2nd Supporters Clubs and Blues Websites Meeting
Filed under: Blues News, Blues Supporters Clubs / Websites, Kev's Ramblings
Last weekend prior to the Wigan game, myself and Aylesburyblue attended the second supporters club / website owners meeting. I felt it was a very positive time, with a real sense that the club want to improve us everywhere and not just on the pitch.
Here are the notes I took:
Supporters Club Meeting
There was an agenda which we kept to pretty well. These are the notes I made during the meeting.
1. Toilets
The club are treating this issue with the utmost urgency. They recognise that the toilets especially in the main stand need sorting.
They have put a working party together to try and deal with this. The ladies toilets are being looked at to try and make them more feminine. Also during the 1st half, all the toilets will be cleaned ready for the half time rush. The problem with the lack of water should be sorted within the next two weeks as there is a new water supply being bought into the club to cope with the flush and hand washing facilities. Hot water is further away, however is also being looked at.
2. Sound System
Again this is another issue that is regularly complained about. During the Everton game, engineers will be in the ground to try and work out which settings will be best to ensure that the overall sound quality is acceptable. The stewards will be primed to take feedback from supporters. Further away, x16 amplified speakers are going into the Kop at the back to give a better coverage which should mean the volume can be reduced. It was mentioned that the main stand speakers often feedback, that was noted as would be added to the information to be given to the engineers.
It was also agreed that we would NOT use celebration music like some grounds do!!
3, 4. Season Tickets / Ticketing – Away travel
(This section is still to be agreed by the board – but is expected to be so)
This was the area we spent the most time on, for obvious reasons! Season ticket holders will not be offered the 10% discount this year because we now know we will be in the Premier League. It was offered last year as it was uncertain at the time if we would be promoted or not.
When ST holders get their renewals, they will be able to see exactly what they are saving as they will see how many category matches there are in each category and how much they would cost for match day tickets. It is thought that the saving over the season will be around 22%. The interest free payment offer will remain, but over 5 months rather than 4. U8 ST will also remain at no cost.
Concessions are also being adjusted slightly. The concession breaks will be for Under 8, Under 12, Under 18 instead of 16. Student concessions will now apply to Under 23’s instead of U21. Concessions will also apply all over the ground.
The only reduced match tickets will be made available through season ticket holders. It is recognised that there is no financial benefit, so there will be an incentive such as a club shop voucher if ST holders get tickets for friends. More on this soon.
It was recognised that the turnstyles can be a problem and this is being looked at to see how it can be improved.
It was decided that the ATC will end at the end of this season. From now ALL away tickets will be made available to ST holders 1st, Then those who regularly buy away tickets. (For the new season the club will look at this season for you). Then general release.
It is essential that when you buy an away ticket that you give your name and address so the club KNOW you have got the ticket especially if you are looking to get tickets for one of the attractive fixtures. If you are buying more than one, ensure you pass the info for the people you are buying them for.
IF we make the Semi-final, the same ticketing process will apply as did for the QF.
5. Away Fans
We don’t rate well with away fans for friendliness, the club want to change this. Away fans bring 1.1 Million into the club over the season. They will remain in the Gil Merrick lower, however the family stand will probably move.
2nd Supporter Meeting 27/2/10
6 / 7 Facilities / Catering
Again it is recognised we need to improve things, especially in the main stand. Next season catering is being bought back internally as the club believe they can do it cheaper and better quality. More about this to come. Also the club are looking at re-introducing tray vendors.
8. Merchandise
The club is currently looking at 2 city centre stores for a new location for a shop. This will be in place for the new season. Once this is established, they will also look at a location in Touchwood. The club are conscious that the store will need to look professional; and they want to improve the quality of the products offered. The deal has been done with xstep for our shirts. Umbro saw us as a small club and we were well down the list often waiting months for stuff as well as having to pay for everything up front. Xstep are more flexible. They offer a 6 week turnaround for our merchandise, and also say that the new shirts will be available before the summer.
The new designs, (all are Blue!), will be made public soon and we as fans will get to vote on the one we like. This will happen around the Everton at home game.
9. Board of Directors / Club Finances
It was said that we are likely to see some players leave the club in the summer, and there will definitely players coming in to strengthen the side. We are looking at forwards.
