State Of Our Game

[Kilworthfox]

Here on FT we are always speaking about problems with atmosphere, players, ways in which clubs are ran, players with no effort, poor policing and worse stewarding, poor foods at grounds, the distain in which fans are held by the institution that is English football, Sky, T.V in general, why is football not played at 3pm on a Saturday, Blanderson, Barber, any other joke of a journalist, hooliganism, stupid managers, stupider opinions from our own fans, know it alls, the best computer game to make us forget about us being relegation fodder, T.V tarts, and old episodes of Only Fools & Horses, and i think that's about it

Recently I have been thinking about "WHY" I do not enjoy the match experiance now watching Leicester as much as I used to in the 1990's when my dad and Uncle took me to watch Barclay's Division 2 football?

The answer (I think, but want feedback) has its roots even before most of us on this forum even were at our 1st match let alone alive in some cases.

I believe that there has been a cycle of events that now means that we watch football the way we do, and have been left short changed as far as an enjoyable day out is concerned, let alone the often poor result where Leicester City is concerned.

I think the major factors started when technology got better, and gave us T.V coverage of football and we have ended up with T.V having a major control of the beautiful game. Transportation links made it possible to go to away games, this lead to people moving into a "new" area for the day lets say not on their best behaviour tanked, also with an improvement in our economical situation in England after the 2nd world war.

These events above coupled with social problems of the 60's 70's and 80's led to a culture where the police in England had lost all touch with how to deal with situations that appeared on Saturday afternoons culminating with disaster after disaster where the dead were no longer important as they were football fans, and football fans were not worth caring about.

This all changed when on T.V the whole country saw how awful the situation had gotten in football with the Hillsborough disaster.

After:

Hooliganism

Innocent people being stereotyped because of their interest

A negative attitude given to football fans in general

Major Social problems

Things had to change in football! All of this and I was so unaware and protected from the "real world" of football and politics which would turn the game we all adore, into something completely different. I remember in 1989 what football was like;

I would say that Football in 1989 was like an old English sea side resort is now, run down, with poor facilities, poor quality services, but somehow you still go back, not because of the sea, but because you had a bloody good time.

Now the facilities are there but the time you spend at the football makes you wish for those crappy stadia, worse football and great times which seem so distant now that we are in our plastic bore box.

So what are we going to do about it?

Well I believe it our duty to do something about this, you know why? Well Look at what we have now! Almost guaranteed Safety, similar football, an expensive day out, T.V ratings dictating football its becoming like boxing, hype, still have poor food.

Where will this change?

When will we be represented?

Why does no one listen to our standing / safe standing (any standing) pleas?

Why has no-one else not been outraged at the cover-ups to keep the masses piling their money into football and give up their enjoyment piece by piece on a Saturday so that the authorities can maintain the balance and keep us fans in our place?

As i say above I believe that when the country saw the terrible state in which people were treated at football matches on the 15th of April 1989 at Hillsborough the authorities had to do something as that could not be brushed under the carpet! This was on T.V live! This was no Fire at Bradford.

When the authorities commissioned the Taylor report they wished to know what the Hell was going on with our game and why it seemed that an important country's citizens could not be safe watching their national game.

The only problem is if the truth comes out and the authorities are not keen on the real truth, then the real truth can become changed to become what the powers that be want it to say, therefore we end up pleasing Media bosses with Premier leagues, Big Attendances, Big Viewing Figures, Bigger wages for "star" players, No guilt for police and their policing methods, but does this come at a cost? Well YES but not for authorities, what have they given? Hmmm, well All I know is that now it costs £20 minimum to watch Leicester City who produce a poor product on the pitch for now half a decade, and even young fans have now started to reminisce to those so very dark days when we could have an enjoyable day out. Did they all miss the point? Did they not realise that some people wanted the game cleared up yes but not at the expense of giving up what we all enjoyed. No Hooliganism was not good, but neither is all seater stadia with poor atmosphere. Over paid players, poor food, bad returns for your money, the "fans" (whose game this is lets not forget) are the ones who have had to give way for every change, some for the good, most as we know for the worse.

This has taken 18 years to get to this point! What will football be like when, the likes of those who enjoy a sing on a Saturday are driven further away from the seating (not terraces) to their armchairs asking themselves "what's the point nowadays" and coming to the conclusion that it just ain't the same any more. THIS IS HAPPENING! Have we not noticed the worse atmosphere from even when Filbert Way opened? Of course we have, as we mention this all the time. We also mention that Americanising of our game, we want our traditions back, we want our Post Horn Gallop. We want cheaper prices, We want the people who's game this is priced back to the football, we want them to sing again. We want to have the enjoyable parts of the 80's game back and coupled with the safety of today's, I am convinced that this is possible! Germany can do it so can we.

What do we think? Am I a loon who is way off the mark? Or am I starting a topic on here that people will come and get to the realisation that Football (IMO) is going to get worse unless some noise and changes are made.

I now love seeing players like Ginola, Cantona, Kanchelskis, Zola, Bergkamp, Ronaldo lighting up the English leagues.

