Is the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum still independent?

onearmbandit

onearmbandit

Active member
The Middlesbrough Supporters Forum was my brainchild in 2016. Formed in early 2017 with the agreement of our beloved Middlesbrough Football Club and with the help of MFC visionary Mark Ellis, to bring together the disparate fan groups, it was called by current MFC historian and former Gazette reporter Anthony Vickers a ‘Boro fans mini-parliament’. I stood down as Chair and resigned in 2020 when the recently appointed Chair wasn’t prepared to allow proper debate of sensitive information from MFC that was potentially detrimental to the wellbeing of Boro supporters during and specifically linked to the COVID crisis. MSF’s recent public debacles indicate that it is no longer truly independent; the principal reason it was set up and enshrined in point 1 of its carefully considered constitution(see clause), to call the club to account on behalf of us (MFC’s loyal paying customers). What do you think? Chris Joseph (Founder). www.boro.supportMSF 1.jpg
 

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1. It could still be independent, but just not listened to?

2. It could nominally be independent but been bought off and softened by the club?

:unsure:;)
 
onearmbandit said:
The Middlesbrough Supporters Forum was my brainchild in 2016. Formed in early 2017 with the agreement of our beloved Middlesbrough Football Club and with the help of MFC visionary Mark Ellis, to bring together the disparate fan groups, it was called by current MFC historian and former Gazette reporter Anthony Vickers a ‘Boro fans mini-parliament’. I stood down as Chair and resigned in 2020 when the recently appointed Chair wasn’t prepared to allow proper debate of sensitive information from MFC that was potentially detrimental to the wellbeing of Boro supporters during and specifically linked to the COVID crisis. MSF’s recent public debacles indicate that it is no longer truly independent; the principal reason it was set up and enshrined in point 1 of its carefully considered constitution(see clause), to call the club to account on behalf of us (MFC’s loyal paying customers). What do you think? Chris Joseph (Founder). www.boro.supportView attachment 73741
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I am sure that everyone is thankful for your role in setting up a fans forum.
 
From the outside and someone who has no dealing with the forum, the club or any of the individuals involved and gets all my information indirectly (through this website and MFC comms) it appears to me that it is a group of people that have good intentions but are being used by the club as a box ticking exercise to prove that they engage with fans. I don't think all fans are well represented by the groups and some are over-represented. The people on the forum like being the insiders and having certain connections benefits them at times but the wider fanbase don't get their position put across and either way the club don't listen anyway.

My view is that the group is independent but toothless. It doesn't challenge the club when it needs to or it does but doesn't do it effectively and it takes the club's word as gospel and is too easily swayed to act as the club messenger instead of fan representative. I also get the feeling that the people involved would rather not speak out against the club so they don't get their access taken away and if that fear is there then they can't represent fans effectively.
 
Nano said:
I don't think all fans are well represented by the groups and some are over-represented. The people on the forum like being the insiders and having certain connections benefits them at times but the wider fanbase don't get their position put across and either way the club don't listen anyway.
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I agree with this....not so much in terms of the diversity of the support but in terms how the wider support engage with the club.
 
Humpty said:
I agree with this....not so much in terms of the diversity of the support but in terms how the wider support engage with the club.
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I was really talking about regularity of attendance. The people that go to every game vs regular vs irregular vs never vs distance etc. They are all fans but they will engage in a different way. The ones most dissimilar to the regular attendees that make up the forum are the ones not having their views represented which might be why those groups often feel like the club don't even want them.
 
Nano said:
I was really talking about regularity of attendance. The people that go to every game vs regular vs irregular vs never vs distance etc. They are all fans but they will engage in a different way. The ones most dissimilar to the regular attendees that make up the forum are the ones not having their views represented which might be why those groups often feel like the club don't even want them.
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That's what i was getting at...i probably didn't explain it very well.
 
Nano said:
I was really talking about regularity of attendance. The people that go to every game vs regular vs irregular vs never vs distance etc. They are all fans but they will engage in a different way. The ones most dissimilar to the regular attendees that make up the forum are the ones not having their views represented which might be why those groups often feel like the club don't even want them.
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In practical terms it is very hard to strike a balance between representation and having too many bodies on board. ie when you have too many people to physically fit around a table then it can be very hard for everyone to be and feel involved. I could go into a meeting with a 1001 questions and ideas from this message board but it would be wrong of me to hog things.

It is very hard to represent someone that only occasionally goes to the Riverside and many that go more often would no doubt feel aggrieved if they felt the occasional fan was over represented,
But there is a North American rep, sometimes Ellen sits in for them. Ellen is now living in from York rather than New York. She is not a season ticket holder and can speak out for those that only come to a handful of matches and otherwise watch/listen to the games. There is usually a MSS rep, they are often not a season card holder.

I think only John D and myself go regularly home and away. Perhaps Owen too. The rest are home fans and go to occasional away games - I get it that they bring a different perspective.

I would also recommend anyone feeling they are not part of the process or distant from things to join the Boro Supporters Club 2020 - they have monthly meetings in the Riverside with guest speakers from the Boro. It is all very informal but some of the members bring memorabilia along with them. They have Boro raffle prizes and have a rep on the Forum that can represent you. Any Boro fan can join them regardless of where they live or where they watch/don't watch their games. And regardless of age too.
www.mfc.co.uk

Supporter Groups

Middlesbrough FC Supporter Groups.
www.mfc.co.uk www.mfc.co.uk
 
onearmbandit said:
The Middlesbrough Supporters Forum was my brainchild in 2016. Formed in early 2017 with the agreement of our beloved Middlesbrough Football Club and with the help of MFC visionary Mark Ellis, to bring together the disparate fan groups, it was called by current MFC historian and former Gazette reporter Anthony Vickers a ‘Boro fans mini-parliament’. I stood down as Chair and resigned in 2020 when the recently appointed Chair wasn’t prepared to allow proper debate of sensitive information from MFC that was potentially detrimental to the wellbeing of Boro supporters during and specifically linked to the COVID crisis. MSF’s recent public debacles indicate that it is no longer truly independent; the principal reason it was set up and enshrined in point 1 of its carefully considered constitution(see clause), to call the club to account on behalf of us (MFC’s loyal paying customers). What do you think? Chris Joseph (Founder). www.boro.supportView attachment 73741
Click to expand...
The Club could reduce the importance of the Forum if it communicated with the fan base properly.
Given the club does not communicate well, there is more focus on the forum.
It is always going to be difficult for such a forum, seemingly abstractly constructed with club approved bodies and individuals.
I would far rather the club addressed the PR and Communication full stop. A fans Forum can play a role in this, but what a shame if IT is the only thing we can look to.
 
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