STH: Forum - Early July

[PJ Marshal]

getting close to the idea where players wear their player number eg on their baggy green etc

 

[Jodeci]

MITS we will eventually get to that stage

We want to have a presence at away games, similar to the Sharks and Dragons with their 'army' of supporters and also build a massive EELS Logo blanket like how the Dragons Supporters have on the Hill and the big no.18 the Bulldogs have on their top tier grandstand, etc

All these things will happen but will take time

How many times have we all whinged about memberships and having one kind of card to identify an individual?????

We all spoken at lengths about this and at least we are moving forward.

What Roy and the other directors said last night was more then what the other clowns have said in the past years with us.

I'm not taking a shot at ya champ, we all need to do this and shake the place up and stop whinging about little things.

We will help the club endeavour to acheive this membership proposal it has put forward

 

[MarkInTheStands]

getting close to the idea where players wear their player number eg on their baggy green etc

Would be more than happy for them to wear their player numbers under the Eels on their Jerseys once they were named.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

MITS we will eventually get to that stage

We want to have a presence at away games, similar to the Sharks and Dragons with their 'army' of supporters and also build a massive EELS Logo blanket like how the Dragons Supporters have on the Hill and the big no.18 the Bulldogs have on their top tier grandstand, etc

See now this is where I have experience. It is interesting we talk about a presence at the away games, and also interesting that you reference the Sharks. When the Sharks fans came over to our Board asking for such a thing there was an outcry that we had nothing of the sort. The Sharks fans telling us how they organized it themselves then got the club and sponsors involved. Yet 1 week later we had an opportunity to try and organize something, to start that sort of thing at the Newcastle, but no one originated squat. No one sat together in a noticeable group, not even the supporters club. The fans need to get active to do this, not just the club and I think once a solid group is going then the club can assist further.

The Big 18 that the Bulldogs have is paid for by ANZ Stadium, as is their Lettering on Level 6 West. The Same is true for the Banners the Rabbitohs have and the posters of their legends visible in the Level 1 bowl section concourse. The Dragons on the other hand, you would know more about. The Roosters organize the Banners for their fans.

All these things will happen but will take time

How many times have we all whinged about memberships and having one kind of card to identify an individual?????

We all spoken at lengths about this and at least we are moving forward.

What Roy and the other directors said last night was more then what the other clowns have said in the past years with us.

I'm not taking a shot at ya champ, we all need to do this and shake the place up and stop whinging about little things.

Yes Jodeci, remember I helped write the report on it. But I am sorry not once until the election had anyone said we needed some sort of Unified membership, There were sections that wanted a single membership form for LC, FC and STH but not a single unified membership. Nothing like that was put to the club at any length before the election. When I raised that point with other STH's in our section after the election, some were against membership to the Leagues club, others to the football club. So it may have to be a pick and choose thing, which is more or less what we have now except we could put it all on one form and advertise it as "membership".

We will help the club endeavour to acheive this membership proposal it has put forward

 

[Jodeci]

See now this is where I have experience. It is interesting we talk about a presence at the away games, and also interesting that you reference the Sharks. When the Sharks fans came over to our Board asking for such a thing there was an outcry that we had nothing of the sort. The Sharks fans telling us how they organized it themselves then got the club and sponsors involved. Yet 1 week later we had an opportunity to try and organize something, to start that sort of thing at the Newcastle, but no one originated squat. No one sat together in a noticeable group, not even the supporters club. The fans need to get active to do this, not just the club and I think once a solid group is going then the club can assist further.

The Big 18 that the Bulldogs have is paid for by ANZ Stadium, as is their Lettering on Level 6 West. The Same is true for the Banners the Rabbitohs have and the posters of their legends visible in the Level 1 bowl section concourse. The Dragons on the other hand, you would know more about. The Roosters organize the Banners for their fans.



Yes Jodeci, remember I helped write the report on it. But I am sorry not once until the election had anyone said we needed some sort of Unified membership, There were sections that wanted a single membership form for LC, FC and STH but not a single unified membership. Nothing like that was put to the club at any length before the election. When I raised that point with other STH's in our section after the election, some were against membership to the Leagues club, others to the football club. So it may have to be a pick and choose thing, which is more or less what we have now except we could put it all on one form and advertise it as "membership".

I wasn't aware of anything for the Newcastle game regarding a supporters bay.

The membership will be a pick and choose and all on the one card. This will enable us to build a proper database.

We have a supporters club???

It has come to the stage were we want everything spoon fed to us.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

I wasn't aware of anything for the Newcastle game regarding a supporters bay.

