This new section of the website is designed to allow a much easier way to ask the club questions and to get answers.

There are two ways of asking questions:-

Email: to questions@shrewsburytown.co.uk with the subject Question to the Club.

Or

Web: Pop along to the Questions to the Club section on ShrewsChat.

We will then aim to get you an answer, or begin dialogue with the correct person at the club, with 7 working days.

Every few weeks we will publish an update on the website of a selection of the questions that have been sent in and the answer that have been sent.

The aim is to give fans a smoother more efficient way of asking the club questions.

When you email questions@shrewsburytown.co.uk please indicate if you would rather the question not be displayed on the website.

Fans will understand that there may be times when some questions may not be answerable due confidentiality and legal restrictions, but you will be informed of this.

Answers - 15th March 2010

Q - Two quick questions regarding facilities at the Prostar.

1) Are you aware the PA system can be heard outside the ground but not inside (certainly not at the back of block 17 anyway)?

2) Why are the lights left on in the stand during the game? All it seems to do is cause a reflection making the scoreboard difficult to see.

Minor gripes I know but its little things that add to the match day experience.

Kind Regards,

James Bene - via email

A - James,

Thanks for your email.

The PA system has been a regular concern; however, at the start of the season, we had the system completely serviced, as is the requirement, under the Safety Certificate. There were some minor faults, which were repaired. It is tested quarterly, with the last test in January 10, and found to be all ok. I will however, pass on the concerns about Block 17, although, historically, we have had numerous complaints about the PA system. This is the first.

Regarding the lights in the stand. They actually have to be left on as they are ALL on the same system, isolated only on the fuse board. It seems impractical to isolate these lights in all of the stands prior to a game; however, I shall take advice from our Electrical Contractor, to educate me better.

Thanks

Jon H

Q - Hi

Are there any plans to install steps near the railway bridge on Oteley Road to link up with the footpath that fans use to gain admission to the ground via the gate by the West Stand? I realise that this land is probably owned by the council and therefore not the responsibility of the club, but perhaps working together with the council, something could be arranged.

This would save hundreds of fans having to walk all the way into and then around the stadium complex (mainly West Stand and South Stand users), and also those who decide to climb over the wooden fence and down the banking as a way of a short-cut. This would also help with the exit of fans from the stadium at the end of each game. Also the footpath in question (again probably council owned) would benefit from being re-laid or improved all the way along from the North Stand through to the tunnel behind Sainsbury's to improve this facility as it gets quite muddy, etc when there has been adverse weather.

Many Thanks & Regards,

Peter Adams - via Email

A - Pete,

Thanks for your email regarding the pathway and 'Oteley Road' fence.

I have had several meetings with the Local Authority, regarding the fence, as it was highlighted as a problem area, with people scrambling up the bank and climbing over the 'weak' wooden fence. You are right, it is council land, therefore, the local authority have decided to erect a more robust fence, at the top of the bank, to prevent the use. It is not viable, to fit steps, due to enormous cost, the need for disabled access and egress and the footpath size at the side of the Oteley Road. It will mean a short walk around the new fence, however, public safety, has to be more important than public inconvenience.

The football club has paid for the footpath to be re laid, shortly after the Port Vale game in October, covering the area, deemed most necessary. It may be that the walkway at the tunnel end will be looked at in the close season. What we did cost a few thousand pounds!!

Hope this helps.

Jon Harris

Q - My question relates to the amount of litter that is around the Stadium. I know it's a problem nationally, but it would be really good if the club could take a lead in keeping the area clear by regular clear ups and the provision of bins around the stadium. I understand there's a cost, but this would I believe be nominal in comparison to other expenditure.

I'm proud of the stadium, let's take the lead and demonstrate to others that it can be done.

Alan Roberts - Season Ticket Holder - via Email

A - Alan,

Thanks for your question, regarding, litter at the stadium.

The Football Club, are contracted, to clean the inside of the stadium after every home game. Part of the 'Power League' contract, is to ensure that the outside of the stadium, i.e. the car park area, is kept clean, as they have the majority of the litter creating business.

We have liaised with the Local Authority, regarding litter outside of the stadium 'footprint', with the authority, making provision, for the supply of litter bins along the footpaths. All of this works really well, however, the exposure of the stadium to the elements, such as high winds, does make keeping on top of the tidiness, somewhat difficult. The introduction of litter bins around the stadium is something that I shall address, at the end of the season, by liaison with the Local Authority.

We too, are proud of the stadium, and receive frequent compliments from visitors, regarding the cleanliness and the tidiness of the stadium.

Thanks

JH

Q - Hi.

With Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium hosting an England U21 match tonight, I was wandering if Shrewsbury Town could look into it? Is it in your minds, and do you think there is a realistic chance of it happening in the near future? The Welsh First Team now use The Liberty Stadium (Swansea) and The Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff) so I didn't think it was outward the bounds of possibility.

Thanks,

Ned Thomas - via Email

A - Thanks for an interesting question

The club has asked about staging internationals at the stadium, and we are only big enough for up to U/19 age. We are advised there has to be a bigger capacity for U/21.

JH

Q - Good start of the last two weeks to this idea.

Q1 - Could the club sell Match programmes on EBay for collectors, people who missed a game, or exiles, for the week after games? Club could still make profit out of unsold match day programmes and not everyone can get to the club shop if they missed a game?

Q2 - I note that we really only have one stand with a "real name". The Roland Wycherley Stand is great, and I assume the others are North, South and West at the moment purely as if a sponsorship deal was to come forward the name could be changed. However having been to the ground for some time now and this not happening, could the club not give one or two of the stands a name that inspires the fan base. There have been plenty of ideas, from the "Arthur Rowley stand", "The Railside", "The Oteley Road End" and many others. Is there a reason this could not be done, and put a bit of history back into the stand names which are very bleak and plain at the moment? "The South Stand" does not really have the same ring as the "The Kop" or even "The Station End"!

Q3 - My last question this week regards why many of the west stand regard as the poor half time "entertainment". It's very good that the family stand is the focal point for this at the moment, but it leaves 2/3rds of the ground trying to see what's going on from quite a distance or watching fringe town players trying to warm up. One idea that's proved to be quite popular with fans is to have local schools have 10 minute games at half time, which over the course of a season could build up into a mini tournament and be linked in with STFC's youth football and community work, enabling the club to forge links with young lads who currently don't even visit the club. A lot of clubs do this, and it seems like we're missing a trick. If not this, what other ideas are there to improve the half time entertainment for people outside the family stand (it's noted that not all children sit in this stand).

Glyn Price - via Email

Q1 - Not a problem, we have set-up a new EBay account for the website auctions and will add to programmes as soon as this is fully live and linked to PayPal.

Q2 - Hi Glyn

Thanks for your question about stand names.

The commercial team are actively seeking stand sponsors at this very moment and see it as a good potential source of revenue whilst at the same time working in partnership with a business partner.
Whilst we are in this process and exhausted all avenues I wouldn't want to compromise our ability to maximise potential revenue to support the football team.

I will endeavour to keep the fans updated as soon as progress is made.

Many Thanks

Ian B

Q3 - The subject of the half time entertainment is often raised and opinion varies widely. Some love "The Shed" others hate it! We will review the half time entertainment for next season in the close season when we review the match day experience.

Martin James