One F in Falmer

[Lady Bracknell]

A couple of points on the above....

I bought it because it was in support of Falmer. I couldn't really have cared what the quality of the writing, spelling, typesetting or paper was. In fact, I've just had a glance over the articles and not really read any of them. I can't believe I'm the only one to have done this either.

If you paid £600 for 1000 copies then I think you paid far too much. Surely the object of the exercise was to get as much into the FFA pot as possible. You could have used lower quality paper inside a glossy cover (just like GE did). A fanzine printed on low-grade paper with lots of mistakes is somehow more endearing than a glossy 'magazine style' production anyway.

I'll support any other edition that you decide to produce - and I'm equally certain that most of the other buyers will too. Perhaps a print run of 1000 is about right - as it'll sell out almost immediately. Alternatively go for a slightly higher initial print run.

Don't get me wrong - I think you all did brilliantly in putting this together. However, I think that if we (and I include the audience alongside the publication team) do this again we should be a little more cost-conscious.

You might be surprised, Jim, to discover how much it costs to produce a low-grade mag - which is why we moved the printing of Brighton Rockz from a specialist "quick and dirty" fanzine printer! Suddenly, we were paying £100 less for a mag that actually resembled what had been sent off for printing - unlike the hit or miss result that had previously been delivered! Print technology has moved on a good deal since Gulls Eye days and what was expensive then is no longer the case today. Conversely, what on the face of it should be cheap, isn't!

And yes, the aim was to raise money for the FFA campaign but there is a very fine line between wasting money on production and producing a mag which leaves people thinking they've been ripped off. And as you can't, realistically, charge people £1 for a 24 page document printed on what looks like recycled bog paper - - but with added spelling mistakes - lowering the production values it isn't always the economy it might appear at first sight. People have higher expectations nowadays and personally, I feel that the careless acceptance - and casual inclusion - of spelling mistakes, iffy layout and typos is a reflection of a job done badly. Not a bargain. Although this element of the production cost nothing as it happens.

Nobody wanted to waste money on this mag and I'm sure that if anyone produces another issue they'd welcome any assistance of help in keeping production costs down. If people honestly don't care what a mag looks like this is a useful thing to know so thanks for making the point, Jim.

 

[Gritt23]

The fanzine was awesome - The 'My first match - an optomistic vision of the Albion in 2006/7 through the eyes of a 10 year old' by GRITT23 almost bought tears to my eyes.

f***ing well done to everyone.

Thank you very much kind sir, nice to know it was enjoyed.

 

[Turkey]

I think we got a very good deal. The printers are Albion fans and did us the best deal they could.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Turkey - Have you put ten aside for me on Saturday?

I am free after easter to produce another one as have no exams and nothing to do so I can take longer over the editing, hopefully meaning less work for Roz. What do you think?

 

[Turkey]

Turkey - Have you put ten aside for me on Saturday?

I am free after easter to produce another one as have no exams and nothing to do so I can take longer over the editing, hopefully meaning less work for Roz. What do you think?

Yes I have.

Not many games left to get another one out.

 

[The Large One]

I totally agree with roz, but can sympathise with Jim D. When she told me how much it was, I did wince a bit. However, I think the printers did do a fine job, and to re-create the production qualities that Gull's Eye had would be a horribly retrogressive step. And probably more expensive.

Fanzines are supposed to have a 'care-free, amateurish' look about them, otherwise they would be slick, glossy, 'official' looking publications. I think One F in Falmer is a fine effort which has some of the best elements of both worlds.

Turkey: Can you post those half a dozen copies to Paul Rogers at the Albion's offices? He is more than happy to get the players to sign them. Curiously and worringly, he didn't know anything about them. And no, they haven't been told about Falmer yet...

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Turkey, not many games but I was thinking of an end of season one perhaps?

 

[Curious Orange]

Spotted the fanzine on sale as I approached the ground. As the nearest seller was Yorkie I thought I better finally introduce myself to one of you mob!! And yes, it is slightly embarrassing saying "Hi, I'm Curious Orange," fortunately Yorkie didn't burst out laughing!!

Enjoyed the magazine. Nice moody cover, some pieces were familiar from here, and some completely new. And I finally got to find out exactly what a vehicle-bat collision was all about.

Thankyou everyone who was involved.

 

[Turkey]

Turkey, not many games but I was thinking of an end of season one perhaps?

To sell to whom? No matches = no congregation of fans.

