Ossie V Paul Kent - Mat Johns show.

[Suitman]

Don't be sorry mate, I feel exactly the same as you, except my reasons for not becoming a member are location based, not financial.

Everyone here supports the club/team in their own way, and it's not for other fans to judge whether they are right or wrong. If you say you're dad has been following the team since the 70's but is not a member, does that give him the right to be vocal about changes or be critical? f**k yeah it does!

It's holier-than-thou bullsh*t attitudes like "I've paid my membership so I deserve better" people that need to realise that they're more or less having their cake and eating it too.

Couldn't have put it better myself.
My dad got me started on the Eels about 1970. He still follows them through thick and thin, like we all do.
He's in his late 70's now, and everytime we talk, it's always about the Eels. 3 times a week at least.
He's never had a membership though, just a season ticket for one year - 1986.
He must be a really crap fan judging by that.

Suity

 

[bartman]

Didn't say YOU did.

Suity

Fair enough, but it did come across as a question of me... given you had quoted my post and asked your question directly after.

 

[nöyd]

Truth be told I was a member back in 06 & 07 (I think) but we bought a house and moved I forgot to advise the club of a change of address, one day I'll probably re-join, not in a rush though, bigger things to think about

 

[Suitman]

Fair enough, but it did come across as a question of me... given you had quoted my post and asked your question directly after.

Just re-referring my original question to him. Didn't think you'd take it as being referred to you. Considering you were replying on his behalf, I can understand your confusion.
I'd hate there to be any confusion otherwise.

Suity

 

[Casper The Ghost]

I love this club just as much as anyone else here - my 30,000 posts on this brilliant forum are a testament to that. That, and the fact I have no life...

But it was only this year when I was really able to become a member...I have been supporting the Eels and rugby league since 2000 (I know - it's nothing compared to others), so does that mean according to some that I have been a "fraud" supporter for 9 years and only became a "true" supporter this year when I became a member?

For the record, I can't attend many games due to work commitments, which is why I am a non-ticketed member. But I don't care if we lose every game - if I am available I am at Parramatta Stadium (or ANZ or whatever) to watch the boys and cheer them on. I don't have the financial means to buy every bit of supporter gear or attend every game (although truth be told, if I could find the time, I'd find the money to go to every game - trust me!), but I am a mad, mad Eels supporter and fan and I have to say I resent the implication that the only true supporters are members. My father has been supporting them since the 70's - he's vocal about changes and often critical. He loves this team to death - yet he's not a member. Again - finance issue (and the fact he was screwed over by the company he worked for for 35 years). Is he therefore not a real supporter?

Sorry. Touchy subject.

Eelementary, you bleed with the rest of us Eels supporters, ticketed members or not, overseas, interstate, rural or not. There are blind & deaf Eels supporters too. And then there are many many thousands who are poor, who can't afford anything bar watching on free to air TV or at the local club or pub or at a mates house. To us they all bleed silently but they scream hoarse when we do, they cry when we do, they jump for joy when we do, they hug one another when we do. Drama queens or not, male or not, fat, thin, tall, short, privileged or not, we all bleed blue and gold mate. Keep up the great work you do on this forum. I enjoy your posts.
Casper

 

[Suitman]

Truth be told I was a member back in 06 & 07 (I think) but we bought a house and moved I forgot to advise the club of a change of address, one day I'll probably re-join, not in a rush though, bigger things to think about

That's fair enough mate. You now know you belong in the PJ Marshall club of supporters, eh? :lol:

Suity

 

[nöyd]

That's fair enough mate. You now know you belong in the PJ Marshall club of supporters, eh? :lol:

Suity

Aaaah yes, PJ, that night back at the Caxton after we towelled the Broncs on MNF (2007 I believe) was magic. Me, him and Belly riffing bullsh*t about Chris Benoit becoming the new lead singer of Van Halen (you had to be there, trust me) was stuff of legend, my stomach hurts just thinking about it.

Do I sometimes wish I lived down there with you guys? Sure. Do I regret moving up here, resigning myself to 1, maybe 2 live games a season? No.

