Leicester City Football Club Fans Consultative Committee Meeting – King Power Stadium
Wednesday 26 November 2014
Due to the length of the minutes taken, we have split them into two separate articles, the second half of the minutes will be published tomorrow (Fri 6th)
WELCOME BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
Susan Whelan thanked the new members for joining us this evening and also to the familiar faces from last season.
SW said we are very pleased to welcome for the first time our catering provider’s General Manager, Richard Lymbery. Jon Rudkin and Andrew Neville are at Premier League meetings today. AN is unable to attend this evening and sends his apologies however JR will join us later.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND LCFC STAFF INTRODUCTIONS:
Everyone introduced themselves to the committee with a brief personal background.
THE PROCESS OF THE FANS CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING:
SW explained how the Fans Consultative Committee has worked over the last couple of seasons. The main objective of the FCC is exactly that; to use the members as a sounding board. Everyone widely represents all the stands and the supporter demographic which ensures we have a cross section of opinions from our supporters.
The format by necessity, is to have an agenda, and you will always be invited to forward your requests for the agenda prior to each meeting. We will ensure that previous action points and questions from the previous meeting have been answered to your satisfaction. If there are questions we are unable to answer in an open dialogue situation we will advise you accordingly. All questions will be via the Chair by a raised hand.
SW advised that the process is to meet approximately 4 times a year. It is important that we improve communication channels between the FCC and the Club. SW confirmed there is a dedicated e-mail address; [email protected]. The Club runs a number of focus groups with about 3 or 4 supporters from the committee, which runs independent of the main group. We would like to stress that you shouldn’t wait for the next meeting if there is something you wish to talk to us about. SW stressed that she would really ask members to use these channels and do not wait for the next meeting. We will be the conduit to keep the communication channels open.
SW asked everyone to be sensitive to the information that is passed on to members and requested that no one posts information from the FCC meeting on to social media platforms, if advised on specific matters at the meeting.
FEEDBACK ON THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING (3 JULY 2014):
The minutes were agreed as correct with the exception of “EB stated that Compass increased their prices for the last game of the season”. This was in actual fact raised by Greg Floy. With reference to the Club’s response “The Compass General Manager has confirmed that there were no increases in price last season”. GF has requested that we place on record that he was however charged a different price to normal.
ACTION POINTS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING:
The ticketing system – We are coming towards the end of our current contract and we are looking at several options going forward.
Catering staff training – RL advised that staffing levels have more than doubled this season; we have 165 catering hospitality staff, and between 165 -175 concourse catering staff who work in the concourses, compared to a total of 200 staff last season.
RL confirmed that a better training system is now in place.
Stadium alterations (Premier League requirements) – all the stadium alterations have now been completed.
Scoreflash – This is not possible due to Premier League rules.
Media survey – We are currently looking at all areas of communication. SW asked everyone to feedback to the [email protected] e-mail address any information they would like included in the survey, which will be submitted later this year. We will also send the draft survey to committee members in advance of submission for your comments.
SW advised that the Hospitality Survey results have been received and the report is nearly complete. MZ will also circulate this information to you on completion.
ACTION POINTS: MZ to send draft media survey and completed hospitality survey to FCC members. Members to feedback any information they would like the Club to include in the media survey. Hospitality survey report completed February 2015.
LCFC FOXES FOUNDATION:
LCFC Foxes Foundation was set up in 2011 with the One in a Million Campaign. It is the “umbrella” for all the charity work that the Club undertakes. We have already raised over £1m for charitable causes and with the help of our supporters are now working towards raising “The Second Million”.
The charities we are supporting for 2014/15 are; Leicester Hospitals Charity, Leicestershire Autistic Society, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research (Leicester & Rutland Branch), Rainbows hospice for children and young people and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
Fundraising events and initiatives to date have included a celebrity soccer match, player signing session, Barclay’s family fun day and events, the auctioning of shirts. In addition we have raised a significant amount of money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Events coming up; Birch’s Fun Bingo Night (27 November), Santa Fun Run at Victoria Park, in conjunction with When You Wish Upon A Star (Sunday 7 December – 10.30am start). Emile Heskey in his role as Honorary Club Ambassador, will host the event. There will also be a special screening of Frozen on Sunday 14 December at the Odeon Cinema and all profits will be donated to LCFC Foxes Foundation. There will also be a huge white collar boxing event in the New Year.
