Bad news for the Foxestalk Charity Run

[James.]

I received the following email today.

Dear James

Your request to look at the possibility of joining in Birch’s fund raising run at the end of season has been passed to me.

I have discussed your proposal with Birch and he feels that he has a good, tried and tested format and that to open it up to other groups could start an avalanche of enquiries. Obviously he doesn't wish to discourage anyone from helping raise money although I know he has still not confirmed which charity(ies) he will be running for this season.

Birch is also very mindful that the main event on the day is the game - which could be a very important one for us - and all the extra 'bodies' involved if we added to the run could cause problems in an already congested tunnel/pitchside area. I am sure the last thing we would all want, is to detract from the game on the day.

Would it be possible for you all to have a re-think as to how you could all be involved in either raising money for your chosen charity or alternatively to support Birch in his fund raising please. We would be more than happy to help support you but feel that Birch’s end of season run should be left in the format which has proved so successful in the past.

Please contact me directly if you would like to discuss this further.

Yours sincerely

James Perry

Head of Commercial

Fanzone

Leicester City Football Club

Fanzone hotline: 44 (0) 116 229 4555

[email protected]

I'm disappointed (although not entirely surprised) with the club and Birchenhall. This was a great opportunity to raise up to £12,500 (possibly more) for a local charity and they have dismissed it.

Their reasons for not doing the run with my responses as follows -

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1. "...could start an avalanche of queries"

Response: this is a one off to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the club. If it was marketed as such then I believe this "avalanche" would never materialise... In any case what's wrong with people wanting to raise money for charity?

Conclusion: Crap excuse.

2. "...main event on the day is the game... all the extra 'bodies' involved if we added to the run could cause problems"

Response: what sort of problems? I stated that the run would ideally take place 2 hours before kick off (even if this meant running without Birchenall to start with). We would be running around the outside of the pitch so wouldn't cause any disruption to pitch preparation/warm ups. If the numbers doing the run had to be decreased then that could be arranged (after all we have around half the required people so far).

Conclusion: Poor excuse.

==========

Seems to me like they've dismissed my idea without even seriously considering how to work around the so called problems they've stated in the mail.

Also feels a bit like Birchenall is getting a bit protective over his run and doesn't want the limelight stolen from him... I might be being a bit facetious... I hope I'm wrong.

Anyway, I'm still considering what to do next. Sorry to let everyone down, I was really keen to get this going but it seems the club and Birchenall have other ideas.

I'm going to have a think about what to do next. In the meantime if anyone has any ideas then let me know...

Cheers.

[Tabou]

Also feels a bit like Birchenall is getting a bit protective over his run and doesn't want the limelight stolen from him... I might be being a bit facetious... I hope I'm wrong.

This was my first thought to be fair. I'm sure that these issues could have been overcome with relative ease.

Smash up his car.

[lavrentis]

Seems to me like they've dismissed my idea without even seriously considering how to work around the so called problems they've stated in the mail.

Also feels a bit like Birchenall is getting a bit protective over his run and doesn't want the limelight stolen from him... I might be being a bit facetious... I hope I'm wrong.

Anyway, I'm still considering what to do next. Sorry to let everyone down, I was really keen to get this going but it seems the club and Birchenall have other ideas.

I'm going to have a think about what to do next. In the meantime if anyone has any ideas then let me know...

Cheers.

That's what I first thought tbh, very disappointed with Birchenall here, was looking forward to doing this and not at all James, great Idea shame about the club and Birchenall.

[hairy]

Sorry to hear that James but it may have been better to get back to Mr Perry first to test him out before posting the email on here. I dont think they will move on this now.

[davieG]

How about running at a different game, the Easter Monday game against QPR for example. None of their reasons would apply.

It's a bank holiday

You can pick Loros without compromising Birch's charity run.

You'd stand or fall by your own efforts.

I really can't see how they could object, the way you're organising it you don't even need collectors or extra LCFC staff.

If they say no then you'll know they're bullshitting you

[Edmund]

This was my first thought to be fair. I'm sure that these issues could have been overcome with relative ease.

That's what I first thought tbh, very disappointed with Birchenall here, was looking forward to doing this and not at all James, great Idea shame about the club and Birchenall.

