Letter from Tony

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Mowgli37

Enigmatic Asthmatic
Jan 13, 2013
6,371
Sheffield
In the spring we agreed a deal with American Express to sponsor the team, further expanding our excellent relationship with Amex. They have been great supporters of the club, the team and Albion in the Community.

Elsewhere we have seen continued progress: Martin Perry, Derek Chapman and the project team have made great strides with the new state-of-the-art training ground at Lancing, which is due to open in June 2014 and be another great step forward. It's a big investment by the club and it is an investment in our future. I strongly believe that investing in our infrastructure will hold our club in great stead for many generations to come. By next season we will have one of the finest stadiums, training grounds and academies in the country, and we can all be proud of that.

The training ground will be one of the best facilities, not only in England, but the whole of Europe. Two of the thirteen outdoor pitches will mirror the pitch at the stadium, while undersoil heating and the indoor facility will mean that cold winters will not affect senior and academy players as they have done in the past.

The medical areas and gymnasium have been carefully planned and specially designed and will be of the highest specification. The aim is that this facility will not only help attract players to the club, but also encourage the cream of Sussex talent to stay here and develop.

The facility will also benefit the Lancing Community, with local teams and recreational players being able to use a specific community-use pitch.

Many of you have asked about tours but we're on a very tight schedule to have the facility ready for Oscar and the players for the start of pre-season so it just isn't possible to run the risk of disrupting the builder's progress. Even I have been staying out of the way to ensure we remain on course! However, we will keep you updated via the programme, website and other media.
 


Mowgli37

Enigmatic Asthmatic
Jan 13, 2013
6,371
Sheffield
Albion in the community continues to thrive. The statistics are phenomenal - last year community staff impacted the lives of over 52,000 people. We're now concentrating our work in Sussex, helping people who need us in the local community and expanding our efforts in the areas of disability, health and social inclusion.

In early 2014 the AITC team will be publishing its annual report, and we will be sending digital copies to all season-ticket holders. Please take the time to read this - you'll be amazed by the number of initiatives and the sheer volume of people AITC help every day. Fans may like to consider supporting AITC, perhaps through volunteering as so many staff from American Express have done in recent years. The programme and its outcomes are something of which we can all be very proud.

Match attendances are continuing to grow; and our ticket office and marketing staff have worked on a series of initiatives - such as the recent recommend-a-friend offer, the Christmas Trio and the half-season ticket. I think we would all like a full house for every game; it makes for a better atmosphere in the stadium and of course gives us a greater ability to further strengthen the playing side. We are working hard to continue to build the attendances, and your help in that area does not go unnoticed.

When we made our initial plans for this season last February, we thought we'd have to reduce the playing budget by around 6%. Thanks to the support of season ticket holders and the hard work of the staff in cutting out running costs we have actually been able to give Oscar a small increase in the playing budget.

On behalf of the board, I thank you for another year of tremendous support. I am rightly proud to be the Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, a club that's in my blood and one whose supporters have proved themselves to be among the best around. I hope you enjoy some well-deserved time off over the festive period and we can all look forward together to another exciting year in 2014.

Tony Bloom
Chairman
 


Igzilla

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2012
1,650
Worthing
I have to say, and I don't want to appear to be too mawkish or anything, but I think TB is just the right sort of decent chap we need as chairman. Having watched the interview with DK earlier this week about his book, and all the memories that evoked around Archer and Bellotti, it really brings home just how far we have come. My word, the most fan interaction I can recall was when we had our new "Inter Milan" away strip launched and to generate excitement about it, the PA announced improbable scores that the North Stand had to cheer about - anyone remember that (was a pre-season firendly I recall)? That was as good as it got back then. So let's not slag off with "form letter" disdain, let's just appreciate having a chairman who a) loves the club and b) has pockets of depth greater than you or me.
 


El Presidente

The ONLY Gay in Brighton
Helpful Moderator
Jul 5, 2003
39,719
Pattknull med Haksprut
I think deep down everyone appreciates TB's stupendous efforts, but it doesn't stop the moaning because..........people like moaning.
 




Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
70,476
For me the last paragraph was the best:

'On behalf of the board, I thank you for another year of tremendous support. I am rightly proud to be the Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, a club that's in my blood and one whose supporters have proved themselves to be among the best around. I hope you enjoy some well-deserved time off over the festive period and we can all look forward together to another exciting year in 2014.

