--> QUOTE(Ste B @ Dec 7 2006, 13:34 ) 465871[/snapback] Like Beth Tweddle, Cooke has no chance of winning, as nobody really gives a toss about their sports. I know, which is why I shall be voting for the first time and I'd urge everyone to have a look at Cooke, she's fantastic.

Sorry not true, presuming you mean he's the only one who has won something. Nicole Cooke is the first British cyclist, male or female, to be world ranked No.1 ~ in fact she is the only British cyclist ever to make the world top 20. In 2006 she won the Women's World Cup ( a year long event similar to Formula 1), the women's Tour de France which included a win on Mount Ventoux (even Armstrong didn't achieve that), and a bronze medal at the World Championships. I was privileged to stand next to her father as she won the women's CWG road race in Manchester. This young woman is the most fantastic athlete, a modest person and basically doing it all with little or no funding. If you want to vote for a real athlete, vote for Nicole.

Crikey Tris didn't expect that one from you. Anyway I agree, I'm bored to death by the PL. It's a crap league, give me some proper football please. Two problems would be, one, if the dingles or PNE were to go up! Much more importantly what would the future hold for Rovers? It's a real dilema, the PL is a very poor, non-competitive league we have no chance of winning. The Championship? I'm not sure. Was the promotion season fantastic for its football or promotion, or a combination of both? It's very difficult to know how long we'd be satisfied with Championship football if we didn't challenge to get back to the PL. You're quite right about the TV revenues, those who argue it's a level playing field because of TV money miss the point entirely.

I can because my interest in BT Vision is not football. This season I've watched the Feyenoord game and nothing else on TV, not even MOTD. I rarely listen to football on the radio, the sports section of the Sunday paper usually stays folded and pristine before recycling. I have been 100% turned away from football through its over-exposure, my only interest is to watch Blackburn Rovers live. Broadcast football, like live news broadcast be it TV or radio, suffers from one crucial problem ~ there just isn't enough interesting content to go round. Consequently the same topic is shoved at us 24/7, by third rate journalists, to the point where it is switch off time. I used to be a big Radio 4 fan, I switched to Five Live for many years, I'm back on R4 these days because it is a station with quality programming. Five Live is really just a tabloid on speed. I've only a smattering of info on BT Vision but it sounds like the service I want; TV on demand, videos or whatever. I refuse to pay for Sky, putting the political considerations aside, because it has no quality content, other than sport. Very occassionally I might see a film I'd like to watch in the listings, but that's all. When was the last time you heard people discussing the TV they viewed on Sky? For me it's never. I love my digi box because it occassionaly lets me watch quality TV at a time convenient to me, I hope BT will give me this selectivity. The days of the box in the corner determining what we watch are rapidly disappearing. Currently the only download available to me on demand is Roversworld. Regretably the received quality is so poor, for reasons far beyond my comprehension, that this service isn't worth paying for. If BT are smart they will have realised the major benfit of digital broadcasting is in allowing the customer to chose. As for broadcast football, I'm just not interested and long for the days when there was real anticipation for MOTD or the arrival of the Sunday paper. I no longer maintain Sky is killing our game, I now say Sky, in tandem with the PL and FA, has killed our game. Football will never again raise the passions it once did in millions. Beyond Blackburn Rovers I have lost all interest through the massive over hyped media exposure ~ more really is less. I took an old friend to the Utd game. Afterwards he told me he'd forgotten how different and how much better live football is. It was his first live game in years. Personally I like 5.15pm KOs, leave the whole day free for other things. Terrible for the away support I know, but I like the 5.15pm home games.

Blakey I think I've just found one thing that is reality and I don't recall it being mentioned anywhere else except by BRISA. See page 30 point 4.5.5 of the Attendance document and I quote: Better Bar Facilities: Utilising some form of advance ordering system. The supporter could fill in a form stating what food/drinks they want, this could be handed to the kiosk in exchange for a ticket, and the supporter could simply hand in their ticket at half-time and receive their order Now I don't drink at football matches but from what has been shown on the big screen this is precisely what the club introduced this season. I can't be certain as I haven't tried to use it. OK it's not a big deal but I understand from others it works well..........until the Fulham game at least!!

