Statement from fan groups ahead of new season

[meltonblue]

I left my son to it this year, I live in Nottinghamshire, he’s at uni back in Manchester. The rest of us in the family have season tickets at Notts County now. Went a few times last season and got hooked a bit to the nostalgic element of it all. Yes it’s completely different and it’ll never be City but we are all enjoying it and it really does feel like going to football like it was pre-PL. Does help that it’s 20 minutes on the bus away!

 

[mayo31]

Can you let us know in this thread if the stewards give you any grief for doing this? I worry how the club plan on policing it.

Will do

 

[jrb]

We’re losing our local fan base season after season, but the directors don’t give a shit, because all they are interested in is increasing revenue season after season.

 

[BertM19]

Very good points and I agree with most of what you say. I think the posters would be helped by a bit more balance though.

Many Clubs have insisted on fans having membership cards for donkeys years. Leeds had £50 and £75 memberships and stopped the technology from being able to transfer to “non paid members”. Leeds have switched a very large chunk of their loyalty points for away tickets (from the previous season) to a lottery. Lots of other clubs have insisted on the memberships for donkeys.

I don’t like all the changes being made and City should rethink but where does your comment about City fans being the most heavily policed in the Prem and what is your e dance for that:

You talk of fighting back but one thread has had to be suspended tonight because of hate towards fellow Blues. I know your comment is very well intended but we have to be careful of misinterpretation by a very aggressive minority.

What on earth are you talking about? Why do you need to provide "balance" to the club? They're a billion dollar entity, they don't need you to come on here to defend them from supporters who feel aggrieved at their needless changes.

I've stated very clearly why our season tickets are the most policed - a very high minimum usage policy, combined with a new minimum attendance policy unlike any other PL club, new restrictions on ticket transfer for the first time, and an increased restriction on ticket transfer to 24hrs before a game. Does that make sense to you?

When I say we need to fight back, I mean as we did last season with protests, as that statement said the other day about making our voices heard as supporters. I haven't got a clue what you're talking about any other threads or being aggressive to Blues. Do you think I'm going to brick the ticket office or something?

You're really distracting from the whole point of this. Supporters need to stand together and fight against these attacks on supporter culture and how City fans have used their tickets for decades. I say an attack because it is an attack. You might not like the words, but that's what it is.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

What on earth are you talking about? Why do you need to provide "balance" to the club? They're a billion dollar entity, they don't need you to come on here to defend them from supporters who feel aggrieved at their needless changes.

I've stated very clearly why our season tickets are the most policed - a very high minimum usage policy, combined with a new minimum attendance policy unlike any other PL club, new restrictions on ticket transfer for the first time, and an increased restriction on ticket transfer to 24hrs before a game. Does that make sense to you?

When I say we need to fight back, I mean as we did last season with protests, as that statement said the other day about making our voices heard as supporters. I haven't got a clue what you're talking about any other threads or being aggressive to Blues. Do you think I'm going to brick the ticket office or something?

You're really distracting from the whole point of this. Supporters need to stand together and fight against these attacks on supporter culture and how City fans have used their tickets for decades. I say an attack because it is an attack. You might not like the words, but that's what it is.

I find your reply a bit aggressive. Are you really the City Matters Rep for families.

I made a civil post correcting some of the rubbish on here about going to City is like participating in a police state. It’s also rubbish that City’s policies - and I do t like them being made more restrictive - are far the worst in the League.

I would be more than happy to discuss my views with you in person in a civil matter but you starting a post ranting, “What on earth are you on about” doesn’t give me grounds for optimism.

If you are a City Matters Rep I would have thought you would have been more interested in listening to lifelong fans’ views.

 

[mexico1970]

I find your reply a bit aggressive. Are you really the City Matters Rep for families.

I made a civil post correcting some of the rubbish on here about going to City is like participating in a police state. It’s also rubbish that City’s policies - and I do t like them being made more restrictive - are far the worst in the League.

I would be more than happy to discuss my views with you in person in a civil matter but you starting a post ranting, “What on earth are you on about” doesn’t give me grounds for optimism.

If you are a City Matters Rep I would have thought you would have been more interested in listening to lifelong fans’ views.

 

[BertM19]

I find your reply a bit aggressive. Are you really the City Matters Rep for families.

I made a civil post correcting some of the rubbish on here about going to City is like participating in a police state. It’s also rubbish that City’s policies - and I do t like them being made more restrictive - are far the worst in the League.

