The 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bristol City Supporters Society Limited (trading as BCSCT) took place on Saturday 20th January 2024 at 1pm, in the Supporters Bar at Ashton Gate – prior to the Watford game
- Apologies and welcome
Stuart Rogers welcomed our President Marina Dolman to the meeting along with Club Vice-president Doug Harman. Marina addressed the meeting and particularly thanked her audience for their support, which is so important for our Club. Marina said she knows the players value the support in games and the club is proud of the numbers attending away games.
- Minutes of last AGM in 2022
The minutes had been posted on our website and were accepted nem con.
- Bristol City Women
D-M Withers highlighted some of the key events during the year, especially noting the increasing collaboration between the Supporters Club & Trust and the Football Club. One such collaboration is an agreement to joint fund away travel coaches to all games this season, accepting that there could be some losses to cover for certain games. We organise the coaches through Turners.
There are structured meetings as agreed under the memorandum of Understanding and another Fan’s Forum is being organised. Finally, D-M showed the room a regularly used drum skin that had been signed by the players and will be displayed in the Supporters Bar when it has been framed.
- Chairman’s Annual report
Stuart Rogers highlighted some points from his report, which had been posted on our website (qv).
Meetings during the year
We have continued to hold our meetings on the first Wednesday of most months, following the need to go online during the pandemic, they have remained so which has attracted a much wider attendance. We represent fans at regular face to face meetings with Bristol City Football Club and Bristol City Women’s Football Club. We have worked closely with the Robins Foundation, Bristol City Panthers FC and #HerGameToo.
Hall of Fame
Following our last intake into the Hall of Fame in 2022/23, former City manager Gary Johnson was presented with his goblet in this bar on the evening of the Wigan game on Wednesday 15th February 2023, We invited the family of former City player & one of the Ashton Gate Eight; Chris Garland to a meal in the Heineken Lounge at the Blackpool game on Saturday 11th March 2023. The presentation was made pitch side at half time by our President Marina Dolman. Sadly Chris, who was unable to attend himself, has since died. April saw the first Woman player to be inducted. Corinne Yorston and friends were invited for a meal in the Heineken Lounge at the Reading game on Saturday 1st April 2023. Again, Marina made the presentation pitch side at half-time.
Coach travel to Women’s away games
A new venture has been arranging away travel for supporters to Bristol City Women’s games. The first was to Southampton on Sunday 26th March. We have had to cope with some losses but have now brought the Club into the fold so that we will share any losses made but the coaches have become increasingly popular.
End-of-Season awards
The awards entered a new phase at the end of the 2022/23 season. The Club announced its own awards but after negotiation a joint list and presentation dinner was organised.
BCFC Heritage and Archive
In collaboration with the Football Club and former Club Chairman Scott Davidson, we are forming BCFC Heritage and Archive. This will protect and preserve important artefacts, memorabilia and information relating to our football club. I am a director on the board, representing our Supporters Club & Trust.
Supporters survey
In July we conducted our annual supporter’s survey covering the Men’s and Women’s teams. Results have proved very useful in the past when discussing things with the Club.
Manager
Our position is to always support the manager, whoever it is. This season however, we did comment on the manner and timing of the sacking of Nigel Pearson. We agreed with the majority of supporters views that the communication and justification for the decision did not add up. This statement was not a reflection on the incoming manager Liam Manning, who we wish well and every success.
Going forward
Individual board members were thanked for their individual contributions to our activities. We will strive to be a professionally-run organisation and solution focussed and do everything possible within our power as a volunteer organisation to make your voice heard.
- Treasurer’s report – James Thomas
The report was read by Terry Hamlin.
Income
Our primary source of income remains the membership contributions. This has been reasonably
steady over the past few years, with around £12,000 in the year just gone (year ending 31 October
2023). Other ongoing income is from:
- a) OTIB supporter contributions which now cover the running costs (annual income of £1,500
from supporter contributions vs costs of around £800)
- b) Commission income from the bar of around £3,000
Outgoings
While there were some large expenditures in 2022, including a £10k contribution towards the
Ashton Gate 8 event, 2023 was a more ‘normal’ year with around £10k of total expenditure.
Other main expenditures:
- a) Season tickets for fans of the future
- b) Atyeo statue name plates
- c) Flags
- d) Contributions towards expenses for Hall of Fame inductees and other events
- e) Subsidising coach travel to Women’s away fixtures
- f) Donations including to the Former Players Association and other smaller causes
This leaves a profit of around £5k, the majority of which is set aside in the share fund (see below).
Current financial position
All of that means that the financial position of the Club and Trust continues to be healthy. At the end
of the 2023 financial year we held a bank balance of around £129k.
Lastly, around £55,000 of our funds are safeguarded in our ‘Share fund’ which has grown by
setting aside 50% of Diamond membership payments (e.g. for contributions in excess of £2.50 per
month, or £30 per year).
- Membership report
Not received on the day.
- Appointment of Independent Examiner
The motion: that Dick Maule at Bristol Community Accountants be reappointed as the Club & Trust Independent Examiner of the financial accounts, was carried nem con.
- Board membership
Mark Newman had been seconded to the Board during the year. A motion: to appoint Mark Newman as a permanent member of the Board was carried nem con.
- Appointment of Secretary
A motion: that Terry Hamlin be re-appointed was carried nem con.
- Items sent in by members
There were no items sent in.
- Questions from the meeting
There were no questions.
- Any other business
There was none.