Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: WSBBA_Ben on February 26, 2010, 11:56:00 am
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On a day when all the talk is about Pompey, how many Chelsea players have played away more than the fixture list suggests and where Wayne Bridge is going on holiday between June and July, spare a thought for Chester City, a club which is currently in the most dire state it's ever been in in it's 125 year history.
We were there, stood staring at the celebrating Colchester fans on that day in 1998, wondering how we would fill our Saturday afternoons, how we'd feel when the fixture lists came out and Doncaster Rovers weren't there, empty doesn't really cut it as an adjective to describe the strife the Deva Stadium faithful are in.
I admit, I never really warmed to Chester City; they battered us 3:0 on a day when Barry Richardson failed to turn up, as I remember, Alford missed a penalty too, just to compound our day. But the play offs were something else, to this day, I have never celebrated a goal as much as I did when Tris Whitman had a pop from 20 odd yards in the 95th minute of the 1st leg. What about the return leg; the band of Rovers fans, behind the goal and down the side rocking the tiny little stands - Warrington was world class that day and we'd booked our place at Stoke.
It's a real shame what has happend to Chester City and I fear for more smaller clubs in the future.
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Never really warmed to them?
They played the Billy big time game and lost. I don't think they ever recovered from that play off semi final.
I hated Mark Wright, and still do. The smug way he sat in the dugout as if it was theirs etc.
Their fans were equally arragont.
If it was a genuine club such as Forest Green Rovers, I would shed a tear. But it's not so I won't.
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Never really warmed to them?
They played the Billy big time game and lost. I don't think they ever recovered from that play off semi final.
I hated Mark Wright, and still do. The smug way he sat in the dugout as if it was theirs etc.
Their fans were equally arragont.
If it was a genuine club such as Forest Green Rovers, I would shed a tear. But it's not so I won't.
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DMnumber4 wrote:
Never really warmed to them?
They played the Billy big time game and lost. I don't think they ever recovered from that play off semi final.
I hated Mark Wright, and still do. The smug way he sat in the dugout as if it was theirs etc.
Their fans were equally arragont.
If it was a genuine club such as Forest Green Rovers, I would shed a tear. But it's not so I won't.
We heard you the first time :laugh:
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So what if they had an aggressive arrogant t**t as a manager? Does that condemn all their fans to deserve losing their club?
What do you think other Conference fans thought of Ian Snodin goading away fans or booting down dressing room doors at other clubs' grounds? Or what did they think of our fans' often arrogant and condescending attitude? Or the day our fans caused a mini riot in Kidderminster?
We got lucky. We got a chairman who was prepared to walk the walk. That doesn't make any one of us individuals a better or more deserving fan than the poor t**ts at Chester.
As Ben said, I remember precisely what I felt like towards the end of the Richardson era and I wouldn't wish that on any set of fans. There is not one group of fans who deserve that, and we are the very last set who should have a dismissive, vindictive and condescending attitude.
My heart genuinely goes out to the Chester fans.
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We got lucky. We got a chairman who was prepared to walk the walk. That doesn't make any one of us individuals a better or more deserving fan than the poor t**ts at Chester.
Got something right then.
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DMnumber4 wrote:
Never really warmed to them?
They played the Billy big time game and lost. I don't think they ever recovered from that play off semi final.
I hated Mark Wright, and still do. The smug way he sat in the dugout as if it was theirs etc.
Their fans were equally arragont.
If it was a genuine club such as Forest Green Rovers, I would shed a tear. But it's not so I won't.
I think they recovered from the play-off defeat just fine, remember they won the conference the following year. Its just the shambles off of the pitch which have caused all this and then relegation back to the conference just sealed it.
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Rigoglioso wrote:
This has gone on Oxford's website in the last ten minutes. Looks like they are the first club reporting it!
What now for Chester?
Chester Expelled (http://www.oufc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10342~1978080,00.html)
Looks that way. Makes you wonder if they'll do a Boston United and fail to be elected in to the Blue Sq North too; then they're really going to struggle, if that's the case it makes you wonder what is so attractive to the Danish consortium.
