Saturday

[Zagreus]

So what did people think? I think we had plenty of chances and could have ended up 2/3 nil up at half time with our own actual goals - scored by our own actual players (not the OG we actually "scored" from). At the start of the second half we must have still been dreaming about having that group hug thing in the dressing room - couldn't believe that we conceeded so soon after the break. 1 bleeding 1. We fluffed a few other good chances in the second half. Number 9 looked "interesting" - he should have scored!

 

BTW, what happened with the bottle throwing incident? Something about their Goalie chucking the bottle ove rhis head and hitting (or nearly hitting) someone in the crowd? Didn't see if meself.

 

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

If EFM are not involved, Zag, the club turn a blind eye.

 

This is a club that allows racism to go on remember, and has ignored opposition goalkeepers throwing missiles before, so don't hold your breath for any response.

 

 

[Rob_the_Saint]

I didn't see the goalie throwing anything - and I was behind the goal all the time - must have been a good shot to hit (or nearly hit) somebody given the wide open spaces.

[Zagreus]

Apparently it was right at the end of the game, after the whistle had blown.

 

Zeal - I know what you mean. I find Gibson "column" embarassing reading sometimes. It's so obvious he's got a personal vendetta against the EMF, which (IMO) is in danger of becoming obsessive. As you know, I'm not a member of the EMF, but I see no harm in a group of lads having a drink and a laugh - it's football for f**ks sake! The racist incidents are much more of a worry and it's this sort of thing that should be highlighted not swept under the carpet!

[AFF]

However disappointing various issues are, there must still be room for a small smile.

 

Our kick-off routine at the start of the match was one such moment which I will try to share with the couple of fans who had found something better to do on Saturday.

 

In the flush of excitement at the start of the game, I may not be accurate with the personnel coincerned, and I apologise if so.

 

Clarke kicked off passing the ball 30 centimetres towards Opara. In a clearly well-rehearsed move, both players then broke away, sprinting into the opposition half and out of the centre circle, leaving the ball behind. I can only assume that one of our midfield players had been deputed to come forward and launch an inch-perfect 35 yard pass to one of the flanks, to be gathered by the wide man who would beat two defenders and cross the ball into the box for Lee to head home his 7th of the season.

 

It didn't quite work out like that.

 

For whatever reason, the midfield player did not come forward.

 

From the look on his face, an opposition player standing on the half-way line on the edge of the circle, was somewhat surprised to see the stationary ball with yellow & blue shirts disappearing at pace to the far corners, but regained his composure in time to sprint forward, gather the ball and launch Plan 47 of the Dorchester play-list.

 

It was a moment.

 

I was tempted to raise the matter with the manager in the clubhouse after the game but I decided against it. I would have done had we secured all three points, however.

 

 

 

 

[JKiF]

so a point gained?, going by the league table anyway....

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

re: Racism.

 

I understand various people (myself included) have spoken to officials at the club and pointed out those guilty, but the club are not interested in handling this matter properly.

 

We played Purfleet at home two years ago, and they had a goalkeeper of oriental appearance, and the abuse he received at the hands of a group of 6-or-so young teenagers was appalling and embarassing.

 

I spoke to John Gibson at the time, and told him who was yelling this stuff, but he didn't seem overly interested. Maybe Newcastle were in UEFA action that night or something?

 

I have heard several fans, and more worryingly employees/officials of the club, using racist language which I find extremely offensive. Some of those use it in so-called "polite conversation", others go as far as shouting this filth at the players on the pitch.

 

Twice now, a friend of mine (Sniffer Thorns) has been on the receiving end of racist accusations, the first time by a female supporter of this club who later admitted she "maybe wasn't so sure", but by then, of course, the damage had been done. This kind of mud sticks for a long time.

 

The club seem happy to put any off-field problems down to "EFM - the unruly element", and refuse to see what is right underneath their noses.

 

11.20am on a Monday, and already I'm wound up and angry. This club is a disease.

 

 

[JKiF]

this issue of Racism is a curious one for me, because ive never come across it in all my time at St Albans City, (NOT at all saying it doesnt go on or has gone on) just ive never seen it...

 

v interested to know the parties involved, as it were....

 

 

thats a lie, at last seasons Canvey - City Res, one of their players was giving it to Bullet in typical pikey/obnoxious style that you'd expect from a bunch of inbred morons......im still waiting for a reply from Jeff King

[Webbo MFI]

must say in the very few games I've been to games I have never heard any racist comments from City fans so am also interested to whom the offenders are...

 

on the issue of setting off flares at games - let's hope the one et Eastbourne was the last before more unpleasentries(???!!) are put on this forum.

[Laz]

The guy at Sutton was insistant that he heard two instances of it. What matters, is that, true or not, what has been done about it?

 

Nothing!

[JKiF]

 

so some bloke at sutton said it happened, must be true then, tho no-one on this message board was party to it....

 

and if it didnt happen, why should anything be done about it...

 

all ifs and buts but having been to sutton/(chelsea) on many occasions its all a bit pot and kettle

 

about time some names were put up?

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Webbo - a fair few of us on here have a mental list of 4 or 5 people who have all been heard at some point or another emitting racist obscenities. I will happily PM you a list of names.

 

re: flares. Laz - how many in that pack??

 

 

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

JK - I know who a few of them are, but I am not willing to 'name and shame' on a public board.

 

I spoke to our secretary about the matter a few weeks back and gave him two names, but to my knowledge, nothing has been done about it.

 

Indeed, one of the names I have given is a lad who was at our most recent away game, so obviously it has been brushed under the carpet.

 

But while, as someone stated last week, we have two racists on the Supporters Club Committee (one of whom works directly for the club also), I fear nothing will be achieved.

 

 

[Alban]

I previously posted that I saw the incident at Sutton. I was a little surprised the following week to see that the said racist was wearing a yellow SAFC stewards coat and still does at each home game.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Well, from your description Alban, it sounds like a third person who is 'employed' by the club has now been heard making such comment.

 

 

[JKiF]

fair enough,

if you say it happened it happened

 

dont understand why these*people* cant be named tho

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

I've named a couple to the club, as well as pointing out the young racists against Purfleet a couple of years back, who I haven't seen since.

 

I guess I could name those on here that I, personally with my own ears, have heard do it, but I'd really rather not. Can't really be arsed with any confrontation from those involved when (if) I go to the game tomorrow night.

 

It's a problem for the club. I have enough of my own at the moment.

 

 

[JKiF]

i was under the impression that racist abuse is a criminal offence?

 

 

as for a problem for the club, sorry i dont see it like that *if* it happens its a problem for all of us...

 

i just get the impression its a load of b.ollox

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Unsure whether verbal racism is a criminal offence or not. Either way, I'm not a policeman.

 

It is a problem for the club. Not for me, JK, as I have far more pressing issues to deal with right now (in my personal life, I mean).

 

As for it being [****!!****], well, none of us can make you or Webbo believe us, until you hear it with your own ears.

 

Let's hope you don't.

 

 

[JKiF]

fair enough,

it just seems odd that i've not come across it...