Squadron Statement: Time for Change

http://www.newcastlefootball.net/hom...me-for-change/

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It has become evident that active support numbers and involvement have been diminishing over the past few months. Some of this is in no small part due to the performances of the team, but we have also been reading a large amount of feedback online as to other reasons people are avoiding the active area.We moved to Bay 60 as part of a regeneration of active support, there was a number of reasons for this which you can read here but the main reason was the Western Stand was where the majority of supporters now sit. However after being located in Bay 60 since Jan 2014, it is clear that Bay 60 hasn’t reinvigorated active support as we hoped it would.
We are therefore announcing a trial for the final four home games of the season for the active area to be located on the Southern Hill in the seating in Bay 42. This is beneficial for a number of reasons:

• Active support is traditionally located behind the goals
• All supporters who are interested in joining the active support will be able to utilise a GA ticket or any membership
• As the Southern Hill isnt a sanctioned active support area, we wont be allowed to have any flags, drums, megaphones or tifo during the trial.
• This is the perfect opportunity for those who state they dont like the European/South American style of support (drums & a capo) to attend and trial a different style of support to see if it works

We originally stated when we announced the Bay 60 relocation that our long term aim was to eventually end up on the Southern Hill anyway. However low turnouts and involvement have meant that active support could eventually cease at Hunter Stadium, which we couldn’t allow to happen. Some decisions had to be made to change things to reconnect with general supporters who might want to give active support a go.
So, we are inviting all interested parties who want to be involved in active support or who have previously been involved in active support but no longer attend to come along to bay 42 on the Hill to have a go at active support in a new area and trial a new direction. Plenty of people are happy to offer suggestions and ideas on what should happen with active support, NOW is the time to come forth and make it happen.
We are also stating our intention to hold an open active support forum for any interested parties to attend during the 2016 A-League Finals Series to discuss the future of active support for the Newcastle Jets. This will ensure the off season is spent constructively working towards common goals for active support in season 12 and the future. We will confirm details for the forum in due course.
on behalf of the Committee of The Squadron FSC, Inc

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Good luck !

About time

So
That seemed to go well :thumbsup:

Went well. We seemed louder there too.

1/1 winning record standing there too.

Cant make next home game it seems but goodluck.

p.s quality stuff with disco phurns

thank Christ.

that mic behind goal is great on tv

seco awipes had to stick their beak in. Would mind getting somes peeps on that back wall so theres no more whinging from the hill sitters

the people on the back wall were all friends of people in the squadron though lol

they were just trying to be heroes

First time this year I could actually hear you to be honest.

I am with a family group on the northern end 18 yard line in the western stand. The official area where you have been we wouldn't even know you are in the stadium most matches, the sound just seems to evaporate.

A couple of the older kids (15-16yo) from our group come and join you guys and they liked the new location.

Statement regarding todays match going up on front page at midday

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Squadron Statement: Active Support vs WSW

The Squadron Committee announced on 6th Feb that, for the remainder of the 2015/16 season, active support would be relocating behind the goals on the Southern Hill. The reason for this was that after a number of years spent in Bay 60 to try to rebuild active support after Bay 2, the numbers had again dwindled to the point that there were barely 10 people showing up to join in raising the atmosphere at Hunter Stadium.
After home games against Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix, feedback on the move and active support levels were overwhelmingly positive. This included positive comments from both the Club and FFA.

However on Friday afternoon we were contacted by the club who informed us that Hunter Stadium, E-Group and Newcastle Police had decided during this week's security meeting that they were not in support of The Squadron being positioned on the Southern Hill for the fixture against Western Sydney Wanderers due to the fixture being classified as "high risk". We were informed that they wanted us to return to Bay 60 for this game for "general public safety and safety of The Squadron". We were warned that security would be checking everyone's tickets to ensure that only people with GA tickets were located on the Southern Hill. Anyone with a different ticket would be told to move to their allocated seat, and that anyone who doesn't cooperate would be removed from the venue. We were also informed that if we co-operated, we would then be allowed to return to the Hill for the final game against Perth Glory and that discussions would be entered into in the offseason to facilitate making the Southern Hill the permanent location for active support. Discussions regarding the Southern Hill being made permanent were already agreed to however in a meeting several weeks ago with the FFA, Jets and Squadron committee representatives during the recent FFA Review process.

