Fans Forum

[Fox Talbot]

I would suggest / imagine that the people who run STAR are sufficiently committed supporters that they continually 'absorb' the feedback from fans here on HNA, in the local papers, on the phone-ins, who they meet at home matches, who travel on the coaches, from away fans websites etc.

I doubt they have the capacity to distinguish in many cases whether the feedback is made by a member or not. I expect they get to see the club's surveys of fans. Looking on their site I see references to their twitter and faceboob (Freudian slip!) efforts.

In all it would be harsh, I think, to say they are unaware of non-member / wider concerns. Perhaps they should say so themselves?

[Barry the bird boggler]

STAR need to have written documentation of any issues from those directly involved so that they have the ammo/proof from the shop floor rather as direct evidence rather than just an awareness of an issue as the club or authorities will need this in order to take action

[Alexander Litvinenko]

It depends. It's perfectly possible to have an idea of general directions that the weight supporter opinion is moving in - and what issues are being talked about - just be being aware and "keeping and ear to the ground" - that would affect things like policy decisions, etc. the same can be done by visiting HNA? - there's no need to actually interact to see what's being said.

But specific incidents or instances do, of course, need more precise details.

[Green]

The wall collapse at Torquay springs to mind for some reason.

[Ian Royal]

I personally don't have a problem with STAR's policy that they'll take anything to the club as long as they're contacted directly (by email) by whoever is raising the concern - ensuring that they're acting on behalf of a real person, rather than someone behind an anonymous ID, doesn't seem too much to ask to me.

Good point, I agree.

I agree, although it really does depend on the topic.

If it's something specific like a heavy handed or jobsworth steward ruining a match for a specific punter or something similar I totally agree. When it comes down to generic themes for discussion or annoyance with the way the club do things, eg the placement of an Ambulance, the use of loyalty points to segment ticket distribution, the general feeling of fans towards kit desings etc etc, then I think using any means of gathering information on fans opinions is valid. The challenge to that is that there are too many multiple accounts etc on here, but when the results are so clear or the debate is informed and intelligent it's quite clear how the land lies.

I'm aware some of the above are things STAR have taken up, with varying degrees of success, but it's the lack of communication and proactive interaction with their key audience (Reading fans who aren't STAR members) that just makes me see STAR as the cliquey travel club who like to get close to the club to make them feel important.

It wouldn't be too hard to get a lay of the land from Twitter, facebook, HNA etc and then link to another system that requires personal details and maybe even a member card number if the finger in the wind approach suggested there was strong feeling one way and worth doing more.

STAR just don't seem to want to bother with it though and just say "the club isn't interested in anonymous feedback from a minority". No effort to actually get better data. At least that's the perception.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

It wouldn't be too hard to get a lay of the land from Twitter, facebook, HNA etc and then link to another system that requires personal details and maybe even a member card number if the finger in the wind approach suggested there was strong feeling one way and worth doing more.

STAR just don't seem to want to bother with it though and just say "the club isn't interested in anonymous feedback from a minority". No effort to actually get better data. At least that's the perception.

In which case it's a quite wrong perception - and it all depends what is being talked about. See above posts - it's perfectly possible to gauge and understand the direction of opinions from HNA and other social media, as well as from general match-going experiences and as far as I know that's always happened.

But if someone posts "the steward at the top of Y25 was rude to me" do you really expect STAR to take that specific case forward unless the poster feels strongly enough about the incident to communicate directly with STAR and give their name? They're setting themselves up for a fall if they ever do that ...

[Bandini]

The wall collapse at Torquay springs to mind for some reason.

And yet several seasons later, we still have walls, and we still have Torquay.

I can't see the point of STAR.

[Ian Royal]

It wouldn't be too hard to get a lay of the land from Twitter, facebook, HNA etc and then link to another system that requires personal details and maybe even a member card number if the finger in the wind approach suggested there was strong feeling one way and worth doing more.

STAR just don't seem to want to bother with it though and just say "the club isn't interested in anonymous feedback from a minority". No effort to actually get better data. At least that's the perception.

In which case it's a quite wrong perception - and it all depends what is being talked about. See above posts - it's perfectly possible to gauge and understand the direction of opinions from HNA and other social media, as well as from general match-going experiences and as far as I know that's always happened.

But if someone posts "the steward at the top of Y25 was rude to me" do you really expect STAR to take that specific case forward unless the poster feels strongly enough about the incident to communicate directly with STAR and give their name? They're setting themselves up for a fall if they ever do that ...

That would be ludicrous.

[The Rouge]

but I can see you felt the need to ride to your m8's rescue rather than enter into a proper deb8

lulz- yeah, if only I had mentioned similar before it might be believed that its my view..

