Supporting the Belles - Petition & Update

[hoolahoop]

SM can a computer be set up tomorrow for those wishing to sign the petition at the KM meeting . There will still be many unaware of the situation.
Perhaps leaflets could be handed out ?

[wilts rover]

Nice piece in the Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/steve-mckevitt/doncaster-belles-relegation-appeal_b_3366554.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-sport

[bedale rover]

Looks like the Belles might have to rattle the cage of the FA;
http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-belles-lawyers-bid-to-keep-belles-up-1-5726320

If the appeal is dealt with pronto, and the FA eat a slice of humble pie, there is no need for further embarrasment is there?
N
Did Miliband show any interest in this matter, as a local MP?

I asked that was told that he had been very helpful
The other two less so
A retraction seems to be in order?

Hahahaha, I doubt that very much. 

[bedale rover]

Looks like the Belles might have to rattle the cage of the FA;
http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-belles-lawyers-bid-to-keep-belles-up-1-5726320

If the appeal is dealt with pronto, and the FA eat a slice of humble pie, there is no need for further embarrasment is there?
N
Did Miliband show any interest in this matter, as a local MP?

I asked that was told that he had been very helpful
The other two less so
A retraction seems to be in order?

Hahahaha, I doubt that very much. 
[/quote/]
Tony Greenall ‏@TonyCSGreenall 3 Jun
@bedalerover Yes, Milliband has been good, Winterton replied and Flint vaguely remembers where Doncaster is.

as evidenced above

tony greenall has been very active with glen trying to get this travesty overturned so he is an ideal man to comment on the mp's involvement

[RobTheRover]

Update  - the Belles' home game this sunday with Arsenal has been postponed.

With the weather looking warm and sunny I was hoping for a good turnout.

[Dagenham Rover]

 A good article in The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/relegation-scandal-takes-toll-on-doncaster-rovers-belles-8650856.html

"The Belles have appealed, and expect a decision in the next fortnight. If they lose the appeal, they will then decide whether to take the matter to court, with the head of the country's leading law school telling The Independent on Sunday that no judge will rule against them."


"They have a case in many areas, whether it is breach of contract under English law or, in European law, the FA abusing a dominant position in the market place," said Lygo. "I have spoken to a leading QC and a retired court of appeal judge about this case and I don't think any judge in the country would find against Doncaster Belles."

[Muttley]

Appeal hearing is tomorrow (Monday 10th) at Wembley.

[Bristol Red Rover]

Thats one hefty legal punch being threatened there! If true, then if the FA reject the Belles appeal, they'd risk looking very stupid even if they won the legal battle.

It could be that the legal threat is just that, and the worst of it as far as the FA are concerned is that it could bring out the full details of the negotiations they're wanting to keep confidential.

Either way, I'm sure the FA is squirming about this 

[albie]

The FA must have taken their own legal advice on this....they would be very stupid not to have done so. Lawyer Heather Rabbatts is on the FA Council.

I just hope they don't let pride get in the way, and try to bull their way through by assuming the Belles wont have the gumption to fight them in court.

It would be a proper can of worms that a legal challenge would open to view. The FA would end up charging themselves for bringing the game into disrepute.

Do not ask for whom the Belles toll, FA, they toll for you!

[RobTheRover]

The FA would end up charging themselves for bringing the game into disrepute.

Oh Lord, please let this happen. 

[VivaRovers]

Ahead of the Belles' Appeal Hearing today then here's a recap of the past month and some thoughts on what's occurring today and what all this means for the wider picture of English football; http://t.co/GrdZMmmtbT

[Dagenham Rover]

Appeal hearing is tomorrow (Monday 10th) at Wembley.

and by the email Glen sent out

"today, at an undisclosed time, representatives of the Doncaster Belles will be at Wembley to have their appeal"

Cowards (not the Belles obviously)

[bedale rover]

come on FA you know it makes sense!

(as if they are up for listening)

[Bristol Red Rover]

Whats the betting they allow the Belles to stay but still let Man City in. As they are planning to extend the league to 12 teams by 2016 (see here) then starting with 10 (+Sunderland) in 2014 doesn't seem like an enourmous leap if they don't like 9. That would mean the 2nd tier with the remaining 8 or 9 clubs, or they could bring in another two clubs there. Easily sorted.

[wilts rover]

Far too obvious that BRR.

[albie]

Looks like they are not letting on until later in the week;
http://www.epworthbells.co.uk/sport/local-sport/belles-relegation-appeal-latest-mps-demand-answers-from-fa-1-5754460

Good that the local MPs are out of the traps. There was also an article in the New Statesman.
http://www.newstatesman.com/business/2013/05/what-scandal-doncaster-belles-tells-us-about-modern-football

Who has the serialisation rights to this modern David and Goliath tale?

Its got it all really....moral dereliction by the powers that be....grubby pursuit of filthy lucre...stout defensive response by plucky Belles...caped crusader Glen showing truth to power...exposure by slumbering media coming to life...lawyers straining at the leash like scrapyard dogs...nervous fidgeting by fence sitters of all shapes and sizes.

All we need now is a victory for the Belles against the odds, and Viva Rovers and the delightful Sue Smith disappearing into the sunset arm in arm.

Top box office, that!

[RobTheRover]

I've seen it.  Its called  The Bourne Ultimatum.

We just need one decent one in the corrupt superpower to question why they are doing what they are doing......

[PDX_Rover]

Surely that's the Thorne Ultimatum?

I just hope the spineless bas**rds at the FA don't ensure that the Belles are relegated by giving referees the whisper in the ear.... And I hope this doesn't translate into punishing the men's team. Would not surprise me - the FA are a bunch of cowardly buggers.

