Members club

[Tug]

Out of interest does anyone know how the members club thing works... ala alot of spanish clubs.arsenal etc

was just seeing something on an arsenal thread about a members day photocall and wondered if there had ever been any thought give to it for caleythistle

[Charles Bannerman]

Out of interest does anyone know how the members club thing works... ala alot of spanish clubs.arsenal etc

was just seeing something on an arsenal thread about a members day photocall and wondered if there had ever been any thought give to it for caleythistle

During the Merger in the mid 90s, one of the burning issues was a Members' Club. The alternatives at the time to were either Caley and Thistle Trusts to perpetuate the memory of the original merger partners or a Unified Members' Club. At one point, Caley were all for a Members' Club since the Rebels thought it, and hence certain aspects of football club life, could be dominated by them. Thistle, predictably, were a lot less keen!

However it progressively became apparent that a Members' Club would not benefit Caley in the way some had hoped so the Jaggies took the idea on board and one was formed.

One of its important functions was in effect to be Trustee for the shares related to the considerable assets which Thistle and Caley brought to ICT. A rough estimate tells me these would have been, gross, in excess of £1.5M but legal fees at the time of the merger and possibly tax would have had to be deducted.

Initially these were reflected in a 50% shareholding on the part of the Members' Club but as this input was diluted by subsequent uptake of additional shareholdings and with the agreement of various club meetings, the [percentage shareholding has also progressively been diluted down and currently stands at something like 10-12%.

However a few years ago, the Members' Club was disbanded and its functions in effect transferred to the then newly former Supporters' Trust which now also holds that particular element of shareholding.

So in effect, ICT has been there already but now runs a Supporters' Trust which has done a great deal of good for the club.

Edited August 1, 2010 by Charles Bannerman

[TopSix]

A members club in terms of priority tickets? To get tickets for the gunners you must be in the club (with the exception of games such as the emerates cup). I've often though it would be a good idea to be able to get your own priority seat but the club sells tickets to members of the centenary club before they go on general sale.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

I joined a Members club in Hong Kong and it was slightly different to the aforementioned descriptions. Mind you you did get value for money.

[LancsDave]

There's a membership scheme at Burnley which was worthwhile when we were in the Premier last year. We paid a fee of ?20 and had first choice for non season ticket seats for home matches, at a reduced price. These were available for about a week before the general public could have them. The saving was ?7 a match, so 3 matches and the fee was paid! We were getting near full houses every game, so the general public were being confined to seats in front corners. This year, it still operates but the saving per match is less. Also, full house will not be the norm! I've not paid the fee yet.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

There's a membership scheme at Burnley which was worthwhile when we were in the Premier last year. We paid a fee of ?20 and had first choice for non season ticket seats for home matches, at a reduced price. These were available for about a week before the general public could have them. The saving was ?7 a match, so 3 matches and the fee was paid! We were getting near full houses every game, so the general public were being confined to seats in front corners. This year, it still operates but the saving per match is less. Also, full house will not be the norm! I've not paid the fee yet.

That sounds a lot more like the Members Club in Hong Kong.

[Scotty]

If it is in terms of priority tickets then there is so much more already in place that you can do to achieve that ......

• you can join the centenary club - a chance to win money and also get priority tickets for cup games (and some league games [OF etc]). your kids can also get cheaper season tickets
  
• You can join the supporters trust (which as mentioned earlier also now incorporates the members' club setup when the club was first formed)
  
• you can join the supporters club
  
• you can become a shareholder (?250 minimum unless its changed)
  
• you can buy a season ticket and get priority for cup games that are not included with your season ticket
  

My own personal opinion is that the more "organisations" or "clubs" that are setup, the more diluted the supporters' voices become. That is why (more recently) we have advocated for a lot of things that have been suggested that we do as a website go through the Trust instead.

[caley100]

I joined a Members club in Hong Kong and it was slightly different to the aforementioned descriptions. Mind you you did get value for money.

Hence the collapse and blackout on the plane home? and a hong kong phone number on a lucky strike packet rolled up and stuck in yer left ear.