Thetownend.com

NEW FANS GROUP - Name to be decided

As Rob mentioned in a post on the L&P forum, The old LOUD AND PROUD group has dissolved/on hiatus. A group of us have indicated we would like to start a new group for the upcoming season.

We will be holding the first (NEW FANS GROUP - Name to be decided) meeting within the next 2 weeks.

Positions available in (NEW FANS GROUP - Name to be decided) are

- Chairman
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- 6 Committee Places*

* If we do not have enough interest for a comittee we will run on a board basis and ask for volunteers.

I WANT TO RUN (NEW FANS GROUP - Name to be decided)

Please leave your name below and position you want to run for below.

I WANT TO VOTE BUT CAN'T MAKE IT

If you would like to vote or be considered but cannot make the evening, please leave your vote here so it can be counted.

WHY HAVE AN AGM NOW?

The reason the AGM is being held in the next 2 weeks is so we can go into a meeting with the club and have some solid ideas behind us.

AGENDA

- Vote on chairman/board etc

- Discuss constitution/rules for the new group

- 6,000 Season tickets, what is being done, what can we do?

- Discuss funding for (NEW FANS GROUP - Name to be decided).

- Highlight which games we aim to do something for.

- Any Other business

Votes will be calcuated by a "hands up" majority vote.

We will be contacting all people involved with the old L&P to see if they would like to be involved. We already have a few people who said they would like to help but dont want to be on the board etc.

good luck with it.i nominate you as chairman gazza, but have no desire to be involved myself.
i might cheer a bit louder on a 100% red day though

Yes..you should be chairman Gazza if you want too be....good luck to you bud.

Good luck Gaz, you get my vote!

A certain member of the old L&P group has kicked off for us "breaking the rules", 10 points to anyone who can guess who this is so we are going to start a new group with a new name so we can talk talk about that. Any suggestions are welcome. I suggest 100% RED but happy for suggestions

Ohhh the drama

why does it have to be so formal?

put the word out of what you are doing and just do it,why do you need chairman and stuff.I think it would be much better as an organic less structured thing....

May I suggest "Noisy and Prideful"

Exactly Sam, that was the point me and Rob were trying to make but as you know to some people everything has to be political. We will get something going again probably called 100% RED and use our plans. It's L&P effectively but we cant use the name thanks to Mr H. throwing his toys out!

why are you calling me Sam?

That's not Sam. Although I keep doing the same thing.

check who posted instead of looking at the avatar  :wink:

gazza do what you want.you have the drive and desire so go for it.

where are the ranting posts?
i wanna read them

dont worry your not the only who keeps getting sam and yeovil mixed up, i always have to double check

hahah yup sorry Yeovil  :oops:

Why anyone would "throw toys" for something like this is ridiculous.

Good luck Gazzza!

Gaz do you what you feel is right.

Alan H just by chance?

If so name it after him - The Alan Hayward Trust Fund

I already had contact with Nick Watkins anyway about doing something. We will do it less formal and just get on with it. We may be seen as a rip off of L&P but we did fuck all the last 2 seasons. We will sort something out and just get on with it. It jus amazes me that someone who has done nothing for L&P for months then gets funny when people want to start it back up again. Nevermind ONWARDS and UPWARDS! Most of the old L&P guys who still want to do it are with me anyway...

Not a rip off at all mate.

Was it Alan then?

So surely by setting this up again in the same way as LnP, like some sort of political organisation you are surely heading the same way?

You dont need all that stuff (IMO) ,just get some people together ,get some ideas ,run them by the club and do it.If its matter of donations and accounts then 1 of you(probably you personally) be in  charge of that and show exactly whats come in and what been spent.Were talking a couple of hundred quid  not millions,id imagine anyone that donated would trust you anyway.I would, you're a STFC nerd I wouldnt for a minute imagine youd rip anyone off.

