Supporters Meeting on Monday - Your Input Needed

rob_fmttm

rob_fmttm

Administrator
From last meeting we were looking at two things -
fan suggestions around matchday experience. Thoughts on how it could be improved before/after game.
I have passed on the thread referencing supporter concerns over covid and watching Boro.
Secondly, how does everyone feel about Boro Brick Road. Names are fading away now - the club is exploring options trying to contact the company that sold the bricks etc. Looking at whether a virtual plan is possible. Are there any other thoughts on this that might be doable. It seems, rather worryingly, chemicals in the air have had a corrosive effect on the lettering on the bricks. The report made several years ago by the brick company concluded it wouldn't make any difference if the bricks were laid down as a road or on a wall they have been attacked by chemicals in the air.
Anyway, thoughts on this please.
- Am sure everyone will want to know what the situation might be regarding concourses and external facilities. What will be opened? Will there be food as well as drinks available outside? What will be socially distanced? Where will people be expected to wear masks - if anywhere??
I wonder if there will be any restricted areas so that players and staff are protected in a bubble etc?
Then will there be proof required of lateral flow tests etc?
Issues regarding match day ticket sales. Will they only be available in advance?

Any other matters you would like to be discussed - as there will be someone senior from the football club present.
 
I think the only overall issue people are really interested in at the moment are all the issues you have stated regarding attending the first match and for me, at what point, will the club clarify what, if any, the requirements will be. Hopefully they will give plenty of notice & not leave it until the last minute as usual.

It would be informative and perhaps appease some people, if the club could give a breakdown of how many people are in each group of priority points holders and if they could explain the logic of how they set the target for each match - the guy who came in as ticket manager then left explained it to me but it would be good if MFC could formally explain the logic publicly.
 
rob_fmttm said:
From last meeting we were looking at two things -
fan suggestions around matchday experience. Thoughts on how it could be improved before/after game.
I have passed on the thread referencing supporter concerns over covid and watching Boro.
Secondly, how does everyone feel about Boro Brick Road. Names are fading away now - the club is exploring options trying to contact the company that sold the bricks etc. Looking at whether a virtual plan is possible. Are there any other thoughts on this that might be doable. It seems, rather worryingly, chemicals in the air have had a corrosive effect on the lettering on the bricks. The report made several years ago by the brick company concluded it wouldn't make any difference if the bricks were laid down as a road or on a wall they have been attacked by chemicals in the air.
Anyway, thoughts on this please.
- Am sure everyone will want to know what the situation might be regarding concourses and external facilities. What will be opened? Will there be food as well as drinks available outside? What will be socially distanced? Where will people be expected to wear masks - if anywhere??
I wonder if there will be any restricted areas so that players and staff are protected in a bubble etc?
Then will there be proof required of lateral flow tests etc?
Issues regarding match day ticket sales. Will they only be available in advance?

Any other matters you would like to be discussed - as there will be someone senior from the football club present.
Click to expand...
Will the usual free pint still be on offer for season card holders. And if so why cant this offer be available at half time.
 
Ref Bricks

Could the bricks be coated say with a clear lacquer or varnish?

Another possible idea is to put them inside the stadium on walls in appropriate places.

Ref Atmosphere

Call me a relic from Argentina 1978 but I like ticker tape entrances. I know it messy to clear up and a bit of a nuisance, but to me it adds to a atmosphere especially in an enclosed stadium.

Ref Drinks after the match

Can the stadium be kept open a little later to allow people to get a drink after the game and have a while to drink it. This will spread out leaving to help reduce covid risk.
 
I think above you have covered the main questions and they are mainly around COVID and safety. On a similar theme I'd be wondering whether there will be staggered arrival and leaving times for blocks to minimise contact. Potentially people will naturally arrive at different times but perhaps staggering leaving block by block is being considered?

I'd also presume we will be now sitting in our actual season ticket seats? Over a year ago ST holders had to submit revised seating proposals based on each group having people from no more than 2 addresses and Boro were configuring the stadium into different socially distanced groups. Will there still be any such measures in place? I presume not having watched what was happening in stadiums at the Euros.

I also think if it hasn't been passed on already the club should be praised by the fans for it's handling of the last 18 months or so, the free streams for ST holders alongside the refunding of existing credit for games already paid for by ST holders was over and above what we might have expected. I think all ST holders have really appreciated having this during a difficult period.

The club could have just been concerned about keeping it's head above water given the impact on club finances but they put the fans first there and deserve credit for it. Especially when you see the shambolic way this situation has been handled by some other EFL clubs.
 
Now that Covid restrictions have been relaxed, it is all coming down to personal choice but with advisory comments. Generally, if you’re outside or not surrounded by lots of people in close proximity, then don’t wear a mask. If you’re inside or surrounded by lots of people then you want to wear a mask. Other than that, it is the general advice related to infection, cleaning hands etc. and if you feel unwell, get tested! It’s only complicated if you want it to be.
 
