Official Statement On the OS re Fosse Boys

[ramboacdc]

at least they are trying to show a little more outreach to the fans.

[BrummieFOX]

There are 90 minutes of fun at the Walkers, the back of SK1 at the Middlesborough game, pure fun for 90 minutes.

Not really. Just pre-pubescent idiots slagging every single player off and singing Ring of Fire far far too quickly!

Though better than silence, just.

[Spiritwalker]

On the way in to work this morning listening to RL, a guy phones in to complain

about the Fosse Boys. He says his 8yr old son wouldn't be able to see if he was

behind them. Then says he's never actually been to the Walkers - absolute classic.

[Guest Bilo]

That geezer who'd never been to the Walkers was classic. Love the fact that the only person who didn't support the Fosse Boys sounded like he was on day release.

[antscully]

i think its crazy could you image telling the kop at anfield there making too much noise,there are more older people and familys going in the kop end and i think thats not helping the atmosphere,people who dont like singing shouting a bit of banter and just being a kop end should sit some were else,old fashiond football supporters like myself like to stand up and sing weve been doing it since the 70s,half the east stand is empty so make them seats the same price as the kop and the moaners then have an option to sit some were quiet and read their books,while the vocal supporters can SING THERE HEARTS FOR THE LADS.............

[AndyBrew]

Love the idea of having a meeting to arrange a meeting, sounds like my day job!

[Jodranadinho]

never been to the walkers, yet hes complaining ...

[Tommeh]

For me there is a bigger issue at stake here than the Fosseboys, they have just brought it to a head.

Yeah totally agree and God Bless them that they have, the club have slowly been fvcking off fans more and more the past few years that is unless you have 3 kids and a birthday on every day of the year.

[unreachable]

No doubt this post will prompt shouts of repetition, pedantry and accusations that Im a troll but here goes.

As Babylon has posted I too believe that the background central issue has been about standing and not the noise issue. The Official Statement may draw a line under the noise issue which has dominated the press and media coverage.

The Clubs inconsistent policy to standing and unfair and unequal treatment of the Fosse Boys must now be addressed by all interested parties.

Persistent standing was referred to by both The Foxes Trust and the Fosse Boys during the RL interview today and, hopefully, all future attention will be directed to this difficult issue and not to noise which makes the club which I love and support look ridiculous.

Football Forums, the written media, are interested in a headline and a good story and do not always have regard to the proven facts and how in practice difficult issues can be ultimately resolved.

Problems regarding standing are long standing and you just need to refer to the Open Meeting in 2005 which makes interesting reading:

http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~745714,00.html

I would like to know how the Clubs policy towards persistent standing has developed since the opening of the Walkers Stadium and how the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) of Leicester City Council has allowed the current position to develop. I have today established that Adrian Russell, the Director of Environmental Services of Leicester City Council, is a member of this Group (and probably Chairman). His contact details are 0116 2527295 and email [email protected].

The stadiums safety certificate is granted by Leicester City Council and regularly reviewed. I would like to know whether the public are able to see the terms and conditions of the Safety Certificate and whether the minutes of meetings of the SAG are available under the Freedom of Information Act. If further information was forthcoming from the Council or the Club then all fans would know what flexibility was available to the club in its management of standing fans.

Neither the club nor the Council are above the law and the legal position could be explored by an ejected fan suing the Club for breach of contract and thereby requiring the civil courts to define persistent standing. If the local authority is exceeding its powers by attaching unreasonable conditions to the safety certificate then that can also be challenged in the courts.

Some opinion is not well informed and seems to be based upon what we would like or want or think is a good idea.

Many fans who prefer to stand dismiss safety issues out of hand without having the professional expertise to challenge all aspects of the relevant issues. I dont have the confidence or arrogance to understand all issues relating to the Safety at Sports Grounds but am somewhat wiser having partly read the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds published by the Football Licensing Authority

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/5153.aspx

Other light reading for the weekend:

The Football Licensing Authority http://www.flaweb.org.uk/

The Football Supporters Federation http://www.fsf.org.uk/ Safe Standing Campaign

The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/apr/15/newsstory.sport7

House of Commons Briefing 2009 http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snha-03937.pdf

I would like the legal parameters of the current standing policy to be established. Society is governed ultimately by the laws of the land which many posters cannot seem to accept. Ignorance of the law is not bliss its just foolish.

