Supporters Liaison Group 17th April Meeting Notes

[John Hunt]

Dear All

I am putting this out here on behalf of Eddie Thompson who has been trying to post this to Only Barnet since Friday - awaiting moderation.

To make it clear I was not at the meeting.

Errors and Omissions Excluded and clarifications welcomed.

Will post on BTID too.

regards

John

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BARNET FOOTBALL CLUB – SUPPORTER LIASION GROUP

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MEETING 17TH APRIL 2018 – NOTES

1. Away coaches to ‘big’ games e.g. Morecambe if game is a ‘must win’

Many have already booked trains etc. to this game so probably not viable for this match. Future ‘big’ games need 50 to show interest and pay upfront to show the coach will not lose money. Past experience has not been favourable.

2. Q&A with MA

Yes if this is what supporters want, perhaps a joint MA/AAK event

3. AAK to meet supporters?

The Chairman has made it clear he is always willing to meet supporters and asked why 50 do not show for SLG meetings. The next meeting will be planned on this basis.

4. Player of the Year event and vote for end of season awards

Little to show a POTY event would be supported this year.

5. Lester Finch Trophy – Supporter representative group to decide

6. Catering

* Price of separate items of food (e.g portion of chips £4.00)

£7 for a burger and £3 for chips is the correct price. The Chairman will ensure this is followed.

* South stand and Bar 66 for home supporters if we are relegated? (when visiting clubs are poorly supported)

Rules for strict segregation of visiting supporters mean this is not possible within the current stadium lay out. Changes to away seating is largely under control of the police.

* A better central bar replacing that lost when the Pecking Order was opened?

Not really practical when the Legends Bar was developed to replace the central bar. Changes to Legends Bar are to proceed which is likely to include a false ceiling like Bar ‘66

* Match day bar service.

The SLG has discussed this many times. Half time pre-poured beer previously agreed but dependent upon ever changing bar staff. Cold coffee for early arrivals not good enough when staff fail to switch on the urn in good time. Both will again be followed up by the Club.

7. Garden of memory at The Hive (noting Churchills the undertaker state in programme they can arrange for ashes to be scattered at The Hive)

Under active consideration. Planning approval will be needed.

8. Cash turnstile at ‘home’ entrance

Cash is taken at the ticket office. Not practical at turnstiles

9. Updates on status of new developments

Planning is proving tortuous with the upcoming local elections slowing the process

10. Ex-players to be interviewed when they visit The Hive

This will be looked at but half empty stadium at half time not ideal. Live video on bar screens to be considered or to screen on iFollow.

11. Ticket office – Barnet FC and The Hive, London?

Differing tickets for London Bees and BFC not practical. Over printing with the event already takes place. London Bees consider themselves a pro club with equal status to BFC.

12. Community spirit – Do we have a Marketing Manager who would meet with supporters for their ideas to raise our image in the local community.

This will be looked into to see if community spirit can be improved this way.

13. Can members of the senior management team be more visible on match days?

Yes during the discussion, it was stressed James Thorne is the Club Chief operating Officer with 400 employees to manage. James is not the Head of Football.

14. Affordable sponsorships

Next season £90 to sponsor a play with a signed photo and your name in every programme

15. Season tickets as an option to monthly membership

Little support for this as most prefer to pay monthly and not 12 months upfront. Annual cost would be the same. 12 monthly payments are for admin. convenience 10 or 11 would result in a higher monthly charge. Cost of running pro-football clubs is increasing well ahead of inflation. National League will not make a major impact on running costs.

16. Bus and not a coach shuttle from Underhill

It was not envisaged a bus would be substantially cheaper than a coach if at all.

17. South Stand bar?

Marquees are expensive and when used before resulted in a substantial loss. A new stand would incorporate a bar.

18. Supporters room (not for drinking or food)

The point of this was not understood

19. Away game tickets

No appetite to sell away match tickets. Selling clubs take a commission. Away supporters generally found no problem purchasing tickets from the away venue

20. Whitchurch Lane Path Lighting

The council will only allow waist height lights which are regularly vandalised. Strengthening the posts with steel collars has not worked. Permission for a few higher-level lights is being sought.

best wishes

John Hunt.

[kingpinfid]

Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing.

[barnet_pls]

interesting enough, but surprised no one asked about the potential impact of relegation.