MrIsaac said:
Now that Covid restrictions have been relaxed, it is all coming down to personal choice but with advisory comments. Generally, if you’re outside or not surrounded by lots of people in close proximity, then don’t wear a mask. If you’re inside or surrounded by lots of people then you want to wear a mask. Other than that, it is the general advice related to infection, cleaning hands etc. and if you feel unwell, get tested! It’s only complicated if you want it to be.
Click to expand...

I get what you are saying, but the problem is different venues are adopting different rules, some happy to completely relax everything others stating they would 'recommend' you still wear a mask or others who would 'prefer it' if you still wore a mask and socially distance, others still who 'insist' that you wear a mask whilst using their facilities etc.

You only gave to go to a few different supermarkets to see there seems to be very different policies at play. I think people just want to know what Boro's policy is so that it can inform their personal choices going forward. Everyone has a different personal threshold when it comes to feeling COVID safe.
 
I have just been in a meeting about running a local festival in Autumn and we have decided to make every event/venue as Covid safe as we can. Social distancing and requesting masks etc.
 
Hi Rob can something be done about the quality of the merch on offer in the club shop. Not sure who is responsible for sign off on some of the clothing rage but it’s been abysmal for years. I don’t mean the kits or training gear it’s the other stuff on offer. They are definitely missing a trick here. Even the scarfs lack any sort of thought or effort. They should look to Europe (Italy or Spain) it’s really not difficult. Remember Eindhoven? The best quality stuff on sale that day was definitely from our European friends. Rant over, it needs fixing.
 

Attachments

  • 5E2FE7A6-3BB1-45F3-91FD-B4B29AE4D705.jpeg
    5E2FE7A6-3BB1-45F3-91FD-B4B29AE4D705.jpeg
    136.1 KB · Views: 16
rob_fmttm said:
Secondly, how does everyone feel about Boro Brick Road. Names are fading away now - the club is exploring options trying to contact the company that sold the bricks etc. Looking at whether a virtual plan is possible. Are there any other thoughts on this that might be doable. It seems, rather worryingly, chemicals in the air have had a corrosive effect on the lettering on the bricks. The report made several years ago by the brick company concluded it wouldn't make any difference if the bricks were laid down as a road or on a wall they have been attacked by chemicals in the air.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a load of b***ks tbh. I think the lettering coming off is just poor quality lettering coupled with the fact they put about 1cm of grit on them when it's icy. It's a shame but it always was going to be the case with a ground level display, open to the elements, that the lettering would need to be redone as it was in 2015. Can't it just be redone again?
 
The degradation of the lettering on the bricks is a real issue and has been for years. A lot of those bricks were bought as memorials for loved ones and visiting them is, for me anyway, a special part of going to games. To see the lettering barely legible is very sad, almost disrespectful.

Always thought it would be a decent little business idea, offering a restoration service at a low cost for the bricks.

Of course the club should be doing this themselves, restoring these annually or as often as needed. Anyone with a brick is the true hardcore and for the club to neglect upkeep on them is depressing when the point is that you've invested in something that's supposed to be a permanent memorial.

But if it came to it, I'd rather pay someone a few quid to keep my family's bricks in tip top condition than leave them as they are. They're important to me and probably many others.

Happy to discuss with you or the club further @rob_fmttm if you like, can email me directly - cheers mate!

Quick edit and comment - virtual has no value, I'd strongly discourage the club from going down that path.
 
Last edited:
I’ve given up on any thought going into matchday ticket pricing or a Boro Pride scheme. Here we are nearly a year and half after fans were stopped from attending games and there’s still no thought for non-season ticket holders. We’re two weeks away from the first home game and there is no information. Second class citizens.
 
Humpty said:
I’ve given up on any thought going into matchday ticket pricing or a Boro Pride scheme. Here we are nearly a year and half after fans were stopped from attending games and there’s still no thought for non-season ticket holders. We’re two weeks away from the first home game and there is no information. Second class citizens.
Click to expand...
I believe discussion of membership/Boro Pride may be on the agenda.
 
jonny_greenings_sock said:
The degradation of the lettering on the bricks is a real issue and has been for years. A lot of those bricks were bought as memorials for loved ones and visiting them is, for me anyway, a special part of going to games. To see the lettering barely legible is very sad, almost disrespectful.

Always thought it would be a decent little business idea, offering a restoration service at a low cost for the bricks.

Of course the club should be doing this themselves, restoring these annually or as often as needed. Anyone with a brick is the true hardcore and for the club to neglect upkeep on them is depressing when the point is that you've invested in something that's supposed to be a permanent memorial.

But if it came to it, I'd rather pay someone a few quid to keep my family's bricks in tip top condition than leave them as they are. They're important to me and probably many others.

Happy to discuss with you or the club further @rob_fmttm if you like, can email me directly - cheers mate!

Quick edit and comment - virtual has no value, I'd strongly discourage the club from going down that path.
Click to expand...
The virtual map was to help guide you to your brick. Not necessarily instead of restoring the bricks. The idea was suggested by a fan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top