Its because we accepted peoples money as donations apparently... Yes they did, What have they done with the money? Nothing. It was taken on false pretences. We wanted to do something with it like have a huge Don Rogers flag for the DR Stand opening for the first home game of the season....

I expect you could have a sub forum on here for organising,discusiing if needed.Tell Mr H to stop being daft.

gazza be carefull now.the false pretences call is a bit strong and not true imo

Vital Football themselves had offered to sponsor L&P and basically fund displays so we wouldn't need too many donations. It was bascically a couple of things a year nothing every week. Any money donated will be noted and how it is spent. Common sense but it was just ridiculous how people who didnt do anyhting all of a sudden jump out of the woodwork. Now they have £350.00 of peoples money, Now they need to either spend it or give it to a similar group.

So what is the problem with that? Exactly how was the donated money planned to be spent in the first place?

Sorry perhaps true, so retract that, but I've put a good portion of that money in like a few people and it's never been used. I could have used that money to directly say help the club by getting my season ticket etc. Nevermind we will sort it!  8)

gazza what forum is the rant on? i cannot find it on loud and proud.

they have seceret bit to argue in,annoying isnt it :D

It's in the private board section. Rob responded to Alan as well saying it was daft pretty much however in respect to Rob (who had no problem with us taking over L&P and infact incouraged it) I won't post what he said, and wont post what Alan said because he will likely find some law to sue me for defamation of character or something.

Threaten to knife him.

or out him.

I miss all this crazy politics stuff.

haha, oh to be one of the gang :roll:

If its not a daft question.

Am I right in thinking there is still some L&P money in a kitty somewhere? if so, if Alan, Rob etc arent going to use it for L&P stuff because its effectivly been axed? then what is happening to the left over money - if there even is any?

Personally, I cant see such an up roar about the name of a fans group?

Anyway, as Yeovil_Sam as said - I dont think you need to bother with official positions and all that.

Make yourself the chairman.....and if you have an idea post it on the TEF and all the other boards. If everyone agrees its a good idea then you can get it cleared by the club, then people will cough up and away you go.

There is money left, About £350.00. Rob etc has already said that he wanted us to use it for this season. Alan objected because "the committee" (which to be fair everyone has resigned) did not vote on me as chairman etc. Under the constitution if the group is dissolved as Rob said it has as we wouldnt get 5 people to an AGM anyway, the money has to be given to a similar group with similar aims etc. Rob and Narbs on the forum have stated they want my fans group to use the money to carry out the plans we had.  We won't be as formal. It's just a ridiculous situation to be honest.

My two penneth worth:

After a bright start, L&P turned into a bit of a damp squib. The whole mantra of L&P is dead and I think it's best to leave that brand behind.

Personally Gaz, I think you should try and get away from the whole L&P model - you don't need a structured board etc. that just adds to much politics when all you want to do is be free and easy and have a good time. Just get a willing group of people together, I know that you'll be handling donations etc. but at the end of the day we're all adults (well, most of us) and I'm sure we you as a group can be trusted with other peoples money without all the red tape. It certainly worked for TUMDFC.

Agree 100% with that.

We will discuss our ideas on an open forum. Already have the unused vital one at http://swindon.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/category-view.asp so... I am not too concerned, we have plans, funding etc and a meeting with the club so we will sort things out!

i'm liking sams post.but does money have to be an issue at all?
couldn't the club stump up for flags-balloons-whatever on certain games?
and you just manage it for them?

We want to do some stuff to raise money. IE Family fun day etc, kids do penalty kicks etc, things like that, We get half the money for basic stuff like streamers or flags and the rest goes to STFC Football in the Community etc...

fair play.just thinking really that if you go totally seperate from loud and proud, and then the money-taking over from them would be irrelivant.
people from loud and proud could kick up all they like as it would be seperate.

Like arriba says, money doesn't have to be an issue. Just appoint an informal treasurer to look after the cash. As long as somebody keeps a tally of how much you spend and how much is donated then I can't see there being any problems.

