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The tarmac in the main car park has already been raised by the Trust at liaison and they are currently getting quotes, particularly for the top area. This information is available in the published minutes.

The quotes in so far are ridiculously expensive!
Pop down to Hovefields Ave, you will find people there who can do it fast and cheap!
 
Details of Supporter's Group Meeting,


Present; Chair Ken Jarvis Shrimper Zone; Dan McEvoy Blue Voice; Lesley Hicks Shrimpers Trust; Ken Taylor Travel Zone; Trevor Harp Shrimper Zone; Keith Baker Essex Police; Daren Posnack Shrimpers Trust; Mike Davis Southend Exiles; Danny Macklin SUFC Commercial Director

Apology from; J Forsyth

Ken Jarvis started the meeting by asking Keith Baker if there were any policing matters he would like to raise.

Keith stated that there had been only few problems since our last meeting. The recent smoke bomb incident was being dealt with and they were fairly certain who the culprit is.

Parent visits had worked well; both sides now what is know expected of them. Keith said there had been no problems with home fans at recent matches. Two Bolton fans that got onto the pitch were being dealt with by Bolton FC.

Efforts will continue to not encourage home fans on to the pitch at any time.

Ken Jarvis asked if SUFC had taken any action against the clubs kit man for his remarks about the Sheffield United youngster. Danny the club had dealt with it internally. Danny also said that both the club and kit man had been in contact with the child’s parents and

they are happy with the way Southend United had dealt with the issue.

Ken stated that on behalf of the Shrimpers Zone was disgusted by the whole affair and felt the kit man should be sacked and would like that entered in the minutes, Daren Posnack seconded Kens feelings on the action to be taken.

Ken then went on to bring up various issues raised by his members and they were directed at Danny to answer where possible.

First was a question asking why X block in the West Stand was not opened completely? Danny explained if they did so it would incur further security costs and would, when the away fans are attending in large numbers, bring the two sets of fans to close together. The Club however for the last game of the season might well open X block as the away support should be small.

Next point raised asked the question if there was a chance this season that the new kit would be available for Meet the Blues Day, in particular the junior’s Goalkeepers kit that this season was not on sale until November.

Danny stated that this year all items from Nike should be available for Meet The Blues Day which is provisionally booked for 30th July. Also the question of having larger sizes available Danny stated Nike work to a formula of sizes which are demanded by the public for production purposes.

A number of points were raised about the toilets around the ground and Danny stated the improvements will be reviewed in relevant areas

The next point was the general state of the ground and lack of upkeep in various areas. Danny said only essential work will be done and also to keep within the clubs finances. There is to be £3000 spent on new signage around the ground to assist supporters.

With regards to Fossetts Farm Danny said a new application is in with the Council this month.

The use of the Beckham structure for training facilities is still on the programme to be constructed within the new ground development.

There is still no news on a new CO

8000 average gate not achieved it’s around 7400 this season.

Danny said in answer to a question about the West Stand toilets, they are all being reviewed. TV’s in West stand – we will review the costs involved in changing where needed

A question of problems of movement of the public moving out of the EAST side of the ground, in particular in and around the car park. Whole area being reviewed to see if any improvement can be made with various gate closures etc.

Danny spoke of various issues with the clubs programme in particular the number of errors and lack of written info.

Danny stated the whole issue of the programme is being reviewed. Sales are only around 1200 mark. He stated a number of clubs are to stop selling programmes. Southend will not be one of them.

Ways of improving the content are being discussed including getting legends involved both in the programme and being involved at more of the home games

Another question raised was about accommodating the much larger wheelchairs that are now available to our disabled fans. Danny said

they are looking into removing seats so as to ensure they can accommodate them.

Another safety issue was raised about exiting via Shakespeare Drive. Traffic is allowed to flow up the road as fans exit. It seems, and I have witnessed this, a battle between cars chasing people off the road and fans standing their ground. Keith Baker said he would carry out a review of the problem.

Danny said the club still do not know who half their fans are so a new email platform is being designed.

Danny announced that first of an evening with has been arranged and it is to be with Stan Colleymore in November and to be held at the Arlington rooms in November.

Junior Blues we were told are doing very well, numbers growing. More work will be done to encourage younger fans to attend

Danny said methods of train travel are being researched, how fans book there tickets what train companies they travel with. Do they book in advance, if so are they happy to take the risk if the game is postponed?

We were also told Season Ticket sales are up on last year 3600, 2900 last year.

Will be a clamp down on the wrong use of tickets eg adults using children tickets. Staff to be trained to spot misuse

Improvements will be made to Meet The Blues Day including more supporters groups to be represented and increased entertainment.

Ticket promotion schemes are being reviewed.

The old question of a song for the club to be looked at by Blue Voice.

Finally the huge puddles at the West side of the ground to be dealt with.

Next Meeting will be 2nd August 2017
 
Wow some clubs might stop selling programmes, will be interesting to see who they are.
I must admit to not buying home or away programmes for quite a few years now.
 
