[Albion] The "Official" Albion Fan Advisory Board thread

[chaileyjem]

….because it’s a sop

I was just interested to see and know precisely what the FAB were to present to the Club. Was it findings, ideas, proposals, requests, priorities, or some thing else? It was about 6 weeks ago I asked to see a draft, and was refused, and here we are several weeks on, none the wiser.

@seagullwedgee - @Barry Izbak - just said - he'd share the presentation after the meeting. If its taken place last week then - fine we're due an update - but i'd argue they've been pretty transparent about what they do - after some earlier prompts when the FAB was first set up that that was lacking.

@dazzer6666 - many on here including @attila for example righttfully are very sceptical about the FAB for multiple reasons and fair enough given the statements from Barber and the context of the PL trying to stave off regulations. That said - i think the members are doing what they can in good faith, they've had some small wins and I welcome their attempts to engage with fans, and can understand the difficulty they have managing trust issues with the club. (hence not sharing presentations in advance) .

 

[dazzer6666]

@seagullwedgee - @Barry Izbak - just said - he'd share the presentation after the meeting. If its taken place last week then - fine we're due an update - but i'd argue they've been pretty transparent about what they do - after some earlier prompts when the FAB was first set up that that was lacking.

@dazzer6666 - many on here including @attila for example righttfully are very sceptical about the FAB for multiple reasons and fair enough given the statements from Barber and the context of the PL trying to stave off regulations. That said - i think the members are doing what they can in good faith, they've had some small wins and I welcome their attempts to engage with fans, and can understand the difficulty they have managing trust issues with the club. (hence not sharing presentations in advance) .

Agreed- I don’t doubt the members efforts or intentions at all.

 

[portlock seagull]

Has the FAB achieved anything?
Will the FAB achieve anything?

 

[chaileyjem]

Has the FAB achieved anything?
Will the FAB achieve anything?

Work to Date – Brighton & Hove Albion Fan Advisory Board

bhafc-fab.co.uk

 

[dazzer6666]

Work to Date – Brighton & Hove Albion Fan Advisory Board

bhafc-fab.co.uk

‘Not really’

 

[Lenny Rider]

Apologies if I’ve missed it, but did FAB raise the tear gassing issue in Athens with the club ? Given that at least one of their number, Andy Goodchild, was gassed on the night.

 

[Ike and Tina Burner]

Work to Date – Brighton & Hove Albion Fan Advisory Board

bhafc-fab.co.uk

Hmmmm. It looks like all they really do is stress test the matchday experience. Stuff like moving the bag drop and fixing the disabled lighting is fine but it's not exactly what I thought the FAB would be doing.

 

[dazzer6666]

Apologies if I’ve missed it, but did FAB raise the tear gassing issue in Athens with the club ? Given that at least one of their number, Andy Goodchild, was gassed on the night.

Not sure why they should - we were ‘collateral damage’.

 

[amexer]

Has the FAB achieved anything?
Will the FAB achieve anything?

Yes PB at PL meetings is able to say that the club have FAB in place

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Hmmmm. It looks like all they really do is stress test the matchday experience. Stuff like moving the bag drop and fixing the disabled lighting is fine but it's not exactly what I thought the FAB would be doing.

What did you think the FAB would be doing?

There is so little evidence of the board listening to the paying punter on anything these days that I don't see it as a shock that they've been able to have little influence.

The guy who runs the club on a day to day basis came out and said they weren't needed.

I feel sorry for them. They are doing their best but they are plainly onto a hiding

 

[Talby]

Yes PB at PL meetings is able to say that the club have FAB in place

The club are definitely ticking a box. There’s absolutely nothing to stop the club from allowing the FAB to participate in a wide range of areas (other than on field / player / managerial decisions).

The quickly implemented sanction changes last year, for away ticket rules, could have gone to the FAB. It was a shambles and the Club are only now fine tuning the process. The FAB were not involved in it.

The whole point of the FAB is to try to get the club to see thing from the point of view of fans - the club implementing things solely on their own whims (and with an approach of ‘what we say is right, even if it’s bollocks’) is embarrassing.

Battling for better disabled WCs etc is great but the club should have already been on it.

The general approach is ‘don’t like it, tough’….which is one way to run a business, but it’s also a shit way.

 

[seagullwedgee]

So, where is the content of the presentation the FAB made to the club? And what was in it? Issues? Concerns? Ideas? Suggestions? Requests? Objections? Priorities? Plans? What exactly?

I am rapidly approaching the stance that the club is taking the absolute piss. And in that case, I feel very sorry for the FAB members, who probably mistakenly think their hard work might lead to change.

 

[Talby]

So, where is the content of the presentation the FAB made to the club? And what was in it? Issues? Concerns? Ideas? Suggestions? Requests? Objections? Priorities? Plans? What exactly?