 

[TheRam]

Aww...

I love you, too, man!

I love you too Eele , It's those tight arse wankers, who can afford to fork out for some kind of membership and don't that I have no time for at all. Laziness and or tight arse stinginess is the death knell of many a club.

So to whoever can afford some form of membership, any type, just do it, the club and the game need you. Get into the habit of being a life member. It is a gift that just keeps on giving. Think of all the hundreds of hours of entertainment that this club has given you, don't they deserve a little help from you? Besides membership is a badge of honor and pride really isn't it?

Sorry everyone, I just think that everyone that follows this club or any other for that matter should show their support by way of membership. Anything short of that, then you are kidding yourself if you think that you are a supporter. You are merely a fan.

Of cause this only applies to people that can afford to be members and by no means am I trying to put down anyone that genuinely cannot afford to spend the money on some form of membership.

P.s.
If you are a smoker and not a member, sorry you are in the 'Can afford to be a member group', but choose not to. :x

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

so coz people dont become members does this mean they arnt true supporters of the eels?

Well, according to the Club you're only a member of the B&G Army if you buy a membership...

 

[MarkInTheStands]

The football club only ever had a few hundred members didn't it, prior to Hellsy's recruitment drive?

I am (or was) member 1442, I believe Hellsy is around that number as well. Before the NRL license was awarded to the Leagues club there were many more members, but as Ovo said in 2000 on wards people started to drop off as they felt the FC was insignificant.

 

[Parra Guru]

I just found it annoying that the segment goes for 5 mins and 4 of those mins were spent on Paul Kent throwing a tantrum.

Would have liked to hear more answers from Osbourne, but Kent kept talking over both him and Johns when he was asking them. Webcke did to an extent but I think it was more to shut Kent up.

 

[Parra Guru]

I love this club just as much as anyone else here - my 30,000 posts on this brilliant forum are a testament to that. That, and the fact I have no life...

But it was only this year when I was really able to become a member...I have been supporting the Eels and rugby league since 2000 (I know - it's nothing compared to others), so does that mean according to some that I have been a "fraud" supporter for 9 years and only became a "true" supporter this year when I became a member?

For the record, I can't attend many games due to work commitments, which is why I am a non-ticketed member. But I don't care if we lose every game - if I am available I am at Parramatta Stadium (or ANZ or whatever) to watch the boys and cheer them on. I don't have the financial means to buy every bit of supporter gear or attend every game (although truth be told, if I could find the time, I'd find the money to go to every game - trust me!), but I am a mad, mad Eels supporter and fan and I have to say I resent the implication that the only true supporters are members. My father has been supporting them since the 70's - he's vocal about changes and often critical. He loves this team to death - yet he's not a member. Again - finance issue (and the fact he was screwed over by the company he worked for for 35 years). Is he therefore not a real supporter?

Sorry. Touchy subject.

I can totally understand where you're coming from on this Eele. And trust me, getting a season ticket doesn't make you love the team any more than you already do.

I have only held a season ticket for the past 3 years, and I mainly keep it so I can sit with my other buddies at the games. I've been a fan all my life but started attending regular games in 1996, and I haven't missed many Sydney games since then.

We apparently have this 'army' (and don't get me wrong, I'm happy to pay for my 2 memberships) however it seems that the club is only interested in the supporters at home games (yay we can buy merchandise from the shop and drink at the leagues club). But with 10,000 members, I really thought more interest would be shown in getting things together for away support too.... You have to wonder where the focus is.... For me, the #1 priority is watching the boys on the park and getting behind THE TEAM as much as possible.

 

[Jodeci]

To his credit he did admit it was an error in judgement , hopefully he has learned his lesson and will be more cautious from now on as far as making silly statements .

I suppose the former CEO never came out with silly statements?

 

[Parra]

Don't worry about season tickets - if you really want to support your side then get a foxtel subscription.

 

[bartman]

Just re-referring my original question to him. Didn't think you'd take it as being referred to you. Considering you were replying on his behalf, I can understand your confusion.
I'd hate there to be any confusion otherwise.