Programme's hardly a surprise and wouldn't have a problem with us stopping them, especially if they just created a match day app with all the same content in.

in terms of train travel, me and guys book months in advance mainly on trainline and virgin trains. While we take a gamble on booking in advance we are smart about it. We wouldn't book a game in advance if cup fixtures are arranged etc so it's annoying when games like Coventry are cancelled for reasons like a nerd gaming convention. You are best to book in advance to get the cheapest prices.
 
Please, no club song. I have nightmares just thinking how bloody awful team songs were in the 70/80's. It wont work.
 
Will be a clamp down on the wrong use of tickets eg adults using children tickets. Staff to be trained to spot misuse
May be worth taking a look at West Ham for this with season tickets, they offer the option to upgrade the ticket e.g. If it's a child season ticket but an adult is using it instead they can pay an added amount for that game to 'upgrade' it to an adult ticket for that game.
 
Idea to sell programmes. Voucher for money off on food or % off on shop after x amount. Perhaps a draw each game with the programme numbers for two free tickets that season at any home game?
 
May be worth taking a look at West Ham for this with season tickets, they offer the option to upgrade the ticket e.g. If it's a child season ticket but an adult is using it instead they can pay an added amount for that game to 'upgrade' it to an adult ticket for that game.

You can do that ordinarily at RH, certainly I've done so in the past.
 
Many thanks for the feedback Ken and good to hear.
I do hope something can be done about Shakespeare Drive after the game
 
Details of Supporter's Group Meeting,


Another safety issue was raised about exiting via Shakespeare Drive. Traffic is allowed to flow up the road as fans exit. It seems, and I have witnessed this, a battle between cars chasing people off the road and fans standing their ground. Keith Baker said he would carry out a review of the problem.

Many thanks for the feedback Ken and good to hear.
I do hope something can be done about Shakespeare Drive after the game

But it's not "their ground" it's a road.

Another example of football supporters behaving in a group how they wouldn't dream of if they were on their own.
 
Shakespeare Drive is an easy one, surely.

Just close the road off for 15 minutes.

Charlton did this, whilst we exited the other Saturday and filtered into the station and Woolwich Road.
 
Shakespeare Drive is an easy one, surely.

Just close the road off for 15 minutes.

Charlton did this, whilst we exited the other Saturday and filtered into the station and Woolwich Road.

We would need to get a Road Closure Order from the Council evidently.

Not as simple as just getting a couple of coppers or a very large bloke to stand in the way.
 
Many moons ago, the police always shut the bottom of Shakespeare Drive for about 10 minutes at the end of each game to allow the 3,000+ supporters to exit the West Stand and the South Stand. With parking down both sides and narrow pavements there is just not enough room without pouring into the road.

It also stopped away supporters coming up Shakespeare to have a go.
 
We would need to get a Road Closure Order from the Council evidently.

Not as simple as just getting a couple of coppers or a very large bloke to stand in the way.

Makes sense, but that seems straightforward, as well and once granted, just gets put in place for every match, automatically.

I tend to exit the other side, but the occasions I do go out of Shakespeare Drive, it's virtually impossible not to walk in the road. You only need a couple of slower walkers on the pavement and everyone drifts into the road to overtake them.
 
We would need to get a Road Closure Order from the Council evidently.

Not as simple as just getting a couple of coppers or a very large bloke to stand in the way.

I love Southend United - but agree with Mick above. There is no basis to enforce road closures in the same residential street over 23 times in 9 months or so. People live in that road.
Honestly. Can people not just take care and leave the area safely and with respect for other people going about their everyday business?#
Is what really gets up the "non footy lovers" noses - football supporters thinking the world revolves around football.

From a passionate Shrimper - with respect for everyone!
 
"Mum, just got off the bus - can you come and pick me up please? Is freezing cold, peeing with rain, dark and I am frightened on this dark night".
"Sorry love, you may be 13 but you should know that Southend United are playing Stockport County tonight and quite rightly they put the convenience of supporters above your safety - you will have to walk!".
 
That argument can easily work the other way, though, in that residents of a street shut for 15 minutes after every match, would know to plan slightly ahead and not jump in their car when 3,000 people are turning out of a football ground.

Streets around football grounds are often closed off to drivers after a match and sometimes before, for crowd control and safety. I went to The Emirates the other Sunday and some of the roads around the ground are not only closed off, but actively used for street sellers and so on.

The scenario of the frightened child is a fair point, though.
 
That argument can easily work the other way, though, in that residents of a street shut for 15 minutes after every match, would know to plan slightly ahead and not jump in their car when 3,000 are turning out of a football ground.

Streets around football grounds are often closed off to drivers after a match and sometimes before, for crowd control and safety. I went to The Emirates the other Sunday and some of the roads around the ground are not only closed off, but actively used for street sellers and so on.

The scenario of the frightened child is a fair point, though.

!0 minutes once a fortnight at the most? It's hardly jeopardising anyone.
 
The other thought is that if you needed to get an emergency vehicle down Shakespeare Drive 5 minutes after a match, you would want the road empty of other moving vehicles, with so many people around, as well.
 
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