Board Meeting online using Zoom
Wednesday 4th September 2024, 7:00pm
Minutes
PRESENT
Board: Stuart Rogers SR (chair), Miles Hendy (vice-chair), Mike Adams MA (minutes), Shahan Miah SM, Mark Newman MN, D-M Withers DM.
Supporters: Chris Chard CC, Paul Hunt, Neil Palmer NP, Alan Payne AP, Eve Ralph ER, Diane Rowland DR, Wendy Rowland WR, Matt Seaward MS.
Bristol City: Jerry Tocknell JT.
Avon & Somerset Police: Tom Williams TW.
APOLOGIES: Jon Darch JD, Marie Day MD, Terry Hamlin TH, James Nicholls JN, Jon Watts JW, Katrina Watts KW
1. MINUTES & MATTERS ARISING
The August minutes were accepted as a true record. Matters arising:
Matchday flags – SR had received no response from Section 82 but will persist. [ACTION SR]
Honours Boards in Supporters Bar – MA had drawn up the list of names and other data, which was being checked. The aim is to complete by next meeting. [ACTION MA]
OTIB Rules – No work had been done so the matter will come up again next meeting. [ACTION MA]
SC&T 75 Years Anniversary – [ACTION SM, MA to investigate options including special logo]
2. SLO & POLICE OVERVIEW
Tom Williams was welcomed to the meeting and he introduced himself as a dedicated Football Officer at Avon and Somerset Police and our new representative from the force.
It has been a positive start to the season with no arrests. The Three Lions flag day was very successful. There will be a slight increase in police presence for Oxford, who are expected to bring 2,500 supporters and a heightened presence for Cardiff.
The requested matchday luggage storage unit will be outside the stadium
3. BRISTOL CITY WOMEN
DM said there were 16 seats left on the 34-seater coach for Southampton on September 8th.
November 8th sees the 10th anniversary of Bristol Academy’s victory over Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League. [ACTION DM/SM to raise with Club]
The Club have no plans for regular match day bus services to home games, with possible exceptions for bigger matches. The car-sharing scheme is being encouraged.
New Head of Women’s Football, Romaney Pinnock, starts on September 9th. Structured dialogue meeting to be set-up once she has settled in at Club [ACTION DM/SM]
DM & SM concerned with speed of certain comms from Club; JT had advised that Noah Dougherty from media is off sick, so others have had to cover
4. #HERGAMETOO
ER reported that she and Leah Davis had met with Head of Strategic Operations Michelle Dring; there will be a dedicated fixture close to International Women’s Day, which is on March 8th when the Men’s team are home to Hull City. The nearest home Women’s fixture is Sunday March 16th v Charlton Athletic
5. FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
NP will be making a concerted effort to include the Supporters Bar in former players’ visits this season. Marvin Elliott is coming to the Cardiff game and Jimmy Lumsden & Joe Jordan to the Leeds game; both games in October. More players will be on the concourse this season, which is a popular idea all round. [ACTION MA to liaise with FPA]
6. FAN ENGAGEMENT PLAN
JT, Michelle Dring & Tom Rawcliffe from the Club met with JD, JN, MN & SR from SC&T. The discussion took place around the EFL template. A Fan Advisory Board (FAB) is one obligatory product of the template. For our part, matters discussed at FAB needed to be big topics such as shirt design, membership scheme, match atmosphere, ticket pricing, heritage assets, safe standing, matchday luggage storage, stewarding, policing and financial strategy. A wide range of supporters needs to be drawn in and Michelle had drawn up a list of groups to approach such as under-25s, Section 82 and Senior Reds. Improving the Atmosphere is due to come up at the next BCFC Board meeting on September 18th.
7. AGM 2024
After discussion, Saturday 30th November (at home to Plymouth Argyle) was the proposed date. This is subject to the kick-off remaining at 3pm. Minutes from last AGM still need to be reviewed. [ACTION MA, SR]
Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 9th October. Unable to meet on first Wednesday of the month (2nd October) as both Bristol City men’s & women’s teams are playing games on this night