Fan ideas for 16/17 season?

The website needs to be more user friendly. We can take ideas from other clubs sites but should be click on links that take you straight to FB/ Supporters Group plus embedded Twitter feed on the homepage.
Would also like to see a town community page where questions can posted in and then answers put down by the club so suggestions, queries so that it is more interactive and responsive. I'd personally put in a charitable section as well detailing fundraising and good news stories. The thing with a website is that you can present yourself as involved in loads of stuff which attracts people in so junior sections, youth teams, women's teams could all have their own section, increasing the town community as well as 'reach'. Once it's setup its daily admin which should be low maintenance and hammering the online shop to generate revenues and getting folk to sign up for e- programme or newsletter.
We've got a great opportunity with a closed season on us to come back 16/17 ready to compete on the pitch but also off it.
I'm currently liking the flyde website ( only thing I am liking about them ), with good online merchandise , easy to navigate

out of interest how do you join the supporters club and what benefits do you get? ive heard it mentioned but never seen any info

Big Dave- If you go onto the members list on this forum and drop HTAFC Travel a line, I'm sure he'll have some info. There's a supporters meeting on the 31/5/16 @ 1919 venue at the ground, very friendly and informal plus in close proximity to a bar and as far as I know there is no online subscriptions for programmes. A condensed e- programme could be an idea to put up on the website post game?

Surplus wrote:Big Dave- If you go onto the members list on this forum and drop HTAFC Travel a line, I'm sure he'll have some info. There's a supporters meeting on the 31/5/16 @ 1919 venue at the ground, very friendly and informal plus in close proximity to a bar and as far as I know there is no online subscriptions for programmes. A condensed e- programme could be an idea to put up on the website post game?

do you know if the club would let me pay a cheque at start of season then a copy posted out after each game. I am thinking of getting a season ticket although i wont get to each game due to work.

Big Dave- are you going to make it to the flyde game on Sunday? as good opportunity to meet folk but understand if you've got other commitments.
Supporters meeting at end of May is a good forum to bring this up and hopefully lots of exciting things happening as need to keep building.
You can also email Ged Maloney, on the member list of this forum with specifics but might have to wait on answer as folk are mowed out on playoff stuff.
Can't see why you couldn't set up a subscription for programmes, there was a discussion around a working party to look at the programme with a range of programmes being brought to next supporters meeting to compare with.

Surplus wrote:Big Dave- are you going to make it to the flyde game on Sunday? as good opportunity to meet folk but understand if you've got other commitments.
Supporters meeting at end of May is a good forum to bring this up and hopefully lots of exciting things happening as need to keep building.
You can also email Ged Maloney, on the member list of this forum with specifics but might have to wait on answer as folk are mowed out on playoff stuff.
Can't see why you couldn't set up a subscription for programmes, there was a discussion around a working party to look at the programme with a range of programmes being brought to next supporters meeting to compare with.

im tied up with work at moment so wont be venturing far for a while

No worries big Dave, keep posting up ideas here as they can all get looked at etc. Here's hoping for a cheeky 2-0 on Sunday. Up and at them lads!

Just thinking about any offers we could make to ex/serving members of the armed forces. Don't know what the financial implications would be in allowing them in as concessions or a specific season ticket. Possible show a warrant card?

If that's not a runner why not have a home game where they get in for free, get a military band to perform etc. Possible tie it in with an important date like 11/11 and big push on collection for help for heroes. Could get the lads and lasses down from penny pot. Positives would be mark of respect, money to a cracking charity and another theme to develop.

With regard to u18's, what about setting up a specific loyalty scheme where they join as associate members for free, get photo ID membership etc to show on the gate and go through designated turnstile with their parents/carer and season ticket holders.
This could be badged under H&S to stop folk getting alcohol and making it easier on the gate/bar.
If you haven't got the membership then u12's free in, and u18's a nominal £1.

Sure armed forces are classified as a concession, or at least they were.

We also had an armed forces day a couple of seasons ago.

I personally think Under 12's should be free and 12-18 should be a couple of quid.

Jordan

How did the armed forces day go!Pros/cons etc?

You're quite right about services concession and also emergency services Jordan, top effort that!

As for juniors, fylde operate a junior membership where it is free once you're a member, Nuneaton 11-16 £3 and u10 free with adult and Tamworth 16-17 £4, 6-15. £2 and 5 free.

