The lottery is a good idea.... I started doing it just before the pandemic as another way of supporting the club, having not previously bothered. Unlike past lotteries that were primarily focussed around weekly doorstep collections, this one is easy to do and is set up online. If you feel that you can't commit to a season ticket or attend games regularly, the lottery is a great way of supporting the club from afar.
Regarding the specific point in the article about not taking money away from the playing budget - I'm sure every fan appreciates that the boards priority should be supporting this in a sustainable way (although I'd argue that sometimes this hasn't been the case, and other non-football matters get preferential treatment), but it's a bit short-sighted IMO to have operated all this time largely disregarding the opinions of supporters and thinking that by investing in facilities and match day experience, that this wouldn't bring a long-term financial benefit to the club.... potentially adding to the playing budget over time. Hopefully the lottery will be popular with fans that go to games if they can see a material benefit to them in doing it..... I'm not sure this has always been the case with previous lotteries in terms of people participating not necessarily being the same as those that go to games.
Regarding general ground improvements - I do think that if the club/Shrimps Trust has raised enough funds for a cover that provides shelter for 50% of the area at the back of the stand, then the club should get on with doing it ASAP rather than trying to cover the whole area. Personally, I don't think this would be required..... and you might end up with a situation where people are complaining that there is too much cover when the weather is nice
. Well done to each and every fan that contributed to this fund by electing to forgo their 2020/21 season ticket refund, and to Shrimps Trust for both fundraising towards and bringing this issue to the clubs attention for a number of years on behalf of their members. Hopefully we will soon have something tangible to show for this, which will benefit every fan who watches games from this area of the ground..... and every other fan who won't have to put up with our moaning!
Also promising that the club is finally doing something about the horrendously slow/crap service behind the goal..... which will only become more frustrating as crowds increase. This is not a go at the staff who work in these areas, who have largely been set up to fail...... Please please please stop pouring beer out of tin cans and in to plastic cups as it takes forever, creates more waste, and tastes shite! Every other club utilises plastic bottles to maximise a 15 minute window to sell as much volume as possible (just take the cap off and take my money!). If the ground safety officer/stewards are concerned about supporters taking plastic beer bottles onto terraces (the excuse often given rather than penny pinching).... then we need more competent stewards.
