Vote for Doncaster against Leeds, Man Utd and others

[VivaRovers]

Giving this one last nudge as voting closes on Monday.

Doncaster's popular STAND is up against Leeds' Square Ball, Man Utd's United We Stand and several other much bigger fanzines in the FSF Awards. It is decided by a public vote so we need all the help we can get.

Please take a moment to vote for popular STAND for Fanzine of the Year here: http://tinyurl.com/fsfvote

[dknward2]

Done

[silent majority]

Glen, are you attending on the night? The office tell me they haven't heard back from you yet. Its free beer by the way!

[Deeping Red]

Done 

[Reds R Us]

Done

[graingrover]

done... and even if you do not win I think you always produce a good fanzine but the way you organised the petition to support the Belles last year was top !

[DearneValleyRover]

Done

[ian1980]

Done

[RTID75]

Done

[Serring]

Done

[donnyguy61]

Done

[Hag]

Done

[hoolahoop]

Done but up against huge fan bases, strange way to decide.

[VivaRovers]

Thanks all,

Yep, seems an odd way to decide this particular category, as the bigger the fanzine, the higher the readership, the inevitable more votes.

And yes SM, we were only offered one ticket, with others costing £50! (Twenty is plenty and all that), so I was at odds whether to go. I am now going though, but I have declined the meal and asked that the cost of it be donated to charity.

[Jenny]

Thanks all,

Yep, seems an odd way to decide this particular category, as the bigger the fanzine, the higher the readership, the inevitable more votes.

And yes SM, we were only offered one ticket, with others costing £50! (Twenty is plenty and all that), so I was at odds whether to go. I am now going though, but I have declined the meal and asked that the cost of it be donated to charity.

I've almost spat my drink out on reading that, you couldn't make it up.

I've voted too.

[silent majority]

Thanks all,

Yep, seems an odd way to decide this particular category, as the bigger the fanzine, the higher the readership, the inevitable more votes.

And yes SM, we were only offered one ticket, with others costing £50! (Twenty is plenty and all that), so I was at odds whether to go. I am now going though, but I have declined the meal and asked that the cost of it be donated to charity.

I've almost spat my drink out on reading that, you couldn't make it up.

I've voted too.

I'm not sure as to what bit you couldn't make up. The venue charge £120 per ticket, thanks to sponsorship we can just about break even on the night.

[Sheepskin Stu]

Thanks all,

Yep, seems an odd way to decide this particular category, as the bigger the fanzine, the higher the readership, the inevitable more votes.

And yes SM, we were only offered one ticket, with others costing £50! (Twenty is plenty and all that), so I was at odds whether to go. I am now going though, but I have declined the meal and asked that the cost of it be donated to charity.

I've almost spat my drink out on reading that, you couldn't make it up.

I've voted too.

I'm not sure as to what bit you couldn't make up. The venue charge £120 per ticket, thanks to sponsorship we can just about break even on the night.

It is an amusing irony Martin. Did they have to use such an expensive venue? 

[silent majority]

Thanks all,

Yep, seems an odd way to decide this particular category, as the bigger the fanzine, the higher the readership, the inevitable more votes.

And yes SM, we were only offered one ticket, with others costing £50! (Twenty is plenty and all that), so I was at odds whether to go. I am now going though, but I have declined the meal and asked that the cost of it be donated to charity.

I've almost spat my drink out on reading that, you couldn't make it up.

I've voted too.

I'm not sure as to what bit you couldn't make up. The venue charge £120 per ticket, thanks to sponsorship we can just about break even on the night.

It is an amusing irony Martin. Did they have to use such an expensive venue? 

We can't get the sponsorship if we don't Stu.

The awards started a few years ago and we used to pin it on to the end of our 'fans parliament' which is a two day affair held during the close season. At the end of the two days we'd hold this entertainment thing, which grew until it had almost become an event in its own right and people started ignoring the business during the day and attend just for the awards. Having said that it went virtually unnoticed outside our circle even though it was extremely popular.

A couple of years ago we were approached by several companies asking if they could sponsor the event. To a fans organisation that is almost 100% run by volunteers it was a blessing. However sponsors want their pound of flesh which means it has to be high profile, they want tv and media coverage and therefore insist on doing it the way its currently done. They give us a sum of money and we do our best with that.

Incidentally I am one of a small handful of people who attend on the night to represent the FSF and it costs me serious money. I have train fares and hotel costs to cover, plus time off from work.

It never ceases to amaze me how people find it so easy to criticise.

[Sheepskin Stu]

No-one is doubting your commitment mate.

Thanks for the explanation of the FSF's predicament. It's a catch 22 really.

[bobjimwilly]

If the FSF are subsidising peoples tickets by £70 then that sounds fair enough

[VivaRovers]

I had a chat with one of the FSF on email about it. I can completely understand why the FSF would welcome the sponsorship, and why making it a big thing is helpful too (to make more people aware of the FSF), but it really is a different world.

Discounted though it may be, £50 a ticket is very steep. £120 a ticket is ludicrous. It may be par for the course for award ceremonies (I genuinely have no idea), but is completely at odds with what the fanzine is about really, which is why I've declined the meal and asked for the cost to be donated to charity.

[VivaRovers]

And more importantly... thanks to all who've voted too.

[silent majority]

To be honest Glen it's against what most of us are about. We do find that side of the football world very difficult to rationalise with our normal stance of fighting for supporters rights.