Stand up and be counted!
Hibs board and fans come together in call to arms…

HIBS’ NEW DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COLIN MCNEILL has wasted no time getting to grips with some of the issues that his job remit covers and, as discussed Tuesday’s AGM, has kicked off a new campaign to mobilise Hibs fans into action over some of these.   The campaign, which has been endorsed by former players, Hibs supporting celebrities and the major fans groups, is titled ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’ and will be led by supporters for supporters.

Looking initially at dwindling attendances and trying to reverse these, it will also look to ticketing and membership schemes as well as giving the Stadium a greater ‘Hibernian’ feel to it, something that has attracted some criticism since the new West Stand in particular was completed.  Fans attending tomorrow’s match with Dundee United will have the opportunity to pick up t-shirts, lapel badges, leaflets and postcards advertising the campaign from within the concourses at each stand.

Speaking at this afternoon’s launch, Colin McNeill spoke of need to bring the fans back to watch their team.  "From a club perspective, we will be implementing a number of marketing initiatives immediately or later in the season, so we can give the campaign our 100% support.  The club will be doing everything possible to support the Hibernian community with this campaign.  I know the team of people involved in this will be doing their utmost to make it a success, but at the end of the day it has to be supporter led.  We need to mobilize the 8,000 hard-core supporters and get them to bring along an extra 3,000 Hibernian supporters back to Easter Road on a match-day."

One fan who has been involved in club initiatives in the past is Willie McEwan.  Despite the history of campaigns that have lost their way over the past years, Willie feels that this one has the proper backing to work.  "I'm delighted to be here with this team.  I don't consider it my team, it's our team - football has always been a team game and the most important people in the game that Hibs have brought together are all the fans and that is what it is about.  Bobby picks his team and we now see this whole thing as being a team effort now.  Supporters, management, players - everyone must work together.  As some people will know I used to be heavily involved at the club with the Hibs Kids and served under a few managers, but I can honestly say that I'm really confident that the initiative I've seen this time will work because it is embracing everyone.”

The fact that this campaign is to be led by fans with the full backing of the club is, according to Willie, the key to this particular one being a success, and he asked fellow fans to give it the attention and backing that it deserves.  "If we can make Easter Road once again a place that people think is worth coming to, with everyone together then we will have succeeded.  We have the nucleus here of a great initiative at Easter Road, what we are harnessing here is to be commended, the club are saying that this campaign is going to be fan-led and I know that the club is 100% behind any of the initiatives the fans put forward.  It is great that the fans can have a true voice literally on Saturday's here at Easter Road and now off the park as well.  So I'm delighted to be a part of and support this campaign and urge every Hibs fan out there to support us, support with your feet by coming along and your voice and that will be to the benefit of the whole football club."

These sentiments were echoed by another well known face from the stands, Frank Dougan.  "I think that it is very important that the club now moves forward together.  The fact that the Board are listening to what the supporters are saying must be a plus, we now feel that we are being heard and so let it be heard from the terracing as well.  I can only commend the club for staying at Easter Road and now it's up to us to support them.” 

Supporting the board can only come with unity from the Hibs support.  Over recent months, the fan base has been split on different issues, whether that be the proposed move to Straiton, the way the club was run and even how different fans talked about and backed their club.  However, the campaign has brought together many of these factions to fight with each other for one common purpose, something that the Hibeesbounce website’s Kevin Robertson likens to political events of some years ago.  "I think this is a great idea, I liken it to 'Perestroika' after the cold war, moves that have brought alienated and different groups of the support together for the greater glory of Hibernian.  I am 100% behind the campaign and we are delighted it is taking place now."  These words were echoed by former Hibs.net Editor Stuart Crowther who, along with John Campbell, have already taken on duties with the club in an effort to improve it’s marketing ability.

"I'm just delighted that this campaign is taking place.  It is something that is long overdue, we have waited for years for some sort of lead to come from somewhere.  The fans have all got one thing in common, we are all backing Hibernian and we always have done - but never before has everyone been brought together and that is what is happening today.  The club needs our support now more than they have ever needed it before, that much is obvious to anyone who follows football.  And that is why we are all delighted to be a part of this campaign, it is something new that has never happened in Scottish football before, and I believe it will work."

Positive words from all involved and with some of the ideas about to come to fruition, it’s clear that the club will not just be paying lip service to this campaign.  In addition to the initiatives already mentioned are:

-          Half Season tickets which will be available by Christmas
-          A 3 year season ticket
-          A ‘Bring A Friend’ scheme for season ticket holders
-          A new family package and
-          A re-branding of the Hibs Kids

Hibs.net are proud to be involved in this campaign and pledges it’s 100% support to it.  We ask that all registered members give it their backing too and ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’.