I would be more than happy to discuss my views with you in person in a civil matter but you starting a post ranting, “What on earth are you on about” doesn’t give me grounds for optimism.

If you are a City Matters Rep I would have thought you would have been more interested in listening to lifelong fans’ views.

I think you need some rest mate, I have no idea what you're talking about the CM families rep... he's new and an OSC chair isn't he? Weird accusation.

I'm responding like that out of exasperation, because I've spent all day seeing decades long Blues say that things like these policies are the final straw for them in giving up their tickets, going to City, giving up a massive part of their lives.

I am upset at seeing fans being torn away from traditions, their City family and friends thanks to completely unnecessary decisions made by the club with supporters at the bottom of the pile of priorities.

And then I'm stating some clear facts about the situation, and you come and call for "balance". That annoys me, it's not aggressive, this is an emotional response because football and what it means to so many of us is about emotion and community.

Youre calling for balance but there is no balance to be had, because the club is set on making things worse and has been for years now. We thought it'd get better with how they treat fans after the price freeze & reduction, but clearly they had other ideas.

You brought up this non-existent balance, some random thing about hate towards fellow Blues which I have no clue about, and you are now accusing me of being another person, so I think what on earth are you on about is a fair question to ask. I'm sure the families rep for CM would be glad to talk to you, their email address is on the club website.

 

[mexico1970]

I think you need some rest mate, I have no idea what you're talking about the CM families rep... he's new and an OSC chair isn't he? Weird accusation.

I'm responding like that out of exasperation, because I've spent all day seeing decades long Blues say that things like these policies are the final straw for them in giving up their tickets, going to City, giving up a massive part of their lives.

I am upset at seeing fans being torn away from traditions, their City family and friends thanks to completely unnecessary decisions made by the club with supporters at the bottom of the pile of priorities.

And then I'm stating some clear facts about the situation, and you come and call for "balance". That annoys me, it's not aggressive, this is an emotional response because football and what it means to so many of us is about emotion and community.

Youre calling for balance but there is no balance to be had, because the club is set on making things worse and has been for years now. We thought it'd get better with how they treat fans after the price freeze & reduction, but clearly they had other ideas.

You brought up this non-existent balance, some random thing about hate towards fellow Blues which I have no clue about, and you are now accusing me of being another person, so I think what on earth are you on about is a fair question to ask. I'm sure the families rep for CM would be glad to talk to you, their email address is on the club website.

Have your passport ready (Mobile phone NFC)
Take your hat off and open your coat and prepare to be scanned
Scan face at turnstile
When in facility (That's what it is now) be bombarded with messages telling you how to behave and if you don't you lose your ticket)
If you do misbehave or get caught up in corporate unaccepted activities you could be DNA sprayed by the local Stasi and lifted at home later.
All the while your every step videoed and documented.

Sure feels like a fucking police state to me.

 

[BertM19]

Have your passport ready (Mobile phone NFC)
Take your hat off and open your coat and prepare to be scanned
Scan face at turnstile
When in facility (That's what it is now) be bombarded with messages telling you how to behave and if you don't you lose your ticket)
If you do misbehave or get caught up in corporate unaccepted activities you could be DNA sprayed by the local Stasi and lifted at home later.
All the while your every step videoed and documented.

Sure feels like a fucking police state to me.

To be fair I didn't even say the words police state, Tim Of The Oak did, I just said our season tickets are the most policed - which they demonstrably are.

But yeah, some of the things you've mentioned there are worrying, the DNA spray development is crazy. Mark Roberts was one of the worst police officers nationally for aggressive rhetoric and tactics towards football supporters (formerly of Cheshire constabulary but was the national lead for football), and I've heard a rumour he now works for City - so we may have that to look forward to as well if that rumour is true.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I think you need some rest mate, I have no idea what you're talking about the CM families rep... he's new and an OSC chair isn't he? Weird accusation.

I'm responding like that out of exasperation, because I've spent all day seeing decades long Blues say that things like these policies are the final straw for them in giving up their tickets, going to City, giving up a massive part of their lives.

I am upset at seeing fans being torn away from traditions, their City family and friends thanks to completely unnecessary decisions made by the club with supporters at the bottom of the pile of priorities.

And then I'm stating some clear facts about the situation, and you come and call for "balance". That annoys me, it's not aggressive, this is an emotional response because football and what it means to so many of us is about emotion and community.

