I think there's a few little issues, but they would all be improved by one overriding fix. It'd be good to have more numbers in general.
The more numbers we have, the more individuals come out of the woodwork to do all the little things that make the Marinators better. A good example is Fish, he started out going to a few games watching us from afar, interest got the better of him and the rest is history, he is now one of the main personalities involved in al the organising and responsibility. There are lots of people currently who will put their hand up, but need directing, we could use a few more directors who will take the initiative and get things done. The people who do this type of thing now, in whatever capacity, good work to you! Then there is the roll on effect, the more people making the Marinators better, the more people we attract, hence more contributors and so on.
I'm not full of answers as to how to really push towards this but I haven't given it much thought. I hope that by putting in more work now, in future years there will be people lining up to write on the website, to organise buses and make banners rather than this work falling on perhaps too few shoulders at the moment.
As far as match day Marinating I couldn't ask for much more. The Newcastle away trip really impressed/surprised me, I initially thought we wouldn't fill a bus but it just goes to show there are a lot of lurkers on the forum not just the people in the 2000 post club ;D We all know loads of songs, there's heaps of people that start them, and we make a lot of noise for the size of our group.
To be honest I hope Sydney bring 500 Covers up here and sing the house down so more Coasties see what we're trying to achieve.
In our hearts, and on our chest We always wear, the famous crest And Lawrie's men, they make us proud And that is why, WE SING IT LOUD WE ALL FOLLOW A YELLOW FOOTBALL TEAM!
Post by dibo (pron. "DIB-OH") on Oct 26, 2005 23:19:45 GMT 10
fantastic.
the marinators are crazy-good. consider- in one year, we've gone from hoping that we'd get a franchise, and kinda wondering if we'd get a halfway decent team, to wondering if people would show up, to all of a sudden (and it is sudden, i'm talking since may 8 so less than 6 months) building a regular fanbase to the extent that you guys sold out a bus to newcastle for an away match.
there are a core of supporters and a large (and growing) periphery.
there is a good football team that is building up and simply needs a bit of consistency to be very competitive.
we have a stadium that is steadily getting more full, a real word of mouth campaign with people bringing mates along to the football who then discover they love it and bring another few mates...
let's not be impatient- we're not going to have 20k mad yellow bastards screaming like buccaneers every match just yet. but we've made a good start.
if i didn't live in bloody stanmore i'd love to get more involved in the nuts and bolts, but it's not really possible i'm afraid...
I would say we are doing ok, there is always room for improvement!
The core marinator group are giving it everything they have on match day and the players can't ask for much more than that. I would love to see bigger numbers but as interest grows on the coast so will Bay 16, we have said it before, we live in an area which has only just been introduced to competitive football.
An area of improvement would be the Marinators being more family orientated, and by that I mean swearing. Everyone I think knows my swearing opinion (we should be able to say what we like, being a pommy that's my football background), however we are trying to promote the Mariners on the coast which is very much a family community, parents won't return with their kids if the language is too rough. As annoying as it is for us, imagine what it is like for the club recieving complaints every week about some of our chants. The club helps us, we should help them too.
Sydney is going to be our record crowd, lets make sure the families that turn up want to come back so we can continue to get 10k+
FIFA - Federation Internationale de Football Association, It's Football not soccer there is no S in FIFA
Post by Auburn Mariner on Oct 27, 2005 10:08:40 GMT 10
The Marinators are doing well, in my humble opinion.
I'm almost in the same boat as Dibo, except I am not working stupid hours on Capital Hill for half of every year. I get annoyed when there is a call for Marinators to do a photo shoot in Gosford, because I am always here in Bling Bling!! Just once, I'd like to be able to say "I was there".
I can certainly get involved in booking things like buses, as I do this as part of my job and I will make the time to do this in the future.
Game days are great, especially at Stade des Marins. The atmosphere in Bay 16 is electric.
I have stayed out of the swearing debate, but it's time for me to make my point. I do not agree with the complaints made about swearing in Bay 16. I have 5 children between 21 & 7 and I have asked them ALL what they think (except the little man!!). None of them have a problem, saying that schoolyard has much bluer language.
But, DJ is right. What we may personally believe and what is best for the group may be very different. Our group's image is very important and the time has come to make a decision on which direction we take. If we agree to cut out the f bomb, then I am happy to go along with that. If we leave it as is, then we will continue to get some complaints from the less tolerant at the Stade.
One more thing; can someone PLEASE put on a massive, ugly Sumo suit and pretend to be Auburn, so the coppers don't pick me out AGAIN? I am very tired of talking to the Bill, as I am clearly NOT our leader. I know you read this, NSW Police, so please, get someone else to do your work next time.
