The Trust will be hosting three Supporters’ Meetings in April and May to gather feedback and ideas from all supporters on how we can take our Club forward ahead of next season.
Whilst it may not have been decided which division we will be playing in next season, we cannot just await the outcome of what happens at Harrogate on 8th May before starting preparation for next season. Whatever happens, we need to make sure that the Rochdale AFC that starts next season is the best version of ourselves both on and off the pitch. We must make sure that we become that model Club that others aspire to be.
And those changes are not limited just to the Club. We as a Trust must look to ourselves, take on feedback and work hard to ensure that we as an organisation are fit to represent our members. The Club and the game as a whole have changed significantly since our inception in 2004. Arguably, its changing on a season by season basis and we as a Trust must reflect on that rather than merely doing what we do.
We cannot do any of this without your support. The meetings that will not be a Fans Forum style event. We are looking at different members of the Trust Board being available around the room collating feedback and ideas for each category from those present with the intention of developing a working plan that will be in place for the start of the 2023-24 season. Some categories will be repeated at more than one of the meetings but we have chosen three separate dates including the bank holiday to allow maximum participation from all supporters – these are not restricted to Trust members. All three meetings will be held in the Ratcliffe.
Our plan is for the following:
Thursday 20th April 7:30pm
- Ownership structure of the Club
- Communication from the Club – footballing
- Future role of the Trust
- Improving the matchday experience
- Club Shop
- Growing the fanbase / Attracting families
- Process for feedback
- Anything else
Wednesday 26th April 7:30pm
- Footballing Operations of RAFC 2023-24
- Ownership structure of the Club
- Communication from the Club – footballing
- Communication from the Club – non footballing
- Future role of the Trust
- Matchday Bars
- Matchday hospitality
- Growing the fanbase / Attracting families
- Anything else
Monday 1st May 1pm
- Potential Non League Football and the impact on the Club
- Ownership structure of the Club
- Communication from the Club – non footballing
- Future role of the Trust
- Volunteer Army
- Matchday Bars
- Matchday hospitality
- Growing the fanbase / Attracting families
- Anything else
There will be an opportunity for Exiles to contribute to any of the above that will be in place from Thursday next week.
It is our intention to publish the working plans on the Trust website before the end of May before a series of meetings with Club officials throughout the Summer to get plans in place before a ball has been kicked in the new season.