Woodypecker

You pretend not to get it. But you do. Quite why you want to play that particular game, I guess only you know. 
 
The post (just in case you really didn’t get it ) was about the universe unfolding as it does and intemperate throwing of toys from prams, gloom mongering, judgemental speculation and general pouting is unworthy. The queen as an example of a wise head not given to hasty verbal vomiting is very relevant 

Morning all..
In the absence of a DCFC fans representative at the meetings I thought it would be helpful to upload the minutes to here. My personal thoughts are below.
Many of you know my issue with Stephen Pearce. I have been very vocal on that for various reasons. However, Charlton away we had a catch up and with Dave. A line has been drawn between us which Dave very much initiated. He is as much responsible as Dave for saving our club and I think we need to recognise that. 
Last night Stephen came across a very different man. Confident. Comfortable. Relaxed. Clear to see the shackles of Mel have been removed and he can be his own person. Mixed in with the ethos and culture that Dave has I fully trust SP to take us forward. He knows that he has points to prove and is up for that challenge. He has my backing.
A few other points i would like to add. Safe Standing, you know I have been campaigning for 15 odd years!!! Looking like some kind of movement with this and going forward expect there to be some news over the next few months.
South Stand - raised about bar wait times and requested that the bottle bars return particularly for half time. This is lost revenue. Left with SP to sort. I have also raised, as i have done for years, that we should be aiming to replicate a Bristol City / Lincoln kind of area. This was always the idea with the Fan Park but somewhat slipped to the side. Would be great to have a culture where fans can turn up early, have a few drinks and enjoy it. Same after the game as well, get the Yard and South Stand concourse open for an hour. 
Really positive meeting and refreshing that we are discussing issues and points that the charter group was setup for! Big thanks to the guys at BAWT for drafting up the minutes.
Minutes of SCG Meeting 22nd September, 2022

Present: DCFC - David Clowes, Stephen Pearce, Punjabi Rams, DCFC Disabled Supporters Club, RamsTrust, DCFC Supporters Club, Black and White Together, Derby County Collection, Nick Webster, RamsActive

The club has been reviewing and assessing the managerial position since DC took over and Liam Rosenior has been fantastic. They have a great relationship. The club has a duty of care towards Liam's career as someone taking his first steps in managing and what might happen to Liam if it didnt work out played a part in the decision.

Paul Warne brings experience and now is his time for a big job at a big club. Other clubs were after him, both those with and those without a manager currently. 

DC liked how he treats players, journalists, encouraging everyone to get the best out of themselves.

There is nothing to read into the title of Head Coach – there is no plan for Technical Director/Director of Football – it is just commensurate with Head of Recruitment, Head of Academy, which they will move their focus to now. They see these three roles working as a team. 

Paul Warne spoke to the players on Wednesday evening and will do press next Tuesday.

With regards to the players we signed and his style, Paul is adaptable, but he was after some of our players in summer. His teams are running teams and he is happy with players he has. 

DC will speak to Liam and other coaching staff on Monday when they return from a short break, but they were aware of the situation before DCFC approached Rotherham to speak to Paul Warne.

The club is well within the business plan agreed with the EFL, so there is a buffer. They sent the EFL the recruitment strategy, by player and position, and all was signed off, no problem. It is a two-year plan, with a review after 12 months, but we can’t currently spend transfer fees or loan fees.

The plan was done on a worst case scenario., so season ticket sales coming in over the figure in the business plan really helped. 

The club is now debt free.

Two sell-on clauses were sold for short term cash during administration,  but others remain.

The first accounting year will end on 30th June, 2023, so filed by March 2024.

The club will look into a non-Away member Season Ticket holder category after away members and before general sale for away tickets.

They will look at Roadriders again, but once the cost of hiring a bus, putting a steward on them and some covid restrictions still are factored in, it is likely to still be prohibitive.

They will also look at the possibility of beambacks for sold out away games.

The club now has a very good relationship with the EFL and other clubs, including Wycombe, Middlesbrough, and Rotherham.

The Yard is now open again on matchdays. They are looking at projects for the Back Yard in the close season.

Stephen Pearce has a point to prove. If everything he was accused of was true, the administrators or the due diligence of bidders would have found something. He wants to take club forwards.

The board will expand in the next 12-18 months, but a new chair will be appointed soon.

David Clowes said he is categorically not looking to flip the club. 

The club is researching a Shadow Board. They have spoken to Joe Blott, of Spirit of Shankly, the only one in place currently. The club eill circulate details, but the idea is the responsibility of the club to a Shadow Board would be written into the Articles of Association.

