# FAB Meeting Minutes - 18 September 2024

Date: 2024-09-18
Location: Microsoft Teams
PDF: https://images.gc.barnsleyfcservices.co.uk/ae2fed90-b7cd-11ef-8b79-f79543cff882.pdf

Barnsley FC Fan Advisory Group Meeting Minutes 
Date of Meeting Wednesday 18th September 2024 
Location Teams Video Link 
Time 6pm 
Meeting Objective(s) 
Attendance 
Present Robin Harris - RH Apologies 
Kelly Drury - KD Claire Calton - CC Dominic Wood - DW 
John Bird - JB Heather Linney - HL Andy Gaskell - AG 
Steve Brain - SB 
Phil Hall - PH 
Martin Wilson - MW 
Curtis Ledger - CL 
Paul Gallagher - PG 
Agenda, Discussions, Issues 
Topic / Discussion Notes Actions 
Welcome and apologies 
KD welcomed everyone to the meeting. 
1. Previous minutes 
Previous minutes approved. 
2. BFC / FAB Communications 
FAB raised a point that the information from the past meetings has been delayed in 
getting published on the website. This has resulted in supporters not being kept up to 
date with he work the FAB have been doing with the club. 
FAB Members have offered support to the Club in this area. 
JB updated the group - recruitment into the Comms Department has now been 
completed; This news was received most positively. 
Arrange for Comms Team to meet FAB. 
The FAB pictures and pen portraits are near completion. Ensure all these contact details 
are posted on the club website. 
Send FAB Club contact details to FAB Group. 
Further discussion was had on what is the most effective and simple social media vehicle 
through which FAB communicates with fans. Clearly word of mouth, but also contact 
JB 27/09 
JB/FAB 16/10 
KD 27/09 
details will be posted on the Club website for fans to email. In addition, there is an “X” 
site for the FAB, plus contact can be made through the BBS. 
FAB to review and determine best processes for fans contact 
FAB 16/10 
3. FAB Members ’ Role 
Discussion centred on how the FAB could best function for the benefit of the fans. It was 
agreed that fans were understandably unclear as to how to best register concerns and 
issues with FAB. The points raised in 2 above on the Club website will go some way to 
fixing this. 
Develop central tracker for fans’ issues. 
Mail weekly fans questions to JB/JF. 
Other issues raised included the fact that fans needed to recognise that answers to 
questions quite often can’t be fed back within 24/48 hours and we should make people 
aware of that. 
It is also noted that members of FAB are in a voluntary position. 
PG/SB 09/10 
SB Ongoing 
4. Catering 
In the first FAB meeting, members advised the Club of fans’ unrest at the increased prices 
of food, drink and confectionery. These feelings were echoed once more, together with 
the lack of clarity on some of the offers; eg the recent pizza and a pint offering. 
Rather than the FAB constantly bringing individual price complaints to the monthly 
meeting, the Group felt that it would be beneficial for the Club to make a statement on 
food and drink / catering prices as soon as possible. This would, at least, give the fanbase 
an explanation of the price hikes. 
In an attempt to resolve the queuing issues on match days, JB advised that the Club are 
planning to introduce a QR code system through which fans will be able to order food and 
drink from their seats, and from home pre-match. More details of this innovation to be 
released where possible. 
JB/JF 16/10 
JB TBA 
5. FAB Meeting Other Fans ’ Groups 
KD raised this question for debate. General feeling was that this would be appropriate 
but caution needed re unconscious bias; and feedback from any such meeting must also 
be fed back into the FAB. 
 JB advised that other Fans Forum / Fan Engagement groups would continue, including the 
Fans ’ Evening with the Club’s owners. 
6. Season Ticket Points 
KD advised that fans had contacted her regarding the fact that the system is not updating 
correctly. 
JB asked that individuals should contact / email him or the box office directly and they 
would resolve the situation. 
JB 16/10 
7. Man U Coaches 
Did the Club subsidise any coaches travelling to the Man U game? 
Yes, the club reduced the cost of the official club coaches and then subsidised the 
supporter groups coach travel for those who take coaches to the majority of the away 
games. 
JB 27/10 
8. FAB Content Creator Role 
KD advised that the remaining three applicants for the CC role did not pursue their 
applications after being asked to submit a two minute video of their reasons for applying. 
Debate followed as to whether this role should be put on hold and reviewed at a later 
date, or whether the role should be replaced and re-allocated to a new Coach Operators 
Rep. 
Given the complexities, it was felt that it wouldn ’t be appropriate to create a Coach 
Operators Rep. 
The vacant position on the FAB will be reviewed on a monthly basis. 
FAB 16/10 
9. i-Follow Issues 
PH advised that national i-Follow issues persisted. 
JB advised that JF has raised the issue with EFL/i-Follow and that the problems are not 
isolated to BFC. 
CL proposed that the FAB should collect the specific issues from the fanbase through the 
future comms channels, and feed these into BFC. 
CL 09/10 
12. Huddersfield away - Pink! Pink!! Pink!!! 
The club will wear the pink third kit for the away fixture at Huddersfield Town. 
JB/JF 27/09 
13. Fanzone 
Discussions continuing. Update in future meetings. 
JB/JF 16/10 
14. AOB 
Disabled Fans’ Sensory Room, space for Assistance Dogs, multi faith rooms, use and space 
for electric vehicles, and changing places facilities were all subjects raised by MW and JB. 
BFC and the FAB (led by MW on this topic) will continue to work together on these areas, 
with specific report backs on a monthly basis. 
JB/MW 16/10 
Meeting Closed - 8.00pm 
Next Meeting - Oakwell - 16 October 2024, 6pm

Source: https://fab.barnsleyfc.co.uk/meetings/2024-09-18