The minutes of the latest meeting of the Yeovil Town Supporters’ Alliance Group have shown further investment in security at Huish Park.
The meeting, held at the stadium on September 25th, show the club’s new Operations manager Keith Weston spoke to supporters’ groups about the investment and confirmed there had been “some club bans“.
In a response to a question from Glovers’ Trust chairman Roger Pipe at the meeting, the minutes show Mr Weston reported: “KW explained that there were no issues. He works closely with the police. There has been a lot of investment in security at the stadium including face recognition, some club bans, access control systems installed and bollards have been placed in various areas.”
In his opening remarks to the meeting, the chairman explained: “….that he acquired the club on 12 May and in 4 months had set up the fan zone, decorated Huish Park and sorted the finances. We have had the highest attendances in the league, both home and away, and the number of season tickets sold is up on previous seasons.”
Asked by Roger Pipe whether attendances had influenced budgeting, the minutes show: “MH replied that they had not. Cup games are a bonus.”
The owner also confirmed increased sales in the tea bars: “Card payment has been introduced and there is less wastage on hot food.”
Keith Weston also told the meeting the club was “looking at introducing new deals and Sunday lunches” having taken on a chef.
The minutes show: “The club is looking at growing hospitality events such as Xmas parties, weddings, conferences and meetings. The marquee will have a bar and there will be a catering unit on leaving the ground behind the Screwfix stand. New licencing procedures are being put in place.”
In a sign of the positive state of the club, questions about its financial stability and the ownership of the stadium by Somerset Council were limited.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.
The investment is the latest in a series of improvements led by owner Martin Hellier including a overhaul of the stadium and the establishment of the Ciderspace Fan Zone.
In his opening remarks to the meeting, the chairman explained: “….that he acquired the club on 12 May and in 4 months had set up the fan zone, decorated Huish Park and sorted the finances. We have had the highest attendances in the league, both home and away, and the number of season tickets sold is up on previous seasons.”
Asked by Roger Pipe whether attendances had influenced budgeting, the minutes show: “MH replied that they had not. Cup games are a bonus.”
The owner also confirmed increased sales in the tea bars: “Card payment has been introduced and there is less wastage on hot food.”
Keith Weston also told the meeting the club was “looking at introducing new deals and Sunday lunches” having taken on a chef.
The minutes show: “The club is looking at growing hospitality events such as Xmas parties, weddings, conferences and meetings. The marquee will have a bar and there will be a catering unit on leaving the ground behind the Screwfix stand. New licencing procedures are being put in place.”
In a sign of the positive state of the club, questions about its financial stability and the ownership of the stadium by Somerset Council were limited.
In the minutes, the chairman was asked if there was an progress on triggering the buy-back he holds on the land at Huish Park.
The minutes showed he “explained that he has the buy back rights and will do it when he feels it is right.”
