1 Eyed TEZZA
Coach
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Yeah Id love one, but I think we would need the club to get behind it for it to work successfully.
We did get a group going from 97-2001, but it would be great to get a group together for all home & away games like the Sharkies supporters do. The club did try to get one going in 2004 (the swamp then the Eelites), but we'll never get one going without supporters getting behind it 100%. I can't see Eels fans doing that, as much as i'd love to see a permanent group singing & chanting with banners & flags like teams like saints & Easts.
I dont see why, the Roosters club itself provides them with most of its flags.
The club gets behind the fans, allows them on the field before kick off of a game, they are given a tour some times of the sheds and best of all, players that arent playing will come and sit with them in the crowd. Im sure if our club got behind it like the Roosters do, im sure it would definatly be successful. Also we already have signs around. Iv seen the Finchy and Hindy one (not lately though obviously), the "less talk Moi Moi action" and a new one "No Hayne, No Gain". We need more of it, but if we can get all these things into one section, it has a better chance of growing. Just like Blatchys Blues for Origin.
The Home Supporters Group can work and would work if it was done and fully committed to by the Footy office.
Back in the Swamp Days, the idea was right but the execution was wrong and it wasn't pushed any further due to the lack of support .
What needs to happen is ...
A: They need to create a Supporters membership/season ticket Package.. included in that is a special Membership card.. and guaranteed seating in a Bay somewhere within the ground. Simply dumping them on the hill cos it's cheap isn't what is needed.
Giving away freebie tickets before the game isn't how it works. Half the time those people took the tickets and they either ended up sitting elsewhere or we bumped into them sitting in the terraces cos they couldn't be bothered joining in.
Yellow Wigs and sponsored T-shirts aren't the way either.
A membership whereby (as mentioned by others previously) the Club is active in the promotion of the Group..
- An allowance for oversized Flags and Banners within that area whether they be supplied by the Club or brought in by fans...
- The membership gives the group unique access to the Eels ie: like an 18th Player Club type scenario whereby 1 or 2 of those supporters each home game are adopted as Eels for the Day and get to attend the pre-game warmup, be in the changeroom at half &/or fulltime, get to sit either in the player dugout OR a best seats in the House deal whether it be their regular seats but treated to hospitality or Invited into the Clubs Private Box for the game. Each member gets a personally signed Photo of their Favourite Player and maybe a discount book or something that entitles the people to discounts from Footy Heaven, other sponsors and food at the game.. even something simple like the club supplying people Popcorn or something novel at the game.. something that sets them apart from the other non members around them
- give the members an option to buy a discounted "friend" ticket to join the group on a day provide they wear blue & gold or something like that or have a second tier membership which allows supporters to buy a 2nd ticket with a decent discount.
it needs to be totally unique to what is offered to other memberships.. stuff that is sought after.. stuff that is fun... make it fun.. and they will come..
Seems to me people should start going to meetings of the existing club and work through the existing structures rather than something new.
Of course, people wont want to do that because the supporters club is for the oldies right?
Originally, it was asked if the supporters club wanted to be involved - when the Parramaniacs/Swamp was first floated. The reply seemed to be more of the fact that they had their own season seats and weren't interested at all in being involved as that wasn't what they were about......
I guess I'm saying it's a bit like the election.
People pissed and moaned and were told to change things to join up and then go and vote.
Surely the best way to change the supporters club and they way they think, to modernise them if you like, is likewise, join and start going to meetings with ideas etc and the more people that do it, the more likely of change?
Or you could (not you personally, generic you!) piss and moan about it on the forum and try and do something in isolation?
We started out with about 80 members and sponsorship from a local seafood outlet to 350 and counting members and enough sponsorship to pay for members to travel to and from NSW games (drinks included ) for free. All they pay for is their ticket into the ground and this is to places like Canberra and Newcastle
Or you could use this forum, or some other such device, to create an unofficial supporters group much like many others have started and then seek assistance through the club.
Given the lack of support in the original formation other than 50 wigs, sponsored t-shirts and tickets it may be easier to start small and build up before becoming "official". It may also get people involved who may not becessarily be involved because of the association an official group would have with the club.
Starting by meeting each week in a certain bay away from home is a simple start......