I am rapidly approaching the stance that the club is taking the absolute piss. And in that case, I feel very sorry for the FAB members, who probably mistakenly think their hard work might lead to change.

The club will point out that they communicate to fans and the FAB isn’t needed. But the communication is one way, decisions that affect fans aren’t open to scrutiny, if the Club do get it wrong they’ll not admit it and if it’s not your bum on a seat, it’ll be someone else’s so that’s all fine!

Banning fans for throwing beer in Ajax but then sitting BHAFC guests in with the home fans who then throw beer at them….one could be construed as poor behaviour and the other could be construed as antagonising the opposition and creating anti social behaviour.

It’s at best bizarre.

 

[dazzer6666]

So, where is the content of the presentation the FAB made to the club? And what was in it? Issues? Concerns? Ideas? Suggestions? Requests? Objections? Priorities? Plans? What exactly?

I am rapidly approaching the stance that the club is taking the absolute piss. And in that case, I feel very sorry for the FAB members, who probably mistakenly think their hard work might lead to change.

Pretty much agree but not sure it’s taking the piss, more just a genuine belief (rightly or wrongly) that it’s unnecessary but had to be done to fall into line with regulatory expectations. I can see why the club hold that view - personally not sure we need it. Like others I feel for the members who have presumably had their initial excitement and enthusiasm squashed as they continue to be more or less discounted/ignored.

Either the club needs to do it properly - ie allow the FAB proper airtime - or it needs to be dropped. At the moment it’s the worst of both worlds with effort being wasted and volunteers being taken for mugs.

 

[jackalbion]

So, where is the content of the presentation the FAB made to the club? And what was in it? Issues? Concerns? Ideas? Suggestions? Requests? Objections? Priorities? Plans? What exactly?

I am rapidly approaching the stance that the club is taking the absolute piss. And in that case, I feel very sorry for the FAB members, who probably mistakenly think their hard work might lead to change.

Agree, knowing some of the people involved, I have no doubt they'd put their all into it, but to me it seems a fruitless task.

 

[Barry Izbak]

Last I heard, the FAB had prepared a presentation to give to the main board in a face to face meeting about 6 weeks ago or more. We asked to see a summary of what was in it, it was denied. At the last minute the club cancelled that face to face meeting, and nothing has happened about the FAB presentation. So, none the wiser, radio silence, no outputs seen….

The meeting with the full board has now been rescheduled to April 18th

 

[Barry Izbak]

Any updates on recent meetings?

Notes from the meeting this week were posted on the FAB website on Wednesday https://bhafc-fab.co.uk/notes-from-meeting-held-on-12th-february/

The FAB discussed the meeting held with the club on 5th February and the action points arising from it.

The main discussion point was upcoming elections for new FAB members. It was agreed that 2 members of the founding FAB would remain in post for a further year to assist in succession planning and give time for new recruits to learn the ropes. A recruitment sub-committee has been formed of Nigel, Gerry and Andy together with someone from BHAFC yet to be named. Gill will get back to the Club with the updates and the minutes of the 5th February meeting with the Club.

An induction with new FAB members will be held in September 2024. Ideas will be sent to the club.

The FAB discussed a recent meeting held at the Club about the proposed Fanzone. Planning permission is hoped to be granted in March. The FAB are aware that Paul Barber asked for fans feedback into the fanzone and the club have asked for that to be delayed until planning permission is granted. It is difficult to see what input will be required but the FAB will investigate further in March.

The Fans’ Forum webinar was also discussed and the date of 18th March confirmed. Gerry will liaise with the club. The FAB are excited to be holding their first FAB forum.

Jo had been representing Brighton WSL fans on tonight’s The One Show and reported that we’d drawn Manchester United in the women’s FA Cup.

Clive reported on a useful meeting with Monster Energy regarding a new flag for the Amex.

 

[Dave the OAP]

The meeting with the full board has now been rescheduled to April 18th

2035…sorry Nigel!

can’t believe the main FAB agenda item is flasks!

 

[brighton_tom]

Clive reported on a useful meeting with Monster Energy regarding a new flag for the Amex.

What does this mean?

 

[seagullwedgee]

The meeting with the full board has now been rescheduled to April 18th

So, in December they asked you to prepare a presentation for a board meeting, they then cancelled the meeting almost at the last minute, they then punted the rearranged meeting forward 3 months, which is virtually end of season by which time season over, renewal period over, and no discussion likely to affect anything this season. So, a key process of engagement that started in December, now taking place in the second half of April. That tells me everything I need to know. I feel very very sorry indeed for those genuine people on the FAB, trying to be a voice, and trying to be heard. But this is utterly, totally dead on its 4rse. If it was a parrot, it would…..