There will be a Dons Fans Panel Meeting on Tuesday 21st January. For those who don't know, these meetings are held approximately every two months between Club Doncaster and a group of invited fans. Gavin Baldwin, Carl Hall, Shaun Lockwood, Mark Hughesman, Ray Green and Stewart Piper are usually there to represent the club. Wanderer (Gary) and myself (Mike Lindley) are attendees who post on this forum. We haven't received an agenda for the meeting yet. I will post it on here once received. The club has previously asked that any questions from fans should be put to the meeting via the Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) Carol Green. Carol can be found on the Dons Facebook page. Please contact Carol if you've got any questions. A link to the Facebook page is below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142620406984/ After each meeting, the club produce meeting minutes. Gary or I will copy and paste the minutes onto the forum once we get them. This is usually two to three days after the meeting.

There will be a Dons Fans Panel Meeting on Tuesday 21st January. For those who don't know, these meetings are held approximately every two months between Club Doncaster and a group of invited fans. Gavin Baldwin, Carl Hall, Shaun Lockwood, Mark Hughesman, Ray Green and Stewart Piper are usually there to represent the club. Wanderer (Gary) and myself (Mike Lindley) are attendees who post on this forum. We haven't received an agenda for the meeting yet. I will post it on here once received. The club has previously asked that any questions from fans should be put to the meeting via the Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) Carol Green. Carol can be found on the Dons Facebook page. Please contact Carol if you've got any questions. A link to the Facebook page is below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/142620406984/ After each meeting, the club produce meeting minutes. Gary or I will copy and paste the minutes onto the forum once we get them. This is usually two to three days after the meeting.

You will have one or two questions this time Mike ...
Starting with .."I thought this was a two way street?"

The problem with this now is, some people have been criticised during the shirt change arguments that they should have raised their objections before. Although obviously we never knew it was subject to change. So now they can legitimately ask anything and expect the club to answer on the off chance it could change and allow them to register their views. Will the club be moving to Ottawa? Are crowds going to be segregated? Will all the food sold be switched to vegan? etc

Next Tuesday's meeting should be interesting. As Jemmo said, there was no hint at any previous meeting that the club colours were going to be changed. None of the fans attending the meetings could possibly see this coming.

I respect that the club has the right to do whatever it chooses to do but I would also hope that wherever possible fans will continue to be consulted too.

Things work much better and harmoniously if we can all feel as though we're in this together.

Maybe there's some deeper meaning as to why the club wants to make the colour change? Perhaps we'll find out next Tuesday?

It reminds me of a passage in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy when Arthur Dent was told he had plenty of opportunitity to object to his house being bulldozed.

Not on the old Cleggbook Mike but are we allowed to ask if the plans have been made for the pitch not available games or are they still ongoing? and when can we expect an announcement as to to the venue.

Thanks

Good question, Wilf. I've got that one on my list. I'm also going to ask whether we're one of the five League One clubs taking part in the 1895 cup.

I don't do Cleggbook either. It's not my cup of tea. Apart from coming on here, I keep away from all forms of Social Media. I must be one of the few people in the world who doesn't have a smart phone either!

No you not Mike!

Nice to hear that, Paul.



The wife is always playing about on her phone. She can watch TV and still be playing on it. I can't multi-task so I'd be hopeless at it anyway.

Fans Panel Meeting - 21 January 2020

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Minutes from last Meeting
3. Marketing update
4. Fixtures
5. Questions from Carol Green, SLO
6. Any other business
7. Date of next Meeting

Hopefully covered at item 4 then.

Meeting minutes from Louise Jankowski on Tuesday 28th January:

Fans Panel Meeting
Tuesday 21st January 2020

Attendees: Carol Green, Phil Buxton, Gary Fox, Mike Lindley, Chris Scorah, Philip Scorah, Tracey Armstrong, Carl Hall, Gavin Baldwin, Shaun Lockwood, Mark Hughesman, Martin Rowlands, Ray Green, Jackie Green

Apologies: Barry Brown, Stewart Thompson, Scott Goddard, Carol Lindley

1. Welcome – CH thanked everyone for attending the meeting.

2. Minutes From Last Meeting – Everyone was happy with the previous minutes. CH reminded everyone that we have a friendly against Wakefield Trinity Reserves on Friday 24th January.

3. Marketing Update – Season Tickets

SL/MH advised that a pass would be available for £32.00 for 8 games and if we played the two other fixtures at home this would be thrown in for free. This has been created for convenience to enter the car park quicker. GB requested that any cup games played at the stadium could be thrown in with no extra costs incurred.

The new website is up and running, CH advised there was still little bits and pieces that needed work on, but asked for thoughts around the room. ML asked if the twitter feed could be added to the website, it was advised by SL at the end of the meeting that this had been done. It was asked if the online shop would be available, it was advised that we are waiting for Elite Pro Sports and we will chase them up.

MH advised that the number of stories on the website had improved and checked if everyone was receiving all the new emails, everyone agreed that the website was looking good and all emails were being received.

