Coventry V Sheffield United (25 Viewers)

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

I disagree. More fans outside the ground than there are in it, standing on the hill with a huge police presence, would continue the message of never setting foot in Sixfields. Not only that but it'd cost SISU loads in extra policing. Nobody would get football banning orders either, as they would with a pitch invasion etc.

People talk about unity and leadership, but you're confusing the message to fans by encouraging them to go for this one game.

Some people aren't that strong willed and may decide they had a good time and want to go again. Don't give them that decision to make.

We need to be united in our cause, with a clear message that we not set foot inside Sixfields.

...but the fans are already split.....there are 1500 going to "home" games already....

....I bet the hill will be cordoned off as others have mentioned.....then we're snookered.....and then you'll have trouble outside (not on telly) & a sizable minority deciding to go into the ground either to make their own protests or to watch the game as they've already made the journey....end result....rubbish.

 

---

[@richh87]

...but the fans are already split.....there are 1500 going to "home" games already....

....I bet the hill will be cordoned off as others have mentioned.....then we're snookered.....and then you'll have trouble outside (not on telly) & a sizable minority deciding to go into the ground either to make their own protests or to watch the game as they've already made the journey....end result....rubbish.

They haven't cordoned anything off so far have they? Going into the ground is what Fisher wants you to do.

 

[italiahorse]

Just a thought.... is the offence to step onto the field of play? If so, can we jump over the front barrier and just stand in the area between pitch and stand? Ref would be forced to pull the game and no-one would break the law. Would only work if loads of fans did it though.

We need to do something different that does not upset neutral people.
Nothing more irritating than watching a game on TV that is interrupted by fans running on the pitch. It will do us no favours.
A good peaceful turn out on the hill is different and is more likely to get media coverage because people will see it as something different.
Just been on CWR now and actually before the match was discussed. So it is working.

 

[@richh87]

We need to do something different that does not upset neutral people.
Nothing more irritating than watching a game on TV that is interrupted by fans running on the pitch. It will do us no favours.
A good peaceful turn out on the hill is different and is more likely to get media coverage because people will see it as something different.
Just been on CWR now and actually before the match was discussed. So it is working.

Also it's quite unique. Many clubs have protests inside the ground (which go tits up generally if their team are winning). What other grounds have a massive hill looming over it from where the fans can not only be seen, but heard!

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

They haven't cordoned anything off so far have they?.

We haven't been on telly yet though have we....

...The general view of other supporters outside of Coventry is that we've already rolled over & given up.....

...we need a large scale protest on national telly to prove we still care......one than cannot be avoided by panning the camera away or by cordoning off a grassy hill....

....another picnic on the hill or some A4 posters stuck on a Sisu office window will not cut the mustard.

 

[Astute]

Suspending NOPM for one game is a price worth paying....

apparently Sisu don't need the money for 3 years, so 1 game ain't even going to dent it....

....carrying on organising small scale minor events like picnics for 50 or sticking A4 posters on sisus London offices are now totally pointless in my opinion....


I see this SKY game as our last chance to really shake it up....

So filling the ground would be better than another lowest ever home gate against what should be one of our biggest gates of the season?

Less fans will go as they can watch the game at home or in the pub. Remember, it is just like an away game for us. We have seen that Sky can see the hill from where they will be sitting. It won't be a quick 30 seconds to tell everyone how the game is going. They will be live for 2 hours.

How many of the investors in SISU watch football? How many of them wouldn't normally watch Div 3 games but will watch as they have money in our club? Would they then put pressure on and tell Joy to sort things out?

 

[italiahorse]

They haven't cordoned anything off so far have they? Going into the ground is what Fisher wants you to do.

The expense of cordoning it off, if attempted, would be temporary fencing. I'm sure there will not be a circle of police providing it 'is' announced as peaceful.
I guess a breach would be easy and lawful so lets go for it.
What is the capacity of the hill?

 

[@richh87]

We haven't been on telly yet though have we....