Tony Bloom
Chairman'


Says it all really :clap2:
 


Eksman

Active member
Aug 9, 2012
1,880
On the toilet
For me the last paragraph was the best:

'On behalf of the board, I thank you for another year of tremendous support. I am rightly proud to be the Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, a club that's in my blood and one whose supporters have proved themselves to be among the best around. I hope you enjoy some well-deserved time off over the festive period and we can all look forward together to another exciting year in 2014.

Tony Bloom
Chairman'


Says it all really :clap2:


Same for me too I nearly cried
 


El Presidente

The ONLY Gay in Brighton
Helpful Moderator
Jul 5, 2003
39,719
Pattknull med Haksprut
For me the last paragraph was the best:

'On behalf of the board, I thank you for another year of tremendous support. I am rightly proud to be the Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, a club that's in my blood and one whose supporters have proved themselves to be among the best around. I hope you enjoy some well-deserved time off over the festive period and we can all look forward together to another exciting year in 2014.

Tony Bloom
Chairman'


Says it all really :clap2:

Well said Tom, but it doesn't stop the dipsticks, nitwits and professional idiots blabbering on about him selling out to mysterious other investors. Why would he, we all know he loves the club as we do.
 




El Presidente

The ONLY Gay in Brighton
Helpful Moderator
Jul 5, 2003
39,719
Pattknull med Haksprut
For me the last paragraph was the best:

'On behalf of the board, I thank you for another year of tremendous support. I am rightly proud to be the Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, a club that's in my blood and one whose supporters have proved themselves to be among the best around. I hope you enjoy some well-deserved time off over the festive period and we can all look forward together to another exciting year in 2014.

Tony Bloom
Chairman'


Says it all really :clap2:

Well said Tom, but it doesn't stop the dipsticks, nitwits and professional idiots blabbering on about him selling out to mysterious other investors. Why would he, we all know he loves the club as we do.
 




Beach Hut

Brighton Bhuna Boy
Jul 5, 2003
72,013
Living In a Box
Well said Tom, but it doesn't stop the dipsticks, nitwits and professional idiots blabbering on about him selling out to mysterious other investors. Why would he, we all know he loves the club as we do.

And he has deep pockets
 




rouseytastic

Well-known member
Sep 22, 2011
1,212
Haywards Heath
Used to work for the company that prints and sends these out. BHAFC was my account for a while in the last few Withdean years.
Sloppy data work. They are supplied with a data base of names and addresses and these should be replicated on the letter. This is by no means the fault of my mate Greg (if you're reading pal!) it's just a mess down there. Full. Stop.
 


Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
70,476
Used to work for the company that prints and sends these out. BHAFC was my account for a while in the last few Withdean years.
Sloppy data work. They are supplied with a data base of names and addresses and these should be replicated on the letter. This is by no means the fault of my mate Greg (if you're reading pal!) it's just a mess down there. Full. Stop.

If true, hope the club slaps them down hard financially then. Upfukcing the salutations on the 'personalised' Xmas mailshot of a major client is not the way to retain that client's business. Wakey wakey!
 


Seagull on the wing

New member
Sep 22, 2010
7,458
Hailsham
It seems the letter was personlised for the 1901 club members...we are not all corporate up there...there are a lot of genuine fans (my case 56 years). Thought that was a very nice gesture by the Chairman,thanks Tony. Can you imagine the Cardiff chairman doing that...would hate to have a chairman like that...doesn't matter how many gazillions he puts in the club,change the club colours,change the name,then starts sackings to fill the club with his cronies. Cardiff have reported losses of 17 million and Tans money will not last forever and his own personal football club will collapse....
 








BHseagull

New member
Aug 5, 2008
968
Brighton
If true, hope the club slaps them down hard financially then. Upfukcing the salutations on the 'personalised' Xmas mailshot of a major client is not the way to retain that client's business. Wakey wakey!

The non personalised salutation is clearly down to 1 letter per address rather than 1 per season ticket holder. Anyone in the industry knows that this sort of mailing is proofed and signed off by the client and therefore it's their request and not the doing of the mailing house.
 


BHseagull

New member
Aug 5, 2008
968
Brighton
mine has my name so someone took a bit of time to set the print perameters even if it is a standard letter.
I genuinely think it is a job well done by the club and if it has gone out to 22K+ season ticket holders etc then it is one hell of an effort

Agree. The club will have spent a decent amount to get his letter out. It's a nice touch and those moaning about their name not being on it should get a life!
 




Vegas Seagull

New member
Jul 10, 2009
7,782
The non personalised salutation is clearly down to 1 letter per address rather than 1 per season ticket holder. Anyone in the industry knows that this sort of mailing is proofed and signed off by the client and therefore it's their request and not the doing of the mailing house.

You're not then
 




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