They can kick up as much as they like really anyway. Our philosophy really I guess it to make the atmosphere better but also do things (where financially able to) to get kids hooked as well like the penalties etc. Kids get flags etc say they had a good time and as my mate said kids say "oh can we go to football" etc... It's not just about us etc, if we get 6,000 fans say with season tickets, The football could be great, but why not make a day of it and make sure people ahve a good time (except for when we are getting thumped 3-0 at half time soapy tit wank)

Can you do that thing again where you had cardboard cut outs of Rocky and Homer Simpson stood on the Stratton Bank please?

That was really good.

Yeah, you could get this Dalek  8)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Life-Size-Dr-Who-Dalek-Cut-Out-Cardboard-Stand_W0QQitemZ160249431612QQihZ006QQcategoryZ26384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Only GBP6.50 Gaz. Get on it my son.

What happened to the cutouts?!
They were ace!

They got a bit wet.

The came to life and started their own cardboard cut out utopia on a secret island in the Pacific Ocean.

in fact they got a bit wet whilst travelling to the secret cardboard utopia island.

gaz - ignore alan (everyone else does) and do your own thing. your passion for STFC alone puts the majority of us to shame, so you could probably run the whole show yourself.

good luck and i'll give you a hand if needs be, providing i get out from underneath this pile of work

Provisional Loud and Proud? Continuity Loud and Proud? I can't believe it's not Loud and Proud?

don't belittle other fan groups you dick :x

Lewd and Prude?

It was a joke. Careful getting off that high horse now.

Stab im with a tree that wud be poetic tustice

Been on the beers then?

Only Dave can type like that

calmdown dear i was only joking too

I'd cry if it wasn't so funny!  Maybe I'll set-up a private island with the £350 ish that's in a Bank Account.

Go for it Gaz, splinter.  If I wasn't working stupid hours, and spent so much on the bloody thing already, I'd have carried it on.  But the last 2 games of last season were an eye opener for me.  Spent all day getting drunk with my bro in a quiet bar, watched some football, went back to a bar then had a curry.  No other things to worry about, which for now is what I want I think.

I'll offer advice and ideas when I can, and I'll find a way of getting the money spent on something for your ideas.  We had agreed before on the Don Rogers flag idea, so I guess we could just make sure it costs however much is left!

   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

splinter groups? fucking ace is this like the IRA and the real IRA? ok lets do some murals and mark out our territories, could we attack schoolkids on there way to school?

Why don't you call it Swindon Town Happy Clappers? Sorted  :wink:

You can have a female auxiliary group called Swindon Town Clappy Slappers  :D

Don't thank me, it's a good cause.......................

How about the People's Front of Loud and Proud?

Fuck off you cunt! It's The Loud & Proud Peoples Front!!

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:
Classic :D

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:  That is quality!

Not being funny Gaz, but why do you need this? if you wanna make banners clap and support town get your mates together (as yeovil said) why make it formal, lets have a commitee etc, thats what the supporters trust and supporters club is for surely? Bit OTT if you ask me

Well no one fuckin did ask you bushey

:D Youve only been watching town for a year after fucking off for four years to watch Reading

Splitter.

Thing is Gazza you will get alot of advice,lots of it good,some naff at the end of the day do what you want and i think most of the people on here will be hoping you do well and people will soon let you know if they dont agree with things your doing,Paul D wont mind me saying that alot of it will be trial and error and for me anything that brings the atmosphere back is good....was it Yeovil away i remember it being a good day and hopefully with the Town putting in good performances it will get even better.

And them Popular Peoples Front of Loud & Proud.....splitters.

2 years

Just an idea which may make it easier for you - have you thought about linking up with the Supporters Club or the Trust and doing it that way?

A bit like the Red Army Fund, the Trust could always handle and look after the beauraucratic stuff and you can get on and actually do the visual stuff at games and the fundraising side.

Of course it's quite presumptious of me to  suggest the aforementioned organisations would do this with you and that it could be done.

