The following is a summary of Thursday’s fans forum, outlining the topics of discussion on the evening. Answering questions were chairman Rod Brown & manager Paul Smith.
The night began with an open training session before the questions were asked. All club volunteers who attended had their drinks paid for on the night, as a thank you for their hard work and commitment. Food was also provided to all attendees.
Max Banner, from the club’s media team, took these notes…
Rod began the question session with a speech. In this, he discussed…
- Difficult decisions had to be made when he first arrived that upset some people – but it had to be done. The board was restructured to create an executive one, to help make decisions quicker.
- The project being a 4/5 year one, with people being brought in with new skillsets.
- A Bromsgrove football club always being the hub of the community and that there is always talk about it.
- COVID affected everybody and hit the club in bad way. Coming out of it, the club lost its way and didn’t capitalise on what it needed to do whilst other clubs did. Club was left behind.
- Priority of Richard (Boorn) and his was to re-engage. Spoke to sponsors – main ones had become disenfranchised. Discussions early on into his tenure were difficult. People were disappointed and had lost faith.
- Three main sponsors have been exceptional. Fourth one added – UK Electrical. Spoke about how Steve Fellows brought the company and built it into a fantastic business. Amazon, Rolls Royce, Apple are their three main clients.
- Stadium name. Can be an edgy subject because of history but it’s another opportunity for people to engage. UK Electrical want to help club. Three year deal, with the hope being that it will go on and on. New sign set to go up outside ground on Tuesday, which will add gloss. They provide free labour to the club.
- Re-engaging with local pathway – Colts, Girls, Ladies. Trying to extend Girls set-up to create full pathway. Ladies have been promoted and they have a big challenge. In conversation with Colts to become affiliated with club. Wants to make all areas feel involved with club, a part of it. Trying to assist without a payback. No money wanted, just want them to feel part of community.
- The club engaged with the Bromsgrove Carnival after a six years absence and enjoyed it.
- Spoken to charities and started dialogue with those – charities hadn’t fared well with club beforehand.
- Ground force team put massive work in. Joe Ford, Rob Birch and Brian Poole virtually sleep here. Want to preserve that team.
- Car park behind Shed End was untouched before. Now 34 extra spaces.
- Scoreboard has now gone up. Bit more aesthetic appeal to club. A new, red expandable tunnel is being fitted to the dugout area with a sponsor on it – another little thing to help aesthetics at ground.
- Reapplied for Town End roof. Smaller version of Shed End. Plan is to start after last game of this season. 10 weeks to do it. Ready for next season. Ground will be attractive for new players and new people to watch.
- Volunteers at front office, Max and Chris on media, and the commercial team, all do an outstanding job. 40 – 50 volunteers on a matchday is exceptional.
- Idea was to get somebody in charge of each department, to help work towards goals. A £400,000 business that feels like a £40m business!
- Potential is huge – time to realise it. Requires everybody to pull together, town to pull together, players to pull together.
- Spoke to players beforehand. Said that if you can get fans happy, engage with them, and put on good football, then it becomes the proverbial ‘field of dreams’ and more fans will come.
- Well on way to where we want to be. Five year project – solid mid-table side and with a bit of luck, who knows what could happen?
- Taken on Nirm Bassi as a School and Community ambassador. Need to engage with schools – free tickets alone doesn’t work.
- Youngsters are fans of future. Mascots will be at every game – working with Colts and Girls to make a fuss of them and make it special. ‘Chip the Bin’ competition will be introduced at home matches. Winner every week, competition end of season. Make a family atmosphere.
- BCFC U21s game in pre-season – first half was breathtaking. No pressure on the manager – want to be mid-table and nobody better than him to achieve that through networking etc.
Paul then made a short speech…
- Started with thank yous to everybody.
- Said the pitch had been sorted, which was a horror show last season. Both hard work and money put into it.
- Said squad last year wasn’t strong enough and that summer is a manager’s hardest time. Had 77 meetings with players, staff, board and chairman. Plenty of hours of work to get where we are.
- Said division is stronger this season, with better sides and more money spent.
- Said a good side had been put together with budget and, unlike Rod, his target is to win the league! Might not be realistic but that’s the aim.
- Eight pre season games played – probably two too many, looking a bit jaded towards the end.
- Squad has come along nicely, good mix of experience and youth. Hard work has gone in and will continue to do so.
QUESTIONS
Progress towards a 3G pitch?
Rod: Rob McLaren involved, who helped with the same thing at Alvechurch. Working with Colts and location has been identified on the west side of town. Early stages promising. Costing £2m. Personal investor putting in quarter of the money, rest from funding groups. Future of club is education programmes and youth development. Will keep fans updated about it.
Paul asked about fixtures he’s looking forward too?
Halesowen! Grief from Stourbridge fans previously so looking forward to that too. Local derbies. Not looking forward to distant matches, which he jokingly said were at the ‘end of the earth’!
Funding for overnight stays for long-distance matches?
Paul: Wouldn’t have thought so. Boys will be geared up and are looking forward to them. Coming back on coach is brilliant if you win. Travelling down can be difficult.
General question about the budget?
Rod: Sticking to budget – in a nice position. Ahead of what we thought and we don’t want to squander that.
Paul: Budget there to dip into in case of injuries if needs be. There is an injury concern and they’re looking to add. So far, I’ve got what I’ve asked for. Rod has been good to me.
Birmingham Senior Cup – entering?
Would we get in? Applied for it, but Birmingham FA not taking applications currently from outside of county. As we’re a Worcestershire side, we won’t be in it.
Quality of tannoy system
Rod: Not discussed previously but something to look at. We will look at everything around ground. Promise I’ll take a look to sort it.
Five year plan?
Rod: This season, mid table. Following season, we want a go at the title. Increased budget by 20% this season, on basis of a 820 crowd prediction. All of a sudden, if we start to win, we all know what could happen. 900s, 1000s. All about squeezing the pips. Reality is – better investment, including the use of bar that has increased to four/five times a week, may improve budget before end of season to see if we can get higher up the table.
All about good business. Mid-table and being sustainable, is the aim. Any more than that is a bonus and will reflect next season with budget. More to change at the ground still. Want to play in Conference North – think that’s where we’re at.
Commercial news
Matt Foden from the commercial team mentions the launch of a Family Ticket – £25 for 2 adults & 3 kids. Also mentions the referral scheme for sponsors, encouraging them to get new sponsors involved.
Season tickets and shares
Rod: 38 sold last season. Over 100 this year. £60,000 invested in shares – a stake in the club. Here for the long term, not short term.
GPS vests?
Paul: Used in pre season and went well – will be used from Saturday.
Captain’s message
Luke Rowe ended the session with a thank you to everybody for coming. Talks about ups and downs that will no doubt happen but hopefully fans can enjoy it. Offered his best from himself and the boys, and hopes to see as many of the attendees down at matches as possible.
