Fan Advisory Board confirmed

[JCB]

just bring back Elvis…

 

[Napster]

So, it's the club-approved Trust.

 

[londonblue]

Minutes from the Fan Advisory Board.

Fan Advisory Board Meeting: April 2025

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

Few takeaways for me include

• speaking with local schools for parking options
• ticketing initiatives (reselling season ticket seats)
• possibility of behind the scenes tours in the off season (although personally I don't see why it can't be in the morning of a home match when the staff will already be in with everyone finishing the tour before midday / 1 ish),
• no appetitie to change the club badge but possibly introduce a club motto (**** off Ron anyone??)
• no progress made on the fan zone
• possibly plans to create a new female mascot alongside Sammy the Shrimp

I'm ok with most but do we really need another mascot alongside Sammy?? Feels like ticking a box to ensure we are being inclusive and diverse. The name "Sammy" is generally considered a unisex name. It can be a diminutive form of both "Samuel" (typically male) and "Samantha" (typically female), but it can also stand alone as a given name for any gender. Its use is quite flexible and not strictly tied to one gender. First question would be to ask what gender Sammy identifies as lol

Also noticed it has a link to a new (Could be old but i've never seen it before) section on the website that seems to contain a lot of minutes from the various groups that meet with the club (The Trust, SUEPA etc)

Southend United FC | Southend United Football Club

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

IMO mottos should be short, to the point and convey its point succinctly. I'm therefore completely, 100%, totally for this initiative. The only thing I would say is, it should be in Latin. According to Google Translate that is:

irrumabo off Ron

However, I prefer **** off Ron, which Google translates to:

defricatus urina off ron

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Disappointed the FanZone hasnt made progress then

 

[Tinks]

I think it is great that there appears to be some transparency and information coming forward however, i am a little confused now on all these new groups and what one does or doesn't do as reading some of the minutes they seem to be covering the same things.
Personally i think only having one mascot is enough and don’t understand the reason behind introducing another one unless for the reasons of wokeness. I think Sammy the Shrimp does a great job and incudes all supporters

 

[Reefs]

I'd suggest there are far more important issues (i.e. revenue generating options to investigate) than ensuring we have a female mascot...waiting to be shot down.

 

[Yer Blues]

I can see these minutes becoming must read moving forward.

The first official meeting of the first ever fan advisory board and no update for example of the fan zone?

You'd think being the first one, the club would have had something up their sleeve based on day the feedback collected from the qr codes. A "you said, we did" type thing.

More notes on club motto and badge than match day experience.

Yeah, this is definitely going to be good. Can't wait to see what further sub groups are set up next.

 

[Supershrimper]

I'd suggest there are far more important issues (i.e. revenue generating options to investigate) than ensuring we have a female mascot...waiting to be shot down.

I'd go out on a limb and say you might be waiting a very long time. But this is Shrimperzone so it could happen in 5 or six posts time.

Personally like I said in my original post I really don't see the point. The name Sammy is unisex, and its a god damn shrimp. Do we need to start assigning a gender to a mascot.

Personally feel like that's time, effort and money that could be spent elsewhere.

 

[North Banker]

The idea of a new mascot is the shortest item in the minutes and yet it is the most talked about item in this discussion - the only people who actually seem to be treating it as the most important issue seem to be in this thread!

We used to have two mascots, now we have one, it's not beyond the realm of possibility. It's a relatively small initial outlay on some design work and a costume, then presumably a token part time wage for some lucky person, but that's all it is. Is it the most urgent priority? No. Will it grind the club to a halt? Also no. They're doing lots of things at once and this is one minor thing among many.

The marketing team have been tasked with bringing in new fans, particularly the younger generation, to grow the club and make more money. This has already included discounts for kids, sponsorship agreements, better publicity, better facilities at RH etc, all things we can agree on. One thing they've presumably identified along the way is that young girls (a rapidly growing market for football) are more likely to feel a connection to the mascots when they look like them, and the mascots are important for making kids have a good time, feel connected to the club, and feel welcome in a space that is not otherwise geared to them. So yeah, why not. It's not "wokeness", it's good business sense. Are we really going to turn away an idea that might bring in more fans just because we're so terrified of being seen to be "woke"? You don't have to like it. I still haven't got over the redesign of Sammy. But the mascots aren't aimed at you or me!

Anyway, some good things are being discussed here. Shame about the lack of progress on a fan zone. I wonder if they concluded that it was logistically unlikely to happen this season so put it on the back burner as a priority for next season.

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

I am disappointed at the lack of progress in a fanzone.

The one at Forest Green wasn't that big a space, but was well filled, with fans from both sides mingling fine (obviously that can vary depending on the opposition). I Bet they wouldn't do it for a cup tie against Millwall.

The band in the marquee was an unexpected bonus. Beer and food stands did a constant trade, were varied and well stocked and didn't look like a huge expense, although it would have obviously had a cost to it, but I'd hope it was making money, as it was a good pre-match experience.

If I'd have known it was there, I'd have got there a bit earlier tbf.

 

[Supershrimper]

I am disappointed at the lack of progress in a fanzone.

The one at Forest Green wasn't that big a space, but was well filled, with fans from both sides mingling fine (obviously that can vary depending on the opposition). I Bet they wouldn't do it for a cup tie against Millwall.

The band in the marquee was an unexpected bonus. Beer and food stands did a constant trade, were varied and well stocked and didn't look like a huge expense, although it would have obviously had a cost to it, but I'd hope it was making money, as it was a good pre-match experience.

If I'd have known it was there, I'd have got there a bit earlier tbf.

I quite liked the food as well even though it was all veggie stuff. Was so packed with flavour I didn't miss any meat.

Couple of converted containers that house a food kitchen (either a permanent set up or one that sees various outside agencies come in for a game at a time and serve up some grub) and another that pumps out the beer.

 

[Reefs]

In terms of retail and food & beverage offering we are so far away from even the majority of Step 2 and 3 non-league teams, that I'm genuinely surprised that we aren't seeing serious movement in this area.
I'd confidently say we are the worst in the League by a country mile.
The net spend per head is clearly (and correctly) a priority, but we have such a low ceiling at present, that I'm flabbergasted to see things like the fan zone get kicked down the road again.
As for a proposed new mascot being part of a 'woke agenda', nobody is saying that - what we are however suggesting is that it is time and energy spent on something with no long-term palpable benefit - a fanzone certainly is.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

Disappointed the FanZone hasnt made progress then

I am pretty sure I read on possibly some Shrimpers Trust minutes that part of the problem is a decision on how much money to allocate to the Project. The reason for the dilemma, would be the impending demolition of the East Stand and then making full use of the new stand. Meaning that the FanZone could possibly be incorporated in the East Stand in future years. Balancing act I think. Additionally with a large building project how much of the present Car Park would be available ?

 

[Reefs]

I am pretty sure I read on possibly some Shrimpers Trust minutes that part of the problem is a decision on how much money to allocate to the Project. The reason for the dilemma, would be the impending demolition of the East Stand and then making full use of the new stand. Meaning that the FanZone could possibly be incorporated in the East Stand in future years. Balancing act I think. Additionally with a large building project how much of the present Car Park would be available ?

The fan zone and the East Stand redevelopment need to be looked at in isolation.
Firstly, time wise, the East Stand is some way off. Secondly, regardless of the upgraded facilities enjoyed by virtue of a future new East Stand, there is still a massive deficiency in offering to general admission spectators across the ground, and so a central fan-zone would be relevant both pre and post redevelopment.