LCFC FANS’ CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING – Weds 1st Feb 2017 Minutes Part Two

D.    LCFC website

Dan Ayers from the digital sports consultancy, Seven League, has been working with LCFC since 2015, advising on potential partners. Seven League doesn’t build websites but rather focuses on strategy. It has a wealth of sports and particularly football experience, including work with the Premier League, UEFA, Barcelona, Juventus, Spurs and Sutton.  Dan himself brings an inside view of a club from his time at Valencia.

Dan presented the findings from a review which will help to define a bespoke framework for the LCFC website. He explained the importance of defining the website’s target audience, by ascertaining consumption, frequency, purpose, preferences and retail habits of users.

James Challinor said that he uses social media on a day-to-day basis and uses the website primarily to purchase tickets. He would use it more if there were clips of players speaking or player videos.

Richard Tullis described the present website as very clunky with nothing to entice the user to look.

Simon Grindrod asked for more journalistic input, opinions and independent analysis, such as a matchday magazine and contributions from guest writers. Dan said that including opinion pieces was feasible. He said LCFC is now in the top 25 of digitalised clubs, with all clubs competing for the attention of media fans.

Dan raised the issue of providing targeted information to particular audiences, eg in Algeria where fans would have a keen interest in Algerians playing for the Club.

Simon Grindrod asked about the use of livestream Kodi Stick. Dan explained the difficulty of evaluating the number of people using illegal streams which are hitting traditional viewing channels.

Robert Maybury said the shop site was also cumbersome and not user-friendly which as JT explained, is the reason the Club is looking for new partners. Dan noted the difficulty of using different providers for different functions. He explained that the Club wants to personalise across all websites when the user logs in. James Challinor suggested there should be tiles showing purchase history.

Personalisation could include ticketing preferences, favourite players (useful for tailoring stories), shopping etc.

Simon Grindrod recommended bringing together all a user’s information such as points, membership, etc with a single log-in.

Regarding social media, the Seven League review found that usage varied country by country depending upon the type of social media available. In the UK, for example, Facebook is the 6th most popular.

Robert Maybury suggested that the Help account could be used to speak to Jon Rudkin.

Richard Tullis highlighted the barrage of abuse that gets posted online.

The Club does its best to take down the posts and this is another reason to target stories for international audiences in their native languages, eg Algeria and Thailand. LCFC are not alone in facing this problem.

The Seven League review found that users are happy with the online renewal of season tickets but find it more difficult to buy away match tickets.

A key objective of the new system will be purchasing tickets with a mobile.

Dan outlined the timeline for the Club digital review:

–          Tendering Process – tenders will be invited from 8 to 9 providers; getting the right parties is a very thorough process that will take approximately 3 months;

–          Discovery Phase – looking at audiences;

–          Design work;

–          Quality assurance and testing (private Beta testing with a small group of fans and staff, followed by public Beta testing);

–          Refinement based on feedback;

–          Website goes live.

The above technical build will be carried out in parallel with getting feedback from supporters, eg the FSS, Your 90 Minutes and forums.

The new www.lcfc.com site will go live in beta phase on Wednesday 7 June and will be presented to the FCC group for testing on 12 June. The new e-commerce and ticket sites will go live on Tuesday 4 July.

E.      Any Other Business

1.      Robert Maybury asked about refunds for Arsenal tickets, saying the Club had refunded last year. The Club took the decision to refund any supporter who could not make the rearranged fixture at short notice as this was a very late TV fixture change in 2015/16. However, for the 2016/17 sales, we suspended sales until the new fixture date had been confirmed, therefore we had made necessary arrangements to avoid minimal disruption to supporters.        

 Dan asked whether the Premier League’s new system refunds train tickets. Simon Capper responded that the Premier League had looked at it but found it unfeasible.

2.      Richard Tullis noted that the Club’s website contract with Football League Interactive will expire in June.  Jamie Tabor assured the meeting that the Club’s own website would be up and running by then. He confirmed Richard’s question that there would be one address for accessing everything offered by the Club, including booking events with Compass, social feeds, retail and ticket sales.

3.      Cliff Ginnetta asked whether clapbanners would be reintroduced into L Block.

Susan Whelan explained that removing clapbanners from L Block was a direct response to a series of specific  incidents. Cliff asked why the ban on clapbanners applied only to L Block and not to K Block which is on the same concourse. SW explained that a small group of fans in L Block had deliberately engaged in a premeditated act which necessitated the Club’s response.

