[Albion] The Fan Advisory Board Thread

[dazzer6666]

What impactful changes would you like to see though?

The only issues at the Amex for me are transport and atmosphere, and they have been done to death on here and no one agrees. The club can't do anything about the trains, the best they can do is have a word with Southern about the filling up of the Lewes services, and have put on shuttle buses and extra Park and Ride whenever it's looked like there might be issues. The atmosphere probably either needs the away end moving, safe standing in the North, extending the North or moving people en masse to a 'singing section', probably more centrally. Moving the away end could mean existing STHs with good seats in the East being asked to move, and a further split of singers between North Stand and freed up seats in the South next to the away fans. We've rejected safe standing, can't easily extend the North (and would have a white elephant if relegated or even more transport issues) and everyone on NSC said it was appalling when Palace forcibly moved people to cater to the HF.

On a board which has been mostly appointed with diversity and inclusion in mind and seems to not care about younger fans I doubt that anyone on it particularly cares about the atmosphere or could agree on a single plan for it to take to PBOBE.

This. Seems to be tinkering around the edges of a few minor issues with limited impact (that could probably be resolved by anyone affected contacting the club directly anyway as they are usually pretty responsive). I feel for the FAB members as it’s obvious so far the big ticket stuff is outside their remit, and everything else is pretty OK anyway most of the time.

 

[Talby]

The writing style of the individual involved was clearly a boast of look at me and my access, all be it for an hour, which I thought made it funnier

I think you’re thinking of the user (Gem) I think that used to supply the team sheet on here. Some ground staff got sacked shortly after this and he also coincidently stopped posting from memory

But nothing came of that. investigated for months. Nothing found. Got settled out court (allegedly).

 

[Talby]

What impactful changes would you like to see though?

The only issues at the Amex for me are transport and atmosphere, and they have been done to death on here and no one agrees. The club can't do anything about the trains, the best they can do is have a word with Southern about the filling up of the Lewes services, and have put on shuttle buses and extra Park and Ride whenever it's looked like there might be issues. The atmosphere probably either needs the away end moving, safe standing in the North, extending the North or moving people en masse to a 'singing section', probably more centrally. Moving the away end could mean existing STHs with good seats in the East being asked to move, and a further split of singers between North Stand and freed up seats in the South next to the away fans. We've rejected safe standing, can't easily extend the North (and would have a white elephant if relegated or even more transport issues) and everyone on NSC said it was appalling when Palace forcibly moved people to cater to the HF.

On a board which has been mostly appointed with diversity and inclusion in mind and seems to not care about younger fans I doubt that anyone on it particularly cares about the atmosphere or could agree on a single plan for it to take to PBOBE.

A board appointed for diversity & inclusion?

Afraid this is where I am, as cynical as it sounds. Reminds me a lot of ‘voice of the staff’ type groups big corporates are always setting up, alongside ‘satisfaction surveys’ to make people feel like they are being heard when the reality is they don’t truly give a xxxx.

It’s clear. If your CEO states he doesn’t think it’s necessary then it’s just a box ticking exercise. The Club just want bums on seats, whose they are makes no difference.

Sorry if that sounds cynical but it’s the truth.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Any updates on recent meetings?

 

[seagullwedgee]

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….

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Moving the away end could mean existing STHs with good seats in the East being asked to move, and a further split of singers between North Stand and freed up seats in the South next to the away fans. We've rejected safe standing, can't easily extend the North (and would have a white elephant if relegated or even more transport issues) and everyone on NSC said it was appalling when Palace forcibly moved people to cater to the HF.

This again, having had the same seat in the North End of the East since day one, I’d be seriously pissed off if I was forced to move, at least you’ve mentioned Palace being moved to accommodate the Always, generally the hypocrisy on this is incredible.

I’m still puzzled as how this would improve things to be honest. Away fans by default are generally more vocal and next to the Norrh Stand it would raise them more than it would us and let’s be honest here, 3000 Leeds, Marseille, dare I say it Palace (if they’re having a good game) etc would simply drown us out.

This IMO is the worst idea on here since someone suggested 27,000 of us should wear a face mask of the recently deceased Mr Knockaert Snr. to greet his son on walking out the tunnel.

 

[chaileyjem]

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….

According to the meeting minutes that the FAB share on this thread - see post #308 and #310 - they've had two meetings this year.
And sounds like a face to face meeting with the club was planned for Feb 5th. (according to post #310)

 

[seagullwedgee]

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.

 

[dazzer6666]

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.

….because it’s a sop

 

[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.