Karen Matthews
17th May 2004, 00:12
The year 2003/2004 has shown incredible and spectacular rise on the recruitment front. From a total of 1677 members at March 2003 to 8682 members in March 2004. SU membership has risen by over 500 %. This is an increase of 7005 new members in that year to March 2004 period. SU members should be very proud of the work put in on their behalf, as clearly these are figures that any business would die for.
It was projected in the April edition of United Shareholder newsletter that the figure of 10,000 members would be reached in the month of April 2004. The projections were based on the assumption that the mailing to the 37,000 Manchester United shareholders would have taken place and that the SU Recommend to a friend e-mail system was in operation. The SU committee anticipate that both these initiatives will be up and running in May and that the figures projected will now be achieved then.
The SU ‘Recommend a Friend’ e-mail in particular has involved a lot more work then previously thought. Duncan Drasdo has spent over two weeks solid programming on it with a team of five SU members helping him - Tim Shaw, Darren Seamark, Paul Brooks, Gary Young and myself. It is a fantastic piece of work and we have very high hopes for the positive effects it will have in increasing SU membership in the coming year and beyond.
We have worked closely with our sister organisation, IMUSA, in the continuing 'Not For Sale' campaign. IMUSA are the heart and soul of Manchester United and we are grateful for all the help and support they have given us throughout the year.
The Main Activities which helped boost recruitment during the year were:
1. The work of the fanzines Red Issue, Red News and United We Stand in advising United Supporters in print and through their respective websites.
We thank them for all the help and support they have given to us.
2. The Manchester United Supporters Clubs particularly the Scandinavian branch who have taken SU to their hearts in the defence of the club against takeover. We salute the Scandinavian Reds and the wonderful job that Lars Morten Olsen and friends have done in promoting SU overseas.
3. Mass leafleting of games - Many thanks to everyone who gave up some of their time and helped to do this. It's out on the front line and helps to make supporters aware of SU. On one game this season we had over 50 helpers.
4. The Article and application form in an edition of the Manchester United magazine last year. Big thanks to John Fletcher for his support in financing that.
5. The United Shareholder newsletter - Recruit a friend - encouraging SU members to recruit any United supporters who are their friends by including an application form in the newsletter - Thanks to Theresa Towle and her team. Thank you to the many SU members who have spread the word during the year and helped to recruit their fellow red friends.
6. Great support from MUTV and the Manchester Evening News in covering SU related stories.
7. The SU Media Machine (Oliver & Co) continually increasing our media profile and output on TV and in the National Press.
8. Tony Smith (Take Me Home United Road) and Duncan Drasdo for the many articles written and put together for the fanzines and SU leaflets. The fantastic work of USA member, Darren Caulhill, at http://www.mufcusa.com
9. The growing SU member message contributors of Tanya T, Cantona 7, sam0912, mufc2003, Seamonkey, Chorlton Red, jddphd, paulsmyth, stubbsy, minszki, ShaRed, OliWinton, BecH, tone, pricey1, MARTINKA, manutdserg and the many others.
10. The many radio shows local, national and international that have covered SU this year and a special mention to Brian Halliday of World Talk Radio for his continued support of SU.
Future Plans in Operation.
· To get the mail out sent to the 37,000 or so Manchester United shareholders asking them to join SU and pledge their shares in defending the club against takeover.
· Sending out and reacting positively to the demands of the SU 'recommend to a Friend e-mail'. It's an e-mail that could potentially reach millions of reds around the world.
· United websites SU banner initiative. We will shortly be writing to the webmasters of many United related websites asking them to host a banner ad linking to SU. We are offering an affiliate scheme whereby they will be rewarded with £1 worth of United shares for every member who joins via their website.
· Having a large SU presence on the United tour in the USA in July.
It is always worth remembering that the reason SU are now in such a favourable position to defend the club, is due to the sustained hard work and staying power of the committee and it's members who give up large amounts of unpaid time, because of the love they have for their football club.
Good luck to the newly elected and 'hungry' SU committee members, let's make next year another great one.