At no point was anyone from The Squadron contacted about attending this security meeting, nor were we told beforehand that there was even a consideration that we would effectively be directed to vacate the new active support area behind the goals. We have already given up the right to have any fence banners, drums, megaphones, tifo and large flags in good faith so negotiations could begin in the offseason regarding them being allowed from Season 12. We have already had to put up with a number of E-Group Security employees harassing active supporters in the new area despite only bringing in the same size small flags that any supporters can bring into Hunter Stadium. And we have already had at least two supporters removed by E-Group at the previous home game for supposedly breaking chairs that were already broken. Not to mention that the chairs across the entire Southern Hill seating area are brittle and dangerous after being in the baking sun for approx 15-20 years without being replaced.

The Squadron committee is intensely frustrated and disappointed that what is effectively a directive has been handed down with zero consultation and we as a group are expected to "toe the line" with the inference that life will be made more difficult if we choose not to comply. This is despite an existing agreement between The Squadron, Jets and the FFA that during the offseason there would be consultation into making the Southern Hill the permanent home of active support for the following season. We had also hoped that we would be able to capitalise on the fantastic numbers and atmosphere generated by the away support at the F3 Derby two weeks ago, but this directive and attitude for the WSW game will continue to throw barriers up to prevent people wanting to join and improve active support rather than making thing easier. We moved from Bay 60 as it was proven after a number of seasons not to work - returning there will undo all the hard work of the last month to revitalise active support numbers and enthusiasm.

As such, The Squadron is advising everyone to make their own decision where they choose to stand for the game against WSW. Anyone choosing to stand on the Southern Hill should ensure that they have a General Admission ticket. If you do not have a General Admission ticket, you should either buy one or sit in your assigned seat. If E-Group Security decide to cause an issue, please do not take any action that will get you into any trouble or evicted from the venue.

The Squadron Committee will continue to liaise with all stakeholders to ensure that the move to the Southern Hill is made permanent prior to the commencement of the 2016/17 season.

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Disgraceful...I'm not an active supporter but thoroughly enjoyed the show at Gosford.

I cannot see any valid reason to do this to the local supporters. Laziness in the extreme.

I hope the Squadron will be able to voice their concerns on Fox and other media.

Knew something like this would happen. Pack the terrace corner out?

****ing disgrace


The police security club and FFA should hang their heads in shame

Bowing down to the WSW


If they done their job properly problem solved

Could someone please explain to me how security say they will check all GA tix in that area....yet I am sitting in a designated gold members area where travelling WSW fans are freely helping themselves to seats without query?
If a Jets member does claim their seat the WSW fans just move to another.
Very galling that in a members area away fans are just helping themselves. Far more potential for trouble.

wsw grubs are exempt from rules says e-retard group

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Originally Posted by Jetmaster

Could someone please explain to me how security say they will check all GA tix in that area....yet I am sitting in a designated gold members area where travelling WSW fans are freely helping themselves to seats without query?
If a Jets member does claim their seat the WSW fans just move to another.
Very galling that in a members area away fans are just helping themselves. Far more potential for trouble.

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Agree. We've brought this up with the club from a members committee side of things but it appears nothing has happened. Will do so again

security seemed to work well yesterday then. i was sitting in the GA southern hill area and didn't have my ticket checked. didn't really seem like the squadron was any smaller than usual either.

FFA/security/hatamoto - why talk it up if you don't do it?

i did see a security guard chase somebody down the aisle next to the wanderers away group to check their ticket however.

can fat e-group stand to the west of us to shade the bay, tank you