What benefits would you expect from being in a Supporters' Club?

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Linz

Linz

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Knocking around on Twitter and keeping an eye on other clubs, you can't help but notice that many have active and vocal supporters clubs who are up to speed with this old social media malarkey. They act as lobbyists, campaigners, fundraisers, travel agents and social hubs for their chosen team.

I can't help but think ours is somewhat behind the times. Search for Supporters' Clubs and this is what you find:

http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20121001-supporters-clubs-217090.aspx?pageView=full#anchored

I can't see any benefits above being a season ticket holder that I'd get for my £3. And I emailed that German chap before going over there a couple of years ago, wondering if he'd like to meet up for a pint, and he never responded.

So, purely out of interest and in an ideal world, what would you want our Supporters' Club to be? What incentives would you want in order to pay your subs? What would you want it to be?

Are you a member of one of our many, fractured, Supporters' Clubs currently? What made you join and what keeps you paying your membership?
 



You get to say your a bigger blade than others?
 
A nice shiny plastic card with my name and a long number on it. Delightful.
 
I think in the past they used to help with getting to speak to the club, some friends of mine set up a group called expat blades when we were all in Holland and the club were very receptive to the group, it made things easier when travelling to games etc.

When you see the Retford and Worksop Supporters club coaches lined up, its clearly a benefit for them as they get travel arranged etc, but as ordinary fans, can't see anything to add
 
But as I said, in an ideal world, what would you expect a Supporters' Club to be?

Not what you think it currently is :)
 
Biggest benefit for me would be a "voice", as I've always thought of a Supporter Group as a union for the fans. I guess these things are being done already, but maybe surveys and ballots of things that affect the fans sent out to Supporters Groups members, and closer links between the groups and the Club through the Fans Rep they now have. Regular reviews and meetings between the Club and the fans on issues such as pricing - the Club's marketing and ticket offers always seem pretty rigid - maybe some input and ideas from outside the Club would benefit both them and us?

Also, pretty much what they do now in terms of organising travel to games, social events etc.
 
As an aside: am I reading it correctly that a £3 Supporters' Club membership provides the same benefits as a £20 membership?

Supporters' Club members are above general public in ticket allocation list/Discount in Superstore.
Click to expand...
 
"Are you a member of one of our many, fractured, Supporters' Clubs currently?"

Yes, the new Handsworth branch at t' Cross Keys.

"What made you join and what keeps you paying your membership?"

The metal badge tends to hold sway for me. Know most of 'um who run it and all the regulars on the bus. Not travelled with 'um yet this season but I understand the travel to away games is cheaper, they go early to get a good drink in before the game and for me it's fairly convenient (exiled at Killamarsh) that buses run from Handsworth.
 
A nice new DB9 every year.




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be a good idea.
it would be a good get together throughout the year, an entry in the interbranch quiz,and a piss up at christmas.where shall i send my 3quid too???
 
Join RAPFA! We drink real ale; watch proper football; read classical literature and plan the next Great Leap Forward..

Then we bum each other...
 
Pinchy said:
Join RAPFA! We drink real ale; watch proper football; read classical literature and plan the next Great Leap Forward..

Then we bum each other...
Click to expand...

Some good things in there Pinch, and some I'm not so sure about to be honest. Might give it a go . . . .

I think a SC should offer subsidised coach travel to away games and a members only drinking establishment on the premisies at BDTBL for pre-match frolics (perhaps not the full RAPFA agenda).
I believe there used to be a Supporters Club bar inside the Cricket Pavillion those many moons ago but I was too young to use it at the time.

I probably wouldn't partake of either now as I drive to all home games and any away games I decide to attend, but it's what I'd expect from a proper SC. Other than that nothing I'd really want to be honest.
 



I used to be a member of the Woodseats Branch of the official Supporter's Club, until if folded a couple of year ago due to lack of interest. There were members who attended every meeting, and there were those who only joined for lots of cheap away travel and a seat at the table for the POTY award dinner.

The inter-branch quiz we did was a fucking joke, with the "quizmaster" Pete Whitney being either very incompetent at the job, or very good at rigging the questions.

PW - "Kiveton Branch - what colour stripes do Sheffield United wear?"
Kiveton - "Is it red and white Pete?"
PW - "Yes. Now, Woodseats Branch, let me see. No, that one's too easy. Hmm. Ah, yes. What were the inside leg measurement of the 1923-24 side, their middle names and favourite sandwich filling? Quickly, we haven't got all night, you know."

