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WadeyCobbler
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As has been published recently, the next FAB meeting will be:
Tuesday 17th June
1830-2000hrs (6.30pm-8pm)
LCS Stand, Sixfields
James Whiting (CEO) And Jason Burns (Catering General Manager) will be joining the FAB meeting this time.
If you have any questions or comments relevant for the meeting, especially with the aforementioned guests, you are invited to post them here in order that they can be presented on your behalf.
Feedback to those and all other subjects discussed, will be posted on here following the meeting.
Any plans for more gluten free food options in the kiosks? How about selling chips/loaded chips/fries. Easy to prep, good mark-up. |
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Deepcut Cobbler
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From Tom Cliffe:
"For all those attending the FAB Meeting this evening, we are in the LCS Stand tonight. Enter via the main entrance, which is closest to the South Stand. You should be able to park directly outside of the stand as well.
We will aim to start at 6.30."
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“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.” Laurence Binyon
The Hotelend Grand National Sweepstake Champion 2009
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Merry Comrade
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For those intersted here is a summary of the proceedings of yesterday evenings FAB meeting. Eight members in attendance including Tom Cliffe who took the chair. Two guests, CEO James Whiting and head of catering Jason Burns.
Matters discussed:
1. Fanstones. These have not been laid because the required target from the manufacturers of 700 had not been reached. 610 had ben sold and there was some discussion around how the remaining 90 could be sold including discounts, competitions and promotions. There was no simple acceptable solution apart from everyone spreading the word and positively promoting the project in orer to get it over the line.
2. Fans village. This is seen as a long term project but initial development will be concentrated on improving facilities at Carrs Bar. An awning or weather proof covering will be installed and new flooring will be provided as well as a permanent outside bar. More staff will be recruited and the option of having another outside caterer in situ close to the bars will be looked at. The club are committed to this going ahead and will suppport the project financially depite the shortfall in income from the fanstones project. The new improved Carrs Bar should be up and running for the start of the season. Tom stressed tht he saw this as just the start of the project which he envisaged continuing for the next 5-10 years with lots more developments to follow.
3. Catering. Jason Burns reporeted that a new executive chef d been recruited with lots of new ideas nd the menus in all hospitality areas would see improvements with more variety and choices being a key factor. The catering areas in the new stand would include chips both cheesy and plain but chips could not be provided in the other stands because of the cost of implementing the required extraction units. Some changes will be made to the items on sale however.
These were the major items of discussion but others included hot water in the toilets., car parking, location of away team coach on match days, turnstile problems for the womens game aginst Peterborough, reduced prices for boxes at 'Micky Mouse Trophy' games, the pound deposit on returnable glasses and gluten free food.
Apologies if I missed anything but I am sure others who were there can add to this.
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Deepcut Cobbler
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Thank you Bhyll (Merry Comrade), and also for volunteering to be our THE volunteer representative for this FAB Meeting...  |
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.” Laurence Binyon
The Hotelend Grand National Sweepstake Champion 2009
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Tom
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For those intersted here is a summary of the proceedings of yesterday evenings FAB meeting. Eight members in attendance including Tom Cliffe who took the chair. Two guests, CEO James Whiting and head of catering Jason Burns.
Matters discussed:
1. Fanstones. These have not been laid because the required target from the manufacturers of 700 had not been reached. 610 had ben sold and there was some discussion around how the remaining 90 could be sold including discounts, competitions and promotions. There was no simple acceptable solution apart from everyone spreading the word and positively promoting the project in orer to get it over the line.
2. Fans village. This is seen as a long term project but initial development will be concentrated on improving facilities at Carrs Bar. An awning or weather proof covering will be installed and new flooring will be provided as well as a permanent outside bar. More staff will be recruited and the option of having another outside caterer in situ close to the bars will be looked at. The club are committed to this going ahead and will suppport the project financially depite the shortfall in income from the fanstones project. The new improved Carrs Bar should be up and running for the start of the season. Tom stressed tht he saw this as just the start of the project which he envisaged continuing for the next 5-10 years with lots more developments to follow.
3. Catering. Jason Burns reporeted that a new executive chef d been recruited with lots of new ideas nd the menus in all hospitality areas would see improvements with more variety and choices being a key factor. The catering areas in the new stand would include chips both cheesy and plain but chips could not be provided in the other stands because of the cost of implementing the required extraction units. Some changes will be made to the items on sale however.
These were the major items of discussion but others included hot water in the toilets., car parking, location of away team coach on match days, turnstile problems for the womens game aginst Peterborough, reduced prices for boxes at 'Micky Mouse Trophy' games, the pound deposit on returnable glasses and gluten free food.
