Issue No. 09
March, 2014
SA eNewsletter
Welcome to the March edition of our 2013/14 eNewsletter. The purpose is to keep SA members informed on matters related to the Association.
2014/15 SA Membership
SA membership for 2014/15 will open on 1st April, and new Application Forms will be available in the Club Shop or at the SA Points on a match day. You can renew by completing an Application form, or online via our eShop. We can either use your existing photo, or you can provide us with a new one.
Membership Referendum – Result
Thank you to those SA members who responded to our recent Referendum. The result was as follows:-
YES to proposal = 43%
NO to proposal = 54%
Unsure = 3%
As such, the SA Committee has no plans to call an EGM, and the current SA benefits and subscriptions will remain unchanged for next season.
Date for AGM
This year’s Annual General Meeting will take place in the Broadhall Suite on Thursday 3rd July starting at 7.30pm. Details will be emailed to members during May, and posted to those members who have not supplied us with an email address.
Communication with the Club
Following a recent announcement by the Club that are creating a Supporters Advisory Board, the SA would like to remind members that they also have a voice, by highlighting concerns or ideas to the SA, which we can then raise with the Club at one of our regular meetings. The Club are keen to enhance communications with all fans, and a significant number of season ticket holders are not SA members, and we see this as a good initiative.
SA Player of the Year
Voting for this season’s SA Player of the Year opens next Saturday, when we entertain Port Vale. Voting will close at 6pm on 12th April after the Colchester fixture. Ballot boxes will be at the SA Points in the ground, or you can vote via our web-site after 2pm next Saturday by using the following link:- https://www.sfcsa.co.uk/home/player-of-the-year/poy
SA Ticket Draw
The Club have tightened up the rules on transferring from the Main Stand to the terraces. As such, SA ticket winners who win a Main Stand ticket in our match day ticket draw, will now need to go to the Club Shop or Ticket Offices prior to the game, to exchange their Main Stand seat, if they wish to stand on the terraces.
Junior Match Day Vouchers
From the start of next season, all Junior Members will receive a Match Day Voucher booklet when they join the SA, instead of on their birthday. The vouchers provide them with tickets for themselves and a friend, a one off 15% discount in the Club Shop and a £3 voucher to spend at Boro Tea Bar.
News from the Football Supporters Federation (FSF)
Luton Town:
Luton Town have given their supporters’ the right to veto any decision made by the club with regard to its image. The Hatters Supporters Group will now be given the final say in such matters as Luton Town FC’s colours, club strip, mascot, nickname, stadium name or crest.
The decision by the consortium who own the club have made the announcement in light of the recent controversy which has seen Cardiff City change their colours from their historic blue to red, and Hull City endeavouring to change its name to Hull Tigers FC – both actions are despised by the majority of their respective fans.
Cardiff City:
So strong is the depth of feeling by Cardiff City supporters toward the owner of the club and his decision to change the club colours from red to blue, that a protest rally was organised for March 22nd, before the Bluebirds home game against Liverpool.
All Cardiff fans were being asked to wear blue and white on the day. The official representatives of the Cardiff City supporters have stipulated that “colours run deep… blue is not just a colour, it’s a huge part of our heritage, tradition and soul.”
The World Cup – and pub opening hours:
The Home Office has launched a two week consultation on the proposal to relax licensing hours for England matches in this year’s World Cup. The consultation closes at midnight on March 26th.
The Home Office has acknowledged that many football supporters will choose to watch the matches in pubs and bars, and they want to ensure that people can enjoy World Cup matches responsibly and safely. But it also says that it needs to balance the needs of business with managing the risk of increased alcohol-related crime and disorder.
The Group D opener with Italy doesn’t kick-off until 11:00pm (UK time).
Supporters Association members are encouraged to make their views known as part of the consultation by completing a questionnaire, which can be found at: http://www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/105768OEVJV
Portsmouth FC:
The recent fixture between Portsmouth and Chesterfield, scheduled for Saturday March 1st at the Spireites new Proact Stadium, was changed late in the day to accommodate Sky tv’s decision to televise it on the following Monday (3rd).
Many Pompey fans were furious at this decision, especially those who had pre-booked their travel arrangements.
Portsmouth’s CEO (Mark Catlin) has subsequently met the fans concerned and has arranged a reimbursement of monies spent of travel and hotel rooms etc.
