Discussion with Gibbo

[Laz]

On Saturday I had a brief discussion about the EFM banning with John Gibson and, having had a few days to consider what he said, have decided to summarise my thoughts on here. These are my thoughts, not the club or Gibbo's.

 

There are three points…

 

BILLERICAY

 

Due to the behaviour of one of our supporters, the club feel it would be embarrassing for them to report the stone throwing incident. Having already been seen entering the ground with a bleeding head wound in a drunken state, he went to Gibbo in the stand and claimed that the stone had hit him, causing the wound. The Billericay officials were present and heard this.

 

I have to agree that this leaves the club in a difficult position and have decided, therefore, to take up the matter myself. I intend to write to appropriate authority with my account of what happened on the day.

 

RACISM

 

Yet again this subject was mentioned. It has been suggested that racist comments were made at Billericay and on a previous occasion. This has been denied on here, but the allegations just won’t go away. My impression is that the club would like the problem to go away. I suggest that they investigate openly and be seen to be taking action if any is necessary. Let’s hear from the accused, the accusers and any witnesses and either ban anyone responsible or deal with any false accusations accordingly.

 

GENERALLY

 

I feel that the relationship between the supporters and the club’s board and officials has become strained. Matters are being discussed publicly this forum which are giving the club a bad name. The two points above are examples. Should there be a small group formed with members taken from both parties to discuss these and other issues? If so, then that would give us chance to discuss the more important issues such as booze trains and music quizzes on here.

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Agreed - I didn't realise until recently that the stone hitting me incident was in fact incorrect. Stone thrown, yes, supporter hit, no!

Racism - I suspect this has been brought up and is aimed at me, a certain person on this board saw fit to start spreading rumours about a racist comment at canvey, this comment was never made and the person has since admitted that maybe she was wrong, however this was a long time after she had told many people at the club and one suspects she hasn't done anything to change the opinions of anyone at the club. I heard no racist comment at Billericay and I suspect it was brought up as a smokescreen.

I don't know any racists and won't tolerate this kind of small mindlessness, I won't have my name dragged through the dirt like this as i'm suspecting more and more that this may be one of the reasons for this ban!

[Laz]

Voice, I've deliberately not mentioned names, but you know all those involved in one way or another.

 

I'm afraid someone let us down on the stone issue as described above and I think something should be said to him.

 

As for the racism thing, unless it is proved one way or another it going to continually be used to blacken the name of the club and those involved.

 

We both know you are innocent, and I said this on Saturday, so I think you'll agree that settling it once and for all is going to help.

 

I, of course, was a witness to both incidents and heard no such abuse.

 

Let's get this sorted out.

 

Do you agree?

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Agreed

 

The stone throwing allegation was stupid, but as we both know I wasn't a part of this anyway, the person responable for this has kind of dug his own grave and left a couple of innocents in it with him, words will be said.

 

I know Paul is seeing Gibbo tonight and I know he plans to try and put the record straight regarding me, unless I get the chance to put the record straight then it will keep threatening the blacken the clubs name, many people have spoke on my behalf and indeed were witnesses at both occasions. I hope that the person who started these rumours will also do the decent thing.

[AFF]

Just a couple fo points:

 

Firstly, EFMTFTV, I think you mean that the person concerned was on from the Supporters Club Committee rather than 'the board'.

 

Secondly, as a friendly point, it woud not be appropriate to start the discussion by referring to the taking of legal advice. Hold on for a bit.

 

Thirdly, following the Canvey match I heard that there had been a suggestion that some kind of racial abuse had come from one of our people on the new terrace behind the goal. At the next home game I asked the Clubhouse Manager and her husband whether they had heard any racist stuff and they said, categorically NOT.

 

Obviously, I don't know whether a certain person had mentioned the abuse thing to anyone else before or since.

 

Hi Laz.

 

I am all for the 'let's kick racism out of sport' stuff and I would actively encourage the club to ban anyone guilty of it. However, a false accusation is bad news indeed on it's own. I have never heard it on the terraces with our people and I can only recall reference to it when those youngsters were at t'Park and gave some abuse to the Purfleet [?] keeper last season.