TBH, I don't really care enough about STAR or the people whinging about them to worry about it much

cool, maybe start an argument about something you a) care about b) know about - just a thought

[The Rouge]

Can I just say fair fooks to Dirk for putting his POV across here, seemingly the last member of STAR willing to do so and as such he's facing a barrage but it's appreciated (by me at least).

agreed

[melonhead]

STAR just don't seem to want to bother with it though and just say "the club isn't interested in anonymous feedback from a minority". .

personally i agree with that approach

lol at the idea of them going to the club, and say look- a few random user names on the interspaz have got all in a tizz about the hoops on the shirt again. we demand action. I think theyd be laughed out of there.

the truth is, if you had an issue with the club that was impoprtant enough for you to become annoyed/upset then you'd probably just write to the club

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Can I just say fair fooks to Dirk for putting his POV across here, seemingly the last member of STAR willing to do so and as such he's facing a barrage but it's appreciated (by me at least).

agreed

[Ian Royal]

STAR just don't seem to want to bother with it though and just say "the club isn't interested in anonymous feedback from a minority". .

personally i agree with that approach

lol at the idea of them going to the club, and say look- a few random user names on the interspaz have got all in a tizz about the hoops on the shirt again. we demand action. I think theyd be laughed out of there.

the truth is, if you had an issue with the club that was impoprtant enough for you to become annoyed/upset then you'd probably just write to the club

Try reading the whole post again and getting the point this time.

In case you can't be bothered, I said use it as a yardstick for feeling AND THEN use a more detailed and reliable survey requiring personal details from the interest that it sparks, so you've got some reliable data from a decent number of people.

[Para Handy]

cool, maybe start an argument about something you a) care about b) know about - just a thought

Tell me what you're bleating about from the sidelines again, for. If you complain to STAR giving your real name and email address, my understanding is that they will take up your case if you have a valid complaint. How is that not representing the wider fanbase?

Mostly the whinging in this thread appears to be that they had a Fans Forum for members that they'd haven't shared with everyone.

I'm still to see a better idea from you regarding what should be done.

[Hoop Blah]

STAR just don't seem to want to bother with it though and just say "the club isn't interested in anonymous feedback from a minority". .

personally i agree with that approach

lol at the idea of them going to the club, and say look- a few random user names on the interspaz have got all in a tizz about the hoops on the shirt again. we demand action. I think theyd be laughed out of there.

the truth is, if you had an issue with the club that was impoprtant enough for you to become annoyed/upset then you'd probably just write to the club

As it happens they have a whole policy document dedicated to kit design and frequency of change.

Have the club taken much notice of it? No. They gave some half arsed assurance to try and avoid changing kit every year then went back on it straight away.

Have you seen STAR kick up much of a fuss over that? I haven't, but perhaps I just missed it.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

TBF if you dont like a new shirt each year dont buy it. There have been dozens of shirts over the last twenty odd years, you can wear any off them and be part of the club. FFS some even wear retro R Friday shirts. Who cares that much, also hasnt the price dropped relatively, we are not Man Utd here.

[Royal Lady]

TBF if you dont like a new shirt each year dont buy it. There have been dozens of shirts over the last twenty odd years, you can wear any off them and be part of the club. FFS some even wear retro R Friday shirts. Who cares that much, also hasnt the price dropped relatively, we are not Man Utd here.

£42 for a short sleeved shirt with £12 for name printing - not sure it's dropped - but agreed, if you don't like/can't afford - don't buy it. I bought one this year, which is the first one in about 5 years - certainly don't subscribe to the "got to have a new shirt every season" brigade.

[Green]

TBF if you dont like a new shirt each year dont buy it. There have been dozens of shirts over the last twenty odd years, you can wear any off them and be part of the club. FFS some even wear retro R Friday shirts. Who cares that much, also hasnt the price dropped relatively, we are not Man Utd here.

That's fine 2-0, but most replica shirts are sold to under 18s, that's the market. There will be supporters with kids constantly pressuring them to buy the latest kit, all their mates have the latest shirt, and it can prove difficult to resist.

It's exploitation pure and simple.

[Green]

TBF if you dont like a new shirt each year dont buy it. There have been dozens of shirts over the last twenty odd years, you can wear any off them and be part of the club. FFS some even wear retro R Friday shirts. Who cares that much, also hasnt the price dropped relatively, we are not Man Utd here.

£42 for a short sleeved shirt with £12 for name printing - not sure it's dropped - but agreed, if you don't like/can't afford - don't buy it. I bought one this year, which is the first one in about 5 years - certainly don't subscribe to the "got to have a new shirt every season" brigade.

I've not bought/worn one since I was a kid - but given that football is so tribal it's not that hard to understand why some people do is it?

[Alexander Litvinenko]

TBF if you dont like a new shirt each year dont buy it. There have been dozens of shirts over the last twenty odd years, you can wear any off them and be part of the club. FFS some even wear retro R Friday shirts. Who cares that much, also hasnt the price dropped relatively, we are not Man Utd here.

That's fine 2-0, but most replica shirts are sold to under 18s, that's the market. There will be supporters with kids constantly pressuring them to buy the latest kit, all their mates have the latest shirt, and it can prove difficult to resist.

It's exploitation pure and simple.

Agreed, but IMHO it's more of a parenting problem than a football problem - it's only exploitation if people allow themselves to be exploited.