 

[BensGrandad]

Like many other fans I bought it to help swell the coffers to try to get J Prescott to agree to Falmer. That doen't mean that I have to like and admire it. I do however, commend the people that have put time into producing it with the best intentions at heart. Whether it becomes a financial success remains to be seen and no doubt we will be told if so.

I feel that I must reply to Lord Bracknell's post about what I said after a supporters meeting at Southwick.

I said then and I still say that Dick Knight was not the ideal choice but the only option being put forward. I do not believe that he has the money to fulfill the dream of Falmer. He has exceeded my expectations with the success on the field but has still made very serious mistakes and again in my opinion wasted a lot of money in other areas.

It is well documented that our entire existenceand continuance depends on obtaining permission to build Falmer. So assuming that Falmer is rejected how much further forward will we then be than that night in Southwick.

Perhaps Lord Bracknell would prefer that everybody followed like sheep and did as the politicians say 'toed the party line' Like many supporters I pay my season ticket money, in my case it is for three tickets, does this then mean that I am not pertmitted an opinion. It is this differing of opinions that make us and this country what it is.

Once again I will say most catergorically I did not and do not consider Falmer to be the best option available but the ONLY option that is now available and as such I will do all I can to support the application.

If my view upsets some people then unfortunately this is all apart of life.

 

[BensGrandad]

Sorry I missed out a word:

So assuming THE WORST AND that Falmer is rejected how much further forward will we then be than that night in Southwick.

 

[The Large One]

I said then and I still say that Dick Knight was not the ideal choice but the only option being put forward.

Who, in your opinion, was the ideal choice at the time?

I do not believe that he has the money to fulfill the dream of Falmer.

'He' doesn't. But he has assured the council that he can attract the money. No-one outside those meetings knows.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Bens Grandad, Roz has already mentioned that it has made over £400 for the Falmer fund.

 

[BensGrandad]

Sorry missed the fact that it made £400 in which case all I can say is well done to you all.

As to who is the right man I unfortunately do not have the answer but in the past I wrote to Lord Cowdray when it was suggested that he was fronting a bid by Irvine Scholar to take over Nottingham Forest suggesting that being a Sussex Land and property owner as well as being at the time in the 10 richesty people in Britain that with his business expertise and knowledge he could make this club of ours comparable to most in the country.

The reply that I got was that he had no intentions of buying into a football club and that was pure media speculation.

But this is the type of man we need and before I get shouted at somebody with loads of money already and not buying the club trying to make loads of money like Archer and mob.

 

[Lush]

But this is the type of man we need and before I get shouted at somebody with loads of money already and not buying the club trying to make loads of money like Archer and mob.

I think you'll find that people with loads of money already are the worst, as they are always keen on making more - Bill Archer being an obvious example and Fatboy Slim being the exception that proves the rule.

Anyway back to the fanzine...

It sold exceptionally well, partly because there hadn't been one for ages; partly because it was about a topic that people are interested in ie Falmer; and partly because of the numbers that turned up to help. (Lesson: The Giant Flag had 30 helpers on its first outing, these days we can hardly rustle up a couple of people to bung it in a car boot).

I would tread carefully and only produce one if there's a good reason ie WE GET FALMER! OR WE ARE IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL!

I thought it was a great and emotional read produced under time pressure. A fanzine that made a profit and was something to be proud of. The only comment I would make would be that it was quite "wordy" - a few more short snappy features would be good as well as long articles. But that's a minor thing - and a comment rather than a criticism.

Again - well done to all - not least for raising a substantial amount of money for Falmer For All.

 

[Turkey]

FAO of a Mike P who works at Barclays.

I recieved your email about obtaining a copy of the fanzine but it appears your account will not let me email a response!

I will be at Sheffield Wednesday. If you're registered on NSC please send me a PM. If not, email me your phone number and I'll call you.

Si.

 

[Turkey]

As for the Fanzine. Personally I felt it could have been better. That's no reflection on the content - which is excellent IMHO. I think it could have done with a couple of articles which didn't make it, some cartoons which I believe were recieved just to late, plus an interview or something. However, considering it was a first attempt by Richie and Myself and we wanted to get it done quickly I think we've done well - although a massive reason for that is Roz who's expirience was invaluable.. Most people have enjoyed it and it's raised a lot of money. Brilliant.

 

[Beach Hut]

Don't all beat yourselves up over it - it was a bloody good success and very good.

The objectives - sell to make a profit which I think has been easily achieved.

Well done all round