Youre calling for balance but there is no balance to be had, because the club is set on making things worse and has been for years now. We thought it'd get better with how they treat fans after the price freeze & reduction, but clearly they had other ideas.

You brought up this non-existent balance, some random thing about hate towards fellow Blues which I have no clue about, and you are now accusing me of being another person, so I think what on earth are you on about is a fair question to ask. I'm sure the families rep for CM would be glad to talk to you, their email address is on the club website.

No worries you are not willing to discuss these issues in person. Thanks for pointing out you are not on City Matters lol.

I am not sure what fight you want to bring with the Club but I take your word that it is well intended. I was starting to get the vibe from you that you wanted to exploit fears amongst our loyal fanbase. There are certainly some reasons for fans to be angry but you reminded me of when I was in Germany for the 2006 World Cup and agitators would go around the pubs saying young English lads had just been beaten up by German police. It was all untrue and thankfully it failed to provoke our fans into violence with the German police.

I don’t really care much who is in the OSC and who is chair of this and that. I see as all Blues together. That said, it is embarrassing for this forum that there was or is an anti-supporters club thread. It appears to have been suspended for hate messaging.

Thankfully, I will be cheering City on in Manchester and not North Korea tomorrow. Hopefully, we get the three points.

 

[There is a Light]

No worries you are not willing to discuss these issues in person. Thanks for pointing out you are not on City Matters lol.

I am not sure what fight you want to bring with the Club but I take your word that it is well intended. I was starting to get the vibe from you that you wanted to exploit fears amongst our loyal fanbase. There are certainly some reasons for fans to be angry but you reminded me of when I was in Germany for the 2006 World Cup and agitators would go around the pubs saying young English lads had just been beaten up by German police. It was all untrue and thankfully it failed to provoke our fans into violence with the German police.

I don’t really care much who is in the OSC and who is chair of this and that. I see as all Blues together. That said, it is embarrassing for this forum that there was or is an anti-supporters club thread. It appears to have been suspended for hate messaging.

Thankfully, I will be cheering City on in Manchester and not North Korea tomorrow. Hopefully, we get the three points.

In 2006 night before the Paraguay game England fans were attacked by Germans - by a group of bikers who started trouble for no reason about 10pm in the main pub right opposite Frankfurt train station. The England fans were caught by surprise.

A bizarre example you brought out to argue a point but factually incorrect too !

The other thread wouldn’t have been pulled for hate messaging. It would have been pulled because Ric doesn’t want a hot potato on his hands. Comments were all factually correct though.

No one hating on a 64 year old man looking at age gap stuff content involving twinks / teenagers - apart from Andy Savage who exposed him - they are saying it’s inappropriate though for a fans leader to have it openly on his twitter.

 

[BertM19]

No worries you are not willing to discuss these issues in person. Thanks for pointing out you are not on City Matters lol.

I am not sure what fight you want to bring with the Club but I take your word that it is well intended. I was starting to get the vibe from you that you wanted to exploit fears amongst our loyal fanbase. There are certainly some reasons for fans to be angry but you reminded me of when I was in Germany for the 2006 World Cup and agitators would go around the pubs saying young English lads had just been beaten up by German police. It was all untrue and thankfully it failed to provoke our fans into violence with the German police.

I don’t really care much who is in the OSC and who is chair of this and that. I see as all Blues together. That said, it is embarrassing for this forum that there was or is an anti-supporters club thread. It appears to have been suspended for hate messaging.

Thankfully, I will be cheering City on in Manchester and not North Korea tomorrow. Hopefully, we get the three points.

I think it's more than fair once again to say what on earth are you on about????

Everything you're saying is distracting from all the points about the club's actions being against the interests of supporters. You're deflecting from this with loads of weird random topics that make absolutely no sense in this context. World Cup 2006 for gods sake.

I will also be cheering on City, unless you're now accusing me of not being a Blue on top of being someone else that I have no knowledge of.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

In 2006 night before the Paraguay game England fans were attacked by Germans - by a group of bikers who started trouble for no reason about 10pm in the main pub right opposite Frankfurt train station. The England fans were caught by surprise.

A bizarre example you brought out to argue a point but factually incorrect too !

The other thread wouldn’t have been pulled for hate messaging. It would have been pulled because Ric doesn’t want a hot potato on his hands. Comments were all factually correct though.

No one hating on a 64 year old man looking at age gap stuff content involving twinks / teenagers - apart from Andy Savage who exposed him - they are saying it’s inappropriate though for a fans leader to have it openly on his twitter.

