The question I'm most often asked is "what are the benefits of joining the Sale Sharks Supporters Club?" It's never easy to answer. However, I hope some details about what we have done in the last few years, and what we hope to do in the future will make you want to be part of something significant in the life of our club.

Sixteenth Man: Philippe St Andre calls the supporters his 16th man. He has challenged us to create the best possible support for the team both home and away. We've set about it by providing a coach to every away game and making the journey part of the whole "away day" experience. The Fun Bus is now legendary for its party atmosphere, for the friendships forged and indeed we've even seen a romance or two! We also arrange block booking of tickets so instead of being scattered around the ground, Sale Sharks Supporters can be seen and heard en masse.

We've also provided advice and assistance on travel to Europe for Heineken Cup games. Our visit to Munster saw the largest ever travelling support when almost 2000 people made the journey across the Irish Sea. The square in the old town at San Sebastien may have been awash with red and white but there was enough blue in the crowd to make our presence felt. In Paris, supporters enjoyed the best of French food and wine as we sailed down the Seine. Most importantly we came away from all our journeys having shared that special and unforgettable fellowship of rugby fans.

Get closer: Our social events aim to give you the opportunity to get closer to the players, the coaches and the management of the club. We start this season with an evening with Philippe, Kingsley and Sale legend, Jos Baxendell to seek out their views of the year ahead. In our second year, we had a highly successful "Down Under" night with all our southern hemisphere players. Those present on the night will never forget the comment "they used to eat us"! Last year our "French" night achieved our highest ever attendance with over 200 people keen to spend an evening in the company of Sebastien Chabal, Sebastien Bruno, and their compatriots. We didn't set out to get closer to referees. However, for the past 2 years premiership referee David Rose has so disarmed us with his humour, his charm and his devilish examples of how difficult it is to referee we ended those evenings not only agreeing but sympathising with him!

Membership entitles you to reduced prices for both travel on the fun bus and entry to our events.

Gala Dinner and Awards: Your membership also entitles you to take part in our annual round of voting for the Supporters Awards. This year's winners were: Magnus Lund and Sebestian Bruno who tied for Supporters Player of the Year; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Supporters New Player of the Year); Niels de Vos (Outstanding Contribution to the Club Award); Jason Robinson and Steve Hanley were elected to the Supporters Hall of Fame. Players may receive awards from the club or their peers but we believe it is important too that the supporters acknowledge their efforts. This year's Gala Dinner saw a record attendance of supporters and players at what is fast becoming the most important supporter's event in our year.

However, the SSSC isn't all about what we do for you or for each other but it is also about what we as supporters can give back to the Club we love and to the players.

Collections and Donations: The SSSC has raised over £20,000 for various causes during the year or two including donations to the Matt Hampson Trust, Graeme Bond, Pete Anglesea and Robert Todd. In conjunction with Stockport Council we raised £1000 to send books and computer equipment to needy children in Matale. We also donated £750 to the Wooden Spoon Society, a rugby based charity which raises money for underprivileged children. This year's AGM took the decision to affiliate the SSSC with the Wooden Spoon Society and it's our intention to work closely with them in the year ahead to raise yet more money for this worthy cause.

Jets: Again this year we've continued our support of the Jets. We are currently awaiting delivery of another set of training shirts for them. We have also earmarked the sum of £3,500 for the youngsters and will be passing this to James Wade as soon as he decides what he wants to spend it on! All money raised through our 201 Club goes to sponsoring our young players of the future.

Shirt Off Your Back: At the request of the club we took on the task of selling tickets for the highly successful shirt off your back competition on match nights. This is one way that WE as supporters can actively work with the club for the benefit of all. We are always looking for more volunteers if you can spare an hour before each game. In return the club donates a share of the takings back to the SSSC. This money goes towards our sponsorship of the Jets and our other donations.

Stockport Council: The SSSC have taken an active role in forging relationships with the Council. We worked closely with them to promote the England Saxons game. We are also working with the Tourism Partnership both to promote rugby in the borough but also to promote Stockport to visiting fans.

Focus Group: As an extension of our liaison role with the club, members of the SSSC committee are actively involved in the Focus Group. We continue to promote your cause and to put forward the views of you the supporters at every opportunity.

So what are the benefits? For me it's all about "getting closer" - to the club, the players, your fellow supporters and the wider rugby community. It's about having fun, but it's also about giving something back. In short it's about being a part of something very special. I hope you will feel that way too.

Anne Blakeney
Chairman
Sale Sharks Supporteres Club
July 2007