That's a big shout. Are you saying Birch would rather make less money for charity to keep him in the spotlight. I doubt that very much. <_<

James I don't want to side with the club but I bet there looking at it from a health and safety perspective. To any person it would seem ridiculous but as they are a business I bet they don't want to take the risk. I mean if one person slips and breaks an ankle from a say a hose pipe etc etc they could be screwed.

It's just the way the business world works now unfortunately. Things which could be and should be dealt with by using common sense have to fit in a set of guidelines.

[James.]

Sorry to hear that James but it may have been better to get back to Mr Perry first to test him out before posting the email on here. I dont think they will move on this now.

Hmm, interesting. I've not exactly said anything that bad, the thread is more about keeping people informed and looking for ideas like DG's below...

Thing is, if they now refuse to do it out of some kind of stubbornness because I vented my furstration on the internet, thereby denying thousands of pounds to be raised for charity then that really doesn't reflect well on them does it...

How about running at a different game, the Easter Monday game against QPR for example. None of their reasons would apply.

It's a bank holiday

You can pick Loros without compromising Birch's charity run.

You'd stand or fall by your own efforts.

I really can't see how they could object, the way you're organising it you don't even need collectors or extra LCFC staff.

If they say no then you'll know they're bullshitting you

Yeah my first thought was to consider an alternative date. I really don't think they'll budge on doing it before Middlesborough.

Will give it the weekend to think about and get back to the club early next week, QPR sounds like a good one to start with.

[lavrentis]

.

[James.]

That's a big shout. Are you saying Birch would rather make less money for charity to keep him in the spotlight. I doubt that very much. <_<

James I don't want to side with the club but I bet there looking at it from a health and safety perspective. To any person it would seem ridiculous but as they are a business I bet they don't want to take the risk. I mean if one person slips and breaks an ankle from a say a hose pipe etc etc they could be screwed.

It's just the way the business world works now unfortunately. Things which could be and should be dealt with by using common sense have to fit in a set of guidelines.

I disagree. If it was health and safety then they would have said as that's probably the best (and worst!) reason not to do it. In any case there's hundreds of kids, cheerleaders, general people going on the pitch and running around every season, I really don't think having 125 people run round it presents that much of a health and safety issue. And again this is something that could be discussed before being dismissed out of hand...

[Edmund]

I disagree. If it was health and safety then they would have said as that's probably the best (and worst!) reason not to do it. In any case there's hundreds of kids, cheerleaders, general people going on the pitch and running around every season, I really don't think having 125 people run round it presents that much of a health and safety issue. And again this is something that could be discussed before being dismissed out of hand...

Don't get me wrong I agree it seems very petty but I'm just trying to guess there motives. Health and safety was the only angle I could think of but I suppose you're right they could have at least mentioned it or discussed it in detail with yourself if that was the case.

[Nick]

I disagree. If it was health and safety then they would have said as that's probably the best (and worst!) reason not to do it. In any case there's hundreds of kids, cheerleaders, general people going on the pitch and running around every season, I really don't think having 125 people run round it presents that much of a health and safety issue. And again this is something that could be discussed before being dismissed out of hand...

Goodbye Peter Jones, welcome to football and the community........

[Guest Mee-9]

Could run on boxing day. Know its short notice, but would be good for raising cash. Near sell out crowd, Sky Tv.

[Tabou]

That's a big shout. Are you saying Birch would rather make less money for charity to keep him in the spotlight. I doubt that very much. <_<

James I don't want to side with the club but I bet there looking at it from a health and safety perspective. To any person it would seem ridiculous but as they are a business I bet they don't want to take the risk. I mean if one person slips and breaks an ankle from a say a hose pipe etc etc they could be screwed.

It's just the way the business world works now unfortunately. Things which could be and should be dealt with by using common sense have to fit in a set of guidelines.

That's what disclaimers are for. I think they could knock one up in about 3 minutes.

And no, i don't think that The Birch wants to make less momney and keep himself in the spotlight, as I said, it was my first thought. Probably more to it. Maybe.

[Stuliasz]

Very disappointing by the club. I agree with you James that the excuses offered are pretty thin and they seem to have dismissed it without giving it proper consideration.

