Displays

[Stupie82]

I have read the following statement from Mezz on both Facebook and Abmad this morning, about his displays and how the club are treating him. Very, very disappointing.

 

I spoke with a few folk involved in the display project and family and friends in the weeks leading up to the Final.

Sundays final will be my last involvement with displays and those I spoke to fully understand why .

The club held its AGM on Monday and a shareholder asked Milne ,Yule and Fraser about those behind the display and a vote of thanks was agreed, Im not sure what that means but Milne said they had been in touch with the organisers.

I can assure you now we haven't been thanked by any of them .

So he blatantly lied to a room full of shareholders .

 

They had an opportunity to put some money towards the display as well but we had a deadline to meet to place the order.

We had to go through the Operations department, they were meant to relay info to our chief exec to keep him up to speed as to where we were at with the funds , I received an email at 9 pm on a Saturday night from him asking where we were at despite telling Operations on a daily basis .

They dragged their heels so we had to look elsewhere, the DST lent us £2500 which we paid back .

Production time for 20,000 flags takes time .I asked our chief exec if he would still like to donate something like a bus for volunteers, I never got a reply but the DST did and the club said they couldn't do a bus as they would all be booked .

I called Central coaches , same firm the club use and got a bus straight away , the DST offered to pay half of that which was a lovely gesture .

The club are impossible to deal with , they hate me that's for sure because I stand up to them and won't allow them to treat those giving up their spare time like dirt .

How can I work with a club that contacts Ian Low at Dundee United , or the operations Manager at Inverness Caley and try and talk them into banning us from doing display at their grounds?

When we did a foil display in the Shed at Tannadice I was taken aside and told they (Dufc) would do anything they possibly could to make sure our display was a success, which it was .

Dufc and ICT both couldn't understand why any club wouldn't want their own fans to add as much colour to the games .

The League Cup final at ParkRed for example the club did absolutely nothing to assist us.I had to deal with the SPFL, Celtic,and the police and all were very helpful .

The club were quick to sell framed pictures at £70 a pop in the club shop of the display , I was never offered one .

This display was a huge task and thankfully I had a great team to share the load , some of them will continue Im sure but after witnessing how I'm treated they will probably do future displays away from home .

At Hampden, Motherwell, Celtic,Inverness,Ibrox,Tannadice I have always been made welcome and always get a glowing report of how organised we were .Its just our club that make life extremely difficult to do anything and I've had enough .

We also have a SLO at our club , a role given to someone in the community trust just to appease UEFA , a SLO should be someone that is known to the support and is helpful to the supporters , ours didn't even get in touch leading up to the final , Im not even going to mention his name but another ex cop who nobody within the support knows .Im in regular contact with SLOs at other clubs as well as Supporters direct etc and kept up to date with matters.

It was very humbling for the support to put so much faith in me at the last 2 finals and to donate such an incredible amount was just staggering , I had several sleepless nights leading up to this game but I knew as soon as I knew the materials we would use what I was going to do .

Without the supporters kindness and participation I'd never have been able to do any of them .

Thanks also to those that helped me make it happen , you know who you are

 

Thank you all once again and good luck to those who want to try and add some colour in the future .

 

Time to spend some time with those that are far more important than football, my amazing family .

 

Cheers

 

Mezz

 

As i have said over on AbMad, the club owe Mezz and his contributors gratitude for what they have done.

[cupidstunt]

What does he want in the way of thanks?

 

A dinner thrown in his honor, maybe a minutes applause...

 

 

[Stupie82]

Probably just something in the way of gratitude. Mezz and Co have experienced many other difficulties relating to the club in regards setups at Pittodrie and storing of goods for their displays. Mezz doesnt seem the type who expects some sort of public thank you, but more an acknowledgement from the club and help to organise some of the best displays in the country. Shouldnt be too much to ask for a club that uses the displays to make its own money with regards merchandise.

[cupidstunt]

All I read from that statement is that he expected AFC to pay for a bus because he's organising a display, they said no, he's thrown yet another tantrum.

 

When it was him and the ultras in the RDS they rubbed a lot of fans and the club up the wrong way. He refuses to work within the confines the club asks and when they cant or wont do what he demands he releases this type of statement.

 

He's packed it in several times before and I'm sure he'll pack it in several times again.

 

 

[RicoS321]

All I read from that statement is that he expected AFC to pay for a bus because he's organising a display, they said no, he's thrown yet another tantrum.

 

When it was him and the ultras in the RDS they rubbed a lot of fans and the club up the wrong way. He refuses to work within the confines the club asks and when they cant or wont do what he demands he releases this type of statement.

 

He's packed it in several times before and I'm sure he'll pack it in several times again.

