Waddie
0
Clearing out paperwork and came across this. Think I sent it to the club:
To anyone who will listen,
A non event was turned into an event at Deepdale today, and I believe it was of great significance to all football fans and football authorities alike.
This particular incident can only be fully understood if you are a PNE supporter and fully aware of our feelings concerning the management of the club and the decimation of our team!
The reports that I have read and heard so far have been badly reported and the incident misunderstood.
I will endeavour to explain.
It is a great 'bone of contention' with North End fans that the visiting supporters are given relative luxury when they visit Deepdale, namely the covered Town End stand. We should be proud of being able to accomodate several thousand visiting supporters undercover, but when you consider that the great majority of the loyal home supporters have to stand on uncovered terraces, there is no wonder we feel aggravated.
PNE have an enviable reputation of having a large away following. When you consider the amount of money that we put into the coffers of other clubs and the facilities that we are offered (cages that come straight from the zoo, mounds of earth, garden rockeries, all presumably with safety certificates) it is no wonder that this is an emotive issue!
You should by now have a picture in your mind. Now let us relate this picture to the incident at Deepdale.
Shortly after kick off there was an incredible downpour. Those people who could move undercover did so, but those people in the Paddock had nowhere to go, until that is, somebody showed some compassion and inititiative in letting them into the Town End. I smiled inwardly as I had never before seen initiative used by the authorities at a football match. It must be pointed out that the Town End is divided into two separate, sections, the away fans using one side and the other is normally kept closed.
The rain stopped, the PNE fans on the Town End watched the match, The Bristol Rovers on the Town End watched the match and PNE were for once playing some reasonable football (well nearly). Then a message came over the tannoy,
''Would the PNE fans on the Town End please go back to the Paddock''
To use modern terminology, I and the vast majority of the crowd were 'gobsmacked'. That message had immediately struck a very sensitive nerve. When it was again repeated it was drowned out by the booing of the crowd. Our emotions had quickly become aroused and we were voicing our total disapproval of the message.
An 'incident' had now developed from nothing. The authorities had over reacted again! The referee was advised/told not to start the second half until the fanse retreated back to the Paddock. They didn't movee, why should they? They were causing no harm to anyone, THEY HAD ONLY BEEN KEEPING DRY!
Three fans ran on the pitch pointing and shouting at the directors box (covered). It was obvious what they were shouting,
''Stop treating us like dirt, we've had enough of it''
They then sat down in the centre circle, the fans on the Town End sat down (the Taylor report recomends all seater stadia. What the hell is a stadia)?
Was an ugly incident about to occur? No, the three left the pitch and eventually the fans left the Town End. There was no trouble from anyone and the softly softly approach by the police was noted and respected.
I will never forget what happened at that match, and neither should anyone else. It was not premeditated, it was not expected, it only rained!
THE FANS SPOKE
and what was said was respect us, treat us like human beings, and most of all, PULL YOUR FINGER OUT!
Yours faithfully,
Heady stuff eh, bloody hooligans. Any one owning up to being one of the three?
To anyone who will listen,
A non event was turned into an event at Deepdale today, and I believe it was of great significance to all football fans and football authorities alike.
This particular incident can only be fully understood if you are a PNE supporter and fully aware of our feelings concerning the management of the club and the decimation of our team!
The reports that I have read and heard so far have been badly reported and the incident misunderstood.
I will endeavour to explain.
It is a great 'bone of contention' with North End fans that the visiting supporters are given relative luxury when they visit Deepdale, namely the covered Town End stand. We should be proud of being able to accomodate several thousand visiting supporters undercover, but when you consider that the great majority of the loyal home supporters have to stand on uncovered terraces, there is no wonder we feel aggravated.
PNE have an enviable reputation of having a large away following. When you consider the amount of money that we put into the coffers of other clubs and the facilities that we are offered (cages that come straight from the zoo, mounds of earth, garden rockeries, all presumably with safety certificates) it is no wonder that this is an emotive issue!
You should by now have a picture in your mind. Now let us relate this picture to the incident at Deepdale.
Shortly after kick off there was an incredible downpour. Those people who could move undercover did so, but those people in the Paddock had nowhere to go, until that is, somebody showed some compassion and inititiative in letting them into the Town End. I smiled inwardly as I had never before seen initiative used by the authorities at a football match. It must be pointed out that the Town End is divided into two separate, sections, the away fans using one side and the other is normally kept closed.
The rain stopped, the PNE fans on the Town End watched the match, The Bristol Rovers on the Town End watched the match and PNE were for once playing some reasonable football (well nearly). Then a message came over the tannoy,
''Would the PNE fans on the Town End please go back to the Paddock''
To use modern terminology, I and the vast majority of the crowd were 'gobsmacked'. That message had immediately struck a very sensitive nerve. When it was again repeated it was drowned out by the booing of the crowd. Our emotions had quickly become aroused and we were voicing our total disapproval of the message.
An 'incident' had now developed from nothing. The authorities had over reacted again! The referee was advised/told not to start the second half until the fanse retreated back to the Paddock. They didn't movee, why should they? They were causing no harm to anyone, THEY HAD ONLY BEEN KEEPING DRY!
Three fans ran on the pitch pointing and shouting at the directors box (covered). It was obvious what they were shouting,
''Stop treating us like dirt, we've had enough of it''
They then sat down in the centre circle, the fans on the Town End sat down (the Taylor report recomends all seater stadia. What the hell is a stadia)?
Was an ugly incident about to occur? No, the three left the pitch and eventually the fans left the Town End. There was no trouble from anyone and the softly softly approach by the police was noted and respected.
I will never forget what happened at that match, and neither should anyone else. It was not premeditated, it was not expected, it only rained!
THE FANS SPOKE
and what was said was respect us, treat us like human beings, and most of all, PULL YOUR FINGER OUT!
Yours faithfully,
Heady stuff eh, bloody hooligans. Any one owning up to being one of the three?