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Just goes to show how thin the fine line is between success and failure doesn't it... Could have easily have been us if it wasn't for Andy Warrington's heroics at the Deva Stadium.
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Rigoglioso wrote:
This has gone on Oxford's website in the last ten minutes. Looks like they are the first club reporting it!
What now for Chester?
Chester Expelled (http://www.oufc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10342~1978080,00.html)
The news of Chester's expulsion is now on the BBC site.
A very sad day for Chester City and their fans.
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BillyStubbsTears wrote:
So what if they had an aggressive arrogant t**t as a manager? Does that condemn all their fans to deserve losing their club?
What do you think other Conference fans thought of Ian Snodin goading away fans or booting down dressing room doors at other clubs' grounds? Or what did they think of our fans' often arrogant and condescending attitude? Or the day our fans caused a mini riot in Kidderminster?
We got lucky. We got a chairman who was prepared to walk the walk. That doesn't make any one of us individuals a better or more deserving fan than the poor t**ts at Chester.
As Ben said, I remember precisely what I felt like towards the end of the Richardson era and I wouldn't wish that on any set of fans. There is not one group of fans who deserve that, and we are the very last set who should have a dismissive, vindictive and condescending attitude.
My heart genuinely goes out to the Chester fans.
The only experience I had of Chester fans is that they were scum. Horrible town aswell.
I remember that day in Kidderminster. Mayhem!
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Best post you,ve written BST.
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MrFrost wrote:
The only experience I had of Chester fans is that they were scum. Horrible town aswell.
I remember that day in Kidderminster. Mayhem!
The only city in England with a complete medieval walled centre and with more listed buildings than any other - you take some pleasing dont you!
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Mutton dressed as lamb. Shame its inhabitants are pr!cks!
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I think that there is a certain part of the Chester situation where people talk of Mark Wright & the Vaughan family and talk of them getting what they deserve.
After the Conference play-offs there was a letter in the non-League paper that epitomised the seemingly typical Chester fan's view that DRFC and it's followers were crap and the inevitable ensuing relegation was what Doncaster and it's fans deserved.
I will always remember the Deva and the Alford penalty, and Mr Singh, and the Andy Warrington show, and as ever there have always been knobheads there. There were also some like that at Belle Vue, and there are at the Keepmoat and EVERY football club.
There are also genuine fans who give their heart & soul to THEIR club. I sympathise (and empathise) - I wish the true fans well, because the knobheads will move on .
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Never had much time for them but hope they survive.
Just shows how blessed we were with JR etc when you look at some of our old foes Scarboro (always liked the boxing day fixture there and a drink in pub at bottom of Staxton Hill), Halifax and Boston
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MrFrost wrote:
BillyStubbsTears wrote:
So what if they had an aggressive arrogant t**t as a manager? Does that condemn all their fans to deserve losing their club?
What do you think other Conference fans thought of Ian Snodin goading away fans or booting down dressing room doors at other clubs' grounds? Or what did they think of our fans' often arrogant and condescending attitude? Or the day our fans caused a mini riot in Kidderminster?
We got lucky. We got a chairman who was prepared to walk the walk. That doesn't make any one of us individuals a better or more deserving fan than the poor t**ts at Chester.
As Ben said, I remember precisely what I felt like towards the end of the Richardson era and I wouldn't wish that on any set of fans. There is not one group of fans who deserve that, and we are the very last set who should have a dismissive, vindictive and condescending attitude.
My heart genuinely goes out to the Chester fans.
The only experience I had of Chester fans is that they were scum. Horrible town aswell.
I remember that day in Kidderminster. Mayhem!
its beautiful city chester with the rows
it is one of the best most individualistic cities in the country much better than the clone towns most of us live in!
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Rigoglioso wrote:
Good luck to them. Like Boston, Halifax and Scarborough amongst other before them though, it'll be a long road to recovery.
But at least Accrington, Aldershot and now Newport County are showing that it can be done.
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and Wimbledon (well sort of)
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I mentioned the other day that I knew Ebbsfleet were voting against Chester. From the 'Fleet forum, it seemed fairly clear that most of those with a say on how the club voted were actually swayed by the number of Chester fans begging to be put out of their misery so that they could get on with their plans for a phoenix club.
