Tekel Towers » Changes to the Forum

Tek · 25/10/2026 5:38 am

Hello, everyone

Just let you know i am making some changes to the Forum soon.

The company who runs this website (Boardhost) who are American based have recently been in contact with me on several occasions.

Firstly, regarding the recent mass attack on the server PHP2Shell which hosts this website (and indeed hosts 70% of the websites in the Western World). You may have noticed the Forum was down at times recently.

Secondly, and most importantly. The same website (Boardhost) has been losing ad revenue. And have informed me that after 12 years they are going to start charging me and the other users who run a Forum under their website.

This amount of money is roughly 180 quid a year. Not a huge amount of money, granted. But considering i set this Forum up for free and have ran it that way (free of charge) for 12 years, well it's a slightly bitter pill to swallow.

I have paid for the first two months registration out of my own pocket at (£13.99) per month.

I am reaching out to you fine fellows, the members of this community to see what you can suggest. Would you be willing to make a small contribution to keep this Forum alive?

I know the Dode Fox lads have their 'Buy me a coffee' thing. I genuinely have no idea how to do such a thing, and tbh i'm embarrassed to even ask. But if this Forum is going to continue, i genuinely would appreciate some help.

I am open to any and all suggestions, lads.

Lastly, i am going to make the Forum private in 1 weeks time. No more freeloading, at least as a guest.

So to anyone who reads this website as a guest (the majoriy of you)

You will need to know your password to continue reading this Forum. If you don't know it, get in touch asap.

Either DM me here or on X.

You have until November 1st.

Kind Regards,

Tek

Stillliving · 25/10/2026 7:50 am

You could maybe use the prize fund from the prediction league to help with cost, not this season as the rules have been set out.
I don’t know if others would agree to that but I participate for a bit of fun not concerned about money.

kdyteejay · 25/10/2026 8:43 am

Stillliving wrote:
You could maybe use the prize fund from the prediction league to help with cost, not this season as the rules have been set out.
I don’t know if others would agree to that but I participate for a bit of fun not concerned about money.

I agree with this. I only participate for a bit of fun.

Jims Beard · 25/10/2026 9:22 am

Personally I'd leave the prize money for the prediction league even though I have no chance of ever winning it. I know moneys tight for everyone just now but if just 10 people contributed 50p a week we would be covered and then some. I would be happy so send Tek some money now even next months payment to kick us off.

Jims Beard · 25/10/2026 9:28 am

Also regarding Buy Me a Coffee, I think it's fairly simple to set up but they do take a 5% cut, as do other similar sites. The best way to send any donations would be the way we do for the prediction league, that may suit anyone who is part of the league but may put Tek/others off making donations.

BMT · 25/10/2026 9:41 am

I’m happy to contribute and will go along with what the majority thinks

David_Blunkett · 25/10/2026 10:03 am

Happy to bang in a contribution, or whatever you decide, when the fundraisers were running on Eastfootball over the years, things like a pound or whatever amount you preferred to give per point/goal United gained/scored was one of the things we did. It was done to sponsor a player or give to United for Kids. Money was collected at the end of the season.

Might be a costly one this season if we did £1 per goal, or save some money and put a tenner on every Metsoko goal?

SuperMario · 25/10/2026 10:14 am

Happy to contribute some sort of cash also 👍🏼

Shakey Isles Arab · 25/10/2026 10:29 am

Money well spent.
Everyone throws in 8 quid should cover it.

Danzaa · 25/10/2026 12:05 pm

Sorry Tek, I have a lot going on with family,
2 deaths and one that is rexovering from brain surgery.
Although I dont post due to abive taking up my time
I will go with whatever as I do like this site,
Long may it be free from a certain stats man 🤔

Tek · 25/10/2026 1:27 pm

Danzaa wrote:
Sorry Tek, I have a lot going on with family,
2 deaths and one that is rexovering from brain surgery.
Although I dont post due to abive taking up my time
I will go with whatever as I do like this site,
Long may it be free from a certain stats man 🤔

Don't worry about it mate

You have enough going on.🤝

Tek · 25/10/2026 1:28 pm

Thank you for the responses everyone.

