For many sports supporters, backing their team might only go as far as attending games and occasionally buying merchandise.  But nothing could be further from the truth for members of the Milton Keynes Lightning Supporters’ Club - and this week the team themselves paid tribute to the unsung work of the organisation that helps keep them on the ice.

As well as giving fans a connection to the team via events like the pre-season “Meet the Players”  evening, the Milton Keynes Lightning Supporters’ Club actually helps keep the team on the ice thanks to year-round fund-raising efforts including quiz nights, player talk-ins and the “Shirt off his back” draw at each home game. The 2009-10 season was exceptional both on and off the ice – not only did the team win the English Premier League title, but the supporters’ club presented the team with a cheque for £33,000 which went directly towards meeting essential team expenses.

Many of the backroom staff who ensure home match nights run smoothly are also members of the Supporters’ Club, giving their time voluntarily - even the compilation, production and sale of the official match programme is overseen by Club members, with all profits going straight to the club.

When a cause is chosen for the club’s annual charity month, the involvement of the Supporters’ Club is pivotal to the success of the project.  During last November’s matches MK Lightning wore shirts to promote awareness of Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes, with sponsorship of the shirts raising an incredible £2,500 to help the hospice continue its work.

The relationship between Lightning and their Supporters’ Club is very much a two-way one; all of the Supporters’ Club committee are also members of Lightning’s own Club Management Committee, to help them understand issues the club faces, and the club is also able to stay abreast of supporters’ opinions.

The work of the Supporters’ Club is a constant motivation, according to team captain Adam Carr: “At every rink we travel to, opposition players and fans always acknowledge our support as being the best in the league.  Without our supporters and the Supporters’ Club, the team wouldn't have had the success we have enjoyed over the years.  They’re a credit to our club and a credit to ice hockey in this country, and we always try our best to repay them by lifting trophies”.

Player-coach Nick Poole echoed those sentiments, saying, “One of the greatest strengths of ice hockey in Milton Keynes is the spirit within the club and the goodwill generated around the rink – and that’s down to the fantastic relationship we have with our supporters and our Supporters’ Club.  They are one of the main reasons we’ve been able to stay competitive with some of the bigger budget teams in our league over the years. 

The Chairman of the MK Lightning Supporters’ Club Committee, Dave Bunyan, acknowledged that the backing of supporters had been a major factor in the team’s recent successes: “In recent seasons Lightning have been fortunate enough to secure the signings of players such as Kurt Irvine, Greg Randall, Joachim Wiklander, Leigh Jamieson and Andre Smulter – but none of those signings would have been possible without the help of the Supporters’ Club.

“The team owners, Vito Rausa and Harry Howton, never demand or take anything for granted from the Supporters’ Club.  Every season the owners, the coach and myself sit down and work out an operating budget for the coming season – add this to the fact that the whole of the Supporters’ Club committee sit on Lightning’s own management committee, and it’s fair to say that the Supporters’ Club is very well respected and has a significant input to the club’s fortunes – a tremendous accolade to the team’s loyal followers!”

Anyone wishing to join the MK Lightning Supporters’ Club can join by visiting the Club’s stand at Planet Ice on any Lightning home match night, or go to www.mk-lightning.com/supporters-club.