 

I have to deal with people I don't like everyday in my work. I do it professionally and give them respect and as much as leeway as is needed for them to do their job because ultimately it's how my business makes money. If Mezz is a dick, then they can take the higher ground and pander to his dickishness, which would be relatively harmless no matter the scale of said dickishness. It's about understanding when to let things go, and in the field of display-setting-up, there is very little that shouldn't be let go - unless you're an uber-cunt who wants to wank over your own perceived relevance and authority. Just let Mezz get on with it and be the better person/club and help him because whatever you think of displays in general (I couldn't really give a fuck) they are pretty impressive and well organised. I suspect young kids seeing them think it's pretty cool too and good to be a part of, as do the club who use them on all their marketing about being "part of the dons family" and all that wanker shite.

[cupidstunt]

I have to deal with people I don't like everyday in my work. I do it professionally and give them respect and as much as leeway as is needed for them to do their job because ultimately it's how my business makes money. If Mezz is a dick, then they can take the higher ground and pander to his dickishness, which would be relatively harmless no matter the scale of said dickishness. It's about understanding when to let things go, and in the field of display-setting-up, there is very little that shouldn't be let go - unless you're an uber-cunt who wants to wank over your own perceived relevance and authority. Just let Mezz get on with it and be the better person/club and help him because whatever you think of displays in general (I couldn't really give a fuck) they are pretty impressive and well organised. I suspect young kids seeing them think it's pretty cool too and good to be a part of, as do the club who use them on all their marketing about being "part of the dons family" and all that wanker shite.

 

nail

hit

head

 

Also, he's not the only one that does them...

 

The main one they use to sell photos was all the work of Dollydigital as far as I know. The designs for all bar the last that had no design (down to the man in question refusing to work nicely with others) were all other people.

 

 

 

 

[donsdaft]

I'm sure the bus they were asking for would have been for the Saturday.

 

My loon helps with these displays and I know he had two trips to Hampden from Aberdeen last weekend.

 

It's a lot of money to shell out only to find that we are not going to bother trying to attack.

 

Anyway, I spoke with Mezz on Sunday and repeat my congratulations on yet another wonderful display.

[WeegieRed]

Open letter from "Dons fans voice collective" to the club.

 

Dear Duncan George & Stewart

 

We are writing this to you regarding matters this season and seasons past involving, failure on part of AFC to adequately engage with Aberdeen supporters, treatment of Aberdeen Supporters and in more detail treatment of those in the Merkland Singing Section.

 

Issues such as, but are not limited to the following areas:

 

–    A reply to questions put to AFC as to why AFC were contacting other clubs in Scotland attempting to discourage match day supporter displays.

 

–  Why the club lied at recent AGM telling the floor they had been in contact with those responsible for the stunning League Cup Final display at Hampden and thanking them when this simply isn’t the case .

 

–    Appointinment of Community Trust chief executive as SLO just to appease UEFA competition guidelines.

 

–    Appointment of a Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) into the Club without consultation with Supporters groups / Supporters Trust or wider fan base etc

 

–    Failure of said SLO to engage with supporters groups on a day-to-day basis in order to facilitate a more enjoyable and effective match day experience

 

–    Failure of said SLO to engage with supporters groups for major games and to facilitate smooth access to Pittodrie and other stadia to be visited

 

–    Failure of SLO to engage positively with Supporters groups and other clubs in order to facilitate a coordinated and organized approach to maximizing noise generation and fan displays at away games

 

–    Actively and physically segregating, pressurizing and marginalizing of fans in the Merkland Singing section from other fans through use of hostile stewarding, “dead zone” seating strips and general poor attitude shown towards supporters wishing to support their team in a positive manner.

 

–    Misleading information regarding occupancy of Merkland block seating in order to undermine the success of the initiative and prevention of other fans joining the section throughout the game.

 

–    Failure to plan effectively for League Cup Final to ensure effective noise generation in order to back the team effectively by refusing to allocate area for vocal fans .

 

–    Failure of AFC across internal departments (General management, Stadium Access, Ticketing, security etc in order to facilitate an organized and structured and most importantly a respectful approach to AFC supporting individuals working on an unpaid  volunteer basis in order to encourage the team positively and to enhance the matchday experience for many people.

 

The recent League Cup Final showed that AFC has little regard to its fans wider match day experience and even less for creating a spectacle and that the Cup final atmosphere would “look after itself” as one AFC official was quoted as saying.

 

Anyone who witnessed the Cup final was that those that made the effort and expense of travelling to Glasgow to set up the pre match display done a fantastic effort given that there was no input nor even the respect of reply from AFC from requests from fans made to make the day a spectacle and an positive atmosphere for the duration of the match.

 

The lack of Aberdeen supporter positive atmosphere generation, particularly after going a goal down (and then more) was very evident.Had there been an area for vocal fans this could have helped create a louder backing for the team.

 

No doubt AFC will be using footage and photography from the matches with flags, card displays etc for future marketing material, all the while actively discouraging it and disregarding the fact that positive fan interaction does make a difference to the team on the park is wholly unacceptable.

 

We request the following:

 

–    AFC immediately engage with their staff & AFC fans representatives in order to stop these negative aspects reoccurring

–    Appoint a fan elected SLO – one that has a wide understanding or proven background in match day supporter participation, supporter liaison, match day display management.

