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Post by Al on Apr 9, 2018 6:14:08 GMT
Few questions.
Do you currently sponsor or have you previously sponsored a player?
How did you rate your experience?
Do you think the experience was good value?
Would you look to renew for next season (bit of an ask at the moment I know, but on the basis that we sort ourselves out in the coming weeks).
Ive stuck my hand up on the Commercial Working Group and am currently looking at ways in which we can go about player sponsorship next season, I do have a few ideas for this on how we could make it cheaper but also grow our income, as currently the only info I can find from the club regards our player sponsorship is a graphic which says £180.
We have got to be missing a trick there.
Any feedback about your experience would be most welcome, if there are problems with the current system then I can look at ways to put a fix in place.
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Post by Charfield Blue on Apr 9, 2018 8:08:10 GMT
I've sponsored players over a number of years now. In all honesty it's been a bit disorganised and I've had to chase up to get the shirt and contact the club to renew a sponsorship rather than being contacted as an existing sponsor. I believe in the past there has been end of season get togethers with the players to receive the shirt which is a good idea but living away from Chester I haven't been to one.
For me, due to me living away from Chester and getting to very few games, it has been a way to put some money into the club. Something I wouldn't have done had it not been for fan ownership.
I'm currently out of work so not sure if I'll be in a position to sponsor again this coming season.
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Post by superman on Apr 9, 2018 8:54:08 GMT
Al don't know how it works at the moment but perhaps a players sponsor event could be held at the highest profile preseason friendly to include meet the players, hospitality, free match ticket. Could you have blind bids with a minimum sponsorship level which might attract more sponsorship for higher profile players, if we have any!! This might be too devisive on second thoughts. I know that the youth squad has corporate sponsorship, could individual sponsorship at a lower cost be appropriate here. Perhaps get schools involved to do a sponsored event and have an academy player linked to each school and attend school training sessions. Good for community engagement and young player personal development.
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Post by ubb1689 on Apr 9, 2018 11:11:46 GMT
I sponsored Craig Mahons away shirt. That’s all I can say.
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Post by Arthur's Carpet slipper on Apr 9, 2018 11:33:43 GMT
Very similar to Charfield Blue. I’ve sponsored players for the last 3 seasons as I’m living away and want to put money into the club. I’ve really had to chase the club on when to renew and at what rates. Post season getting the shirt has been hit and miss as well. Other non league clubs appear to make a much better job of it to be honest. Ending on a positive 2 seasons ago sponsors were invited to a preseason match for free and treated to a presentation on the club and meet with some of the backroom staff. My boys really enjoyed that and I thought it was a nice touch
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Post by Al on Apr 9, 2018 11:38:58 GMT
Thanks all.
All feedback gratefully received. I can build a process with all feedback I receive.
Keep it coming though please
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Post by jimianto on Apr 9, 2018 12:01:27 GMT
I sponsored players in the first 3 seasons of the new club. I haven't during the conference/national premier years, as there hasn't been an available player sponsorship that I thought was worthy of it. Plus I have felt more and more distant from Chester FC over the last few years, even though I am a season ticket holder.
I think the experience was worthwhile and I would do it again...if there was an available player who looked like he really wanted to try for Chester FC. It was good to meet the players at the end of season events and receive the sponsored shirts. It was good value for money.
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v4brh
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by v4brh on Apr 9, 2018 12:06:40 GMT
I've been sponsoring players every season since we reformed. Most recently Ryan Astles.
I echo a few other posters on here in saying that I have never been approached at the end of a season with a view to keeping my preferred player and re-signing so to speak.
We used to run sponsors evenings during a p[re-season friendly and all current and previous sponsors were invited and offered packages etc.
This hasn't happened for the last few years and I feel we're missing out.
I am unsure if I will be renewing any sponsorship's, including the First Team Shorts sponsorship, next season, until I see a positive change at the top level.
My recommendation, bring back the sponsors evening at a pre-season friendly. Lay on a buffet and tea & coffee and get current and previous sponsors down to renew and offer them packages and incentives.
