Supporters Club?

[ezz]

What would benefit from the club is the atmosphere, sometimes having that identity encourages people to sing more and get behid the team. Being around those who regularly start chants would probably encourage more to join in.
Would being stood to the right of the MBW stand improve atmosphere? I.e closer to the main stand? Would they join in?

[Lurchy]

Isn't the coach organised by Bob Fleetwood for every away game affiliated with the supporters club?

I don't see how people can blame poor away attendance on the lack of a supporters club. The 3 coach groups that go to every away game regularly advertise, on here, spare seats to games.

Where? Hardly anything has been advertised. It seems to me (who would go on the coach as a lot cheaper than 2 people in a car), that certain mini-bus crews are a tight unit and have the same people that go every week, therefore either there are never spaces or they don't want you. I enquired with one by PM about if transport to Bradford was on, how much etc and I got 'Do I know you?'.

I watched Stevenage home games for about 3 years and they seem to do a successful one: http://www.sa4sbfc.co.uk/

I have travelled on Bob Fleetwood's coach quite a few times and had no bother even though I hardly know any of the regulars. All you have to do is ring between 6pm and 8pm and he is more than happy to help if you explain why you are ringing. He books the size of coach depending on the numbers that book in advance.

[Keith]

An initial burst of enthusiasm.
Lots of people agreeing it's a good idea.
but no concrete plans?

How can this be moved forwards?
Transport? It's been mentioned a few times. I think there is a valid comment that many fans don't know how to go about travelling to away games with other fans, who to contact etc. How about the people who arrange transport all write a few lines about the transport they arrange and who to get in touch with. I will then post a 'sticky' on the forum. This thread can then be used to advertise travel and help people to find the right travel for 'their day out'. Many of the groups that travel (or have travelled in the past) have nicknames which is likely to put people off because they may feel that they are cliques, when in reality they would be made very welcome. Over the years I've travelled with all of the following from time to time...

'The Supporters Club'- Bob Fleetwood
'The Indies'- Mick Birch
'The Sardines'- Gary Hocking
'The Professionals'- Freez
'The York Hotel'- (see Indies?)

Any others?

And what about an actual 'Supporters Club'? Is there enough will to get this off the ground or would it just be left to one or two people to do everything until it falls apart?

[ockers]

Remember a supporters club isn't just for Xmas Keith
it's for life.....i'll talk to mike on Saturday

[marky No.1]

Just to put my 2 penneth in regarding coaches, the guys that do it do a marvellous job. When we were at Christie it was so much easier to talk to friends in the one meeting place which was JB s to watch the results, have a beer, discuss the game and plan the next one while knowing that in a few minutes a player or 2 would walk through and have a chat. You could even socialist with the prawn sandwich brigade at the same time.

Obviously now that has changed and many people have lost contact. Bus organisers have sometimes found themselves posting on here instead but because most of us are "faceless" on here neither the buyer or the seller knows each other which leads to a bit of mistrust and the sense of a clique regime.

This so called clique is simply the group who regularly attend away games and, if you like, are trustworthy that when they say they will turn up they actually do!

With the ground move, the financial state of everything, the poor results and general apathy people are being very selective with games and this has made it hard for organisers particularly with fuel on the increase. When I was told how much the big coach was costing to hire for the day it is not a surprise.

Fans will also wait and see how results go before they decide so until things improve on the pitch I can't see queues forming just yet, but having said that we booked our Xmas/new year coach travel months ago!

[marky No.1]

So yes, the idea of a supporters club and making a homely meeting place where people can be made welcome instead of them and us is a great idea. Thing is how do you get upstairs and downstairs to meet?

Uppy Downy! The new bar name

[ezz]

Not like we don't have a nice shiny new bar to meet in..... the home of the new supporters club?

[Crooky MFC]

What would benefit from the club is the atmosphere, sometimes having that identity encourages people to sing more and get behid the team. Being around those who regularly start chants would probably encourage more to join in.
Would being stood to the right of the MBW stand improve atmosphere? I.e closer to the main stand? Would they join in?

A problem this season is that not everybody is huddled up together like at Christie, where we were all compact to the right of the goals. It would be a huge help IMO if everybody that sung stood closer together!

[Bryan]

Nothing clandestine about the supporters travel clubs that exist. They exist because the official supporters travel club overpriced their trips to keep the lads that like a drink etc. off the coach/bus (i'm a teetotaller these days by the way). Any new official supporters club will have to operate an everyman system as people just won't go. If it's too expensive people won't go. Also can you really guarantee to fill a coach to places like Southend and Torquay? Why do you think organisers (who by the way never get any credit or help from the club) often fall back to using mini-buses in order to keep costs down.

I reckon you are looking at half a dozen games at the most where you can fill a big coach up for away games. Good luck with it, but it won't be easy.

[Keith]

Any new official supporters club will have to operate an everyman system as people just won't go. If it's too expensive people won't go. Also can you really guarantee to fill a coach to places like Southend and Torquay? Why do you think organisers (who by the way never get any credit or help from the club) often fall back to using mini-buses in order to keep costs down.

I reckon you are looking at half a dozen games at the most where you can fill a big coach up for away games. Good luck with it, but it won't be easy.

As I mentioned earlier Bryan, if a unified 'travel club' is the goal, then it is almost certainly doomed to failure and I would strongly advice against even trying. But better communication between potential travelling fans and empty seats will only improve the situation.

