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2009 is a thing of the past, and all water is under the bridge. Looking back it was one of the most enjoyable seasons I have ever experienced, this despite the lack of results on the field. Looking beyond the results, a lot of good came out of the season.

We lost a few players, a coach and a president. Before the Currie Cup competition, I don’t think that anybody would have predicted that we would have scalped the Bulls and WP, come close against the Sharks in Durban, and were unlucky not to beat a few other teams. After beating log leaders WP in the end of season encounter, it has brought back a sense of optimism to the Lions faithful.

People often wonder what happens during a Captains Run (the last training session before a match), and I’m honored to have attended a Captains Run this season, so can let all the Lions fans know what goes on. A jersey presentation session is usually held after the session in the auditorium at the park. Part of these proceedings is a short talk by the team “kop doctor” Henning Gerike, usually followed by a video.

Henning’s presentations vary every week, and are always inspiring. The one consistency he always touches on is how close the team was to getting it right, how close they were to turning the corner and becoming a very good team.
The jerseys are always presented by a Lions legend, players including Richard Prentis, Liaan Kirkham and John Robbie. The presentation always precedes Henning’s talk, and the legends always echo Henning’s sentiments. John did the presentation before the WP game.

The legends also use their own experiences as motivation for the players. I would like to share what John Robbie told the team – His story was about a young RAU 8th man, Okkerd Britz, who played for Transvaal in the early 80’s.
John starts the story in the hotel room in Bloemfontein the evening before the game. He and Okkerd were roommates.
He says that when Okkerd went to bed, he lit a cigarette. John questioned him about this, and he replied by saying it helped him relax. John was quite upset about the smoking, but Okkerd said he would quit when John learnt to speak Afrikaans.

John said it was a tough game against the Free State, but always felt that they were in control. Shortly before ½ time Okkerd scored a try close to the uprights. It wasn’t long after that Okkerd complained to John that he had trouble breathing.

Both assumed that he had been winded when scoring, and John urged him to push through until ½ time which he did. During the 80’s the players did not retire to the change rooms for the ½ time break, but formed a huddle on the field.The doctor was attending to a cut on Lappies Labsuchagnes’ hand when Okkerd approached him. The doc asked him to wait a few seconds – and then it happened, Okkerd Britz collapsed – DEAD! He had suffered a heart attack.

John used this as a motivation for the current team - and how a player paid the ultimate price for the beloved Lions jersey – the next day we beat WP after trailing 17 – 3. Magic! It’s just worth mentioning that the change rooms at the park are named after Okkerd.

Like the jersey presentation, there are a lot of happenings in the union, two of which I am fortunate enough to be involved in, the Supporters Club and the Ellis Park Care Group. What’s great about both these committees is that they were both established in the interests of the fans.

The care group is a joint initiative by the Union, Ellis Park and the Supporters club, the goal being a better match day experience at the park. The committees function is to identify problems on match days as well as putting suggestions forward for improvement. Already the parking has been addressed and improved, and the vendor issue has also been addressed and rectified.

The team will meet on a regular basis to ensure the upkeep of the standards as well as implementation of new ideas and improvements – any suggestions or complaints will be most welcome.

The biggest happening for us, the supporters is the Lions Rugby Supporters Club. I must reiterate that the process is still in infancy stage, but is gaining momentum. Jeanita Sayers, our chair person is in talks with the union to establish their expectations, and setting out a few ground rules.

The club should be up and running by the time we play the Stormers in the Vodacom Super 14 opening match. In the meantime a lot of behind the scene effort will be taking place.

The supporters club is a great initiative and I sincerely hope that all the Lions supporters will join and take advantage of all the possible perks we will be offered, and get their bums on the seats.

I have been very fortunate over the past few seasons, having the opportunity of making the trips for all the Lions away games. Not only has it afforded me the opportunities to meet and mingle with the players, but it has also given insight to what is happening in the union and team.

Initially when I started the trips, I drove to the wherever the team was playing, I booked into the formula 1 hotel, and would go to the game in the afternoon, and drive back the next morning. I can remember the excitement seeing the team bus outside their hotel… but it was sad to be only one of a few supporters at the away games. The reception for our players is not nearly the same for the visiting teams at the park.

