Squadron Relocation: Your thoughts please

[MFKS]

I can't answer your question about the bay60 tickets. That is one for furns.

Interested to know where all the squadron hate comes from. We have tried pretty hard this season to be open. Anyone can sign up as a member and have their say. The new committee is pretty open to discussion and for people to come and see them. It is no secret who is who most of the time (as there was an article on the front page of this site with all our names and forum names etc.) and we have had open tifo days, put buses on, been transparent as possible, even tried to engage more of the crowd through a call and response chant which has been pretty hit and miss, and yet there still seems to be a fair amount of anti-squadron sentiment around.

I know we have actively tried to discourage some things (Celery chant for example, its rubbish), but on the whole we have been pretty open to different styles of support and working with anyone that is willing to lend a hand and keen to get involved. This is true even as recently as Coast away where a guy who made a standard and put in 90minutes of effort was singled out as someone worth congratulating for their effort by the committee.

I suppose I ask out of personal interest, I just don't get it. How can people hate the group that is creating an atmosphere that I think the majority of the crowd enjoy and appreciate? If the squadron were not there I don't think the atmosphere on game day would be the same? nor do I think as many people would enjoy themselves at the games? or am I thinking too highly of active supporters?

I do have a certain tint of glasses on.

Umm have you actually considered actually throwing out the Membership thing to being a NEWCASTLE JETS OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS CLUB and get some backing from the Club to do this rather than just say a SQUADRON membership??

I feel that making it a Jets Fans Club as such would open more doors to getting more members involved in your activities rather than the current situation where it would be viewed as "Squadron only"

Increasing your Membership from the usual riff raff in Bay 2 and a few token sympathisers to your cause from elsewhere in the ground to a wide diversity of ages and people would allow the Open message you are trying top get across much better.

Seriously how many of our 11k of Members know about the buses to Gosford??? I would assume less than 10% of them tops would have been aware. Get another couple of thousand members from our supporter base involved in your activities seems like a logical answer to some of your issues

[Sam]

Umm have you actually considered actually throwing out the Membership thing to being a NEWCASTLE JETS OFFICIAL SUPPORTERS CLUB and get some backing from the Club to do this rather than just say a SQUADRON membership??

I feel that making it a Jets Fans Club as such would open more doors to getting more members involved in your activities rather than the current situation where it would be viewed as "Squadron only"

Increasing your Membership from the usual riff raff in Bay 2 and a few token sympathisers to your cause from elsewhere in the ground to a wide diversity of ages and people would allow the Open message you are trying top get across much better.

Seriously how many of our 11k of Members know about the buses to Gosford??? I would assume less than 10% of them tops would have been aware. Get another couple of thousand members from our supporter base involved in your activities seems like a logical answer to some of your issues

Actually this isnt a bad idea... would certainly make people feel more welcome and wanted.

[GazFish35]

I think one of the squadrons strengths is it's independence from the club, lose it and we start being told what to sing..... Like songs with sponsors names in it.


The teams been shit for 6 years, when we finally get a decent onfield season things will pick up.
As an organised Independent groups of supporters we need to hold the club to account for onfield and offield issues that hinder growth of the club (the club, not our group) and doing that at arms length is important.

[Sam]

I think one of the squadrons strengths is it's independence from the club, lose it and we start being told what to sing..... Like songs with sponsors names in it.


The teams been shit for 6 years, when we finally get a decent onfield season things will pick up.
As an organised Independent groups of supporters we need to hold the club to account for onfield and offield issues that hinder growth of the club (the club, not our group) and doing that at arms length is important.

Hahaha sha la lalalalala, heeeeyy Westrac!

[MFKS]

I think one of the squadrons strengths is it's independence from the club, lose it and we start being told what to sing..... Like songs with sponsors names in it.


The teams been shit for 6 years, when we finally get a decent onfield season things will pick up.
As an organised Independent groups of supporters we need to hold the club to account for onfield and offield issues that hinder growth of the club (the club, not our group) and doing that at arms length is important.

No reason why both couldn't be done though

Squadron to maintain arms length from club holding the Club to Account
Official Supporters Club could be used to spruik various aspects of Squadron activities when required!!! to the masses

Probably also get a few involved in both and would be cross over benefits

[militiamon]

The teams been shit for 6 years, when we finally get a decent onfield season things will pick up.

This basically sums everything in this thread up.

Don't get me wrong, the discussion is great, and I've definitely agreed with the points made by haus and Premy, but at the end of the day there's only so much we can do.
I honestly think that when it comes to numbers, our actions probably only influence about 10% of the final figure, with the on-field results making up the other 90%. The way in which we support the team (chants, banners, tifo etc.) is something we have much more control over.

A couple of further points:

- The guys who were in the courtyard at the pub were nearly all NCL members (a.k.a not Squadron these days). That's another issue entirely.
- I can say that Blackmac is definitely one of the more proactive members w.r.t the recruiting you are talking about haus. timmy has also been good with this in the past, he's the reason why I got into bay 2 in the first place.
- I for one definitely appreciated the banter from your group Premy. It looks like going mega-less may be the way to go for the next Coast game.

