Should the club refuse the Huddersfield tickets?

T'was never in doubt.

 

Reading some of the comments on here it's understandable why the likes of the WYP aren't remotely bothered about treating football fans like ****.
Getting any sort of organised response is like trying to herd cats and they know we'll just argue amongst ourselves about trivialities and eventually do nothing.
It boils down to two questions that everyone on here should ask themselves;
1 - Do you have principles?
2 - Do you stand by them?
I suggest that if it's possible DMD adds a poll to this thread with the simple question "Do you intend to go to the Huddersfield match?" And if there's a lot who are, then the rest of us will know that supporting any sort of effective boycott is a waste of time.

 

It needs to come from the club craig. They should refuse the tickets and then open up the KC. Have it on the big screen and on the concourses, sell beer cheaply and make everyone pay a fiver to get in with the proceeds going to charity. Great publicity for the club.

If they go on sale people will buy them, just cos us on here and the 20 members on CI and AN want a boycott doesnt mean its 100% support. People do want to support the club and wont want an empty away end. I think they are wrong but its their choice.

If im going to get my own pissy thread after this can it Chazzy rightnob please dutch.

 

I don't agree Chazz. If the club return the tickets it puts them in direct confrontation with Huddersfield Town FC who will claim that City have prevented away fans from attending the game and therefore denied their club revenue. This does nothing more than divert the blame away from the WYP which they will be very grateful for. If City also show the game at the KC it further incriminates HCAFC beacause they will be offering a venue in competition with the match itself. Such an action could easily drop us in deep water with the FA and taint the reputation of the club.
The best action would be an independant one by the fans themselves which would focus all of the blame on the WYP and we shouldn't underestimate the fans ability to do this considering the stink we've already kicked up (including the efforts of a heroic 15 year old as well as letters and public statements by some very influential people).
So if we can come this far in defence of our basic rights why shouldn't the fans do the easiest thing by staying at home and watching it on the box. If they do we will have the right to feel proud of a dignified and resolute response to a disrespectful action against us, if they go the WYP simply win.

 

Among who?

The affected club aside, you won't find a set of supporters in the country, not even those who normally relish an excuse to criticise you, who would think less of Hull City or its fanbase for taking that sort of stand.

The police do not run the game in this country, and in my opinion any attempt by them to step beyond their remit should be opposed through all legal means, up to and including legal action. Okay, the FA do run the game, but they are powerless to do anything other than put in place a procedure to prevent this being repeated. If they were to try and sanction Hull City, it would definitely be challenged and in all probability be overturned.

 

I'm for sending tickets back but if we are claiming we should be allowed to travel freely and want to allow fans choice then I wouldn't condem any fans who do want to attend and support the team.

However if fans just bend over and allow WYP to have their way, then how can we expect anything to change? Lets face it Humberside Police are just as bad and always over police games.

I wrote to Amanda jacks @FSF on the 19/2 and had her stock reply, the same day as many others.

I thought I'd share my follow up e mail to Amanda Jacks and cc'd to MP's, the WYP PCC etc earlier today.

So far, fair play to him, Karl Turner and only Karl Turner replied as I was walking up to todays game..

Considering he is not my MP then I'm impressed he replied..... his PA was obviously off or his I Phone was playing up, as its lacking a bit in English, Grammar etc.. but hey I'm an HGS oldboy so spot that sort of thing...


I was rushing out to the game so didnt have time to copy City, HTAFC and HTSA, I will do that Sunday.. It beats gardening and DIY afterall...
I've cut out e mail addresses etc but make of this what you will...

From karl Turner..
Geoff

Many thanks for your email. I note the points you make and agree with much of what you say.

I do think I need make my position clear. I became involved after receiving correspondence from my constituents.

I've been involved in the negations with the WYP since then. Things need be clear.

First, it was the clubs that suggested the restrictions of official transport and cap 1500 not WYP. I don't criticise clubs because the game would not have gone ahead with the imposition of restrictions.