[Bristol Red Rover]

I think the FA will be doing all they can to both save face and avoid bad publicity over this, including that which would come from the court case.

Relegation is happening this season, not by finishing bottom anyway!

[Bristol Red Rover]

The appeal is adjurned till 25 June. No further statement to be made by the club until after this.

Whilst we were prepared to make our case at the appeal meeting yesterday; we welcome the FA's decision announced today. Our appeal has always been about more than just the Belles – it goes to the heart of the future development of women’s football in England and we are grateful to the FA for allowing us the opportunity to put our case to a full hearing.

There's also a

Fighting Fund: if you are able and willing to, please make a donation via Lloyds TSB, Sort: 309268, Account: 00556100. Be assured that every contribution, no matter how small, will be gratefully received and appreciated and that every penny will be spent in support of women’s football.

http://www.doncasterroversbelles.co.uk/news/belles_appeal_adjourned.html

Petition is at 8,654

[Harrogate Rover]

Interview by the brilliant Hawksbee & Jacobs on talkSPORT this afternoon with a journalist Tony Leighton (or Leyton) on the Belles. Hope the link works. It was 5 minutes in on the 13.30-14.00 section.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/117571

[daib0]

here's a message for FuzzyDuck - please tune in to your thread topic on Royals Rendezvous, 'cos you've got a nice offer from a Manchester United forum - and being 'United' you're pretty much assured of getting quite a few signatures more ...

Here's the Royals thread of support: http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9882062/1
There are some quotes from other forums put up too ...

Also by the way, lads, in your forum links topic at the top of the section any chance of including our Reading 'Royals Rendezvous'? We've given a far bit of publicity to your site over the last couple of years, and you're listed with us too on our links ... would be nice to see reciprocation! 

[RobTheRover]

here's a message for FuzzyDuck - please tune in to your thread topic on Royals Rendezvous, 'cos you've got a nice offer from a Manchester United forum - and being 'United' you're pretty much assured of getting quite a few signatures more ...

Here's the Royals thread of support: http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/9882062/1
There are some quotes from other forums put up too ...

Also by the way, lads, in your forum links topic at the top of the section any chance of including our Reading 'Royals Rendezvous'? We've given a far bit of publicity to your site over the last couple of years, and you're listed with us too on our links ... would be nice to see reciprocation! 

Will do daib0

[daib0]

cheers!



Anyway, now tops 8.700 signatures ...

[hoolahoop]

Check out the 'Away End' section of the Palace CPFC (BBS) forum ..........threy have also given their support in numbers.

[daib0]

from Glen Wilson

Title - Doncaster Belles - You Signed the Petition, Now See the Team


"Good evening,

Firstly, may I thank you once again for signing our petition regarding the Doncaster Belles and their enforced ‘relegation’ from the top level of women’s football.

Sadly, our petition, and the Belles’ subsequent appeal fell on deaf ears, or at the very least ears with fingers lodged firmly in them. The Football Association have chosen to uphold their initial decision demoting the Belles to the new FAWSL2. The FA have reiterated that their core reasoning for this is the fact that the Belles share their home pitch, and 15,000 capacity stadium, with two other sides (Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster Rugby League), despite this not being specified in the initial criteria, and the same thing being true of Lincoln, who will next season relocate to Nottingham and share with Notts County and Nottingham RFC at Meadow Lane. The FA, it would seem, would sadly rather promote franchising over community, commitment and tradition.

So, what do we do now? Well, the most important thing, and indeed the easiest thing we can do is show the FA that they have made a mistake, and that the Belles will be a big loss to the top flight. How do we do this? Well, we do this by going along to their games, in person, and cheering them on to the very end. This is a team that has been kicked and crushed by its governing body, and deserves every bit of support possible from its town, and from football, in its remaining games. The Belles have eight matches left in their record-breaking twenty-two year spell in the women’s top-flight so let’s ensure that in each of those games they are given a backing worthy of their history and humility.

Please, make a note of the remaining games below, and ensure that whilst you still have the opportunity to do so, you back a Doncaster football team at the very top level of the game.

REMAINING HOME GAMES
WED 21 AUG – 7:45pm – Arsenal
SAT 24 AUG – 6:00pm – Liverpool
THU 29 AUG – 7:45pm – Lincoln
SAT 07 SEP – 6:00pm – Everton
SUN 15 SEP – 2:00pm – Bristol Academy
SUN 29 SEP – 2:00pm – Birmingham City

All Belles home games are priced at £6 adults / £3 concessions. Keep an eye out for special offers and promotions on the Belles website; http://www.doncasterroversbelles.co.uk

REMAINING AWAY GAMES
SUN 01 SEP – 2:00pm – Arsenal (at Borehamwood)
WED 04 SEP – 7:45pm – Liverpool (at Widnes Vikings)

Again, many thanks for your support of the Belles’ plight, and for showing that you care about the true meaning of football.
I hope to run into you at one of these games, I’ll be the idiot with the fire-bell.

Best wishes

Glen Wilson
Editor"





Sorry, but at least you now know ... if you didn't

[Highland Rover]

Don't know if this has been mentioned before but in this months 442 magazine , there was a FA booklet celebrating their 125 years . There was an article about women's football and guess which team featured in the one and only photograph............yep , the Belles !!!

[graingrover]

Vikings ... can you get Glen's latest article printed in all Rovers home programmes to make sure we give Belles our max' support.?

[Alickismyhero]

I have signed, keep beating the drum and embarrass the FA