Raiders Army throws in the towel

Blowers,
The Raiders Army has been pretty much the only supporters group of the Canberra Raiders recently that i’m aware of and the one the club has generally liaised with as their club’s supporter group. I think a lot of people thought it was an exclusive group however we worked quite hard to dispel that myth. We worked with the club to create a membership that anyone could join, we advertised on various supporter forums and club pages that anyone was welcome to come and join in, and we also tried to make it easier for new members wanting to join too by inviting anyone interested to our pre-game function at the Lighthouse Bar where they could have a chat to RA members over complimentry food.

As I say the Raiders memberships people and the RA worked to bring in the new generation but it just hasn’t progressed how we’d hoped. Therefore considering the RA was dying off this year, myself and others thought it was best to call it a day and then the club can start from scratch when they have plans in place and really hammer the point that it is the club’s supporter group that anyone can be part of, not a group associated with the club that isn’t run/regulated by the club.

Hope that clears it up?

Excuse my ignorance about Rugby League and all but is there more than one cheer squad for the Raiders? Is the Raiders Army THE cheer squad? If so, must have been a clicky group… All the cheer squads I’ve known about have an ongoing flow of support coming in and out every year. Invitations to join are posted annually and the survival of the squad lives on beyond one group of people who grow older and arent interested in this type of behaviour any more. Maybe I am missing something and someone who knows better may be able to explain it to me?

Woodgers said :

Hi guys,
I’ve been one of the Raiders Army organisers since 2002 and it is a sad day. However I need to reiterate that it isn’t to do with the team or club. People like myself now have a young family and a job that prevent me from partaking in supporter group behaviour. Most my fellow RA members that have been part of the group are in the same boat and that is why numbers have been gradually declining. We feel it is time to move on before the Raiders Army name is tarnished further. This leaves the door open for other fans who may have the desire to start something similar.

As far as I know, all my mates from the RA will be getting a season ticket next season. None of us are deserting the club, we are just heading off to support the team like everyone else does sitting in a seat. We’ve just moved on from standing adn singing and now it is time for others to take over and create a new group.

This is true, I know a few of these guys from other forums and to say they are deserting the ship is quite insulting to a group of good people that have put in countless hours supporting their local team and creating an atmosphere and sense of occasion.

It’s not their fault that years of mediocre performances means that the next generation don’t have a great deal of interest. I understand the club is putting on a bbq to thank them so I don’t think there are any hard feelings.

I was a bit surprised at the game against Souths – “The Burrow” of Souths fans had set up one level up from where Raiders Army used to sit, and it all sounded like a home game at Redfern!

Keijidosha said :

It isn’t the on-field performance that tests my support but the management of the team and franchise – especially memberships. I won’t be renewing mine next year.

Everything that is wrong with the Raiders stems from management.

Hi guys,
I’ve been one of the Raiders Army organisers since 2002 and it is a sad day. However I need to reiterate that it isn’t to do with the team or club. People like myself now have a young family and a job that prevent me from partaking in supporter group behaviour. Most my fellow RA members that have been part of the group are in the same boat and that is why numbers have been gradually declining. We feel it is time to move on before the Raiders Army name is tarnished further. This leaves the door open for other fans who may have the desire to start something similar.

As far as I know, all my mates from the RA will be getting a season ticket next season. None of us are deserting the club, we are just heading off to support the team like everyone else does sitting in a seat. We’ve just moved on from standing adn singing and now it is time for others to take over and create a new group.

Genie said :

Bay 67 is still the place to be 🙂

Bay 67 is nothing on what sitting on the grass near the scoreboard at Seiffert used to be like, if the footy ever got boring you simply swivelled and watched the punters who were tanked up on goon try and knock each others fat heads off. On occasion it was worth the price of admission alone.

what_the said :

Gotta love Canberra fairweather fans. So much for following your teams during the bad times! Dont worry, i’m sure they’ll all be back when Canberra has a crack at the Premiership.

Turn it up. The RA has been together since 2001 and has supported the team through some truly woeful seasons. They will be supporting the team individually next year.

Pull your head in and go back to watching Rove.

Bay 67 is still the place to be 🙂

It’s Ok, the fuhrer tells me that we have some secret weapons that will drive back the russians/rabbitohs…

I know the T34’s are rolling down Unter den Linden/Barry Drive but, dont worry the secret weapons are ALMOST ready…

Sadly theres no Downfall video for this on Youtube yet.

It isn’t the on-field performance that tests my support but the management of the team and franchise – especially memberships. I won’t be renewing mine next year.

According to the CT comments, the people are moving on because they’re older, have kids, and jobs.

My advice Evil – continue to support them, but do so from your lounge-room until the organisation demonstrate they’re serious about fixing rather than patching. It’s pretty plain these guys are primarily concerned with dollars rather than quality footy – so hit them where it hurts.

As an aside, seems to me that the honourable thing for a failed GM to do would be to step aside. Who knows, this might also set a great precedence for Fagan…

Gotta love Canberra fairweather fans. So much for following your teams during the bad times! Dont worry, i’m sure they’ll all be back when Canberra has a crack at the Premiership.

I don’t get it. We are still allowed to support the team though, right?