Paul come to the JW Upper. There are 2 good seats coming up behind me as the incumbents aare going to move to Norwich. The seats are great and the fans are quiet except me and one or two others. You will enjoy the banter!! Very important. This is a bit off topic but it will help my decision. Seriously thinking about moving out of the Family stand into the JW or BBE. I fancy the JW for the better view, the lads want the BBE for the better atmosphere. Now I was going for the BBE until the Tony Parkes game, when an incident occured which put me off. We had the pleasure of sitting in row 2 behind a young man called SHOTTI (that was on his shirt) and half a dozen of his mates. When Shearer scored Shotti rushed to the barrier, swung himself over the top and held on to barrier, so he was literally, hanging upside down on the pitch side. A young steward tried to help him up and ensure he got back on the seating side. Shotti then grabbed the steward by the throat and made three attempts to punch him. An older steward seperated the pair. We then had to listen to Shotti and his mates abuse the stewards for the rest of the match, which they didn't watch at all. Spoilt my evening to be honest, and I don't understand why Shotti wasn't ejected at the least. I get very wound up at Rovers, especially if things go badly, and had this been a PL game and I was in a bad mood, I might well have pointed out to Shotti what a complete pillock he is. No doubt this would have caused a problem. I haven't watched regularly from the BBE for more than 20 years. I'm not prepared to put up with this behaviour - am I going to find similar things are a frequent event? I know it's a minority and 99% of the fans are superb but if I happen to buy the seats behind a "Shotti" I'd probably end up in trouble. I've purposefully delayed posting this to avoid it being a reaction to my feelings at the time.....and hopefully Shotti will learn how unacceptable his behaviour is to other Rovers fans. We wonder why attendances are dropping? 318874[/snapback]

[quote The truth hurts and is often harsh, What you say is true of the current squad SINCE Hughes took over. Prior to that these players gave us nothing. The Fulham game was a prime example that the team is still capable of the "couldn't care less" attitude. Betaing Fulham was vital for the feel-good factor. What did we get? Another abject defeat from a team that did not compete plus a player sent off after running 30 yards to deliberatley foul an opponent. We are being asked to support this rabble, it is unprofessional - they are asked to work for two hours a week for £1m plus a year, I expect total and utter dedication for the 90 minutes I'm watching, nothing less is acceptable. After the Fulham game I said I wouldn't renew my STs. I still do not WANT to renew, I WILL renew but I have no interest, excitment or desire to do so at the moment. I know literally tens of ex ST holders who feel exactly the same. At Blackburn we have a lot of fans who are no longer prepared to put up with it. The answer is simple: force the players to perform, week in, week out. Make them realise they are responsible for the club's position. Hit them in the pocket when they don't perform. It's a team game, I'm not criticisng any individual, they must take collective resposibility. I don't mind losing, I don't mind the fact we are unlikley to win anything, I'll put up with inconvenient KO times, I'll ignore the over-blown hype that is the PL, I'll ignore all the rubbish that is associated with our game provide the players attitude is right. Currently it stinks. Until the players perform at Ewood Park the club can do nothing to increase support. 316894[/snapback] What the hell is going on here! This guy talks common sense, crap players = crap gates; why should I waste my money on crap when I could have a day with the family and spend the £2000+ I spend watching the Rovers every year? The reason I do it is the same as Paul: LOYALTY> But remember loyalty is not blind nor at any cost; that is why 4K fans have deserted the blues. Let's move away from excuses, focus on reality and win back the missing, or at least retain our dwindling fan base by playing some football. Paul, you are a genius (ps. may I have a Grooby next year please?).

sorry mate...I feel old after your response.

Waggy, are you an OAP? Mine in JW Upper Outer cost about £460, I must have been done!

In the main the responses to this thraed show that Rovers fans care about the situation. As said earlier we will have our fan base furter stifled with the Latics and possibly PNE going up, just think of all the development work PNE are doing in Leyland which was good fertile groud for us for a few years following years of Preston supporting domination. I also see the shift in support in the area where I live (Hoghton) which has seen a distinct shift from Rovers to Preston and nearby areas such as Chorley and Wheelton which have moved from Rovers to Bolton. Keep the ideas rolling, and lets share them with J Williams in a positive way.

I realise the subject of "gates" and ST sales has been covered in a number of different threads. My idea is that we focus on a single thread and present ideas to the Club. I am concerned that gates and ST sales are in freefall. I personally know of many who did not renew last season; they have not become occasional supporters, they do not bother at all. The truth is that we have lost 4000 regular fans...this cannot continue without hitting the club...but we have the old problem of fans will not come and watch crap, which is what we have been exposed to for the last couple of seasons. I believe that John Williams has been radical and open-minded in terms of ideas to retain and build ST sales; without his initiatives the situation would have been worse. I am fed up of the stories of we are a small town club, local support is great despite the "big fish" around us. The fact is that we had far greater support and this support is diminishing year by year. I have no doubt we will see a drop in ST's for next season; the question is what, if anything, can we do about it.

i'll be there for TP...and to welcome Shearer back. Will there be any seats left in the Darwen End Upper?

who gives a monkeys...don't let the barstewards get you down.

Just so happened to arrange a meeting on Tuesday afternoon near Gloucester which means i'll be passing the Hawthornes on the way back. Can anyone remember the game in 75/76 away at WBA (2-2, Faz and Parkes for us) when we got showered with coins for 90mins. I still have one taped tp a programme and picked up enough glitter to buy pudding and chips on the way back!!

Good idea we could arrange a sing a long outside their hotel, when it's kicking out time in the pubs and clubs. Anybody know were they are staying??? according to the Sunday Sport Arsenal are at the Travelodge at Newport.

Anyone else stopping in Barry on Friday night, I'm there with a group of Liverpool based Blues.

It is probably cheaper and easier to join you out in Tas than going to Cardiff. Don't forget the celebratory beers: 1,2,3 etc...

N2 Row1 with the boys from Liverpool

1.15 pm no queue, I was the first for 5 minutes and sales "very very slow"!!!

sounds like Charlie has been up to his old tricks and is sampling the coke again

For those stopping at Bristol you will have a brill time, I used to live in Bristol...what a City. Seriously; is anyone out there interested in grouping together to charter a flight from Blacbpool to Cardiff with coach transport? PM me to gauge interest.

thank god I haven't got Sky

Radio 5 Live says 200!! Should have been 201 but I missed my flight back to Manchester. That's a £30 ticket up the swannee.

I'm on my hols and can't go. That's two ST's down.

can't go...me missus bought me a week in Israel for my Birthday. Does anyone know if the Dingles and Everton games will be available in Elait?

idiot

come on MattyM it was 740 coaches!!

1. Rovers 2. Rovers Reserves 3. Darlington (born there) 4. Queen of the South (my sister lives near Dumfries and i sometimes go and watch 5. Leyland Motors (lived and worked there) and if I can have 6 then Cheltenham as they were my local team when I lived in the Cotswolds

I might have to agree with that

IQ test anyday. The point I was making is that as part of my job I visit a number of disaster zones and "trouble" areas, and that Burnley is on a par with many of these. I am sorry if you find me comments distateful but they obviously hit a sore point. ps. Will the game be on Ararbic TV in Dubai next week...i'll have to watch it beachside.