In the message, Richard wrote, "As promised, following last night's meeting of the Supporters Club Committee, here is a summary of the key points discussed.
As you are all aware, the Supporters Club have always been responsible for Away Travel. For a number of years, the Football Club Board have felt that there was an opportunity to raise more money than the Supporters Club have done through Away Travel. At the start of the 2004/5 season, the Board started to take bookings for Away Travel via the main office, in the hope that it would be easier for supporters and increase numbers. For a number of reasons however this system was not a success and only ran for a few matches.
For many years, the Supporters Club have used Chivers Coaches and have been happy with the service they have provided. In recent seasons, the Football Club have used Ambassador Coaches to take the team to away matches, and the Board have been keen for the supporters to also use Ambassador Coaches. In March this year, at a meeting between the Board and Supporters Club Committee, the Board said that Ambassador Coaches had made a very attractive financial offer to the Football Club based on them supplying coach travel for both the team and supporters. The Supporters Club Committee were not happy to switch from Chivers, but did not feel they were in a position to stop the Football Club from taking advantage of the financial opportunity offered by Ambassador.
It was also recognised by the Supporters Club that some supporters have experienced problems in trying to make bookings for Away Travel if they are unable to do so at the preceding home match. It was therefore agreed that the Football Club would take over the running of Away Travel from the start of the 2006/7 season. Barry Bryant, who has been responsible for Away Travel for the last 3 seasons was very unhappy that the Supporters Club had been forced into this position, and resigned from the Supporters Club Committee in May.
The Supporters Club Committee did not know that the Football Club were planning to charge a £5 Travel Club joining/admin fee until we read it on the Official Site last week. We are extremely unhappy that Supporters Club members will now have to pay an additional fee to join a Travel Club if they wish to travel at discounted rates. This clearly further erodes the benefits of joining the Supporters Club.
This is just the latest of a number of benefits that Supporters Club members have enjoyed in the past, but that have been gradually taken away by the Football Club. Specific benefits removed from members include discount in the Club Shop and preferential treatment for All Ticket Matches. However the Supporters Club have also lost revenue they used to receive from Mobile Caterers (it now goes directly to the Football Club), lost the catering facility in the Families Room, and lost a satisfactory home for the Programme Shop. For the last 2 seasons Supporters Club members also got a discount when joining the Phoenix Social Club, and while theoretically this benefit is likely to remain next season, it will be much less useful as many supporters have received Social Club membership this year along with their season ticket.
It was agreed at last night's meeting that the Committee would send an official letter to the Football Club Board expressing our growing concern at the Boards treatment of the Supporters Club. This letter will be sent early next week in time for the next Board Meeting.
On a more positive note for members, Keith Able is currently trying to negotiate a discount scheme for Supporters Club members with a number of local Aldershot retailers. This scheme is at the early stages, but Keith has already had a good response from a number of retailers.
Julie Beattie up-dated the Committee following the first meeting of the Trust Working Party. Details of this meeting have already been posted on the Messageboard by a fellow Working Party member.
Finally Keith Able reported back on a meeting he attended with members of the Board about plans for the Party on the Pitch. The Supporters Club have been asked to provide support for this event in the form of people to help with various fund raising events and we will be happy to do this.
Sorry that this ‘summary' is rather lengthy, but we thought it important to let supporters know the background to the change in Away Travel arrangements.
Richard Llanwarne
Supporters Club Treasurer"
This latest move comes as a real kick in the teeth for all supporters - especially those who seek to help the club by giving up their time for free and perhaps strengthens the whole ethos behind the formation of the Shots Trust which held another meeting this evening.