There wasn't, but considering the discussion the week before the game and the will on this board for something like that to happen, how hard would it have been for someone to say, "Lets all sit in Bay X at Energy Australia Stadium and get a huge eels bay going" Not that hard. Bay 1 would have been cheep and perfect for it. Yet not a brass razoo from anyone after the sharks loss.

The membership will be a pick and choose and all on the one card. This will enable us to build a proper database.

This is where it gets difficult, I don't mind the idea of us having one database for Football supporters taking from Football club, STH and B&GA, but a simple question, how will the door people at the Leagues club differentiate between the members if we all have one card? What if someone is a FC and STH and not a LC member and the Door staff let them in. If the club is caught letting in people without membership or ID, then that is a potential issue.

We have a supporters club???

Yes, as Fish stated in the new Website thread they can be secretive. I always thought that we the younger generation should join it and have more of a say in what it does but . . .

It has come to the stage were we want everything spoon fed to us.

. . . .and that is the big problem. Everyone wants everything on a platter and are not prepared to work for it. Believing we don't have things because of the past board or Denis, when in my opinion, we would never have lost certain things if Parramatta fans extracted the digit more often and acted like football supporters. Even those that have put the time in can be discouraged buy some comments from people who sit in the cheap seats and though pot shots at their work. We experienced it with the Parraletics in 98 and 99, and I have seen it with other attempts to organize singing supporters groups and the like, also the SC is not immune from it as well.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Also on Crowd colour Stuff.

I believe the SC are still in control off, 2 Parramatta Eels flags with the 80's Characterure logos on them. Blue flags that are 2 metres tall, 3 or so metres wide. They used to be stored at the Football office and members of the SC had to go to the office to check them out and use them.

I used to take 2 Blue and gold flags to the game, they were 2 queens size bed sheets that were cut in half and sewn together, the poles were 2 broom sticks held togethers with a metal sheath. I still have one, I believe Planeteels has the other, but I am not sure on that one.

The Club also had the Parra Power flag/Banner made, which I believe Tyler Durden still has and if I am not mistaken is very much in desperate need of a wash. We have used that in Brisbane and many other places not only for the Eels but the Bay47 boys and girls used it for the Power.

 

[fish eel]

There wasn't, but considering the discussion the week before the game and the will on this board for something like that to happen, how hard would it have been for someone to say, "Lets all sit in Bay X at Energy Australia Stadium and get a huge eels bay going" Not that hard. Bay 1 would have been cheep and perfect for it. Yet not a brass razoo from anyone after the sharks loss.



This is where it gets difficult, I don't mind the idea of us having one database for Football supporters taking from Football club, STH and B&GA, but a simple question, how will the door people at the Leagues club differentiate between the members if we all have one card? What if someone is a FC and STH and not a LC member and the Door staff let them in. If the club is caught letting in people without membership or ID, then that is a potential issue.



Yes, as Fish stated in the new Website thread they can be secretive. I always thought that we the younger generation should join it and have more of a say in what it does but . . .



. . . .and that is the big problem. Everyone wants everything on a platter and are not prepared to work for it. Believing we don't have things because of the past board or Denis, when in my opinion, we would never have lost certain things if Parramatta fans extracted the digit more often and acted like football supporters. Even those that have put the time in can be discouraged buy some comments from people who sit in the cheap seats and though pot shots at their work. We experienced it with the Parraletics in 98 and 99, and I have seen it with other attempts to organize singing supporters groups and the like, also the SC is not immune from it as well.

That's one point I agree with you on, and it ties into Jodeci's spoonfed remark...I guess it's easier to throw pot shots at that supporters club and laugh at them on here than get involved.

Aside from yourself Mark, I think only Bart has bothered to dip his toe in and see what goes on there?

Personally, I'd love to, but I'm finding it hard enough just to get to home games ATM.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Well IIRC it is the 2nd Tuesday of the Month so the next one should be July 15th. Problem is for me sometimes now it can clash with my Lap-band Support group in Ashfield.

 

[forward pass]

We have a supporters club???

Yes, as Fish stated in the new Website thread they can be secretive. I always thought that we the younger generation should join it and have more of a say in what it does but . . .

MITS - what would be involved in setting up a new supporters group? If the existing one is 'secretive' and from the earlier thread about this they seem to be exclusive and full of cronies, then why not set up a new one.

I find it pretty staggering that a 'supporters' club could be so secretive. Sounds crazy.