Yes I am sure. There is nothing I personally want to achieve, I'm actually a very happy Rover, but I do believe there is a need for dialogue between the fans and the club. Interestingly JW and TF agree. When I have time I'll post you some examples of things BRISA suggested which are now reality. Again BRISA is not claiming the credit for this as the Fans Forum and others have all had an input. For the time being I suggest you read this in detail and think about it http://www.brisa.org.uk/attendance.pdf. Take a look at page 27 point 4.4.3 and think about the offer to ST holders to buy a bundle of two tickets for the UEFA games. I don't believe BRISA was responsible for this happening but in January 2006 we were suggesting to the club it should be considered. There are around 25-30 people who will back up the following statement. When I first got involved my offer was to help BRISA with the secretarial side. I made it very clear I wanted no public involvement. Over the months it has been necessary for someone to step forward and with no one else able to do so I'm stuck with it. Anyone who wants to chair this is most welcome but do not underestimate the work involved. I'm talking long hours of building databases, mailiong lists, stuffing envelopes, writing minutes etc. Anyone willing to come and do this or just help out will be welcomed with open arms. It's my intention to step aside as soon as is possible but I'm not going to watch BRISA or the FF disappear over night. As an individual if I say I'm going to do something it will happen, I allied myself to BRISA and I won't see it fail without giving my utmost to see it succeed. There will come a time when an active "fans movement" will be vital. It will be of no earthly use, if the club suddenly faces a crisis, for a group of activists with no history start mouthing off. We are trying to build a serious organisation that talks to the club regularly, one that will be taken seriously in a time of crisis. Without a history of involvement no such organisation can or should be taken seriously. The first half of the statement i would entirely agree with, the second half I would dispute. We are doing our best, personally I fully agree with the commenst regarding communication. This will be resolved but right now is not the moment. The moment will arrive soon, but not just yet. This is not an attempt to be secretive but it is to avoid making a public statement that BRISA cannot currently back up. When we can back up our future plans they will be made public. Right now we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. Absolutely spot on. Hits the nail on the head and it is what we want to happen.

From the very little I've heard of it the BT Vision proposal sounds excellent, not just for football but generasl access to a whole range of products via broadband. It's already got me seriously thinking about what equipment I shall need to take advantage of the service, something I would never consider with Sky. I'd fully agree with the first half of your first sentence but I feel you're very wrong on the rest. This has been mooted before, reducing prices for away fans in some form or another. I feel this is utterly wrong, every club's first duty is to look after its own support and I would be deeply upset if we reach a situation where it's cheaper for away support to enter Ewood than it is someone from the local area. PL prices are too high and all fans are asked to pay too much. What difference does a cheaper ticket make if you're travelling from London? None at all. I cannot see an justification for cheap tickets for the away support unless the same offer is available to local fans as with the Bolton promotion.

I think people are taking the mick because as far as any of us know it just isn't going to happen. No rumours of this sort in Blackburn, as has been said if Sparky moves it's much more likely to be to OT than Anfield.

I've been saying this for 4-5 years. The PL needs to look very closely at its activities and question whether or not the current format is good for the long-term future of the game. Regretably modern footnall is so money driven the bulk of clubs have totally forgotten about the customers - US. (I exclude Rovers from that criticism). Collectively the clubs have squandered the massive financial benefits available to them since the advent of Sky and the PL by allowing at least 80% of all revenues to flow out of the game. Years ago I was posting Sky would kill the game, well it finally has. Football is a massively over-exposed, over-priced product that has completely lost contact with its paying customer. Until the clubs come to collectively recognise this nothing will change, despite all the mealy-mouthed comments that come from the FA and the PL. Attendances are unlilkley to improve while any fan can get his daily footie dose from a variety of sources. The first step has to be limit televised games to one a week. If Sky don't like it they can take their ball home, someone else will pick it up. If this means smaller TV revenues the players will have to be paid less. Simple.

There's a thing we run at half time advertising the corporate side of things. I'm not that interested in the corporate stuff but I always find the ad on Rovervision quite stirring. Do we need a bit more of this, aimed at general fans rather than corporate?

