I just posted this on FB and thought ye might appreciate it:
To all ye begrudgers of the ST Gift, I say open your eyes and learn..
So you’re in the local Table Quiz, at tie break and speciality subject is capitals of the world.. do YOU know who to have on your team.. yes- Andrew Browne; Planning dinner by candlelight, who’s your chef.. Rodney, Top Table ruled over by Prince Griff and don’t give the cheese board to 200-cap Mul.
Music provided by the Connacht Quarter of trombone, bagpipes accordion and guitar are who??..
Planning holiday?: Become besties with Craig Ronaldson and avoid Mick Kearney like the plague.. really… Interpreters Dave Heffernan and George Naoupu could be helpful, but Brett is best- 3 languages and a bit of English
But the most interesting claims to fame are Swifty and the Powder Puff Girls, Frank Murphy who mended his ways and thankfully kept up the rugby and Gavin whose highlight was beating the said former hooker at table tennis.. where else would you learn all this and more…
So a ‘pah’ on all yer houses ye ungrateful bunch:)

I was hoping for a pair of gloves myself. Very disappointed.
I don't understand why people are getting criticised for not being happy with the season ticket. It's one of the perks of buying the season ticket like a free pint at the HC, free entry to the Eagles games.
It's fairly clear that the booklet cost more than the hat we got last year but that does not mean people are going to like it.
Would as many people have bought the season ticket if they knew what the free gift was? I doubt it.

Also, it made sense to me to provide a cheapo pair of green gloves to go with the green scarve and hat.

Its good that the branch is listening to us. I enjoy and use the scarf and hat from previous years and would have had no complaints if we got either again.

Yes im sure that the kids loved it its perfect for national school kids, not for adults.

It wouldn't bother me if there was no gift, maybe we were spoilt with the previous ones but that gift wasn't suitable for an adult.

The previous ones set us aside from the walk ups and plenty of non season ticket holders admired them.

Its a reflection of how far we have come that our standards and expectations have risen.

It's good that they will take the feedback on board and it is good that we as supporter's communicate if there is something that we feel is poorly done.
No communication = no change = unhappy supporters = unsuccessful Connacht.

Personally I would have preferred a supporter's pin (for example) over the booklet. The fact that it cost as much as the hat and scarf (was not a money saving exercise) shows that there is still the same level of importance given to it as usual. That's a good thing.
It's not so good to think that there was money spent on it though.

I'm still waiting on my vouchers and gift letter to arrive...

So this issue was also raised at yesterday's meeting, as mentioned on a couple of other threads. Essentially Connacht Rugby's points were as follows:

1. The Supporters Guide was an attempt to try something new, rather than another scarf/hat. Apparently, Manchester United gave their season ticket holders a similar gift recently.
2. The guide was not cheaper to produce than previous gifts, and in fact took a lot more time and effort as photos/interviews/info etc. had to be put together.
3. Feedback from kids/families has been extremely positive.
4. They will take any negative feedback on board for next year.

Rory McTiernan wrote: Give it a rest what were you expecting the club is struggling majorly for cash basic equipment isnt even available.give the guys up there a break and be greatful.

Oh here we go.... " isn't it only Connacht, dont complain
sure aren't they doing their best?"

Bullshit.

Massive strides have been taken both on and off the pitch in the last few years, something we can all be very proud of and, like it or not, standards have been set both in terms of the team and the offering to supporters. When standards start to slip we should be worried and you're damn right ill complain about it. If it was a cost-based decision fine, I have absolutely no problem with that but don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining. We're not stupid. If revenue is better spent elsewhere and they can't afford to give us something of the quality of the hats and scarves from the last 2 years they should tell us. I refuse to believe it would have been a deal-breaker for anyone deciding whether to purchase a season ticket or not. Giving us this glorified programme is insulting.

Apparently the booklet cost exactly the same amount as the hat last year and the scarf the year before. I'd have taken either in a shot...

I couldn't give a damn whether the gift is free or not, the cost is irrelevant, it's the sheer uselessness of the gift that galls me, it's a waste of money. You see people wearing their scarves and hats from the last 2 years all the time, will you ever see that little booklet hold pride of place in someone's possession? If they had removed the gift as part of the season ticket package, it wouldn't have annoyed me at all.

@ Rory "basic equipment isnt even available"
What basic equipment isn't available?

@sea_point don't even get me started on the price of the programmes!

Rory McTiernan wrote: In my opinion the gift the Connacht supporters got this year is that SOMEHOW Connacht managed to persuade a guy like Craig Clarke to come here and play when he could easily of picked any team he wanted ...

Jees keep it down lads .You know this ,I know this ,but maybe he doesn't. :lol:

To be honest ,I wouldn't expect any gift .

In fairness season tickets ,like Gym Membership ,are great value ,if you have the ability to use them fully.

Really tho have we as supporters nothing better to moan about? In my opinion the gift the Connacht supporters got this year is that SOMEHOW Connacht managed to persuade a guy like Craig Clarke to come here and play when he could easily of picked any team he wanted smarten up guys and quit moaning and lets get behind these guys...

Rory McTiernan wrote: Give it a rest what were you expecting the club is struggling majorly for cash basic equipment isnt even available.give the guys up there a break and be greatful.

I have to say it does make me wonder when people moan about a "free" gift.

Maybe they should have just remove the "Free Gift" from the list of ST benefits and sent the booklet out with the ST and seen what the comment are like then?

Seems like free gifts are only good if they are expensive, anyone care to suggest how much they should be spending per head on Free Gifts..?

Sparking, given that a third of the squad (excluding academy) changes every season, that would be a yes. Also the benefit is for those supporters who don't like the extra cost of a programme at matches but want the player info handy for the half-time debates..

Give it a rest what were you expecting the club is struggling majorly for cash basic equipment isnt even available.give the guys up there a break and be greatful.

Woeful gift, such a cop out. I would have preferred nothing to that, are there any season ticket holders who aren't fairly familiar with the squad, destined to be thrown in a drawer.

Was not there to collect it, but now that I have see what was on offer, they can keep it, or better still give it to one of the kids.

when I saw what people were getting I left the queue - why bother.