And reading through this thread others have mentioned you may not even need a structure. Look at the times previously where we chipped in for the blimp etc. I know they were donations to a specific cause but all you would need to do is keep a list of goings in and goings out (easy with an account), and then keep receipts of what you spent the money on.

You could publish monthly accounts if needs be and I'm sure people will be happy with that. Would take someone with an accounts package on their computer a tiny bit of their time each month.

People will donate on the basis they can see what you are doing and think it's a good cause.

We'd be quite happy to help out if that's what's needed and I've been speaking to Gaz about what (if anything) we can do to help. But FWIW I'm inclined to agree with others on this thread that a formal structure probably isn't needed - just needs whoever wants to help with a Continuity L&P to talk to the club, work out which games, what they want to do, then ask for donations of money, time, balloons etc on an as-needed basis

But yeah if "whatever you end up being called" decided you do want us to do something on the structural side, just ask.

We are thinking of using the name "100% RED - I can't believe it's not Loud and Proud (as the slogan(thanks to Paul D's tongue in cheek comment)"  The new group won't be formal as such. We plan to get a data base of people who can help. Then think fo waht fixtures we want to do stuff for and just send an email to those p[eople on the volunteers list to come and help out. if people want to chip in towards the cost that is fine too! We wont be formal etc but want to work alongside the Trust etc and learn from the failings of L&P.

You are my hero

Oh and dont dismiss my idea of stabbing mr h

Maybe you could be the military wing of Provisional Loud and Proud

Im in what do i have to do does it involve southern comfort

What happened with Mr H he just seemed to dissapear of the radar last season...I asusme he is no longer a stfc fan ?

I think he went a bit mental..

There was a classic thread on here with him and Spacey  8)

Alans alright,I think he's just used to doing things in a certain way.

I'll help where I can Gazza, you have my contact details!

More with the site etc. really, but I will try to help in other areas when possible.

He was still going to games, he's Contractor so spent a large chunk of last season living away in such glamorous locations as Telford!

We are pressing on with 100% RED as the name for the new fans group.

Should L&P be dissolved at the AGM in 2 weeks time.

Should the name become available then the new group will be called "100% RED - LOUD & PROUD"

This would allow us to evolve then and keep the L&P name continuing the legacy as well as keeping a new fresh name.

If L&P does not dissolve then the new group will be called 100% RED

Good luck with it Gazzza. If you need any help that for some reason I'd be the best person to provide, then I'd happy to lend you a hand. Generally I'm more in with the Quiet and Ashamed ideal, but it's good to see people who are willing to shout about their support, loudly, in peoples ears, possibly deafening them.

Top stuff.

I think you need a chief organiser, basically you and a treasurer. No one else. Treasurer to produce some accounts.

You'd probably want to spend your money on subsidising away travel for those of you who are left when others let you down. As we head more and more towards all seater grounds, you might well want to buy a block of tickets at away games, like the Barmy Army does at cricket. So you'd need to dip into funds for that. Banners shouldnt cost hardly anything, dust sheets and spray paint!

I would say dont be affraid of telling people where to get off. Because if its a completely open supporters club you'll end up being the official supporters club where everyone ignores each other. You want to stick to other people who want to do what you do. Have a drink, have a song, show a bit of passion etc.

Finally, the name has to be STAB.

 You've been spending too much time in Bristhole.

  As the founder of Q and A, I'm currently not feeling so ashamed....I'd rather describe my feelings as perky.

  For this reason I propose a new group....Pinky and Perky.  Should appeal to gays and STFC Lady.

but we have white on the kits now  :D

Good post Spencer

Gaz whats happening with the forum and stuff? ooh and the Lee P sponsorship?

Preview of the new logo

Will look something like this.... Not with that robin. Need to get our own due to copyrights..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/gary_stanley_uk/Robin_adult_300_tcm9-142444.jpg

no offence but it looks a bit rubbish

Its only a rough look. we want a cartoony one somewhat... Got someone working on it..... :wink:

Plus perhaps need a red background with white lettering to be more 100% Red. We are also seeing if we can get the L&P name to add to it too... A square probably is not the best shape. We would go with the stop sign shape should we get the L&P name as well... EVOLUTION!

