The Fixture Schedule : Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:58 pm  

I'm sure everyone is like me and suffering withdrawal symptons with the lack of match action at the moment.

The fixture schedule (excluding the Challenge Cup) has given us 11 home games for the season. Seven of those games took place in the three months between 12th February and 13th May.

We then have just four home games between 14th May and 2nd September.

That's four home games in over 3 1/2 months!

Thankfully, with the Championship having 4 extra teams in it next season (assuming we are in there) it will mean some increased fixture activity.

Having just 11 home games to gain sufficient revenue to keep a club afloat must make life extremely difficult for the Dons. Having 15 home games, instead of 11, with four extra teams in the league will hopefully increase income considerably, along with the fact that there'll be a few local derbies.

I was starting to wonder whether we might need to arrange a few mid-season friendlies to get some match practice before our next game against Gateshead on 24th June!

It's so tough building up the supporter base at the best of times, but with these huge holes in the schedule, we give everyone in Doncaster the opportunity to forget all about rugby league for long periods.

The club work really hard and I sympathise with them greatly in trying to overcome the difficulties presented by the fixtures fiasco.

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:43 pm  

Yea know what you mean, hopefully next season will bring in more fans through the gate, the club deserve it. Was beginning to wonder if another forum had been set up and i wasn't invited

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:24 am  

Agree that the fixture gap is not ideal, but given the number of injuries to players that we have been unfortunate to have, then the fixture break IMO has come at a crucual time. Your point DM about more fans for next season is a good one and that is why it was always vital to get into The Championship proper. Clubs such as Fev and Fax have always had a good away following and their money is important for us to try and capture players that will allow us to maintain Championship status. Hopefully as well given the change in the running of the Keepmoat, the additional fans may benefit from better food and hopefully better beer's (fingers crossed) which all adds to the matchday experience thingy

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:50 am  

Moonlight wrote:

Agree that the fixture gap is not ideal, but given the number of injuries to players that we have been unfortunate to have, then the fixture break IMO has come at a crucual time. Your point DM about more fans for next season is a good one and that is why it was always vital to get into The Championship proper. Clubs such as Fev and Fax have always had a good away following and their money is important for us to try and capture players that will allow us to maintain Championship status. Hopefully as well given the change in the running of the Keepmoat, the additional fans may benefit from better food and hopefully better beer's (fingers crossed) which all adds to the matchday experience thingy

<cynical mode>
It's not about better beers or food at reasonable prices, since the public are mere swine and get what they are given.
It's about getting cosy deals with big suppliers like JS and C (abbreviations to protect me).
<imagined sales scenario>
''You foist this shoite on your punters, we will supply at a discount and you pocket the difference!''
''Sold!''

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:48 pm  

And that SO is exactly the reason I will not purchase said items and hope we do get a choice.

[Jemmo]

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:26 am  

Stand-Offish wrote:

It's about getting cosy deals with big suppliers like JS and C (abbreviations to protect me).

Don't let John Scarrow and Carl read this

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:34 am  

Jemmo wrote:

Don't let John Scarrow and Carl read this

What a spooky coincidence!
No it's not them as you have guessed.

Luckily they have nothing to do with the procurement of drink ...

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:50 am  

Driving past the Keepmoat the other day seemed weird since it has been an eternity since I was there last.
And I keep thinking we are playing Gateshead this Sunday, because it has been so long and we ought to be playing somebody, but we are not.

It's no way to run a business.
What sort of crowd can we expect after such a lay-off?
It sucks!

Not enough rugby!

Re: The Fixture Schedule : Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:50 am  

Stand-Offish wrote:

Driving past the Keepmoat the other day seemed weird since it has been an eternity since I was there last.
And I keep thinking we are playing Gateshead this Sunday, because it has been so long and we ought to be playing somebody, but we are not.

It's no way to run a business.
What sort of crowd can we expect after such a lay-off?
It sucks!

Not enough rugby!

Dead right. This fixture format does nothing to help clubs to try and create a bit of interest and boost the crowds. It's typical that it comes in the best season we've had for ages.