 

I hadn't heard that the recent banning had anything to do with racist remarks, although there is some innuendo on another thread. Is that the case?

[Laz]

Hi AFF,

 

I mentioned it as it came into my conversation on Saturday which suggests the problem has not gone away. Therefore there are two possibilities:

 

1. We have racists at the club who need to be banned. In which case the club would be seen to be taking action and rightly so.

 

2. We have someone making false accusations, in which case the alleged racists would be cleared of any wrong doing, and again the club would be seen to be tackling the problem.

 

The long and the short of it is, the club is seen to be tacking an alleged racism problem and most importantly, those accused get to have their say.

 

Otherwise, it won't go away and it'll continue to be a matter of heated debate on here, which is not helping.

 

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about the Purfleet game. Hopefully those kids-for-a-quid have realised the error of their ways, if not they'll have Thornsey to deal with. (Assuming he's allowed back into the ground that is!)

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

The sat thing is that it was me and the rest of EFM that actually told the kids at Purfleet to shut it.

 

AFF PM on way

[Rob_the_Saint]

My go.

 

From what I can remember, someone on a thread on the Billericay forum (since deleted unfortunately) suggested the Ricay keepers reaction ('he's not normally like that') was due possibly to a racist remark and it sort of snowballed from there, and of course the ban led people to think that that was the cause.

 

I sugggest a dialog between the parties involved is the way forward; it doesn't do anybody any favours to keep dragging it all up on here over and over again and puts the club in a very bad light indeed.

 

Dirty washing and public, etc.

[Laz]

I think we've tried that, Rob. I'm pretty sure Voice has written to them and they've suggested something about racism.

 

Voice, please confirm!

 

Anyway, even if there was racist remarks or chanting, that does not allow someone to throw a stone into the crowd.

 

Gibbo can't act because BTFC will just mention that antics of one of our supporters as described above.

 

And as for dirty washing, well that's happening now and will continue until the problem is resolved once and for all.

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I got a e-mail from somebody at Billercay, they suggested racist comments were used and it was the first time i'd heard the allegation.

 

I suggested that the enquiry should be pointed elsewhere as racism was soemthing that we just didn't do and never had and never will.

[Alban]

I wasn't at Billericy but can clarify 'racism' accusation at Canvey. EFM were extremely drunk and vocal and gave Miguel D'souza a load of totally unwarranted stick-he was one of a few who actually put in some effort that night and he reacted to the abuse. The EFM behaviour was embarrassing and anti-social but none of their comments were racist; they were fed up like the rest of us but due to their drunkenness were out of order with their behaviour.

[ESG]

out of order for voicing an opinion?

or out of order for being drunk?

[Laz]

Nicely put, Alban.

[Saint Michael]

How is this a football discussion ?

 

What league do we end up in next season if we finish below 12th position ? ( looking quite likely )

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Because football isn't just about the players and league positions, the supporters are the lifeline and here is the place to discuss it.

[Saint Michael]

You are absolutely right, of course.....

 

I am just anxious, very anxious, about the events on the pitch too.

[Rob_the_Saint]

<img src="/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" />

 

I've started another thread just for you.

[AFF]

One of the good reasons for this thread staying on this forum is that when this matter has been raised on the General thingy, a very important debate concerning alleged racism has degenerated into slanging matches with fans of other clubs concerning the evils of drink and the relative reputations of supporters.

 

It does seem to be a little more 'in-house' here.

[Laz]

Seeing as the ban on Zealster is now lifted will he have his moderator status returned.

 

I recall a while ago that we discussed this on here and it was all in hand. Well nothing seemed to happen which leaves us with just Webbo as a moderator.

 

What is going on?

 

On the original topic of this thread...

 

I have received a number of PM's concerning my proposal to take up this allegation of racism issue with higher authorities. Does anyone have any more to add?

[Rob_the_Saint]

Laz,

 

I'm hoping to have the moderators sorted out today, but it depends on other people being available.

 

You should certainly take up any allegations with Billericay, if that's where they originated from, but I think it unlikely you will get an answer.