York City fans have called for improvements to ticket pricing, refreshments, half-time entertainment and toilet facilities according to results of the club's 2005 survey.
The Minstermen have already made moves to address admission costs by introducing the £29 under-12s' season ticket and communications and community director Sophie McGill has assured fans that their views will also be considered on the other issues thought to be important by the 451 respondents to the poll, which represents more than 20 per cent of the average home gate at KitKat Crescent.
Ticket pricing and refreshments were considered the most important things to change at the club by City fans while the half-time entertainment and toilet facilities also received low satisfaction ratings.
Disappointment with refreshments and half-time entertainment follows a nationwide trend in line with findings by similar surveys at Premiership clubs, while 44 per cent of fans believe the price of watching City was about right or would pay more, but 56 per cent thought the opposite.
McGill said: "The new £29 season ticket is aimed at making York City more affordable for people with young families. There are also plans in place to improve the match day entertainment in order to create more theatre and excitement.
Elliot Stroud, the new commercial manager, previously worked at the Wakefield Wildcats and has a host of ideas stemming from his rugby league experience.
"The toilet facilities throughout the ground are due to be refurbished next week and we also intend to meet with the ground caterers, who currently have the contract, to discuss ways they can provide better value for our supporters."
The club will have been encouraged that 82 per cent of the respondents to the questionnaire, handed out at two home matches in April, attend the same number or more games in the Conference as they did when the Minstermen were a Football League outfit.
A total of 42 per cent also feel more optimistic about the club's financial outlook than three years ago while 29 per cent are less optimistic.
In addition, results showed that 43 per cent of supporters buy a programme every match but a disappointing 53 per cent never visit the Social Club.
City fans' loyalty was also illustrated with supporters attending an average of 16 home matches and travelling spectators visiting an average of five opposition grounds a season.
Seven per cent of respondents said that York City was the most important thing in their life while 48 per cent admitted the club was a very important part of their life.
Meanwhile, among City fans who have their own children, 60 per cent - a very high proportion - visit games together, while 56 per cent agreed that the club is keen to take account of supporters' views with only nine per cent disagreeing.
More than half believed that the club were active in the community with five per cent disagreeing and, interestingly, clubs as far-flung and diverse as Aberdeen, Berwick Rangers, Norwich City and Tiverton Town were among those that the respondents also watched more than five times a season.
The survey was led by Trust member David Brewis and a team of volunteers and the intention is to repeat the project next year to track how attitudes might have changed and investigate any new issues arising.
Updated: 12:50 Saturday, August 13, 2005
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