As my traveling became more frequent and I learnt a few tricks, I eventually started flying and booking into the same hotels as the team. This led to us getting to know the team and players. It has developed to the extent that the Lions Bus driver, Ikram and I have become mates.

The weekend has become a massive outing for Neil (my son) and me. It affords us to visit the coast a few times a year, and go to places like Bloem, Kimberly, Rustenburg, & Wellington, where one never gets to visit.
The whole team, management and coaching staff are great – extremely humble and always have time for fans.

In Cape Town there are 2 guys who travel from Ceres to the Support the Lions when they play at Newlands – their car boot is usually filled with apples. These guys drive through on the Saturday morning before the game. After the game they rush to the hotel just to get a glimpse of the players, dish out their apples and head back to Ceres the same evening.

Apparently there are about 5 Lions supporters in Ceres - and believe it or not, these guys have regular meetings to discuss the team and their strategies. After been thrashed by WP in the S14 this year, they were at the hotel after the game.

Because of the huge defeat, management assembled and held an emergency meeting, and the players did the same in the team room. The one Ceres supporter also called a meeting – him, his mate, Neil and I – in the hotel foyer. Initially I thought he was joking, but soon realized that this guy wanted to meet, and he wanted to meet now!

I was intrigued to hear what he was on about… He addressed us in a very serious tone – saying that we needed to find a solution for the team, and what we could do to lift the spirit of “our boys”. I was amazed and felt small in the presence of this supporter – he was adamant that we should call the team and management together and present them with solutions.

These were 2 guys who were/are dead serious about our team – nobody knows who they are and are probably hardly ever taken seriously…however that despite their minority, despite their not often been taken seriously – these are the true supporters who will stand by the Lions forever and a true example to all of us – salute the manne from Ceres!

In Durban a week or 2 earlier, we jumped on a taxi from the hotel to Absa stadium, another game we lost, but the team was less despondent than after the WP game. The lifts in the hotel are extremely busy – and have many floors to stop. I think there are 32 floors. As soon as the lift door opened, every man and his dog rushed in, players, managers, coaches and a few residents who were not there for the rugby.

Andre Pretorius’s stop was on or about the 3rd floor, and one of the first to get out, but on his way out, pressed every floor button in the lift – needless to say our trip to the 19th floor took ages.

The second Cape Town trip in 2009 was also a great experience. In every hotel the team stays, they have a team room. This is usually a conference room set aside where they have their pre match meals, meetings etc. There is usually a TV, maybe a few games, a couch, pool table and a few niceties. Energy drinks and fruit are also freely available. The physio, Dave, also does his thing in the team room.

Most players retire quite early on a Friday evening. This Friday a few guys who needed a rub down from Dave, and stayed behind in the team room – Bizkit, Herkie and Alwyn are a few who went to the physio, and reports are that Bizkit entertained his team mates with many exciting card tricks.

Through my travels with the Lions I have made great friends, met amazing people and have established very worthwhile contacts. So why am I sharing this with you? A simple reason – I want all of the fans to experience the away game with me, meet the people, see the other side of the players, and meet the players….

This is one of the pre-requisites from the union regarding the supporters club. One of the main objectives is get the Lions supporters back to the Park, and get all of us traveling with the team across the country. There are great initiatives being discussed and investigated – the objective is restoring the pride in the fan base.

Not all of our supporters are aware of the rich traditions and long history of the GLRU. Just the other day Kevin de Klerk was reminiscing about his playing days, when there were more than 60000 spectators turned up for a game against WP…and how the fans made the players feel invincible.

It is a fact that the crowd and supporters do have an influence on the team’s performance – think back to how the crowd lifted the Bulls in the 2009 S14 final. Yes, the support and turnout does depend on the team’s performance – and can you imagine how Lions players would feel when getting off the bus at Newlands or Absa stadium with 1000 fans waiting to greet them?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just outnumber the opposition support when the likes of WP, Sharks or Bulls run onto our field? Think about it.

There are many initiatives falling into place at the union, and the best news is that a huge amount of focus is being put on the supporters. Season ticket discounts, secure parking, discount at the Ellis Park Store, competitions, pre match braais in the stadium (so you don’t have to do it in the street), pre and post match entertainment and most of all, it’s going to be made a lot easier to make the trips for away games.

2010 will be the year of the Lions supporter – be part of it – feel the passion – become part of the pride!