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Post by degsey on Apr 9, 2018 15:31:58 GMT
Few questions. Do you currently sponsor or have you previously sponsored a player? How did you rate your experience? Do you think the experience was good value? Would you look to renew for next season (bit of an ask at the moment I know, but on the basis that we sort ourselves out in the coming weeks). Ive stuck my hand up on the Commercial Working Group and am currently looking at ways in which we can go about player sponsorship next season, I do have a few ideas for this on how we could make it cheaper but also grow our income, as currently the only info I can find from the club regards our player sponsorship is a graphic which says £180. We have got to be missing a trick there. Any feedback about your experience would be most welcome, if there are problems with the current system then I can look at ways to put a fix in place.
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Post by degsey on Apr 9, 2018 15:51:26 GMT
From my experience of sponsoring 2 players was shambolic to say the least! I sponsored the players in season 15/16, early on in the season the then commercial manager let me down twice, then further on into the season I had a meeting with the then chairman, he said that he would get everything organised for me to meet the people concerned, a week later he had gone! nothing ever got sorted so I gave up at that point! At the end of the 15/16 season, to add insult to injury the club contacted me to ask if I was the person who had done the sponsorships, I never got the shirt of the person that I sponsored because they did not have any left so I had to take an ordinary away shirt, I would have done more sponsorships but because of the experience I had cant see myself doing any more in the present, as the club has been a shambles for the last 3 seasons, myself and my family have put quite a few thousand into the club, since it was reformed, ie Loan notes, Season Tickets, Funds etc, At the current situation that the club is in at the moment and until big changes are made I cannot see myself making any investment,
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Post by Suomen Sininen on Apr 9, 2018 16:11:13 GMT
From my experience of sponsoring 2 players was shambolic to say the least! I sponsored the players in season 15/16, early on in the season the then commercial manager let me down twice, then further on into the season I had a meeting with the then chairman, he said that he would get everything organised for me to meet the people concerned, a week later he had gone! nothing ever got sorted so I gave up at that point! At the end of the 15/16 season, to add insult to injury the club contacted me to ask if I was the person who had done the sponsorships, I never got the shirt of the person that I sponsored because they did not have any left so I had to take an ordinary away shirt, I would have done more sponsorships but because of the experience I had cant see myself doing any more in the present, as the club has been a shambles for the last 3 seasons, myself and my family have put quite a few thousand into the club, since it was reformed, ie Loan notes, Season Tickets, Funds etc, At the current situation that the club is in at the moment and until big changes are made I cannot see myself making any investment, This is the scale of the task at hand! Rebuilding the trust with ex-sponsors and businesses and of course the fans. I don't envy the challenge of the much-needed fresh board members. It is always about the engagement of the club and the fans. Whatever the club put into the relationship, this will be rewarded by the fans financially and emotionally. We had an incredibly incompetent commercial manager followed by an equally destructive CEO the last few years. And now the internal politics fiasco and rumours that have appeared to have emerged over the last two-three seasons have the potential to kill our club. However, we are all fans and I hope that we will turn this round. The club has to remember that it is about the community, pride and passion - if the players and club show this as well, then the good times will return. But if the club take us for mugs and expect us to constantly put our hands in our pockets for zero return, well, I shudder at the consequences. A sponsors meeting with the new manager, players and board with a decent buffet and drinks does not cost the earth. Just factor it and a signed shirt into the price, because decency and manners is priceless
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Post by Al on Apr 9, 2018 16:39:14 GMT
Yep definitely. We need to make our supporters, who are also our investors year on year, week on week feel appreciated every once in a while.
If a sponsors dinner during a game pre season would go some way to making people feel appreciated for giving their time and money to the club then that is what we must do.
I have mentioned it to our director a few weeks ago and to Jonny Hughes also a couple of times but I will ensure that this is put in writing into a proper sponsorship strategy (if you like). What the plan is, the areas I want to look at etc.
Looking at our website I cant really find a definitive price list to go off for last season regards player and kit sponsorship at that time. All I can find is a reference to £180 to sponsor a player. Were the home and away kit sponsorships different in price at all? Do any of you have a copy of a price list to hand or were these done mainly by a bespoke deal with the commercial manager/CEO at the time?