Second, whilst this new compromised proposal is not ideal it is much better than original proposition.

This will allow independent travel to Huddersfield from anywhere.

Given previous away support it is unlikely in my view that more than 1700 will want to attend anyway. Think most taken away is 2400 in recent games. The game is televised of course.

I agree that the restrictions still seem OTT but without my intervention I do not believe WYP would have shifted at all.

We need to have a proper discussion with the Home Office Minister Damien Green and the FA about future policing of games.

My opinion remains. I'm not completely satisfied with the outcome but the compromise is better that nothing.

This is issue is caused by the WYP wanting put its foot down following loosing legal case with Leeds United last year.

Kind regards,

Karl Turner

Sent from my iPhone

On 2 Mar 2013, at 11:48, "Bielbs">> wrote:

Amanda

I have been watching developments with interest since our initial e mails, below. After yesterdays "Compromise Proposal" I now feel compelled to contact you.

I accept that the arrangement of a Park & Ride facility and possible pick up points for Hull City official "Tiger Travel" coaches is a slight win for Tigers fans.
Neither however, address the initial reasons West Yorkshire Police (WYP) gave for introducing restrictions. Indeed I now fear that fans will still congregate in Huddersfield to drink during the afternoon before travelling to the Park & Ride facility so what's the point, what do they believe they are achieving by sticking to this policy?

I know of fans who intend to make a point by drinking in Huddersfield as a direct result of WYP restrictions. This compromise agreement will now increase that happening and may lead to WYP over reacting to fans making this protest. Any resulting trouble will simply be self fulfilling justification for the WYP measures aand bring bad publicity to my club.

It seems clear to me that WYP are simply discriminating against football fans with there stance and refusal to back down. They are trying to restrict the local clubs from their normal business and in doing so reducing their income in the current, very tough financial climate.

* There is no justification at all for their insistence that this should be a Category A, top priced game. It's on TV, crowds will be reduced! Sky will want atmosphere so this stance is a direct challenge to the game being televised.
* There is no history of fan trouble between these clubs at games.
* Its been shown that Hull City fans have behaved well, and in numbers, without any recorded arrests due to alcohol.
* WYP proposals are still restricting travel and freedom to choose how to attend the game despite the compromise.
* I strongly object to, in effect, being labelled a drunken hooligan and treated as such.

I want to attend as a law abiding citizen, I don't even have points on my driving licence for Christ's sake!

I fully intended to attend this game, an important one in my clubs promotion chase, as I've never seen Hull City play at Huddersfield. As mentioned last month, I work locally with local fans who have offered to take me in the home end but I love supporting my club, vociferously and therefore I cannot attend in that way. I am a 56 year old Manager in financial services so hardly a threat to the safety of citizens of West Yorkshire!

My good friend is a 57 year old Company Director, with a pacemaker, who has already committed to attend with home fans. That's his choice but how can two middle aged football fans, both long-term season ticket holders be treated in this way in a supposed free society?

I am in a dilemma. I want to support my team but feel that I should make a stand and still boycott this game as a matter of principle. If I do that, I lose, the HTFC loses income and my team lose my support on the day.

To me the police have now publicly shown they are inept at policing. It's a criminal offence to waste police time but its about time they could be charged for wasting police resources and Public money for their waste of police resources in regularly over policing football. Our local Humerside Police are no better in many ways in this, they are simply not so inept as WYP seem to be.

I hope you continue to support Lewis Cooper's legal action against WYP and football fans throughout the country who all support action to resolve this nonesense.

I have copied this to all the interested parties I have seen are involved with this dispute and hope that pressure continues to be brought on WYP to act properly and in a manner fit for purpose.

Yours

"Bielbs"

I really believe we can carry off a protest on this issue..

Its on Sky so we have an International platform to protest, although lets face it they dont seem to be making much of it as they are the root cause..
I'm not a person who compains and gets annoyed normally but this situation has really got me going and I'm keen to keep pushing until we get a result...