I really don’t know why you keep targeting me. Of course there could have been more than one incident involving fans and potential violence in Germany.

I extend my offer to you to meet and chat through the issues in a civil way. I haven’t targeted you in any way and I don’t know which group you are affiliated to. Foodbank, Trade Union Blues, 1894, OSC etc.

Purely for info. When there was even more hostility on this forum several years ago and fans were being persuaded to give up their season cards, you may recall that I was one of the few people who asked Blues not to be rash and said they could miss out on the best years in our history. People always associate me for sticking up for the OSC when it really is minority groups whether it be flexi-gold users, supporters club members, tired season card holders etc.

Btw last time round the aggression stopped because top Blues realised it had gone too far. I met with the main aggressor and issues were resolved

 

[jrb]

There are that many season ticket policy changes that I haven’t got a fucking scooby doo what’s going on.

Ultimately I just want to get in and out of the Etihad on a match day.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I think it's more than fair once again to say what on earth are you on about????

Everything you're saying is distracting from all the points about the club's actions being against the interests of supporters. You're deflecting from this with loads of weird random topics that make absolutely no sense in this context. World Cup 2006 for gods sake.

I will also be cheering on City, unless you're now accusing me of not being a Blue on top of being someone else that I have no knowledge of.

Fair dos me mixing you up with another Blue. I deserved to have the piss taken out of me for that. We have different opinions but probably both want the best for fellow Blues.

Like I’ve said, I’m prepared to meet you to discuss face to face rather than you keep claiming the threat is being derailed. Practise what you preach.

Like the other poster, I don’t know who you are affiliated with whether it be 1894, the Foodbank, Trade Union Blues, City Matters. Supporters Clubs and I don’t really care.

The facts are fans are being treated poorly but we aren’t an outlier in the Prem for this. Of course we should work to improve the situation.

 

[jrb]

What I do know is this.

If City keep on alienating their season ticket holders as they are continuing to do, they will have more than 8000 new seats to fill in the future.

 

[BertM19]

Fair dos me mixing you up with another Blue. I deserved to have the piss taken out of me for that. We have different opinions but probably both want the best for fellow Blues.

Like I’ve said, I’m prepared to meet you to discuss face to face rather than you keep claiming the threat is being derailed. Practise what you preach.

Like the other poster, I don’t know who you are affiliated with whether it be 1894, the Foodbank, Trade Union Blues, City Matters. Supporters Clubs and I don’t really care.

The facts are fans are being treated poorly but we aren’t an outlier in the Prem for this. Of course we should work to improve the situation.

"Like I’ve said, I’m prepared to meet you to discuss face to face rather than you keep claiming the thread is being derailed. Practise what you preach."

Pardon? Why are you desperate to meet up with me in person, you've mentioned it three times now? And how is that not practising what I'm apparently preaching? Again, weird behaviour.

 

[jrb]

Posted on the season ticket thread.

And so it starts, even before the first home game of the season.

Fuck off City!

Well the first of our gang with an empty seat today. His mum was taken into hospital last night and he’s there with her. Messaged us this morning re transferring his ticket to one of his F&F, then realised we’re all season ticket holders. In the past he’d have transferred it and we’d have taken one of the kids. Too late for ticket exchange and he’s used up one of his 3 strikes for an empty seat.

 

[Eccles Blue]

There are that many season ticket policy changes that I haven’t got a fucking scooby doo what’s going on.

Ultimately I just want to get in and out of the Etihad on a match day.

Oh @jrb so do I, in for the game have a great workout cheering the lads and then home for a nice meal and an episode (or two) of The Brokenwood Mysteries and my Saturday is sorted!

 

[Tim of the Oak]

"Like I’ve said, I’m prepared to meet you to discuss face to face rather than you keep claiming the thread is being derailed. Practise what you preach."

Pardon? Why are you desperate to meet up with me in person, you've mentioned it three times now? And how is that not practising what I'm apparently preaching? Again, weird behaviour.

I’m going to leave it there. I gave you three opportunities.

FWIW, I spent a couple of hours last night and an hours this morning helping Blues who I’ve never met sort their ticketing problems. Yes City shouldn’t have a flawed system. I didn’t ask for or receive a penny for this. I don’t want anything.

I have got no qualms with you or the other poster having a pop at me. It’s water of a ducks back. I’m guessing you and the light guy have done more for fellow Blues you’ve never met.