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Post by dmcnally on Apr 9, 2018 16:46:38 GMT
Yep definitely. We need to make our supporters, who are also our investors year on year, week on week feel appreciated every once in a while. If a sponsors dinner during a game pre season would go some way to making people feel appreciated for giving their time and money to the club then that is what we must do. I have mentioned it to our director a few weeks ago and to Jonny Hughes also a couple of times but I will ensure that this is put in writing into a proper sponsorship strategy (if you like). What the plan is, the areas I want to look at etc. Looking at our website I cant really find a definitive price list to go off for last season regards player and kit sponsorship at that time. All I can find is a reference to £180 to sponsor a player. Were the home and away kit sponsorships different in price at all? Do any of you have a copy of a price list to hand or were these done mainly by a bespoke deal with the commercial manager/CEO at the time? Not sure if you've seen the page on the website? Could be worth a look if you haven't already. www.chesterfc.com/join-the-journey/sponsorship/
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Post by Al on Apr 9, 2018 17:02:41 GMT
Yep definitely. We need to make our supporters, who are also our investors year on year, week on week feel appreciated every once in a while. If a sponsors dinner during a game pre season would go some way to making people feel appreciated for giving their time and money to the club then that is what we must do. I have mentioned it to our director a few weeks ago and to Jonny Hughes also a couple of times but I will ensure that this is put in writing into a proper sponsorship strategy (if you like). What the plan is, the areas I want to look at etc. Looking at our website I cant really find a definitive price list to go off for last season regards player and kit sponsorship at that time. All I can find is a reference to £180 to sponsor a player. Were the home and away kit sponsorships different in price at all? Do any of you have a copy of a price list to hand or were these done mainly by a bespoke deal with the commercial manager/CEO at the time? Not sure if you've seen the page on the website? Could be worth a look if you haven't already. www.chesterfc.com/join-the-journey/sponsorship/Yeah that's where I found the £180 + vat. Doesn't really break down into whether that's for home and away or just home. Or if you pay £180 for home and its cheaper for away or whether there's a discount if you purchase both etc. Also no prices for any other part of the kit such as warm up kit for example or players laces (for the kids) or anything else. Anyway, plenty of food for thought
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Post by Charfield Blue on Apr 9, 2018 17:15:36 GMT
Al, I've just looked through my cheque book and I paid £180 for the sponsorship of James Akintunde's away shirt.
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Post by Al on Apr 9, 2018 17:26:38 GMT
Guys, anyone who has sponsored a player this season, have you received your signed shirt or had ANY communication from the club or commercial team about when and how you can collect your shirt?
And thanks CB. Much appreciated fella
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Post by Charfield Blue on Apr 9, 2018 18:10:05 GMT
No worries Al. Well done for looking into this is a positive way and seeing what you can do to improve the situation.
With regards communication about this years sponsorship, no there hasn't been any. In the past I have received the shirts after the season has ended.
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Post by rcb on Apr 9, 2018 18:12:32 GMT
Squad of 20; 6 sponsors(each to be a five a side player) per squad member, with each squad player being team manager for their five-a-side team. 2 pools of 10 teams, played as a league, with winners and runners-up of each league into semi-finals. 120 sponsors at £100 each, equates to £12,000. Possibly more sponsors per squad member, to increase to a six or seven a side league. Use the ground as the venue. Lots of variations and opportunities, and particularly attractive to the younger fans. i.e. under 50
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Post by Al on Apr 9, 2018 18:29:31 GMT
No worries Al. Well done for looking into this is a positive way and seeing what you can do to improve the situation. With regards communication about this years sponsorship, no there hasn't been any. In the past I have received the shirts after the season has ended. We're getting in touch with Dave tonight to find out what the score is. If you've not heard anything about kit collection then I hope you can get an email within the next week, at least apologising for the lack of communication and what is being done to resolve it. I'll be away next week with the family so won't be able to make the next Working Group meeting, but I'll be sending a nice big list of questions to the group for discussion in my absence, that's if we all don't hear anything back between now and then. Thanks for your continued patience guys. Any problems in the meantime please feel free to PM me.
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Post by Arthur's Carpet slipper on Apr 9, 2018 19:33:35 GMT
Al, I've not had any communication. Also during the season when my sponsored player was transferred I never heard anything so had to chase the club. Typically I've not heard anything at the end of season either and usually drop a line enquiring about the shirt - which has also not been signed. Pre season I've found it a bit of challenge to find price and also to understand which players are without sponsorship I certainly never got offered to sponsor the same player again. I have to say when I did email though Albert Davies was very helpful and always came back with an answer. ...so thanks Albert!