[pgbee]

interesting enough, but surprised no one asked about the potential impact of relegation.

Think TK said earlier this season, less impact than last time we went down, says it all really. Who knows, IF near the top, crowds may actually improve on this season with more 'local' games, around 15 teams will be in the SE quadrant of England...but then BFC is not the main revenue stream....?

[DerekRocholl]

interesting enough, but surprised no one asked about the potential impact of relegation.

Think TK said earlier this season, less impact than last time we went down, says it all really. Who knows, IF near the top, crowds may actually improve on this season with more 'local' games, around 15 teams will be in the SE quadrant of England...but then BFC is not the main revenue stream....?

The academy status would be retained at its current level.

[LadyBee]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

[jerroll]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

350 are players!!

[Bee52]

[beew]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

Not many of that 400 are associated with the football side of things. Really does show the lack of intention for Barnet FC when the guy who has been put forward as in charge of our club recruitment is really looking after bar staff, waiting staff, cooks, sous chefs, meet and greet, stewards, club shop employees, cleaners, fitness guru's, personal trainers etc..

It's no surprise, we are where we currently stand. Mind-blowing....

[beew]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

Not many of that 400 are associated with the football side of things. Really does show the lack of intention for Barnet FC when the guy who has previosly been put forward as in charge of our player club recruitment is really looking after bar staff, waiting staff, cooks, sous chefs, meet and greet, stewards, club shop employees, cleaners, fitness guru's, personal trainers etc..

It's no surprise, we are where we currently stand. Mind-blowing....

[CrawleyBee]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

Not many of that 400 are associated with the football side of things. Really does show the lack of intention for Barnet FC when the guy who has been put forward as in charge of our club recruitment is really looking after bar staff, waiting staff, cooks, sous chefs, meet and greet, stewards, club shop employees, cleaners, fitness guru's, personal trainers etc..

It's no surprise, we are where we currently stand. Mind-blowing....

Agreed surely that is TKs job? Further proof how the football side is so neglected. Rumour has it he put McGhee in charge of the whole operation when he was away.... oh dear.

[jerroll]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

Not many of that 400 are associated with the football side of things. Really does show the lack of intention for Barnet FC when the guy who has been put forward as in charge of our club recruitment is really looking after bar staff, waiting staff, cooks, sous chefs, meet and greet, stewards, club shop employees, cleaners, fitness guru's, personal trainers etc..

It's no surprise, we are where we currently stand. Mind-blowing....

Think his job role changed when the haggis muncher arrived, presume he has taken on some of Andrew Aidie's duties.

[To bee or not to bee]

The haggis muncher. Thanks for that. Made me laugh. Good one.

[ninestein]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

Not many of that 400 are associated with the football side of things. Really does show the lack of intention for Barnet FC when the guy who has been put forward as in charge of our club recruitment is really looking after bar staff, waiting staff, cooks, sous chefs, meet and greet, stewards, club shop employees, cleaners, fitness guru's, personal trainers etc..

It's no surprise, we are where we currently stand. Mind-blowing....

Think his job role changed when the haggis muncher arrived, presume he has taken on some of Andrew Aidie's duties.

I believe this is correct. He was originally 'Head of Football" but that role was changed to CEOO or something to that effect. There was an article a few months back where the London Bees were granted a professional licence to compete in the super league, which made reference to this role change. With that in mind, i think the August deadline day was the last involvement Thorne had in first team player recruitment.

If hereally has 400 staffto manage, two things spring to mind...

1. It's little wonder we haven't seen that organisation chart TK promised in the Q&A.

2. Are these 400 included in our attendance figures?

[RichardM]

Shocked that there are 400 employees for James Thorne to manage! Must be a typo surely?

Not many of that 400 are associated with the football side of things. Really does show the lack of intention for Barnet FC when the guy who has been put forward as in charge of our club recruitment is really looking after bar staff, waiting staff, cooks, sous chefs, meet and greet, stewards, club shop employees, cleaners, fitness guru's, personal trainers etc..

It's no surprise, we are where we currently stand. Mind-blowing....

Think his job role changed when the haggis muncher arrived, presume he has taken on some of Andrew Aidie's duties.

Having worked with Andrew Adie for over 4 years and with some idea of how Tony works, I very much doubt that James Thorne has taken over any of Andrew's duties.