Minutes MSF Monday 25th November 2024 – 6.30pm Riverside
Minutes of Middlesbrough Supporters Forum Meeting 25th November 2024
Present: MSF: Rob Nichols, Caroline Walker, Ifshaan Mahmoud, Michelle Coleman, Leila Habidi, Jeff Collins, Tom Green, John Brunger, Jill Atkinson MFC: Lee Fryett, Yvonne Ferguson, Gary Stephenson. Apologies: Owen Swift, Helena Bowman
| Points raised by fans | Discussion | Outcome |
| Safe Standing | See separate document: Additional Information about the Licensed Standing Area. | |
| Shirt Supply issues Why is there continued non availability of Boro’s away shirts? Are there plenty of home shirts and 3rd choice shirts? Can shirts be printed when bought online? | MFC aim to facilitate a kit sale for every fan who wants one. The Club are required to order shirts in November. This season’s away shirts have been far more popular than in any other recent season. The shirts were ordered in November 2023 for the current 2024-5 season. Sale numbers are difficult to predict and overstocking with price reductions in an end of the season sale is a significant cost to the Club. MFC did increase their order for away shirts by 33% on last season. However, demand has exceeded even that. A top up order of away shirts was made in August. Boro were let down by the supplier and these kits were substandard and could not be sold to fans. The unexpectedly high demand for away shirts means sales have outsold home shirts. Boro always buy less 3rd kits and those sales are more in line with expectations. Shirts can be printed when bought online or in the shop. Names are subject to the availability of the required letters. MFC do not print players’ names/numbers on shirts at the start of the new season, as squad numbers are not finalised. There is a central EFL contract for the lettering on shirts (for names and numbers). | Boro are anticipating that the replacement order will arrive soon. Responding to demand at this time of year, MFC have opened a Pop-Up Shop in Middlesbrough Town Centre for the Christmas period and are actively exploring ways to expand its operations to meet demand both online and instore. There is good availability of home and 3rd kits. Sales of replica kits and other Boro merchandise remains high. MFC is in the top 4 Clubs for retail sales in the Championship. As soon as the squad list is available, MFC will print on shirts bought online and in store. |
| Half Season Cards and their cost | After several discussions with MSF, MFC have reinstated half season cards. Half season card prices offer the same discount pro rata on match tickets as full season cards, as this is fair to all fans. The 4-instalment payment option has been well received and is making season cards affordable to more fans. | Sales of half season cards are going well and above expectations. Some fans are using the interest free 4 Payment option when purchasing and this option has encouraged more sales. The Early Bird renewal price will be available for half season card holders next season. |
| Ticket Price add-ons | Seat Geek, who have the ticketing contract with MFC, charge for every individual ticketing transaction. The Booking Fee does not cover the Seat Geek charge. | MSF will try and arrange a meeting with a representative from Seat Geek |
| Stadium Wi-Fi | MSF members using EE network find it easier to use the stadium Wi-Fi, than users of other networks. This is probably because the mast near the stadium is EE. The main difficulties are experienced during half time, due to the large number of fans trying to use their phones at the same time. Could fans have an option to pay for Wi-Fi in the Stadium. It could be done in a similar way to hotels, and fans get the first 20/30 minutes free then pay a small amount for guaranteed Wi-Fi? | MFC are looking into a way of improving Wi-Fi connection. |
| Changing the Club Crest | MFC are looking to change the Club Crest for the 150th Anniversary of the Club in 2026. Fans are being given opportunities to join in consultation meetings about the new Club Crest (as suggested in the FSA guidance). Initially fans were emailed with an online survey, and fans have now been invited to attend a meeting about the design of the new Crest on 4th December at the Riverside. The meeting has been advertised on MFC website and all fans who have opted in to receive Club communications received an email. 100 tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. | MFC confirmed there will be further opportunities for fans who could not attend this first meeting, to discuss the Crest throughout this season, |
| Stadium Atmosphere | Does attendance affect atmosphere? Plymouth Argyle have expressed concern that less fans are attending games that kick off at 12.30 rather than 3pm. MFC confirmed that fewer children attend early kick offs due to other activities such as football games/training on Saturday morning, and late kick offs at 8pm, due to the very late finish. Away crowd numbers have also been impacted, with fewer than usual fans travelling to away games kicking off at 12.30pm. | MFC will feed back to Sky TV. |
| Concourse catering update | The trial of self-service bars is proving popular. A new Head of Catering Operations has been appointed and has been in touch with MSF. | MSF to organise a meeting with the new Head of Catering Operations |
| Boro Bricks | BoroSC2020 and MSF have completed the transcribing of almost 5000 Boro Bricks, purchased by fans in the first phase, 2005-6. All inscriptions have been typed into a spreadsheet. MSF have discussed the Bricks with an archaeologist, who may be able to photograph the bricks using a drone and set up a way of searching the pictures taken. | MSF will try and produce a relational database from the spreadsheet, to enable fans to locate their brick, and will consult with the archaeologist on how best to preserve and identify the bricks. |
| Notice and Reminders of upcoming games | Some fans had difficulties finding out where & when U21 European games were taking place. More notice and more information (e.g. of free parking, change of venue) and reminders of the fixtures would be appreciated. Some fans feel there need to be more reminders of the First Team’s early kick offs. | MFC to talk to media department about earlier and repeated fixture announcements. |
| Foodbank | There will be a collection for the Foodbank and Multibank before the Millwall game on 14th December. The Multibank accept a wider range of donations including hygiene products. MSF have received an enquiry from the Salvation Army about a collection for their Christmas Toy Appeal. MSF will contact the organiser of the Multibank to see if they can work with The Salvation Army and collect toys on that date. | MSF and MFC will advertise the Collection before the game on 14th December. |
| Next Meeting | Meetings are currently scheduled every 6 weeks. Should they be moved to every 8 weeks and should the time and day of the week be changed to allow more members to attend? | Next meeting to start earlier, arrival 5.45pm, meeting start 6pm. It will take place in late January, exact date to be confirmed. |
