Matchday Experience Working Group (MEWG) – Update 9: January 2026

[Swans Trust News]

Background

In January 2024 Swansea City Supporters’ Trust were delighted to publish our full report on the Matchday Experience at Swansea City, which we kicked-off in October 2023. All our previous updates which included a link to the full survey report are available to access on our Trust website HERE

The project was established to better understand the experience of supporters in and around the stadium on matchdays and identify positive changes that could improve this. Almost 1000 supporters responded to our survey with the results providing a clear and strong case for changes to be made.

We promised to take the next steps with the support of the club to form a joint working group that will own these findings and others that are identified.

We are pleased to advise this group made up of a combination of Club, Trust and supporter representatives are now fully up and running and they held their ninth meeting at Fairwood Training Centre on Monday 29th September 2025.

This meeting gave everyone an opportunity to review progress to date and revisit some of the key recommendations arising from recent fans surveys.

The project is now known as the Matchday Experience Working Group – MEWG – and the full group is currently made up as follows:

Paul Meller (PM) – Swans Trust

Dave Dalton (DD) – Swans Trust

Chris Golledge (CG) – Swans Trust

Tony Sharpe (TS) – Swans Trust

Hayley Ford (HF) – Swansea City

Kev Johns (KJ) – Swansea City

Harriet Williams (HW) – Her Game Too

Sophie Hughes (SH) – Her Game Too

Lee Joseph (LJ)

Paul Joseph (PJ)

Ian Davies (ID)

Thomas Hughes (TH)

Craig Fulford-Astley (CFA)

Jamie Ranford (JR)

Andrew Concannon (AC)

Apologies were received for this meeting from:

Chris Golledge (CG) – Swans Trust

Kev Johns (KJ) – Swansea City

Ian Davies (ID)

Craig Fulford-Astley (CFA)

Andrew Concannon (AC)

Harriet Williams (HW) – Her Game Too

Another constructive meeting can be summarised as follows:

1. Tour of Fairwood Centre (20 minutes at start of meeting)

1. Matters outstanding from previous meeting (25th June 2025) – picked up through meeting agenda items

1. Matchday

Compass / Catering

• New system in place since summer: self-order screens for drinks/snacks only; food kiosk for face-to-face and hot food sales. Changes made in response to fan feedback; details announced in fan survey results and club communications.
• Club produces a new matchday guide for each match; Trust to reference this in future programme notes.
• Awaiting information regarding kiosk use in Mel Nurse bar by local food traders. Note: HF has since followed up and has confirmed this currently isn’t possible due to a re-configuration of the bar area. Will provide more of an update on this at the next meeting.
• Clarified that any fans with a ticket can access Mel Nurse bar pre and post-match.

Pre-match & Half-time Entertainment (incl. Mel Nurse Bar)

• Mel Nurse bar closes 5 mins before kick-off, reopens 10 mins after – supporters in the area feel reasoning is unclear. Action: Ensure stewards in the area are clear on reasoning to let supporters know.
• Group suggested there is slow service in the bar and asked if the club employs different agency staff each game Action: Invite Marie-Laure Bowels to future meeting to discuss
• Screens in Mel Nurse bar mirror concourse screens; only different content possible via Freeview channel.
• Early bird drink package well received. Action HF to pass on positive feedback and enquire as to whether this might be available again for future games.
• Camera not always on sign language interpreter at half-time. HF clarified camera usage intentionally focused on mascots at half time.
• Club introduced kick-off sound to give breathing space in build-up to KO and facilitate better alignment of pre-match elements.
• Sound system remains poor. Interviews by Kev Johns on pitch remain unclear; better mic/headset suggested. Action: PM to raise with Tom Gorringe.
• Mascot penalty competition location accepted; scope for different activities for older fans to be followed up
• Club plans to trial new events (e.g. obstacle race or similar)
• Club working on increasing staff and volunteer support for pre match and half-time entertainment.
• Foundation staff fully engaged in South Stand entertainment
• Suggestions invited for other ideas. Action: Submit to HF directly

Flags / Fan Displays

• Banners cost £3k–£5k; honesty flags preferred (£750 for 250). Action: HF to invite NE corner ST holders to discuss displays (estimate need 5-8 willing to support).
• Display of scarves queried as an alternative to flags – similar cost as honesty flags, but unlikely to be returned.
• Club encouraged to prepare for Wrexham match in December (e.g. scarf display, choirs, light show). Action: Submit ideas to HF directly by no later than Friday 17th October to allow time to implement.

1. Ticketing

• Club initiatives include Grassroots Ticket Initiative, South Stand family ticket price (£20–£30), Junior Jack pack (4-ticket bundle).
• Suggested all ticketing initiatives be listed on club website and HF will check and action accordingly.
• Ticket sales order standardised; Carabao Cup 4th round v Man City: ST holders> Jack Army members and those who attended previous rounds> general sale
• Hospitality ticket charges queried; part of package terms: Need to pay for tickets from 4th round onwards.
• Lack of advance notice for away ticket sales raised. Club gives notice for popular matches.

1. Travel & Transport

• Progress on away travel options; Trust and club working with Vaughan Voyage (family-friendly coaches) 2 x coaches to Birmingham very successful. Further trips being arranged to Southampton, Charlton athletic, Bristol City and WBA all before the end of November.
• PJ offered inflatable ribs to Club for matchday transport (e.g. bring Snoop to stadium).