In regard to January, MD revealed that the wage differential between top and bottom earners in the main 1st team squad was low by Premier League standards. He said a fee was agreed for one player, and close for another on transfer deadline day but the wages asked for were so out of sync with the rest of the squad AM didn’t want to do it for fear of upsetting the dressing room. Alex made it clear to the board that he wouldn’t be held ransom for players – and although they didn’t name names, it was said that we were messed about in January. Alex is in total control of the players.
Someone asked who the other investors were. Who are those behind Grandtop / Birmingham International. MD said it isn’t something the Chinese talk about. There seems to be a cultural thing, that business is private. Basically MD said he didn’t know – but was absolute that the money WAS there for the development of the club and the team.
10 AOB
Museum
The club have bought a large collection of Blues memorabilia and have decided to open a museum, (the old subway shop). The intention is to open it one day a week initially coupled with a stadium tour for around £5 for adults and £2.50 for kids. They were very excited about it!
Pre-Season Tour
The club will be going to Hong Kong and China in the summer for two weeks for a tour. This will obviously help to promote the club. The club will be doing travel packages, however we were warned that they won’t be cheap!
Joys and Sorrows Speak to the South Wales Blues Supporters Club
Filed under: Blues News, Blues Supporters Clubs / Websites, Kev's Ramblings
Here is our latest article on Blues supporters clubs. This time the South West Wales club. Over to Keith Gadsby.
—————————————————————————————————
Welcome to South Wales Blues Supporters Club. We are now into our tenth season having been originally founded by Trevor Bishop and Paul Landon. Trevor now lives in Brisbane, Australia however, even the time difference does not prevent him from following his beloved Blues.
The majority of our members are Exiled Brummies who have moved down to South Wales with their work/families. In fact through the friendships that have developed over the years it has come to note that four of us were all born in the same hospital, Marston Green. Sadly no longer there.
Most members have followed Blues from the 60’s – 70’s and through the dark times. Our oldest member now into his 70’s has many a story to tell.
Each year we present a trophy to our chosen Player of The Season, the first recipient was Geoff Horsfield in season 2002-03. He epitomised everything that Blues are about. This photo shows Trevor and Paul our original founders together with Scott, Trevors’ son.
Geoff and some of the South West Wales Supporters Club
Here is another shot presenting Emile Heskey and displaying our club flag which hopefully will be flying high at Wembley come May.
Emile and some of the South West Wales Supporters Club
Several of us are Season Ticket holders and also hold Away Travel Member cards so we get to see most Home Games and a few Away games. We generally save our best effort for the last game of the season where Fancy Dress is the order of the day. Here we are a few seasons back at the Blackburn game, we even had a Police escort that day. We must have looked suspicious!!! (Sorry it is a little blurred).
The South West Wales Supporters Club in Fancy Dress!
We also get together as often as possible to watch a Blues game on TV. Generally we meet up in or around the Cardiff area which is a central meeting point for us. Fellow South Wales Blues are welcome to come a join us. We can be found on Facebook.
You can contact us or leave a message.
Keith.
——————————————————————————————————
If you have a supporters club that you would like us to plug, contact me here. Tell me about your club where you are, where you meet etc. Tell me something about you, and if possible a photo.
We have spoken to a number of other supporters clubs, the links to these article are below.
Kev
The Norwegian Supporters Club.
The Middle East Supporters Club.
The Netherlands Supporters Club.
Site Update, Other Blues Sites and Supporters Clubs
Filed under: Blog News, Blues News, Blues Supporters Clubs / Websites, Kev's Ramblings
I want to start by wishing you all a very Happy New Year and I hope as we start a new year and decade, that things are on the up for you.
2009 was a pretty successful year for Joys and Sorrows, and once again, thank you to everyone who has written an article, written a comment, has read anything on the site and has contributed on the forum.
A special thank you to Andy and Brian at Small Heath Alliance and Singing the Blues respectively, for plugging our articles – thanks guys, and I look forward to catching up with you in February.
Up to December, we were getting around 12,000 page views per month however December was awesome with us getting 26,500! I was really proud of some of the articles that we produced last month, and I’m looking to build on it for this coming year.
If you have any ideas of what we could do as a blog, or would like to write an occasional or regular article for us, please let me know via the contact page.
I have added a list of supporters clubs websites which we’ve focused on here at J&S. As I have said before, if you are involved in a supporters club in the UK or abroad and would like to promote it, let me know via the contact page.