As I say, I'm embarrassed to even ask, but you've given me some food for thought.

Thank you.

Shedtastic · 25/10/2026 1:46 pm

How many consistent posters do you have?
At the start of next season if we all chip in few quid it should be fine, I for one don't think you should shoulder the costs yourself.

redford_must_score · 25/10/2026 2:42 pm

Tek wrote:
Thank you for the responses everyone.

As I say, I'm embarrassed to even ask, but you've given me some food for though.

Thank you.

Happy to make an annual contribution as and when required.

RogerTheAlien · 25/10/2026 7:07 pm

Happy to contribute also.

Tek, are you considering changing the layout of the forum in anyway also?

redford_must_score · 25/10/2026 7:17 pm

RogerTheAlien wrote:
Happy to contribute also.

Tek, are you considering changing the layout of the forum in anyway also?

If so, I'd love to see a thread on the main page for 'Any Other Football'
No United subject matter alllowed, just anything else to keep interest going between United match discussions.
I know there's a separate page but very few folk use it.

RogerTheAlien · 25/10/2026 8:13 pm

redford_must_score wrote:
RogerTheAlien wrote:
Happy to contribute also.

Tek, are you considering changing the layout of the forum in anyway also?

If so, I'd love to see a thread on the main page for 'Any Other Football'
No United subject matter alllowed, just anything else to keep interest going between United match discussions.
I know there's a separate page but very few folk use it.

My thinking also, I like the United mad layout where it’s all on one page just multiple threads.

redford_must_score · 25/10/2026 8:36 pm

RogerTheAlien wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
RogerTheAlien wrote:
Happy to contribute also.

Tek, are you considering changing the layout of the forum in anyway also?

If so, I'd love to see a thread on the main page for 'Any Other Football'
No United subject matter alllowed, just anything else to keep interest going between United match discussions.
I know there's a separate page but very few folk use it.

My thinking also, I like the United mad layout where it’s all on one page just multiple threads.

Is Mad still going? I tried twice to open it a few months back and just got access denied. Error 403

Tek · Yesterday 12:45 am

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and suggestions.

I have deliberated a few times with myself over the past few weeks whether to even put this post up, but as the next subscription is due in 9 days time, (see screenshot below as proof), i thought now was the right time to at least float the idea, and i am genuinely very heartened by the responses and kindness everyone has shown to my predicament.

I think the suggestion about using the Prediction League prize money, whilst a good idea, is one i wont exercise. Most of us do play just for the fun of it, but i think it's good thing that there is a modest pot of money and a trophy at the end of it for the winner. It adds a wee bit to the competition and makes it feels like there is something worth winning. I think as Jim's Beard suggested, that it may also put a few off playing if there was no prize money and/or trophy.

I think i will also leave the idea of the 'Buy Me A Coffee' as the company takes a cut (albeit a small one).

I think what i will do for the time being is just invite donations via my DM's on here. Any donation would be welcomed from literally £1 to whatever you can afford. It would all be greatly appreciated, believe me.

I will start a thread on here soon on here to document the contributors. I can keep the amounts private of course.

P.s. just wanted to also clarify my comment about 'freeloaders; in my original post. I didn't word that very well and it wasn't aimed at anyone, and not even in a financial sense. I meant 'freeloading' in as much as a lot of people probably read the Forum daily without ever logging in and contributing. Most in truth probably don't even hold an account or membership.

Time for that to end.

Be an interesting experiment to see if it will also see an uptick in people posting. Worth a go anyway.

Tek · Yesterday 12:57 am

RogerTheAlien wrote:
Happy to contribute also.

Tek, are you considering changing the layout of the forum in anyway also?

Tbh Roger, no not at this time.

That's not to say it won't happen in future, but there will be no imminent changes.

Boardhosts lay-out is quite formulaic and there isn't much wiggle room for change in terms of turning the Forum into one long form lay-out. Tbh i'm not sure i'd even want that as it would just be replicating Utd Mad. I will have a re-think on the Sub-Forums however. Some never get used or rarely and i will be considering how to better improve this going forward into the New Year.

There is also more scope for changing things like the back-drop of the Forum and it's aesthetics. That is something that is possibly more likely in future.