[Archived] Rovers Vs The Pool Fa Cup

[JBiz]

Pretty much my own feelings.

I can't stand the constant reminders of what these people have done to our club-the trickle winding its way to the ground, the absence of traffic, the empty seats- just the sense of loss and general emptiness.

I started to boycott on principle, but it is a dangerous game. My 46 year match attendance habit is broken, although I kick every ball, listening to the radio, if I am not down there protesting.

So I have become the old man, who used to make joking, negative remarks about Rovers to the loyal, passionate young Rovers fan, passing his gate after a Div 3 fixture.( Tony Field, Kit Napier, Roger Jones et al)

It was a long while afterwards that his wife told me her husband had lived for Rovers until the 1960 debacle.

Things won't be fixed overnight even in the best case scenario. The damage done to the club and (often forgotten) the town, these are things that took a long time to build up.

If non attendance can't be guaranteed to shake the owners into action or to sell up, the words of the Coventry "chief exec" will haunt me more for every 1000 fans more we lose.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/watch-coventry-city-chairmans-threat-12335919

We can't guarantee it won't or will work - but we can guarantee what dropping gates will eventually achieve. People may see this as a "having a pop" but the thought what that will achieve is hard to stomach, even on top of the steaming pile of venky we've already swallowed.

I have the same anger it causes. I've missed more games in 5 years than I had in the previous 20 by a huge margine, infact I can't recall missing a home game by choice until Kean. It's bloody horrible at the minute, and I'm not looking forward to anything but the pint with my dad on Saturday. Even looking past the 20,000 empty seats, I cannot stand what Owen Coyle serves up. I can take a team who are threadbare with injuries, short of quality etc. but I can't take a disinterested, unfit and unorganised outfit. I'm sure he plays Gallagher on the wing purely for (knock downs to whom you may say) winding up the fans..

..and thus probably the main part that irks me, this is one of the main forms of socialising/meeting up with family and friends for my entire life. Most now have stopped. Away games now become a choice of towns or cities I have mates who live in or near or going on my own.

I don't want to give up on this aspect of my existence but I might not have a choice in the end.

[blue kiwi]

5% of our lost fans are true boycotters,absolute tosh.

[mhead]

Boycotters do not largely return.....they become the cynics who irritate the younger supporters.

Me and my Dad just kept going after the 1960 fiasco.....but the 10,000 we lost probably never returned.

And my Dad never ever paid for a ticket in his life -as a policeman he got a free 'pass' and then when he retired I bought his Season ticket(for 25 years) for his June Birthday until his death.

Face facts as well, this is part of the 'small town' mentality which moves many of us from our roots. People enjoy being cynics....complainers rather than doers. The Action Group have a second theme which is to stop the fans becoming apathetic or even anti-Rovers(rather than at the Owners)

I have asked several times about the number of active posters on here NOW as compared to 10 years ago. That would indicate the general drop off.

[Rover_Shaun]

In general it's best not to generalise.

[gumboots]

I don't think I'd ever become a season ticket holder again as it's nice not to feel I've paid for it so I have to go. However, I can guarantee I'd be back watching matches if we were Venky free. We always look for something to do on Saturday afternoons which is why we've replaced Rovers with Sale or Clitheroe and even have an afternoon at Accrington planed as we have a friend who supports their opponents. None of these teams grabs my enthusiasm like Rovers did and will again. I still find myself wanting to go to Ewood, even if I don't want to feel I have to go every match

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I'll be back as long as my legs will carry me there. My 85 year old mum keeps nagging me to take her again !

[Mike E]

I'll be back as long as my legs will carry me there. My 85 year old mum keeps nagging me to take her again !

With what my dad is going through, I beg you to take your mum even just once.

[1864roverite]

Season tickets ends this season - my 47th season and last - until these scumbags go I wont be back. Missing the FA Cup game because its worth it !

[Ben-2000]

For the first time since the age of 7 (25 years) I will not be renewing my Season Ticket.

I can no longer bring myself to put money into something I no longer believe in.

Concourse, club shop and all other purchases have already stopped.

HOWEVER, once the scum have left the club... whether it be in 1, 10 or 20 years time, I will be back. In the meantime, it will be away league games only.

[Hasta]

For a game maybe, then they would realise that the football is still terrible and bugger off again.

Anyone thinking fans will flood back if venkys sold up is in a dream world, the only thing that will get people through the turnstiles is good, winning football and promotion to the top flight.

I genuinely think your wrong and think there are many people like the last set of posters who would return regardless of team quality.

I just hope we see the day soon where we find out which one of us is right !

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I genuinely think your wrong and think there are many people like the last set of posters who would return regardless of team quality.

I just hope we see the day soon where we find out which one of us is right !

You're right that most posters on here will be back. The problem is most of the stay aways aren't members of this board and once they've gone they'll stay gone.

[Hasta]

You're right that most posters on here will be back. The problem is most of the stay aways aren't members of this board and once they've gone they'll stay gone.

