I would assume we would get reasonable uptake to achieve what we need to and hopefully move forward off the pitch.
Darlington FC wrote:Dear 500 club member
When the 500 Club was launched in March 2015 its aim was to help fund our return to Darlington. By participating, alongside 324 other members, you played a very significant part in achieving that goal and just under a year ago we kicked off our first game at Blackwell Meadows. We couldn’t have done it without you – thank you.
Following on from the presentation on the way forward for our club on Monday December 11th at the Dolphin Centre we have been approached by several members of the 500 Club with offers of further support. After taking on board feedback and discussions with the Darlington FC Supporters Group we have formulated 3 options for members who wish to extend further support to our club to consider. What is important to remember is whatever option you choose or simply if you decide not to take up any, your current 500 Club membership is unaffected and will continue as normal.
As outlined in the presentation the club currently has around £65,000 of aged creditor debt. Managing this takes up a great deal of the directors’ time and energy. In order to place the football club on a more secure footing, and to focus on future growth, we aim to eliminate this by the end of February. Your offer of further support through the 500 Club will play a significant part in that.
In addition, we will shortly be launching an affiliate marketing drive that if the fans get behind, has the potential to generate significant revenue for the club. Keep your eyes on the official DFC website for more information.
We also recognise that we aren’t maximising our commercial revenues and have put in place an action plan especially around selling advertising boards. There are currently over 40 spaces left to fill at Blackwell Meadows and we hope to make inroads into that number over the coming weeks. We are also in talks with our headline sponsor about extending their shirt sponsorship into next season.
Removing the legacy debt will allow us to look at expanding the Board of Directors at the Football Club and enable us to concentrate on the strategies outlined in the presentation to grow additional revenue streams.
CEO, David Johnston: “This season has seen a significant amount of work undertaken by the fans in supporting our fund-raising activities and we are starting to bring the club under greater financial control. It is my ambition to deliver a profitable operating position by the end of the season and to also remove our legacy debt that was carried over from the previous season. This debt hampers our daily operation and places significant risk onto the business from a creditor perspective.
Your support as a 500 Club member could change this position and as a Board we will ensure that future budget planning is conducted in a more prudent manner to prevent reoccurrence. By supporting this initiative, it will go a long way to improving our financial sustainability and as ever any donation will be gratefully received.”
In addition to the options below with the construction of the new seated stand due to get underway in January 2018 we are able to offer any standing 500 Club members the opportunity to upgrade their membership to a seated ticket at the price of £40 per full season. You can choose your seat now and use it from the first game of the new seated stand - projected date Feb 24th, 2018.
500 Club options:
Option 1:
Donate the equivalent of one year’s season ticket price.
In return you will receive the following rewards next season:
4 x Buy One, Get One Free hospitality tickets for next season.
2 Ambassador vouchers - opportunity to purchase additional tickets (max 2 per game) at £5 each for two fixtures during the season.
Exclusive prize draw.
Option 2:
Extend your 500 Club membership by one year – price based on your age at September 1st of the year of your extension (2020 or 2021).
*Strictly limited to first 100 applicants.
In return you will receive the following rewards next season:
2 x Buy One, Get One Free hospitality tickets for next season.
2 Ambassador vouchers - opportunity to purchase additional tickets (max 2) at £5 each for two fixtures during the season.
Option 3:
Become a Gold 500 Club member. Extend your current 500 Club membership by 5 years out to 2025 / 2026. Price based on your age at September 1st of the year of your extension (2020 or 2021).
*Strictly limited to first 25 applicants.
In return you will receive the following rewards for each of the next 5 seasons:
4 x Buy One, Get One Free hospitality tickets per season.
2 Ambassador vouchers per season - opportunity to purchase additional tickets (max 2) at £5 each for two fixtures during the season.
Exclusive meet the manager / CEO evening once a season.
Prices for all the above options can be viewed on the Application Form below
http://darlingtonfootballclub.co.uk/wp- ... n-form.pdf
You can either print this out and return it to Quaker Retail, or complete it electronically and return it via email to: 500club@darlingtonfc.org
The deadline for all applications is Saturday February 3rd, 2018.
Any queries please contact us:
email: 500club@darlingtonfc.org
Visit Quaker Retail at the Dolphin Centre, open Mon – Fri, 10am to 1pm or on home match days at Blackwell Meadows.
Telephone: 07488 564642 (during Quaker Retail opening hours)
Thank you
Darlington FC Directors:
David Johnston & John Tempest