I apolagise for the long story but I think it's a first, certanly is in the UK. Its worth reading to all football fans.
For the last two years when Cardiff City (thats my team btw if you havent seen my sig) have played away at Wolverhapmton Wanderers there has been trouble between our fans and theirs and the police. When they came to us earlier this season they tried to invade the pitch, to no avail. They fought with stewards and police many arrests were made. Late last year there Cheif Executive Mr Jez Moxley took it upon himself to ban our fans from travelling to this seasons fixture at Wolves ground.
He had to get it past the football authorities to which he has and as a result the ban of away fans will apply. This hasn't happened in the UK before. While I agree our fans arn't angels we have made huge steps in ridding our club of hooligans. The supporters who have done this now give lectures to clubs across the UK on how to rid their clubs of hoolies too.
Fans from across the UK that travel to away games will and have agreed with me that West Midland Police have a terrible reputation with handling football matches and I stand to be corrected but have various law suits hanging above them for over reacting.
Last year the trouble kicked off when at half time the shutters were pulled down on the bars and no alcohol was served. The fans got frustrated with this treatment, the police moved in with batons and continued to hit anyone in their path. Children, Females and even pensioners were hit. The normal football fan, being Male and adult didnt like this and so a fight/riot broke out between the police and the Cardiff Fans. If I saw this behavious I wouldnt stand for it and would of fought back at the police too.
This seaons fixture Saturday next, 20th I think will be attened by our chairman the notorious Peter Ridsdale and of course the team and players but no other directors will attend and of course no fans.
Cardiff are holding a demo at 9am on the steps of Wolverhamton town hall on the morning of the game, this will be attened by a couple thousand Cardiff Fans, mostly familys. They will be joined by Wolves fans who arn't happy at the ban and fans from all across the UK to try and highlight what has happened and try and prevent it happening again.
In total amongst all the trouble at last seasons there were a grand total of one arrest. Thats right, ONE arrest and yet for the first time ever away fans have been prevented from attending a game.
Cardiff will beam the game back live to Cardiffs ground but a section of fans have gone one step further in watching the team we love. 30 fans have chipped in and hired an blimp to hover above the ground and watch the game from the airship. The cost of this is thousands and again is a first.
Unless the notoriously ruthless West Midland Police step in and prevent the launching of the blimp the 30 or so fans will be successful in watching their team which they watch every Saturday and have done for years.
Thats commitment for you. This will appear in the news from this evening onwards, to those in the UK its on 5live between 5.30 - 6.30.
For the last two years when Cardiff City (thats my team btw if you havent seen my sig) have played away at Wolverhapmton Wanderers there has been trouble between our fans and theirs and the police. When they came to us earlier this season they tried to invade the pitch, to no avail. They fought with stewards and police many arrests were made. Late last year there Cheif Executive Mr Jez Moxley took it upon himself to ban our fans from travelling to this seasons fixture at Wolves ground.
He had to get it past the football authorities to which he has and as a result the ban of away fans will apply. This hasn't happened in the UK before. While I agree our fans arn't angels we have made huge steps in ridding our club of hooligans. The supporters who have done this now give lectures to clubs across the UK on how to rid their clubs of hoolies too.
Fans from across the UK that travel to away games will and have agreed with me that West Midland Police have a terrible reputation with handling football matches and I stand to be corrected but have various law suits hanging above them for over reacting.
Last year the trouble kicked off when at half time the shutters were pulled down on the bars and no alcohol was served. The fans got frustrated with this treatment, the police moved in with batons and continued to hit anyone in their path. Children, Females and even pensioners were hit. The normal football fan, being Male and adult didnt like this and so a fight/riot broke out between the police and the Cardiff Fans. If I saw this behavious I wouldnt stand for it and would of fought back at the police too.
This seaons fixture Saturday next, 20th I think will be attened by our chairman the notorious Peter Ridsdale and of course the team and players but no other directors will attend and of course no fans.
Cardiff are holding a demo at 9am on the steps of Wolverhamton town hall on the morning of the game, this will be attened by a couple thousand Cardiff Fans, mostly familys. They will be joined by Wolves fans who arn't happy at the ban and fans from all across the UK to try and highlight what has happened and try and prevent it happening again.
In total amongst all the trouble at last seasons there were a grand total of one arrest. Thats right, ONE arrest and yet for the first time ever away fans have been prevented from attending a game.
Cardiff will beam the game back live to Cardiffs ground but a section of fans have gone one step further in watching the team we love. 30 fans have chipped in and hired an blimp to hover above the ground and watch the game from the airship. The cost of this is thousands and again is a first.
Unless the notoriously ruthless West Midland Police step in and prevent the launching of the blimp the 30 or so fans will be successful in watching their team which they watch every Saturday and have done for years.
Thats commitment for you. This will appear in the news from this evening onwards, to those in the UK its on 5live between 5.30 - 6.30.