If the Fosse Boys are to have a formal relationship with the club perhaps its time for a constitution to give more legitimacy to its views.

Ideally all posters need to be conversant with the detail of the relevant issues.

[MC Prussian]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...son_03_09_2010/

- 2 minutes 40 in they start talking about the FB.

- 40ish minutes in, they get a few phone calls. All positive apart from one chap who's never been to the Walkers...

- 1.33.30ish, more talk, phone calls, texts etc

- 1.48.55, couple of phone calls.

Right, that's all of it I think, quickly skimmed over the show so I might have missed a few phone calls or texts or whatever but there's the big segments.

Much appreciated. Here's a more detailed transcript:

First mention of the topic 2 minutes 40 into the show.

Definition of "Ultra" at around 3 minutes 15.

Interview with FB Dave after 3 minutes 40.

Ian Bason, chairman of the Foxes Supporters' Trust, has his say starting at 5 minutes 24.

Ben Jackson mentioning that BBC RL tried to contact LCFC, but did not hear back from them (6:34).

First texts flowing in at around 26 minutes and 35 secs.

Ben Jackson then starts accepting calls after 42 minutes 29 seconds, including the geezer who's never ever been to the Walkers at all, plus FB Leigh.

Another segment with comments at 1:33:46.

Michael Brunskill, a spokesperson for the FSF is on at 1:37:05. Reference is made to Boro's Red Faction situation in 2009.

Last few comments being aired after 1:48:50.

[h1210]

Many fans who prefer to stand dismiss safety issues out of hand without having the professional expertise to challenge all aspects of the relevant issues. I don’t have the confidence or arrogance to understand all issues relating to the Safety at Sports Grounds but am somewhat wiser having party read the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds published by the Football Licensing Authority.

Good post and seemingly well thought out. Was just looking through some of this and found the 'ANALYSIS OF SPECTATOR INJURY STATISTICS FOR THE 2008/09 FOOTBALL SEASON' pretty interesting. I'm fairly sure this is a source someone else (1964FOX?? can't remember) has been quoting.

In here it states with regard to "Persistent Standing":

We have likewise been unable to establish any pattern between supporters standing in seated areas and the distribution of reported injuries between the different areas of the grounds in the top two divisions. This applies both when home and visiting supporters are standing.

which seems to go against the general rhetoric from clubs which suggests standing is in itself intrinsically unsafe, and is coming from the people who advise on supporter safety.

[1964FOX]

Good post and seemingly well thought out. Was just looking through some of this and found the 'ANALYSIS OF SPECTATOR INJURY STATISTICS FOR THE 2008/09 FOOTBALL SEASON' pretty interesting. I'm fairly sure this is a source someone else (1964FOX?? can't remember) has been quoting.

YES IT WAS ME

In here it states with regard to "Persistent Standing": which seems to go against the general rhetoric from clubs which suggests standing is in itself intrinsically unsafe, and is coming from the people who advise on supporter safety.

[Ultra]

It was interesting to note that at the England game tonight, the irritating "supporters band" and those in the blocks around them, stood for the entire game..

Presumably they had the FA's blessing for this.

[Stand UP...]

It was interesting to note that at the England game tonight, the irritating "supporters band" and those in the blocks around them, stood for the entire game..

Presumably they had the FA's blessing for this.

My thoughts entirely

[ts_1010]

It was interesting to note that at the England game tonight, the irritating "supporters band" and those in the blocks around them, stood for the entire game..

Presumably they had the FA's blessing for this.

So did all the Bulgarian fans for that matter too...

[purpleronnie]

Its nothing to do with the FA.

[h1210]

It was interesting to note that at the England game tonight, the irritating "supporters band" and those in the blocks around them, stood for the entire game..

Presumably they had the FA's blessing for this.