–    Empower the SLO to form a positive working relationship with the Aberdeen support and other clubs respective SLO’s to ensure that the team, the supporters (the customers) are all given the correct priority support to ensure forward progress is made on all levels.

–    Ensure that the SLO is meeting the reasonable expectations of the Club, AFC support and wider regulatory bodies such as the Police and other Football Clubs etc.

–    The SLO is active in meeting with AFC fans to gather detailed information on future stadia requirements from the “in game” perspective.

 

We have a supporter in mind, someone who has engaged with the support and more importantly is respected by the support .The same fan has put on many a spectacle at Aberdeen FC games at home and away for the best part of 20 years .He has organised some of the best displays in the UK, helped add colour to AFC centenary events.Always paid tribute to fans who have sadly passed. He is great with the kids and young fans and always gets them involved .

 

The fans trust him and he’s known throughout the support as he’s always present .

 

We have a petition that hundreds of fans have signed asking that the club appoint Stephen McCormick as our Supporters Liaison Officer. With the amount of work he has done over the years, dealing with clubs up and down the country, having to deal with the SFA and SPFL he has already proven he has a vast knowledge of modern day football and its supporters.

 

We look forward to hearing from you in due course.

 

Signed

 

Dons fans voice collective.

[rocket_scientist]

Far too intelligent and proactive a letter.

 

The board will shit themselves at that.

 

They'll react to it and go through the motions of being accommodating but they'll hate it.

 

Therein lies the problem. The board (Milne) and the fans don't share the same agenda.

 

This is John Stephen and AFCST all over again.

 

Stewrat Milne is a cunt.

[cupidstunt]

Who are the Dons Fans Voice Collective, never heard of them.

 

Can I guess that its Mezz and his mates trying to get Mezz the role he's been pumping himself for on fakebook?

 

Self-serving, self-interest rubish.

[Edinburghdon]

Who are the Dons Fans Voice Collective, never heard of them.

 

Can I guess that its Mezz and his mates trying to get Mezz the role he's been pumping himself for on fakebook?

 

Self-serving, self-interest rubish.

 

Pretty much my first reaction too.

[rocket_scientist]

Pretty much my first reaction too.

 

Not like you to follow rather than initiate and have an original opinion of your own but you are missing the bigger issue.

 

When there is a problem, it needs to be identified and acknowledged to exist before it can be addressed.

 

Since the problem happens to be "the establishment", the established way of things then it will be invisible to you.

 

Where there is a void, some will try to fill it.

 

Forget the personality and his attempted opportunism. Acknowledge the problem. The biggest problem at AFC.

[Elgindon]

Pretty much my first reaction too.

 

 

  Yip me too. "Weve got hundreds of signatures" ie the ultras,mums,dads,family pets.  The 13th man?   

 

  Own importance way above their station

[cupidstunt]

Not like you to follow rather than initiate and have an original opinion of your own but you are missing the bigger issue.

 

When there is a problem, it needs to be identified and acknowledged to exist before it can be addressed.

 

Since the problem happens to be "the establishment", the established way of things then it will be invisible to you.

 

Where there is a void, some will try to fill it.

 

Forget the personality and his attempted opportunism. Acknowledge the problem. The biggest problem at AFC.

 

The 'problem' has been fabricated to serve an agenda.

 

As an example, the club thanked all those that took part in the display the evening before the game and again the following week through a public acknowledgment. What more do they want? A private call to each of them from the entire board and a dinner thrown in their honor? Perhaps an ad in both the local papers as well, just for good measure.

 

There has been no approach from AFC to other clubs to stop displays, only to advise on issues some that assist in the displays create within the stands. These people forget that they represent the club when they go to away games and do these things, its up to them to behave in a way that respects that. 

 

Heavy handed stewards - The only time I've seen any stewards approaching the singing section is when one of the little superfans ventures out of their corner to abuse other fans for not singing. The stewards take them to the side, tell them to wise up and send them on their way.

 

Fans matchday experience - Being shouted at by little superfans to sing, wave shit, stand up, sit down, do whatever it is they decide does not add to my matchday experience in a good or positive way. It may give them some sense of achievement in the pub at 5.00pm but it does nothing to add to my enjoyment and I know plenty that feel and think the same.

 

There is no void, there is only a small group that believe they have an entitlement to be treated in a special way and when they dont get that special treatment they throw the collective rattle and this is the result.

 

The club is far from perfect when it comes to its communications but its also not the shambles the ultras/singing section are trying to make out.

 

[rocket_scientist]

The 'problem' has been fabricated to serve an agenda.

 

We're talking of different things. You obviously have a major problem with this character. As someone who is rarely in the RDS, it doesn't affect me but I'm aware of the reported dickheadness of the individuals concerned.

 

I'm talking about the number one principal problem at AFC, one that inevitably impacts on "customer relations" because the club doesn't actually give a fuck about it's fanbase and fails to appreciate how it could be so much better if the board and the fans were pursuing the same things.