In order not to duplicate suggestions here are some I have passed on to the club;
3rd kit - rainbow design. The Bristol Pride festival saw 50,000 people attend. Should be good publicity for the club,(similar to the pink shirts), a potential good earner and could possibly attract a new potential audience. Tom G advised he worked with LBGT groups in Brighton so has ideas.
Will writing service. Pretty morbid but how many minutes applause have we had in the last 3 years. If the club had a linked solicitors, the club could ask for say 1% of estate to be donated to the club. The sols would extra custom. ( potential for other services - house move, divorce, etc. Tom G has contacted sols but they have been slow in responding.
Bank acc - the Bristol & West acc raised around £30k pa at its peak, with adults and kids acc getting 5% interest and the club getting 1% of the total interest. Tom G investigating.
Turnstile opening times. At 1.30 around 60 people enter the ground. By 1.45 about 80 fans in the ground. If not a FL regulation, why not open at 1.45. Would save around £4k a year on wages ( turnstile operators, stewards, pasty hut staff etc). Only around 60 fans would be involved in delay.
Colour leaflet showing Pirate Leisure products issued with 50/50 winning envelope and internet sales to try and promote new sales.
Contracts - why a year to end of July? Why not 10 months to end of May?
If we must pay a player to end of July why not announce the retained list later and ensure players take part in community or hospitality type events in May and early June? If LEDs and Sincs were to officially say goodbye last Thurs at the Nations League game, I'm sure more than 11 people would turn up.
Season Tickets - why not raise the price by £5 and give a voucher to anyone who buys one b4 end of May for say "free" pint at Nations League game and Open Day? Possibly would help to attract larger audience.
2pm kick off in winter- would save on floodlight costs and could prevent call offs. Remember Hartlepool game called off at around 3.20. If only 30 mins left, the game might have been completed.
Portable Bars near away end for large away following? Believe club have explored.
PDF adverts on website (for kid a quid etc) fans can then print a copy and put up in work, school, clubs etc to help advertise events.
Leaflet drops - when Trish was employed by the club she used to do a newsletter telling people in the local area when there were games, so they could avoid car parking issues but also FC and SC events at the Mem. There used to be about ,5 or 6 social events each month back then.
One lady and her friend turned up for a chicken in a basket meal to watch an Elvis tribute. They had no affiliation to Rovers, rugby or the Mem. With the next three years they booked a whole table (12 people) for each chicken in a basket meal, booked Christmas meals and lunches for work do's and around ten women went to watch a game in the stands. All this just because of a leaflet drop.
Re portable catering this has been raised by SC and has a wealth of H&S concerns.
I have been told delays at pasty huts not helped by the need for one person to deal with money, another to deal with food. It would mean person dealing with cards/ cash would have to wash hands after every transaction if they handled food even with gloves on.
Overall, I think fans suggestions are good but H&S and licencing laws (and money), the PFA, and official suppliers like Macron, restrict what the club can do.
As an ex-SC committee member, I find a lot of fans say what should be done, but do not offer the time to do it themselves.
When the Share scheme started, there were lots of volunteers, Rik and Sladey, Tim Blake etc who were co opted to the SC. Personally, I think this the way forward. Fans can spend as much or as little helping on certain projects.
It is very well saying an independent SC is the future, like a co-operative or the Gas Trust, but I think it will run out of steam very shortly. Young fans have the chance every year to join the SC and help it evolve, but not many people want to take the time and effort. If people want to change, then they have to put themselves forward.
My involvement came because I played football with Robbie Sparks. A lot of people don't know him, but he was the person who started the fans initiative Raise the Roof. Robbie spoke to Ron Craig and Geoff D and they just said go for it. Four of us started doing Golden Goal tickets on the coaches, car boot sales and raffles. Then Steve Burns suggested the 50/50 co opted us to the SC we got the Blackthorn roof and the rest is history.
I try and tell fans on here when we are short of sellers. Not one person has volunteered just to help just as cover 3-4 timed a season. When we are short it means around £50 at least is potentially lost for programme/50/50 sales is if I can't sell in the pubs they may leave at 2.50 and not have time before kick off to wait in a queue for a program or 50/50.
There must be fresh blood out there with time who could help. If not they should support the initiatives in place.
Ie Jamie's bid on the side. If you have any unwanted football items ( not just Gas, donate them to the SC and he will sell on eBay. This had raised over £2k
I have held a post match 50/50 draw in the clubhouse bar since relegation to the conference and helps sponsor first year pros (including Russe and Kilgour). This has also raised over £2k for the club.
Small fry I know, but fans initiatives can work if we all support them.