I know there are those who speak highly of Mr. Whitney, but to me he's just an old codger who does fuck all bar hand out a trophy every year. He certainly never did anything that I was aware of for Woodseats Branch. All that's left of the club now are a few old pin badges.

As fro what we expect from any official Supporter's Club, we got a membership card that gave you the same discount in the club shop that you got as a season ticket holder, and supposedly away travel insurance if you went on a Supporter's Club coach. We also had a nice talk from Ron Reid about the academy, accompanied by Fat Terry Robinson.

The club folded mainly due to the internet, or at least due to the speed of the internet and the ease of access to information, rather than the face to face interaction that was all we used to get. The old Supporter's Clubs used to be a conduit to the club, and often the first place fans got any new info/rumour/gossip about the club. Not now though. This forum is far more of a Supporter's Club than many of the official ones as far as I can see.

Now, where's my badge and snazzy membership card?
 
Funny, I was thinking of joining a supporters club, admittedly for the away travel coach and to take the young'un without the stress of driving and looking for expensive parking spots in unfamiliar places. I live in Barnsley so I'm not sure which would be the best or closest club to join, probably Central or Sportsman. Not really a boozer although I just drink real ale so possible rules Sportsman out . Is it worth joining ?
 
Oh!! Just seen the "Samantha" link. Where's Harthill ?
 
I'm not sure what the point would be. We'd have no real say in anything of importance and it'd only exist as a group to organise and plan things as a collective, such as away travel and tickets which can, and is, covered on forums such as this.

I'd see no benefit to membership of a group unless there is some real power bestowed upon, or forced by, the group and/or there were some real financial benefits to membership.

Nevertheless, here's what I'd expect, for my whatever £ a year:

  • Whilst we aren't filling the lane, a free ticket or two spotted throughout the season. (ST holders could use it to bring a mate/kid)
  • heavily discounted tickets, ST holder could use this to purchase tickets for mates. I appreciate that said mate would be getting the benefits of others membership but an important part of growing the fan-base is for regulars to bring non regulars/first timers
  • Discount on pies, programmes and booze inside the lane, away travel and superstore goods, however minimal, on production of card.
  • An end of season party with mandatory attendance for all the squad, staff and board members - this is important in forging bonds between 'them' and 'us'
 
Presty said:
  • Discount on pies, programmes and booze inside the lane, away travel and superstore goods, however minimal, on production of card.
Click to expand...
Haha - can you imagine the chaos of the food and drink staff having to work out a discount as well as adding up?!?!?!?
 
Wapping Blade said:
Haha - can you imagine the chaos of the food and drink staff having to work out a discount as well as adding up?!?!?!?
Click to expand...

All you'd need is a -x% button on the till, although I appreciate this might still be too much for some of them.
 
I know the reason why they don't (SUFC and Compass being different companies) but they could set the kiosks up with swipe tills same as in the shop... you get your membership discount with a swipe of the card.
 
I knew my ears were burning. Yes I am still a member.

There was a 'feature' in Monday's programme listing all the current clubs and their contact details.

I've got a runner's up trophy from the Inter-Branch quiz I'll have you know! Only football trophy I'm likely to own in my life lol!
 
I'll help distribute the red cards before the match and if you need a hand delivering 2000 christmas cards to the chairman's house i'm game.

Oh what do you mean this isnt the mid 90's?

Supporters clubs usually start out as nice friendly organisations that get a bee in their bonnet and end up being a militant pact hell bent on preventing progress.

No tar, supporter's club belong in the past with Reg Brealey and a 3 sided Bramall Lane.
 
I've never been a member of a supporters group, save from a couple of years as a BIFA member in the mid 90's.

I'm not particularly bothered about joining one, unless there is a clear and defined leadership, and the supporters group holds a bit of influence and gives the supporters a bit of a voice, and sway in the direction of the club, which is virtually impossible.

One thing i have noticed over the years that i know enough people, know who runs the supporters coaches, and have got a wide enough circle of friends from watching United over a lengthy period of time that i feel a part of the wider community, and usually on matchdays i can end up bumping in to several people who i've met over the years for a quick chat.
 
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