Good evening and welcome to another bumper edition of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporter’s Trust On Ice.
Think ‘It’s A Knockout’ instead of contestants in oversized comical foam suits, we have oversized comical w**kers inside foam people.
The Trust went in as usual, unnecessarily mob handed, making them pound for pound two persons heavier than the opposition.
The team sheets were as follows:
THST: Martin Cloake (Co-chair), Katrina Law( Co-chair) Keith Sharp (Secretary) Adam Bailey (Treasurer) Rachel Martin, Martin Buhagiar, Michael Green.
Why would you need to take your treasurer, can’t one of the co-chairs be trusted with the bus ticket money?
THFC: Daniel Levy (Chairman) Donna Cullen (Executive Director) Sue Tilling (Safety Officer) Ian Murphy (Head of Ticketing & Membership) Jonathan Waite (Head of Supporter Services) Beth Demery (Ticket Office Manager).
It is of note that THFC opted not to bring the person who looks after their petty cash.
To business.
MC opened up by recapping upon what happened last time.
DC/JW/IM to review the comments made about the Founder Member Scheme in the survey responses with KL/MC and discuss that initiative further.
DC confirmed that no firm decisions had been taken at this stage and reiterated the support for the scheme in earlier fan surveys.
MC again registered THST’s dissatisfaction with the scheme. It was agreed to discuss further outside of the meeting.
Now here’s a recurring theme.
No conclusion, just a brush off.
What is the point of accepting a further discussion outside of the meeting? Isn’t that what this meeting is for?
KW to arrange for a breakdown of how the Away Supporters’ Initiative is spent each season to be posted on the Spurs official website
KL confirmed this had been discussed with JW and a full breakdown of monies spent wasn’t possible owing to commercial sensitivities with Thomas Cook. However, as much detail as possible over the past 3 seasons would be provided.
Not 10 minutes in and we’ve had one brush off and …here’s the first use of the phrase ‘commercial sensitivities’!
JW to arrange a further meeting with current caterers to discuss match day catering
RM asked for an update on the catering situation at WHL. JW confirmed that last season’s caterers were no longer the stadium caterers and a new partner would be announced shortly.
JW offered a meeting with the Stadium Catering Director once the new contractors were in place to discuss outstanding complaints from the prior caterer’s time at the Club with the aim of avoiding the same problems.
RM asked for clarification on the new contractor’s policy on Waste Food and Recycling, acknowledging sustainability and green concerns. JW to report back once new team in place.
This is hotting up. Rachel got to ask a question.
In brief, their were complaints outstanding in relation to last season’s caterers.
The Trust were told they had been fired.
In countermeasure, Rachel demanded to know what the deal on Waste and Recycling was.
The Trust were told when the new lot had been appointed, they’d find out.
No don’t get me wrong, waste and recycling are extremely important, but this isn’t where the food conversation starts.
Why aren’t the Trust enlightening the Club to the growing demand for food and drinks that are not your traditional football match fare?
You can’t leave the house these days with tripping over a pop up Noodle Bar or someone offering you a Vegan something or other.
The days of the Yulin Dog Meat Festival Pie and the Colonel’s Horse-burgers must be surely numbered.
Would it be too much to suggest the club raise their game?
The rebuild will be a UEFA 4 star build arena.
Could we not be offered something that was …nice?
£4 for a Twix and bottle of pop with no lid on isn’t exactly 21st century, is it?
IM reported that the planned works meant stadium capacity would be reduced by 4,000.
Of these, 1800 were season ticket (ST) holders. All had been written to (by physical post), as soon as the need to close the NE corner was confirmed, to be informed where their 16/17 seat would be.
These are mainly in the South Stand.
12 complaints maximum have been received. Over the summer, further accommodation requests (e.g. re-locate to a different seat) would be considered, but no promises could be made owing to lack of physical options.
12 complaints. I’m amazed there hadn’t been more.
Send the wrecking balls in with the fakers still sat in their seats.
KL asked for a breakdown of the lost seats, totalling 4000.
JW confirmed those lost were a combination of General Admission (GA), Executive boxes, player/ family allocation, academy allocation, a lounge and 6 x disabled places (latter relocated).
This was almost useful information.
Or it would have been, had the ST holders concerned not already be written to.
DC advised the location of home UCL matches will be announced shortly.
Should the NE corner need to come down, that had implications in terms of UEFA requirements.
Any potential move for European matches would not just be due to the reduced capacity issue at White Hart Lane. It would also be a decision based on media and access requirements. It would be because of delivery issues inside and outside of the ground.
The fact that not every existing ST holder would be able to get a seat was also a key issue.
The reduced capacity line is a complete fob off.
UCL games require an allocation of 10% under 30,000 seats and we will be 32, 000.
The ST holder thing is curious on, as this more than suggests that they are intending to prioritise general admission sales over ST holders.
KL and MG stressed that while there is an emotional wish among supporters for UCL matches to be played at WHL, THST’s key point is that as many fans as possible should be able to attend UCL games.
Also, THFC should explain clearly why WHL is not viable for UCL; otherwise, many would assume the move was being made financial reasons.
DL stated there will be absolutely no financial advantage in moving away from WHL given the alternative venue costs.
Mmmm. Another lie or perhaps better described as a contextual inaccuracy.
Playing UCL games at Wembley wouldn’t make THFC anywhere near as much money as playing at WHL, however, UCL games had the potential to generate unusually high gates and merchandise sales.
These would be significant and so whilst the club would make less money, it would not make no money at all.
Like the 12 arses that wrote letters of complaint, there is a phrase… lap it up, baby.
THFC appear to have any experienced in Change Management on their payroll.
This will prove to become a distinct disadvantage during the rebuild.
There’s more of this to follow.
Don’t say your weren’t warned.
