Board Meeting online using Teams
Wednesday 9th September 2026, 7:00pm
PRESENT
Board: Stu Rogers, Mark Newman, Miles Hendy, Marie Day, Shahan Miah, Jon Darch, James Nicholls, Becs Sanchez
Supporters: Tracey Carter, Christine Chard, Alan Payne, Wendy Rowland, David Clarke, Leah Davis, James Skinner, Jake Clough
Bristol City: Jerry Tocknell (SLO)
Apologies: Nathan Riddiough, Matt Seward, Jon Watts, Katrina Watts, Terry Hamlin, Ross Wormald (Ashton Gate Stadium), Tom Williams (Avon & Somerset Police)
1. Welcome
Chair Stu Rogers opened the meeting and welcomed attendees
Stu confirmed that the meeting would be transcribed for ease of minute-taking.
2. Minutes and Matters Arising
The minutes of the August meeting were confirmed as a correct record.
Updates were provided on matters arising from the minutes:
· Furniture for the mezzanine floor of the SC&T bar has been moved into place. The space worked well as an overflow for the Portsmouth game. However, it was agreed that the space should not be publicized until more and experienced staff are in place and we can see how it is working. We have wristbands ready for use.
· Suicide prevention benches: Ross Wormald had been in touch with his contact at the Council but had not had a response. He will chase this.
· Work is underway on cleaning the Atyeo statue after Stu provided contractor details.
· Becs has been co-opted to the SC&T Board: she is in regular contact with Stu.
· The proposed supporter travel exchange is ready to launch subject to receiving the all clear from the club. An introduction has been drafted which advises on safeguarding issues.
· The SC&T has contributed £1k toward the cost of the new mural opposite the park and has received thanks for this.
3. SLO & Police Update
Jerry reported positively on the recent fans’ forum. Those present felt that it had been open, relaxed and constructive, with senior club representatives giving honest answers and remaining available afterwards to speak with supporters.
Members welcomed what appeared to be a change in culture and a more approachable leadership team, while recognising that confidence would ultimately depend on continued delivery.
Concern was also expressed about the high turnover of experienced staff and the loss of people with long-standing knowledge of the club.
Jerry said that Junior supporter engagement was a particular priority. The club was exploring subsidised trips, including free coach travel for under-12 season-ticket holders and members to selected away fixtures, and the junior supporters’ collective is now recruiting for its second year.
Feedback on the new tap-and-go bars was broadly positive, with quicker service and helpful staff assisting supporters who were unsure how the system operated.
The new ticketing platform remains a major concern. Digital away tickets had generally worked well, but significant gaps remained around ticket forwarding, changing payment cards, upgrading junior tickets, printing address labels and producing physical tickets.
Jerry explained that some of the requirements common in English football were new to the supplier (Fever). Members felt that the present stage of development should have been reached before the season began and asked what lessons the club would learn about specifying, approving and testing future systems. The club’s senior management were aware of the problems and the supplier’s staff were working with the ticket office, but progress was not considered fast enough.
The shortcomings, together with the processes used to approve the new platform, will remain on the agenda with the club
4. Meetings with the club
4.1 Bristol City Women
Becs reported encouraging progress ahead of the first home match. Season tickets have been issued, social-media activity has improved and there is more visible engagement with players and supporters. The club had invited SC&T, Robyns Round and the Nestium to have a presence at the opening game. Becs & Stu were also due to meet Michelle (Dring) and the other supporter groups to discuss a fan advisory board (FAB) structure designed specifically for the women’s game.
There was a wide-ranging discussion about the club increasingly emphasizing its independence from BCFC. There was concern that the connection between the men’s and women’s sides should not be lost, and that a Bristol City identity be retained. Becs commented that a cohort of BCWFC supporters don’t come with a BCFC legacy and may welcome the separation.
Members welcomed the additional resources and improvements to areas such as player nutrition, staffing and travel.
Becs confirmed that supporter concerns were being raised. These included the loss of benefits attached to season tickets purchased before the ownership change, the absence of retail discounts, shirts not being available in the Ashton Gate shop, postage costs and no click-and-collect option.
Communication had improved but remained constrained by the lack of dedicated staff. Members also discussed the use of WhatsApp for live match updates, the reduced availability of full press-conference material and the need to promote the team more widely to girls’ clubs and the local community.
