Following talks with the football club, and following the supporters association 2006 AGM held on Wed July 26th, it has been decided to charge an annual membership fee of £5. This will be renewable yearly on July 26th.
Until now we have charged a one off fee of £5 that would last until such a time when we would be able to offer worthwhile benefits to our members to be able to charge an annual fee. I am pleased to announce that a benefits package has now been put in place and that membership fees are now due.
We as the supporters association realised that the time had come to move on from what some people saw us as being just a travel club, and the football club also wanted us to become more involved with them. Therefore, the football club have worked with us to bring about a number of benefits for our members, and a big thank you goes to Wayne Bradley and the club for what they have come up with.
Having a membership fee is not just so that we can say that we now charge one, and it is not so we can report at the next AGM that we have done really well this year and have x amount of pounds in the bank. The reason for it is of course to raise more money. Money not for the supporters association, but more money for the club. We have proved over the last few years that we are able to operate self sufficiently, and that in addition to running transport to every away game we have been able to make donations to the football club. We are still in a position to continue to provide transport to every away game for the coming season, and to continue to make donations to the football club.
After all, supporting the club in numbers, with vocal backing, and financially, is what we should be all about isn't it?
With this in mind it has been agreed that all money collected in membership fees will be donated back to the club. It has also been agreed that this money will not just disappear into a bank account be will go directly to the playing budget, and that everyone will be able to see how the money has been spent. More details on this will follow once we have decided the best way to do it.
The full list of benefits has not yet been finalised and more things may be added during the season, and special surprise benefits may be given from time to time.
What we have so far will include the following.
1) Travel to away games is to go up by £2 for adults to £12 for non members but remain at £10 for members. Under 16's will remain the same at £5.
2) The John Harrison Suite will become a members only bar, before the game, during the game and at half time. After the game it will also be open to players and officials.
3) Members will be able to pre order refreshments from the bar for half time and for after the game.
4) Members will have the opportunity of nominating a mascot for home games.
5) Members will have the opportunity to be in the dressing room at home games and will be able to see what goes on in there before the match.
6) Members will have the chance to attend a game as part of the supporters association being match day sponsors, that will include full hospitality as any other match day sponsor would get.
7) A member will get the chance to be picked in the squad for a pre season friendly game at the start of season 2007-08. This person will join the squad before the game, be picked on the subs bench and will brought on at some point during the game for a period of time to be decided by the manager.
Anyone can join by either filling out a form that will be available around the ground at home games, by calling in the club shop on match days or by contacting Mark on 01773 836251, Ian on 01246 861457, or Wozza on 07795 552721.
Obviously the more members we have, the more money will go towards the playing budget. It was a close call weather to go for a £10 membership fee and a lot of people have said that the package is well worth it and they would be happy to pay £10. We thought that not everyone would be able to afford this or that it would put some people off, so we decided to stick at £5 for the time being. If there is anyone who would still be happy to pay £10 then simpley enlist your spouse or partner, as I have done!
Print off a membership form here