I echo the sentiments above - good luck to them
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BST I totally agree.
You know, 12 years ago (was that all!) that could have been us. But we got lucky with JR, a guy who was a fan, knew how to run a business, knew what was required and cared. Then again, perhaps we deserved to get lucky after that clown Richardson.
What the Vaughans have done makes an absolute mockery of the 'fit and proper person's test' that apparently applies in football. It's not altogether uncommon knowledge that he was probably a front for a drugs baron. Yet he was allowed to run a football club.
Portsmouth - 4 owners in a year. Man City and Thaksin Shinowatra. What was that all about? A man being pursued in his own country for serious human rights abuses. For pity's sake, they'll be letting the Yorkshire Ripper have a seat on the board at Bradford next.
The football authorities should hang their heads in shame. Today is not about Portsmouth. It's about the implosion of a community based club that failed because the people running the Football League (and perhaps the Conference) stood by, ignored the fans, hoped it would all blow over and then, when it didn't, gave the club (and by association their fans) a good kicking.
Thank heavens we've got a board that cares, that's all I'll say.
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Hear hear BigH. There's a couple posting on this thread who don't have the equipment to even begin to understand what you're writing about. But you are absolutely spot on. I met with the then Minister of Sport in 1998 to discuss the issue of clubs falling into disreputable ownership. He was very clear: either the FL and the PL cleaned up their act or the Government would do it for them. Sadly, the FL and PL got their crass 'fit and proper persons test' just in time. The Govt then had to allow it to run as they could hardly argue, without evidence, that is was of no use. The evidence is there now, but the climate has changed. So the political will is missing now. I despise the FA and the PL. They avoided the issue (which dates back to Charlton Athletic in the early 1980's) to ensure their own privileged position. None of them lifted a finger to help DRFC. Every single time I rang or wrote to all of them about the illegality going at DRFC (I had documentary evidence) they told me to go talk to the DTI as DRFC were a limited company. And guess what the DTI said every single time? You got it in one. So that's why I have not supported the England team since and will not support them ever again. Why should I support their fcuking team when they wouldn't support mine? Especially when the FA's Charter is to (I paraphrase)'ensure the well being of football at all levels throughout the country'. They have clearly and consistently failed in that duty for decades. Chester City is simply one more chapter in a seemingly irreversible trend. I have the utmost sympathy, and empathy, with Chester supporters tonight. They didn't deserve the Vaughans. Just as we don't deserve the cretins who post shite like we've seen on this thread.
BobG
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BobG wrote:
Hear hear BigH. There's a couple posting on this thread who don't have the equipment to even begin to understand what you're writing about. But you are absolutely spot on. I met with the then Minister of Sport in 1998 to discuss the issue of clubs falling into disreputable ownership. He was very clear: either the FL and the PL cleaned up their act or the Government would do it for them. Sadly, the FL and PL got their crass 'fit and proper persons test' just in time. The Govt then had to allow it to run as they could hardly argue, without evidence, that is was of no use. The evidence is there now, but the climate has changed. So the political will is missing now. I despise the FA and the PL. They avoided the issue (which dates back to Charlton Athletic in the early 1980's) to ensure their own privileged position. I strongly dislike the FL. None of them lifted a finger to help DRFC. Every single time I rang or wrote to all of them about the illegality going at DRFC (I had documentary evidence) they told me to go talk to the DTI as DRFC were a limited company. And guess what the DTI said every single time? You got it in one. So that's why I have not supported since and will not support the England football team ever again. Why should I support their fcuking team when they wouldn't support mine? Especially when the FA's Charter is to (I paraphrase)'ensure the well being of football at all levels throughout the country'. They have clearly and consistently failed in that duty for decades. Chester City is simply one more chapter in a seemingly irreversible trend. I have the utmost sympathy, and empathy, with Chester supporters tonight. They didn't deserve the Vaughans. Just as we don't deserve the cretins who post shite like we've seen on this thread.
BobG
C'mon Bob, I wasn't that bad, I only said it had a medieval wall round it!!
