Apology to the club

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I don't mean clear my name, I accept the ban although excessive.

It's the stories being published saying I'm the one who's attacked the player. Also the lies in court from the prosecution saying I taunted the players and fans.

I feel for you mate, emotions can get the better of anyone.

As someone who has worked in media for 30-odd years, I can only give you a view from my perspective.

I have worked with people who have had their name wrongly smeared, including my own, and see it through a personal prism.

Pride, ego, everything comes in to it, all in a vacuum.

Unless this will now cost you your job or hurt your family, sometimes the best policy is to wipe your eye and accept the scales are tipped against you on this occasion.

Anybody who knows you well enough will not care and those who might, you will be forgotten about very quickly, as harsh as the latter sounds.

I have had a few writs through my career, people brazenly denying the truth in a story, chancing their arm for an out of Court legal settlement, knowing an organisation won't/can't reveal the source.

It burns inside to know you are being wronged, but the people who know you have your back and also your truth.

The punishment is excessive and you have been made an example of.

Your biggest loss is the long ban from City, not your reputation because life quickly moves on and nobody gives a fuck about you, aside from the people who love you.

It is all very personal and raw for you, but I would say give it a few weeks and see how things settle down.

Don't throw good money after bad, take the injustice and get on with your life and sorting out a decent IPTV provider.

Sorry again, bud.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Sorry, still not clear to me whether @meldrew was the fan filmed at the south end of the stadium, and clearly visible on a mobile phone in the Villa away section (and honestly it looks to me as though he is taunting that section, although plenty of that was going back and forth during the match, as it always does), or whether he is the guy filmed from CB lower tier at the north end of the stadium, being escorted by three stewards to get back into his seat before a fourth person, in a suit and obviously working directly for the club, intervenes. May not make any difference, because you're simply not allowed to invade a pitch under any circumstances while a match is going on, for obvious reasons. But let's face it, it's not exactly the same scenario.
The flares were fucking stupid! Supposing one had hit any player (on either side)? Supposing the match had been abandoned? Supposing the ref had taken all the players off for ten minutes, thus completely breaking our momentum? Supposing City had been deducted three points in punishment. Wouldn't be just a lark, would it?
As for what happened after the final whistle — there have always been pitch invasions. The only time I took part in one was at the very end of the season, I was at the very front of the Kippax, I must have been about fifteen, utterly meaningless match in April 1970 against Sunderland (which we lost 1-0!). We'd all got soaked by one of those sharp April downpours, and I thought I'd have a bit of a runaround to get a bit dry. Glad to say that my feet once touched the Maine Road turf. But a bit thick of me, really.
I hope we can all agree that none of want to go back to the days when, as on the continent, a high wire fence surrounds every pitch in the Premier League.

 

[LongsightM13]

Sorry, still not clear whether @meldrew was the fan filmed at the south end of the stadium, and clearly visible on a mobile phone in the Villa away section (and honestly it looks to me as though he is taunting that section, although plenty of that was going back and forth during the match, as it always does), or whether he is the guy filmed from CB lower tier at the north end of the stadium, being escorted by three stewards to get back into his seat before a fourth person, in a suit and obviously working directly for the club, intervenes. May not make any difference, because you're simply not allowed to invade a pitch under any circumstances while a match is going on, for obvious reasons. But let's face it, it's not exactly the same scenario.
The flares were fucking stupid! Supposing one had hit any player (on either side)? Supposing the match had been abandoned? Supposing the ref had taken all the players off for ten minutes, thus completely breaking our momentum? Supposing City had been deducted three points in punishment. Wouldn't be just a lark, would it?
As for what happened after the final whistle — there have always been pitch invasions. The only time I took part in one was at the very end of the season, I was at the very front of the Kippax, I must have been about fifteen, utterly meaningless match in April 1970 against Sunderland (which we lost 1-0!). We'd all got soaked by one of those sharp April downpours, and I thought I'd have a bit of a runaround to get a bit dry. Glad to say that my feet once touched the Maine Road turf. But a bit thick of me, really.
I hope we can all agree that none of want to go back to the days when, as on the continent, a high wire fence surrounds every pitch in the Premier League.

The most stupid thing of all was the clowns throwing smoke bombs on the pitch at 2-1 and 2-2 when we were still chasing the result and Villa were desperately trying to run down the clock. Absolutely fucking brain dead

 

[dickie davies]

The most stupid thing of all was the clowns throwing smoke bombs on the pitch at 2-1 and 2-2 when we were still chasing the result and Villa were desperately trying to run down the clock. Absolutely fucking brain dead

Dons Kevin Keegan style wig....

"I'd love it" if those responsible were traced and banned

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

The most stupid thing of all was the clowns throwing smoke bombs on the pitch at 2-1 and 2-2 when we were still chasing the result and Villa were desperately trying to run down the clock. Absolutely fucking brain dead

Can only imagine their thought train. "Der, I've bought em now, we're probably not gonna win so I best use em to get mi money's worth". Dumb cunts

 

[Nethermoor]

Go and support a local non league team for 4 years :). No one there will care if you have a banning order or not!

Funny story, we had a left back at Guiseley a couple of seasons ago. He signed for Chesterfield in the national league but they released him and he played 0 games. Turns out he was banned from all professional football stadiums so wouldn't have been able to play at half the grounds.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

A bit of advice for the OP (although he probably won't want it from me).

This isn't entirely over yet as the club have to decide if they want to impose an additional ban. They will be reading this thread and they may conclude that you are feeling more sorry about the penalties imposed by the court than the damage you caused the club and act accordingly.

Stop being aggrieved at what was said in court as no-one outside of this thread will remember it already and move on. Hopefully the club will decide you have had sufficient punishment and won't add to it. Life goes on and far worse things happen.

 

[Keke Rosberg]

If I was in your shoes right now its the injustice that you were involved in the Robin Olsen saga and riling up their fans which would hurt. So if you were absolutely not involved in any of these two points then I’d want to appeal. Even if your ban wasn’t reduced at least it would look favourable on your side to getting back in with the club when your ban expires.

@meldrew sorry I’m not sure how you set up a go fund me page.
keep talking, keep your chin up.

 

[117 M34]

I wonder how many Blues have got their mates banned by invading the pitch after getting match tickets from friends?

I once got a ban letter from City for being kicked out at the swamp for doing aeroplanes - I didn't even go to the game!
Was sorted very quickly and didn't miss any games.

 

[Roachy]

The most stupid thing of all was the clowns throwing smoke bombs on the pitch at 2-1 and 2-2 when we were still chasing the result and Villa were desperately trying to run down the clock. Absolutely fucking brain dead

Want a fucking clout them morons.