It’s a wrap and we did it!
April, you were a tough month, but we got there in the end, and it was smiles all round!
Earlier in the month, some of you may have seen; we welcomed a groundhopper to the Mazuma Stadium. He may have called us the Globe Arena, but I am sure we can forgive that, especially when he had so many good things to say. He even described our ticketing system as ‘the most effective he has experienced at a football ground’ – that I will take, though maybe I’m biased.
For someone new, like myself, to become part of the Morecambe FC family is so refreshing to have new football supporters come along to the Mazuma Stadium and enjoy what we do and what we have to offer.
As well as supporters noticing what we are doing well, so are the EFL, even if they didn’t put Cole’s goal vs Fleetwood up for Goal of the Season! Recently, we featured in the EFL Supporter Liaison Newsletter; this is distributed to all SLO's across EFL Clubs. They feature a new SLO each month to highlight what they deem as best practice. The EFL contacted me in early April to ask if we would feature and talk about our Supporter Survey, the benefits it brought and how it educated both the Club and the supporters, and to speak about the Fans Focus Workshop; how having an in-person conversation helped me in the new role and what results we received.
Being identified as a Club with best practice so early in the SLO role made me proud of what we have already started to achieve together and believe that there is so much more we can do to improve the matchday experience at the Mazuma Stadium.
April also saw the Mazuma Stadium host Community Day and what a day that was. 5000 home supporters and a 3-0 win! Morecambe FC Community Sports handed out more than 1500 complimentary tickets; to local schools and other community-based organisations and projects. We saw a 69 percent take up on tickets and, fingers crossed after the fantastic game, we will see some of these people return to watch the Shrimps again. It’s initiatives like this that help grow and encourage our fanbase. Football is a sport you get hooked on and just one complimentary ticket could lead to a family of four purchasing for a future fixture.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, many of you will now know for only the second time in six years, we have been awarded Family Excellence. As I have said in the Family Excellence Award media release, I cannot thank all those that have contributed to this achievement enough, whether that was by taking part in the survey back in January, applying to be involved in the fans focus group in February, being a staff member involved in the monthly internal working group, or just by dropping me an email about what you think would help improve your experience at the Mazuma.
To give supporters a taster of some of the things the EFL have recognised from our improvement; we have provided a dedicated SLO to ensure that we can respond to and create a two-way dialect with supporters. Answering as many questions as we can from ticket related queries, to working with travelling supporters and pointing them in the direction of a good pint.
We have been noted for our incredibly friendly and helpful club shop staff, how they will go above and beyond to offer the best possible customer service, to both home and away supporters, in the lead up to and on a matchday.
The EFL also observed how we worked hand-in-hand with our colleagues at Morecambe FC Community Sports, to create a positive and ‘carnival like’ atmosphere ahead of one of our games this season. It just shows how engaging with local businesses and organisations like Beyond Radio, Bay Beat and the Shrimpettes can make a huge impact on the overall matchday experience!
As I have already stated, this wouldn’t be possible without any of you, though it doesn’t stop there. During the close season, we will continue to work hard behind the scenes to make changes and I will continue to engage with you supporters and help improve the Mazuma matchday experience.
Last but definitely not least, season tickets! Have you bought yours yet? Over 1000 Shrimps have now secured their place at the Mazuma for the 2022/23 campaign. Reminder to all those renewing, you still have until Wednesday 1 June to secure your seat, after this time we cannot guarantee that the seat will be available once it is released to general sale.
This is your Club, and we are in it together!
UTS!
Anya