SUFC: The Future Fan Advisory Board Launched

[OldBlueLady]

I believe Tom is on holiday this week, so, if you're waiting on him, you may be waiting a little while longer yet.

 

[Medway Blue]

If it's anything like the Supporters Groups Liason meeting, who are still awaiting the club to sign off the minutes from a meeting weeks ago, we could all be waiting some time.

There aren't minutes from this one as such. It was the first meeting, so was more of an intro/kick off, and wasn't particularly in depth. The club will share a summary at some point. Believe they're doing several bits - getting an FAB area on the website, getting an FAB email address set up, and putting together profiles of the FAB members, and then I guess will post all at once when they're ready. Ask them.

Well that is news, just for clarity , what is the difference then between The Trust and the club having their Liason meetings and the Fan advisory board and The Trust having the same sort of meetings apart from the odd change of personnel?

It was news to me, too. It was the club's call. I don't know what it will mean in practice. Gary L led the first meeting and I participated in the same way that the other FAB members participated. We'll see what a more structured 2nd meeting with an agenda, etc. brings. All it would mean in reality is that I'd be helping to pull together an agenda with the help of other FAB members, running the meeting according to the agenda, and trying to keep it to time. Nothing particularly interesting.

The difference I guess is that the FAB is aiming to be high level and strategic (COSU's words). The Liaison meetings are about fixing operational issues at Roots Hall. Liaison is an operational meeting between Trust and TL/RD. FAB is a supporters board, and the Trust has a seat on it.

 

[Ricey]

Any update on what these lot are doing? Seems to have gone radio silence.

 

[Liam AAS]

I think they only meet quarterly, first one was an intro session in Jan. Next meeting must be due soon.

 

[Medway Blue]

Any update on what these lot are doing? Seems to have gone radio silence.

There was a meeting last week.

We're waiting for the club to put a FAB section on the website, where they will publish the agendas and the minutes. We've been told that's imminent, so fingers crossed.

There are also plans afoot for some semi-organised engagement between FAB members and supporters around Roots Hall before home matches, hopefully before the end of the season.

 

[Liam AAS]

Fan Advisory Board Meeting: April 2025

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

 

[Goodwin]

Any idea if there's going to be an early bird window to renew season cards ?

 

[Ricey]

Fan Advisory Board Meeting: April 2025

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

Couple of points from this:

Great to see they are going to consult on any changing of the club crest. It was mentioned on here a couple of times that COSU were looking to change it.

Love the idea of a stadium tour during the off season. It might be a falling down lump of ****, but it’s something I’d still love to see. I’ve never been in the dressing room so that would be cool to visit.

Don’t like the idea of another ‘new’ mascot. Leave it as Sammy, Elvis was great but he isn’t missed and I think Sammy is great as a lone mascot. Seems a waste of money on a new mascot outfit when it could be spent elsewhere.

The communication piece, I was quite surprised there was no mention of the Fan Engagement Forum on here? Not sure if it’s a separate piece as Kay does a great job being the go between for the club and the poster. But for feedback and communication surely SZ has to be considered? I am still shocked unless I’ve missed it that none of the FAB members have posted on here. Whilst I understand SZ doesn’t speak for the whole of the fanbase there is a large majority that post/view from home and away supporters. It’s a great communication tool. Not saying it should be the one stop shop, but should definitely be a place to communicate.

It’s a step in the right direction with communication, I really hope they do start stepping up more and get themselves about. Communication was one of the key points that all the fans spoke about when engaging with Stan all that time ago to move things forward with getting our club back.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, the foundations are starting to show and it’s moving in the right direction! More from the FAB members will help with that communication piece.

 

[OldBlueLady]

@Ricey yeah, agree with almost everything you've said. I don't see that another mascot is needed, Sammy does a great job, and another one would dilute what he does. Also feel a bit unappreciated from that in a total absence of acknowledgement of what we have tried to do under fan engagement.