Apologies if I missed anything but I am sure others who were there can add to this.
Thanks Bhyll I wonder if we could do a "legends" area on the fan stones, and let people contribute smaller amounts than buying a stone and we put 10/15/20 stones down for cobblers legends of the past, even at 65 quid i'm sure that's a stretch for some people, Another lower priced option could be some communal stones - where people can pay a tenner or something and they're one of 6 names, much smaller on one stone. |
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BackOfTheNet
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To be honest I'm not overly impressed with the fan stones situation. I don't remember there being anything said about a minimum amount being sold before any would be fitted. Obviously it would have to be enough to make the installation worthwhile but 700 is rather a lot to sell.
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The Hotelend Grand National* Sweepstake Champion 2020
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Worthless Recluse
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Why don't the club purchase the remaining 90 stones to complete the minimum order and then raffle them off at £5 a ticket. Less than 1200 tickets @£65 a stone would need to be sold to cover losses amd make everyone happy. Even if 1200 weren't sold, still a relatively small gesture to keep the clubs notoriously fickle and demanding fanbase happy  |
Slovenly c*nt.
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Michael Walker
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For those intersted here is a summary of the proceedings of yesterday evenings FAB meeting. Eight members in attendance including Tom Cliffe who took the chair. Two guests, CEO James Whiting and head of catering Jason Burns.
Matters discussed:
1. Fanstones. These have not been laid because the required target from the manufacturers of 700 had not been reached. 610 had ben sold and there was some discussion around how the remaining 90 could be sold including discounts, competitions and promotions. There was no simple acceptable solution apart from everyone spreading the word and positively promoting the project in orer to get it over the line.
2. Fans village. This is seen as a long term project but initial development will be concentrated on improving facilities at Carrs Bar. An awning or weather proof covering will be installed and new flooring will be provided as well as a permanent outside bar. More staff will be recruited and the option of having another outside caterer in situ close to the bars will be looked at. The club are committed to this going ahead and will suppport the project financially depite the shortfall in income from the fanstones project. The new improved Carrs Bar should be up and running for the start of the season. Tom stressed tht he saw this as just the start of the project which he envisaged continuing for the next 5-10 years with lots more developments to follow.
3. Catering. Jason Burns reporeted that a new executive chef d been recruited with lots of new ideas nd the menus in all hospitality areas would see improvements with more variety and choices being a key factor. The catering areas in the new stand would include chips both cheesy and plain but chips could not be provided in the other stands because of the cost of implementing the required extraction units. Some changes will be made to the items on sale however.
These were the major items of discussion but others included hot water in the toilets., car parking, location of away team coach on match days, turnstile problems for the womens game aginst Peterborough, reduced prices for boxes at 'Micky Mouse Trophy' games, the pound deposit on returnable glasses and gluten free food.
Apologies if I missed anything but I am sure others who were there can add to this.
Thanks for the report. I'm not completely on top of the details for the Fans Stone project in terms of the requirement for a minimum of 700 stones - is this just financial in terms of the minimum order quantity or is the 700 a technical requirement from the supplier? If it's just financial then I'd suggest the club could underwrite the last 90 stones cost so that the project could go ahead ASAP. I think once supporters can actually see the Stones the rest would sell out quickly? Supporter facilities/fan village - a covered area for Carrs Bar is obviously a good step forward. How big is it going to be? Will it be permanent? I suspect it will need planning permission so I'd encourage the club to get on with it ASAP again.. More generally supporters facilities needs a 'big dialogue' and this ties into the clubs plans for the land development and perhaps future stadium development. Last year we were at over 80% average capacity, this year hopefully it will be 90%. It's always about scarce resources and how the club allocates them - as Kelvin Thomas said at the last open evening - he would like to replace the seats in the West Stand but that would be at the cost of one player less next year. And lots of people on here are already worrying about the lack of players. I think that we're at an exciting time for the club, albeit in a very difficult financial framework. I hope that a previous posters claim that 'new investment is imminent' is true, but I think we have to work with what we've got. |
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TVOR
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To be honest I'm not overly impressed with the fan stones situation. I don't remember there being anything said about a minimum amount being sold before any would be fitted. Obviously it would have to be enough to make the installation worthwhile but 700 is rather a lot to sell.
Similar thoughts, especially as the carrot of them being installed 'soon' has been dangled a few times. Shame 700 havent been purchased, especially with 250,000+ fans out there. |
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Observing
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Club should have been clear from the off that 700 need selling.