There is a change in culture in the club, and DC wants to be open and transparent within the limits of running a business.
It was commented the club is losing money due to lack of staff at concessions. The club has longer term plans, but acknowledges short term improvements can be made. The Bristol City model was mentioned as an example.

Re safe standing- the club met with the safety advisory group and the Sports Ground Safety Authority. The rake is a concern, but are pricing up potential phased equivalent of safe standing. Not railed seating but barriers. The top 9-10 rows in south stand and away area are the difficult areas, but the club wants to be an early adopter.

The club wants the sponsorship to match the new culture, keen not to have betting or crypto on the front of shirts. If not, they could have had it done weeks ago. But they also don't want to devalue the shirt for next or future seasons, so better to go no sponsor, if so. But the club has decided to go with a national charity to protect the value of the brand. However, it could be that the club asks for funds raised to be used locally.
They are also discussing the logistics of having the option to buy a sponsorship logo for replica shirts, like a number or players name, with possibility of part going to the charity. 

With regards to the stadium, there is a long CapEx list, which the club will be working through in order of  priority over next 18 months.
DCCT and DCFC Women separate board of Trustees, but the club is trying to bring them closer. DCFC Women have been training on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Moor Farm, but changing rooms are difficult. But now th3 club is making a dedicated women's hub for sole use, branded etc. Good for board meeting, analysis and with dedicated changing facility too. It will be finished in a couple of weeks. They will continue to play at Mickleover.
 
 

One observation. Since Clowes came in, and more importantly since Kirchner, Cook and their little mate Rooney has gone, Alan Nixon seems to have gone very quiet.
Last thing he reported as far as I was aware was that we were after Kemar Roofe.
His reputation after backing CK is in absolute tatters.

Phhuuuttt. The sound of a bubble bursting.
Forest get a Kane-ing.
Keep rotating those signings, Cooper - you might find some of them on first-name terms in a few months. Or not.
The phrase "Doing a Fulham" is popular in my house!

It's that complete absence of any sort of critical analysis that propels people like Liz Truss to power.... 

It's a difficult one and it's very easy to say it should be banned when you read heartbreaking stories. I myself have an addictive personality and have my own issues as a youngster with gambling and drugs amongst other things. I remember a specific moment being told about a dead cert and putting everything I had in my account on it chasing money I'd spent elsewhere.
But I found the issue was ultimately me, my personality and my own flaws. 
Maybe some limitations might help making it so normal and easily accessible? But at some point I think individuals have to take some personal responsibility. Otherwise everyone will need everything controlled, alcohol, junk food, shopping habits, porn etc. All can lead to addiction and all can have severe consequences.
I don't want that to come across as insensitive and I feel for the original poster and the poor guys family and friends. 
That's just my view, which is of course, one of many different ones. I don't know if my view is right, skewed by my own experiences. Maybe I still blame myself for a past me instead of outside factors, I don't know.

Alright Rams, Guiseley (who?) fan here in peace.
I came to the Oxford game on Saturday with my mate (Wolves fan). 
It was our first trip to Pride Park between us and usually we pick a random game every so often. So we ended up at your place.
We had a great time, your stadium is fantastic. Plenty of eateries around the ground too. The fans we were sat near were passionate and it was infectious. We were in the North Stand which was family orientated but it was nice to see so many youngsters getting behind the team.
The atmosphere was great, the bounce by the south stand was something I won't forget. Capped with a great goal to get the win aswell. 
Only downside being, we parked at the industrial park past the south stand and we didn't move for about an hour after the final whistle. But that didn't spoil a great day out. 
All the best for the season, will be looking out for your results and will likely come back later in the season too. 

I hope its OK to post this here.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/derby-county-fc-kick-gambling-ads-out-of-football?source=rawlink&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=rawlink&share=13134897-4037-4501-a9af-3260950e13ba
My son lost his best friend, Jack, to suicide caused by gambling addiction.
There are 409 deaths related to gambling every year in England alone and a YouGov study from this year shows that 2.9 million people are either already addicted or at risk of being so, with a further 3.3 million classified as “affected others”. These stark figures show what we already know: gambling harm is not an issue affecting just a small minority, it is severely harming – sometimes killing – many.
To prevent any young fan from experiencing what Jack and so many others did, I'm urging Derby Country FC to cancel all gambling partnerships, say no to any new offers, and back The Big Step campaign.
 
It seems David Clowes is a good guy - I'm sure he'll listen. Please support this.
 
Thanks
 

Jim Wheeler on Radio Derby hardly covered himself in glory. He largely stuck to his guns despite regretting posting the link, which is hard to rationalise.
Poor advice for a small, marginalised group of fans, which they may come to regret

The Rams trust need to have a good luck at themselves and pull their heads out of their own ar??es.
They do not care about the general supporter.