1. Heritage Report

• PM updated on heritage projects: street art cabinets, Allchurch documentary, Robbie James Wall of Fame, International Wall.
• TS updated on Red Wall of Welsh Internationals.
• HF advised no firm plans for Ospreys memorabilia replacement as yet and welcomed suggestions from the group on what they would like to see.
• Action: TS to collect ideas for stadium refresh including those from Working Group and prepare a summary document for further discussion.
• Group suggested consideration of a Swans shirts display in East Stand concourse: washing line preferred over wall painting. Action: Heritage group to follow up.
• TS suggested painting away end walls with first-time team appearances. Action: TS to include in stadium refresh summary document.

1. Her Game Too

• SH: 3-ticket package available for forthcoming women’s games at the stadium; dedicated fixture on 7/3/26.
• Special ticket offers planned; Action: DD to provide FAW Huddle contact to SH (done).
• JR suggested increased visibility for women’s team on matchday.
• HF: club now understands target audience better; HGT Instagram and Facebook numbers are growing.
• HGT to share posts with HF and Trust.
• Planning women’s/family-friendly coach to WBA match. Action: DD to provide Dan (Vaughan Voyage) contact details to SH (done)
• Preparing new flyer and posters for matchday distribution.
• SH leading on female fans in man’s game and HW focusing more on promoting the women’ team.
• PJ suggested showing women’s game footage on screens pre-match.

1. Swansea Jack Pub

• Hopeful for an October/ November opening; club meeting with them tomorrow. Update to follow in WhatsApp group.

1. AOB

• Stadium roof repairs nearing completion.
• Stadium tours available, mainly during school holidays.
• Action: DD asked HF to enquire on the possibility of introducing new Fairwood training facility tours during future international breaks or on non-matchday Sundays etc?
• New safety perimeter: concrete blocks to be converted into seats; sponsorship likely.
• PJ confirmed his inflatable ribs are available for the Wrexham home game in December if needed?

Next Meeting:

• Scheduled for early in 2026 with Club and Compass representatives. Final date to be confirmed.

If anyone would like to consider getting involved or submit any questions for the MEWG in advance of the next meeting please send us an email to supporters@swanstrust.co.uk

And don’t forget that that Trust are in regular contact with all departments within the Club as well as holding various meetings with senior managers where we routinely raise issues we receive or are aware of.

If anyone would like us to raise anything affecting them, please don’t hesitate to let us know by emailing us at supporters@swanstrust.co.uk

We will then discuss it with the Club as appropriate.

Swansea City Supporters’ Trust
9th January 2026

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The post Matchday Experience Working Group (MEWG) – Update 9: January 2026 appeared first on Swansea City Supporters' Trust.

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[Cooperman]

Paul Meller is going to ask Tom Gorringe about a new mic. Tidy.

 

[Smurph]

Paul Meller is going to ask Tom Gorringe about a new mic. Tidy.

They'll have an update in December 2026

 

[Captain_Sham]

I wonder if thats the same paul meller that used to play for the Antelope in 91/92.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

"Action: Invite Marie-Laure Bowels to future meeting to discuss"

Sounds like a load of shit to me.

 

[PSumbler]

TS suggested painting away end walls with first-time team appearances. Action: TS to include in stadium refresh summary document.

Any ideas what this actually means?

With respect to everyone involved this remains just a meeting for meetings sake. Achieves and improves nothing.

 

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

Love a bit of mewg on a Friday.

 

[Smurph]

This "working" party has been meeting since October 2023 allegedly, can anyone tell me what has actually changed on a match day to improve the experience?

 

[Swanjaxs]

This "working" party has been meeting since October 2023 allegedly, can anyone tell me what has actually changed on a match day to improve the experience?

Sheehan got sacked.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

Queues for pre and half-time drinks, oscillating between pre-pay kiosks or pay at counter and no milk sachets for tea or coffee.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

"Action: Invite Marie-Laure Bowels to future meeting to discuss"

Sounds like a load of shit to me.

Indeed. Unfortunate but sloppy typo, it should read Marie-Laure Bowles.


Good job Stan isn't playing any more...

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

This "working" party has been meeting since October 2023 allegedly, can anyone tell me what has actually changed on a match day to improve the experience?

Judging by the fact that it still seems to come as a shock to them that people want a pint at half time and the queue is still stupidly slow to clear, even when they have a fair old idea about the demand, thanks to the 'pay now for half time' option which kind of helps them judge said demand, then I'm afraid the answer to that question is Sweet FA.

 

[Smurph]

Judging by the fact that it still seems to come as a shock to them that people want a pint at half time and the queue is still stupidly slow to clear, even when they have a fair old idea about the demand, thanks to the 'pay now for half time' option which kind of helps them judge said demand, then I'm afraid the answer to that question is Sweet FA.

It's like where the fuck have all these people come from

Can anyone explain the benefits of those screens in the west stand? It's like shopping in Argos, who the hell wants to queue twice?

 

[Smurph]

"Action: Invite Marie-Laure Bowels to future meeting to discuss"

Sounds like a load of shit to me.

I hope she isn't full of shit like the rest of them.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

It's like where the fuck have all these people come from

Can anyone explain the benefits of those screens in the west stand? It's like shopping in Argos, who the hell wants to queue twice?

I wouldn't moan so much if it was the same as it is in the east stand, where everyone arrives and just tries their luck at roughly the same time. But surely one of the plus points of having a system like that is you are able to reasonably judge what is about to hit you at half time.

Instead you walk down there, and there's some quim who's only just started pulling the pints (and it's only one most of time), two people max actually dishing them out (nowhere near enough), meanwhile the queue just carries on growing back as far as the bogs.

For the money they've spent putting the screens in they may as well just scrap them, and go back to the east stand free for all approach. Absolute waste of time