Earlier this year I opened a blog asking for your feedback on how the club can better engage with supporters and provide more for members.
The SGA has continued to meet on a bi-monthly basis to provide feedback and gain clarity on issues from the club.
A key point many raised here was around membership packs and how they're organised.
We had it clarified that the club enters a multi-year deal with a supplier and our current supplier is contracted for the 2026 season. The SGA has put forward a desire for the club to investigate other suppliers for 2027 onwards as there is a preference for a more flexible membership pack. Examples brought forward include other clubs and sports that offer a build your own membership pack that allows supporters to select exactly what goes into their pack to a certain dollar amount based on the level of their membership.
We will be discussing this in our next meeting in August.
There was feedback on this site about member access to the Centre of Excellence. The club is looking at making tours available during the off season but more planning is needed. Tours can't be held in-season due to the presence of football staff and therefore a lack of access to football areas. Expect more to come on this later this year.
We have had discussions about cheerleaders and their contribution to the club in the past. The club did say they would be looking into this later in 2025 and exploring some different options. The club was open to feedback that for some women cheerleading presented a way for them to support the club through their own passion, and was also receptive to the idea that perhaps it was a chance to look at greater involvement of local dance and cheer groups as part of community outreach. We'll be asking for an update at our next meeting.
At our August meeting we will be bringing forward a discussion on the 40th anniversary of the 1986 premiership. Next year is the anniversary. I felt our celebration of the 2021-23 anniversaries was lacking, partly due to COVID. With the club's renewed focus on recognising our past we will want to see a strong recognition of what was accomplished in 1986.
If you have any ideas or feedback you'd like me to bring to the next meeting please comment below or you can send me a message.
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I rang the club in a negative manner about a few things a couple of weeks ago. In the meantime i mentioned how long serving fans are not getting much in return and i was replied back with they are looking at pins and a scarf for long serving members. I mean wow a scarf, i haven't got one since my last membership pack.
Thanks LB. We do have a representative from membership at our meetings and we have asked about membership recognition, particularly for long-serving members. I'll add that to be raised again.
Is there anything you would specifically like?
How about something no other members get unless they reach certain longevity milestones....special 10 years caps or 15/20/25 year polo shirts.
I'd rather something worthwhile than cheap medals, keyrings etc that end up in landfill.
Thanks Badger, that has most definitely been brought up. Similar comment to you. We had some saying that medals or keyrings are pointless as they either get chucked or sit on a shelf and we'd prefer something we could wear or an experience. We did discuss something like 20 or 30 year members get 2 free tickets to the Captain's club or Cumberland Lounge at a home game of their choice. So I'll add that to our feedback and see if we can get some movement from the club.
The Nathan Cayless coin i actually liked but needs to be a consistent collectable. Imagine every year you get a new one and i wait to see who it is. Next year Hindmarsh? Fuifui? Burt? To some it is rubbish but i would find that great.
I'll send you mine if I didn't chuck it in the bin already. I am not a fan of that sort of stuff. Same as that coin about the premierships.
We can't celebrate anything else so let's keep reminding our members of that fact.
I do not want to be that person that seems like they want things all the time, i have been a season ticket holder for 25 years this year and i go to pretty much every game, the amount of games missed in that 25 years would not be dobule figuers if they are it is slightly over, i go cause i love going it is my 2nd home where i feel comfortable. But also i would love the odd appreciation.
I understand you cannot do things for members every year it is too much. But for say milestones like 10, 20, 25, 30 etc years maybe offer up a few things the club could offer and the member chooses 1 thing.
Just spitballing as examples but you could options like:
For your 25th year to celebrate and a thank you, you are able to participate in one of these options;
Go in to sheds
Meet a player of your choice or the coach for 5-10mins for photo opportunity
Go to end of year event as a guest
Invite to a captain's run
invite to the tunnel area before and after a game
Again not expecting those exactly but examples. The amount of years could make what you get different. Someone of 10 years gets less options than one of 30 years of course. Maybe introduce a 10 year polo like Badger said or even do a draw of a collection of 10 year members where they can win a signed jumper or something makes it that if you are 10 years you have a better chance with less people instead of free for all.
I mentioned on a similar post the minor touches though not crucial were still great. In 2018, my dad and i got a laminated sign on our seats at the final home game with our member number saying thank you for coming to every game. It was minor but it was a nice touch. Just things like that i guess. I said before i don't want to make it like i want everything, i don't but just some things. I do feel there are some who are members for a year get more than people around me as season ticket holders for 25+ years. Like last year they did a 10+ members night where players attended and still waiting for my invite. There was someone i know who was 20 years and got one.
I sound like a Karen, i do not want to as i love my tickets and will never give them up, even if we lose or going bad i still love going. But when i heard what the membership team had in store for long serving members was insulting to say the least and showed how out of touch they are.
I am glad you are reaching out here Super. Hope my post is not to whiny or asking for a lot.
Mate, that's all fair. We did ask about how the club looks at membership milestones. We found out the club has had some challenges with their membership platform with incorrect dates which is possibly the reason you didn't receive the invite you referred to. Apparently that glitch has now been fixed. I'll definitely take some of those ideas to the next meeting and see what the club is open to.
Super, it's probably unlikely the club will give much away on this, which to a degree is very understandable.
However, it would be great to hear what is happening in operating & evolving recruitment & retention, what improvements are being made here with an eye on the future, even if in generic / PR spinning terms.
This isn't about shaking our fists at the sky & blaming individuals, and respect the fact the club is a business & must keep so much of these strategies behind closed doors - which they do a fantastic job of.
But, after several misses in R&R, it would be great to hear that the Eels are reviewing their processes, reviewing their entire R&R operation - from contact & communication, the pitching process, negotiating contracts, to opening opportunities in business, education, post-football avenues, extended family benefits etc.
Are we leaving no stone unturned in preparation & delivery of signing in-demand players.
Thanks NoS. So I can answer to an extent as we do get a little info regarding the football operations. The club has already begun refining both its talent ID and retention, specifically for our juniors. The recent extensions of Latu and Funa-luta are part of this change. The club is looking to lock up its top line junior talent long term, allowing these players to enter the NRL system and give the club the best opportunity for retaining them. They have a multi-year plan to ensure these players remain Eels for as long as we want them.
Having spoken to some of our NRL players, the CoE and current footballing department is apparently quite the draw for some recruits. For a few of the guys I spoke to, having a stand out facility was part of their decision to join the club alongside the clear plan the coaching staff have.
In terms of sought-after players as you put it, we didn't get much info on that, but in fairness it's really only been Galvin we were in for. At the end of the day we can't make the decision for him. I'd say the recruitment in the past 12 months has definitely improved and the club has acted more decisively in the open market.
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