[Archived] Is it time to go back and support your team

[ratters]

That is infuriating. No one is stopping supporting Rovers because of relegation or lack of success. The anger is at Venkys. I don't give the slightest if we win the Champions League with these people. They must be removed no matter what, if we are going up or down, right or wrong - support for Rovers can't only be aimed at whats going on on the field, you have to think of what's best for the club as a whole. And it doesn't get more critical than the owners.

If that happened (sequence of events that took us to be European champions) then 99.999% of stay aways would be back by then.

[gumboots]

precisely. Owners only matter when they are making idiots of themselves and by association of your club, and ours seem to have learnt that lesson. Your job as an owner is to try to ensure that your club is as successful as possible at its leve, and take it a bit beyond. Other than that you should keep out of it. Ours seem finally to be learning that. The Glazers remain hugely unpopular at old trafford, but the club's success and therefore its support continues

[yoda]

precisely. Owners only matter when they are making idiots of themselves and by association of your club, and ours seem to have learnt that lesson. Your job as an owner is to try to ensure that your club is as successful as possible at its leve, and take it a bit beyond. Other than that you should keep out of it. Ours seem finally to be learning that. The Glazers remain hugely unpopular at old trafford, but the club's success and therefore its support continues

The jury is still out on that point I think, early days yet

[gumboots]

Hence why I said seem! As I've said elsewhere, we're only one bad decision away from their messing it all up and killing that feel good factor tha's slowly trickling back, but for the moment I'm thankful for small mercies.

[T.J.Newton]

That is infuriating. No one is stopping supporting Rovers because of relegation or lack of success. The anger is at Venkys. I don't give the slightest if we win the Champions League with these people. They must be removed no matter what, if we are going up or down, right or wrong - support for Rovers can't only be aimed at whats going on on the field, you have to think of what's best for the club as a whole. And it doesn't get more critical than the owners.

and its comments just like that, that make me very dubious as to why a section of the 'stay-away' supporters are really staying away.

[OscarRaven]

After the madness and down right shabby treatment of fans forking out a massive proportion of thier disposable income to watch Rovers, I have no problem with anyone who choses to stay away. I did. Location now prevents a return but with a small degree of normality returning, someone with the interests of the club managing the team and the clear out of most of the charlatans, freeloaders, baffoons and snakes if I could I would go back.

Why make it so difficult for fellow fans to come back? No-one is criticising those who stayed and continued to pour money into Venkys' pocket and whose inaction indirectly supported the claims of a deluded manager.

Yes the last statement is provocative on purpose, of course I understand why people stayed, support is after all about the team not the management. Its there to provide balance and insight into the other extreme.

We all have to play the game our own way, but please lets not let a lasting rift develop in the fanbase just because people chose to take different approaches to dealing with the same pain.

It far from over but its much better than it was, make it easy for people to come home if they want too.

[gumboots]

I wouldn't have a go at anyone who still chooses not to go, but all I would say is, "Don't make excuses". If you feel you have to stay away still, then tell us the real reason or don't try to justify yourself at all. I didn't attend at the start of last season when Kean was still left in charge, but his removal led me to believe, falsely as it turned out, that some semblance of normality was returning and I renewed then. I know many didn't and couldn't because they were waiting for other things to happen. Some of those have now happened, and, although Venkys remain, there is definitely a better atmosphere around the club in general, so perhaps some could now return.

[Fife Rover]

I have stayed with this thread from beginning to end, but posts like the one from T.J. Newton above have pushed me over the edge.

I was one of the first to actually start boycotting, and my reason for doing so was the way things were done in the immediate aftermath of the Venky takeover. I.E. sacking of Allardyce, driving out of JW and others, appt. of the worst manager in living memory, and the patently obvious interference and direct influence of football agent/s.

Needless to say as a supporter of 66yrs at the time, this decision was not taken lightly, and although I was a long term S/T holder in the JW Upper at the time I did not even ask for a refund on my ticket. I naively hoped that the boycott of myself and many others would result in a fairly short need to stay away, and Venkys would quickly suss out that there were real problems and act accordingly, thus restoring sanity at the club, and enabling boycotters like myself to resume our seats. Alas this was not to be, and my boycott continued until that glorious day when Kean was finally pushed out, and I was able to return on a one-off visit for the Wolves game the following Saturday. I even got my old seat back for that match and was hoping that the time had come to renew my S/T.

Again it was not to be! Not to put too fine point on it, but that visit showed me that in the year or so that had elapsed since the start of my boycott my age had caught up with me, and I quite simply cannot any longer tolerate the rigours of getting up at 6-45am to start the journey from Dalgety Bay, and arriving back home at midnight. In fact in order to actually achieve that much entails rushing out of Ewood Park as soon as the final whistle sounds in order to get to Mill Hill station in time for the 5-25pm train to Preston, then to catch a train to Glasgow Central, rush across Glasgow centre to get to Queen St. station in time for my train to Edinburgh Waverley, which allows me to catch the 11-15pm bus from Edinburgh to Dalgety Bay. If all this is achieved, I arrive home just after midnight absolutely shattered and exhausted. Therefore I have now concluded that the strain of this whole round trip has become just too much for me and I simply cannot face it any longer.

