Neil Ballment the RSF President and Jeremy Scott RSF Treasurer and delegates to the Roar Advisory Council have been in meetings with both Kaz and Zac at the recent Roar Advisory Council to ascertain the present state of play on several issues of particular interest to Supporters of the Brisbane Roar Football Club. I am pleased to be able to advise Supporters on the following matters:
INDIAN TOUR: – PRE-SEASON GAMES
Because of the very low distribution to A-League Clubs from the APL the interstate A-League Clubs are not prepared to spend money coming to Queensland for friendlies. The RSF has been working to arrange a game with some of the talented footballers in the local African community, for both the ALM and ALW teams, this is a work in progress.
However, the Club is to be congratulated on being able to arrange a trip to India to play against quality Indian teams in a competition there as recently announced. Kaz in particular is to be congratulated for his work in setting up a sponsorship by an Indian entrepreneur who is funding the Club’s expenses in attending this competition. This is giving the Club the chance to give playing opportunities to some of its younger up and coming players from the lower leagues, as well as sharpening up the skills of our Men’s A-League team.
It is important to note that this trip is not costing the Club, which is important in these days of financial restrictions for all Clubs.
ROAR WOMEN’S TEAM
The RSF understands that the Women’s Team is all but complete and that Zac and Kaz are excited at the talent that has been recruited. We have seen some players announced already and these announcements will continue. It is reported that the new players (and the rest of the team) are particularly pleased at the training facilities the Club has arranged at QSAC.
KIT
Kaz and Zac advise that this season will see a really new and exciting Kit to be launched in this special 20th Anniversary Season for the Roar. They commented that it was good for them to see the wide interest and commentary on the Kit produced for the Australia Cup and they have taken notice of that commentary.
Zac has been spending some time in China working hard on the design and production issues with the source factories. The Kit will be available through Rebel Stores and there may be further announcements regarding distribution in due course. It is planned that there will be a wide range of sizes available to Supporters looking to purchase the new Kit It is also planned to make available a more affordable Replica Kit which may suit people looking for Kit for themselves and their children.
ROAR LOGO AND MERCHANDISE
While the copyright in the Roar Crest (and other A-League Clubs) is still owned by FA, The Roar Club has negotiated a direct licence to use the Crest in its merchandising activities which allows it a much wider capability to produce and market merchandise with its own suppliers and distributors. This will give the Roar a merchandising advantage that the other A-League Clubs do not currently have.
Kaz and Zac have managed to get Roar Kit into Rebel outlets this season and the RSF congratulates them on being proactive in this and the Crest Licence arrangements to make Kit more available to Supporters and to see that more of the proceeds from Kit and other merchandise sales go to the Club.
Kaz and Zac are appealing for ideas on what merchandise would be most desired by
Roar Fans and the RSF will be putting out a survey in the near future.
PLANS FOR INDEPENDENT INCOME
It has long been the view of Kaz and Zac that the Club should not be dependent upon one source of income and indeed the cuts from APL distributions over the past few seasons have proved how true this is The RSF is very excited to hear from the Club that it has plans to establish an enterprise that will guarantee an independent source of income for the Club. Even better is that the Club’s sometimes criticised Owners the Bakrie Group will pour substantial funds into setting up and realising this opportunity.
The RSF looks forward to the Club making further announcements about this at the appropriate time.
BOUTIQUE STADIUM AND HOME GROUND
Club Management continues to work hard with Football Queensland and other key stakeholders to progress access to, or the acquisition of a suitable ground and stadium to be the Home Ground of its ALM and ALW teams.
Availability within the Brisbane area is extremely limited and the prime opportunity for upgrade or reconstruction has layers of legal and practical difficulties to overcome. Despite this Roar Supporters can be reassured that this project is at the forefront of the Club’s mind and efforts are being made at all levels, including political Football and Club levels to arrive at a solution.
Again, we understand that the Bakrie Group is prepared to invest substantially in such a project that can be supported by a reasonable business case.
IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORT FOR THE UNITE ROUND
Kaz stressed the importance of the success of the coming Unite Round in Sydney in November. 22nd to 24th November 2024.
We all acknowledge the outrage generated by the decision to tie the Unite Round to a particular city and the determination by many Supporters not to support the concept. The hard fact of the matter is that the Destination Sydney money is vital to the functioning of the APL and now is not the time put at risk that particular stream of funding.
Apart from the financial effect on the APL, it is my experience and that of other RSF Members who went down to Sydney last season to attend the Unite Round that it was a great experience. We had a ball meeting other Football Fans whether in the
streets of Sydney or on the trains or other public transport. The atmosphere was amazing even despite rain and wind at times.
Above all the joy and appreciation of our Roar Men to see quite a number of us making a great noise in support was worth everything. The Den were exceptional.
With the great organising capability and enthusiasm of my Vice President John Lang, the RSF already has gathered a number of people to travel down. We are seeing if the Club can support us, if we can gather numbers for a bus trip down and back. Season Membership covers the 2 double headers the Roar Men and Women are involved in.
I hope that you will find this update informative and encouraging as we go forward into the new Football Season.
#Roarasone #GoRoar
Neil Ballment
President Roar Supporters Federation Inc.