City Matters - New Reps Required. Voting now open till 4/9

[Prestwich_Blue]

I can’t speak for the other guy but I suspect the reason some people think like that is the only times the club ever seems to mention City Matters in any communication to the fans is when they are pushing through something that they know won’t be universally approved of.

One example I can think of, but there’s been a few, is when they announced some away tickets were being reserved for 18-24 year olds regardless of points. They made a point of saying something like…As agreed with your City Matters reps. That can read a bit like…. Hey, don’t blame us if you don’t like it, it’s the fans reps who wanted it.

I’m sure there’s a whole heap of other stuff that is done behind closed doors that might quietly make a difference without us really noticing but it does come across, to me at least, that the club use City Matters as a bit of a patsy to take the heat off them on occasions.

I think there's some truth in what you say. We've made the point to the club about better communication around the things we do that benefit fans but we didn't get credit for, as opposed to the unpopular things that they make great play of having discussed with us. Sometimes that "discussion" has been at very short notice and basically a fait accompli. Sometimes it's not taken place at all so I've found things out via social media. That's annoying Inn the extreme but we do seem to be making progress.

We've been quite vocal in convincing the club to bring us on board earlier. We have to accept that we won't be able to influence key commercial decisions early on but we can help in how's these agreed communicated and how the fallout is managed. We are making progress on that

An example is the Kits hospitality facility, where we knew people were going to be moved yet again. Knowing the problems on previous occasions we pressed the club to be more proactive and customer focused about how those moves were managed.

People will never be happy about losing their seats of course but there's no need to piss them off more than necessary, by making it feel that they're left to their own devices when sorting out where to go.

But actually, three example you mention about 18-25 tickets was very much our suggestion. Ticket exchange is another area where we've made what we think are constructive suggestions, some of which have been actioned.

 

[Stephen230]

I think there's some truth in what you say. We've made the point to the club about better communication around the things we do that benefit fans but we didn't get credit for, as opposed to the unpopular things that they make great play of having discussed with us. Sometimes that "discussion" has been at very short notice and basically a fait accompli. Sometimes it's not taken place at all so I've found things out via social media. That's annoying Inn the extreme but we do seem to be making progress.

We've been quite vocal in convincing the club to bring us on board earlier. We have to accept that we won't be able to influence key commercial decisions early on but we can help in how's these agreed communicated and how the fallout is managed. We are making progress on that

An example is the Kits hospitality facility, where we knew people were going to be moved yet again. Knowing the problems on previous occasions we pressed the club to be more proactive and customer focused about how those moves were managed.

People will never be happy about losing their seats of course but there's no need to piss them off more than necessary, by making it feel that they're left to their own devices when sorting out where to go.

But actually, three example you mention about 18-25 tickets was very much our suggestion. Ticket exchange is another area where we've made what we think are constructive suggestions, some of which have been actioned.

That’s all fair enough. Thanks. I’m sure whether the club treat the group as a genuine source of accessing fans views or a PR exercise, that all the people involved are in for the right reasons and have a bit of a thankless task.

 

[MrsBanks]

Just like to place on record my thanks to Trish Robinson for sorting out a ticketing issue I was trying to resolve for my mate. I was at the point of losing the will to live being fobbed off by Customer Services when she took up the case. She was like a terrier and kept escalating the issue and chasing various Departments until it was finally resolved. Thanks Trish!

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Whatever happens, dont trust Kevin Parker to sort any shit out. Lads the most heartless soul Ive ever come accross

Is that the Kevin Parker who gave my mate a signed Gabriel Jesus shirt, from his own collection, when my mate had terminal cancer? Maybe there are 2 Kevin Parkers on City Matters? He also organised a letter of support from City and a programme signed by David Silva.

 

[Corky]

A lot of this is done by the mandatory SLO at other clubs.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Is that the Kevin Parker who gave my mate a signed Gabriel Jesus shirt, from his own collection, when my mate had terminal cancer? Maybe there are 2 Kevin Parkers on City Matters? He also organised a letter of support from City and a programme signed by David Silva.

I see the original post has disappeared but I've had the privilege of working closely with Kevin and getting to know him reasonably well over the last 4 years and he does an incredible amount of work for his members, individually and collectively and also for CITC, most of which goes completely unseen. He's gone above and beyond for some and there's loads of people who he's helped over the years, including posters on here.

He deserves far more than the abuse he gets from some. He's an absolute role model for me and the others on the City Matters committee.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Is that the Kevin Parker who gave my mate a signed Gabriel Jesus shirt, from his own collection, when my mate had terminal cancer? Maybe there are 2 Kevin Parkers on City Matters? He also organised a letter of support from City and a programme signed by David Silva.

Kevin Parker is a sound bloke. He's an easy target for keyboard warriors who've most likely never met him.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Kevin Parker is a sound bloke. He's an easy target for keyboard warriors who've most likely never met him.

Well said Lavinda Past. I think Kevin is spot on and he’s available to help Blues 7 days a week.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I see the original post has disappeared but I've had the privilege of working closely with Kevin and getting to know him reasonably well over the last 4 years and he does an incredible amount of work for his members, individually and collectively and also for CITC, most of which goes completely unseen. He's gone above and beyond for some and there's loads of people who he's helped over the years, including posters on here.

He deserves far more than the abuse he gets from some. He's an absolute role model for me and the others on the City Matters committee.

Thanks Colin and well said.

 

[jrb]

Kevin Parker is a sound bloke. He's an easy target for keyboard warriors who've most likely never met him.

Pep?