Hi folks, we have the fans forum meeting on 9th April 18. Does anyone have any sensible questions that want to be asked on the night. Post on here or email me bazzer1962@hotmail.com. Thanks Baz

Hi folks, we have the fans forum meeting on 9th April 18. Does anyone have any sensible questions that want to be asked on the night. Post on here or email me bazzer1962@hotmail.com. Thanks Baz

Was any decision made re disabled parking

Yes. Carl has cleared it with Club Doncaster. There will be no disabled parking charges for the rest of the season.

Fans Panel Meeting
Monday 9th April 2018


Attendees: Phil Buxton, Barry Brown, Phil Scorah, Carol Green, Mike Lindley, Gary Fox, Scott Goddard, Stewart Thompson, Dave Stewart, Carl Hall, Gavin Baldwin, Shaun Lockwood, Ray Green, Jackie Green, Mark Hughesman, Jane Keightley

Apologies: Stewart Piper, Chris Scorah, Carol Lindley


Welcome

• CH welcomed everybody, thanked them for coming and approved the Minutes of the last meeting


Match Day Experience update

• MH advised that we are trying various things to continually improve the experience for all supporters on Match Days, especially children and will continue to offer pre-match and half time activities. We select children from the crowd to walk out with the players, give away posters and water bottles and will get the petting zoo back during the season. Tom Butterworth from Foundation is working with families to maximise their enjoyment at games
• CS sent an e-mail with his feedback and suggestions and commented that children are now asking their parents to bring them as they enjoy watching the games and being involved in the entertainment
• BB advised that two fans had requested that the players have not been in the family zone pre-match to mingle with the children since the first game. CH responded saying that due to injuries we have no excess players but when they are fit will be back on the concourse and in the kennel playing Xbox with the junior supporters
• SL confirmed that we definitely plan to have a Lion as a mascot by the end of the season and are in negotiations with a local company to sponsor it
• BB said that fans had noticed that the mascot wasn’t at Sunday’s game but James was away and we struggled to get someone else to wear the outfit. It is our intention to have the mascot at every home game going forward


Ticketing and Communication update

• SL advised that although season ticket sales are up from 200 to 650 we are still looking at ways of driving ticket sales including ‘4 games for £40’ and match tickets are selling well
• ML asked how many people with season tickets were at Sunday’s game as there didn’t seem to be as many attending as previous weeks. SL said he could find out but wasn’t concerned with peaks and troughs as we have had 3 home games during the Easter period so many families have been away. However we will keep an eye on attendance but it is renewal that is particularly important
• CG asked if tickets could be bought for the Featherstone and Bradford games from their own clubs and CH confirmed that they could and advised that tickets can be purchased either online or at the Ticket office for all forthcoming home games
• CH confirmed there will be no cash turnstiles going forward as it wasn’t cost effective to have two members of staff on duty with so few people paying on the gate. SG advised that he was charged senior rate at a recent game!
• MH had a conversation with a North Wales Crusaders supporter who said they have a similar attendance problem as the juniors were free so people weren’t turning up but it is our intention to encourage the young supporters to attend games to create long term fans which will ensure the future of the club
• SL confirmed that communication with fans had improved and they were now receiving 3/4 e-mails per week
• MH will send an e-mail regarding the 2 stage process to opt into receiving e-mails under the new regulations; you can select how you wish to receive information and what you would like to be sent. You can opt in and out at any time but need to be registered on the system by mid May. CG advised people to check their junk mail in case it goes straight there
• MH advised that we sometimes experience problems with the website much of which is controlled by the RFL but the recent issue with the home page has been resolved
• ST asked if we could stream games yet but MH advised that this was not logistically possible


Subsidised coaches for supporters for away games

• CH feels that supporters can get to games like York and Bradford quite easily but will look into subsidising a coach for a game further afield. It was agreed that supporters would be given 3 options – Whitehaven, Workington and London to determine the response to see if it was viable to organise a coach
• ML requested that we get the message out to all supporters to encourage them to travel by coach
• DS advised that it was no problem getting a train to the York game