For those of you reading this who think you know what you are talking about because you listen to the football pundits on the telly, go read Bob's post again - he KNOWS what he is talking about, and he tried to do something about it. Well done big man and if people only take one thing from your post I hope it is that they stop and think if they are adding anything useful before pressing send.
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Ill second that Bob - but for the grace of god (or the higher authority that is JR) go I.
People seem to forget how close we were to being in that position.
Good luck to Chester and hopefully they will bounce back
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Thank you chaps most kindly :)
Cheers
BobG
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I`11 3rd that Bob. As a lifelong Rovers fan who now lives in Barrow, I can`t believe that people who call themselves football fans could be pleased to see the demise of any club.
Richardson nearly did for Rovers, Vaughan nearly did for Barrow. Long live Chester I say!
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I know replying to your own thread is a bit anal, but I@ve been sitting here remembering the simply staggering number of clubs who have suffered, badly, from the fatuous, egocentric and utterly, utterly useless goats at the FA. Here's a little list. I'm bound to have missed some.
Doncaster Rovers
Chester City
Wrexham
Brighton & Hove Albion
Mansfield Town
Charlton Athletic
Portsmouth
Darlington
Plymouth Argyle
Manchester City (ok, they didn't suffer much, but an absolute pariah was allowed to Chair their Board)
Manchester United (their suffering is just beginning)
Carlisle United
Wimbledon
Notts County
Rotherham United
Queens Park Rangers
West Ham United
Hull City
I make that 18 clubs. Off the top of my head. And it doesn't include any of the many, many none league clubs who have actually closed because some git wanted to sell their land from under them. Remember Enfield Town anyone?
Not all of the clubs I've listed have suffered to the degree that Rovers, Brighton, Chester and Wimbledon did. But every single one of them has had a carpet bagger rape them nonetheless.
18 league clubs in 30 years!! Just what do the FA think they're playing at?
Why does ANY football supporter pass even the time of day with the England team and the misbegotten FA?
Cheers again
BobG
PS and, of course, there was the never to be forgotten Bridlington Town as well. We, especially, should always remember them. And as Barrow Rover has reminded me, Vaughan has actually done it to TWO clubs! How the chuffing hell does that work then? Just what do the FA actually do all day long???
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If there was any justice in the world Bob, you and the bairn would be given life Season Tickets and a chauffeur driven car up the the Keepmoat every other week. Back in 97, your website was the only thing for a Donny fan to cling on and stop themselves from sticking their head in the gas oven. I hope Chester have somebody like you at the moment.
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Just as we don't deserve the cretins who post shite like we've seen on this thread.
Now Mr G - we all know that you're not really \"Bob\" :laugh: but there are only 18 \"posters\" on this thread. I presume that you are not describing yourself in the \"cretin\" category, nor BST, nor wilts ... and having read through the thread again I'm of the view that nearly all would wish the true Chester fans well.
There is a certain awareness of the hard work carried out in the dark days by yourself and a few others (including your dad) and the lack of response from the t**ts in charge, but ignorance does not necessarily mean cretinous - you are unfair and that sort of abuse is beneath you, it should be in your remit to either educate the people that are unaware or sympathise for their ignorance not label them as cretins. :(
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I still feel guilty about the demise of Bridlington the way we stole their best players.
I work with a few Dalington fans and there doesnt seem to be any fight left up there everyone just seems resigned to relegation and oblivion, again this would be a traversty. I seem to remember Darlington being my first ever away game back in early 70's (God I feel old now)
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The item below comes from Barrow's Holker Street Newsletter:
On a day when it was announced that Portsmouth had become the first Premier
League side to have been placed in administration, AFC Bournemouth had been
served with winding-up order by HM Revenue & Customs over a GBP314,000 tax bill,
it's possible the news of Chester City's demise may slip under the radar for
some people, but for followers of Barrow, Chester City and other non-League
clubs, it is the news that we were waiting for. You shouldn't shed any tears for
Chester, it was the best thing that could have happened to the club and those
who care for it. And I don't include the Vaughans in that group.
It's taken a long time for Barrow supporters to obtain justice for what Vaughan
did to Barrow AFC, and whilst in a perfect world, he would be held accountable
for his time at Holker Street, I, for one, will take this instead. Stephen
Vaughan epitomises what is wrong with football at our level, he is a deceitful,
dishonest and twisted individual, who has finally been told by his peers that
his actions are unacceptable, and he should now skulk back to the shadows, or
boxing, where he may be appreciated.