MH explained we had the 5 match ticket in place and if you refer a friend and they buy a season ticket you will receive a cheque for £15.00

MH/MR asked if everyone enjoyed Sunday’s new look game day. A player will be interviewed before every game. We have new tannoy announcer. Parky will be back for the first game of the season. There will be children at all afternoon matches, not just community clubs, we have dancers too, there will be lots of children’s activities before games and at half time. Parky will be going into school along with a couple of players to school assembly’s to give out tickets for achievement at school. We want to create a good match day experience for people to want to return, creating a bond between players and fans.


4. Fixtures

CH has spoken to the two clubs in question regarding reversing the two fixtures whilst necessary maintenance work is carried out on out pitch. They do not want to reverse the fixtures. We are looking at every option we can. Doncaster Knights have been brilliant with us, as we have been using their ground for preseason training. They have said we can use their pitch any time until June. But obviously that is when we need to use it. Sheffield are using Castle Park, but only until June. We might have other options depending how the cup games go, we will have to see.

5. Questions from the Panel –

Why the change of kit from traditional colours? – GB advised the decision was made quickly and after the last Fans Panel meeting and maybe made in haste. It was felt across the club that as it’s a year that we’re doing things completely differently (no dual reg, our coach is our coach) we should replicate with the home/away kit. CH advised we will never lose our identity. SL stated that after first week of sales that “home” maroon shirts were selling better than “away” blue shirts. Total shirt sales in first week were better than first three months of last season.

Why no kits available for Christmas again? – CH we was waiting for a couple of sponsors to sign off and this delayed the kit.

Why no kids kits again – The children’s kit starts at Age 8, TA advised that the age 8 is quite small so would be ok for younger children.

How long is Jordie out for? – Jordie will be out until approx. June/July.

Is there a discounted Magic Ticket price for season ticket holders as per most of the SL clubs have? – We have spoken with Newcastle and we’ve had to paid into a SL event so the ticket prices we have offered are cheapest we can get, please anyone who is going to Magic Weekend get your tickets from Club Doncaster Box Office, there is however a group booking discount for 15 Person’s Plus.

ML – Any news on the Dons for Life? – MH advised that this will be launched at The Dons Launch nigh and Racenight

Are entered in the 1895 Cup? – CH advised yes we are.

6. Any other Business – A discussion was had between members of the meeting regarding players, players positions, other players from other clubs. The meeting was very positive, overall there was a good vibe.


7. Next Meeting – TBC at 6.00pm in Alicks Bar

Thank you Mike .

You're welcome.

Thanks Mike. Reads like it was a good meeting. Is the car park pass restricted to just season ticket holders are you aware?

Funnily enough, I asked that question but it didn't reach the minutes.

Car Park passes are available to everyone, not just season ticket holders.

Thanks once again Mike.

Can anyone remember what the 2 games were that we need to look for another venue?

The home 'summer fixtures' are:

17th May: Rochdale
31st May: Skolars
28th June: Workington
12th July: Coventry
9th August: N Wales

I presume the two affected games will be Workington and Coventry but I don't actually recall this being confirmed at the last meeting.

Is there a fans panel meeting tonight ?

Yes, there was Paul. We only received notice of it at the end of last week but no agenda was published.

Mark Hughesman discussed the new launch of Dons4Life. Martin Rowlands was discussing the work he's doing in schools and mentioned the efforts they're putting in to improve the game-day experience.

Carl confirmed the two home games that may be affected by pitch renovations are the Coventry and Workington games. He's working to try to get the games played on blank weekends at the Keepmoat as opposed to having to play away from the Keepmoat.

Supporters Liaison Officer Carol Green didn't have any questions from fans.

Gary or I will post the minutes on here when Louise sends them out.

Thanks Mike .

Minutes from the meeting supplied by Louise Jankowski:

Fans Panel Meeting
Tuesday 25th February 2020

Attendees: Carl Hall, Gavin Baldwin, Mark Hughesman, Martin Rowlands, Ray Green, Carol Green, Chris Scorah, Phil Buxton, Gary Fox, Mike Lindley, Carol Lindley, Philip Scorah,
Scott Goddard

Apologies: Shaun Lockwood, Barry Brown, Jackie Green

1. Welcome – CH thanked everyone for attending the meeting and welcomed Chris Spriggs to his first meeting who is representing our Junior fans.

2. Minutes From Last Meeting – Everyone was happy with the previous minutes. CH requested could everyone share on their social media that if you refer a friend for a season ticket they will receive £15.00 back & that we have a 5 match package. If we could push this out as it’s the last week of season tickets

3. Marketing Update – Season Tickets

MH – For those that attended The Launch/Race night, we relaunched the Dons4Life. Following feedback from the meeting we had before Christmas it was made clear of Carl’s passion for The Academy, it was decided within that meeting we would look at funding the Academy this year through the Dons4life memberships, so we have relaunched it again. It’s pretty much the same as before you can put in as little or as much as you like. Last year it contributed to Watson Boas accommodation, so this year our focus is on funding areas of the Academy. But we promise that you will all get an update at the end of the season where we have spent the money, bi monthly newsletters a bi monthly draw with some shirts etc. Forms were handed round for anyone new to join. MH advised if people could spread the word, keep it on the radar.
ML – Mentioned that on the twitter feed that the commentary of the match wasn’t on the new website, it just directed you to Twitter. Could this be sorted? MH has reported back on 26th Feb that a Twitter feed is available on the official website. It is below the league table. Screen shot attached.

