With the new season approaching quickly I think this is a good time to bring everyone up to date on the Clarets Vision.
I met with the Supporters Club committee back in January and we all agreed that the Clarets Vision should be redesigned and consist of Short, Mid & Long-Term targets, that have realistic targets that are measurable against objectives, with not only the “What” but the “How” being considered when detailing each of the 3.
We also agreed that Short-Term targets should have a timescale of 2-3 years, Mid-Term 5-6 Years and Long-Term 10 Years
Initially we agreed that the key 3 areas of the Short-Term Plan should consist of the following:
- Attendance – an average attendance of 1200 should be targeted.
- Sustainability – based on the latest AGM it is acknowledged that the club is still running at a loss – Phil Crowe & Supporters Club are committed to working together on how to make the club sustainable within the timeframe.
- Commercial Activity – Phil Crowe & Supporters Club to work together to increase commercial activity at the Football Club.
Since this meeting I have had regular “catch up’s” with Supporters Club Chairman Jordan McManus and other members of the SC committee to discuss progress around the club in general and discuss the points above.
Obviously the play off push and subsequent playoff game meant that our average attendance increased significantly, and I am pleased to report that we have sold considerably more season tickets already this season than last, and I am working hard to make sure that the matchday experience is more enjoyable, and therefore attracting more fans.
Jordan and the SC committee members have had their input and fed back supporters ideas and comments, all these have been taken on board and implemented where possible, as with most things at the club, this is still very much work in progress but I feel we are moving in the right direction.
Josh Verroken and I, with the help of Matt Collins and Richard Scott continue to look at Marketing and Commercial opportunities and certainly the interest in the club has grown in the last year, we now have a Customer Relationship Management tool that will help us capture data and maximise the potential that each sponsor, supporter or facility user has to offer, this will be key to support a marketing strategy going forward.
I recently attended the National League AGM and awards dinner, where I met the owner of Oxford City. I must admit that I have admired their model from afar and although they have 3G facilities, they average just over 300 attendances and they have managed continued success with promotion this season, with what would be deemed minimal investment from himself (well in football terms).
I am pleased to say he was keen to share his experiences with me and I am meeting with him on Wednesday 21st June, where I will certainly be interested to pick his brains as we look at the sustainability part of our plan.
In general, the last year has seen continued improvements both on and off the pitch, sometime you need to take a step back to realise what has been achieved, I am really pleased that the supporters have bought into what the club are trying to do.
The Supporters Clubs recent commitment to invest in new goals and changing room refurbishments are a big part of what we wanted to do to improve the player experience, so my thanks go to everyone who donates to the SC fund for that.
Remember, my door is always open, please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions, I would love to hear them all, positive or not…..
Here’s looking forward to another exciting season on and off the pitch.
Phil Crowe
Chelmsford City General Manager
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