Disabled parking

• CH advised that there would be no charge for disabled parking this season and if we do need to charge next year in line with stadium policy we will offer a package for parking, programme and half time draw ticket
• CH spoke to our Deputy Security Manager about the flow of cars on Match Days to keep queues to a minimum. Many people arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the game so RG said we need to get the message to them that there are pre-match activities so to arrive earlier at the game to avoid waiting to park. The plan is to open the slip road on busier games like Featherstone and Bradford and have an A sign up as suggested by CS advertising the cost so people can have the correct money ready
• DS suggested announcing on local radio that there is pre-match entertainment to encourage supporters to arrive early


Questions from Barry Brown - SLO

• BB asked if there was a re-arranged date for the West Wales Raiders game and CH responded by saying it hadn’t been confirmed but potentially could be Sunday 13th May
• It was asked if there could be match highlights shown in the bar afterwards but it is not possible; they are not available until the afternoon after a game
• BB wondered if replica shirts could be available with the blue and amber bands so CH said we would ask FBT about the possibility and prices
• The prize draw money was £75 on Sunday as we sold more tickets. RG confirmed that just because the crowd is bigger doesn’t always mean more people buy tickets but we are in line with gambling regulations and always pay above the % required
• It was asked if we could have more Friday night games as the attendance is better than on a Sunday but that won’t be happening in the foreseeable future
• CH confirmed we would be using the West Stand on Sunday as there is a Wedding Fayre in the restaurant. The feedback was positive about using the West as the supporters and players like to better
• ST asked if it was possible to reserve seats on Match Days and people may be happy to pay. SL said that he would consider it for next season, perhaps in the Legends Club section of seating, perhaps reserving 20-50 seats depending on the amount required. It was suggested that if a supporter wanted a particular seat at every game they should arrive earlier


Any other business

• ST asked about the League structure and CH replied that at this stage we are not aware of what it is going to be. CH commented that the standard in the current League 1 is similar to when we were in Championship and the top 5 teams in League 1 could easily challenge the bottom 4 in Championship which has been proved in the Challenge Cup when 2 Championship clubs were beaten
• The question was asked about if it would make a difference in the Featherstone game if we have no Hull players but we do have one on loan who can play and we did well against Newcastle without the other Hull players
• CH was asked about attendances and anticipates a crowd of about 1,500 for the Featherstone game and a very good turn out for Bradford
• CH is working on the World Cup Bid campaign for 2021 with the council who will produce ‘Back the Bid’ posters and it will be promoted at future home games
• CH said that Kieron Cross could be out for 4-6 weeks with an injury but Jack Miller was coming back and we are actively looking in the market to see who is out there

CH closed the meeting by saying how he appreciated the Fans Panel members taking time out to attend and said he was happy that we are top of the league and with the positive things that are happening on and off the pitch




Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Monday 4th June 2018 at 6.30pm in Alick’s Bar

Thank you dm for reply

People like using the West Stand?
Really?
I can see it is nearer and the dugouts are there .... but give me the chance to sit in the sunshine or semi-shade of the East Stand on a warm day.
The West Stand is a cold godforsaken place.. like Hunslet's stand.
Alright for night games.

Good evening, we have got the Fans committee forum on Monday 4th June 2018 at 6.30pm. Please could you post on here or email bazzer1962@hotmail.com any question you would like to ask the full panel of staff from Club Doncaster. Regards Baz The date has now been changed, the meeting will now be on the 11th June 18. Emails will go out to the fans who attend the forum.

Good evening, we have got the Fans committee forum on Monday 4th June 2018 at 6.30pm. Please could you post on here or email bazzer1962@hotmail.com any question you would like to ask the full panel of staff from Club Doncaster. Regards Baz The date has now been changed, the meeting will now be on the 11th June 18. Emails will go out to the fans who attend the forum.

Some discussion is needed over game being transferred to Featherstone

Fans forum committee meeting on Monday 11th June, anyone want me to ask any sensible questions. Post on here or email at bazzer1962@hotmail.com. Due to the questions being asked there will be no fans questions in the dug out. Baz

Fans forum committee meeting on Monday 11th June, anyone want me to ask any sensible questions. Post on here or email at bazzer1962@hotmail.com. Due to the questions being asked there will be no fans questions in the dug out. Baz

Hi Baz, I thought that the Meeting had moved from tonight to next Monday (11th). Has it changed again?
(also asked on Facebook)

haha post corrected, think its my old age.