 

[Suitman]

MITS - what would be involved in setting up a new supporters group? If the existing one is 'secretive' and from the earlier thread about this they seem to be exclusive and full of cronies, then why not set up a new one.

Because a club like the Eels should really only have one - and a proper one at that.

I find it pretty staggering that a 'supporters' club could be so secretive. Sounds crazy.

It does, but it is.
I'm sure MITS will fill you in.

Suity

 

[Jodeci]

MITS - what would be involved in setting up a new supporters group? If the existing one is 'secretive' and from the earlier thread about this they seem to be exclusive and full of cronies, then why not set up a new one.

I find it pretty staggering that a 'supporters' club could be so secretive. Sounds crazy.

This will all change soon.....

 

[MarkInTheStands]

MITS - what would be involved in setting up a new supporters group? If the existing one is 'secretive' and from the earlier thread about this they seem to be exclusive and full of cronies, then why not set up a new one.

Well Smilee (old Forum) and myself tried to set one up in 2000 or so, we modeled it on the Glasgow Rangers Club here in oz (which Smillee was also part of).

To be taken seriously you need to get to a point where you have a Business name, an elected President, Treasurer and Secretary, and about 50 people joined up. To he honest you need to people first to then organize the electing of people then going through the Business name.

I find it pretty staggering that a 'supporters' club could be so secretive. Sounds crazy.

I don't think it is all their fault. From 1985 when it was first created till 1999 it was the peak body for supporters to be a part of. Around about then though, the club started offering other "clubs" like the Eelite young supporters club, and Sparkies Junior Eels, which were more closely aligned with the club and generated an income for it. During that time most of the advertisements of the Supporters club events and the busses dropped off.

The SC also point to a period of time where any information they gave to the clubs Media manager for upload on the website would never get actioned. Ross Smart has been a bit more proactive in promoting the bus trips as news articles.

This has lead to what I believe is a bit of an elitist view of the SC by some SC members, indeed I have experienced this a couple of times when I have attend SC meetings and raised these sorts of issues. This can come off as arrogance and In my opinion if you are not determined to join then you wont.

But the great thing about the SC is that they already have the business stuff, the bank accounts and to a point the members. They have a constitution and are funded by the LC. So I agree we need to have one, but again I would think it would be much easier to get 50 people to turn up and vote at the SC agm to get some younger people involved than to get 50 people to turn up to a pub and agree on an entire constitution.

 

[Suitman]

but again I would think it would be much easier to get 50 people to turn up and vote at the SC agm to get some younger people involved than to get 50 people to turn up to a pub and agree on an entire constitution.

Maybe that's the answer then.
Although, as Jodeci said, things are about to change anyway so.......

Suity

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Maybe that's the answer then.
Although, as Jodeci said, things are about to change anyway so.......

Suity

I have only been pushing for that for a few years. I stopped to write the report.

I think the Board would change this club at its folly especially if it did not have the will of the majority of the SC members, I think the Parramatta Eels fans need to get involved and do something instead of being spoon feed another solution.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Then at the SC meetings we can have a few people, present the possibilities for the SC at up-coming away games. The Meetings are held monthly and with the Current NRL schedule there is plenty of time to organize attendance to these games a month in advance.

 

[johnkolc]

One thing I highlighted to Denis and Ovo at a Melbourne Away game in 2006 I think, was a photo I had taken of Hawthorn supporters at the MCG on the same day. They had membership scarves like us that year. But each of them had a different badge which said, Member (X) years where the duration was the major part of the Badge.

I've seen those on trips down to AFL games in Melbourne as well MITS. Interesting that you raise Hawthorn too, when I questioned 3P in the lead-up to the LC elections about whether they had any plans to work with AFL membership staff about our memberships they informed me that they had quite a close relationship with some staff from Hawthorn. Which given the huge surges in their membership is a great thing I think, and one of the main reasons they got my vote, they showed a willingness to look seriously at membership.

Interesting someone else raised a point about why should people become STHs and that the club should provide reasons for this. Again with an AFL example (although why not with the numbers they get for memberships), I think the primary reason they consistently get crowds of 50 - 80k for the big Melbourne clubs is because the combination of membership of those clubs playing would generally be the majority of that figure. Take the Essendon-Carlton game, they got something like 83k to that game - the combination of their membership base would be at least 70k.

