If there is a simple answer as to who represents the supporters, then would someone please let me know?

I have been involved with WiSCA, the Wildcats Supporters Club; Wildcats Squadbuilder and, for the past 5 years, SWAG - the Stadium Wakefield Action Group. In that time I have yet to come across a single group which has galvanised us, the moaning and groaning supporters of our game, into a representative body who can lobby on behalf of our sport in any numbers.

So, for now, we all come on here and complain about the BBC coverage, the Sky commentry team, the lack of any decent media coverage and the imbalance between League and Union etc etc...! Why we even take issue with our games administrators on countless occasions, only to lack the cohesive voice.

What we have done with SWAG is to create a focal point, so that when we meet with politicians etc they understand that we represent a large body of people - and that seems to get results.

My apologies if anyone is already doing this job - if you are, then I would like to support you. However, in the absense of anyone doing it, is this not something that we can find through these pages - after all, there are plenty on here with strong enough opinions!



I must emphasise that what I am looking for is game-wide support - and nothing to benefit the individual clubs - at least not at the expense of any other fellow club.

Just a thought!

RLSA, unless apathy has killed it.

Why haven't you changed your Ryan Atkins avatar now he's left Wakey?

Fair enough - but why do we hear so little of them and what they are doing? I followed the link on here to their site and the pages were dated 2005???

There is so much going on in our game - and perhaps with the rise of club RU, we face some of the biggest challenges - just to hold onto what little we have, let alone make gains.

The RFL can do so much, but they will be seen as a company, whereby a group of supporters can sometimes be more influential - as we have little to lose!

Lol!

I've written to the director of bbc sports and head of programming asking various 'coverage' questions and the move to salford hopefully increasing our presence on the organisation. As yet no reply.

Are you thinking along the lines of that Supporters Direct (or whatever its called) that the round ball lot have?

I do! Hopefully the BBC will let me have a say for the fans like I had a dance for them - www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1GfnmDGFr8

I do! Hopefully the BBC will let me have a say for the fans like I had a dance for them - www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1GfnmDGFr8

What the f*** were you doing there Damo?

I thought it was a seizure at one point but then you started doing a really unstreamlined impression of flipper??

I guess so - it just seems that as individuals it is difficult to get heard. But with 50k plus people turning up each week, and many more interested, we should have more of a voice.

Starting to think it's just me though!

Quote ="TRB"Starting to think it's just me though! '" Well get something started then to draw people in otherwise your just as bad as the people who lay down their opinions on here but don’t do anything about it. I recommend a weebly website to start things off. Then once things get on the move make it into in to an official .com website. RLFans may even let you be a part of their network if what you put forward is good. Even Bradford Bulls fans have a place on this network… Your main agenda would be to give fans a bigger voice. Once you put it together let us know and I’ll write about it in my RLFANs southstander.com weekly column encouraging people to join. Here is a good example of my column here - leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1290 I might even able to get my local MP to back it. He’s been willing to back stuff of mine before.. Now off to take some LSD. Good luck!

Quote ="TRB"Starting to think it's just me though! '" Well get something started then to draw people in otherwise your just as bad as the people who lay down their opinions on here but don’t do anything about it. I recommend a weebly website to start things off. Then once things get on the move make it into in to an official .com website. RLFans may even let you be a part of their network if what you put forward is good. Even Bradford Bulls fans have a place on this network… Your main agenda would be to give fans a bigger voice. Once you put it together let us know and I’ll write about it in my RLFANs southstander.com weekly column encouraging people to join. Here is a good example of my column here - leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1290 I might even able to get my local MP to back it. He’s been willing to back stuff of mine before.. Now off to take some LSD. Good luck!

Quote ="Damo-Leeds"Well get something started then to draw people in otherwise your just as bad as the people who lay down their opinions on here but don’t do anything about it. =#BF0040I recommend a weebly website to start things off. Then once things get on the move make it into in to an official .com website. RLFans may even let you be a part of their network if what you put forward is good. Even Bradford Bulls fans have a place on this network… Your main agenda would be to give fans a bigger voice. Once you put it together let us know and I’ll write about it in my RLFANs southstander.com weekly column encouraging people to join. Here is a good example of my column here - leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1290 I might even able to get my local MP to back it. He’s been willing to back stuff of mine before.. Now off to take some LSD. Good luck!'" It'll never fall down - will it!

Quote ="Damo-Leeds"Well get something started then to draw people in otherwise your just as bad as the people who lay down their opinions on here but don’t do anything about it. =#BF0040I recommend a weebly website to start things off. Then once things get on the move make it into in to an official .com website. RLFans may even let you be a part of their network if what you put forward is good. Even Bradford Bulls fans have a place on this network… Your main agenda would be to give fans a bigger voice. Once you put it together let us know and I’ll write about it in my RLFANs southstander.com weekly column encouraging people to join. Here is a good example of my column here - leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1290 I might even able to get my local MP to back it. He’s been willing to back stuff of mine before.. Now off to take some LSD. Good luck!'" It'll never fall down - will it!