4. Fixtures

ML asked what two games would be played away from the Keepmoat? CH advised Coventry & Workington.
CH – Just so you know it’s always at the for front of my mind, as soon as we lost on Sunday I was on to Coventry to try and bring the home game to the 15th March. They thought about it and half way home they messaged to say it would be too much for them as it would mean them playing three games away. So we will monitor it. But everyone is playing catch up at the moment. Priority is playing the games here at The Keepmoat.
5. Questions from the Panel –

Wain Butchers – Jack Sanderson has been released by Hull are the Don’s interested in capturing his signature?
1. Jack is a player that does interest us, he came on the market very late we’ve spoken with his agent and Jack expressing our interest. Think Jack is taking sometime out to see what all his options are. As far as were aware he’s not signed anywhere yet. But we do like him.

Christopher Moss – Can you pay monthly for your season ticket?
2. MH advised that this season you could pay a deposit and pay the remainder preseason. Something we can definitely look at for next season, we want to help people and do the best we can.

Janet Margrave – What’s the situation with Brad England and Ryan Dixon injuries?
3. They are both not far, injuries are injuries, sometimes you can get setbacks in training so we never really like to commit on return to play, but both not far off to be fair, then we would only have Jordie out.


Jon Singer – Think Barry Brown should take the SLO position back lol.
4. We need to make this clear, Barry Brown was a fantastic SLO, and we enjoyed working with him, he was also a good communicator. Let Carol do what she is doing, we need to be respectful of her. Barry Brown couldn’t do it for personal reasons, which we have to respect, we did a presentation to him thanking him for his contribution. He resigned purely for personal reasons, if he didn’t do that he would have continued in his role, as stated he done a great job as our first SLO. CS suggested maybe have another SLO to help Carol out especially with the Social Media side. CH this is what the meeting is for, I’m all for it. CH agreed if it helps the club let’s do it, the group agreed that Chris Scorah would take up the role and help with social media/communication.

Keil McCloy – Is there anything been done re advertising, leaflets, banners, adverts on buses?
5. MR – I’m not a marketing guru, but I know that leaflets, posters, banners etc do not really work. We need to work with the community and the schools to engage people to come to the game and enjoy the whole experience. At our first home game the team will be lead out by Terri Harper, Women’s World Champion Boxer, kids flag bearing, children being mascots and coming out with the players, half time games on the pitch with local children, dancers at half time. Parky will be there all the time. We want to make it a whole day to enjoy that people will come back to.

We have been going into schools with players and Parky, giving out tickets as a reward for achievement at school. These children have really engaged with the players and especially Parky, they have been promised to be recognised on the pitch at half time for working hard at school. It’s all about enjoying the whole experience.

MH advised how much it actually costs to advertise in various places, Trax FM, Frenchgate, Asda screens and one bus route and it mounted up to a lot, that people wouldn’t really read or listen to. It’s all about the engagement with the fans, Schools, community clubs, bringing new rugby clubs to the game that are already interested in Rugby League. We are having our Junior Takeover day again in May, this really involves the kids and lets them see the other side to the stadium.

MR – We offer parents a discount when the children are mascots or have won a ticket for achievement which is another incentive to get people to come to the game.



6. Any other Business – Martin has set up Facebook & Linked in called Dons Rugby League World Cup Legacy, please share on your social media. He regularly updates and shows what work we are doing in schools, all photographs of the children are provided by the school after permission is given from parents. We don’t want the World Cup to come to us and then everyone forget about Rugby League we want to get more involved and loving the sport, before and after the World Cup.

CS asked if the parties were still happening and MH advised yes they are and through CDA, CH asked MH to push these parties and CS gave really good feedback as he thought it was great value and good for the sport.

MR advised that Rugby camps would be coming for the next holidays for the children, which was greatly received. Information will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

GF enquired if anything had come out of the Championship/League One meeting held on Thursday 20th Feb? CH advised they are waiting on broadcaster announcement, but there has been no information regarding the rumour of no League One next season.

The meeting went well with some good comments and feedback from the panel. A general discussion was had by the group regarding things to be brought to next meeting, players, other teams, our team.

The meeting was very positive, overall there is a good vibe around the club by everyone.

CH would like to thank Chris Spriggs for his contribution to the meeting, it was great to hear things from a younger person’s perspective and he has agreed to be a permanent member of the group going forward.

7. Next Meeting – Tuesday 19th May 2020 at 6.00pm in Alicks Bar