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Laz

By Laz
in St. Albans City Forum

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YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~ Newbie

YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~

Posted
Posted

This is the article...

 

BAD blood between players and fans at struggling St Albans City Football

Club spilled over into violence on Saturday when a brawl broke out in the

club bar.

 

The incident has left chairman John Gibson "extremely frustrated" and

re-considering his position.

 

Two conflicting versions of what took place after the Saints' league game

against Hornchurch have emerged. One city supporter, who asked not to be

named, has claimed he was punched in the face three times by a player while

Mr Gibson described the incident as "handbags at 50 paces".

 

He blamed the incident on members of the Saints' unofficial supporters'

group England's First Martyr (EFM) and alleged that a fan who had earlier

had an argument with a different player left the bar with a friend carrying

bottles in their back pockets at the same time as the player was preparing

to leave.

 

He went on: "This was deemed to be a hostile act on their part and the

player was seen to be in danger so other players went to help and a fracas

ensued.

 

"One fan was inadvertently involved in the scuffle but he has been

apologised to and the matter is closed as far as I am concerned."

 

This is rejected by the fans who say the attack was unprovoked.

 

The alleged victim said he was struck three times by a player before club

officials moved in and separated the two factions.

 

The fan filed charges with the police on Saturday evening and then received

a call from Mr Gibson on Sunday morning who said that the player would be

sacked.

 

The player then personally called the supporter to apologise and he agreed

to drop the charges.

 

However it later emerged that the player was not to be sacked after all,

which promptedthe supporter to contact the Observer.

 

He said: "If an employee of a company attacks his own customers I think he

would probably expect to get sacked."

 

 

Now, I enjoy doing the tannoy on a Saturday afternoon and I don't wish to risk losing that role, and I no longer wish to upset John Gibson as we seem to have found an understanding and some common ground for the first time in two years, and both John and I want what is best for the club, but...

 

I could not believe the spin put on that story by SACFC. Laz and the Hooded Man were assaulted by two of the club's senior players, and the club are defending their actions.

 

This is atrocious.

 

 

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YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~ Newbie

YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~

Posted
Posted

I am absolutely fuming that there have been insinuations that Thornsy and the Hooded Man took their bottles outside for any other purpose than to drink the contents.

 

Every week, when we're ready to leave the clubhouse, there are some of us who still have our drinks on the go and we walk out with them, just as some of the players do the same with their bottles of Bud.

 

To claim that the fans took theirs outside in order to use them as weaponry is preposterous.

 

The club must not use this as justification for two players' heated actions.

 

 

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Carrot Cruncher Newbie

Carrot Cruncher

Posted
Posted

Good morning Gentlemen!

 

First and foremost, my sympathies lie with the victims of the unprovoked assault. In my experience, there can be no acceptable scenario where employees of a company assault customers and then remain in the employ of that company. They are guilty of gross misconduct and should be dismissed. There is no middle ground, I’m afraid.

 

The following may surprise you because I also have a degree of sympathy with John Gibson. I see his current situation as ‘lose-lose’. I am concerned for your club at this time given that John may be considering his future involvement. I know it will be costing him a small fortune at the moment and I genuinely hope that he has the strength of character to tough this situation out and continue to lead and support your club. Like Harding and Tominey before him, he has first saved and then developed your Club. Without him, the lunatics take over the asylum and you lot will only go one way. If (and it’s a big if) there is a criticism to be laid at his feet, it is that he needs to understand that there is no club without its supporters.

 

The folk that have most disappointed me in this little episode are those that purport to support free speech on here and yet have tried to cover up, delete or pretend the assaults didn’t happen. The PM I received from Rob was pathetic. Webbo - you’re not the man I thought you were. As for the ‘fans favourite’ that recently joined the board - his lack of condemnation is most shocking of all. Shame on you.

 

One thing remains. You, the DECENT City fans, will still be there when this unsavoury little episode is in the dim and distant past. I treat players as being all entirely mercenary and I will be surprised if the culprits will be wearing your colours next season. I know that one of them has already done one of Webbo’s ‘pre-contract jobbies’ with a former manager.

 

Finally, don’t forget the bottom line - no one has to go to Clarence Park. Football is a hobby for all of us and when you stop enjoying it you will stop going. I loved the place, put my heart and soul into it, but we all know it was not enough for a minority. THEY are the sad people. The people I respect are the Bill Nics, the Geoff Browns and folk like Eamsie who take all the stick and jibes but keep grinding on year after year. It is people like them had make your club what it is and respected by others. Above all they are the people who deserve your support.

 

Above all - remember - it's only a game.

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YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~ Newbie

YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~

Posted
Posted

Well, I know that two of the fans caught up in all this on Saturday have expressed their lack of desire to come again for the foreseeable future.

 

They have around 20 years of loyal support between the two of them.

 

No doubt if they choose not to return, there will be those who will see this as some kind of victory over EFM.

 

 

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EFM_Costello Newbie

EFM_Costello

Posted
Posted

I cant believe what has happened to two very loyal fans of the club.

 

The hooded man has been a great friend of mine for the past 15 years, 7 of which i have spent watching St Albans with.

 

I remember the summer days when the hooded man would spend all day pulling out weeds from the teraces and painting the subs benchesand then later come round and tell me how much he enjoyed it. I also remember us spending many saturday afternoons distributing posters around the town pubs.

 

So much for loyalty.

 

And as for the loyalty which laz has shown over the years. it's enough to make you sick.

 

John culfer spoke to the hooded man and said that the players were nothing but cowards and that if they cant take criticism they shouldnt be playing football full stop.

 

The club makes me want to be physically sick.

 

and until that small and pathetic man Gibson has left the hooded man and myself will have nothing to do with this club.

 

 

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Webbo MFI Newbie

Webbo MFI

Posted
Posted
Quote:
Carrot Cruncher said:
Webbo - you’re not the man I thought you were.


lee, as you know I only run the website (with the help of Rob) and have always tried to put official news on the site and tried to promote the club in a positive way.

If what you mean by what you say that I am sitting on the fence then yes - it wasn't too long ago that you called me asking for the message board to be taken off line when certain people openly critised you and the club "Bad for the club's image", "less people through the gate" etc. etc.

JG asked me to remove the forum and I tried to change his mind - simularly with yourself.

Unfortunately a news story by someone who is probably a new journalist at the Observer and trying to get that "scoop" has bought this matter up again and caused yet more damage within the club.

Looks like the powers that be will get their way this time.

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