Why do you need a badge / logo if your just going to be an informal group of people that is going to go around selected games putting up banners etc etc to have a bit of fun and try and improve the atmosperhere.

Perhaps you need a mission statement and to publish what you aim to achieve during the coming season ?

Be careful or you could run the risk of going too OTT imho, although I know you aim for it to be good.

I nominate FB to design the logo.

i suggest stfc 100% red is the dominant text-design.the robin should be minimal if included at all imo

The man speaks sense

Thanks for your suggestions. We are writing up a mission statement as we speak. The reason for the logo is more for the website to show what we have done etc. to be honest as opposed for publicity etc. We are going to be working alongside (hopefully) the trust as well so we can all work together… We are still going to be a group with rules etc and all that but not to the extent of L&P. If the current L&P is dissolved the mission statement will pretty much be the same. We hve some funding sorted through Vital Football which is good!

Use the Russian flag, replace the hammer and sickle with the Rake and a Moon.

Sussex might be able to help with a logo what with him being into graphic design and all that?

If I had any time I'd help out but its a no go for the foreseeable future but I'm more than happy to chuck some dosh in as Im glad this is finally moving forward and getting sorted.

Oh and Reg, Pinky and Perky are not to be sniffed at!

Get those sleigh bells ringing

well tis the season young pie!

Like it :D

That's an awesome thought...we need that flag flying at the CG.

Thats brill!

Just have a photo of town fans celebrating

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/flag.jpg

 :D

Like it John :D

That's the Soviet Union, not Russia :twisted:

 :beers:

Seriously ime tempted to get a flag like this...oh rrrrrrrr.

That's ace, but should the rake not be the other way round?  After all the story is about raking the moon out of the water (well the hooch, but you know what I mean).  I don't mean to be rude as the flag is ace...but I can be a pedantic old sod at times.

Ive decided....ime getting one made.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/flammableben/100red.jpg
When your original plan turns out looking nothing like you were planning, I find it's best to roll with it.


The soviet flag thing is mint.

My cousin is called Robin, do you want a pic Gaz?

The robin looks sill imo

Tee hee so it my stepdad - but we are cool and call him "Rob" for short

I am just too old to be down with it Charlotte

Logo should be more tongue & cheek/relaxed - I liked the communist+Moonraker approach.

Agreed Rich,though Bens looked good..Robins have had there day,get the club shop selling the Rake and Moon T shirts...they would sell well and they could give Gazza a small cut for Loud and Proud...

I wasn't serious with mine!

I like the moonraker thing, although I'm not sure how well it could fit with actual text to make a proper logo. Still makes an ace flag though.

I think that for the logo something simple without a picture. The first thing which springs to be mind would be a sort of stamp design, slightly rotated. 100% and STFC have 4 letters in so if you could line them up and then have RED ritten don the side or something.

I'll try and knock up something quickly to show what I mean.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d35/flammableben/100red-1.gif

Obviously this is just a mock up of what I meant. It would need improving with quite a lot of details:

Instead of a blocked out grey background it needs to look like a dirty piece of paper or something, as if the logo is actually being stamped onto something.

The font is just wrong. Needs to be something fixed width and slightly more square. I couldn't be arsed to scroll through fonts for a quick mock up though.

The lettering itself needs some fucking about with; smudged bits, bits missing where it hasn't been stamped down properly. The red definitely needs a more washed out quality.

Following from the last one, there needs to be some detail between the 100% and STFC, some smudging and ink marks. These details combined with the others means that you could square it off and discard with the gay dotted border square thingy.

Anyway just thoughts. I'm not sure I've got the ability to achieve my idea, but I might have a go. If anybody else likes the idea and fancies going for it then my all means go mental.