If these ramblings are aimed at me, I haven't a clue what you are talking about. You'll have to explain. BTW I have four STs

I can't see this being called a BRISA initiative as it is USA's idea, but I will see it is on the next agenda and may even suggest a whip round. Zero attendance for the next meeting then!!!! Come on people let's have some pledges I'm down for £15

I think this deserves it's own thread, it's a great idea and shouldn't get lost in the general ST thing. USA, I can sort out all the details, purchase etc and we can deal with the money side as before with shirts. OK?

I'm not sure Bolshevik is quite the word you meant but I get the drift. I'm not stopping anyone expressing views, I couldn't give two hoots about the views expressed because they've been stated so often as to become utterly predictable, for much the same reason I don't read the Express or Mail, I know what is going to be said. I'm just asking it's not done in a thread about Corporation Park.

I don't think he will mind me saying this ~ MCMC1875 who started the thread I think it fair to say the thread's author should have the casting vote. No doubt that will be used against me in the future. Best bookmark it now. Fine and when you stop referring to homosexuals as queers I'll have a lot more time to listen. I find it downright offensive. The difficulty with all of this is many people, and I include myself in this, may agree with some of the points you have to make on a wide range of issues. I certainly agree immigration, integration and segregation are massive issues. Equally many people are sick to the back teeth of having the same stuff posted day after day to the extent that it makes the posters seem racist. I don't know if the posters are racist or not, the problem is if people keep banging on in the same manner others will jump to a conclusion. It doesn't need to be discussed on a thread regarding Corporation Park, however you may wish to dress up the point.

Thanks dave - love the last bit

I have heavily edited this thread, apologies to anyone who is offended by this. I'd say we've reached an all time low when a thread concerning the rejuvenation of a Blackburn public park has to be edited by admin and we receive requests for it to be locked. There is a thread in which admin allows discusion on more sensitive topics. How much longer that continues remains to be seen. Meanwhile anyone who takes this thread back in the previous direction, e.g Blackburn's population make-up, will find their posting severly restricted. I won't be getting into any discussions on freedom of speech, nor am I going to put up with a tirade aimed at admin/mods and the running of the MB, so don't even go there please. This is a football message board, other subjects are tolerated, nothing more or less.

This bit I love. Last time I had a fight was in the school playground, mind you I can see den or Alan75 turning a bit nasty after they've had a gallon or so!

A number of BRISA members were at the Feyenoord game, several of them had similar difficult experiences to those described in this thread. BRISA will be writing to the club to express fans' concern on the matters, not to complain to Rovers, but to ask the club make Feyenoord aware of the difficulties many experienced. If you have any points you'd like us to raise please post in here.

Just found that PDF while you were posting Stu. Looks like you are correct to me. As for the dates I got that wrong http://www.uefa.com/uefa/Keytopics/kind=64...sId=425702.html, the first leg is on 14th/15th February and the second leg is on the 22nd.

Haven't worked out all the possibilities but a point should put us at least as runners-up, so we are definetely playing away in the first leg on 20/21 February? (CORRECTION should be 14th/15th) I'm asking because I'm determined to go if it's anywhere within reasonable distance. One problem is I hadn't realised the games switch to Tuesday and Wednesday (wrong again, still Weds/Thurs) in the knock-out stages. Is there any rule of thumb as to who gets which day? I'd prefer Wednesday if anyone from UEFA is reading this!! Doesn't that contradict philip's post?

Surprised to see this thread as it hadn't occurred to me we might have any sort of problem. Overall I fel we are playing well, tending to give the ball away too much perhaps, but the front pair worry me. Nonda looked good in his first appearance but not much since then and while McCarthy may be a good footballer he's hardly delivering the goods at the moment. As theno says the strikers need a good kick up the backside.

Yes I remember that. I went to all three games against Wolves, fantastic night at Burnden park when Chorley beat Wolves 3-0, Steve Bull and all as I recall. I used to stop at a Preston newsagents every night on my way home from work, turned out the owner was the Chorley chairman, still is I think. I don't remember the game at Ewood much except I sat in Nuttall Street.

The Guardian seem to feel we are doing the business. More positive than I would have been but good to see we are receiving deserved pariase for our Euro efforts to date, rather than just last night.