I hate the way the authorities have stiffed the paying public into believing that things are hunky dory, and that when we complain about standing or OTT Stewarding we have no representation even tho' the game should be ours and we should be the ones governing its path. What is the F.A doing to represent the concerns of the English game?

Regards

Tom Hancock

AKA KilworthFox

[Staf]

Are you going tomorrow Kilworth

[Kilworthfox]

Are you going tomorrow Kilworth

No I'm watching it on SKY

Now I feel ashamed

Kilworth Getting off of his Horse sum what now cheers Staf

[Staf]

Quality post

[Steven]

What is the F.A doing to represent the concerns of the English game?

Regards

Tom Hancock

AKA KilworthFox

Top post. :clap: The FA and others will do nothing. The game has now grown beyond the average fan and in the future it will be there purely for overseas entertainment.

[Kilworthfox]

Top post. :clap: The FA and others will do nothing. The game has now grown beyond the average fan and in the future it will be there purely for overseas entertainment.

Yeah but something should be done. Otherwise our game and Club(s) are taken from the fans bit by bit.

[Simi]

The game will continue to be taken away from the fans. Regardless of all of the commercial bollocks that the clubs can come out with to say how much our support is valued. It might be valued, but only for the fact that once you're there you'll be buying pies, shirts, drinks. It's the way football is now. The working class are no longer the prime target, families and sponsors are what's wanted now.

All of the character that football had not long ago is dissapearing with the way new stadiums are built and the way stewards behave towards fans on a matchday.

Until the problems are addressed, correctly. Football will continue to become a franchise for people to buy into and fans will continue to be alienated.

[Kilworthfox]

The game will continue to be taken away from the fans. Regardless of all of the commercial bollocks that the clubs can come out with to say how much our support is valued. It might be valued, but only for the fact that once you're there you'll be buying pies, shirts, drinks. It's the way football is now. The working class are no longer the prime target, families and sponsors are what's wanted now.

All of the character that football had not long ago is dissapearing with the way new stadiums are built and the way stewards behave towards fans on a matchday.

Until the problems are addressed, correctly. Football will continue to become a franchise for people to buy into and fans will continue to be alienated.

Yes, well how is it to be addressed? Who is to do the addressing? As I asked in my original post who represents us? We put our names to an Internet petition, but where has that gotten the situation? Are we any nearer to our day out being enjoyable as it once was?

What has happened to the families of the dead, where is their justice? When does the right of businessmen to make money override the justice for the people, in this circumstance which has led to "the match" being ruined for me and you Si?

1st & 2nd Taylor Reports

[AoWW]

Superb post that hits the nail on the head. We don't see many of this quality on FT.

Far too many folks connected with the game have their own interests at heart and the fans' needs count for nothing anymore.

The way the sport has changed is heearbreaking if you really stop to think about it. It is no longer accessible in the way it used to be to many. Yes, things should change and highlighting these issues is a start - at least it gives people something to consider. Will the FA listen?... I doubt it, to be honest, but unless it's being discussed and shoved in their faces they will continue to keep their heads in the sand and deny that there are any problems to address.

Respect to Kilworth Fox for taking the time and effort to raise this. Tis all for the good of the sport we love.

[Simi]

Yes, well how is it to be addressed? Who is to do the addressing? As I asked in my original post who represents us? We put our names to an Internet petition, but where has that gotten the situation? Are we any nearer to our day out being enjoyable as it once was?

What has happened to the families of the dead, where is their justice? When does the right of businessmen to make money override the justice for the people, in this circumstance which has led to "the match" being ruined for me and you Si?

1st & 2nd Taylor Reports

It will be addressed when some of the high profile chairman in the game actually go with their word that they support new initiatives like safe standing areas. There are a number of Premier League Chairman that support the campaign. Mike Astley travels away with the Newcastle stands frequenslty at away games. I wonder if he ever thought his safety was on the line?

Also the Newcastle Chairman recently said this in an interview.

SAFE STANDING:

I've no problem with that at all in principle, providing health and safety is not compromised. It would have to be on the basis of it being safe.

It's all very well saying stuff like this. But the FLA, FA and other authorities will just let this slide until someone with some proper authority takes the campaign by the scruff of the neck.

I don't know if anybody watched SSN yesterday when they were asking people about the 'abuse' given to players, but they spoke to stewards at Reading, one of them said.

We do not tolerate any foul language and we deal with it swiftly and strongly

This is football for **** sake. It's these exact people that are causing some of the biggest problems, killing any heart that left in football.

He then went on to say...

We have created a family atmosphere with thousands of women and children attending. If we have people abusing away fans or players, it wont be tolerated. If they have to be dealt with, so be it.

So this guy is basically saying that no women swear at football matches and don't cause any trouble? I can safely say that a lot of women would be offended by this.

