Aha - the typical Ted retort of 'you 're not allowed to sell the Mem'. Very shallow. Yet apparently it's ok to use the Gates as a piss take, or indeed to deface like the last time your lot decided to play a prank. Obviously your opinion is far more valid than the British Legion's who approved the relocation of the Gates into a Memorial Garden, but then again, they're not blinded by bias.
I've given it a moment's thought more than once as my uncle is among the fallen. It's a bad taste prank but, as usual, you lot flock lemming-like to its defence because you just can't accept that your little band of twats can do anything wrong when it comes to us. So predictable.
Simple question. Was the stadium the original intended recipient of 'memorial status' or not,? I keep hearing that the gates are the memorial but that is contrary to everything I have ever read about the Stadium and how it was left for the rugby players of Bristol that took part in the world wars.?? By the way, my Father took part in the Normandy landings and my grandfather died during the first world war..
Well clearly not as we wouldn't have been able to sell it otherwise. I'm not aware that War Memorials can be legally sold. So the fact that we can legally sell the site indicates that the site as a whole is not a listed memorial. A significant part of the site was sold years ago for housing and I don't remember any furore about that.
"The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of local rugby union players of the city killed during World War I.[2] It is currently the home stadium of Bristol Rovers" You don't seem overly concerned about the dedication of the ground to the memory of the local rugby players who died as long as The British legion can move the gates to a patch of grass somewhere and add a few flowers.! The gates were never the intention of a place of memorial and you well know it. A plaque put on an adjoining wall for a few minutes for a prank photo pales in to insignificance to me.!
Yet we're still allowed to sell it - how do you square that? And the British Legion, the guardians of War Memorials, are quite happy - how do you square that? The only faux outrage is by a handful of local residents who don't want any development on the site, the Green Party for the same reason, and some of you Teds who are totally opposed to anything that could possibly benefit Bristol Rovers. Yet burning down a stand, defacing a War Memorial and then returning to the same place for another 'prank' pales into insignificance? The problem with a significant number of Teds is that they don't understand where rivalry crosses over to criminality and bad taste.
Banksy To answer your question.... We all recognise that the ground was built for Bristol Rugby Club and was dedicated to those members of the Club that fell in the First World War and latterly the Second World War. We get this and understand this. But as soon as Bristol Rugby sold the land, that dedication was therefore lost as the land was no longer owned by Bristol Rugby. They couldnt have something dedicated to them which was no longer theirs. Now if we are all honest, if it wasnt for Rovers moving into the Mem when they did, Bristol Rugby, who were struggling financially due to piss poor management, they would have sold the land to a supermarket back then anyway and would have ceased to exist! The fact is Rovers came to Bristol Rugbys rescue and was paying rent to them keeping them alive. They then sold half the ground to Rovers and agreed to a deal where Rovers could buy the rest of the ground. Bristol Rugby is to blame for me. They didnt get the stadium listed all those years ago. If they did then this wont be an issue now. They didnt look after their own finances which meant they were about to fold. They put themselves into the position where they had to sell the ground that was dedicated to them. Bristol Rugby didnt care for such dedication did they? Once they sold the ground, that saved them. So the dediction was lost due to Bristol Rugbys own doing, not Rovers. People may say what is being done is morally incorrect. Thats a personal opinion. But the ground now is owned by Rovers and no dediction was made to Rovers. On top of that, all relevant parties have gave their blessings for the site itself to be knocked down and a supermarket along with housing built in its place. Also, a memorial garden will be created for a home for the gates which is better than what we currently have in place which is just the gates by a lane and car park which looks a poor place for everyone to meet and congregate on remembrance day http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/images...268/Article/images/21114560/6128739-large.jpg Again, all relevant parties have backed the plans and feel the memorial garden with the listed gates would be a better fitting tribute than a run down dump of a stadium and the gates where it is now (see the pic in the link). Royal British Legion, past and present Bristol Rugby Officials, past and present military officials and also English Heritage have all backed the plans. Also the reason why only the gates have been listed and not the whole ground is due to the following 3 reasons... (which happened way before Rovers moved to the Mem). 1) Level of survival: the original stand and related structures of 1921 have been lost (except for the entrance gate piers and gates, which are already listed at Grade II). 2) Architectural interest: the replacement stands dating from the late 1980s onwards do not display sufficient levels of innovation in their design, and lack the degree of architectural or technological interest needed to merit listing. 3) Historic interest: its historic interest as a sports ground or stadium lies on a local rather than national level. Its historic interest as a war memorial ground is appropriately acknowledged by the designated Gate Piers and Gates (listed at Grade II). http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1420469&resourceID=7 As for the plaque, I can see the funny side but the timing is pretty insensitive. Also it may not be on the pillar which has the description on but all the pillars are listed. You have the pillar with the description and gates either side and pillars either side of the gates to keep the gates secure. This plaque is on 1 of those pillars so I can see why people are pissed off, both red and blue. Just my opinion on it
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Many good points well made. I just can 't type as much as that on my bloody iPhone!