         Action Point – SW to discuss clapbanners’ issue in L Block with Kevin Barclay.

         Action Point – Jim Donnelly to ensure clapbanners are available in Fanstore for supporters who sit in L Block.

Both action points were followed through and communicated to supporters in L block. This system will remain in place for the foreseeable future, pending a review and decision at director level.

Jamie Tabor stressed that the safety of supporters is the Club’s No. 1 priority. He noted that 13 Crystal Palace supporters had been injured by wet clapbanners, including a child who was cut on the face and head, requiring hospital treatment. He said samples of other clappers are being tested.

Simon Grindrod noted that the Club has earned the reputation of being a safe family club which is very important.

Susan Whelan said this was a zero tolerance situation and the Club would not permit this type of aggression with the clapbanners. 

4.      James Challinor asked whether there would be a survey on the goal music. Jamie Tabor replied that the Club had promised to review and would do so. The topic can be discussed at the next Your 90 Minutes on Hospitality and Concourses.

         Action Point – include goal music on agenda for Your 90 Minutes.

This was not included in Your 90 Minutes due to time restrictions as the respective topics were not relevant. This is however to be discussed in future ‘Your 90 Minutes’ sessions.

5.      Cliff Ginnetta highlighted the need for a new drummer in L Block as Lee wasn’t well enough to do it. Lee is now back drumming and this point is now resolved.

6.      James Challinor asked whether fans would be consulted on a revamped points system.

         Susan Whelan asked James himself to put forward some proposals on how to weight the games.        

James Challinor raised the problem faced by season ticket holders getting 50 points and non- season ticket holders finding it very difficult to buy other tickets. He queried whether a separate scheme could be held for non-season ticket holders who have no chance of getting away tickets.

         Action Point – James Challinor – revamped points system.

It was highlighted in the Your 90 Minutes on 5 June that the issue may be within the Away Ticket Priority scheme.  Jonathan Gregory, Jim Overend and Vishal Dayal are going to audit and review it this year and propose a solution to the problem for season 2018/19. During the 2017/18 season they will continue to monitor and ban individuals, utilising methods, such as the media, to indicate the Club’s intentions on the issue.

The Club must avoid the emergence of an almost exclusive club based on the current points scheme; could there be a ballot for everyone over a certain limit? Susan Whelan asked whether 60 tickets should be kept for new family combinations, eg Dads and lads. Simon Grindrod continued the discussion by raising the problem of new fans not having a chance of breaking in to buy a ticket.

SW also noted the issue of isolated empty seats.

Action Point – look into purchasing process and alleviating isolated empty seats.

Following consultations, we will be holding 2% of away tickets back for members to purchase away tickets via a ballot

7.      David Seddon asked whether the Club would be ok in the event of relegation, considering players’ salaries etc.

SW gave her assurance that costs were covered and the Club would be ok.

8.      Cliff Ginnetta thanked the Club for enabling the fans to attend the SPOTY awards.

Jamie Tabor concluded the meeting by emphasising that Jim Donnelly is always available to answer queries. 

Date of Next Meeting: 20 June 2017

Attendees

Family Stand

East Stand

Spion Kop

West Stand

Fosse Club

Corporate

 

Robert Maybury

Stuart Symons

Ian Clements

James Challinor

Richard Tullis

Simon Grindrod

David Seddon

 

Apologies:

Michelle McLean

Peter Hill

Chloe Dexter

Yogesh Khalia

Heather Wood

Nick Palmer

 

Frank Moss

Supporter Groups

Leicestershire Constabulary

LCFC Directors

LCFC Staff

Alan Digby ( Foxes Trust)

Andy Gubbins (DSA)

Cliff Ginnetta  (LCFC Supporters Club)

Ali Grimsley

Sean McOwen

Susan Whelan (CEO)

Simon Capper (Finance Director)

Caroline McGrory (General Counsel)

Mags Mernagh (Director Estates & Infrastructure)

Jonathan Gregory (Commercial Director)

 

 

Jim Donnelly (SLO & DAO)

Stuart Johncock (HO  Supporter Engagement)

Matt Bray (Manager, Community Trust)

Richard Lymbery (GM Compass)

Jamie Tabor (HO Marketing)

Sam Chambers (Multi-Media Manager)

Esther Walker (PA to CEO)

Apologies:

 

 

Jon Rudkin (Director of Football)

Andrew Neville (Football Operations Director

 

               

 

These minutes are issued by LCFC