Cheers.

I have a question. Can the club update the fans on weather players are injured and if so how long they will be out for. NRL and super league clubs do it so there’s no reason we can’t. I get frustrated that the likes of Welham and AJB aren’t playing but that could be because their injured but us fans have no idea why players are in the side one week playing well and then disappear for weeks on end.

Courtesy of Jane Keightley at Club Doncaster, here are the minutes from last Monday's meeting:

Fans Panel Meeting
Monday 11th June 2018


Attendees: Phil Buxton, Chris Scorah, Carol Green, Mike Lindley, Gary Fox, Stewart Thompson, Dave Stewart, Tracy Armstrong, Carl Hall, Gavin Baldwin, Shaun Lockwood, Ray Green, Jackie Green, Mark Hughesman, Jane Keightley

Apologies: Stewart Piper, Phil Scorah, Carol Lindley, Barry Brown, Scot Goddard


Welcome

• CH welcomed everybody, thanked them for coming and approved the Minutes of the last meeting.


Ticketing and Communication update

• SL advised that the GDPR database response was 564 by e-mail, 138 by text, 387 by post and 109 by telephone.
• SL confirmed that although attendance has dropped off recently season ticket sales are considerably higher than last season and by the Bradford Bulls game we had beaten the attendance numbers for last season. There are a few away games now and the timing is good as it gives us a chance for a mid season review to see what worked well and what hasn’t and make changes if required before the end of the season.
• CH mentioned that we are planning a trip to the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley led by Stewart Piper. We will offer a package including return bus and ticket and offer it to current supporters and the data base of people who attended previously. Please assist by promoting this day trip which should be a very good day out.


Subsidised coaches for supporters for away games

• CH advised that the most votes received were for the Workington game but advised that Whitehaven are having money trouble so asked for thoughts about providing ‘club rugby league family’ support by taking a bus to that game.
• MH informed everyone that 1272 people have voted and the breakdown was 54% for Workington, 31% for Whitehaven and 15% for North Wales.
• CG agreed that it would be good to help a fellow club as we would have appreciated support in times of difficulty.
• TA is happy to go to Whitehaven.
• CH confirmed that the bus would go to the Whitehaven game and asked that it was communicated to all supporters to ensure the bus is full.


In the Dugout

• SL explained that In the Dug Out was set up to keep The Dons identity when they were taken under the Club Doncaster umbrella and GB wanted everyone to know that CH was in charge so it was decided that CH would have a weekly update with supporters about things happening on and off the field. SL feels it is stale and doesn’t actually do what it was intended to so would like to make changes but not without getting feedback from supporters first.
• SL suggested that Carl could do a combination of a monthly/bi-monthly feature with the Free Press, an interview with Trax/Sine/Radio Sheffield and a 60 second YouTube clip showing highlights of games and team news as a voiceover. In the Dugout could still continue monthly rotating CH, Richard Horne (RH) and the players to give supporters a variety.
• CH agreed that it needs freshening up and could involve videos with kids and players when they go out into the community.
• CG said she had previously enjoyed the ones that RH and CH with Sonny Whakarau had done and said that sometimes in the usual In the Dugouts she doesn’t understand why the questions are asked as they are ambiguous.
• ML said that consistency is important so we do need to keep a weekly contact and appreciates the need to connect with a younger audience via social media but also to recognise that the older supporters prefer something with substance.
• SL felt that the general consensus was to embrace change so he would work out a more current way of the club connecting with supporters.
• SL knows a freelance journalist who worked in New Zealand who may be ideal for doing player interviews so he will explore this possibility.


