Welcome to the 5th edition of our 2011/12 eNewsletter. Our thanks go out to a number of members who provided some very positive feedback to the previous edition. Don’t forget for all the latest SA news and information, including travel updates and prize winners, visit our web-site.
2011/12 Memberships
Membership for the season now stands at 682, which compares to 590 at the end of August 2010. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to welcome the 132 new members so far for this season. 25% of members have used our electronic membership process to join, via our eShop We’re still well short of our final 2010/11 membership figure of 908, and will probably need another good cup run to surpass last season’s total. We would urge all members to actively encourage friends, neighbours and work colleagues to join the SA. Last season with your help we were able to donate £20k to the Club in exchange for shares. To continue to compete at this level, the Club will be looking for the SA to provide even more support.
Retailer Discounts
One of the major benefits of SA membership is the discounts offered by a large number of local Retailers, covering a wide range of products and services. We are currently conducting a review of our Retailer list to ensure that the information on our web-site is accurate and up to date. We will keep you informed on progress in future Newsletters. Meanwhile, we would recommend that you show your SA card when making a purchase, and ask if they offer a discount to SA members.
SA Ticket Draw
The first three draws have now taken where members have won tickets for our opening league fixtures. Geoff Gibbs the SA Secretary makes the draw on the pitch at half-time. Saturday’s ticket draw is for the first visit from the Owls, and I never expected to being saying that. Anyway, listen out it could be you! The names of all the winners can be found on our web-site by visiting the Competition pages. You can also check the 50/50 ticket winners and prize details.
New SA Pin Badge
A reminder that the new SA pin badge to commemorate our promotion to L1 is now available. You can collect your FREE badge on production of your SA membership card, from either the Club Shop or the SA Information Point. Old SA badges are available to buy via our eShop at our web-site, or from the SA Information Point on match days.
Boro Programmes
The SA now have a very comprehensive supply of Boro programmes covering both the Conference Years (1994 – 2010) and our first season in the Football League, including some away fixtures. The programmes are priced at just £2 each including postage, and are available to buy via our eShop on our web-site. If anyone would like a catalogue in Excel format, please send an email to:- Mervyn@sfcsa.co.uk
Match Day Music
As most of you will know, Keith Berners one of the founder members of the SA is in the PA room on matchdays, and provides the music. He would appreciate members emailing him with any suitable music for use on matchdays. He’s not looking for requests, but for any piece of music that members have heard and enjoyed, in stadia on their travels. Please email suggestions to him at keith@sfcsa.co.uk
Congratulations
The SA would like to congratulate keen Boro supporters and SA members, Rachel and Iain Wheeler who were recently married, and as a result have missed the start of the season. They’ll be back on the terraces this Saturday cheering on the Boro. We wish them a long and very happy marriage.
Social Secretary
Just a reminder that the SA are still looking for someone who is interested in organising social functions, with a view to raising funds for the Club.
Prior to standing down for personal reasons, Paul Lyme organised a number of successful events, including Race nights, Discos and Quiz nights. If anyone is interested in the role, please contact a Committee Member for more information.
SA Committee
Following our AGM in July, the SA Committee for the next 12 months is as follows:-
President – Jim Briscoe
Chairman – Lloyd Briscoe
Secretary – Geoff Gibbs
Treasurer – Jenny Dowden
Travel – John Carroll
Comms – Peter Keen
PR – Mark Hollis
Keith and Jacky Berners continue to provide advice to the Committee, and Mervyn acts in an administrative capacity. To contact the SA, you can send an email to contact@sfcsa.co.uk
Junior Loyal Supporter Scheme
Over 30 Junior Boro members are registering their attendance on match days as part of the Loyal Supporter Scheme. An attendance table will appear in a programme later this month, as well as on our web-site and in the next edition of this eNewsletter. The latest list is now available on our web-site in the Junior Boro Section.
SA Travel
SA Travel details for Sept/October have been announced as follows:-
Depart Members
10 Sept Oldham 9am £25.
24 Sept Carlisle 8am £30.
08 Oct Huddersfield 9.30am £20
25 Oct Brentford 5.30pm £15
29 Oct Bury 9.30am £20
To book your seat, see John Carroll at Gate 8 on match days, or call him after 6pm on 01438 814285. It is now also possible to book your away travel at the SA Point (North/East Terrace) at the end of a game.
Baby Boro
The Baby Boro scheme, the brainchild of the SA President Jim Briscoe, was launched in Jan 1999. To date over 2,400 babies have been registered on the scheme, and a number are now Junior SA members. It’s free to join for all babies under the age of 6 months, and membership runs until they have reached the age of 5, when they are invited to become Junior members. They receive a certificate, badge, a gift on joining, and a birthday card each year up to and including their 5th birthday. Forms are usually handed out to parents at the local Registry Office, but can also be obtained from the Club Shop, SA Information Point or to download from our web-site.
SA Information Point
The new SA Information Point is now operational, although not quite complete, and has enabled us to offer more Club Shop stock, and serve both the East and North Terraces. Why not pop along and say hello to Geoff Gibbs our Secretary and Peter Keen our Communications Officer.
Next eNewsletter
We will aim to produce our next eNewsletter in early October. We do hope that you found this update useful, and we would welcome your feedback.If anyone would like to contribute, perhaps by telling us what being an SA member means to you, then please email mervyn@sfcsa.co.uk