 

AGREED. IMO, apart from the fans who have not missed a match home or away for years AND WHO WANT TO GO,, they should be the only ones at the game. This action by the WYP goes way beyond football and is moving towards a greater evil.

Only a boycott by the majority will endorse how we all feel. If indeed it stays as the WYP want it to be.


NB.... Millwall only had ""90"" fans @ Elland Road saturday in protest of there treatment by WYP. Dont even get me started on what will happen when TWS play the home game with Huddersfield soon. WYP =

 

YES IMO. AM fed up with Nick Thompsons whimpish stance on this matter. The club wants the fans to support them but when the fans need the club to SUPPORT / BACK US he goes all limp wristed.

I would like to hear that the team have had a meeting and want the fans to stay away in protest at the treatment of us all. Do WYP think or fear that say James Chesters family are hooligans ?

One thing that has yet to be mentioned at all is HOW ARE THE PLAYERS / STAFF FAMILY AND FRIENDS GOING TO ATTEND ? Do they all have to comply with the same crap or what ? Come on Nick Thompson tell us what plans are in place for this lot ? Its a question i would like to know the answer to as many do.

 

I think the team would win even more so with no support. They would be more focused and driven even more so if they had no support just to prove a point. imo I

 

You asked so i will confirm. I take 5 others with me to away games and as things stand only myself and one other want to go now. FACT.
I AM EVEN PREPARED TO GET ARRESTED FOR MAKING A STANCE ON MY TRAVEL IN MY CAR AS THINGS STAND. But i hope WYP are forced to cave in. The ticket office have said many have been in touch to say they dont want a ticket if travel is restricted. Just how many is many is another thing.......

 

Reading Karl Turner's reply to Bielbs, it looks like the club have painted themselves (and us) into a corner. As the compromise and restriction was seemingly City's request, they can't now refuse the tickets!

What a **** up on the clubs part.

 

IF TRUE, Blame Nick Thompson. He has not come out of this very well at all so far imo.

 

I assume you're all purposely ignoring the part where he explains if the club hadn't proposed what they did, the game would have been called off?

 

I think there is a way to support the players AND protest this really dreadful position that Tigers supporters have been put in.
I haven't read every contribution to this thread so apologise if this suggestion has already been made. It runs along the line of Cheshireben's idea about travelling to Huddersfield and watching the game in a pub.

As many people as are able (especially those who don't have tickets) should attend!
And, maintaining a peacful presence, should congregate outside the ground at the away end and sing as loudly as possible.
In my view, this would - attract media attention; publicise the issue; send a message to the WYP; send a message to the club (as I think that's necessary also); build some solidarity amongst football supporters (also necessary) AND support the team. And obviously more successful if there are more City supporters outside the ground than inside!

There may be something tactically unsound or strategically missing, or just plain impossible about this that I haven't considered or am simply unaware of.
I just happen to be of a similar view to most of you that have exprsesed an opinion about this and my experience tells me that this kind of protest - well managed - can be a successful part of a wider campaign which in a way this already is.

Anyway, I reckon you should think about it and I'm sure there are enough wise heads with the necessary planning skils to pull it off if the idea has merit.

 

I think you possibly do. You'd be wrong though.

 

That's a good suggestion. What is also happening is that many, many fans are going to various places in the West Yorkshire Police Area to watch the game. Some Huddersfield fans have donated their own tickets to City fans that will be standing in the ground peacefully watching the game with Huddersfield fans, while the now ticketless Huddersfield fans will be joining City fans peacefully watching in the pub.

All of which highlights the ridiculous nature of the WYP and will cost them far more than if they'd just let us go to the game.

I suspect some in West Yorkshire and further afield will be looking at taking action on WYP as being demonstrably and by their own admission, not fit for purpose. Just a few miles away, Greater Manchester Police cope with many, many times the numbers without their arse dropping out.

 

Thanks for the response DMD. Sounds like there is a fair bit of planning going on already as well as a bit of supporter solidarity. Good stuff!