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Post by Charfield Blue on Apr 9, 2018 19:51:56 GMT
Al, I've not had any communication. Also during the season when my sponsored player was transferred I never heard anything so had to chase the club. Typically I've not heard anything at the end of season either and usually drop a line enquiring about the shirt - which has also not been signed. Pre season I've found it a bit of challenge to find price and also to understand which players are without sponsorship I certainly never got offered to sponsor the same player again. I have to say when I did email though Albert Davies was very helpful and always came back with an answer. ...so thanks Albert! I get the feeling this is why people are frazzled. Admirable volunteers like Albert / Marion etc running around like headless chickens firefighting because systems have never been put in place.
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Post by Designer on Apr 10, 2018 9:57:44 GMT
It looks like Al is doing some good stuff and carrying out the sponsorship survey in a structured way and will be valuable input to the scheme next season.
However, after looking at some of the responses it got me thinking, at the end of the day who is it at the club that is responsible for the nuts and bolts of the scheme: database construction, documentation packages, direct liaison with the sponsors, live events to say thanks to the sponsors etc... Has this person(s) been identified or has it been done on a voluntary adhoc basis. In most clubs I would guess this work stream is part of the general commercial effort.
It is clear that the volunteers at the club are the life blood, but sometimes a paid position where responsibilities are clear and will deliver results over a working week with the accountability nailed on is best. To go one step further I believe the whole issue of income development off the field should be the priority with a small team led by a keen young business development graduate. I am certainly not advocating employing a £45k/year suited and booted Commercial Manager, rather invite MBNA et al to mentor the young graduate when required. Why shouldn't we develop our own off the field office academy. These young people will grab the chance to perform and build up their CV.
The key to setting up a department is two fold - people (see above) and systems. An IT system with the right software to control and monitor the commercial effort - don't buy it rent it and get the built in support.
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Post by jimianto on Apr 10, 2018 10:18:11 GMT
It looks like Al is doing some good stuff and carrying out the sponsorship survey in a structured way and will be valuable input to the scheme next season. However, after looking at some of the responses it got me thinking, at the end of the day who is it at the club that is responsible for the nuts and bolts of the scheme: database construction, documentation packages, direct liaison with the sponsors, live events to say thanks to the sponsors etc... Has this person(s) been identified or has it been done on a voluntary adhoc basis. In most clubs I would guess this work stream is part of the general commercial effort. It is clear that the volunteers at the club are the life blood, but sometimes a paid position where responsibilities are clear and will deliver results over a working week with the accountability nailed on is best. To go one step further I believe the whole issue of income development off the field should be the priority with a small team led by a keen young business development graduate. I am certainly not advocating employing a £45k/year suited and booted Commercial Manager, rather invite MBNA et al to mentor the young graduate when required. Why shouldn't we develop our own off the field office academy. These young people will grab the chance to perform and build up their CV. The key to setting up a department is two fold - people (see above) and systems. An IT system with the right software to control and monitor the commercial effort - don't buy it rent it and get the built in support.
Excellent idea
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Post by rcb on Apr 10, 2018 10:31:25 GMT
The title of this thread is “Player Sponsorship” so why are reading about keen young business development graduates? No disrespect, but young graduates are wet behind the ears, foundations in place and ready to learn from experienced business managers, so I can’t think of a worse scenario, for both the club and for any young graduates. They are, of course, most welcome to sponsor a player!
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Post by dc2cfc on Apr 10, 2018 16:06:14 GMT
How about a ‘Business Ticket’ as an idea. We offer a business in Chester a pair of tickets say 10 games per ticket throughout the season, company logo in the programme with all the Business’s that are involved.
Could even put every business involved into a draw for a pre match meal throughout the season...etc
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Post by Al on Apr 10, 2018 16:44:08 GMT
Guys they're all good ideas but seriously I'm just after feedback on anyone who's sponsored a player in the past or this season and their feedback about their experiences.
Sent a few things off last night internally and had responses today so hoping for us to get together in the next couple of nights to thrash this out and get a plan of action together.
If you have ideas and can help the working groups see them through there is an email address they can all be sent to and where you can offer your services to help out, in whatever way, shape or form.
I think it was mooted as ideas@chesterfc.com??