I agree the board is not truly representative of the fan base but I still believe that at least 25% of those fans lost over the last 3 years would return.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I agree the board is not truly representative of the fan base but I still believe that at least 25% of those fans lost over the last 3 years would return.

I agree with your figures, I could even say more will come back but a large group of fans that took years to cajol back into the fold will be gone forever.

[Oldgregg86]

I think your being over optimistic. The numbers wouldn't be to dissimilar to what we have now plus a two to three thousand increase if the scumbags sold up. The vast majority are gone until success I.e challenging for promotion/premier league football returns to ewood. Most fans won't admit it but they don't want to watch lower league football. Factor that with people finding new hobbies, rising costs, and general disallusionment towards football in general with billionaire owners who don't care, corruption, greedy players, agents and the fact it's predominantly turning into a non contact sport it will be harder than ever to convince fans to return. I no a two people who now " support" Liverpool who used to go to ewood and a few who go to the rugby or spend time with their kids and a few who just had enough no matter what. Don't think everybody is as passionate as the majority on here. Any cup game against the top 6 in the premier league proves this. We could beat Liverpool or united in front of 20000+ a week later and were playing Burton they disappear. They are not boycotters. A small minority are boycotters the rest are sadly gone

[onlyonejackwalker]

Edit.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Basically people find other things to do that may be more interesting or less expensive.

[Oldgregg86]

It really has. And people stood and watched

That was a dig at the FA not fans

[Hasta]

I think your being over optimistic. The numbers wouldn't be to dissimilar to what we have now plus a two to three thousand increase if the scumbags sold up. The vast majority are gone until success I.e challenging for promotion/premier league football returns to ewood.

Agree

2k to 3k is the 25% to 50% I talked about. Others return if we start getting successful

[Oldgregg86]

Ha sorry. I've never understood percentages and fractions. My maths is very poor. My apologies

[onlyonejackwalker]

Fans can return and in large numbers again. The club has been raped and pillaged. Abused and mis-treated. Fans hate the owners, not the Rovers and will understand that. They will look forward to going back. This period needs airbrushing from our history, such has been the corruption. It has only been six years, not sixteen and much remains fresh in the memory.

However and sadly for any new owner the onus would be on them to drag our fans back and encourage new ones to watch. It may help to go one step back to League One, then be successful and gain some momentum.

It's way easier selling football than almost any other product I can think of. Everyone is happy to talk about it. I'd simply go siege mentality and ask the fans to forgive, forget and help in anyway possible. Plaster it everywhere. Turn existing fans into sales folk. Back to the community. Offers. Discounts. Promotions. Databases. Blue and White Halves. Arte Labore. 1875. What a brilliant story to tell. Need decent marketers.

Totally off topic!

[MGAndy]

https://mobile.twitter.com/KnightTangerine/status/822017022632587264

I hope this is being organised properly

#OperationEmptyEwood

[Amo]

Its my opinion.

Your opinion is irrelevant.

There's a difference between a "boycott" and giving up going.

Yes, but that's not what you originally said.

Nothing you could say would change that.

Then stubbornly persist in your folly.

I also said I respected those decisions - check back, I even named dropped two vocal protestors. How is that "denying that a contingent of fans are doing this?"

Because you said that "just giving up your seat and doing other things" is not a boycott. First of all, your choice of language implies that someone who chooses to do this is somehow less of a protester, and secondly it's a gross generalisation.

Rather than attempting to start arguments, try reading the posts - as opposed to filling in your own blanks.

Did BRFCS's number one provocateur just accuse ME of starting trouble?

It's no coincidence that yourself and BaWR are the main two who seem to take umbridge with my point of view. Moaning on the internet doesn't constitute "making a difference".

Now you're making this personal. Try practicing what you preach.

[Mike Graham]

Prior to today 374 tickets sold between both Rovers and Pool.

[JBiz]

Your opinion is irrelevant.

Yes, but that's not what you originally said.

Then stubbornly persist in your folly.

Because you said that "just giving up your seat and doing other things" is not a boycott. First of all, your choice of language implies that someone who chooses to do this is somehow less of a protester, and secondly it's a gross generalisation.

Did BRFCS's number one provocateur just accuse ME of starting trouble?

Now you're making this personal. Try practicing what you preach.

Two days to come up with that? You can surely do better than that Topman. As I said, despite you filling in your own blanks - none of that makes a jot of difference. Choice of language, what I implied... it's rather obvious why you couldn't legitimately argue what was actually said, least not without resorting to the anti-humorous sarcastic tone you specialise in.

There is no coincidence. That's not making it personal, can't apologise for you taking offence to the opinion that boycotting is not simply; giving up all support/involvement and moaning on the internet.

PS - Brfcs number one provacateur? I'd have some way to go past the level you've set for the rest of us. I'd go back to the BBW's and leave trying to get under my skin to the pro's...

[Dunnfc]

Prior to today 374 tickets sold between both Rovers and Pool.

374 too much!

think this will be like the crewe game 2.7k was it?