The Board discussed improving SC&T visibility at women’s matches. Temporary banners, table fronts, concourse-screen messages and durable QR-code displays were considered. Leah David offered design support and Becs would review existing flags and possible outdoor display material. The priority is an effective, durable way for supporters to learn about and join the SC&T.
4.2 Bristol City FC
Stu said that regular meetings with the club continue to take place. These cover a range of issues from the day to day through to longer-term planning by the club.
As examples of the latter, the club has indicated a wish to involve the SC&T in discussions about ticket pricing, the stadium configuration and the matchday atmosphere amongst others.
Stu invited members to suggest other matters that might be raised. James Nicholls said that the relationship between BCFC and Ashton Gate might be a topic for discussion. Jon Darch agreed and felt that it would be helpful to have a greater understanding of the various roles and responsibilities, especially as some seem to have changed recently.
5. Other Supporter Groups Updates
5.1 City Collective
James Skinner spoke to introduce a newly formed group which is aimed at men of all ages over 18, who attend matches alone, providing an opportunity to meet informally and to talk about football. The group aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
It was noted that the name is one that has also been proposed for the BCWFC FAB and that this should be checked
5.2 Robyns Round
Leah reported continued growth and the recognition of the benefits that RR brings. This includes interest from BCWFC and it is hoped to strengthen links between the two.
With the support of FAB and the club, an event at Ashton Gate later in the year will feature a short film and panel discussion about the relationship between football culture, misogyny and domestic abuse.
RR is looking at producing its own shirt which will raise funds to support the infrastructure of the group.
As membership grows, so record keeping becomes more challenging. Stu asked Jon to investigate the potential for the SC&T membership platform to provide sub-systems for others.
5.3 Fan Advisory Board
Jon Darch reported that work to protect Bristol City’s heritage assets was continuing. The FAB wished to build on the Independent Football Regulator’s safeguards with a stronger agreement covering the club’s identity and key assets. The club’s designated regulator contact was expected to be involved in the next stage.
The FAB is also working with the club on measurable objectives for the coming year so that progress can be evaluated. Some of these mirror the longer term strategic direction of the club on issues like ticketing, matchday atmosphere and stadium configuration noted above. All agreed that it will be important for the SC&T and FAB to remain aligned in our discussions on these.
Dave Clarke added that work was continuing to establish a new Disabled Supporters Association.
6. Governance & Finance
Stu outlined possible funding support for Robins Foundation health and wellbeing activity in BS3. One option would provide a stadium event, taster sessions, matchday health checks and walking-football activities, with the full programme costing approximately £7,500. Another option is a scheme providing subsidy for young supporters to attend their first away game.
Members supported the principle but wanted clarity about what the SC&T contribution would purchase and whether it would enable activity that would not otherwise happen.
A fuller proposal will be prepared for a future meeting.
James also commented that SC&T membership fees have remained unchanged for many years and an increase might provide some funding to support any proposal taken forward.
7. AOB
Christine Chard raised concerns about inconsistent and discourteous bag-search practices at Ashton Gate, including the absence of a female steward when requested.
Members discussed the difference between bag searches and body searches, the inconsistency between entrances and fixtures, and the apparent ease with which prohibited flares continued to enter the stadium.
It was agreed to ask Ashton Gate for the purpose, policy and expected standard of conduct for ticket, bag and clothing checks, including how consistency and courtesy are monitored.
Actions
· RW to chase his Council contact regarding further suicide-prevention benches.
· DC and MN to secure club approval and publicity support before launching the OTIB travel exchange.
· SR, MD and matchday volunteers to review staffing and communications for the mezzanine overflow area.
· BF, SR and LD to develop practical SC&T display and QR-code options for the bar and Bristol City Women matchdays.
· SR and attendees of the 18 September meeting with the club to raise ticketing lessons, the away fans’ forum, stadium responsibilities, fan-of-the-month consultation and entry/search procedures.
· JD to check whether SC&T membership platform could support Robyn’s Round membership or payments.
· SR to align messaging and priorities with the FAB chair.
· SR to obtain further detail and prepare a clearer funding proposal for health initiatives and/or junior away travel.
Minutes recorded via transcript, reviewed and written up by: Dave Clarke on 22nd September 2026.
Next meeting: Thursday 22nd October 2026