I started the Newsletter back in September 1997, at a time when Barrow were in
trouble because of Vaughan's time at Holker Street, we were lucky to come out of
it alive, but it was only due to the actions of LA14's equivalent of twelve men,
good and true, but we could have easily found ourselves in the position Chester
City supporters now are.
Before we go any further, here's the Conference statement: Following the general
meeting the Board of the Football Conference convened and declared in line with
Football Conference Rule 13.9 that Chester City's record in the Blue Square
Premier this season will be expunged. The resultant changes to the table which
will affect other club records will not be activated until any right of appeal
process has expired or such appeal dealt with. For avoidance of doubt, Chester
City FC can only appeal against the original decision of the Board in relation
to Football Conference Rule 8.6 which relates to their recommendation to member
clubs. There can be no direct appeal via the Football Association in respect of
the decision by member clubs relating to Article 5.2. Chester City FC, although
having the right to make a presentation to the member clubs against the
recommendation, did not attend the meeting. Friday's events are unparalleled in
the history of our national sport and it is with much regret these circumstances
have evolved. The Football Conference are saddened that any club should meet
such a fate and it sympathises with those who hold the club dear to their
hearts, especially after a proud heritage of 125 years. Whilst the decision of
member clubs was taken in respect of the club failing to fulfil fixtures, behind
these failures is a lesson to every club at whatever level they participate.
Clubs have to live within their means and financial prudence can be the only way
forward.
And this is the response of Chester Fans United: Today the member clubs of the
Football Conference have voted to expel Chester City FC from the competition.
City Fans United are dismayed and saddened that this situation has been allowed
to occur, however we have previously stated our belief that years of financial
mismanagement meant that this decision was inevitable. We are angry that Chester
City FC was allowed to fall into such a sorry state and we call upon the
football authorities to review their rules on the ownership and financial
control of football clubs, before the supporters of another football club are
forced to endure the pain felt by fans of Chester City FC. CFU have previously
outlined our vision for the future for football in Chester but, like all
supporters of Chester City FC, we must take some time to grieve. We believe that
125-years of footballing history will live on through and each every supporter
of Chester City FC. Rest assured that City Fans United will continue to fight
for the future of football in Chester. A further statement will be issued in due
course.
The Conference haven't announced who voted for and against the recommendation to
expel Chester City, and neither should they, when, at the end of the 1998-99
season, Barrow were the recipients of a similar vote and weren't re-elected to
the Conference, there wasn't any official statement as to who voted for and
against, but we did find out in due course, and I assume this will be the case
again.
I've never met Vaughan, hopefully never will, and at first I believed him to be
the saviour Barrow needed, but as tales emerged, and then I experienced his
strange business practices first hand, people who I trust implicitly and have
blue and white blood flowing through their veins shared their experiences with
me, my opinion of the man changed. I saw how he wrapped the local media around
his finger, and how certain members of it swallowed Vaughan's curious mix of
lies and flattery, hook, line and sinker so they couldn't see the wood for the
trees. Vaughan was never prosecuted for what happened at Barrow, and I don't
think he ever will, but we know what he did was shady at best, well, you don't
really need me to finish this sentence, do you? That's why I read of Friday's
decision at the Conference meeting with a smile on my face.
Without a League to play in, Chester City now have to go to the Royal Courts of
Justice in London for their winding-up order on 10 March over an unpaid tax bill
of GBP26,125, the club were given a six-week adjournment on 27 January, and next
month should see the corpse laid to rest. I remember when Vaughan left Barrow,
he said how badly he had been treated and he would be back, if not at Barrow
AFC, then he start his own club, and I assume he will make similar mutterings
this time, but as parts of Cheshire are well known for mining salt, perhaps the
locals can take a wee pinch of it when Vaughan starts his woe-is-me speech. Oh,
of course, he could come over all mea culpa, have an epiphany and look for the
Road to Damascus, but knowing what a toe-rag he is, I don't think that's going
to happen, is it? If he does ask, tell him the Road to Damascus is off the back
of the Mersey Ferry.
