My protesting days are over.
Like I said, been there, done it and worn the T shirt out.
I might be old school but when we were protesting our dream was to be where we are today.
Read the Tigers 2000 statement of intent sometime. Its an education. Every point was achieved by a club and fans who at the time were at the very bottom of the Football League ladder.
I don't like or agree with the way the club is being run at present but I go to support the team like I have done all my life. I don't buy anything with the current club badge on it and I will not do so until the clubs name re-appears on club merchandise.
I can understand why some fans are staying away but then again I think a lot more use the current situation as an excuse not to attend games.
There are 32 FAC3 games vying for media attention, the BBC are willing an 'upset' and a great romantic story to focus on, there will be negligible national media attention on our game regardless of how many don't attend. It just doesn't fit the bill of interesting cup tie.
We've all seen the John Oxley incident and how it gives the media something to run with. Empty seats is neither news nor interesting. The media thrive on pictures and incidents, not 'slow burn' stories.
If I were involved with the HCST, I would be think of ways to groom the media. Identify sympathetic or local journalists and engage them with news, pictures and updates. People Like Arindam Rej, Martin Samuels, Angus Young, Damian Johnson, Guy Mowbray, David Conn, Mark Chapman,...hell even Kevin Kilbane, Rosie Millard.
Treat them with respect and intelligence, don't hector them, look to see things from their angle: they might need a story, an update, photos etc.
These are the people who hold the keys and who wield the power. There are some media savvy people in HCST and associates, surely some of them are capable of forging useful media connections with some of the above people?