Bit of a poor show this one.
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Horsham Cobbler
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If it's just financial then I'd suggest the club could underwrite the last 90 stones cost so that the project could go ahead ASAP.
Maybe the club could fund the remaining number of stones, required to reach the 700 threshold, and dedicate them to deserving former servants of NTFC (players/coaching staff & management/directors/background employees).
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DavCobb
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Wouldn't go OTT but the fan stone situation is a bit poor. No doubt a MOQ of 700 was promised to the supplier. Most likely for a price break or tooling requirements - no idea on the technicality of masonry! It could also need 700 to meet the design. It is something (to meet a deadline) that could be unwritten at cost price with some legends names on. Little things like this can become extremely emotive for those 600 odd that have parted with £. Either way, if I was the club I'd get it resolved as a priority. Maybe it will become the next East stand. I liked the photo wall, that was a great touch. |
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Observing
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Just to add the fan stones is a bit of a poor show but the fan zone stuff sounds really positive. For some balance  |
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Deepcut Cobbler
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To be honest, I'm a little surprised that we haven't met the 700 minimum order, which isn't an unusual request by a provider, in order to offer a reasonable and possibly reduced price.
I would have thought that 700 would have been a conservative estimate for the uptake?
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“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.” Laurence Binyon
The Hotelend Grand National Sweepstake Champion 2009
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TVOR
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Also is it not the FAB who should have been clearer / potentially cover the costs and not the Club? I know they are linked but are they not operating as separate groups (i.e the money raised by the FAB is being spent by the FAB)?
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Merry Comrade
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I agree thefanstone situation is a bit of an embarrassment. There are now 610 people (myself included) who have made an investment of over a hundred pounds and are in the dark over when they are going to see a finished product at Sixfields. JW was dead against selling the remaining 90 at a cheaper price because he felt it would not be fair to those who bought at full price. The club may have to put some money into it to get it resoved but I sense they are reluctant to do so.
I have received a request to provide some more detail on the 'minor' items we discussed. I will do my best.
Hot water in the toilets. This has come up at every FAB meeeting I have attended. There were concerns that those who work on the food stalls had no hot water to wash their hands and reasurance was given that was not the case. JW said he had discussed the problems with Avril and they were going to tackle the issue 'stand by stand'. No time scale was given however.
Away team coach. They will be asked to move it in place a little later so it does not cause an obstruction.
Turnstile problems at final womens match. Nuff said. It was a 'learning opportunity'.
Parking. The system will change so people cannot park in others reserved spots.
Hope this helps but if anyone wan'ts more info on a specific subject an email to Tom Cliffe will always be responded to.
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Melbourne Cobbler
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I agree thefanstone situation is a bit of an embarrassment. There are now 610 people (myself included) who have made an investment of over a hundred pounds and are in the dark over when they are going to see a finished product at Sixfields. JW was dead against selling the remaining 90 at a cheaper price because he felt it would not be fair to those who bought at full price. The club may have to put some money into it to get it resoved but I sense they are reluctant to do so.
I have received a request to provide some more detail on the 'minor' items we discussed. I will do my best.
Hot water in the toilets. This has come up at every FAB meeeting I have attended. There were concerns that those who work on the food stalls had no hot water to wash their hands and reasurance was given that was not the case. JW said he had discussed the problems with Avril and they were going to tackle the issue 'stand by stand'. No time scale was given however.
Away team coach. They will be asked to move it in place a little later so it does not cause an obstruction.
Turnstile problems at final womens match. Nuff said. It was a 'learning opportunity'.
Parking. The system will change so people cannot park in others reserved spots.
Hope this helps but if anyone wan'ts more info on a specific subject an email to Tom Cliffe will always be responded to.
I plan to get a couple Bhyll, will sort in the coming days. Just haven’t got around to it yet, like most things on the list. |
Let me make one thing absolutely clear, the Trust “advisor” is not god. Are you going to tell him or shall I?
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Cornish Cobbler
Jr. Member
 Offline
Posts: 56
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I thought I'd also chip in about the fan stones situation and express my extreme disappointment about where it's currently ended up, particularly as its such an emotive issue for me (and I imagine most others). Had it been stated at the beginning that a minimum order was required before anything would happen then fair enough but it was never mentioned till now and the response seems almost blase. I'll be making my thoughts known to Tom C but certainly going forwards, I'll be thinking twice before I commit to any other initiatives which is quite sad really.
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1971cobbler
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Same here really. We committed to three separate stones rather than just one and putting all three names on the one stone, to show as much support as we could, and currently have nothing to show for it.
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