Suity

I wasn't replying on his behalf, just asking a question of you, based on what you had said... Must be a confusing world you live in Suity ;-)

I am (or was) member 1442, I believe Hellsy is around that number as well. Before the NRL license was awarded to the Leagues club there were many more members, but as Ovo said in 2000 on wards people started to drop off as they felt the FC was insignificant.

Thanks for clearing up that question Mark :thumn. It was once thousands after all.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

As I have said on a few occasions, I don't think it matters to your credentials as a fan if you bought season tickets or not, if you turn up to all these games or not, I am sure we all love the club.

But those of us that have been members in the past have some key differences, because we put a financial stake into the company (as in we have a financial liability to the club where as people who pay for season tickets or even game day tickets or merchandise do not) and as a result members receive far more information about this club to help us make certain decisions. Decision like those that were made late 2008. Not just information about the NRL side but information about the whole club.

Sometimes the popular view and the correct view are vastly different.

 

[Parra Guru]

So in the old system, how much financial stake did members have in comparison to the average supporter?

$25?

 

[MarkInTheStands]

So in the old system, how much financial stake did members have in comparison to the average supporter?

$25?

The same as it is now, the limit is the cost of your membership. The question with that remains for me at least is that the extra $25 that you paid or the entire $300 Per ticket I paid to be a member this year.

 

[Daneel]

being a fan or a supporter of a team has little or nothing to do with how much money you spend on memberships, merchandise and tickets.

It also is not signified by how long you have supported your team (allthough some period of time must elapse before people will take you seriously).

The only real way to know if someone is a fan is by how the team makes you feel. The extreme highs of winning a game, to the lowest of lows after a loss. It is the feeling in the pit of your stomach that gives it away ( I will also point out that these feelings for me anyway seem to increase the longer i am a supporter).
So the only person who knows if you are a real fan is yourself. Everyone on hear will know what i mean you will all feel like this after wins and losses, sometimes more extreme than others depending on circumstances.

I honestly think no one takes a loss as hard as me, and no one celebrates a win the way i do. The interesting thing is im sure we all feel like that, that we are the no1 fan of our team and nobody loves them more. This forum has taught me that. Living in Qld and supporting a nsw club you can feel like you are the only one who cares.

So in summing up lets all agree each and everyone of us is the no1 supporter of our great club and get back to what we do best and that is providing support.

 

[TheRam]

being a fan or a supporter of a team has little or nothing to do with how much money you spend on memberships, merchandise and tickets.

It also is not signified by how long you have supported your team (allthough some period of time must elapse before people will take you seriously).

The only real way to know if someone is a fan is by how the team makes you feel. The extreme highs of winning a game, to the lowest of lows after a loss. It is the feeling in the pit of your stomach that gives it away ( I will also point out that these feelings for me anyway seem to increase the longer i am a supporter).
So the only person who knows if you are a real fan is yourself. Everyone on hear will know what i mean you will all feel like this after wins and losses, sometimes more extreme than others depending on circumstances.

I honestly think no one takes a loss as hard as me, and no one celebrates a win the way i do. The interesting thing is im sure we all feel like that, that we are the no1 fan of our team and nobody loves them more. This forum has taught me that. Living in Qld and supporting a nsw club you can feel like you are the only one who cares.

So in summing up lets all agree each and everyone of us is the no1 supporter of our great club and get back to what we do best and that is providing support.

Daneel, they are fans yes, supporters no. If you are not a member(people with financial difficulties excluded) in some capacity, then where is the real support? Words and love from a far do little to fill the grandstands or the coffers of the club, that these supposed supporters keep telling us they love so, so very much. Where is their skin in the game so to speak?

Sorry to go on about this, but I have heard it all to many times, words are cheap, football clubs are not.

And yes I know that some will say that by just watching their team on the tele, it brings in more financial reward then any club membership could, due to the bigger TV deal that that brings in. Well that is like saying, I only eat my mothers amazing cooking because it makes her really, really happy.