Hartlepool United Football Club

Please find the noted minutes from our latest Hartlepool United Supporters groups meeting:

Attendees:

Neil Appleyard– HUDSA

Emily Easson –HUFC (minutes)

Phil King –HUFC

Nick McNaughton– HUST

Pauline McSweenie– HUFCSA

John Pearson –HOOC1908

Agenda:

1. Introductionsand updates
2. Meetingformat
3. Seasontickets
4. Nextseason's kit
5. Volunteering
6. AOB

Meetingformat:

• PK

  discussed experience of how these meetings can work the benefit of all parties,

  and attendees gave a range of opinions on how they have worked previously, what

  has and hasn't worked and what they would like to see going forward.
• Anyonein the meeting can request items in advance to go on the agenda going forward.
• It

  was agreed the club would take minutes/notes, these would be distributed around

  those who attended to agree that it was a fair reflection of the meeting and

  then the club and supporter groups would post the minutes on their websites.
• The

  group can be made wider and more inclusive going forward – does not necessarily

  have to include ‘formal/constituted' fan groups. To be invited in the future –

  South East Poolies & North West Corner representatives.
• Meeting

  to take place every 6-8 weeks for meetings unless stated otherwise – 4:30pm

  onwards for convenience.

SeasonTickets:

• PK

  presented plans for 2021/22 season ticket prices, which included detail with

  regards to benefits and rewards for 2020/21 season ticket holders.
• PK

  showed research which the club had done on prices of season tickets and match

  tickets across a range of categories for clubs in National League & League

  Two, HUFC falls around the middle in most comparisons.
• PMc

  and NA felt the change at start of current season from over 60's concessions to

  over 65's was done with little warning, but appreciated that this

  categorisation was consistent with many other clubs at similar level.
• Attendees

  discussed the ‘thankyou package' which HUFC gave to current season season

  ticket holders in January which reflected the 10 home games to that date. Some

  attendees felt that the free tickets did not hold much value to themselves,

  some attendees felt that they held value in that they could be gifted to family

  or friends.
• HUST

  suggested that free tickets could be donated to community groups or key workers

  if ST holders did not want them and that HUST would be happy to assist the club

  in managing this – PK said that there had been previous discussion on this with

  other representatives of HUST and that the idea had merit and the club would

  work to help make it happen.
• NMc

  asked if the free tickets which season ticket holders had could be used for

  pre-season friendlies (dependant on crowd capacities etc). PK said that there

  had been some discussion about this internally at HUFC and if attendees thought

  that this would be well received then it could be something that could be

  included – but would clearly be subject to the club organising a home friendly

  if dates allow.
• PMc

  asked a question regarding whether money from 2021/22 season ticket sales would

  be used immediately (i.e. in 2020/21 season) given that they were going on sale

  soon. PK confirmed that all income from 2021/22 season ticket sales will be

  used in 2021/22 financial budget – not in the current season's.
• HUFC

  will be selling tickets based on full capacity but could review if/when

  government guidelines are updated. In essence, it will be first come first

  served if restricted capacity at start 2021/22.
• North

  West Corner – as it stands, this section is currently closed as per the stadium

  safety certificate due to the current barriers in place not being fit for

  purpose. Season Tickets will be sold in this area on the proviso that if the

  situation is not resolved then fans will be refunded or offered a different

  part of the ground. The club is working on solutions to solve this at present.
• HUFC

  will ensure season ticket sales are promoted via direct mail, email &

  social media over the coming weeks and throughout the summer.

NextSeason's Kit:

• O'Neill's

  sizing options are a looser (new option) or slimmer (current) fit – the

  question was asked which one we should go for next season. Fans are used to the

  sizing by now so we could keep with the slimmer fit or change to the looser one

  which may be more popular with fans. There was mixed opinion from attendees.
• Remembrance

  Day shirts – these will be designed and on sale a lot earlier this year in

  order for people to get them by 11^th November. An application

  process needs to be started earlier in order to have a poppy on the shirt if

  that is what the club decides to do. Again, this will be started in good time

  this year.
• Away

  kit – club asked opinion of fans on social media a number of weeks back with

  the popular colours being dark (dark blue or black), red & black, yellow

  and fluro. Attendees agreed that these were popular choices.
• Home

  kit – attendees felt that stripes were popular as well as all blue with white

  collar and cuffs.
• Attendees

  also discussed the club crest – with some preferring the previous ‘ship's

  wheel' crest and some preferring the current crest.
• HUFCare currently looking into potential sponsors for next season's kit.
• Pools

  retail – PK discussed that the club believed there was more potential for

  growth with the retail operation and that the range of products and the

  marketing could be better. Work is being done on this currently and the club

  hoped to give an update soon. Attendees comments included:
  • Pinbadges are collected by home/away fans.
  • Retroshirts have been popular amongst fans.
  • Poloshirts in the same colour as the kit.
  • Moreadvertising for Christmas products.

Volunteering:

• Media volunteers have been introducedfor match days to help Alex with live streaming, graphics & social media.
• HUFC asked the attendees if groups had

  people who would like to volunteer to support the club with regards to

  improvements/maintenance at the stadium. The club had a list of jobs they would

  like to do before fans return. Attendees agreed that volunteers would like to

  support and would collate names.
• Match day experience – PK said that the

  club were keen to focus on this and improving all aspects. The club had already

  discussed internally but would also like wider input. PK will arrange a further

  meeting with attendees and other individuals to contribute towards this.

AOB:

• Youth development -   the club are working on plans to reinstate a

  youth set up at ages younger than 16. This would have to be done in a way that

  was financially sustainable and operationally manageable by the club – but it

  was an area that the club are looking to progress and hoped to have something

  additional in place ahead of 2021/22 season.
• HUFC are looking at options regarding a‘beamback' livestream for the away game at Sutton on May 22^nd. This

  would be subject to getting the necessary approvals, costs, scale of it (i.e.

  whether this would just be in existing bars / lounges or on a wider basis) and

  also the viability of it with regards to Covid restrictions.
• Attendees discussed whether the club

  would make the organisational structure of the club more apparent to fans so they

  know who is who in and around the club, given there has been a large amount of

  change in the last 12-18 months. PK agreed that this is something that would be

  beneficial and something that had already been discussed internally.