Should Chester City have been put to the sword before now? Have the Conference
allowed the clubs to do their dirty work? Not really, the Conference hierarchy
don't have the right to expel a club; they can recommend it, but their articles
of association, and that of any other League operating under the auspices of the
Football Association, make clear such a decision can only be taken by the member
cubs, all the Conference can do is recommend that a club be expelled. That's
what they did, and that's what Friday's meting at Nene Park was for, to vote on
the Conference's recommendation.
What does this all mean for Barrow? Well, the two League games we were due to
play Chester won't happen, and the clubs who have played Chester already will
have those results expunged, those are the rules. So the idiot at Stevenage who
said he would sue the Conference if this happened, can go and take a running
jump. As Barrow were due to entertain Chester on Easter Monday, we stand to lose
a lot of money, but that's the price you have to pay for doing the right thing,
and the right thing was done on Friday when the Conference clubs said enough is
enough, and expelled Chester City.
Chester City FC is dead, long live AFC Chester City.
As far as I know, there will be a period where an appeal can be made, but as the
Conference statement makes clear, this can only be made against \" the original
decision of the Board in relation to Football Conference Rule 8.6 which relates
to their recommendation to member clubs. There can be no direct appeal via the
Football Association in respect of the decision by member clubs relating to
Article 5.2.\", and then the points will be expunged, until then the table
stands, but this is what it would look like if they were whipped out now,
because I know you'd want to know, thanks to BBC Radio York for this.
1 Oxford Utd 30 66
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2 Stevenage 30 60
3 York 30 57
4 Luton 29 55
5 Kettering 31 54
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
6 AFC Wimbledon 31 53
7 Rushden & D 30 52
8 Mansfield 30 47
9 Crawley Town 31 45
10 Kidderminster 29 43
11 Altrincham 29 41
12 Wrexham 29 40
13 Histon 29 39
14 Hayes & Y 32 38
15 Tamworth 31 33
16 Ebbsfleet U 34 33
17 Salisbury 29 32
18 Gateshead 31 31
19 Cambridge 29 29
20 Eastbourne B 32 29
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
21 BARROW 28 28
22 Forest Green 31 24
23 Grays Athletic 31 17
As for relegation at the end of the season, three clubs will be relegated from
the Blue Square Premier, and two will come up from each the Blue Square North
and Blue Square South, and as the Blue Square North will have one less club
coming down, I assume one less club will be relegated from the BSN, which will
then be repeated down through the feeder Leagues.
Can we play AFC Chester City in a friendly before the start of the 2010-11
season? Can we, please?
The BBC website has some interesting meat on the bones to Chester's expulsion,
it says: \"due to the continued presence of the Vaughan family as the club's
owners, the Football League chose to deny Chester the discretionary (parachute)
payment due to both them and Luton Town following relegation from the Football
League. City were also overlooked for a one-off GBP30,000 hardship payment
provided to all other Conference clubs by the Premier League.\" I thought the
parachute payment was due to be made when Chester came out of administration,
and assumed the GBP30,000 from the Premier League went to all BSP sides, without
exception.
What happens now with the Danish consortium who want to buy Chester City,
goodness knows, hopefully they will throw their weight and finance behind AFC
Chester City (or whatever they are to be called), but bearing in mind the inept
comments that have come from those involved with the project, I think everyone
would be better served if they went home.
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This para struck me a VERY familiar:
I've never met Vaughan, hopefully never will, and at first I believed him to be
the saviour Barrow needed, but as tales emerged, and then I experienced his
strange business practices first hand, people who I trust implicitly and have
blue and white blood flowing through their veins shared their experiences with
me, my opinion of the man changed. I saw how he wrapped the local media around
his finger, and how certain members of it swallowed Vaughan's curious mix of
lies and flattery, hook, line and sinker so they couldn't see the wood for the
trees. Vaughan was never prosecuted for what happened at Barrow, and I don't
think he ever will, but we know what he did was shady at best, well, you don't
really need me to finish this sentence, do you? That's why I read of Friday's
decision at the Conference meeting with a smile on my face.