[RedRedWine1]

I've not read all of this topic, but didn't OMFSC change their name to 'Shrimps Supporters Club' after people on shrimpsvoices (who had no interest in actually using the service prior to and post name change) had a moan about how exclusive the organisation was? Haven't organiser of travel been let down by people saying that they will attend an away game on here, but then not show up or give the courtesy of a reason as to why? Didn't Shrimper once try to arrange a shrimpsvoices night out that went from the initial idea of a mass meet up, to bowling between 4 or 5?

The above should be kept in mind when looking at arranging anything via shrimpsvoices, although I do agree with Kieth that setting up a supporters club at the new ground would be a good idea. Depending on how one was set up (the aims and purposes of the club), It could turn out to be beneficial for supporters and MFC. On match days I think it would enhance the collective identity amongst supporters and also help get that sense of belonging back, which IMO has rapidly evaporated since the move to the Globe. When we aren't playing it could offer an organised and structured way for supporters to meet, socialise, and conduct activities such as fundraising. Just arranging a night to meet in the Globe will make a difference to club and contribute to the bars sizeable overheads.

IMO, a supporters club would definitely need to be more than just providing another form of away travel. Actually, I think that is done very well by the small band of current organisers. If a supporters club could act as a vehicle (cough) for them to get numbers up then great. I'm willing to help if required, even if that means just rocking up and making up the numbers.

[Keith]

Didn't Shrimper once try to arrange a shrimpsvoices night out that went from the initial idea of a mass meet up, to bowling between 4 or 5?

If he did, he didn't turn up! It was so popular, we had to consider using two lanes

The used to post, much lamented, media tart MarkS might have been the original motivator. Or Gnasher? It was a good night, as I recall. Wasn't that the night Morecambe Mick dragged us along to a karaoke?

[heysham_mfc]

I've not read all of this topic, but didn't OMFSC change their name to 'Shrimps Supporters Club' after people on shrimpsvoices (who had no interest in actually using the service prior to and post name change) had a moan about how exclusive the organisation was? Haven't organiser of travel been let down by people saying that they will attend an away game on here, but then not show up or give the courtesy of a reason as to why? Didn't Shrimper once try to arrange a shrimpsvoices night out that went from the initial idea of a mass meet up, to bowling between 4 or 5?

The above should be kept in mind when looking at arranging anything via shrimpsvoices, although I do agree with Kieth that setting up a supporters club at the new ground would be a good idea. Depending on how one was set up (the aims and purposes of the club), It could turn out to be beneficial for supporters and MFC. On match days I think it would enhance the collective identity amongst supporters and also help get that sense of belonging back, which IMO has rapidly evaporated since the move to the Globe. When we aren't playing it could offer an organised and structured way for supporters to meet, socialise, and conduct activities such as fundraising. Just arranging a night to meet in the Globe will make a difference to club and contribute to the bars sizeable overheads.

IMO, a supporters club would definitely need to be more than just providing another form of away travel. Actually, I think that is done very well by the small band of current organisers. If a supporters club could act as a vehicle (cough) for them to get numbers up then great. I'm willing to help if required, even if that means just rocking up and making up the numbers.

Well said if truth be told there is already enough travel going to away games all we need is one place where all info on coaches mini-buses ect can be found as a lot of people just don't know who to contact to book. Meeting up both on match days and non match days is another great idea maybe if we could get an idea of numbers attending then the club could put something on in the B&G.

We do however need a rough estimate of the number of people who would be willing to join a supporters club, not sure how this would work but was thinking something along the lines of having a membership system with people paying a small ammount per season which could then be used in the running of a club.

[Lloydie]

A simple notice board in the bar to sign-up for various travel? not likes there's ought else on the walls in there...

[Seasider9601]

A simple notice board in the bar to sign-up for various travel? not likes there's ought else on the walls in there...

Back in the good old days there was a notice board in the entrance to JB's Bar where coach travel details were posted and people could add their names to .......

A bar where ALL supporters used to congregate before and after the match ....

[marky No.1]

A bar where ALL supporters used to congregate before and after the match ....

When we joined the Football League the areas were segregated so it was only really after the game that the North Stand would join the Main Stand.

The only way to sort that problem out is to go Non League again. Unthinkable really considering the place is now pretty much segregated anyway.

[Duffman]

A bar where ALL supporters used to congregate before and after the match ....

The only way to sort that problem out is to go Non League again. Unthinkable really considering the place is now pretty much segregated anyway.

Sadly not, I may be wrong but I believe if an ex-league team is playing the ground must be segregated. That was why some games in the Conference were segregated and others weren't.

[marky No.1]

A bar where ALL supporters used to congregate before and after the match ....

The only way to sort that problem out is to go Non League again. Unthinkable really considering the place is now pretty much segregated anyway.

Sadly not, I may be wrong but I believe if an ex-league team is playing the ground must be segregated. That was why some games in the Conference were segregated and others weren't.

Jeez. In that case we may as well stay up then... Surely they would have the choice?

[Keith]

I thought it was to do with attendances? Below a certain level no need for segregation.

[Gnasher]

Once you reach a league where segregation is required, you always have to segregate.

[thegentlegiant]

i have been sent an e-mail offering to build a site, maintain it and host it.

local firm - http://www.mustbemedia.co.uk

I really like the idea of a supporters club and I could genuine put a lot of time and effort into this.

I want to move forward on this, anyone else interested, we of course need to see if the old one is now no longer in action and if this is the case we can get one under way.

I have few idea's that would make it a huge success and bring the club and fans closer together.