I think we should have a competition = design the new logo!

What's the prize?

A dirty weekend away with Gazza.

All expenses paid?

Bring your own KY.

http://www.truststfc.co.uk/img/RAFLogo.jpg

Shit copies, genius steals.

Hahahaha. I've honestly never seen that before.

Well I probably have, it wasn't in my head though.

Both really good,...maybe on the bottom corner of the flag with rake and moon!

Having had a rethink about the flag this is what I have come up with now...any wording can be added at no extra cost :)

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/newflag.jpg

I am liking the idea.

It's a great way of bringing the group to attention - ditch the Robin and embrace the Moonraker!

Agree...a bigger moon and rake,with Swindon across the bottom in big white letters.

I meant the Red Army flag (of which there are quite a few variations) but the on used in previous posts is indeed used on som Red Army insignia's and flags.  I had a bash at doing one myself some time ago but never was much good with graphics etc.

maybe have the club badge bigger but as a watermark in the middle

Here you go Gazza, this was when I was having a little toy with ideas on what we could do a while back

http://284155.spreadshirt.net/en/GB/Shop?&op=articles

http://www.spreadshirt.net/users/1113000/1112899/motives/803/1112899_3972803_huge.jpg

Lets be honest. If your trying to be taken seriously having a communistic logo isn't going to help

don't see the issue myself, I quite like some of the communist ideals in fact, but that's got nothing to do with anything.  Same could have been said about the Orange Campaign using an image of someone that a lot of people find equally appauling, not that I had a problem with that either.  Without the Red Army, we'd probably be living in a very different world thanks to their efforts in WW2, equally they have a record of some very barbaric stuff.  It's all grey.  I'm sure most people won't really care, and even if they know the background of the stolen imagery, then they;ll probably understand it's not being used to depict a Communist movement.

I think that 100%Red should be a communist fans movement.

well, ti should be for the common good, so why not.

funnily enough i'd totally support any form of communist and/or socialist fans movement.

So come brothers and sisters
For the struggle carries on
The Internationale
Unites the world in song
So comrades come rally
For this is the time and place
The international ideal
Unites the human race

I'm in.

Sorry, mush, communist movements are for the workers  :D

Now, that dear boy, is a work of genius.  Unofficially we should call ourselves the Moonrakers...and never mention the nickname of the Slave Traders and Cheltenham again.

Go Moonies!

group name? 100% Moonrakers?  8)

The Moonies

I think that the moon should be a bit more sinister looking,

The rake is a bit garden.....a proper hay rake looks like this

    http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/tools/gahatofaiwhr.jpg

how about this then?  :D

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/newflag3.jpg

Or more of a grimace?  :soapy tit wank:

I'm not sure the badge is really adding anything, it's tiny!

I sized it as such to be based slightly more towards the actual CCCP flag of the 50/60/70's

http://russianlegacy.com/catalog/images/soviet_collection/flags/FS0088.jpg

surely the rake needs to go top left to bottom right then? :D just being proper picky :D

After feedback from people, We have decided on the new name for the new fans group. The name will be “The Moonrakers – 100% RED” or if L&P fold at Saturday’s AGM we will be named “The Moonrakers – Loud & Proud” dropping the Red Army part of L&P’s name.

We will be using JJEdmunds flag as the logo with his permission. The main “moon” and “rake” will be the logo of the new group.

More details will be made available on Monday after the L&P AGM. The reason for this is to see whether we have the L&P funds to go forward. We will be setting up a donation system etc as well as a website with a forum. (Should L&P Fold we will use the L&P Site, if not we will branch off of Vital Swindon Town for the time being)

I dont understand what the point of any of this is?

 :shrug:

No need to comment then? The ratonale is operating as a fans group etc, wanting people to be involved we want peoples input etc.

If they think the whole things a waste of time we wont bother.