So I have finally arrived at the awful conclusion that doing this at all (let alone on a regular every home match basis) is not something I can do any more, I still intend to get to any matches where I am able to stay overnight with relatives in Blackburn, but obviously I cannot inflict myself on people on an every home match basis so the S/T days are over.

I hope that explanation meets your approval T.J. Newton, and I qualify for your forgivness for my failure to meet your high expectations.

[gumboots]

I think most fully understood before that it was a very real love of Rovers that kept you coming despite living so far away Fife, and I certainly don't blame you for feeling that it's too much to do on a regular enough basis to warrant the purchase of a season ticket. I don't think I'd be doing it even at my age, and I'm a bit younger than you, even if Rovers were in the premier league. I'd be picking and choosing when to attend.

[92er]

I totally sympthasise (sp?) with your post, so please take mine in the spirit in which I offer it.

If you aren't ready to totally stop coming, is it worth taking in 2 or 3 matches and staying over in a hotel? At least that way you would not have to face yet the prospect of never going again.

[Leonard Venkhater]

After the madness and down right shabby treatment of fans forking out a massive proportion of thier disposable income to watch Rovers, I have no problem with anyone who choses to stay away. I did. Location now prevents a return but with a small degree of normality returning, someone with the interests of the club managing the team and the clear out of most of the charlatans, freeloaders, baffoons and snakes if I could I would go back.

Why make it so difficult for fellow fans to come back? No-one is criticising those who stayed and continued to pour money into Venkys' pocket and whose inaction indirectly supported the claims of a deluded manager.

Yes the last statement is provocative on purpose, of course I understand why people stayed, support is after all about the team not the management. Its there to provide balance and insight into the other extreme.

We all have to play the game our own way, but please lets not let a lasting rift develop in the fanbase just because people chose to take different approaches to dealing with the same pain.

It far from over but its much better than it was, make it easy for people to come home if they want too.

+1

[T.J.Newton]

I have stayed with this thread from beginning to end, but posts like the one from T.J. Newton above have pushed me over the edge.

I was one of the first to actually start boycotting, and my reason for doing so was the way things were done in the immediate aftermath of the Venky takeover. I.E. sacking of Allardyce, driving out of JW and others, appt. of the worst manager in living memory, and the patently obvious interference and direct influence of football agent/s.

Needless to say as a supporter of 66yrs at the time, this decision was not taken lightly, and although I was a long term S/T holder in the JW Upper at the time I did not even ask for a refund on my ticket. I naively hoped that the boycott of myself and many others would result in a fairly short need to stay away, and Venkys would quickly suss out that there were real problems and act accordingly, thus restoring sanity at the club, and enabling boycotters like myself to resume our seats. Alas this was not to be, and my boycott continued until that glorious day when Kean was finally pushed out, and I was able to return on a one-off visit for the Wolves game the following Saturday. I even got my old seat back for that match and was hoping that the time had come to renew my S/T.

Again it was not to be! Not to put too fine point on it, but that visit showed me that in the year or so that had elapsed since the start of my boycott my age had caught up with me, and I quite simply cannot any longer tolerate the rigours of getting up at 6-45am to start the journey from Dalgety Bay, and arriving back home at midnight. In fact in order to actually achieve that much entails rushing out of Ewood Park as soon as the final whistle sounds in order to get to Mill Hill station in time for the 5-25pm train to Preston, then to catch a train to Glasgow Central, rush across Glasgow centre to get to Queen St. station in time for my train to Edinburgh Waverley, which allows me to catch the 11-15pm bus from Edinburgh to Dalgety Bay. If all this is achieved, I arrive home just after midnight absolutely shattered and exhausted. Therefore I have now concluded that the strain of this whole round trip has become just too much for me and I simply cannot face it any longer.

So I have finally arrived at the awful conclusion that doing this at all (let alone on a regular every home match basis) is not something I can do any more, I still intend to get to any matches where I am able to stay overnight with relatives in Blackburn, but obviously I cannot inflict myself on people on an every home match basis so the S/T days are over.

I hope that explanation meets your approval T.J. Newton, and I qualify for your forgivness for my failure to meet your high expectations.

im glad my post provoked such a good post from you, but I wasn't getting at all supporters that have stopped going, just the ones that use dubious and/or irrational excuses.

obviously for people like yourself, where going to games takes a lot of effort/planning and expense I totally understand why you'd choose not to go if you wasn't happy(If I lived in Scotland or even anywhere else out of Lancashire, I doubt id have the commitment to get to many games a season, regardless of the clubs situation)

[Rover_Shaun]

I still have no intention of coming back. Venkys are still there and they can kiss my ringpiece before I give them another penny. Shortsighted it may be but there you go.

Still drive my wife mad looking on my phone for the scores every two minutes but I've not felt any intentions of going down to Ewood. I have however spent many an enjoyable Saturday camping or fell walking instead without (rather sad it now seems in retrospect) revolving my social life around the fixture list.

