Statement from an Official of LCFC re Fosse Boys

[LCFC Official]

As an official on behalf of the club I would like to make clear the following points and correct some misinformation that has been published.

In July 2010, Leicester City Football Club officials met with representatives from supporters' group, the Fosse Boys and discussed their aspirations to create an improved matchday atmosphere within the Walkers Stadium.

The club was, and remains, in full support of the efforts of the Fosse Boys and is keen to assist in improving the atmosphere and matchday experience for all Leicester City supporters.

This initial meeting led to an agreement that the Fosse Boys could bring banners and flags in to the ground, without poles, and that their vocal support of the team throughout the game would be encouraged. However, the club stated to the group that persistent standing would not be allowed, as per stadium regulations. In return for this, Leicester City pledged to allow the Fosse Boys to relocate to SK1, for a trial basis of four matches.

The Fosse Boys attended the Sunderland pre-season friendly and complied with the club's request, apart from persistently standing during the first half. The group did sit down in the second half when asked to do so.

Prior to the Middlesbrough game on Saturday August 14th, the club reiterated its position on persistent standing and asked for reassurance from the group that they would refrain from standing. No response to this request was received and the Fosse Boys subsequently stood throughout the majority of the game.

Further to this, Leicester City Football Club would like to clarify that no supporters were refused entry to the Reading game on Saturday August 28th. However, a small group of eight supporters were relocated from SK1 to LK section.

The club has never prevented the Fosse Boys from either singing, supporting the team, waving scarves, or displaying banners. In fact, the club is in support of new initiatives to help improve the matchday atmosphere. The re-recording of club anthem, 'When You're Smiling', close to the end of last season, is one example of how the club has tried to improve the atmosphere. Leicester City sees the Fosse Boys as a welcome addition towards the diverse mix of our supporter base, which will hopefully continue to help in creating an improved atmosphere at the Walkers Stadium.

[Harborough__Fox]

Surely not allowing the '8 people' into sk1 was a refusal of entry ?

[Shrenchel]

As an official on behalf of the club I would like to make clear the following points and correct some misinformation that has been published.

In July 2010, Leicester City Football Club officials met with representatives from supporters’ group, the Fosse Boys and discussed their aspirations to create an improved matchday atmosphere within the Walkers Stadium.

The club was, and remains, in full support of the efforts of the Fosse Boys and is keen to assist in improving the atmosphere and matchday experience for all Leicester City supporters.

This initial meeting led to an agreement that the Fosse Boys could bring banners and flags in to the ground, without poles, and that their vocal support of the team throughout the game would be encouraged. However, the club stated to the group that persistent standing would not be allowed, as per stadium regulations. In return for this, Leicester City pledged to allow the Fosse Boys to relocate to SK1, for a trial basis of four matches.

The Fosse Boys attended the Sunderland pre-season friendly and complied with the club’s request, apart from persistently standing during the first half. The group did sit down in the second half when asked to do so.

Prior to the Middlesbrough game on Saturday August 14th, the club reiterated its position on persistent standing and asked for reassurance from the group that they would refrain from standing. No response to this request was received and the Fosse Boys subsequently stood throughout the majority of the game.

Further to this, Leicester City Football Club would like to clarify that no supporters were refused entry to the Reading game on Saturday August 28th. However, a small group of eight supporters were relocated from SK1 to LK section.

The club has never prevented the Fosse Boys from either singing, supporting the team, waving scarves, or displaying banners. In fact, the club is in support of new initiatives to help improve the matchday atmosphere. The re-recording of club anthem, ‘When You’re Smiling’, close to the end of last season, is one example of how the club has tried to improve the atmosphere. Leicester City sees the Fosse Boys as a welcome addition towards the diverse mix of our supporter base, which will hopefully continue to help in creating an improved atmosphere at the Walkers Stadium.

Persistent standing in seated areas is tolerated at every single ground in the football league, including The Walkers. What makes The Fosse Boys any different to the people standing in other blocks in the ground?!

If the club geniunely believed that standing in seated areas was inherently dangerous or they were being heavily pressured by a higher authority to put an end to it, then they would have stamped it out years ago. The truth is they know it's a non-issue but one they can use to fvck the Fosse Boys around.

[Matt]

The club was, and remains, in full support of the efforts of the Fosse Boys and is keen to assist in improving the atmosphere and matchday experience for all Leicester City supporters.

This initial meeting led to an agreement that the Fosse Boys could bring banners and flags in to the ground, without poles, and that their vocal support of the team throughout the game would be encouraged.

The club has never prevented the Fosse Boys from either singing, supporting the team, waving scarves, or displaying banners. In fact, the club is in support of new initiatives to help improve the matchday atmosphere. The re-recording of club anthem, ‘When You’re Smiling’, close to the end of last season, is one example of how the club has tried to improve the atmosphere. Leicester City sees the Fosse Boys as a welcome addition towards the diverse mix of our supporter base, which will hopefully continue to help in creating an improved atmosphere at the Walkers Stadium.

