They are a start @Addickted2TheReds and they have been gaining momentum. I think that apathy is setting in and the majority just don't see the results that they wanted and now we're just stuck in a war of attrition with the owners; over my lifetime, been involved in the Anti-War Protests (okay, that didn't stop the wars), Student Protests, Occupy London, Project Chanology. They were all more vocal than the CAFC ones. Doing something I'd agree is better than nothing, and come the Boro match, I'll be there with my banner, like the times before.
We knew it would be a long hard slog. I've been at every protest other than Saturday but the fact is that beyond the hardcore 4/500 not enough people can be bothered to stand out it in the cold every game. At first it was a novelty but now people have seen it all before. We predicted this would happen which is why we said we weren't organising one one week but then we got shouted down. It proves we were right in this happening. The trip to Belgium was different and a success and I will be pushing forward the case to ramp it up for the Boro game.
Royston, not going to argue much, but I think you are wrong on this one. The Belgian 20 was fantastic, but so are the 500 who stayed saturday, and the 40 or 50 who started months ago and got nothing but grief from a lot of fans. let's not get into attacking other fans. every protest has value. A divided fanbase helps no one.
The club has taken a vow of silence with regard to the protests. That is their tactic now but how long can they keep it up? Any public acknowledgement by KM or RM will be a minor victory, and the Belgian protest puts pressure on them to crack. Can they keep schtum till the end of the season? We'll see!
I have said many times how admirable it is, that you, as a young man to be so involved. From reading CL, I find your online persona really quite irritating, but I'm sure you are a great chap. I also don't like the people that you are involved with and think they have ulterior motives. Why didn't Ben ask Roland some probing questions the other week, for example? Also you say that I have a problem with anybody trying to make a difference - I was protesting whilst CARD members were sitting on the fence. Funnily enough Card wasn't even a thing then either. Crack on though.
Thanks for taking the time to come on and explain the reasons . I think we all want the best - it's natural some were perhaps a bit curious as to why there wasn't an invite extended further, after all a lot of people want to help within these matters. It's a sensitive subject for most I imagine. We wind ourselves up day in day out by either discussing it openly on forums, or because the club announce something we feel upset/angry about. Some won't like to admit it - but Nick did a lot to get these protests off the ground. His Twitter was very much active receiving retweets in to the hundreds before anyone had decided to do anything - so for that I think he deserves some recognition too.
Anything coming out of the club will be scrutinized tremendously by fans and the media. The PR side of the operations have been horrific for 2 years now - I don't blame them for finally realizing silence is their best response.
Its been some time since i posted on here but feel i need to right now ! I, along with Addicktedtothereds am one of the 'Belgian20' I would like to say thank you for the well-wishers and plaudits (that vastly outnumber any negative comments btw) The reason this was not openly advertised is because we didnt want the club to intervene and nip this in the bud before it got going - there was a lot of planning that went into it , , including reccy trips to STVV to plan the big night and that paid off because it went off to a tee. However, if you had poked around enough on CL and responded to a couple of cryptic threads then you would have been party to this - after all, there were 20 that were able to spot it. You all had the opportunity - it was there for all of you - but obviously some of you would just prefer to sit on your keyboard and slag off anyone who attempts to get off their backside and do something. Would like to confirm that this 'mission' had nothing to do with CARD,Henry Irving,Ben Hayes,Uncle Tom Cobbly or blokes with megaphones. This was done by individuals who care,individuals who paid for it themselves and have the get-up-and-go to do something they believe in, individuals who have passion and a desire to get out there and do something about it. Which clearly , Royston, you dont have, as you are obviously too busy sitting on your arse posting bollox and moaning about other people rather than getting up and doing something like going to Belgium and shouting at Duchatelet and being a true fan - which you clearly arent. Stu.
If I am correct Stu, a thread was put up saying if you have a passport and some money, inbox me. If you aren't a member, that's not possible is it.
Well if you want to be involved with secret protests - you have to scour CL, night and day, for cryptic threads.
I'm not on Charlton Life. I don't like the interface and this place is far more friendlier. Well, I find it friendlier.
Clearly, 20 people were a bit more perceptive and with slightly more cognitive power than yourselves.
Okay, having defended Addictedtothereds, I will also put in a word for Royston, not that I reckon he needs me to do it. I've had nothing but praise for the Belgium 20, but as I said before, there are also others who deserve praise. Royston was there behind the west right from the start, and as Super points out, was also a big mover on Twitter, and if we go back far enough, he was one of the first to realise what these Belgian clowns meant for our club. I repeat, all the protests are valid, and no one should be putting other protesters down. So play nicely.
Get off your high horse Stu you bore. If the other 19 are like you I'd rather Roland stays than spend the weekend with you muppets
Just for the record Stu, I played a small part in organising the original car park protests and along with FHB and MikeTyson was one of the 150 at the protest after we went bottom v Bristol City - remember that one....it was on the day that CARD issued an instruction NOT to protest As for "sitting on your arse" etc, I was attending Charlton owner demos when you were still having spaghetti hoops for you tea after school mate