...The general view of other supporters outside of Coventry is that we've already rolled over & given up.....

...we need a large scale protest on national telly to prove we still care......one than cannot be avoided by panning the camera away or by cordoning off a grassy hill....

....another picnic on the hill or some A4 posters stuck on a Sisu office window will not cut the mustard.

I understand what you're saying, but it involves giving SISU cash, and some supporters will think "screw it, I've been into Sixfields now, so I'll go again".

 

[Monners]

Be amazed if the hill is fenced off - only hapenned once that I can recall - against Man utd in a cup game. If sisu fenced it off, then this give the impressoin that mass protest is on the cards, or at least that protests have been an issue at previous games and are growing. I agree that the Trust and others need to coordinate and take some obvious leadership for this. Couple of thousand on the hill - bring a dj along to "make some noise" as the youngsters say (sorry - getting carried away)

 

[@richh87]

The expense of cordoning it off, if attempted, would be temporary fencing. I'm sure there will not be a circle of police providing it 'is' announced as peaceful.
I guess a breach would be easy and lawful so lets go for it.
What is the capacity of the hill?

I think you can get a few thousand on that hill.

 

[@richh87]

Be amazed if the hill is fenced off - only hapenned once that I can recall - against Man utd in a cup game. If sisu fenced it off, then this give the impressoin that mass protest is on the cards, or at least that protests have been an issue at previous games and are growing. I agree that the Trust and others need to coordinate and take some obvious leadership for this. Couple of thousand on the hill - bring a dj along to "make some noise" as the youngsters say (sorry - getting carried away)

Yes! That's it! Bring drums and musical instruments! They cant stop is bringing them as we're not In the ground! We'll make an absolute racket.

This is going to be really good!

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

Ok...Well, one thing I think we can all agree on is that leadership is required from the trust to ensure that we get proper numbers to attend.....whether that be a protest inside or outside the ground....


So, bearing in mind they are apparently too busy to read all of these threads, can someone with facebook point them in this threads (or earlier similar threads) direction?

 

[Astute]

Be amazed if the hill is fenced off - only hapenned once that I can recall - against Man utd in a cup game. If sisu fenced it off, then this give the impressoin that mass protest is on the cards, or at least that protests have been an issue at previous games and are growing. I agree that the Trust and others need to coordinate and take some obvious leadership for this. Couple of thousand on the hill - bring a dj along to "make some noise" as the youngsters say (sorry - getting carried away)

The police have already said that they would prefer us on the hill than roaming around the ground. There has been no trouble so far. So why would the police let the hill be shut off to us supporters?

 

[@richh87]

The hill could hold 10,000 easy by the way.

And it is closer than the above pic suggests

 

[theferret]

I must do Ferret, hardly Millwall are we?

Most other clubs would have seen riots by now. I'm not saying that's what we need, but that our fans have always been more easy going, and dare I say it, apathetic.

Most other clubs would have seen nothing of the sort. Millwall, and perhaps half a dozen others, are the exception if we're talking about 'aggression'. Name me one club where anger and disenchantment about the club's owners has become violent - save the odd flashpoint?

Vocally our support is excellent - away from home of course. Better than the vast majority.

It's very difficult to show this aggression anyway when the accepted form of protest is to stay away, how can you take direct action if nobody is there?

I remember when the fans forced out Bryan Richardson at the Grimsby game - people trying to get on the pitch at the end and there was a very tense and angry protest outside the main stand after. Those actions forced him out no question.

I remember too when Bobby Gould went (the second time), there was a pitch invasion in front of the Sky cameras (ironically against Sheffield United).

Of course, there have been occasions when people have been aggressive about SISU (see below) and yet many fans condemned it.

The protest march in Coventry was just about the biggest of its kind in this country - bigger than anything Blackburn or Portsmouth fans managed anyway. So sorry, I just don't buy this nonsense that at other clubs 'this or that would have happened'.

