Hya everyone - The fund raising group will be meeting at Cougar Park on Monday 13th September at 6.30. Gary will be there and hopefully other reprsentatives from the club. Our previous meetings have seen lots of changes brought about to the matchday experience which hopefully have brought in extra revenue, such as the bottle bar, the two snack bars run by ourselves, crossbar challenge and sweet stall. etc. Some ideas didnt get off the ground not because they weren't great ideas but because of lack of personpower, e.g. 40th man and the advertising hoarding raffles.

All new ideas will be welcome, all offers of help will certainly be welcome. The club needs our help, Please attend if you can.

Thanks Goosey.

Hi Goose, Sorry can't make the meeting on Monday due to other commitments. With regards to the 40th Man tickets. Over the weeks of selling, all those who where interested have bought tickets, other supporters did not want to buy. Also have a couple of ideas that may bring in some money, but will talk to you later about them.

Think the trouble is "Noddy" it is the same people every week. They must get sick of all the demands they get on them.

Any ideas just let me know, no problems.

..."the same people every week"? I regularly get mugged for about a fiver every trip to Cougar park with appeals from admittedly good causes, between the turnstile and my first pint!
I think we need to look at ways of attracting new supporters and money from outside the Cougar faithful. More fans is crucial, to the finances and the atmosphere. I think making more use of the bar after matches is an idea that will catch on as people get used to it, with live bands, quizzes and so on. Maybe even have bands on during the week so people who don't normally go to Cougar Park will begin to take notice of it as a venue.

I agree Mick W. Dont think the "fans" that are still loyal can give anymore. Need sponsors. Anybody that works for a company that you think may sponsor Cougars just let Gary Fawcett know.

40th man?...thats £2 i wont see again,thanks

Or me.

What happened to the money raised though from it?from those who paid their £2 i mean?forgive me if im wrong but i cant remember a draw being made? couldve at least presented someone with a shirt and photograph surely,not good.

Do you know for certain that its been scrapped?

No not sure if it has or not - no one has mentioned it

Not sure about the draw either, thought it was being done on the last match of the season, but never heard anything!!!!

just a reminder about this

Sadly I'm working until 8:15 so I won't be able to make it down this time.

New thoughts and new input most welcome.

Fundraising 6.30 tomorrow all welcome.

what was the outcome of the meeting as i was in holland so couldnt make it

Fund raising meeting.

I asked about 40th man and Gary will look into it.

Gary wants some fundraising suggestions for the closed season and we are going to have a Cougar Christmas Party!! Hope you can all attend it should be fun. Details yet to be arranged but hope it is a good un.

All agreed that there is enough fundraising during matchday.

Whilst we were there a lady (sorry forgot the name Rach can you help/) donated £200.0 from the Cougar Stompers which is a line dancing meeting held every Tuesday at Cougar Park. Have to say a very big thankyou to them.

Anybody with any ideas???? We have a wonderful facility a Cougar Park that we could use.

Gary is very appreciative of all the volunteer work that is done.

Goosey

Goosey

Maybe have themed music nights down there?

There's already a Blues club isn't there?

What about different genres? Indie, Metal, Motown, Jazz, Electro, Old Skool dance, Northern Soul etc.

Bring an appropriate band or DJ in for each.

Good point stealth, thinking a little bigger, what about arranging an annual party in the park?, it would have to be as good as and not clash with the bingley one. This would certainly bring in some very good money and raise awareness of keighley cougars, of course you could even make season tickets available to party goers at a reasonable rate!

I had thought about that, it would have to be on a smaller scale and a proper organiser doing it - and the toilets, well the toilet situation at Myrtle Park was not a nice experience for me.

Will suggest possibly for next year. I understand there will be an act/dj on after every match next season and possible celebrity/sportsman visits.

As for the theme nights - I think that is a good idea - I am going to Butlins Skegness for a 70's weekend soon, will get ideas.

As a way of raising the profile in the town, what about some kind of reward/discount scheme for people wearing a Cougars shirt in the town?
It doesn't have to be owt big - maybe 10p off a pint in pubs, 5% discount in a shop or whatever, but it could get the shirts out and about, and therefore get the club noticed a bit more around town.

Mick W how would you do that??

Think perhaps a stall in the market on a saturday morning running up to start of the season could help, some on show to be able to order perhaps.

The slightest bit of bad weather and the pitch would be destroyed. You should have seen Myrtle Park last year after it rained.

Yeh - still cant get over the toilets me. open air urinals not a pretty site, but was amused at the mandressed in womans clothes peeing though.

Good idea!

Or even see if we can blag that area outside Greggs café in the shopping centre. Saturdays and the late night shopping Thursdays leading up to xmas.

Have some players on hand to sell, model and sign shirts.