Let's all give Jonathan Michie, who is stepping down as Chair this year, a 'Cantona style' standing ovation for the leadership and wisdom he has shown in guiding SU to the position it now holds in the hearts and minds of United supporters.
Sean Bones
It was projected in the April edition of United Shareholder newsletter that the figure of 10,000 members would be reached in the month of April 2004. The projections were based on the assumption that the mailing to the 37,000 Manchester United shareholders would have taken place and that the SU Recommend to a friend e-mail system was in operation. The SU committee anticipate that both these initiatives will be up and running in May and that the figures projected will now be achieved then.
The SU ‘Recommend a Friend’ e-mail in particular has involved a lot more work then previously thought. Duncan Drasdo has spent over two weeks solid programming on it with a team of five SU members helping him - Tim Shaw, Darren Seamark, Paul Brooks, Gary Young and myself. It is a fantastic piece of work and we have very high hopes for the positive effects it will have in increasing SU membership in the coming year and beyond.
We have worked closely with our sister organisation, IMUSA, in the continuing 'Not For Sale' campaign. IMUSA are the heart and soul of Manchester United and we are grateful for all the help and support they have given us throughout the year.
The Main Activities which helped boost recruitment during the year were:
1. The work of the fanzines Red Issue, Red News and United We Stand in advising United Supporters in print and through their respective websites.
We thank them for all the help and support they have given to us.
2. The Manchester United Supporters Clubs particularly the Scandinavian branch who have taken SU to their hearts in the defence of the club against takeover. We salute the Scandinavian Reds and the wonderful job that Lars Morten Olsen and friends have done in promoting SU overseas.
3. Mass leafleting of games - Many thanks to everyone who gave up some of their time and helped to do this. It's out on the front line and helps to make supporters aware of SU. On one game this season we had over 50 helpers.
4. The Article and application form in an edition of the Manchester United magazine last year. Big thanks to John Fletcher for his support in financing that.
5. The United Shareholder newsletter - Recruit a friend - encouraging SU members to recruit any United supporters who are their friends by including an application form in the newsletter - Thanks to Theresa Towle and her team. Thank you to the many SU members who have spread the word during the year and helped to recruit their fellow red friends.
6. Great support from MUTV and the Manchester Evening News in covering SU related stories.
7. The SU Media Machine (Oliver & Co) continually increasing our media profile and output on TV and in the National Press.
8. Tony Smith (Take Me Home United Road) and Duncan Drasdo for the many articles written and put together for the fanzines and SU leaflets. The fantastic work of USA member, Darren Caulhill, at http://www.mufcusa.com
9. The growing SU member message contributors of Tanya T, Cantona 7, sam0912, mufc2003, Seamonkey, Chorlton Red, jddphd, paulsmyth, stubbsy, minszki, ShaRed, OliWinton, BecH, tone, pricey1, MARTINKA, manutdserg and the many others.
10. The many radio shows local, national and international that have covered SU this year and a special mention to Brian Halliday of World Talk Radio for his continued support of SU.
Future Plans in Operation.
· To get the mail out sent to the 37,000 or so Manchester United shareholders asking them to join SU and pledge their shares in defending the club against takeover.
· Sending out and reacting positively to the demands of the SU 'recommend to a Friend e-mail'. It's an e-mail that could potentially reach millions of reds around the world.
· United websites SU banner initiative. We will shortly be writing to the webmasters of many United related websites asking them to host a banner ad linking to SU. We are offering an affiliate scheme whereby they will be rewarded with £1 worth of United shares for every member who joins via their website.
· Having a large SU presence on the United tour in the USA in July.
It is always worth remembering that the reason SU are now in such a favourable position to defend the club, is due to the sustained hard work and staying power of the committee and it's members who give up large amounts of unpaid time, because of the love they have for their football club.
Good luck to the newly elected and 'hungry' SU committee members, let's make next year another great one.
Let's all give Jonathan Michie, who is stepping down as Chair this year, a 'Cantona style' standing ovation for the leadership and wisdom he has shown in guiding SU to the position it now holds in the hearts and minds of United supporters.
Sean Bones