The only pang of guilt I have is in abandoning the Father in Law who still goes.

[EgyptianPete]

I haven't been away.

Oh good stuff, i obviously read into your posts the wrong way which i guess is easy to do on many posts, as i say i see your point of view but you still have that bit inside you that wants to go.

[rhodie]

I still have no intention of coming back. Venkys are still there and they can kiss my ringpiece before I give them another penny. Shortsighted it may be but there you go.

Still drive my wife mad looking on my phone for the scores every two minutes but I've not felt any intentions of going down to Ewood. I have however spent many an enjoyable Saturday camping or fell walking instead without (rather sad it now seems in retrospect) revolving my social life around the fixture list.

The only pang of guilt I have is in abandoning the Father in Law who still goes.

Err, I really would love to know how you`ve worked out you are giving your money to Venkys when you attend a match.

[RevidgeBlue]

That is infuriating. No one is stopping supporting Rovers because of relegation or lack of success. The anger is at Venkys. I don't give the slightest if we win the Champions League with these people. They must be removed no matter what, if we are going up or down, right or wrong - support for Rovers can't only be aimed at whats going on on the field, you have to think of what's best for the club as a whole. And it doesn't get more critical than the owners.

I haven't bothered reading most of this thread as it's a matter of individual choice whether to go to the games or not. You can't force people to go and if under GB we start playing well and winning on a consistent basis and lapsed fans still won't go that's their loss imo.

However I do think it's incredibly sad that a section of fans seemingly dislike Venky's so much that they would seemingly rather see them fail than the Club enjoy any success with them in charge as evidenced by the post above.

jim displayed a similar attitude the other week on the Rhodes thread when he stated that to him it was some consolation that in his view the owners had overpaid for Rhodes.

[Rover_Shaun]

Rhodie, I FEEL like it does so that's all that matters to me. Same as I don't pay money to McDonalds or anything to do with Rupert Murdock. I've never bought the Mirror since the Maxwell scandal

The question (topic title) was asked and my answer is NO.

Simples

[rhodie]

I haven't bothered reading most of this thread as it's a matter of individual choice whether to go to the games or not. You can't force people to go and if under GB we start playing well and winning on a consistent basis and lapsed fans still won't go that's their loss imo.

However I do think it's incredibly sad that a section of fans seemingly dislike Venky's so much that they would seemingly rather see them fail than the Club enjoy any success with them in charge as evidenced by the post above.

jim displayed a similar attitude the other week on the Rhodes thread when he stated that to him it was some consolation that in his view the owners had overpaid for Rhodes.

I agree Rev, if fans no longer can or want to attend for whatever reason , fair enough, I just don`t understand why it`s always a case of being a martyr to get back at the owners, they don`t seem to be able to fathom that they are not affecting the owners in any way whatsoever. The are boycotting and damaging the club instead.

Rhodie, I FEEL like it does so that's all that matters to me. Same as I don't pay money to McDonalds or anything to do with Rupert Murdock. I've never bought the Mirror since the Maxwell scandal

The question (topic title) was asked and my answer is NO.

Simples

But B@W , by that reasoning and in standing by your principles this site should be out of bounds to you as well, after all it is about Blackburn Rovers and Blackburn Rovers are owned by Venkys.

[Rover_Shaun]

Now you're getting silly. Everyone knows it's run and owned by even bigger and darker forces

[rhodie]

Now you're getting silly. Everyone knows it's run and owned by even bigger and darker forces

What`s Darth Vader got to do with it, I thought he died on the death star.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Rhodie, I FEEL like it does so that's all that matters to me. Same as I don't pay money to McDonalds or anything to do with Rupert Murdock. I've never bought the Mirror since the Maxwell scandal

The question (topic title) was asked and my answer is NO.

Simples

Point very well made. .No-one else has any right to condemn.

This was the reason I didn't renew last year. It was how I felt and I had to be true to that feeling.

For now, I have reconciled myself to wanting to back the changes I have seen and to back Bowyer, in particular.

For me there was something about reclaiming what was mine. Again, this was feelings led. I am not sure it would stand up to Jesuitical logic!.

[Rover_Shaun]

What`s Darth Vader got to do with it, I thought he died on the death star.

I was referring to the forum. Not sure what galaxy far away you are in

[Bucksrover]

Does anybody know how many season tickets we sold in the end?

[tomphil]

Does anybody know how many season tickets we sold in the end?

I think it's in the fans forum thread.

[yoda]

I agree Rev, if fans no longer can or want to attend for whatever reason , fair enough, I just don`t understand why it`s always a case of being a martyr to get back at the owners, they don`t seem to be able to fathom that they are not affecting the owners in any way whatsoever. The are boycotting and damaging the club instead.

But B@W , by that reasoning and in standing by your principles this site should be out of bounds to you as well, after all it is about Blackburn Rovers and Blackburn Rovers are owned by Venkys.

Now you're getting silly. Everyone knows it's run and owned by even bigger and darker forces

maybe and I have fallen foul of them in the past but at least they SUPPORT the Rovers and would not knowingly harm the club, unlike the dark forces that can't be named and have harmed the club.