Fans Forum 15/09/2007

[wh]

We’re listening: City Fans Forum 5:15pm Saturday 15 September

Worcester City chairman Dave Boddy and director Paul Curtis are to host a fans forum at 5:15pm on Saturday 15 September after the Leigh RMI game at St George’s Lane.

The forum, which will be held in the Harry Knowles Lounge , will give the board the opportunity to hear your views and for us to answer your questions on many issues – but specifically concerns regarding falling attendances at St Georges Lane this season.

We want to you to tell us how you feel the club can improve the match day experience for spectators and how we may be able increase our attendances.

Are you a fan who has stopped visiting St.George’s Lane? Then tell us why. Do you know people who have stopped coming? Any idea why? Maybe you know other potential supporters who could be drawn in if we changed things?

This will be a free, frank and open exchange of views. Everyone is invited. We’re open to ‘blue sky’ thinking and positive, constructive, thoughts.

We cannot promise to act on your suggestions but we certainly want to hear them and will consider them thoroughly. We ARE listening, so come and talk to us.

We would particularly like to hear from anyone who is willing to help us put solutions into action.

The forum is part of an open approach, which began with the pre season forum held by chairman, Dave Boddy and manager, Andy Preece, which we intend to continue throughout the season.

We appreciate some supporters may not be able to stay behind after the match – so we have arranged for a suggestion box to be situated near the turnstiles so supporters can leave their thoughts. Pens and paper will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday – for both the match and the forum, tea and biscuits will be provided.

See you on Saturday

Dave Boddy
Chairman
Worcester City Football Club

[DazaB]

doesnt affect me, but admission prices i imagine will be mentioned. Any idea how long it will last because i have to be at skittles for 8??

[dave]

I won't be able to attend the forum as I have got other plans for Saturday.

If someone is willing to put the following items to Dave and Paul as suggestions I would be grateful:-

1) The Catering - quality and range are pretty poor and lack of pies is frankly criminal for a team in Blue Square NORTH. Also what the hell are vegatarians supposed to eat at the lane!

Furthermore as has been said thousands of times before, chocolate bars and crisps should also be available outside of the social club bar as kids will not want to venture in there.

2) Admission prices - Pre-season friendlies overpriced and have put people off coming. These games are an opportunity to grab more fans and keep them, so why not have £5 adults and kids for a quid.

3) Free tickets for schools regularly

4) Kids for a quid regularly

5) Get rid of Captain Crazy - out of touch and unfunny, it is like a bloody horror show.

6) A more exciting and vibrant (dare I say younger!) match announcer and music would also lift the atmosphere.

7) Stop creating false expectations over the new ground. Announcing every six months that news is imminent is an easy way to p*ss people off and cause supporters to lose faith. If there are things holding the process up, be open about them.

8) Raise the profile of the club in the community. So many people in Worcester don't even realise the football club exists let alone where SGL is!

9) Have a read of Matchday by Chris Green, plenty of good ideas present themselves in there.

[bcfcfan]

I quite like to go to this but i'll be at Birmingham vs Bolton.

3) Free tickets for schools regularly

4) Kids for a quid regularly

Two things I raised on another thread. Also, do the club have any links to professional clubs (Blues, Baggies, Walsall, Wloves, even the Villa ) in the area which could help with loan players, friendlies etc ?

[wh]

The key thing to remember, is that the Board and staff are already over stretched so the request for people to help with action is a very important part of this process. It is a shame the Trust didn't continue as there was some really good initiatives being explored.

This is not just a PR exercise, the club are genuinely looking for your ideas, thoughts and just as important your help where possible.

[wh]

dave said:

I won't be able to attend the forum as I have got other plans for Saturday.

If someone is willing to put the following items to Dave and Paul as suggestions I would be grateful:-

1) The Catering - quality and range are pretty poor and lack of pies is frankly criminal for a team in Blue Square NORTH. Also what the hell are vegatarians supposed to eat at the lane!

Furthermore as has been said thousands of times before, chocolate bars and crisps should also be available outside of the social club bar as kids will not want to venture in there.

2) Admission prices - Pre-season friendlies overpriced and have put people off coming. These games are an opportunity to grab more fans and keep them, so why not have £5 adults and kids for a quid.

3) Free tickets for schools regularly

4) Kids for a quid regularly

5) Get rid of Captain Crazy - out of touch and unfunny, it is like a bloody horror show.

6) A more exciting and vibrant (dare I say younger!) match announcer and music would also lift the atmosphere.

7) Stop creating false expectations over the new ground. Announcing every six months that news is imminent is an easy way to p*ss people off and cause supporters to lose faith. If there are things holding the process up, be open about them.

8) Raise the profile of the club in the community. So many people in Worcester don't even realise the football club exists let alone where SGL is!

9) Have a read of Matchday by Chris Green, plenty of good ideas present themselves in there.

Thanks Dave you make some good points there, I will make sure that Dave B & Paul get a copy of your thoughts.

[LeedsWCFC]

wh said:

after the Leigh RMI fixture in the Skittle Alley.

Bound to be a low gate then! Something wrong with the pitch?

[wh]

top item updated.

[wh]

wh said:

top item updated.

and updated again. it now kicks off 5:15pm in the HK lounge, tea and biscuits will be provided.

[cg]

I would urge all supporters to come to this forum tomorrow evening.

There has been no fiercer critic of certain aspects of the way WCFC has been run in recent times and the lack of dialogue between the board and the fans - and indeed the wider Worcester public - than me - but from conversations this week I do detect a genuine appetite from the board to listen this time.

This is a real chance to tell Dave and Paul what needs to be done to improve things on matchdays and the sort of initiatives (large and small, short and long term) which might draw more fans in and simply make going to SGL a more apealling place to visit. It isn't just a trawl for free help.

The fact there will suggestion boxes and free tea, coffee and biscuts for those who attend the forum is evidence they mean business.

There have been lots of ideas posted on this message board - particularly on the 'poor attendances' thread - and some disagreement (that's fair enough) but lets embrace this chance by putting the points directely to those people who are the stewards of the club.

[oldboyblue]

I don't subscribe to the idea that the lack of a pie in the ground is keeping fans away. I don't choose my away games on the basis of what food they have. The price is the same as last season so that can only be a small factor.
The supporters of City are generally indigenous Worcester people (unlike the warriors who pull a crowd in from the commuter belt) and being from Worcester they have been hit hard by the loss of Kays, the Porcelain, faithfull overalls etc. Along with interest rate rises and spiralling bills. When money is tight entertainment is the first to go.
You will find that they will be more selective and unfortunately the high cost of pre-season friendlies has convinced the fans that are feeling the pinch they are doing the right thing.