I look forward to what 2010 brings for us as the club is doing well, I’m sure there will be articles on new players. We already have an interview with another Blues legend in the bag, and that will appear in the next few days.
See you soon!
Kev
Joys and Sorrows Speak to the Netherlands Supporters Club
Continuing with our focus on the different supporters clubs, this time we speak to Marc who is involved with the Netherlands Supporters Club.
——————————————————————————————————-
Merry Christmas one and all, and greetings from the Blues Supporters’ Club in The Netherlands. The Club kicked off seven or eight years ago, and is based in The Hague. Several of us Bluenoses live here, mostly working for international courts and the like. We also have some members who live elsewhere in The Netherlands, but still come to The Hague to watch games together. I’ve been here for ten years, which is probably about par for the club.
We meet at The Shillelaigh Irish pub at Javastraat 94. The landlord keeps a very nice pint, and it’s a good friendly place. As we’re been going there for several years, the Blues game is almost always on live, regardless of which other Premiership games are being shown. Last Tuesday, for example, Blues-Blackburn was on the big screen, while Man U against Wolves was relegated to a small tv above the far end of the bar – despite the fact that the landlord is a Man U fan.
We arrange trips to see Blues in England a couple of times a year, usually to away games. This year we went to Wigan – what a good time that was! – and we’re looking at going to the game at Sunderland in March. People also go over to Brum fairly regularly; one of our members is a season ticket holder.
Netherlands Blues Supporters Club
Needless to say, any Bluenoses who find themselves in or around The Hague on match days are more than welcome to join us!
Marc J
——————————————————————————————–
If you have a supporters club that you would like us to plug, contact me here. Tell me about your club where you are, where you meet etc. Tell me something about you, and if possible a photo.
We have spoken to a number of other supporters clubs, the links to these article are below.
Kev
The Norwegian Supporters Club.
The Middle East Supporters Club.
Joys and Sorrows Speak to the Blues Middle East Supporters Club (Dubai)
Here is our latest article covering Blues supporters clubs from around the globe. This time it is the turn of Dan Perry from Dubai, I also received an e-mail from Mark and so I have added some information he gave me.
————————————————————————————–
Blues Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE and we currently have about 15 regular members that turn up to watch the live matches. In its current format, we have been together for approx 2 years and the numbers are increasing as more people become aware of our presence. The club is run, in a very flexible manner, by me and Terry Woodley, but the role is really just about getting us together. We have just started to create a website although it is really in its infancy and many changes are to be made in the coming weeks.
We meet at the Crown and Lion Sports Bar in Hotel Byblos Al Barsha for all weekend games but the 4 hour winter time difference makes it difficult to catch midweek games. Being in the premier league has increased the chances to watch as all premier league games are shown live in the UAE and so for this fact alone our premier survival is essential! The photo attached was taken recently in the Crown and Lion and with
BME Members
I have supported Blues all of my life, with my first match a friendly encounter against an American outfit, I think as some testimonial match involving Trevor Francis. I have lived in the UAE for 10 years and with certainty state that Blues and Balti are the two things I miss most about the UK.
We welcome any newcomers into our group – we need the numbers as it is a brave fight against the hoards of Manure and Chelski fans in order to secure a TV in the sports bar.
I can be contacted by email or by phone – 00971 50 180 1875…
Dan
BME Logo
Addition from Mark:
At Ali Campbell’s UB40 concert in Dubai recently the Blue flags were flying and the odd strain of ‘keep right on’ could be heard so we know there are many more Bluenoses living in the Middle East that need to
join us!
——————————————————————————————–
If you have a supporters club that you would like us to plug, contact me here. Tell me about your club where you are, where you meet etc. Tell me something about you, and if possible a photo.
We have spoken to a number of other supporters clubs, the links to these article are below.
Kev
-
Partners
-
Polls
Loading ...
-
Recent Posts
- VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – PORTSMOUTH vs BIRMINGHAM CITY (REFRAIN)
- St Andrews Tannoy Sytem – Give Your Feedback
- Post Portsmouth Musings!
- Who’s going to be the top marksman?
- VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – PORTSMOUTH v BIRMINGHAM CITY
- Nail Biting Blues!
- Portsmouth v Birmingham City – FA Cup preview
- As the Blues Announce a Loss – We Ask, is it Bad News?
- 2nd Supporters Clubs and Blues Websites Meeting
- Gil Merrick Memories
-
Other Stuff
