Welcome to the Saints Supporters Club for the 2012-2013 Season
Introduction
The objective of the Saints Supporters Club is to develop the bond between the rugby club and its supporters, ensuring that they are able to express their support in a variety of ways. This is borne out by the provision of affordable coaches for away matches, the match-day Tote at Franklin’s Gardens and the organisation of social functions where members can get to know one another. It should be noted that the Saints Supporters Club is run independently of Northampton Saints and offers no priorities for match ticket bookings.
Find Us on Match Days at Franklin’s Gardens
For most home games the Supporters Club mans a table in the Rodber Suite, opposite the main bar. This is open 1• hours before kick-off for an hour; for membership queries, sales of Tote tickets and away coach bookings. The table also opens for an hour after the match.
The Match Day Tote
The tote is one of the Supporters Club’s main sources of income and the proceeds are used in a variety of ways, including donations to the Saints, to players’ testimonials and to Rugby related charities. Tickets are 5 for £1 and are on sale before each home game: from the table in the Rodber Suite and from sellers located in various parts of the ground.
The results of the Tote can be found here, are announced over the public address at Half Time and also appear on the scoreboard. Several cash prizes are there to be won, with the top prize being £100. There are also a couple of additional prizes supplied by local businesses. Prizes can be claimed from the table in the Rodber Suite about 10 minutes after the final whistle.
The Supporters Club is always looking for additional Tote Ticket sellers – if you would like to help out (even if only occasionally) please get in touch. As a reward, ticket sellers get a discount off the adult fare for coaches to away games.
Events and Entertainment
A few weeks before Christmas the Supporters Club organises a Prize Draw night for its members. This takes place in the Sturtridge Pavilion and admission is free, with anything up to 100 prizes on offer. Members of the Saints squad usually come along to help with the draw and presenting the prizes. The evening is a wonderful opportunity to have a chat with some of the players, meet up with friends old and new, and go home with some goodies – possibly even some exclusive kit donated by the Saints!
The Supporters Club also puts on occasional post-match entertainment in the Rodber Suite. We usually have a band playing after the last home league game (when our Player of the Year Trophy is presented), and after one or two other games during the season. All members receive a vote regarding who they would like to see awarded the “Saints Supporters Club Player of the Year” – use it wisely.
Coaches to Away Games
The Supporters Club endeavours to run one or more coaches to all Saints First Team fixtures that take place on the British mainland. For the 2012-2013 season that looks likely to include England, Scotland and Wales! For popular games we run more than one coach.
Discounted fares are available to Juniors (under 16 as at 1st August 2012) and to Seniors (65 or over at 1st August 2012). Priority is given to bookings by Supporters Club members, but if spaces are available non-members are also welcome – subject to a premium of £3 per person on top of the relevant members’ fare. Anyone making three or more away trips in a season will therefore find it cheaper overall to become a Supporters Club member.
Coaches may be booked online here, at the Rodber Suite table, or by phone
During the regular season coaches leave from the “Tackle” statue in front of the Tetley Stand at Franklin’s Gardens. Cars can be left in the VIP Car Park, accessed from the Weedon Road entrance. For those games where a large number of coaches are being run: Twickenham, etc; the departure point for our coaches may be moved to either the Beacon Bingo car park or to one of the car parks located off Edgar Mobbs Way.
The Supporters Club and the Internet
The Supporters Club does not run its own Bulletin Board, but if you want to talk about the Saints and other Rugby matters on-line you can do so via the Saints official board: “forum.northamptonsaints.co.uk”, or via “www.comeonyousaints.com” – an unofficial board run by a number of Saints enthusiasts who also organises the annual “Saints With Heart” sponsored walk.
We also have a presence on Facebook – search for “Northampton Saints Supporters Club”. You will find announcements there relating to our activities. Feel free to start off some discussions or post Saints-related photographs.
The Supporters Club sends out occasional e-mails to keep members up to date with events, such as changes to away game kick-offs that affect the departure time of the coaches.
You will receive e-mails only if you have advised us of your e-mail address and ticked the box on the membership form that says that you would like to receive them. If you haven’t ticked the box but would now like to receive these e-mails please contact the Membership Secretary.
The address, phone and e-mail details that you included on your membership form are treated as confidential, and will be used for Supporters Club business only. They will not be disclosed to outside organisations or individuals without your prior permission. If you have any queries about membership of the Supporters Club please contact the Membership Secretary, whose details appear on the next page.
Saints Supporters Club Contacts
When sending e-mails, please include “SSC” in the Subject heading.
Membership Secretary: Ian Sargent, 33 Argyll Street, Northampton, NN5 5LJ.
Tel: 01604-582468 E-mail: ssc@sargenorthampton.demon.co.uk
Chairman: Barry Forrestal
Tel: 07780-002506 E-mail: forrb@hotmail.com
Vice- Chairman: Adam Reynolds
Tel: 07879-401047 E-mail: adam.reynolds@live.co.uk
Secretary: Helen McAteer
Tel: 07990-500004 E-mail: helen.mcateer@gmail.com
Treasurer: Lisa Newton
Tel: 07875-959879 E-mail: lisanewton1@hotmail.co.uk
Match-Day Tote: Maz Newton
Tel: 07999-376360 E-mail: maznewton@hotmail.co.uk
Coach Bookings: Stella Sargent
Tel: 01604-722316
Web Site: David Lowrence
E-mail: david@lowrence.com
Other Committee Members: Martin Hayward, Bev Knell, Roger Munns, Gary Tipping and Jean Webb.