DragonArmy moving forward.

[Cooper-Man]

Over the last two seasons I have been speaking to MANY of the regulars in the army about us bacoming an official supporter group known as "the dragonarmy".

In my discussions I have included Stel, Ray, Macca, James Young, Craig, Tony, George, Brendon and many more. I would also like to catch up with Steve (alive103) and Mark (GST) and some of their crew to involve in the early discussions.

The idea would be to have an official supporter group which would be non club run and have no joining fee. But to be part of it you would have to register your details and get onto a mailing list whether it be via email or sms etc.

We have a large following of regulars and now NON regulars. I believe if we are to create an official supporter group with a committee we could take advantage of the large supporter group for many different aspects of game day. Below is a list of positives i believe would come out of this.

1. Purchase tickets for away games together.
2. Have larger away game travellers with buses etc
3. Be able to encourage more members of the army to support the club financially by having a season ticket. (Many currently dont)
4. Easier to arrange our own seating at away games.
5. Be able to have an influence/control on bad crwod behaviour from our own supporters etc.
6. Scarfs for our group. (Macca and Amanda have had a sample made up and we think it would be awesome to have dragonarmy scarfs).

Now these are just some ideas I have thrown up and Im hoping EVERYONE on here who is interested to get involved could throw some ideas our way also.

With point 5, I can tell you that I am the first to put my hand up and say I get involved in bad crowd behaviour whether it be in the past or even tonight at brooky. I can change and I have people come to me all the time and pull me aside and remind me of my responsibility not to give the dragon army a bad name etc. SO i think point 5 is one of the most important points. We had a rough night at brooky tonight. The manly supporters are probably the worst winners in the game, but it doesnt give us a right to retaliate in the way we do. But if we had a committee the members of the committee could step in and take control of the situation, rather than people like myself trying to stop any trouble from happening and then getting caught up in it.

Anyway guys, I dont want to set this thing up to be a leader or to try to make a profit. Myself and all the guys I have spoken to want to do this to become larger than what we are and not only be the best non club run supporter group in just the NRL but to be the greatest in the country. And the only way for it to go forward is if we ALL put our hands in and work together to vote in a committee and then allow them to vote in a president (if a president is even needed).

i have spoken to Brendon (brendothejet) and he is part of the Australian Manchester City supporter group and he has heaps of knowledge on this sort of thing. Also we have heaps of accountants in the group and they can assist us in creating a non porfit organisation etc.

So please have a think of some positives and throw your ideas in the thread so we can work on this together.

P.s I know not everyone is going to see eye to eye or even agree to do this, but could we keep this discussion as civil as possible.

 

[Southernsaint]

I texted a link to this to Alive103...

I'd be interested in what you can do for "out-of-towners"...

 

[Southernsaint]

I texted a link to this to Alive103...

I'd be interested in what you can do for "out-of-towners"...

 

[saint-colesy]

Out of towners as in "out of staters"?

Idea sounds good though pete, i'm coming down for the return to kogarah game against parra. Cant wait.

 

[Saint Jack]

I wouldn't mind the set-up in Baseball in the MLB. If you have a season ticket and can't use it - you can put it on a site and sell it.

Admittedly the MLB have 150 odd games, but you get the idea. Maybe if a "group" of season ticket holders - sort of like you're suggesting here - got behing the idea it might work. The Clubs run it in the USA - and take a 10% cut of the sale ?

 

[Timmah]

The Tigers are doing that this year I believe. www.weststigers.com.au

 

[blackberryman]

As a NON regular Dragon Army psycho fan I would love nothing more than a well organised group.

I goto a few away games each year and attend all games at Wollongong, and a few at kogorah, would attend more at kogorah and away if I there was this official group in place.

thumbs up

 

[OurRedV]

Over the last two seasons I have been speaking to MANY of the regulars in the army about us bacoming an official supporter group known as "the dragonarmy".

In my discussions I have included Stel, Ray, Macca, James Young, Craig, Tony, George, Brendon and many more. I would also like to catch up with Steve (alive103) and Mark (GST) and some of their crew to involve in the early discussions.

The idea would be to have an official supporter group which would be non club run and have no joining fee. But to be part of it you would have to register your details and get onto a mailing list whether it be via email or sms etc.

We have a large following of regulars and now NON regulars. I believe if we are to create an official supporter group with a committee we could take advantage of the large supporter group for many different aspects of game day. Below is a list of positives i believe would come out of this.

1. Purchase tickets for away games together.
2. Have larger away game travellers with buses etc
3. Be able to encourage more members of the army to support the club financially by having a season ticket. (Many currently dont)
4. Easier to arrange our own seating at away games.
5. Be able to have an influence/control on bad crwod behaviour from our own supporters etc.
6. Scarfs for our group. (Macca and Amanda have had a sample made up and we think it would be awesome to have dragonarmy scarfs).

Now these are just some ideas I have thrown up and Im hoping EVERYONE on here who is interested to get involved could throw some ideas our way also.

With point 5, I can tell you that I am the first to put my hand up and say I get involved in bad crowd behaviour whether it be in the past or even tonight at brooky. I can change and I have people come to me all the time and pull me aside and remind me of my responsibility not to give the dragon army a bad name etc. SO i think point 5 is one of the most important points. We had a rough night at brooky tonight. The manly supporters are probably the worst winners in the game, but it doesnt give us a right to retaliate in the way we do. But if we had a committee the members of the committee could step in and take control of the situation, rather than people like myself trying to stop any trouble from happening and then getting caught up in it.