Providing 'Fosse Boy' is telling the truth the club needs to get their stories straight. (See following Quote - What Fosse Boy claimed the club had told him/Fosse Boys.)

Following on the from the Middlesbrough game LCFC apparently received 25 e-mails regarding the group, of which 3 were in support and 22 were apparently complaints about us being too noisy (remember, the "Kop" is meant to be our home end). As a result we have been issued with an ultimatum, to either move or face ejections/bans.

Either way someone is telling porkys, Either LCFC Official saying vocal support has never been a problem or complaint and it is all due to standing, or Fosse Boy saying it was all being blamed on being too noisy.

I know who I believe.

P.S - No doubt it's pointless replying to this thread or asking 'LCFC Official' question anyway as it will be like talking to a virtual brickwall.

[Austin]

Why not make an area for standing? And let the Fosse boys have THAT area? .. Is the main issue about standing really because people cannot view the game? .. If so then solve it

[The Year Of The Fox]

If LCFC were so supportive of getting a better atmosphere, can anyone please explain to me, why N Block (the year MM took over) was open for use as a 'singing section' for any ticket holder, then the season after was made to season ticket holders only? That killed any idea of getting an atmosphere going the other side of the away fans to L Block.

Why can't you move the away fans to where SK1 is, and then relocate the L Block ST holders next to the away fans? Meaning the away fans would be sandwhiched in between the former L Block lot and the Kop?

That would create an atmosphere too.

Get rid of the american idea of playing music after we score.

Fans are going to stand at some point throughout the game. What happens when we're attacking the kop end, (say for example dyer has got the ball to the byeline) do you require all fans to stay seated then? What about when we score? Where do you draw the line? I know you said 'persistent' standing, but how is that defined?Is sitting down for 5 mins and then standing up for 5 acceptable? What happens if we were constantly attacking the oppostitions goal all game, we'd be persistantly standing then too?

[Mr Hanky]

Why not make an area for standing? And let the Fosse boys have THAT area?

Because it is quite clearly against the rules - the club has no discretion whatsoever when it comes to standing

[The Year Of The Fox]

Because it is quite clearly against the rules - the club has no discretion whatsoever when it comes to standing

See the General Section- Stand Up/Sit Down campaign!

[Fosse Boy]

The Fosse Boys attended the Sunderland pre-season friendly and complied with the club’s request, apart from persistently standing during the first half. The group did sit down in the second half when asked to do so.

At no point were we asked to sit down. This was entirely voluntary.

[Spudulike]

LCFC Official: Can you confirm if you have received complaints about the Fosse Boys and, if so, what are the nature of those complaints ??

[Harborough__Fox]

Because it is quite clearly against the rules - the club has no discretion whatsoever when it comes to standing

Why do they let the away fans stand? L1/K stand? Stewards stand? if its such a big rule then surely they would TRY and make everyone sit down...the only reason they cant or wont is because its such a big number of people. If i remember barclay said he was going to 'make these L1 bastards sit down in 2 to 3 games....he failed...and now he's seen a small group of supporters standing to support their team he decides to slam the book at them..!

[James.]

Be surprised if LCFC Official makes any more posts.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Why do they let the away fans stand? L1/K stand? Stewards stand? if its such a big rule then surely they would TRY and make everyone sit down...the only reason they cant or wont is because its such a big number of people. If i remember barclay said he was going to 'make these L1 bastards sit down in 2 to 3 games....he failed...and now he's seen a small group of supporters standing to support their team he decides to slam the book at them..!

Its just hypocritical, as were the stewards at the Leeds game the other week.

The fact is, if everyone in the Kop stood, the club couldn't and wouldnt do a damn thing about it

[Finnegan]

Is this actually an LCFC official or is this a wind up?

[h1210]

Persistent standing in seated areas is tolerated at every single ground in the football league, including The Walkers. What makes The Fosse Boys any different to the people standing in other blocks in the ground?!

If the club geniunely believed that standing in seated areas was inherently dangerous or they were being heavily pressured by a higher authority to put an end to it, then they would have stamped it out years ago. The truth is they know it's a non-issue but one they can use to fvck the Fosse Boys around.

They're looking for any old excuse (H&S preventing the 125 charity run idea being another prime example) and that's just by far the easiest to use. I am willing to accept that the club can in no way officially condone standing but neither can they make out that it is strictly enforced. Quite rightly the club seem to be getting worried about the (mostly negative) press this is getting from creditable sources and the campaigns which are being set up in support of the Fosse Boys. I'm becoming more and more alienated and disillusioned with this club along with many others and I genuinely hope some of the support shown on here and Facebook etc. is transferred to real action and genuine support in real life for what these guys are trying to achieve.

[Harborough__Fox]

Its just hypocritical, as were the stewards at the Leeds game the other week.