What I'm basically trying to get at is that people are getting away with spouting complete rubbish in the media and getting away with making up random facts and figures. These then end back up at the FA and are used when they are nothing but fiction. The voice of the average football fan is no longer heard and it's ruining the game. A high profile figure needs to step up and voice his own opinion and force the authorities in some proper decisions to help give football back some of it's heart.

[Nath]

I know plenty of girls that dont stop swearing at football.

One i know swears more than men.

[Simi]

I know plenty of girls that dont stop swearing at football.

One i know swears more than men.

I'm not saying it's a contest of who can swear the most, my point was that the powers that be fabricate that women and children all go to football to sit down and watch a great game of football. That is simply not the case. But with fools like this been able to get away with it without a reaction from the average fan, things will carry on been changed in their favour.

[Kilworthfox]

I'm not saying it's a contest of who can swear the most, my point was that the powers that be fabricate that women and children all go to football to sit down and watch a great game of football. That is simply not the case. But with fools like this been able to get away with it without a reaction from the average fan, things will carry on been changed in their favour.

The steward may be an idiot or otherwise but he is backed by the rules! The rules have to be changed before these people / stewards are challenged.

The rules for standing are wrong. we all know that as we are the ones who go to the game with unsafe standing areas as they are seating areas where we choose to stand, just like Mike Ashley! When will; the authorities give people what they want and really make things safe?

[Simi]

The steward may be an idiot or otherwise but he is backed by the rules! The rules have to be changed before these people / stewards are challenged.

Stewards tend to think they have a lot more rights than they actually do, as do the police.

At the end of the day they're only doing their job, the H&S and SAGS are just bitches to the FLA, they are the people that need to be pressured, they are been. But once again their argument solely rests on Hillsborough and the heartache of those families. Other than that their argument is frankly embarrassing.

[Geo V]

Great Post

The funny thing is delusional "foreign" fans still actually think we have it all and would swap places with us. If only they knew!

I think there are certain things or facets of football which are controllable by the fans and we should get our houses in order and make the day as enjoyable as possible and not worry about the parts of matchday which are beyond our control. I honestly don't think we actually do enough.

[Kilworthfox]

Stewards tend to think they have a lot more rights than they actually do, as do the police.

At the end of the day they're only doing their job, the H&S and SAGS are just bitches to the FLA, they are the people that need to be pressured, they are been. But once again their argument solely rests on Hillsborough and the heartache of those families. Other than that their argument is frankly embarrassing.

If the F.A thinks that by making every person in the country sit down makes things better for the Dead Liverpool fans families then they are deluded! The families want the truth to come out that the poice were to blame not the Liverpool fans who were blamed at the time of the 2nd Taylor report unlike the police who were blamed in the 1st! Crazy hey!

Great Post

The funny thing is delusional "foreign" fans still actually think we have it all and would swap places with us. If only they knew!

I think there are certain things or facets of football which are controllable by the fans and we should get our houses in order and make the day as enjoyable as possible and not worry about the parts of matchday which are beyond our control. I honestly don't think we actually do enough.

Are you saying that fans should support their team regardless of sitting or standing?

[Floating Fox]

Great post Tommo

In answer to who should represent us, have a look at the FSF. I'm a member and they have a strong hardcore selection of fans that work hard and they have some very good campaigns as well as working alongside StandUpSitDown. Quite cheap as well and they produce a quality magazine, anyway enough advertising, back to the point.

I think the state of football shows a lot about the state of our country - PATHETIC!

We have to thank the authorities for stamping out Hooliganism, you don't go to games, home or away and feel intimidated anymore, they did a good job at that. The only time I've ever felt intimidated at a game was forest away when the game was called off at half time, but I can't deny from getting a bit of an adrenaline rush getting back to the train station that night.

I recently went to Burton v Barnet and it was thouroghly entertaining, the football is hardly different to our standards, you can stand, flags, surfers, bouncing the lot, was a great day out and probably the best game I've attended this year. Cheaper as well, but you'd expect that! You actually came away happy, like you'd had fun.

Take yesterday for example, we we're forced to sit down at the start by some prune at the back and after 2 minutes I looked around to all my mates, who said "This is shit. Why do we bother" etc. There was a section standing to the far left of the away allocation so we all moved over there, no trouble with the stewards, and we had FUN! So what it was only 50 of us at the end of the day we still had fun. Most of the people there were kids as well there was one woman standing with her 3 Year old kid, they both looked like the enjoyed themselves.

There is also a definate problem with people here about actaully doing something, when they have to get up off there arses and be pro-active. (Right to your MP about the EDM of safe standing - Mines signed it!)

I would usually have a rant at all the people that watched yesterday's game on t'TV, but to be honest I can't blame most of them, it's an expensive day out & most of the time it's not fun anymore.

At the end of the day, if its not fun, don't bother.

[AoWW]

So this guy is basically saying that no women swear at football matches and don't cause any trouble? I can safely say that a lot of women would be offended by this.

I'm always beautifully behaved at football matches. Now, where's that fucking angel smilie when I need it?

And yes, I do find his comment offensive because it's chauvanistic. Patronising Bastard!