[Superdylan]

I've tried to make sure people in the bay are more comfortable abit this season aswell especially some of the younger supporters this includes boys & girls 13-17 year olds mainly. Youth are the key they are more likely to get amongst it then people in their 30's plus as they have been brought up supporting in a different way at sports which can be quite hard to change.

Just a quick 5 minute chat about how you are enjoying youself in the bay that type of thing can go along way from making someone a part-timer to a full-timer.

[Superdylan]

All socialising should be put on hold when its gameday, support the boys, go hard or go home

Bring on saturday!

[plague]

The teams been shit for 6 years, when we finally get a decent onfield season things will pick up.

Gospel.
The fact that you lot have the energy to put in any effort to support the steaming pile of turd we have been dished up for the past few years has my upmost respect.
You all are much better fans that I.

[BodyNovo]

gaz speaks the truth

another reason imo is that our core has dwindled over the years as well. there are many reasons why it hasn't stayed the same/grown, and i think this season we are starting to get back on top of it.

this season i see as a really important rebuilding one that will define whether "the squadron" succeeds or not and this bay 60 move is a big factor in that rebuild. hopefully by the end of the season our core will be bigger and we will be able to start focusing on doing the things we have been good since the beginning (long before i got involved) which is; tifo, flags, banners, and merchandise.

i think we have restored the fun factor over the last couple of weeks as well, while coast away (in game) was a bit of a blip (not allowing for sporadic chanting, over use of mega, result poor).

so i will say the following and this will come across as a plead for help...but we need everyone to be in bay 60 this weekend who is willing.

bring color, bring noise and lets enjoy it. hopefully it will be the refresh we need!

[pv4]

I've tried to make sure people in the bay are more comfortable abit this season aswell especially some of the younger supporters this includes boys & girls 13-17 year olds mainly. Youth are the key they are more likely to get amongst it then people in their 30's plus as they have been brought up supporting in a different way at sports which can be quite hard to change.

Just a quick 5 minute chat about how you are enjoying youself in the bay that type of thing can go along way from making someone a part-timer to a full-timer.

All socialising should be put on hold when its gameday, support the boys, go hard or go home

Bring on saturday!

SD did you just say you've been having chats with youngens and it's good and stuff, and then instantly put a ban on socializing?

[hausmann]

I'm still new, I decided to join/help out when their numbers dwindled. I havent really been approached (I think theyre scared of girls!) I've had to introduce myself to people, often to be dismissed or forgotten the next week. Ive made the effort myself to make friends and its slowly getting there. Slowly.
FYI my first time I squadron was THAT Wanderers game!
From the outsode looking in, alot of people just see squadron as a bunch of drunks that start fights within themselves. I still get told to get out if it! Having met most of the comittee I can see that they love thier team and have a passion for telling them so for 90mins.

Welcome aboard Sam. Yes, they probably are scared of girls.

[Superdylan]

SD did you just say you've been having chats with youngens and it's good and stuff, and then instantly put a ban on socializing?

At half time mate. Nothing too serious of a conversation but some of these younger guys don't know everyone in bay 2. This is something I kind of struggled with when I first joined the squadron proper in season 5 maybe I wasn't as outgoing/comfortable in there.

I try and limit socializing in game time.

[MFKS]

At half time mate. Nothing too serious of a conversation but some of these younger guys don't know everyone in bay 2. This is something I kind of struggled with when I first joined the squadron proper in season 5 maybe I wasn't as outgoing/comfortable in there.

I try and limit socializing in game time.

Yeah but you do more than enough socialising the rest of the time

[Superdylan]

Correct MFKS. Should always be 3 hours at least pre game, a couple hours post game for these Saturday night fixtures.

Then the squadron and the 90 limits all friendships put aside to get the boys home. I really do not care where I stand in the bay but prefer to be near bodi on mega. Have a core near the mega and the chants will work better.

[hausmann]

What I don't get is why the slobs option in this poll needs to be further clarified.

If people want to vote slobs, then they should be able to vote slobs.

[Jeterpool]

I might pop over and say hi to some of you guys this weekend now you're in Bay 60. I'm in 58.

I'll make sure it's at halftime however!

[furns]

No reason why both couldn't be done though

Squadron to maintain arms length from club holding the Club to Account
Official Supporters Club could be used to spruik various aspects of Squadron activities when required!!! to the masses

Probably also get a few involved in both and would be cross over benefits

We have a very good relationship with the Club currently and they are the ones who promote our coach service (tifo day, etc) to their email list, and via social media to get the word out. I would say a good deal of the supporters know about the service.
We have always been independent from the club, and always will be. If the club begins to contribute money to us, independence becomes compromised and you get into a whole minefield of control from the club when we want to express something the club may not agree with.
However we have already discussed with the club about combining Jets and Squadron memberships.

[hausmann]

However we have already discussed with the club about combining Jets and Squadron memberships.

Would that comply with the rules of the Association?

Unless the rules have been changed, a current member needs to approve the admittance of a proposed member. This is done for a very good reason - to protect the integrity of the Association and its assets. If anyone can just sign up through a Jets ticket to Bay2/Bay60 you risk admitting people who may not have the best interests of the association at heart.

IMO, I would keep them separate.

[furns]

very true, hadnt thought about how it would work under the current constitution. It was an idea brought up during one of the meetings with the club, and the active support forum.
it would have to be something to be discussed in committee then via a supporter general meeting.