The fact is, if everyone in the Kop stood, the club couldn't and wouldnt do a damn thing about it

If the kop was full enough for everyone to stand

[AndyBrew]

Be surprised if LCFC Official makes any more posts.

no hope there's nothing in that statement we don't already know and it avoid the one big issue everybody wants to know the answer to

so Mr LCFC Official

if standing is such an issue why during the first half of the Reading game when all of the Fosse Boys were sat down behind their banner, they were then joined by around 10 people from the kop and no point during that match was any of that group challenged for standing even though they were stood directly in front of the Fosse Boys

so my original enthusiasm for Fridays meeting has again been dealt a blow of reality, in a way only LCFC could deliver, you'd think for intelligent people if they were going to address this issue they would at least say something along the lines of:

"we accept that we have targeted the Fosse Boys in respect of persistent standing and for that we apologise, and will deal with them more fairly in the future, however we must stress we do not condone persistent standing"

but no that would be to bloody sensible

[andyh1884]

Why is it that reading the phrase 'no supporters were refused entry to the Reading game on Saturday August 28th' makes me instantly think of this?

[Fossegirl]

As an official on behalf of the club I would like to make clear the following points and correct some misinformation that has been published.

In July 2010, Leicester City Football Club officials met with representatives from supporters’ group, the Fosse Boys and discussed their aspirations to create an improved matchday atmosphere within the Walkers Stadium.

The club was, and remains, in full support of the efforts of the Fosse Boys and is keen to assist in improving the atmosphere and matchday experience for all Leicester City supporters.

This initial meeting led to an agreement that the Fosse Boys could bring banners and flags in to the ground, without poles, and that their vocal support of the team throughout the game would be encouraged. However, the club stated to the group that persistent standing would not be allowed, as per stadium regulations. In return for this, Leicester City pledged to allow the Fosse Boys to relocate to SK1, for a trial basis of four matches.

The Fosse Boys attended the Sunderland pre-season friendly and complied with the club’s request, apart from persistently standing during the first half. The group did sit down in the second half when asked to do so.

Prior to the Middlesbrough game on Saturday August 14th, the club reiterated its position on persistent standing and asked for reassurance from the group that they would refrain from standing. No response to this request was received and the Fosse Boys subsequently stood throughout the majority of the game.

Further to this, Leicester City Football Club would like to clarify that no supporters were refused entry to the Reading game on Saturday August 28th. However, a small group of eight supporters were relocated from SK1 to LK section.

The club has never prevented the Fosse Boys from either singing, supporting the team, waving scarves, or displaying banners. In fact, the club is in support of new initiatives to help improve the matchday atmosphere. The re-recording of club anthem, ‘When You’re Smiling’, close to the end of last season, is one example of how the club has tried to improve the atmosphere. Leicester City sees the Fosse Boys as a welcome addition towards the diverse mix of our supporter base, which will hopefully continue to help in creating an improved atmosphere at the Walkers Stadium.

So an OFFICIAL statement from the club on this forum. Now everybody knows that the club did formally sanction the Fosse Boys for a period of 4 matches. Why then did they remove this trial period by splitting the group at the second match, refusing entry to people who had valid tickets for SK1 section, telling them that they had letters sent to them warning them. Refusing to give an explaination at the match and having several stewards watching the ones that did get in, if they dared to stand up they walked by several fans who stood the entire match. Yes you ignored people breaking ground regulations to target a group you had sanctioned on a trial. Surely the correct method would have been to meet the group as you are on Friday and tell them it was not acceptable. I afraid this looks as though you are trying to stop the immense support the Fosse Boys have on this forum, on an on line petition and on facebook. Shame on you LCFC official you acted badly at the Reading game and are acting badly now. Hopefully people will see this for what it is, why could you not have waited till after the meeting which I believe the organisers where happy to attend once you asked.

[AndyBrew]

Why is it that reading the phrase 'no supporters were refused entry to the Reading game on Saturday August 28th' makes me instantly think of this?

:crylaugh:

[Austin]

See the General Section- Stand Up/Sit Down campaign!

Got message Joined!

[The Year Of The Fox]

Got message Joined!

good stuff!

[Houdini Logic]

Can you keep official information to the official site please - that way all supporters can see your communication.

I'd hate to think this is a cheap way of trying to get the target group of people onside without alerting the majority.

Thanks

[cambridgefox]

How about a match of complete silence! no clapping,cheering etc in protest.Then last 10 mins everyone singing"can you here the officials sing,no no" i say that in jest,but i cannot believe how petty they have been.lcfc official quote"i forgot,can i have my ball back as well" keep going lads and lasses!

[stripeyfox]

Can you keep official information to the official site please - that way all supporters can see your communication.

I'd hate to think this is a cheap way of trying to get the target group of people onside without alerting the majority.

Thanks

Whilst welcoming the club (apparently) crawling out from under its rock, I hardly think that this is the forum for issuing official statements. Whilst one would presume it is authentic and sanctioned by the club, there is nothing to back this up and nothing on the lcfc.com site. The statement also neatly skirts the issue of other sections standing.