Supporters group Red and White Army have joined forces with Sunderland AFC in an attempt to improve the matchday experience.The two have worked together on a fan survey which they hope will lead to positive change at the Stadium of Light.
Executive Director Charlie Methven said: "Stewart and I are football fans. We know very well what it means to pay to go to matches, as that is what we have been doing on weekends for most of our lives. That matchday experience can either be awful, decent or brilliant.
"Too often, British football clubs are insufficiently determined to make it brilliant and we think that is a waste.
“One of the joys of taking over at Sunderland AFC is being able to put into practice things that we have always believed in," he added.
"Involving SAFC fans as a constituent part of the club, rather than as mere paying punters, is a strongly held belief of ours.
"Put simply, we are more likely to take the right decisions, if our fellow fans have been involved in actually making the decision.”
"It goes without saying that the performance and result are very influential in how much we all enjoy a day at the football.
"It’s not the only aspect, though, and we cannot control it. What we can do is ensure that everything possible is done to make the rest of the day out as fun and authentic as possible.
"That is what this survey is all about, and we’d like to thank RAWA for partnering with us to deliver it.”
Red and White Army chairman Andrew Hird said: "We’re very impressed with the club’s willingness to engage with supporters.
"Right from the off, Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven have illustrated their determination to work alongside fans. As soon as they took over, they were quick to approach the Red and White Army to begin what we hope will be a healthy relationship.
“I hope the survey will mark the first of many initiatives we work on together that will allow supporters to have meaningful input into the running of our club. The matchday experience is such an important issue that it should be natural that it is fans that help shape that," he added.
“We can only do that by working with the club in an honest and representative way and this survey is a great tool to do exactly that. It’s about garnering ideas and inspiration from those that know their club best and finding the common ground with our new owners to make things happen for the benefit of all supporters.”
Chairman Stewart Donald has already confirmed that 31,500 new seats have been ordered to improve the Stadium of Light.
Supporters can take part in the survey here.
Executive Director Charlie Methven said: "Stewart and I are football fans. We know very well what it means to pay to go to matches, as that is what we have been doing on weekends for most of our lives. That matchday experience can either be awful, decent or brilliant.
"Too often, British football clubs are insufficiently determined to make it brilliant and we think that is a waste.
“One of the joys of taking over at Sunderland AFC is being able to put into practice things that we have always believed in," he added.
"Involving SAFC fans as a constituent part of the club, rather than as mere paying punters, is a strongly held belief of ours.
"Put simply, we are more likely to take the right decisions, if our fellow fans have been involved in actually making the decision.”
"It goes without saying that the performance and result are very influential in how much we all enjoy a day at the football.
"It’s not the only aspect, though, and we cannot control it. What we can do is ensure that everything possible is done to make the rest of the day out as fun and authentic as possible.
"That is what this survey is all about, and we’d like to thank RAWA for partnering with us to deliver it.”
Red and White Army chairman Andrew Hird said: "We’re very impressed with the club’s willingness to engage with supporters.
"Right from the off, Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven have illustrated their determination to work alongside fans. As soon as they took over, they were quick to approach the Red and White Army to begin what we hope will be a healthy relationship.
“I hope the survey will mark the first of many initiatives we work on together that will allow supporters to have meaningful input into the running of our club. The matchday experience is such an important issue that it should be natural that it is fans that help shape that," he added.
“We can only do that by working with the club in an honest and representative way and this survey is a great tool to do exactly that. It’s about garnering ideas and inspiration from those that know their club best and finding the common ground with our new owners to make things happen for the benefit of all supporters.”
Chairman Stewart Donald has already confirmed that 31,500 new seats have been ordered to improve the Stadium of Light.
Supporters can take part in the survey here.
) But sometimes the right decision will not be well received, but it can still be the right decision. Cause what do we know really? Common sense and logic can only take us so far. We can never give informed decisions cause we're not a fly on the wall of what actually goes on at a football club and what it entails.
