Hiveoccupier wrote:Hopefully a straightforward opening post to help us understand the group.
Just 2 questions:
1. Who are you ?
2. On what basis do you think you have a mandate to liaise with the club on behalf of Barnet FC's supporters ?
My apologies for the delay in posting this, but a very hectic 10 days didn't leave me with the energy to to dit when getting home in the evening. Rained off today so here it is.
Firstly, those currently forming the group are those previously listed, but, for clarification, they are and in alphabetical order;
John (Village) Adkins, Jeanette Cluff, Stephen Cranfield, Chris Emery, Nik Haidar, Tony (Reckless) Hammond, Michael (Miguelito) Hanley, Alex Jones, Kyle Kelly, Neil Staff, Henry Stevens and Eddie Thompson.
We felt this, initially, to be the maximum needed for this to be workable. We may in time feel the group size is too large or small, we will see. Sure, there will be comings and goings no doubt, and we’ll address whatever arises
Secondly, we haven’t requested for a mandate. We are just a bunch of Barnet FC supporters who, in the absence of a formal organisation, feel there should be some sort of body to represent fans at home and away games. We aren’t a formal group – we don’t have a Chair or particular spokesperson. We are just a wide range of people, young and old, male and female, those who favour a return to Barnet and those who are happy where we are (some just for the moment) people who not only to the vast majority of home games to say the least but also the vast majority (at least, again) of away games as well, including pre-season friendlies and minor competitions. Some mix socially with other members, some don’t. All in all a good mix we feel, and all with a common goal of first and foremost improving the match day experience followed by the key points described in our previous document
To this end we have already suggested things which have the club addressed (perhaps coincidentally as they may have already thought of them but nevertheless they were put forward) such as announcing in advance the times each part of the ground would be open on the last home game (these details were put on the club site), asking stewards to be vigilant in directing people to the correct seats against Gateshead and to continue afterwards (I didn't notice any problems though I had on a number of occasions on previously), for Grazioli's Bar to be open to those who want to watch Saturday lunchtimes televised games (agreed to), suggesting pre-poured dinks and larger glasses, suggesting improvements to the West Stand refreshment kiosk and also the main bar food serving to name but a few.
Lines of communications with supporters; OK, we have a presence now on this forum and we will be opening Facebook and Twitter accounts. We will be setting up our own mailing list open to anyone who wants to join it to be kept informed of what we're doing. This is in addition to all the others lines of communication - the forum, the matchday programme, email, newsletter, a point of presence on match days (both home and away). There will be a page on the club website (agreed to) and also presence in the matchday programme (agreed to). For those not on line, who are as important as those who do have on line access, we are looking at the best way of contacting them. There is personal contact with any of us. (Just for that reason anyone can find me in seat J67 (C block) 20 minutes or so before kick off), in the bars or at away games. Perhaps even a newsletter.
Needless to say we have the club's total backing on this as they can see if we get the match day experience right that will hopefully satisfy existing users and encourage new users to come again bringing friends with them and snowballing from there, in addition to any particular exercises there may be to improve attndance figures.
I hope this answers your questions Derek