Now take Sunday's game, it was the first game I've attended all season (other than some frees I scored to the Bulldogs game *shudder*). I bought a RegionEels ticket given I am down in Canberra, and even though I thought it would be a cakewalk to the Broncos I made the trip anyway. I have planned weekends to attend games for the remainder of the 3 games I am entitled to. As I say I thought we'd get thrashed but I was going anyway, and planning a whole weekend around it, mainly because it is something I have paid for already and I may as well get use out of it. I also had a couple of neutrals in tow which was a bit of cash for the club as well. I think this would be one factor in the large crowds that AFL games get on a consistent basis (not the sole or necessarily overriding factor but one of them).

Maybe my reasons wouldn't account for many or even most people in my situation or even those local to Parramatta. But I think it would be an increase in some way to attendances to offer flexible combinations of season tickets to encourage people to pay up front and then attend regardless of the team's performance. It's the same reason those entertainment books work, you've paid for the thing you may as well eat out a bit and use the vouchers that you've paid for.

Obviously my personal contribution is minimal, but if you extrapolate that over the wider supporter/fan base and the Club takes this whole membership thing seriously then I believe we can build a genuine revenue stream that will lessen the burden on the LC grant.

As for the one card, I'd be happy with that too, but maybe to overcome the issues MITS raised those with an LC membership included on them should have a vastly different design to those for STH/FC/B&GA only members. Personally I'd rather keep LC membership separate from STH/FC/B&GA membership as well just to simplify things. That way you have a membership number and card for the LC and can vote on LC matters, and you have a STH/FC/B&GA membership card and can vote on FC matters. This is presuming the Board(s) separate the two clubs again as is their stated preference.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

I've seen those on trips down to AFL games in Melbourne as well MITS. Interesting that you raise Hawthorn too, when I questioned 3P in the lead-up to the LC elections about whether they had any plans to work with AFL membership staff about our memberships they informed me that they had quite a close relationship with some staff from Hawthorn. Which given the huge surges in their membership is a great thing I think, and one of the main reasons they got my vote, they showed a willingness to look seriously at membership.

Yeah but winning a Premiership didn't hurt membership one little bit. It would be interesting to see if we keep them considering the Premiership defense from hell that is happening right now. Who knew Crafford was such a big part of the club :roll:

Maybe my reasons wouldn't account for many or even most people in my situation or even those local to Parramatta. But I think it would be an increase in some way to attendances to offer flexible combinations of season tickets to encourage people to pay up front and then attend regardless of the team's performance. It's the same reason those entertainment books work, you've paid for the thing you may as well eat out a bit and use the vouchers that you've paid for.

In what way my I ask? I am just trying to get my head around it. I am a season ticket Holder, and I turn up to every game I can to get the value from my Season Ticket. I think most other STH's are the same. So do you mean a partial season ticket for those that don't by a full STH, so it gives them say 6 games to attend each year?

As for the one card, I'd be happy with that too, but maybe to overcome the issues MITS raised those with an LC membership included on them should have a vastly different design to those for STH/FC/B&GA only members. Personally I'd rather keep LC membership separate from STH/FC/B&GA membership as well just to simplify things. That way you have a membership number and card for the LC and can vote on LC matters, and you have a STH/FC/B&GA membership card and can vote on FC matters. This is presuming the Board(s) separate the two clubs again as is their stated preference.

Then all you need to do is for next year is have different colours of cards with the same design for different levels of membership, and then to make it part of the FC well that requires multiple votes at 2 Different AGMs, but once that is done then sure you are given an FC membership number as well.

 

[Jodeci]

Yeah but winning a Premiership didn't hurt membership one little bit. It would be interesting to see if we keep them considering the Premiership defense from hell that is happening right now. Who knew Crafford was such a big part of the club :roll:




In what way my I ask? I am just trying to get my head around it. I am a season ticket Holder, and I turn up to every game I can to get the value from my Season Ticket. I think most other STH's are the same. So do you mean a partial season ticket for those that don't by a full STH, so it gives them say 6 games to attend each year?



Then all you need to do is for next year is have different colours of cards with the same design for different levels of membership, and then to make it part of the FC well that requires multiple votes at 2 Different AGMs, but once that is done then sure you are given an FC membership number as well.

For all three memberships a Gold Card, for two Memberships a Blue Card and perhaps one type of Membership is White for arguements sake

Just a point, the supporters club would only be about supporters organising events to away games and trying to recruit more members to travel to away games

 

[Jake the snake]

Is the following possible: And its Just an idea,

I would be willing to pay a lump sum fee for A continous season ticket to all eels games at Parra. Similar to the deals that are offered at ANZ stadium, basically I own that seat.

Is this possible, Is the new board considering this?