The Football League procedures require a minimum of 28 days notice, but often this compromises supporters’ abilities to seek the cheapest fares – especially those who travel on the railways.
FSF Event – London:
On behalf of the Stevenage FC Supporters’ Association, Lloyd Briscoe is your delegate that attends the routine formal Southern Division meetings, ensuring that the voice of Stevenage fans is heard at a national level.
On Tuesday the 16th of April, an informal meeting, chaired by the FSF’s Chief Executive (Kevin Miles) will be held at a pub called the Dogget’s Coat & Badge at 1 Blackfriars Bridge, SE1 9UD, where there will be a chance to ask questions about FSF campaigns for 90 minutes (and then catch any games on the box over a pint or two). It starts at 6:30pm, and supporters of all affiliated clubs are welcome.
L1 Prediction Competition
The latest League Table for our L1 Prediction table can be found in the Competition Section on this site.
Pin Badge Competition
The SA are planning to have a new pin badge for next season, and we are launching a competition to find the best design. The winner will receive tickets for our final home game against Walsall, and FREE SA membership for next season. Please submit your designs as a jpeg or pdf to:- Mervyn@sfcsa.co.uk Closing date for entries is 18th April.
SA Fans Football Team News
The SSAFC managed a tight 3-2 victory over the supporters of MK Dons on 22nd March, with goals from Daniel Swales and a brace from Stuart Rowe.
Forthcoming Fixtures
The next scheduled fixture is at home to West Ham next Saturday 29th March. The fans team then play Shrewsbury away on 5th April.
The Mitchell Cole tournament will now take place at Arlesey Town FC, on Saturday 10th May. More details in the next issue.
The Fans team will also be playing a Charity 20/20 cricket match against Aston CC at Aston Green, on Friday 30th May starting at 6pm and all are welcome.
SA Travel
John Carroll has organised away match coach travel as follows:-
5th Apr Shrewsbury Departs 9.00am – Members £25
19th Apr Sheffield Departs 11.00am – Members £20
To book your seat see John at the SA Point or telephone him after 6pm. For full details visit the Travel section on our web-site.
Boro Programmes
Thanks to a recent donation, the SA now have more programmes covering away Conference fixtures, in particular covering the seasons for 2001 – 2005. The programmes are available to purchase a just £2 each incl. Postage. To request a catalogue in Excel format, please email Mervyn@sfcsa.co.uk
Social Activity Update
Lamex Challenge
The next scheduled event as part of the Lamex Challenge is the Krypton Factor event. This will take place after the game on April 12th in the Broadhall Suite.
The current Lamex Supporters Challenge League Table is as follows:-
West Stand 10 points, Boro Girls and SA Football Team both on 9 points.
Junior Loyal Supporter Scheme
Updates to the Loyal Supporter Table appear on our web-site in the Junior Boro Section. Those with the highest attendances will be presented with medals before the start of the Walsall game. Junior members will receive details in the post by mid April.
London Marathon 2014
SA Committee Member Geoff Millman will be competing in his 12th London Marathon next month, and will be raising money for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. You can donate at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffreyMillman. Good luck Geoff.
Gambia 2015
Boro Head to Gambia – Come Join Us Next Year!
Following the success of last year’s Kenya trip, Stevenage Football Club Foundation will be sending a team of 15 volunteers to Gambia in under two weeks time to coach, teach and carry out a building project at a local school. If this sounds like something you would like to get involved with, then why not join the Foundation on their Gambia 2015 trip which will take place between 31st March – 7th April 2015.
The Foundation will be holding an information evening on Monday 28th April 2014 at 7.30pm in the Executive Suite at The Lamex Stadium, where interested volunteers can find out more details about the trip. To register your initial interest in the once in a life time trip please email your name, date or birth and occupation to community@stevenagefc.com.
Featured Fans
We still need a few more featured fans for SA page in the programme for the remaining games this season. If you are interested then, please email me in a max of 50 words the following:-
How long you’ve supported the Boro?
What was your first ever Boro game?
What is your most memorable game?
Who’s your favourite Boro player? (past/present)
We will also need a photo of you as a jpeg, or we may be able to use the photo that’s stored for your membership card. You will be advised what programme you’ll be featured in, just in case you want to buy a dozen or more copies!
Next eNewsletter
The final edition of the SA eNewsletter for this season is due to be published by the end of April. Thanks for reading, and we do hope that you find our updates useful.