Again, apologies for the lack of comms leading up to this. I hope to get some official comms sent out before the end of the week, fingers crossed!
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Post by Al on Apr 15, 2018 21:38:50 GMT
Hi all,
Just to follow up, sorry an official Comms hasn't been sent out as of yet to all kit sponsors, I had a meeting down at the club on Wednesday night to get a plan of action put together and I have been working on that this week. Just waiting for one or two bits of info to be confirmed and then we should be good to go with the arrangements.
Due to the proximity to the end of the season and how it had been organised previously by 'he who shall not be named', it's going to prove nigh on impossible to get the kits ready for the Maidstone game. Plus the Barrow game is the week after that and away kits can't be handed out to sponsors until after this game anyway as (obviously), the players need them for the game.
So. The proposal is that we host an evening one night at the ground for all those kit sponsors who have donated so generously to the club over the past season. This would be upstairs, with a bit of food, drink, and a chat, as a small token of appreciation, and by way of an apology for goings on of the past 12 months.
I'll not be around for the next few days as I'm away on holiday with family but have sent an extensive email to all the Commercial Working Group with where I am at the moment with the work, and asking for any further follow ups after the meeting on Wednesday.
Any concerns please just give me a shout on here via PM and I'll respond upon my return. I'll hopefully be able to start responding via the official email address sending updates out via official lines of communication soon (it's in the pipeline).
Regards
Al
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Post by hackett on Apr 15, 2018 21:52:51 GMT
On the note of rebuilding PR, good to see a card from the club in my local thanking them for sponsorship of the race nights. Glad to see someones doing their bit to keep people happy.
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Post by blaconblues on Apr 16, 2018 12:53:14 GMT
Sponsored Gary for his home kit. in all fairness Albert was brilliant in helping out. Dropped some cash at the office and that was it.
Plan on raffling his top off in the Waggon when received see if we can get the club a few extra quid.
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Post by puffthemagicdragon on Apr 16, 2018 13:21:06 GMT
Do you currently sponsor or have you previously sponsored a player? Yes How did you rate your experience? Very poor! Do you think the experience was good value? Not, not at all! Would you look to renew for next season (bit of an ask at the moment I know, but on the basis that we sort ourselves out in the coming weeks). - Only if I could see something had changed about the whole process. The last time I sponsored a player was 2 years ago but the process turned me off to such an extent I have not bothered to consider this again. Yes the Club wanted my money but that seemed to be the end of it which I think is both disappointing, and also totally missed an opportunity to both get me to do this again, but also look to sponsor something else. No-one thanked me for the sponsorship, I never had the chance to meet the player although this was promised when I was initially looking at this. Yes I did get a shirt in the end,not one the player had worn, but a small size just shoved in an envelope and sent to me in the post, nothing else with it, so I was left to draw my own conclusions as to what it was linked to. And this was about 4 months after the season end, so totally out of the blue! If someone is planning to part with their money, whether sponsorship, or just coming along to watch a game, at the very least they need to be made to feel their money is appreciated. Sponsoring a player or programme/game/match ball all involve more money and at the very least ought to involve more than just, 'Thanks for your money' and that's it. There are so many ways we might maximize our income but also make whoever is parting with their money feel appreciated. I am not saying this is the right way but just have a look at some of these others :- Barnet : - www.barnetfc.com/commercial/player-sponsorship/ Ross County :- www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news/archive/player-sponsorship-201718/Leeds United :- www.leedsunited.com/sponsorship/playerWhy only shirt sponsorship? Why not shorts, socks, boots, training kit? Why can't we get the sponsor to meet the player? Lovely idea to present the sponsor with a framed and signed shirt at the end of season? why not at the Awards? may be a step too far, but all these are around thinking of how we can (a) encourage sponsors to part with their money, and (b) make them feel appreciated and want to come back and to it again, and more. I am no marketing expert but this seems like common sense to me, and how and why our commercial and/or marketing team in the past have not done this I don not know? I appreciate we may not have the resources to do it all, but for a fan-owned club the commercial side is of such massive importance that more focus and resources, even if this is just in terms of volunteers, needs to be committed, but this then needs to be done consistently. I have seen other posts and one thing that comes out of these is that there has been limited consistency in terms of what is being and has been done.
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