Funding initiative is a great success
The Blue and Yellow Club has raised £85,000 for AFC Wimbledon’s playing budget and donated funds to help our rising talents.
That sums up the success of a club formed three years ago and new members are welcome to join a group of supporters who enjoy unique behind-the-scenes benefits for an annual subscription.
Membership includes having dinner with the first-team management twice a season and visiting the training ground for an insight into Neal Ardley’s coaching techniques.
There are two ways to join, either as a ‘Blue’ member or a ‘Yellow’ member. The former works best for those who attend matches regularly and the latter for those who are only able to make the occasional game. Over the past three seasons, the club has raised a total of £85,000, which has gone directly into Neal’s playing budget. Earlier this year, the Blue & Yellow Club also had a special collection to buy heart monitors for youngsters aiming to progress from Alan Reeves’ development squad.
There was also a dinner with Alan Reeves as he aims to progress more home-grown talent from the Under-21 set-up into the first-team. Another highlight was a dinner at the House of Lords, hosted by Baroness Margaret McDonagh, where Neal Ardley and special guest Terry Burton talked to members. Last season, apart from the two dinners with Neal Ardley and Neil Cox, the club organised a trip to the training ground, where Neal Ardley explained in detail how training worked and afterwards there was an opportunity to watch that morning’s training session.
The idea is to give members unique benefits that have low direct costs to the football club, therefore allowing membership fees to be available as far as possible for the playing budget. Membership is £1,000 per year. If you would like to join, or want more information, please contact Iain McNay by e-mail:iain@cherryred.co.uk.
The benefits of the “Blue” membership package are set out below:
A pass to the Presidents Lounge for home matches. 1.
Two tickets for the end of season dinner 2.
Dinner with the first-team management and club CEO twice a season in a private room at a Wimbledon restaurant. (for the cost of the meal) 3.
Access to reserved table for the Blue and Yellow Club in pre-match hospitality before home matches (for the cost of the meal) 4.
Invitation to the occasional Wimbledon celebrity dinner each season. (again for the cost of the meal) 5.
Subscription to the ‘Wombles Down Under’ magazine, which is published every six weeks. 6.
A visit to the training ground with Neal Ardley explaining how everything works. 7.
Travel with other members to some away games with a meal in the away club’s hospitality. 8.
The benefits of the ‘Yellow’ membership (for those who don't attend matches regularly) includes the following:
If you can't make two home games, but can get to one or two away games, the club will do its best to arrange a similar package if possible. VIP treatment for you and a guest at two home games a season. This would include a pre-match meal in pre-match hospitality, plus access to the Presidents Lounge and seats in the Director’s Box. 1.
Visit to the training ground with Neal Ardley explaining how everything works. 2.
Dinner with the first-team management club CEO twice a season (for the cost of the meal). If you can’t make these, we will be able to arrange at least one scheduled telephone briefing each season with the CEO and Manager. 3.
4. Invitation to the occasional Wimbledon celebrity dinner each season. (again for the cost of the meal)
5. Subscription to the ‘Wombles Down Under’ magazine, which is published every six weeks.
6. Meeting up with other members for hospitality at away grounds if possible.