last nights meeting
 

Reasonably good meeting last night (over with quickly eh?) with a few new faces.

Apologies were received from quite a few people which was to be expected with the last minute change of date

Membership update was give as still waiting for the cards and badges. But the badges have since arrived

I reported that the end of season do was technically a success as we did make a profit (just), everybody enjoyed the night and bar takings were reasonably good. Again, though we find ourselves wondering how to get more people to attend bar functions.

Merchandise report was given with full accounts of total expenditure, current incomings and asset value. Merchandise Committee to meet soon to arrange next lines of items. It was generally felt we should reinvest the money we had made so far as had been passed at previous meetings.

Volunteers were requested for the Hyndburn Mela on Sunday 29th July.

Volunteers requested for the Barrowford show on Sunday 26th August.

We had planned to have a season curtain raiser disco the night before the opening game. However, with the team more than likely travelling to Wycombe the day before, and many of the travelling fans having to get up early for the coaches, it was decided to not have this event. We did look at moving it back a week and having either the night before or the saturday night of the Darlington match, but both nights are booked in the clubhouse. Event cancelled.

Agreed to try to book a ladies and gents evening for the friday and saturday of the 21st and 22nd September (Mansfield at home)

Red Osbornello gave his update for the new website (see separate thread)

Report given by myself in response to fans concerns reagrding several issues. The most pressing was of disabled access to the bar this season. Fans HAVE to have their cars on the car park an hour before the game. Disabled or elderley cannot get up the steps to the Crown and cannot get into the Sportsbar. Rob Heys had explained that it is an issue they have identified and are working to resolve. It is not expected to be resolved quickly as the only solutions would involve building works and therefore drwaings and permissions would be required. He did re-iterate that alcohol will be obtainable on the ground although this would not be ideal for these supporters. Man of the match awards will still be presented in the clubhouse but the only people who will see this now will be the sponsors. Players WILL be requested to call into the Crown after the games so fans will still get the chance to talk to them.

Re: last nights meeting
 

A-ha, something to moan about:)

To me this was one of the things that kept us as a family club, seeing the players and having a chat made some fans feel part of the club. It now looks like the first move by the club to move the prawn sandwich brigade in and phase out any contact with the players by the real fans. We may get one or two popping in the Crown but I bet there won't be many, bad move but a sign of the times.:(

Re: last nights meeting
 

I don't think it can really be helped Bagpuss. The money on offer from sponsors is too big to be disregarded.

£1k + vat to sponsor the match? £700 to sponsor the ball and the programme?

£50 a pop for pre match meal in the bar?

and apparently mostly booked fo rnext season for the boxes.

That kind of money is probably what the bar took in five hours so it had to happen. It would also save us a fortune on feeding the players before games etc

Re: last nights meeting
 

Agreed Rob like I said a sign of the times, the bigger we get the less people feel part of the club, money rules.