Was one of the original starters off the RLSA hence my online name ,,,,was one of the original 12 who met at a pub in Criddling Stubbs after a International match in Doncaster. We then went and set up the original get together of fans in Headingley where the RLSA was then formed with the first "conference" at the George in Huddersfield. Was a national committee member and did a lot towards the original ground survey which seems to have led to the RL doing the minimum requirements for Superleague grounds. Myself and a few like minded people set up the East Yorkshire branch which held meetings monthly in the Hull and surrounding areas(no other area did this). But like many other of this branch we resigned from the RLSA when they as a group without consulting the branch backed the Rugby League over merges in the original Super League talks.

The RLSA is still going ,but is very short on time and numbers these days, they are VERY open to new people coming in and driving it, why not contact Cliff Spracklen Cliff@bramleybuffs.com and chat to him about it. The RLSA have been involved in the game for a long time, but as with anything they need to have help as much as possible .

The RLSA is still going ,but is very short on time and numbers these days, they are VERY open to new people coming in and driving it, why not contact Cliff Spracklen Cliff@bramleybuffs.com and chat to him about it. The RLSA have been involved in the game for a long time, but as with anything they need to have help as much as possible .

Very unlikely you will ever get a sportswide body of fans anymore , the various issues not least the licencing has divided fans more than ever before [ apart from the hooligan days of the 70/80s

I think it could work. There could be some basic rules designed to unite rather than divide, e.g. an aim will be not to take sides in internal RL debates but just to present concerns from fans and then to deliver responses back to them (obviously this can be refined). It would be good to set it up online as a place where any supporter can submit an issue publicly and so give others a chance to add further details or comments. Maybe we could have a liaison at the RFL, the parliamentary group etc. and perhaps a few meetings each year with the RFL (3 maybe? before, during and after the season) to go into more detail. One campaign the group could get behind straight away is on Facebook: Show the Super League Show Nationally! www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=333864939679

I think it could work. There could be some basic rules designed to unite rather than divide, e.g. an aim will be not to take sides in internal RL debates but just to present concerns from fans and then to deliver responses back to them (obviously this can be refined). It would be good to set it up online as a place where any supporter can submit an issue publicly and so give others a chance to add further details or comments. Maybe we could have a liaison at the RFL, the parliamentary group etc. and perhaps a few meetings each year with the RFL (3 maybe? before, during and after the season) to go into more detail. One campaign the group could get behind straight away is on Facebook: Show the Super League Show Nationally! www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=333864939679

because damage has already been done doesnt mean that something shouldnt be attempted to avoid future damage. Who knows, with a more active RLSA, the whole licencing issue could have been avoided or certainly handled better.

How receptive the RFL would be to such an organisation is a completely different matter.

Oh dear oh dear! Don't recommend something you know nothing about.

Fool.

Quote ="Pablo-13"I think it could work. There could be some basic rules designed to unite rather than divide, e.g. an aim will be not to take sides in internal RL debates but just to present concerns from fans and then to deliver responses back to them (obviously this can be refined). It would be good to set it up online as a place where any supporter can submit an issue publicly and so give others a chance to add further details or comments. Maybe we could have a liaison at the RFL, the parliamentary group etc. and perhaps a few meetings each year with the RFL (3 maybe? before, during and after the season) to go into more detail. One campaign the group could get behind straight away is on Facebook: Show the Super League Show Nationally! www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=333864939679'" Or even [url=http://viewtopic.php?f=2&t=441358this one[/url where the RLSA and Supporters Direct are working hand in glove

Quote ="Pablo-13"I think it could work. There could be some basic rules designed to unite rather than divide, e.g. an aim will be not to take sides in internal RL debates but just to present concerns from fans and then to deliver responses back to them (obviously this can be refined). It would be good to set it up online as a place where any supporter can submit an issue publicly and so give others a chance to add further details or comments. Maybe we could have a liaison at the RFL, the parliamentary group etc. and perhaps a few meetings each year with the RFL (3 maybe? before, during and after the season) to go into more detail. One campaign the group could get behind straight away is on Facebook: Show the Super League Show Nationally! www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=333864939679'" Or even [url=http://viewtopic.php?f=2&t=441358this one[/url where the RLSA and Supporters Direct are working hand in glove

If you don't mind, I've a few questions about the RLSA:
Could you explain the current RLSA set up to me?
How and when were its representatives last chosen?
What is its relationship with club supporters trusts/associations?
What is its relationship with Supporters Direct?
When was the last RLSA meeting, are there any minutes?

Thanks!