I'm sure it was 'sporadic' standing and whenever they weren't playing they would have been firmly rooted to their seats.

[ozleicester]

Is there any "official" feedback from the Fosse Boys following the meeting?

[Bellend Sebastian]

I hope the club hasn't given them the old concrete overcoat treatment.

That would be terrible PR

[davieG]

This sounds to me like the experienced negotiator hoodwinking the naive into believing things will improve. Seems to me what they've done is taken the sting out of the momentum gained. I'm betting that nothing will have changed and they're hoping that by the next home game most fans not directly involved with the FB will be placated by this and will have moved on.

Interesting that not a single comment has been forth coming from the FB re the meeting or have I missed it? - perhaps an agreement not to comment

Either way a meeting to arrange a meeting with no definite announcement of time or agenda?

Perhaps I really am too cynical?

[AoWW]

This sounds to me like the experienced negotiator hoodwinking the naive into believing things will improve. Seems to me what they've done is taken the sting out of the momentum gained. I'm betting that nothing will have changed and they're hoping that by the next home game most fans not directly involved with the FB will be placated by this and will have moved on.

Interesting that not a single comment has been forth coming from the FB re the meeting or have I missed it? - perhaps an agreement not to comment

Either way a meeting to arrange a meeting with no definite announcement of time or agenda?

Perhaps I really am too cynical?

If you are, then you're not the only one.

[Lillehamring]

This sounds to me like the experienced negotiator hoodwinking the naive into believing things will improve. Seems to me what they've done is taken the sting out of the momentum gained. I'm betting that nothing will have changed and they're hoping that by the next home game most fans not directly involved with the FB will be placated by this and will have moved on.

Interesting that not a single comment has been forth coming from the FB re the meeting or have I missed it? - perhaps an agreement not to comment

Either way a meeting to arrange a meeting with no definite announcement of time or agenda?

Perhaps I really am too cynical?

Perhaps, it certainly sounds like the sort of thing the club would do.

but i just can't help but think that they have learnt a lesson by this and, whilst i don't doubt the club hope the FB give up, i'd be surprised if that happens. THe club won't want to take the risk of any more embarrassing negative publicity, so i expect the FBs to have a presence at the next game - maybe they'll agree to flags in return for 'transient standing' only.

the key thing for the FB, is to be allowed to group, the rest will come as numbers increase.

[davieG]

From the Merc

Fosse Boys want truce

Diehard Foxes fans the Fosse Boys are hoping to come to an agreement with Leicester City about attending matches at the Walkers Stadium.

Club bosses met with the supporters' group yesterday to discuss "a range of issues" after the fans claimed they had been banned from the ground.

The group of about 50 supporters spent the summer organising themselves into a group to add some noise to match days at the Walkers Stadium.

But they were told other fans had complained about them following City's first home game.

Following the meeting yesterday, one of the Fosse Boys, who did not want to be named, said they had come to an agreement with the club.

In a statement, the club said: "Both parties agreed that this is not a noise issue and positively encouraged increased vocal support of the team."

So what is this agreement, is it just "Both parties agreed that this is not a noise issue and positively encouraged increased vocal support of the team." or is there more to it?

It seems like a veil of silence has been placed over the Fosse Boys and I believe those fans that have backed them deserve an Official Statement from the Fosse Boys.

[lcfc"weasel"]

Not really. Just pre-pubescent idiots slagging every single player off and singing Ring of Fire far far too quickly!

Though better than silence, just.

I guarantee you that at the Middlesborough game I did not sing Ring of Fire at all, instead, traditional Leicester songs mixed in with a few new songs. Add to that jumping up and down and waving a scarf and you've got 90 minutes of excitement.

[C-man]

It seems like a veil of silence has been placed over the Fosse Boys and I believe those fans that have backed them deserve an Official Statement from the Fosse Boys.

Maybe they want to take their time over releasing a statement having been criticised in the past for a lack of clarity.

Like you said above, the representatives of the Fosse Boys will have been a lot younger than those across the table from them and I'm guessing they want a bit of time to digest the contents of the meeting and work out what their next move is? Don't know if they have been silenced though, could be wrong.