Internetowl
24-01-2005, 21:47
PRESS RELEASE
24 January 2004
THOUSANDS of football supporters have pledged to make next Saturday's
Clubs in Crisis day the biggest fans united event ever.
On Saturday 29 January fans from all over the country are preparing to
descend on Wrexham's Racecourse Ground - for their match against
Doncaster Rovers - in a mass display of unity for clubs on the brink of financial ruin.
Two months ago more than 10,000 fans gathered at the same ground in a
Fans United Day to draw attention to Wrexham's FC's own plight. The 132 year old club is in financial administration, has been docked 10 points by the Football League and faces eviction from its ground on 21 July 2005.
Unless a buyer is found Wrexham faces liquidation and will be the first
established Football League club to go out of existence since Aldershot
FC in 1992.
But clubs the length and breadth of the UK are in a similar plight:
Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Bury, Cambridge United, Dover Athletic, Hendon FC, East Stirlingshire, Gateshead, Grimsby Town and Rotherham are among many with an uncertain future.
All football fans have been invited to gather at the Racecourse Ground
and stand in their team colours alongside Wrexham and Doncaster supporters to show their solidarity. Those that cannot get to the game are asked to send a scarf, banner or team shirt to display support.
Now, just days after the event was first publicised there have been
amazing pledges of support:
Č More than 70 clubs have advertised the event on their official
websites and many - including Premier League champions Arsenal - have
featured it in their match day programmes.
Č Over 20 fans from Wrexham's greatest rivals Chester City have
promised to make the 14 mile journey across the Welsh border and stand
shoulder to shoulder with their "enemy" on the Racecourse Kop.
Č 25 QPR fans are hiring a coach and travelling from London and
supporters from as far afield as Brighton, Sunderland and Scunthorpe
will join the throng.
Č At least 100 Bradford City, 50 Barnsley and 40 Chesterfield
fans are joining the event - these clubs have all faced similar crises in the
past few years.
A Fans United organiser and Brighton supporter Nic Outterside said: "The
pledges of support have been absolutely amazing. The press and national
radio - particularly BBC Radio Five Live and Talk Sport - have got
behind this event and we estimate that this could be the biggest display of
football fan unity this country has ever seen.
"With more than 20 clubs without a fixture next Saturday I urge every
football fan to take part in the Clubs in Crisis day and tell the
Football Association and Football League that the time has come save the heart of British football."
Simon Johnson of the Wrexham Supporters Trust added: "Football fans have had enough of being ignored. Let us all stand together and show the
powers-that-be that we are desperate to safeguard our clubs for future
generations and we need their help."
Bob Gilbert, an organiser and veteran of Doncaster Rovers own fight for
survival, said: "I urge you, passionately, to turn up at the Racecourse
on 29 January to show all these people that millions and millions of us do
care."
Notes to Editors:
1. Any club who wishes to donate a scarf, banner or shirt is asked to
send the item to: Wrexham Supporters' Trust, PO Box 200, Wrexham LL12 9WG
2. Further information:
Email: Nic Outterside seagullnic@aol.com
Bob Gilbert bob.@doncaster-rovers.demon.co.uk
Simon Johnson simon.johnson@wst.org.uk
Telephone: 07891397636 (Nic Outterside)
07981 151958 (Wrexham Supporters Trust)
website: www.clubsincrisis.com
24 January 2004
THOUSANDS of football supporters have pledged to make next Saturday's
Clubs in Crisis day the biggest fans united event ever.
On Saturday 29 January fans from all over the country are preparing to
descend on Wrexham's Racecourse Ground - for their match against
Doncaster Rovers - in a mass display of unity for clubs on the brink of financial ruin.
Two months ago more than 10,000 fans gathered at the same ground in a
Fans United Day to draw attention to Wrexham's FC's own plight. The 132 year old club is in financial administration, has been docked 10 points by the Football League and faces eviction from its ground on 21 July 2005.
Unless a buyer is found Wrexham faces liquidation and will be the first
established Football League club to go out of existence since Aldershot
FC in 1992.
But clubs the length and breadth of the UK are in a similar plight:
Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Bury, Cambridge United, Dover Athletic, Hendon FC, East Stirlingshire, Gateshead, Grimsby Town and Rotherham are among many with an uncertain future.
All football fans have been invited to gather at the Racecourse Ground
and stand in their team colours alongside Wrexham and Doncaster supporters to show their solidarity. Those that cannot get to the game are asked to send a scarf, banner or team shirt to display support.
Now, just days after the event was first publicised there have been
amazing pledges of support:
Č More than 70 clubs have advertised the event on their official
websites and many - including Premier League champions Arsenal - have
featured it in their match day programmes.
Č Over 20 fans from Wrexham's greatest rivals Chester City have
promised to make the 14 mile journey across the Welsh border and stand
shoulder to shoulder with their "enemy" on the Racecourse Kop.
Č 25 QPR fans are hiring a coach and travelling from London and
supporters from as far afield as Brighton, Sunderland and Scunthorpe
will join the throng.
Č At least 100 Bradford City, 50 Barnsley and 40 Chesterfield
fans are joining the event - these clubs have all faced similar crises in the
past few years.
A Fans United organiser and Brighton supporter Nic Outterside said: "The
pledges of support have been absolutely amazing. The press and national
radio - particularly BBC Radio Five Live and Talk Sport - have got
behind this event and we estimate that this could be the biggest display of
football fan unity this country has ever seen.
"With more than 20 clubs without a fixture next Saturday I urge every
football fan to take part in the Clubs in Crisis day and tell the
Football Association and Football League that the time has come save the heart of British football."
Simon Johnson of the Wrexham Supporters Trust added: "Football fans have had enough of being ignored. Let us all stand together and show the
powers-that-be that we are desperate to safeguard our clubs for future
generations and we need their help."
Bob Gilbert, an organiser and veteran of Doncaster Rovers own fight for
survival, said: "I urge you, passionately, to turn up at the Racecourse
on 29 January to show all these people that millions and millions of us do
care."
Notes to Editors:
1. Any club who wishes to donate a scarf, banner or shirt is asked to
send the item to: Wrexham Supporters' Trust, PO Box 200, Wrexham LL12 9WG
2. Further information:
Email: Nic Outterside seagullnic@aol.com
Bob Gilbert bob.@doncaster-rovers.demon.co.uk
Simon Johnson simon.johnson@wst.org.uk
Telephone: 07891397636 (Nic Outterside)
07981 151958 (Wrexham Supporters Trust)
website: www.clubsincrisis.com