AGM and Fans Forum - Thurs 4th Sept

[STAR Liaison]

Nigel Adkins will be our guest at the first STAR Fans Forum of the season on Thurs 4th Sept 2014 at the Princess Suite, Madstad.

The Forum follows the STAR AGM which begins at 8pm.

Entry is free to 2014-15 STAR members. You can join at the door (£10 adults, £5 concessions) but please arrive a little early to fill in the form and pay.

STAR membership for 2014-15 is open via our website and over 350 Reading fans have already joined, not including me yet.

[Royal Biscuitman]

Is his appearance conditional on him still being Reading FC manager at the time?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Is that the total STAR membership, 350??

[Nameless]

In the same way that 5 minutes after the gates open the attendance at a first team game is 26.....

I think renewals only started on July 1st and I suspect most people don't renew on day 1

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Do you have evidence of this figure of 26?

[STAR Liaison]

In the same way that 5 minutes after the gates open the attendance at a first team game is 26.....

I think renewals only started on July 1st and I suspect most people don't renew on day 1

Thanks for making that point. I thought 350 joiners before a ball has been kicked was pretty good myself.

Anyone can take a look at some other supporter trust websites for clubs like us and see what - if any - membership numbers are quoted. I have - we look fine.

[Royal Biscuitman]

What happens if STAR Board members haven't renewed? - That could be embarrassing.

Likewise, starliason.... if your not a paid up member of STAR does that mean all views are now yours and not necessarily those of STAR?

As for the 26, I think we need an independent count..... however, we need to co-ordinate the count otherwise 30 of us might turn up to count and we'll end up including each other in the total. Also, Are we sure they open all the doors to all of the stands at the same time? - When will the 5 minutes start?

[Nameless]

They don't open all the gates at the same time but the attendance is monitored in real time on the hand held devices used by the customer support people so they can see exactly how many are in the ground, which stand they are in and even which turnstile they came through.

26 is the average attendance at 1.35 on a Saturday match day. It excludes any season ticket holders who will not be at that game.

[Green]

In the same way that 5 minutes after the gates open the attendance at a first team game is 26.....

I think renewals only started on July 1st and I suspect most people don't renew on day 1

Thanks for making that point. I thought 350 joiners before a ball has been kicked was pretty good myself.

Before the first coach has left the car park is probably more pertinent

[Sutekh]

Getting a bit narked with STAR and their moving this event around. 2 years ago it was at the end of August and I'm on holiday, fine that happens. Last year I have a holiday at end of July and what do STAR do, have the Forum then instead. So this year I go for September and lo and behold STAR have the event moved to then.

Wouldn't be so bad but its the only Forum now the manager talks to the supporters.

Is it STAR or Nigel (or both) who hate me?

[harry]

Is it STAR or Nigel (or both) who hate me?

Too easy

[soggy biscuit]

Never been to one of these. Is it just media trained types giving 'all credit to the lads' type answers?

[STAR Liaison]

Never been to one of these. Is it just media trained types giving 'all credit to the lads' type answers?

Not generally, no. The speakers can't sustain that for an hour plus . Hence the reason a couple of hundred fans usually turn up.

[Royal Biscuitman]

As long as the fans are not too hostile towards the manager and nobody is filming / representing the media they tend to open up and be completely honest and give their opinions, maybe being a bit careful with their words when talking about the Chairman.

I remember once when SJM was at the forum he answered a few questions about the club and then left so that the manager could speak freely about the team without worrying about him being sat there.

I know we're not supposed to talk about them on here, so I'll pick an example from way back. Alan Pardew was the manager and he was asked about Matty Upson joining permanently, He said he had been assured we'd offer good money to keep him and fed that back to the player, they then went to the Chairman who was really keen to sign him and made him a derisory contract offer, The manager just looked at Upson and shook his head knowing there was no chance of signing him, so the reason we didn't get him was wages.

Also, look out for someone moaning to Adkins about the price of pies or stewarding, There's always one (probably the same one each time)..... Not a fans forum, but I remember going to an accounting seminar on football finance and the club accountant was there answering questions, then Andy Hughes comes on to talk about being a footballer and one of the questions put to him was about some accounting policy or treatment for football assets

[Green]

lol - the irl version of "Shouldn't this be on Club Policies"

[Nameless]

To be fair Hughes response was very full and clear with reference to relevant legislation and accountancy best practice.

[Vision]

To be fair Hughes response was very full and clear with reference to relevant legislation and accountancy best practice.

And the accountant was a better footballer etc etc

[Royal Biscuitman]

To be fair Hughes response was very full and clear with reference to relevant legislation and accountancy best practice.

True, many footballers are good accountants. I remember reading about Robbie Fowler and Steve McMannaman performing double entry in their Liverpool days for a girl they picked up, I imagine her line of business was a cash in hand operation though.

[STAR Liaison]

Just thought I'd bump this.

Should be interesting to hear what Nigel has to say.

[Sutekh]

Will any notes be available from this on the website in the next week or two?

I would be interested to know if anyone asked whether NA was disappointed that Murray hasn't picked up an injury in training yet and whether he sees that being put right before the Fulham game?