An opportunity to win a day at the training ground with the squad for some, an opportunity to air grievances for others...
Results are to be summarised in the programme / website soon but seeing as they will not include the juicy bits, what are others saying in their opportunity to 'speak' with the club?
I'm sure these will not be revelations to those who attend games or frequent this board, but here was my tuppence:
Food/DrinkVerdict:
Queue way too long to get ripped off for the worst pint in Berkshire. Won't touch the food at that price either, simply use KFC/McD's before/after game.
Suggestions:
Offer a premium local ale,
please, or at least a drinkable lager (Becks Vier over Fosters if you can't manage a premium abv%). Employ staff who have the ability to communicate, count, and maybe even have the initiative to start pouring Guinness as soon as the previous one has finished rather than stand waiting for the next order.
MegastoreVerdict:
On the whole decent, but the Puma gear is pretty lame
Suggestions:
Ditch Puma and bring in Addidas
TransportVerdict:
On the whole decent
Suggestions:
Bring bus prices closer in line with standard fares - currently its cheaper to jump in a cab from town with people you just met in the pub / bus queue
EntertainmentVerdict:
Plastic crap takes away from the game, but I agree it has a place before K/O and at H/T (when the rest of us can choose to go to the bar instead). What is not welcome is when artificial 'entertainment' takes away from the game and the atmosphere - like the band and goal music. On the subject of music, why play the same awful records time and again (big bad wolf?)
Suggestions:
Silence the band, kill the goal music, mix up the music before/after the game
KidsVerdict:
Very child friendly at Reading, aside from a few profanities (would't be the same without them) can't fault it
Suggestions:
Simply make it reasonable enough to afford to bring the family because right now it is prohibitively expensive
Stewarding / Anti Social BehaviourVerdict:
Reading is pretty tame in all honesty, and on the whole stewarding is decent. However stewards can tend to overexert their authority at times - for example apprehending people who are late finishing their fag at H/T because they had to spend 20 mins queueing for refreshment / toilets!
Suggestions:
Stewards should wind their necks in a bit perhaps
FacilitiesVerdict:
Better than average - reasonably clean, enough loos, and we get let out to smoke at H/T.
Suggestions:
Not much to complain about really
Website + Social MediaVerdict:
Laughable in every way - Content is diluted at best, propaganda at worst, and silence prevails at times when answers are expected
Suggestions:
New website - really simple - informative and accurate content which addresses issues, encourages debate, and openly engages in follow up discussion
Valued by the Club?Verdict:
In essence I do not feel valued by the club because it makes it incredibly obvious that every single action it takes is designed to extract every last penny of our money, whilst at the same time they try and interfere in every aspect of the matchday experience making it feel artificial and 'plastic'. When it gets to the point where a couple of hours at the football costs more than our weekly rent, and the service we get is so poor in return, it makes it very difficult to feel valued.
Suggestions:
Ensure fans of the team have the opportunity to watch a football match without feeling embarrassed about what goes on off the pitch (the team are embarrassing enough currently!), where we can get a drinkable pint with time to have a cig and get back to our seat before the second half, and at a price which means we can affords to attend every week without sacrificing essentials.
Too much to ask I know, but you can't complain unless you have your say