Mmm - I love Caribbean food. Believe it or not, Dursley now has a Caribbean restaurant and it's lush!
Anyway, this made me laugh.... http://www.gosportboroughfc.co.uk/n...e-statement-1263775.html#.U990MWDh4Qk.twitter
I will take issue with just one point CJS, timing, you suggest the timing was insensitive, it was done at least a week ago and has been on our site for at least 3 days.. Attaching it to the commemoration today is disingenuous to say the least..
Banksy, I wasnt aware that it was done last week and wasnt aware that its been on your site for 3 days. 1st I seen it was this thread when I got home around 6:15ish today. 1st i knew it was done last week and been on your site for 3 days was just now when I read your comment. I havent purposely attached the prank with todays anniversary. I thought it was actually done today. Easy mistake to make especially as when today is the 1st day I have seen it. Plus I opened the link that seamge provided to the facebook page which to me makes out that it was done today going by the comments! Now you know why what I said about the timing, im sure you take back the last line
23rd of July on another City site. There is loads of this street stuff around. Last season there were signs featuring natch cans around Ashton park and of course some signs referring to the Gas.
I think there are fans from both clubs who have a sense of humour bypass when its comes to their Bristol neighbours. There are always elements wanting to jump down the throats of their rival supporters over the smallest thing. Iâm really fed up of seeing the horse puncher jibe on our boards for instance. However I think the main points here are that it was funny and it hasnât caused any damage to the gates. Ok the timing could have been better, even if it was done over a week ago, but I have to blame Rovers for that. It was you that got relegated on the 100 year anniversary of World War I. You should have accomplished that a lot sooner But in all seriousness I am close to 50 but not being a Bristol Rovers supporter or a fan of the egg chasers at Bristol Rugby club it was only in recent times that I realised what the Memorial Stadium/Gates were a memorial too. So itâs possible that the people raising the plaque didnât realise the significance of the timing. Iâm not making excuses but I donât think they should be hung drawn and blue and white quartered for it either. I also agree that itâs the gates that are the memorial and not the stadium. The ground has changed significantly since the 1920âs, (luckily NIMBYâs being a relative new thing) so if the British Legion are happy with the future of these gates and ground who are we to argue? Lets get over it and move on. And itâs the words of Paul McCartney and Steve Wonder lets all live to together in perfect harmony
this cracked me up! what an advert [video=youtube;wGZpWOMGJCM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGZpWOMGJCM[/video]
With regard to the plaque - the plaque in itself is schoolboy humour - not particularly my sort of thing to be honest, but harmless enough. HOWEVER, the fact that it's put on something that is effectively a war memorial means it takes on a very different aspect. Obviously there are idiots in all walks of life who are not bright enough to separate football banter from something that remembers people who have given their lives for our county. Please don't tar all City fans with this brush - the "people" who put it there are nothing to do with most of us