Did they have any to begin with?
Time they got significant change at the top or folded. Don’t know who they’re serving but themselves. 

JW had to apologise (eventually) on-air; he said it was a 'board decision' to post that tweet, so they must have taken a vote. Hence, all the board are culpable and IMHO must have considered it an oppo to promote their pals at the Credit Union.
Credibility shot to feck. 
 

Hopefully this is the start of the end for Rams Trust

After much anguish I’ve decided not to renew my season ticket. Although my first game was nearly 70 years ago,  due to finances and distance I’ve only had a season ticket for 4 seasons. I’m so pleased I managed it for at least a short time.
My health now means I can’t manage the train to Derby from Bristol and back  in a day. When I do come to matches it’ll mean staying several days with my daughter and going to games with my son and granddaughters. I can’t always manage this and the expense of season ticket plus train fares is now too much for me.
However, I’ll be there v Oxford with my son and 3 of the kids - in spite of difficulty getting my son’s ticket as they said he was 122 years old so couldn’t purchase an adult ticket!
It’s been a rough old time for the club but I feel things are on the up and I’ll be at PP as often as I can.

That's sad to hear especially as it's a 'friendly'. Not making any friends or welcoming fellow football fans, are we?

There are stars and legends, every club has them at every level of the game. Curtis is one of ours. In this modern era of money, contracts, agents and media hype it is hard to be an individual rather than a commodity. Curtis for me has gone to another level. Lasts seasons marathon efforts with everything against us he stood tall and strong in the darkest of days. Quite possibly in 50 years of watching football I don’t think I have ever seen a player with such integrity and sportsmanship. I almost don’t care if he plays again, just being there as a talisman for what is right about sport is enough - sure he wouldn’t agree because he wants that shirt on, whoever or wherever we are playing because doing it right with everything he has is what he does.
Nice one CED 

Ever since then he has been my Derby god what a statement - Amazing (and quite easy on the eye and dont even think of moaning at me after all your lady drumming on the table posts for any excuse!)

Blimey Season Tickets go on sale on my 70th Birthday.
Ace .
We are back 

What if you are an unnatural person? ;-o

Hi all!
Just wanted to come by and thank you all for this marathon thread which I have spent far too many hours following. Great finish of a Rollercoaster thread (only matched by the legendary George Thorne Thread). 
So happy to be able to keep follow the mighty rams from afar which i have been doing since the late 90's. For me it really dosen't matter which division we play as long the pride and passion is alive & present.
And also big thanks for this forum, it's been great for me since there aren't too many Rams supporters around where i live. You all do a terrific job you mods and posters.
Best wishes to you all from afar

I know you’re half serious and have your tongue in your cheek but I think you have a point. Football Stadia need to be special and have character. There should be statues, monuments, landmarks, quirks. Things that tell you this isn’t just a Lego brick facility to play a game. I want a laser hologram of a Ram lighting up the sky for night matches. An Avenue of Derbyshire stones naming those who have played say 250 games for the club or scored 50 goals. A trail past statues of the greats. I’ve mentioned it before but Stokes Mathews statue is a work of art and genius. It’s inspiration, dreams and legend making all in one. Black and white photos of bandy legged blokes in long shorts mean nothing, but if you’re a kid with a Dad or Grandad looking at your legends carved in stone or cast in metal ..  it binds you to something greater

Looks as if I'm in the minority, but I'd be very disappointed if Johnson re-signs. Never rated him. The worst technique of any player in the squad, which at times cost us dearly. And I suggest "Derby City" was unforgivable. Not for me. I don't understand this weird fixation with bringing players back - Shinnie would be madness too. Move on, please.

Imagine the roar at 2:55 pm on 30th July, when the new Rams' team comes out of the tunnel!
Yes - teams will see DCFC as their Cup Final, we will see negative tactics from them and spoof results while the team consolidates - but we fans can also blast opposition into submission from our sheer passion, and we will make a few teams wilt!
Maybe we can boast 18,000 - 20,000 S/T holders....that's 3 times the attendances that most L1 teams will get, anyroadup!
 
C O Y F R

Imagine the roar at 2:55 pm on 30th July, when the new Rams' team comes out of the tunnel!
Yes - teams will see DCFC as their Cup Final, we will see negative tactics from them and spoof results while the team consolidates - but we fans can also blast opposition into submission from our sheer passion, and we will make a few teams wilt!
Maybe we can boast 18,000 - 20,000 S/T holders....that's 3 times the attendances that most L1 teams will get, anyroadup!
 
C O Y F R