80 Years of Parramatta – But What Does Membership Really Mean?

The Parramatta Eels have unveiled their 80th anniversary branding as preparations begin for the 2027 season.

The anniversary logo celebrates the Club’s history since 1947, accompanied by a message recognising the generations of players, members, volunteers, staff and supporters who have made Parramatta what it is today.

It’s a history worth celebrating.

Having supported Parramatta for more than 40 years, I have enormous respect for the people who built our Club and those who continue to contribute to it.

However, one part of the announcement gave me reason to reflect.

The Club’s message encourages supporters to become members and join the generations of people who have carried Parramatta since 1947.

But what does becoming a member of the Parramatta Eels actually mean today?

Membership or a Membership Package?

For many years, purchasing an Eels membership has meant buying a package of benefits.

Depending on the package, those benefits might include match tickets, reserved seating, merchandise, discounts, exclusive events and access to other Club activities.

There is nothing wrong with offering these packages.

They provide valuable benefits to supporters and are an important part of the Club’s commercial operations.

But there is a fundamental difference between purchasing a membership package and being a member of an organisation with genuine democratic rights.

Today, an ordinary Parramatta Eels membership does not provide the right to elect the Football Club’s directors, attend an Annual General Meeting as a voting member, or vote on the constitutional direction of the organisation.

Supporters are called members, but they do not have the rights traditionally associated with membership of a football club.

We have membership packages. What we no longer have is meaningful membership of the Football Club itself.

Remembering What Membership Once Meant

I remember attending Annual General Meetings of the old Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club.

Those meetings provided an opportunity for members to participate in the affairs of their Club.

Members could elect directors, consider matters affecting the organisation and participate in recognising people who had made outstanding contributions to Parramatta.

It wasn’t simply about purchasing a ticket to watch football.

Membership meant belonging to an organisation and having a voice in its future.

I recognise that the governance structures of the past had their problems. I supported the reforms that helped stabilise Parramatta following the difficulties of 2016.

I am not advocating a return to the governance failures of that period.

But I also don’t believe that good governance and democratic membership are mutually exclusive.

We should be capable of maintaining professional governance, independent oversight and appropriate qualifications for directors while restoring a meaningful voice to the people who support our football club.

An Opportunity in Our 80th Year

As Parramatta prepares to celebrate 80 years, I believe we should consider what kind of Club we want to leave for future generations.

The Club’s anniversary message rightly acknowledges that Parramatta has been carried by its people.

Players, volunteers, administrators, members and supporters have all contributed to its history.

But if those people are important enough to celebrate as the foundation of our Club, shouldn’t they also have a meaningful place in its future?

That is why I have proposed changes to the governance and ownership structure of the Parramatta Eels.

My proposal would establish a genuine Eels Members organisation with a 40% ownership interest in the Football Club, while Parramatta Leagues Club would retain 60%.

It would also introduce elected member representation on the Football Club Board, retain an independent director and establish protections for the Club’s identity and heritage.

The intention is not to weaken the organisation or interfere with the professional management of football.

It is to give members a genuine voice within a modern, accountable governance structure.

The people who have supported Parramatta through generations deserve more than recognition in an anniversary campaign.

They deserve the opportunity to participate in the future of the Club they love.

Welcoming Mike Rush to Parramatta

I would also like to welcome Mike Rush following his appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Parramatta Eels.

Mike joins Parramatta after a long and successful association with St Helens in England, where he oversaw a period of considerable success across the men’s and women’s rugby league programs.

His appointment represents an important new chapter for Parramatta as we approach our 80th anniversary season.

One part of his appointment announcement particularly caught my attention.

Mike spoke about wanting every Eels member and fan to feel part of the Club.

That is a sentiment I wholeheartedly support.

I hope to have the opportunity to meet with Mike in the future, welcome him personally to Parramatta and discuss my ideas for restoring genuine membership and greater supporter involvement in the Football Club.

I would be interested in hearing his perspective, particularly given his extensive experience in rugby league administration in England.

I recognise that constitutional reform is ultimately a matter for the Club’s governance structures and shareholders, rather than something a CEO can implement independently.

Nevertheless, I believe the views of the person responsible for leading our football organisation would be valuable in considering how we build stronger relationships between the Club and its supporters.

More Than a Name on a Membership Card

I want Parramatta to succeed on the football field.

I want our NRL, NRLW and pathways teams competing for premierships.

I want our Leagues Club to remain financially strong and our facilities to continue developing.

And I want future generations to feel the same pride in Parramatta that I have felt throughout my life.

But I also want something more.

I want being a member of the Parramatta Eels to mean that you genuinely belong to the organisation.

Not simply that you have purchased a ticket, a discount or a merchandise package.

A genuine member should have a genuine voice.

As we celebrate 80 years of Parramatta, I believe restoring that voice would be one of the most meaningful ways we could honour those who built our Club.

Let those who drink the water remember those that dug the well.