Anyway guys, I dont want to set this thing up to be a leader or to try to make a profit. Myself and all the guys I have spoken to want to do this to become larger than what we are and not only be the best non club run supporter group in just the NRL but to be the greatest in the country. And the only way for it to go forward is if we ALL put our hands in and work together to vote in a committee and then allow them to vote in a president (if a president is even needed).

i have spoken to Brendon (brendothejet) and he is part of the Australian Manchester City supporter group and he has heaps of knowledge on this sort of thing. Also we have heaps of accountants in the group and they can assist us in creating a non porfit organisation etc.

So please have a think of some positives and throw your ideas in the thread so we can work on this together.

P.s I know not everyone is going to see eye to eye or even agree to do this, but could we keep this discussion as civil as possible.

It's a must. We must move forward as a group.

There's clubs out there that have "supporter" groups / armys / fanatics (Ie. Dogs, Sharks, Tigers, Panthers, Knights) and they pay for memberships (season tickets) and have an affiliation with the club with everything they do...

We don't want to be club run, we dont want the club to control what we say/do/wear - - however what we do want is to have UNITY and organisation.

The last 3 seasons have shown that what we as a group have contributed in supporting the club and creating a positive and lively atmosphere. We can and will be bigger than this.

 

[DaSuperHero2]

I 100% wholeheartedly agree moving forward is something which must always proactively be accounted for in this instance , lets face it the army has been re built from almost ravels , the forward thinkers know this is the best movement and i back them 100%.
I dont believe we need a president but we do need a few organizers which everyone has their numbers and so forth and the get website up to date boys lol <3
On point 5 , last night I think most were stressed out and on heat , like myself , then the ungracious f**ks at Manly love to come throw it in our face so it gets even more heated , but as Peter said , this can be taken care of.
Besides all the organizations there is endless positives to come out of this , who knows maybe one day when were massive we can have the Dragon Army counter strike day LOL and we all know the Anth the afghan is a nutter at this game LOL

 

[Gas Panic!]

I'm pretty certain various people have tried to make the army official in the past and yet it has never got off the ground, am I right?

I would consider myself a regular member of the army at home and away and so I am somewhat open to the idea of making it all official. However, I think over the years the army has done a good job of basically governing itself and looking after its members in an unofficial capacity.

Traditionally, army members pull each other into line when they're behaving badly or getting themselves into trouble, we look out for each other when it comes to organising tickets etc (see last years GF for example) and we support other ideas as they come about including scarves, flags etc.

As I said, I'm not totally against the idea, but any mention of a leadership group or a committee or an official organisation of the dragon army has always been shot down in flames. I don't think it is necessary.

I've seen members of the army bagging each other behind their backs and getting involved in petty politics even in the middle of games. For example, some will still support chants started by one group but not another. In my mind, the one thing that drew me to the army when I was a teenager were the chants and everyone getting involved. On the surface we still do that, but we sometimes forget the reason why we're there. Show up, have fun and chant loud.

Perhaps the member formerly known as the Unofficial General would have some thoughts!

 

[Saintsman]

I think its a good idea. On point 6, having dragonarmy scarfs, I think thats a good starter. Any money raised from that/donations can be put back into the Dragon Army for things such as banners, flags, tifos and so forth. Then no ones taking money from the Army for their own benifit but instead building the Dragon Army as a supporter group.

 

[RedVfaithful]

im all for the army becoming official and moving forward and i would love to see more songs made up, i just get borred of the st george clap clap clap.

 

[_Johnsy]

Great idea,

I'm all for it however, I get to maybe 3 sydney games per year, but always at GC & Brissy games (work roster dependant).

The thing is if someone does behave like a richardhead, and steps are put in place to ban them. Whats to stop them from buying their own tickets and continue to behave like a prawn?

I am sure all the finer details can be worked out.

I think a small yearly fee would be a good idea (each person geting a membership #), it would assist in organising army get togethers etc.

 

[Saintsman]

I don't think a fee is needed, it would stop people feeling welcome and growing the army. Selling Dragon Army merchandise such as the scarves would be a good way for money to help organise things.

 

[hornbyslilhottie24]

I'd also love to be involved to add a females persepective to the works!!

 

[Saint Jack]

I don't think a fee is needed, it would stop people feeling welcome and growing the army. Selling Dragon Army merchandise such as the scarves would be a good way for money to help organise things.

Maybe a badge for your cap too ... Or a patch ...

While not having a set fee - if Members threw in $5 each it'd provide a good base to start. 1,000 = $5,000. Not a bad war chest just to get the thing going.

 

[DaSuperHero2]

johnsy timing his stupid posts perfectly cant say his inconsitent

 

[hornbyslilhottie24]

A few more points:

A meeting with Peter Doust? In order to gain the clubs' support
Sponsors? I know you said it was not-for-profit but in order to get merchandise, arrange trips etc, sponsorship could help cover the costs????
Legal implications????

 

[Saintsman]

If all the money raised goes back into helping the army then it is non-profitable so yeah, it would work. But it would probably be easier to get money from donations (say a few people chip in $20-$30 or so) and then make some scarves and hats or something from that, people will buy them and so money goes back into the army and the circle begins.

 

[Cooper-Man]

A few more points:

A meeting with Peter Doust? In order to gain the clubs' support
Sponsors? I know you said it was not-for-profit but in order to get merchandise, arrange trips etc, sponsorship could help cover the costs????
Legal implications????

We don't want to be affiliated with the club. We want to be stand alone.