The group shouldn't be just a group of mates really. Due to this L&P stuff we cant say what we are doing yet but ahve plans for a couple of big flags

IE A Don Rogers sillouette flag to surf the Don Rogers stand during the first home game against Tranmere for example

not having a go but why moonrakers? not something to catch peoples attention imo.
shouldn't an stfc supporters group contain stfc in it somewhere?

I kind of see where CT's coming from, but if Gaz wants to do this then fair play to him.

Personally I still don't see why you're clinging onto the old L&P name etc. Just let it be and start something new. If I were you then I'd just dissolve L&P and have done with it, or if you're not in the position to do that then leave the old commitee to decide what to do amongst themselves. The whole reason L&P failed was because people got a bit too political so surely you don't want to do down that route again?

One final thing, and I'm probably just being picky now, but you keep refering to "we" as in "We have decided on the new name for the new fans group". Who is this "we"? And if you're operating as a true fans group then shouldn't the members decide?

WE have 100% Red in it... to indicate STFC. Could even be STFC Moonrakers.

Gary, what is the difference of this group, the trust and the supporters club? I might start up a group called swindon town fan then when someone asks who I am I will say 'A Swindo Town Fan' I will sing support attend games but wont have the need to have a supporters group of 20 people.

i like the 100%red bit gazza. not the rest much

To be honest the new l&p-esque group will hopefuilly be working with the trust. We dont want politics and if we need any help with legalities along the way we can ask the trust etc to assist or provide any advice.

"WE" indicates the 4 or 5 people trying to get this going have decided. I have taken feedback. No you cant please everyone which is fair enough.

The L&P name is more about using a recognised name. If the old group dissolves Saturday so does the comittee and everything associated with it,. Plus if we use the L&P name we can just make a few alterations to the website although I would be more than happy to add stories etc to the Vital Swindon Town website and it's all one then. Perhaps the L&P site could just be used as an archive for what was done there??

Plus people who want to eb involved want to keep L&P name even if as a sub-title to carry on "the tradition" (although one season is not really tradition etc....)

To answer a few questions, because they are similar to some I had when I was properly involved.

What is the point?

Many clubs the world over have groups of fans who try and do a little bit in an ornganised fashion to help the atmosphere at games.  RALP was an attempt to do that, but not an attempt to replace or seem better than the fans who already make that effort through their voices etc.  In fact, many where probably part of the Town End, or back in the day the Bank, Shrivvy Rd etc.

It was sort of an effort to use a bit of what "Ultras" would do, but not fully, so as not to buy into the European culture of Ultras also being very politcal, sometimes violent.

Why not just the SC or Trust?

They both have very distinct purposes.  One raises money and works with the club, the other works to try and get Supporters involved in the running/decision making of their local club.  The aims of the group were never to get involved in that.  the fact that we had such a turbulent year off the field is probably what caused the group to drift, because it became clear the politics was important.

The Bushey question

It's not an attempt to replace or outdo other fans.  As mentioned it's more a way of co-ordinating efforts of likeminded individuals.  As RALP, we generally tried to branch out and do things to get people involved who maybe were not part of the Town End, or the ones making a noise away.  It was about trying to do things to make people that little bit more positive, to concentrate on getting involved if they could.  Sometimes it went well, Yeovil away, sometimes it was a bit of a damp squid.  It also served as a way of socliasing, likeminded fans getting together, maybe making an away trip they wouldn;t have on their own.  The fact that we had 3 mini buses for 1 game (it was 3 wasn't it?) was damned impressive.  I know that a fair few of those would not normally have gone, especially not in a group.  That in itself can help, a spirit of fun (ok, sometimes with the aid of beer!), togetherness, call it what you like.

Overall, it's why I completely support Gazza and his efforts.  A flag and logo are important because it allows people to recognise what it means and stands for, provided the message is put out as well.  On speaking to people at the club, our efforts were generally well received, and a few people I never met knew what RALP was.  That for me was great, it was never about personalities, always about doing that bit extra for the club.  There were far easier and less expensive ways of getting your mug in the Adver, that's for sure.