YBIG Mandate: AGM set for March 8th at 7pm

Cheers to the Mandate committee for the work done this year. 

If you have signed up and didn't get a copy then either let us know here or mail us on ybigmandate@gmail.com.

Following our AGM in December, the YBIG Mandate committee met on January 17th to elect a Chairperson and Secretary for 2022.

At that meeting, the existing Chair, Siobhan O'Brien, informed us that she has been appointed to a new job as a Fans Relations Specialist in UEFA's Governance and Stakeholder Affairs department based in Nyon, Switzerland.

Due to this Siobhan will be stepping down from our committee effective February 1st 2022 when she begins her new role.

Siobhan was a founder member of YBIG Mandate, served on the committee since we were first convened in 2016 and was elected Chair in 2021. She has been a huge asset to our group in terms of formalising our own structure, pushing our agenda for change to ensure fans' voices are listened to on multiple issues and building relationships with other supporters groups within the Irish Football Supporters Partnership (IFSP) and with the FAI. Her input will will be sorely missed.    

While we are obviously disappointed to say goodbye to Siobhan, we are absolutely delighted to see her get this well-deserved opportunity and on behalf of all members, offer our heartfelt congratulations and wish her all the best of luck for her future with UEFA.

Siobhan's stepping down meant that a vacancy arose for the position of Chair and we are happy to confirm that John O'Neill has been proposed and seconded and will take over as both YBIG Mandate Chair, and Chair of the IFSP committee for the duration of our rotation in that position. John is another founder member of the group and initially came on to the committee last year.

Our incumbent Secretary Eoin Byrne was nominated and seconded to remain in that position.

Again, we offer our congrats to both John and Eoin and wish them every success in their roles.

Siobhan's departure also means there is now an open position on the committee. As as per Article 2, Section 3 of our constitution, "members are entitled to propose and second a candidate and must notify the Secretary seven days prior to the following Committee meeting. If more candidates are nominated than there are vacancies then an election shall be held. Should no candidate be proposed, the sitting Committee has the right to co-opt a candidate of their choosing to serve as an officer, with the consent of that member."

One candidate to replace Siobhan has already been proposed but should anyone else be interested then please respond to the email issued to members this evening by January 31st 2022. Should no further nominations be received then the committee will move to co-opt the member already proposed. Note that individuals must have been members for a minimum of six months to be eligible.  

Finally, we are expecting confirmation of details for the 2022 Home Season Ticket next week. Renewals are scheduled to open on February 1st with a two-week window for existing Season Ticket holders to renew their existing seats before general sale opens. Barring any changes or additional restrictions, the ticket will cover six games as below. Details on pricing are still to be confirmed.

March – 2 Friendlies - Opposition TBC
June - UEFA Nations League: Ireland v Ukraine, Ireland v Scotland
September - UEFA Nations League: Ireland v Armenia
November – 1 Friendly - Opposition TBC

Thank you for your continued support.        

Best of luck for the future 

To all members,

As previously advised, the departure of our previous Chairperson, Siobhan O'Brien, to start a job with UEFA has opened up a position on the YBIG Mandate Committee.

As per our Constitution, members had 14 days to nominate potential candidates and two people have been proposed, Aidan Brett and Caroline Ginty and a link to an online ballot paper has been issued to all members. If you have signed up and did not receive a mail then please contact us as ybigmandate@gmail.com.

Details on both candidates can be viewed below.

Aidan Brett

My name is Aidan Brett and I've been a YBIG Mandate member since the group was founded in 2016. I've been a season ticket holder for well over a decade and travel regularly to away games.
 
Since the early years of YBIG, I have made myself available by helping to create the matchday atmosphere in Lansdowne. This involved fundraising, designing and organising the flags and banners on the day.

I also have the responsibility of being the fans team manager. Again, a lot of organising with other fans teams, tournaments, dragging a big bag of kit around Europe and charity fundraising is a part of this role.

Along with Liam Murray I help with designing and sourcing products for the YBIG shop.

If I am nominated to a position on the Mandate committee I am confident that I can bring some great ideas to the table that will benefit the group.

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Caroline Ginty

My name is Caroline Ginty and I’m a long standing member of the YBIG Mandate, having joined in 2016.

I’m a season ticket holder for home games, have been travelling to away games for many years and I’m also a Longford Town fan.

As an avid follower of the Irish team home and away, this has led to having many connections with other fans so therefore I have a good knowledge of what supporters want while also giving female supporters a voice.

I am interested in finding out what issues supporters want addressed and improvements which can be made to issues that affect supporters within Irish football.

Voting is open until midnight Sunday February 20th and results will be announced the following week.