I do support the Coventry fans in their plight and was at Northampton this season to see them standing on top of the hill. I went to the home (Northampton) team pub directly behind them. I felt proud that some supporters are still standing strong in what they believe is right. They have my 100% backing. However, I am very much a traditionalist and the problems go far deeper than the OP highlights. My view is that successive powers that be have for far too long now taken to social cleansing of the working classes, playing their politics out in our game, affecting everything from the price of a traditional pint of beer to that cancer stick we might actually choose and want to breath. From all seater sterile stadiums guised under the banner of 'family friendly'. Football was the game of the working classes, problem was the governments back to the days of the Wicked Witch of the West damn well knew knew it. Our game was ingrained into our life, but the minds in the Westminster corridors knew that they could play on tragic events, Hillsborough, Bradford. Then general politics such as the miners strike. Change and price us out of our basic enjoyment, so it becomes a middle class game where you take your idealistic 2.2 children. So what came over the horizon but the 1992 virus, better known as SKY...the age of the plastic, the armchair fan. The billionaire's playground. Imagine the horror screams at the thought of safe standing versus the politically based agenda. The thought of human beings having the free mind and right to stand. Police and politicians are starting to quiver at the mere suggestion. Sadly to beat this decease you need to look deeper and further a field than Coventry and new stadiums, we are now into the next generations that will not understand the arguments in our game now built on 37 multi-million pound transfers, so sadly despite my support, i just await the next Coventry City. Maybe one day when one of the top four clubs collapse world wide widespread panic might set in and people might start to listen, or maybe they will just simply turn off their TV's. It matters not, the real supporters will still be here just wanting to watch a game rather than the glory of a financial institution. Whether that be on the top of the hill or actually in the ground, climbing the roof tops, floodlights, oh those were the days. Us holding our banners...whoa hang on steward, what yer doing, what do you mean health and safety banners, and flags not allowed...welcome to the 21st Century. Supporters not Customers.
Money BIG money is killing all sports . F1 is my first love ( in sport ) what happens to the teams when the Manufacturers pull out ?
Part of what you say is true, part is political and part is the affect on you personally. Would you still have us running the gauntlet of trying to get to the ground safely, trying to avoid the running battles in the streets that had mindless idiots lashing out at anyone? I take my 12 year old boy in the knowledge that we will arrive safely and leave safely. I couldn't put him through what I witnessed when I was his age. As I said at the start, some truth in your post, but some credibility lost too, for me. You use Hillsborough and Bradford as examples of the powers using football against us supporters. Please develop that thought further for me: are you suggesting that change was not needed and that those events in anyway, shape or form should be just put down as 'one of those things'? The one point I really don't like and agree with you on is the amount of money in the game and how vast the difference is from top to bottom, but do you know, football is still ingrained into my life. If you feel it is not in yours, then is that someone else's fault? I have never done or seen an analysis of cost comparisons though. I remember paying 15.00 for my Saints strip in 1984, and today would probably cost 75.00, but I can't recall the ticket costs then and how that compared to today and todays cost of living, house prices, average salaries, etc.
I never ever said that, suggested that or even thought that...'one of those things'? is merely your input of words.
fair enough, but you didn't elaborate on how they have used them and in the context of your post, it seemed that you perhaps didn't like the changes to Stadia that those events brought about. It would be good if you could elaborate a little... although, I've probably diverted the OP away from topic which probably isn't fair on him. For me IF those changes prevent that ever happening again, then they are good.
At least if You're not going to a Saints game FLT, you can see some better than usual football at Sixfields!
I have signed this petition as I tend to agree with the way people are using clubs as toys however as someone who was at Valley Parade and witnessed horrific scenes at the age of 10, then relive the nightmare as the Hillsborough disaster unfolded live on TV before my eyes I find it quite offensive that people can harp on about 'safe standing'. Whether people like it or not, those 2 disasters forced football to wake up and although I have fond memories of standing in stadiums there is always the thought that many times pre Hillsborough that we all experienced similar scenarios that fortunately did not end up with the same result. Stadiums are not 'supposedly family friendly' They ARE much much much safer than they were back then and should not ever be used in this kind of argument by anyone.
I haven't been to see them yet at Sixfields. I have unfortunately seen the more local lot "play" there and that is not an nenjoyable experience. I wish I'd gone to the Cov v Brissle City game... a cracking 5-4.
I didn't use the word supposedly in your quote brackets. I assume that Southampton does have a family enclosure? If so that would make my opinion at least in part correct. and having been around following football for over 40 years, i'll use whatever argument i choose within that period thank you.
it would also be nice brb, if you did reply and elaborate on what you meant when saying Hillsborough and Bradford were "used" by the powers that be. A good forum needs good sensible debate. Thought you might be aware of that You have twice responded, but avoided the topic raised back at you twice.......
I thought it was the only sound one and I am not sure he had that much to do with the decision anyway.
Any government would have asked for an enquiry following Bradford and Hillsborough and acted upon the findings. A dereliction of duty if they hadn't. Seeing that as a desire to undermine the working class is paranoia.
