Thanks to Chazz Rheinhold I've joined not606. These are my thoughts for discussion about where we go from here. Positives from our two demonstrations We have a small core of supporters who want to do something to save the name of the club. We need to keep these people together and stop them becoming disillusioned. We have a corner of West Park which we can make our own for the season. If people want to know what's happening they can come and see us at every home game. It is close to the bus stops and thousands of supporters walk past it on their way into the ground. Our task is to get them to stop, talk to us and join the campaign. We also need to give them something to do which they feel happy doing. Not everyone wants to march but that doesn't mean they cannot participate. We now know the task that faces us and the obstacles we need to overcome. Its not going to be easy and will require a bit of hard work. The question is how important is our name to us. We need to put our disappointment away and think of ways we can get to our fellow supporters. Not all of them think we are wrong and many of them would be prepared to help. Hull City v West Ham United Our next home game is against West Ham. Football Focus is live at the KC. I don't think we should try and disrupt it but we should try and get them interested in our campaign. What I suggest is to build on our positives. We should have a platform in the corner of West Park gates from 2:00pm to 2:45pm where supporters opposed to the name change speak for 2 or 3 minutes about what Hull City means to them and why they oppose the change of name. We could get a megaphone so we can be heard. Following the lead of Mr Allam we should find some college film students to record the speeches and we could put the best speeches on Youtube on a save our campaign channel. The channel could be used for all our campaign film. An idea inspired by Karlsberg and the young lads yesterday chanting on the march. We should aim for around 100 fans to gather at the gates to hear the speeches. We should have identified enough speakers to fill the 45 minutes beforehand if nobody else volunteers. The first 10 minutes shouldn't be us looking at our shoes waiting for the first volunteer. We would need an MC to introduce why we're there and to call people up to speak. If we could pull that off we'd be guaranteed to draw other supporters into the crowd, at least for a few minutes. We'd also get a clip or two on Look North and Calendar, as well as maybe an interview or two on Humberside. Football Focus would have finished with City and may stick around to see what we can pull off. We should aim to cover that area in the name change banner and as many other flags as possible. That will mean getting there before 2:00pm and having everything ready for a prompt 2:00pm start. There is nothing more dispiriting as being on time and having to wait until everybody else gets there. We should have a plan B if we get some really awful weather. Finally at 2:45pm we could, if we wanted, walk together to the ground behind our flags. Of course it wouldn't be a march. We could even sing some City songs, such as City till I die rather than Don't change our name. Postcards We have until April to persuade the Premier League to oppose the name change. We could produce a postcard in black and amber with the Premier League's address on and ask people to write their own comments on and send it to the Premier League. If we look at raising money for pre-paid postage we could have a stall and post box at every home game for people to sign the postcard, pop it in our post box and we arrange delivery to the Post Office. Campaign Group We should have a meeting of all those opposed to the name change to form a campaign group, with a name. We need people who are prepared to act as treasurer, raise money, deal with the press, organise Youtube, write leaflets, organise social media, and a thousand and other tasks that people take for granted when they see a campaign. We already have people doing this we need to bring everybody together. A physical meeting could also add ideas to our campaigning activity and point out those ideas of mine that are too farfetched. Conclusion After yesterday its time to give those opposing the name change a lift. Lets get organised and show those doubters and cynics that we can make a splash when we really want to. The questions are, do we want to and are we prepared to do what is required?
Listening to people talk about why they support Hull City and oppose the name change is, to me a simple and effective way of talking to people. A crowd of people will attract other people to see what's happening. Some will stay and listen, some won't. At 2:45 we could finish and walk to the match. I would think most would walk to the match together and we'd get in to see the kick off. We have just under two weeks to prepare for the West Ham United game. Do people think this would work and do a little bit to make it happen? As anybody got a better suggestion?
I think you could get more effective opposition at the away matches, rather than outside the KC. More will be up for it, and chants get going at away matches better than at home. If you got a whole section singing anti Hull Tigers songs, you'd know where you's stand. Something needs to set it off as well. Something visually striking. Squash balls on the pitch? I know it's already been done with Tennis Balls. For a petition to work, i think you need to get the OSC to be involved- to distribute petitions to various members and get the results from them. They might be less spineless as they were beforehand.
I have no objection to petitions but I'd rather think a little outside the box. Given the Guardian interview it is extremely unlikely that Assem Allam will change his mind. We need to persuade the Premier League to refuse any name change application. We could organise a petition which we present to them. They'd then read it and act accordingly or put it in the bin, its a risk. The Premier League receiving personal postcards may have a different effect. We could encourage people to put in a personal statement and ask a question. They would receive them at regular intervals and they'd have to decide what to do with them. Do they spend time and money replying or do they bin them. What happens if people then write and ask what has happened to the post card and why haven't they received a reply. The press may be interested in what the Premier League is doing with the postcards. If we get enough sent and some press coverage I'm sure they'd ring Hull City AFC and ask them what's happening and what the club plans to do about it. How many is enough? I don't know. But 500 will be more then they'll have received from any other club. Thank you for the welcome Lambrettaman.
Banners and flags with 'off message' sentiments may well be refused admission to the ground. It's a worldwide brand and they don't want any 'controversy', bless em.
I think the blue and white scarves with a gold Hull civic crest (see 1935-36 strip for details) is the way to go. [video=youtube;Q8He8LlebtM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8He8LlebtM[/video] The yellow and green Newton Heath/MUFC colours get picked up by the cameras on tv and in printed media. Uncensorable. It's an ideal and novel way to support Hull City and show what you think of this crass and shabby proposal.
I really like the scarves idea and it would certainly show up on TV if we have a stadium full of blue and white scarves. Plus, it would be full view of the Allam's.
If we want to go with the postcard idea, then I'll offer to cover the cost of getting all of them to the Premier League.
Would you set up a drop-box where fans can mail in cards to the Premier League - or, how would it work?
A generous offer Lambrettaman, thank you. I was thinking of a stall with the cards for people to put their message and a cardboard post box to put them in. Once collected by the campaign we'd organise delivery to the Premier League staggered throughout the season.
OK - fine for fans attending games - but don't disenfranchise those of us who live in far-flung places.
I'll be at every game, however we set it up, I just need to collect them all at the end of the match(or ahead of kick off, if it works better).
If we get the cards done I'd have no problem with bulk orders going to Norfolk, Portsmouth, Dublin, China, or even Hull. The purpose is to get as many cards sent to the premier league as possible. Genuine thanks for reminding me not every City supporter lives in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Welcome to the board Obadiah, I have no doubt you will be an asset and help to break down the "them and us" situation that exists between the various forums. Perhaps you could encourage some of the other CI posters to make the jump across, even if just to post on this one issue.