The Foundation is something that the Club is very proud of and it’s a great opportunity for fans to engage with the Club. If any member would like to put forward any ideas please contact us on the dedicated e-mail address.
THAILAND INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY:
We announced this initiative on 4 November 2014 and we are very pleased that Emile Heskey has agreed to be our Ambassador. Emile has kept in touch with the Club over the years and he is very happy to contribute towards the mentoring of young players. SW explained that the owners like to re-invest in the community and understand their social obligation. Thailand has never taken part on an international football stage. There has been a long recruitment campaign in each of the 5 provinces in Thailand. LCFC and King Power will embark on this combined education programme, and the boys will learn from an EPPP1 Academy. They are currently studying for English Language and 16 boys will come over to the UK in January. They will be in full time education and will work towards a Btech and coaching badges.
Jon Rudkin will head up this initiative and offer support throughout. It is an all-encompassing programme and will hopefully equip the boys for the future.
The Chairman has been involved in education programmes via the King of Thailand through the King Power Foundation which has raised over 40 million dollars over the last few years.
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE – MUMBAI
A number of the commercial, supporter engagement and community teams, are going over to Mumbai with the Premier League before Christmas. 9 Premier League clubs will be represented in total. LCFC will also be undertaking some community work whilst we are out there. We are very proud that Emile Heskey will also be travelling with the LCFC contingent to represent the Club. Peter Schmeichel, Robbie Fowler and Ian Rush will be Premier League Ambassadors at the event also.
OPEN DISCUSSION:
LED’s – Are there any plans for the LED’s to go all the way round the pitch to include the East Stand? SW explained that the TV cameras are on that side and the arc of the TV is only on 3 sides, therefore there would be no change anticipated.
Tannoy at half time – It is very difficult to hear Birch clearly. SW advised that we have had numerous companies in to check out the system and they have all said there is no fault. It was noted that it was more about the technique of how the microphone is used.
Away ticketing arrangements – SP explained that some clubs are more open to reciprocal pricing than others. Premier League rules differ to the Football League. If we take the full allocation of tickets we have to pay for all of them even if we do not sell them all. The tickets that went on sale for Liverpool were an initial allocation. Premier League rules are different to the Football League. Clubs have to supply 10% of their stadium capacity to visiting fans although it is capped at 3000 tickets. If there is an area in the home ground that is comparable to the away end the clubs are obliged to charge the visiting supporters the same or less.
SP advised that we have the option to take more tickets for the Hull City game but the Club is mindful that we have 3 away games in 11 days.
Away Supporter Initiative – We have planned to use the money in a number of ways which includes subsidised travel particularly for the longer journeys. We have also spent money on the away section. The bar staff wear the away shirt to make it feel a more welcoming environment. Some of the funds will be used in the New Year. We have been to a number of clubs where it is a welcoming environment. SW is very keen to hear from anyone with any ideas of how they would like the money spent.
ACTION POINT – COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO E-MAIL [email protected] WITH ANY IDEAS.
End of Part One
Present:
Alan Digby (Foxes Trust), Ali Grimsley (Leicestershire Constabulary), Angela White (LCFC), Chloe Dexter (East Stand), Cliff Ginetta (LCFC Supporters Club), David Seddon (Fosse Club, Premium Seating), Frank Moss (Hospitality, Premier Lounge), Heather Wood (West Stand), Ian Clements (Spion Kop), Ian Flanagan (LCFC Commercial Director), Jamie Tabor (LCFC), Jim Donnelly (LCFC) Jon Rudkin (LCFC Academy Director), Marek Zacharkiw (LCFC), Michelle McLean (Family Stand), Nicholas Palmer (West Stand), Peter Hill (Family Stand), Richard Lymbery (Compass General Manager), Richard Tullis (West Stand), Scott Paul (LCFC), Simon Capper (LCFC Finance Director), Susan Whelan (LCFC Chief Executive Officer), Stuart Symons (East Stand), Yogesh Kholia (Spion Kop)