[video=youtube;FZhI4LQnn9E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZhI4LQnn9E[/video]

 

[jimmyhillsfanclub]

Not being funny.....but as an oldskool rave goer, I'm pretty sure the police would invoke the CJB if anyone starts cranking up a generator & decks....

 

[WestEndAgro]

Protesting inside or outside the ground is not going to generate much media attention, anything other than getting the game abandoned will go unnoticed, this is where we need to be creative and inventive but within the law. Suggestions like launching a dozen tennis balls onto the pitch every two minutes from outside the ground would be perfect, major disruption to the game, major media intrest and no danger of injury to anyone.
PS SISU OUT on all the balls.

 

[James Smith]

The cameras would see us....briefly....the commentator would say "look at those guys on the hill" & then its back to action........

....and every neutral viewer across the country shrugs their shoulders, drinks their pint & carries on discussing the premier league....

Wow.

If there were enough people there on the hill I'm fairly certain Sky would send a camera up to film and probably interview the people there. If there is something they can use and insert into the pre match coverage then chances are they'll use it because it breaks up the monotony of the studio discussion. Also an empty stadium sends a far more powerful message than a full one, especially if there are more on the hill than in the ground. Also Tim can't say "I told you they'd be back" to whoever is interviewing him, if we haven't gone back.

 

[James Smith]

Protesting inside or outside the ground is not going to generate much media attention, anything other than getting the game abandoned will go unnoticed, this is where we need to be creative and inventive but within the law. Suggestions like launching a dozen tennis balls onto the pitch every two minutes from outside the ground would be perfect, major disruption to the game, major media intrest and no danger of injury to anyone.
PS SISU OUT on all the balls.

Pretty certain that throwing "missiles" (which I think is the police term for objects thrown) at the pitch will still get you into trouble with the law.

 

[@richh87]

If there were enough people there on the hill I'm fairly certain Sky would send a camera up to film and probably interview the people there. If there is something they can use and insert into the pre match coverage then chances are they'll use it because it breaks up the monotony of the studio discussion. Also an empty stadium sends a far more powerful message than a full one, especially if there are more on the hill than in the ground. Also Tim can't say "I told you they'd be back" to whoever is interviewing him, if we haven't gone back.

Also this is Sky's featured game. They always film around the ground prior to kickoff and interview supporters. We already know that the gantry they present from has the hill in the background, so it's perfect.

This needs to be done.

 

[James Smith]

We need to be in the ground for maximum coverage is that not obvious?

It is to me Mustang....but then we've been through this on various threads going back weeks....

I came up with the mass exodus idea....there was also the black shirts or the blue ribbons on seats idea....the pitch invasion idea....but any of these or other ideas require leadership from the SBT....

....but unless I've missed it...there are still no viable, concrete plans afoot for some sort of LARGE SCALE action....


*awaits the "why don't you organise it" & "what are YOU doing" type responses*

The reasons against the mass exodus are once people go inside and allowed Tim to say "I told you so" they might be tempted to stay for the rest of the match, to return for another game (they've done it once so why not do it again), and will have had to pay to get in.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

If there were enough people there on the hill I'm fairly certain Sky would send a camera up to film and probably interview the people there. If there is something they can use and insert into the pre match coverage then chances are they'll use it because it breaks up the monotony of the studio discussion. Also an empty stadium sends a far more powerful message than a full one, especially if there are more on the hill than in the ground. Also Tim can't say "I told you they'd be back" to whoever is interviewing him, if we haven't gone back.

A full stadium emptying sends an even more powerful message...

 

[Deleted member 5849]

The reasons against the mass exodus are once people go inside and allowed Tim to say "I told you so" they might be tempted to stay for the rest of the match.

Indeed, where the theory gets bogged down. However, faith in people... or are you suggesting they'll give up at some point anyway?

 

[RegTheDonk]

......
All I know is the Trust, the KCIC & THE NOPM factions need to unite the fans, show some leadership & get something organised for this SKY game that will attract the same sort of numbers as the 5000 strong march....

If not....we may as well just throw the towel in as Sky & the wider viewing public will just equate empty seats with apathy....

