As I am away anyway for the Swansea game , I can't claim to be joining the boycott , but I really want to do my bit and hammer home a message so I will be boycotting all training sessions and junior matches .. Take that Ehab!
I'm gunna spoil the threat and derail it... OT now ... Can't believe that Patrick Murray aka Mickey Pearce Only fools and horses was 60 yesterday.
The club were in trouble long before the buckets came out. I don't know where you get the idea from that us oldies are using our lifetime of support for the club to beat other fans with ? The people I know who where there throughout those years fought tooth an nail for this club and it's supporters. We bought shares in the club and got our voices heard in the boardroom and at AGM meetings. We turned up on the doorsteps of the owners, we stopped them in the street and questioned them face to face. We waited outside stadiums after games to question them. We got under their skin and we pestered the newspapers and the media to keep the pressure on. We also fought a successful campaign against the membership scheme Thatcher tried to bring in with Hull City fans at the forefront of the campaign. One thing we never did was turn our backs on the team. Trivialise the role we played in keeping the club in the Football League all you like but those of us who where there know the truth.
It's great that you campaigned in the past and that, but you now spend time actively opposing protests and defending the Allams on here. I think the fact that you were once a hardcore makes that even more shameful than for other posters who have just always been wet lettuces.
As are the fans of this generation right now, the difference is the situation. We aren't facing liquidation, it's about the identity and the treatment of the fans. The last time things were dire, the fans rallied around and got together, making a difference. The attitude of "oh it isn't as bad as last time" doesn't make it okay to ignore the problem. The Falklands wasn't as bad as WW2, it didn't mean there wasn't **** to be sorted out. If you're actually happy with the current situation, then fine, don't protest, but I'm sick to death of people saying "given what happened last time, it's not all bad". It is bad, it's just a matter of scale. It might not even be that important to you or your contemporaries, but it's the identity of the club you fought to save that we are fighting to maintain. If you let them, they'll take it away and they aren't threatening, they're actively trying to do that.
Can't recall any older fans claiming if it wasn't for them the club wouldn't be here. Some of us can claim we tried to get previous owners out, but in truth they lmainly eft when they wanted not because of any actions we took. Some of us course stuck with them through times some younger fans and those who only arrived with the building of the KC can only imagine, whilst others walked away or had other priorities as they put it.Apart from in the mid 1960s and in 1970/1971 I never dreamt I would see City in the top division. Neither did TubbyLard and others. Which makes it all the worse for us oldies when confronted with what has happened when that day arrived. We envisaged a ground full of fans behind the team, a bit like Sunderland and Derbyn (the best atmosphere most experienced at an away ground) with large, boisterous away followings. Instead we have a large number of PL fans not bothered about atmosphere, the name of the club or anything else as long as they can sit and gaze upon the PL stars. Given the antipathy of many in the City towards City, the disinterested local media (unless there is a bandwagon to jump on), those supporters of the rugby clubs and "supporters" of other clubs (those are the most despicanle of the lot. Fans of other clubs stop going innbadvtines but Hull is one of the very worst for supporting teams from elsewhere. I have never seen loads of people in Middlesbrough for example, when they were doing crap wandering around in Man U, Liverpool shirts or Leeds, excusing that one on the basis they are a Yorkshire side). You u sometimes have to ask if the city of Hull (as opposed to the small band of City supporters for whom City are the be all end all) deserves a top flight team. This might not come across too well, some of these things are cone across better when discussed over a pint.
Well, as many of us have said, during the previous bad times we all felt that whatever happened it was our club. Now those same people no longer feel that. To be fair, that isn't unique to City. Football, at least at the higher levels, is a commodity and the people watching are consumers, spectators rather than supporters.
But it is your club and their club, for now anyway, why wouldn't you (in the wider sense, not you personally) want to protect it? As you've said, apathy has played its part and in a sick way I'm a little bit glad they've got rid of the concessions, as it got many of the previously apathetic people angry at the owners. It's not a small minority anymore, people just want to go and watch their local club, the division doesn't matter, as long as they are doing their best I honestly don't think people care. Naturally the standard of opposition plays a part in getting bums on seats, but the current ownership really isn't helping; people aren't just avoiding games due to funds or rugby like the old days, they're staying away because of the club itself (owners I guess). That's not a good situation to be in, it needs to change and to get it to change there's only one thing that can happen. The Allams need to go.
That's all true, and not being questioned. What is being questioned is whether a matchday boycott, which clearly adversely affects the team we support, is the right action to take. It isn't a choice between boycott or nothing, as the Trust has already demonstrated in recent weeks. It's about keeping the pressure on the Allams in a positive way, to encourage them to sell up. Because let's face it, selling is not just good for the fans, it's good for the Allams too.
Obviously. So all I've got to go in is what you post on here, which is generally unhelpful pandering to the Allams on the basis that we have been doing better on the pitch than under most previous owners. I understand that your personal circumstances mean that criticising the Allams publicly might not be the wisest thing, but you actively do the opposite on here. This club is short on die hards. The last thing it needs is people with your background stooping to the levels of 'well he's put a lot of money in'. There's plenty of Premier League Whores in that category already.
I'm still sensing some negative energy on this thread. I can't say why that is, I'm just getting this really strong feeling
No player wants to play in an empty/ half empty stadium with no atmosphere - they wont come or they'll want out - so staying away not only affects the owners but also the team - the only way you can protest and still support the team is by demonstrating inside the ground - banners - red cards - songs, whatever - if enough don't or wont get involved then ultimately its a lost cause because you do become a noisy minority - you need to win the hearts and minds of those people still attending but not actively protesting - simply staying away isn't going to do that - unfortunately boycotting the Swansea game, as I will, is a bit of a soft option because many people wont attend anyway and it will be put down to apathy, the fixture is hardly a ground filler - Manchester United at home in the semi- final would have been a real statement - but we all know it isn't going to happen - too many 'new-age supporters' who simply enjoy going to watch premier league football and don't get too hung up about the result - its their hearts and minds that need to be won - the red card protest against Brentford was superb - it really stood out just how many were protesting - not attending when were playing **** anyway is not the answer - Direct Action is what is required not Direct Inaction
I agree that boycotting against Swansea is a soft option, it would have had far more impact to have an empty stadium against either of the Mancs However that just wouldn't happen, so for me if there's going to be a one off boycott then hopefully it will be effective against Swansea (I worry it won't be though) I also agree about protesting in the ground rather than just stopping going. I didn't renew / join the **** scheme at first, but still went to games. I then, stupidly, did join when the sale to the Chinese was announced, only for the FA to kick it out. I'll hang in for a bit but will cancel if they stay and the scheme stays the same. I'll still go though The problem is once you've cancelled / not joined then you have to make a conscious decision to go and often people won't so gradually people drift off. I know some find the ticket arrangements **** as well, but personally I've never had a problem with just printing them off Whatever happens I don't think you should criticise fans for protesting in whatever way they feel appropriate. Debate it if course, but once there's been a decision don't slag everyone off for whichever they choose (too much like booing a chant for me that) and don't slag off those who choose not to either.
It still requires a buyer to be available and willing. I also think there's a lot could be gained if some of the people with experience were talked and listened to, rather than at.
I also agree it is a soft option, but it is likely to be poorly attended anyhow, but as long as it is well publicised that the game is being boycotted in advance it should have some affect. It is probably the best game to minimise the affect on the players, as it is likely a fair few fringe players will be playing anyhow.