Wonder if we have or could instigate junior members via FB/website with an online application form? so free in plus get e-newsletter and junior pack, then others nominal charge to get in with leaflet given out encouraging joining? with sign up campaign for supporters group/juniors at home friendlies and 1st couple of him games of new season?

Any mileage in setting up coaching days for junior football teams over the weekends through the summer period. Get some of the players down to work with coaches and different age ranges on the town pitch ( if it's not dug up). Would allow us to kickstart any junior membership packages and help us to build bridges with junior clubs. Also allow junior club coaches the opportunity to try different ideas and learn as well as improve communication.

Pitch will be dug up - starting next Monday.

Stray it is for that idea then! Are we going artificial Townfan?

Surplus wrote:Are we going artificial Townfan?

GOD I hope not..

No. It will be re-seeded after the top three inches are taken off, the drains checked and the new top soil laid.

anybody know when season ticket prices will be out?

bigdavethemaddog wrote:out of interest how do you join the supporters club and what benefits do you get? ive heard it mentioned but never seen any info

Hi Dave

You are able to join the Supporters Club by completing a form in the Club Shop - you will need to wait until next season now.

There are a number of benefits to joining the supporters club. Big discounts are available on away travel (for instance, members saved £5 for the recent trip to Fylde). Other discounts available on fuctions and club shop.

We have regular meetings too which give you a good insight in to how the club is run and provides the opportunity to raise any suggestions/concerns.

Finally, there is a Supporters Club draw in the 1919 after every home game. If your name is drawn out the hat, and you are there, you win the pot. This increases by £10 each game if unclaimed.

Jordan

With the advent of the new 3g pitches, will we be looking at using an online booking app. This would allow folk to book easily and securely online, identify free slots and pay online, as well as looking professional and if linked in through the club website increase traffic through the site. Would also allow for block bookings from clubs/teams.

Could Supporter Club members get a reduced rate or put together a team that could play for free?

Different apps that can be used- (average price would appear to be £10 fee per mth)

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fastcourts.com

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clubmanager365.com

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Whilst their at it, can they get me an away travel booking app

Top idea. All this could be done online with a new website!

Why don't we trial samosas alongside the chips, pies and fat rascals from Betty's. I like samosas.

Not sure if this has been done! If so tell me to do one!

Can we work with a micro brewery/independant/dale side to have our own beer. Aim would be to have own beer in 1919 plus get it in other bars in town and surrounding areas.

This would give us brand presence in a number of outlets, create a talking point and be tied in with promotions, give aways.

If bottled, see about local shops retailing it, local theatre and new cinema. Key to it is getting the town crest on the pumps of as many bars in Harrogate.

Some of this might be already running and not sure how this could work but Supporters Group to be made aware of impending press releases prior to general release. Possibly a personal email just prior to general release.

This would give the town ultras a bit of VIP treatment and act as a selling point for joining the SG, and would be attractive to certain fans who want to know what is happening quickly and before others do.

Obviously news would be shared on social media but it would provide another talking point and with other measures ? such as reduced away travel and merchandise, access to the e-programme and how about reduced rate for season tickets? Instead of just early bird, there's crazed last avian standing ticket which goes on release to SG prior to general release along with access to new strip/ merchandise?

This would hopefully bolster and increase the SG group with volunteering roles then being emailed out prior to home and away matches to enable us to increase the volunteer base but still keep it controlled as folk would email back availability for jobs. This in turn could earn credits which could go towards food, travel, reduced 3G or whatever?

Ok ... Here's my two penny's worth on marketing:-

- Have we got a knickname attractive to youngsters (and oldies) - or are 'town' and 'sulphurites' as sexy as we get ?
Here's one for starters .. 'Salamanders' (ie black and yellow). Quick moving, lizard-like creatures with plenty of merchandising appeal.

- Do we have an idea of the number of 'half-time entertainment' youngsters who return to watch town on a regular basis with their Mothers or Fathers?
What about a club mascot a la 'Ronnie the Rhino' at Leeds Rhinos to gel the kids to the club.

- I have never seen a season's fixture card in any of the businesses in and around Harrogate. Unsure what/if any costs would be involved but the 'spin-off' would be subliminal advertising into the minds of all comers to the shop/business.

Apologies if the above have already been exhausted to the and death on a previous thread !

What are our ladies team to be called? As representatives of "just a town full of teashops" how about Harrogate Bettys. Maybe some sort of link could be established with THE teashop?