###########################[size=200APOLOGIES[/size!################################
First of all, sorry for the lateness of my reply regarding the meeting with the Club officials 2 weeks ago.
Unfortunatley I've had a problem finding to time to post due to 1 or 2 of those things that I believe a lot of you have been thinking of getting?
1/ A Life
2/ A Job
Met with Simon Collinson a couple of weeks back regarding some of the issues brought up at the last meeting. I'm going to paraphrase so if their is any further clarification needed on any of the issues you can seek me out at the Bowling club o/s Widnes ground tomorrow from around 5pm tomorrow and for a Free Pint I may give you more info!
Q1/ What are the chances of laying Flags across spare seats in either West/East stands.
A1/ Not a Cat in Hells
Q2/ Any objections to Flags over the North Stand?
A2/ None whatsoever
Q3/ Can Flags be placed along the Gantry in the West stand under where the coaching Team stand (Above the Windows to the Corp Boxes)?
A3/ Not presently, we can persue in Off season with consultation from Stadium Management company.
Q4/ Can Flags be hung on either side of South Stand on the inside of the Concrete Walls?
A4/ No objections although as there is nothing there to currently hang them from we will need to again discuss with Stadium Mngmnt to Agree a Method. Idea is to have a Removable Rope/Wire that spans from the Gantry at the front to the Rear of the stand along the concrete walkway and to hang the Flags like a "Washing Line".
Date for meeting with Stadium mngmnt has not been agreed but looking like Early June.
Q5/ Can flags be waved from flag poles within the Stands?
A5/ Yes, But currently only from the Concourse at the front of the Stand. Club have no objections to placing Flagpoles at various points within Stand in future but want to take it 1 step at a time.
PS - Awaiting
Quotes from Jimmy Birts for Large Cheery & White Striped Flags and/or Chequered Versions. Flag poles approx £10 each.
Q6/ Fund Raising, Any chance of doing Bucket Collection at Game this season?
A6/ Not currently as all games allocated. However 1 game next season can be allocated AND if Wigan do get a Home tie in Qtr Finals of Cup (Assuming a Win tomorrow!) then they will look into arranging for us to do a collection at this game if possible.
Q7/ Would club be able to assist us with regards to arranging
Quotes for Large Quantities of "Bar Scarves".
A7/ Club are looking at getting
Quotes for Said scarves in various quantities i.e 1000/2500/5000 and the costs assosciated with each Quantity.
These quotes may take a month or so to come back and for best prices it could take a further 3+ months for stock to arrive.
Idea is that club will assist us with funding for this idea maybe through Sponsorship and look to initiate this for the start of Next season as distribution of scarves late this season may result in "Drop off" of the use of the scarves for the following season?
There are a couple of other "irons in the Fire" with the club atm but better to keep them under wraps for the time being until More Concrete arrangements arranged.
With regards to the Flag meeting of a couple of weeks ago I think Chris summed it up with his Summary a week or so ago :-
=#BF0000" Good venue for the meeting and a decent spread put on by the landlady (who is a Saints fan! In the heart of Wigan Rugby mad Swinley, I know).
About 15 turned up including a few new faces which was good to see.
Decision made to put what money we have at the moment (£120) towards the Formby Flag. That flag costs £160 so we’ve still a bit to raise.
Phase 1 practically complete now as the gantry will be full when those flags on order or about to be ordered arrive.
Heated discussion about Phase 2 and what that should involve. A difference of opinion between going over to the North Stand, trying to turn the South into something resembling the Kop on a big European night i.e. large flags on poles within the stand and a combination of the two.
We agreed to get some quotes for the Kop style flags before making a final decision. We will also need to consult the club about this and for those worried about it obstructing their view, the idea is to use them at times like when the team takes to the pitch and at the end of a game, not during the game. The club want to contribute towards a flag so maybe let them do one over the North Stand. ‘This is Wigan – Forever In Our Shadow’ is my favourite design for that one!
We then talked about trying other ideas besides the flags such as bar scarves. 4000 bar scarves given away at the turnstiles at the Saints game for example. Maybe the club can get their hand in their pocket for this. I think Jukes agreed to contact them about this? "
A few updates on this are contained within my post above i.e update on Bar scarves etc but just a few other updates.
Phase 2 looks like being a 2 pronged attack on both the North Stand to match the South & for Flags on poles within the stands.
All contributions are greatfully received and I am looking at contacting various members, Mattyb for example (Or volunteers so please PM me if your interested) to take him up on his suggestion regarding collections at away matches.
May be a bit too late for tomorrow but if we could arrange for Plastic wallets and pictures on them as suggested by MattyB tyo be distributed Pre game tomorrow (Say 4 of them?) we could do a Pre Match/HT Collection?
2/3k Wiganners in stand and I'm sure we could raise a £100 Quid?
If not tomorrow then maybe for the Game against the Huddersfield Whingers the week after? Or even both?
The latest on the Formby Flag is that we were about £30 short however I do have a Promise of a £50 Cheque at the game tomorrow & I believe Rogues conjured up another £20 donation at Murrayfield last week!
This will be forwarded to JimmyBirts (Chris) over the weekend and flag will be in production next week! Usual delivery times of around 2 weeks so should be here for Next Home game!
