? Ok, I'll just shop around for a cheaper season ticket... In the meantime I think it would be a touching gesture from the club to mention fans who have passed away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 So we're just customers then? Ok, I'll just shop around for a cheaper season ticket... In the meantime I think it would be a touching gesture from the club to mention fans who have passed away... Have you learnt nothing about football in the last 10 years? Feel free to shop around for that season ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoccerMom Posted 30 May, 2009 Author Share Posted 30 May, 2009 Have you learnt nothing about football in the last 10 years? Feel free to shop around for that season ticket. Note - the gesture was made by a Premiership club. Maybe one that realises the value of customer loyalty - or at least the qualities of modern fandom, one of which is to be a customer, another to be a member of a group. Don't suppose the Coop or BT have supporters' forums.... In fact, there were cards from some of their local businesses that he'd shopped at for decades. Don't know about flowers, as we asked for donations to the Bobby Moore Cancer Fund instead. Blimey, there is some bitterness on here today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 Note - the gesture was made by a Premiership club. Maybe one that realises the value of customer loyalty - or at least the qualities of modern fandom, one of which is to be a customer, another to be a member of a group. Don't suppose the Coop or BT have supporters' forums.... In fact, there were cards from some of their local businesses that he'd shopped at for decades. Don't know about flowers, as we asked for donations to the Bobby Moore Cancer Fund instead. Blimey, there is some bitterness on here today! It's not bitterness, merely pointing out that a football club should have more important things to worry about - God knows we certainly do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 (edited) Have you learnt nothing about football in the last 10 years? Feel free to shop around for that season ticket. Well if you think the club doesn't need to care if a fan passes away then you've learnt nothing from the last ten years, not me.... Clubs will find out in this recession that you can't have customers, you have to have fans, loyal ones at that, and that's something this club drove away in their hoards over the last ten years... Me, I don't give a **** about billionaires, Arabs or Sven Goran Ericksson... I just want a club I can feel proud of.... HTH Edited 30 May, 2009 by Daren W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 Well if you think the club doesn't need to care if a fan passes away then you've learnt nothing from the last ten years, not me.... Clubs will find out in this recession that you can't have customers, you have to have fans, loyal ones at that, and that's something this club drove away in their hoards over the last ten years... Me, I don't give a **** about billionaires, Arabs or Sven Goran Ericksson... I just want a club I can feel proud of.... HTH How many fans does the club have? I would say maybe 100,000 over the past ten years. In say 50 years, probably 80,000 of those will be dead. The club is going to have it's work cut out with memorials for ALL those fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 30 May, 2009 Share Posted 30 May, 2009 How many fans does the club have? I would say maybe 100,000 over the past ten years. In say 50 years, probably 80,000 of those will be dead. The club is going to have it's work cut out with memorials for ALL those fans Well if they all die at once then obviously the programme'll be ****ed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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