Post by Penrith9103 on Oct 27, 2005 11:03:49 GMT 10
I too started supporting the Mariners from the grandstand at the first CWC game against Newcastle. After watching you guys that day, I had to be amongst the atmosphere and I plonked myself in Bay 16 starting from the following game against Adelaide on the Wednesday night. Since then I have become a season ticket holder and I've always been in Bay 16. Although I haven't met anyone from the "main core" marinators I hope to. and also get involved with any fundraising and activites that may present themselves.
I would love to see more people in Bay 16, but not families. If we could get a lot more people like ourselves sining and chanting all game that would be great.
About the swearing. Whether we like it or not we are viewed as "The Mariners Supporters". We have to create a family atmosphere behind the goals as they are the least expensive seats. People coming to a game for the first time are going to sit there, because they wont pay the dollars for a grandstand seat and not like it. If little Johnny and Sally go home sining "Get into'em, F*** em'up" they wont be back.
Looking and following from Bay 27 you do an amazing job, you look great and sound great you get the crowd involved and you help give the place an atmoshere.... I will being joining you guys next season in Bay 16..
On the swearing issue, i don't have a problem with it...Hello its part of Football at least your not being aggressive to wards any one person your just singing a song.
Post by blackadder on Oct 27, 2005 17:12:03 GMT 10
Overall doing a great job considering the realtively short lifespan of the Marinators. As mentioned by others the swearing is a issue, not only because of the Mariners being new to the CC public (mostly families), and as such have to be seen as "family friendly" as not to lose a sizeable chunk of potential $$$$ but this is be addressed,and I am sure that given time the Marinators can be a place where everyone feels comfortable if they want to sing,etc
Last Edit: Oct 27, 2005 17:12:56 GMT 10 by blackadder
If Mortein is so good, how come Louie the fly is still alive.
Overall I think the Marinators are doing ok. I think to be up and running by the start of the season was an awesome effort. We all know those responsible. The pace of change and new ideas has slowed somewhat but is something one should expect with growing maturity of any new organisation and should be expected. Also with the season proper peoples thoughts are on football and not other ideas.
On the horizen I see the Charity Shield which if we get good coverage will be an awesome pr event for us, the Bling and the ASL in general.
We must keep good relationships with opposing fans. This I see as one of the great things that the Marinators have brought to this league. This must be preserved at all costs especially turning the other cheek to idiots to avoiding damaging incidents. We must make some good contacts with the jests fans who are not idiots before New Years Eve or that door will be closed forever.
As we grow it will become harder to please all the Marinators all the time, we will then have to learn tolerance in our own ranks and avoid schisms (I still hate the Bob Stand, but it would not have been nearly as much fun without them).
A word of warning.
There is nothing wrong with a bit of introspection and self criticism but there is nothing worse than any organisation telling itself how good it is.
Keep up the good work all you people in yellow.
Enough of the Thursday evening philosophy I have developed a thirst.
Post by Yellowbeard on Oct 28, 2005 17:28:41 GMT 10
I voted for the top one! But, I think perhaps we are beginning to take ourselves a bit seriously (internet forums have that effect on people). We are a group of people who happen to sit in the same are and watch a game of football. How people can try and attack "The marinators" is beyond me. Oh, and if you don't like swearing, live in a hole because it's everywhere (Just ask Pat O' Shane)
Post by ninjaturtle on Nov 1, 2005 10:17:32 GMT 10
doing a top job boys and girls!!! i love the organisation of away games i love how we can prove people wrong and most of all i love the buzz i get from the electric atmosphere at the games week in week out!! thanx again
bit of a late reply nevertheless. since the jets v cc game in the wcc i have been sitting in bay 16 and have been to every single home game and to the away trips to sydney and newcastle and you guys are doing a great job, always providing great atmosphere and support for the mariners and are helping the game grow. though it would be good to see more involvment match day wise by more of the crowd the rugby league crowd that just sits there. It would be good to see the area behind the goals bay 16 be known colectively as something else, i personally feel having one bay restricts how much of an impact and influence we have a name of the area that we treasure on gameday like "the kop" for liverpool. or "the docK" in our case rather than being asscociated with the bay we sit in. but if we are able to spread our influence through bays 15 and 17 we could gain larger marinator particpation and further enhance the experience of gameday and help become a greater influence on football. though i can understand that are still only a baby who considering have done an outstanding job would only further be hindered in expaning if there is this constant link between one bay, bay 16 and the marinators continues. many marinators may probly be angry to have read this though i beleive when we do eventually expand we cannot be confined to that one area and i know that this takes time however when the time comes it will be important for the expansion of the marinators. massive banners would also be really good to see. excellent job and i hope i can contribute to further marinator activities and fundraisers that may require extra hands and just generally contribute to the marinators.