Questions from supporters

Barry Brown wasn’t at the meeting so sent an e-mail to CH with the following questions from supporters:

1. Can the club update the fans on whether players are injured and if so how long they will be out for?
• CH advised that RH will not give details of player injuries to avoid the opposition knowing and that RH bases the decision for his selection on performance both at training and games. RH is strict about how the players train and apply themselves at training.
• CS said fans would like to know who is available for RH to choose from as some players do well and then they are not picked for several games.
• RG commented that some clubs advertise injuries then the players are at the next game so often the information released is not accurate.

2. Why can’t the coach speak after home games when everyone is in the bar?
• Richard has his press interviews after games like every other club. We wouldn’t put a coach on a platform to address supporters after games as we’ve all seen coaches reactions sometimes live on Sky when they have said things in the heat of the moment.


Any other business

• It was generally expressed that supporters felt dual reg was having a negative impact and GF said it is the supporters perception that dual reg is an issue so need some explanation about the positive benefits. CH confirmed that it is a good thing for the club as we didn’t need to sign as many players because of the arrangement with Hull. We signed 20 quality players on the understanding that we can have a minimum of 5 every week from Hull if required. All the Hull FC players come with the right attitude and enjoy playing here. GB confirmed that we should release more information about the dual reg structure so supporters understand how it works so CH will address this In the Dugout soon.
• CS advised that supporters need further information on the players so they can feel more connected with the club, especially the children who enjoy knowing more about their favourite players. GB said it is important that we talk about things that the fans are interested in so CH could discuss how we do things off the field and RH about the up and coming game and players so he can convey his personality and connect with the fans. GB said because the football manager did weekly interviews with the press football fans feel that they are more connected with the players.
• CS suggested that charismatic players who are not in the squad spend some time pre- match with supporters especially children talking to them and having photos taken and it would be good to make the content of the weekly contact sessions in addition to In the Dugout both fun and factual so instead of just interviews make them interactive so the players do challenges with the supporters.
• RG advised that many fans drink in local pubs prior to the games so we should find a way of enticing them to the stadium. It was suggested that RG interviews a different player pre-match.
• The behaviour of supporters was discussed and RG said it was important to get people back together and not use the forum to insult players and staff. ML read a post from the forum about a supporter using bad language and saying the referee should have a grave reserved next to one who committed suicide last year. CH confirmed that we are a family club and this behaviour is unacceptable. He advised that similar incidents should be reported to a steward who would have them spoken to or removed from the stadium. CH has spoken to Emma from the RFL who is revamping the family sport message and sending us a copy to play at home games.
• There was a lengthy conversation about additional teams within the club structure and further discussion will take place and be circulated to supporters in due course. At the Keighley game it was suggested that Dearne Valley and Keighley ladies teams play prior to the mens game but unfortunately due to short notice and logistics it was not possible but something CH will certainly consider going forward to help the club grow.
• CG asked about the progress of the World Cup Bid and CH advised that there is 7 weeks left to submission and that Doncaster Council and Club Doncaster have been very supportive. There is a big cost involved and CH is hopeful but not over confident that we will be selected to host a game. We fall into the 12,000 – 30,000 bracket and our facility ticks a big box. Our World Cup group have done the hotel visits and it is a tough process but we have a fighting chance.
CH advised that he keeps us on the radar with the RFL to host international games.
• ML asked if we would be subsidising a bus to the Featherstone game so supporters could use their season tickets and CH said he would consider it but if we do put on a bus he would want it to be full.
• ML raised a problem with the Silver Membership books as there are only 4 tickets left. CH explained they had used the same format as last year but the number of games has changed so fans can use the vouchers in the back and exchange them at the Ticket Office for a ticket for the game. If you do not have a voucher, take your silver plus book to the Ticket Office who will issue you with a ticket.
• CH closed the meeting by saying how he appreciated the Fans Panel members taking time out to attend and said it was fantastic that they were all on board. CH confirmed that there were positive things happening behind the scenes and that he is passionate about getting there and hopes the boys keep winning and find their early season form.
The meeting closed at 7.35pm.




Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Monday 30th July 2018 at 6.30pm in Alick’s Bar

Thanks DM for posting the minutes of the meeting. My internet has been playing up and someone was due to come out on Monday to sort it, but it has started working today for some unknown reason.

Not a problem, Baz. I was sorry you couldn't make the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances. You were missed.