Jimmy, ABSOLUTELY the way forward is for the Trust and the other groups to COME UP WITH A PLAN which is workable and then drum up support for it.

The Trust did a pretty good job doing the demo to Broadgate. This will be much harder because it means having to travel. But it CAN be done IF its sensible, organised, and PUBLICISED.

I don't just mean talking about it here. Sky Blues Talk is the most popular fans forum, but many fans don't use a computer/smartphone. The Trust needs to get the message out to the Telegraph, CWR, local TV news.

Mark my words, if you get 1,000 plus on the Hill singing, Sky will love it. They'll keep cutting away to it when there's a break in play. Just like the cricket, crowd shots between deliveries of something happening.

 

[@richh87]

A full stadium emptying sends an even more powerful message...

Yes, but it wouldn't empty. People have paid their money and love watching their team.

It'll do more harm to our cause than good as some will return for future games if they enjoy the match.

*I see you've answered Jimmy on this above.

I don't have faith in people enough to expect them all to walk out.

 

[@richh87]

Jimmy, ABSOLUTELY the way forward is for the Trust and the other groups to COME UP WITH A PLAN which is workable and then drum up support for it.

The Trust did a pretty good job doing the demo to Broadgate. This will be much harder because it means having to travel. But it CAN be done IF its sensible, organised, and PUBLICISED.

I don't just mean talking about it here. Sky Blues Talk is the most popular fans forum, but many fans don't use a computer/smartphone. The Trust needs to get the message out to the Telegraph, CWR, local TV news.

Mark my words, if you get 1,000 plus on the Hill singing, Sky will love it. They'll keep cutting away to it when there's a break in play. Just like the cricket, crowd shots between deliveries of something happening.

Brilliant post!!!

This forum is the best place to get ideas going. We should create a sticky thread with ideas for the protest (not to be used to argue for or against it).

I'm mailing the Trust and NOPM now to try and get things moving.

As you say, we need to get the CET etc involved.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

This forum is the best place to get ideas going. We should create a sticky thread with ideas for the protest (not to be used to argue for or against it).

Of course ideas do need to be argued for or against however, to test if they work... so maybe you need two threads

 

[Monners]

Couldn't agree more

 

[@richh87]

Of course ideas do need to be argued for or against however, to test if they work... so maybe you need two threads

We can use this one for that. Then, when we've agreed I'm right we can move on to organising it

 

[Deleted member 5849]

We can use this one for that. Then, when we've agreed I'm right we can move on to organising it 

:laugh:

As it happens, I agree with you.

It's all been left a bit late to do it as effectively as it could have been though. Might be better to aim for the televised game after this one, to give time to do it as well as possible?

 

[edgy]

Whatever you decide to do, please please do not get in the way of Pressley's CCFC from playing some quite brilliant football and another 3 points.

Disrupting play must be avoided.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Does anybody remember the Brighton protest circa 96? Their fans boycotted the game but then rushed into the stadium at half time. That was about the plans to sell the Goldstone and move to Gillingham I think.

 

[@richh87]

Whatever you decide to do, please please do not get in the way of Pressley's CCFC from playing some quite brilliant football and another 3 points.

Disrupting play must be avoided.

I agree. This must be peaceful in order to retain credibility and keep the public onside.

 

[@richh87]

Does anybody remember the Brighton protest circa 96? Their fans boycotted the game but then rushed into the stadium at half time. That was about the plans to sell the Goldstone and move to Gillingham I think.

Not bad. Only thing is with Northampton having that huge hill, we have a unique opportunity to be all over Sky, without setting foot in the place.

Totally peaceful so that the press won't dismiss us as yobs.

 

[@richh87]

:laugh:

As it happens, I agree with you.

It's all been left a bit late to do it as effectively as it could have been though. Might be better to aim for the televised game after this one, to give time to do it as well as possible?

Ha, it's over a month away - it's tonnes of time!

I'll ask your Wife / Girlfriend if you can go if you're worried