Surely rather than just dismissing it out of hand and literally turning down 12.5k plus, they could have come back to you with a negotiated proposal.

Hope something can be arranged (although speaking personally and selfishly I hope it's not easter because I probably won't be around to do it).

[maddog]

Birch wants all the charity raising limelight, he wants to be the celebrity amongst the fans, the guy who thanks to HIS run all that charity money is raised.

[BoneDog]

Clogging up the tunnel and surrounding area is a poor excuse. There are plenty of other exits at pitchside other than the tunnel.

[Daggers]

There's always people clogging the touchline up: if it isn't chunky little crisp-fuelled schoolchildren ineptly dropping batons then it's old bullet-dodgers risking coronaries by traipsing about.

I've no problem with them saying 'no', but at least they could have done it with less bullshit...but then that wouldn't be the Leicester way, would it?!

[syston_fox]

What about doing a completely different run that charts all the local places in our history? Start off where the club was formed and then run around other important places before ending up at the walkers and doing maybe one lap of the pitch or stadium to finish it off. Now I've not got much clue as to where in Leicester some of the events in our history took place but the programme is always full of pictures and the like and Im sure someone off here knows a fair few of them? No idea if that makes sense to anyone at all?

[James.]

I've no problem with them saying 'no', but at least they could have done it with less bullshit...but then that wouldn't be the Leicester way, would it?!

This is what has frustrated me the most. The reasons just aren't good enough to rule the idea out without even some negotiation.

For the record (and if anyone from the club is reading!) I don't think Birchenall has done this to keep the limelight or whatever. I was just left pretty despondent by such a flaky email and was trying to think up the "real" reasons for not doing it.

Anyway, enough moaning, syston_fox I like your idea but feel it may be a little too difficult to organise. At the minute I'm probably going to go back to this James Perry chap with the Easter Monday idea, or maybe put the ball in the club's court and ask them to suggest a date... Either way I'll leave it for now and speak to them early next week.

[davieG]

This is what has frustrated me the most. The reasons just aren't good enough to rule the idea out without even some negotiation.

For the record (and if anyone from the club is reading!) I don't think Birchenall has done this to keep the limelight or whatever. I was just left pretty despondent by such a flaky email and was trying to think up the "real" reasons for not doing it.

Anyway, enough moaning, syston_fox I like your idea but feel it may be a little too difficult to organise. At the minute I'm probably going to go back to this James Perry chap with the Easter Monday idea, or maybe put the ball in the club's court and ask them to suggest a date... Either way I'll leave it for now and speak to them early next week.

You could start a trend with the Easter (Saturday/Monday) Fans Charity Run, who knows in 25 years they'll have forgotten the Birch and be talking about this James fellow.

I am being serious though.

[James.]

You could start a trend with the Easter (Saturday/Monday) Fans Charity Run, who knows in 25 years they'll have forgotten the Birch and be talking about this James fellow.

I am being serious though.

I think it's a bloody great idea. Let's see what the club thinks...

[James.]

I've just spoken to James Perry and to summarise the problem is more a logistical and operational one. And yes health and safety was also mentioned.

I won't go into details but needless to say the Charity Run as it stands is postponed for now. I will however be arranging a meeting with James when I'm next in Leicester to discuss this in more detail and see if there's a way of working round the issues (there's only so much you can discuss over the phone).

It'd be great to have a couple of others with me who maybe understand the internal workings of the club a little better (I'm thinking Lisa or Raj or someone like that...). If you're interested please let me know.

[Guest]

I've just spoken to James Perry and to summarise the problem is more a logistical and operational one. And yes health and safety was also mentioned.

I won't go into details but needless to say the Charity Run as it stands is postponed for now. I will however be arranging a meeting with James when I'm next in Leicester to discuss this in more detail and see if there's a way of working round the issues (there's only so much you can discuss over the phone).

It'd be great to have a couple of others with me who maybe understand the internal workings of the club a little better (I'm thinking Lisa or Raj or someone like that...). If you're interested please let me know.

Let me know when you're thinking about seeing him, and if I'm free I don't mind popping along with you.