'A Commercial Entity Where Apathy Abounds' - Part 1

I would love to know what Marina Dolman thinks of this!

In some ways I can understand where Oscar is coming from, but isn't football across the board like this now? Is it not a case of having to move with the times in order to exist?

I am sure we all have our own thoughts on the matter but I grew up with Bristol City and will go to my death bed loving them no matter what guise it's in!!

 

poor sod, is he REDPRINTT in disguise and only been a supporter for 20 years ...uumm probably not even RP been a fan for longer than 20 years, [probably not even RP HAS BEEN A FAN FOR LONGER THAN 20 YEARS] …. however I think it is pathetic my 4d programme has gone up by ??? % entry to ground ???? % [ after being a supporter for 20 years and paying 7s -6d ] its now £600 a year diabolical what next... we get to the prem [ because of good housekeeping and wise investment ] to see the likes of LPool / the Manchesters / 3 or 4 top London clubs we might be subjected to another rise in ticket prices oh my goodness that profiteering Bristol sport they should let us see everything for free … give us a pint and a pie or pizza for attending … and every kid should get a complimentary kit on their 12th birthday...…….

WELCOME TO THE MODERN WORLD

 

The world of football has indeed changed but is it for the better? When players drive a Bentley and then plough it in to a roadside bistro whilst leaving the scene after the mishap says it all in my mind. Football is no longer about the supporters but rather the corporate world and the monies available through everything non-football and to hell with product satisfaction on the pitch. Toblerone anyone?

 

Largely no, at least for me.
Maybe it's my accelerating age, maybe I simply don't see the same sort of heroes and characters that I had as a kid when it wasn't corporate and most stadiums had more standing room than seats.
Freezing cold winters, orange footballs, muddy pitches covered in sand, queuing for hours to get in etc.
The likes of Frank Worthington, Tony Currie, Rodney Marsh and co, and then there were of course the 1966 winners and the local celebs like Chris Garland and his £100k move to Chelsea, then Leicester and then back to us. Gazza came close but it's all so clinical and not much fun.
Hateful Leeds under Don Revie
I've been watching some of the old 1st Division matches on BT Sport from the 1970's and the quality and speed of the football really wasn't great.
But it had charm and heroes.
And now it just doesn't, and to the degree that I never watch the Premiership nowadays

 

Mike, it isn't only just footballers that drive a Bentley... and 1 or 2 out of thousands that might, accidents are an everyday occurrence irrespective who drives and whatever the circumstances on a pro rata basis expensive cars have more accidents.. I've driven a lot of miles.. hundreds of thousands on motorways and seen dozens of accidents and often a "posh car" is involved .. not always a Bentley mind you but usually in the bracket circa £40K +

 

mud and footballs weighing 6lbs! or more …. uuuurgh …..those were the days … the thing is though modern day peeps are lazier than back then! kids walked to school be it 100m or 2 miles ! I had 3 schools which I had to walk to, done a google maps … infants was just over half a mile .. bigger school 1.57 mile and my last school was for 1 year 2.23 mile! and that was 7 days a week!!!!! all winds and weather …. now the peeps down the road drive their kids 280m and I BET THERE SOME DRIVE EVEN LESS in their 4x4.. back then standing was part of life ..nowadays its sit for this sit for that … go to the fish shop and its sit and wait just for the 2 or 3 mins it takes …!

 

I do understand where the author is coming from but it doesn’t apply to me. Whilst I miss the TERRACES and the surge in the East End when we scored, I certainly do NOT miss the football.
I used to go to the Robins for my pre-match pint and it was a nightmare getting served in there sometimes. More recently I’ve gone to the Cross Hands (now closed for refurbishment) or even the Tapas bar before the Barnsley game (my first time in there).
The corporate thing is here to stay and is an integral part of the modern game. Players’ wages have skyrocketed and the Bosman rule now forces clubs to sell players sooner than they would like, hence lowering their prices.
Without Bristol Sport we’d be exactly where the author looks back so fondly to; League 1 at best, with 14000 fans watching another League 1 side battle out a scruffy draw.
No, I’d rather have what we have now thanks.

 

Football is run as a business these days - that applies to every football club - not just City

Bristol Sport is SL's way of trying to make BCFC financially self-sufficient - so you could argue that's a good thing?

 

I can remember Alan Skirton standing on the side of the pitch at half time having a fag!! That's something - thankfully - you will never see in a pro football match again!!

 

I remember seeing a clip of Dixie Dean having a fag with the opposition captain on the centre spot whilst the referee tossed a coin. It must have been an important game (FA cup perhaps).
Once the result of the toss was sorted, the 2 players and the official all shook hands, then stamped out their fags right there on the pitch, ready for kickoff!!!
It seems so alien and incredible that it ever happened at all

 

Good old Alan Skirton was the first person I ever heard using the phrase 'piss off' when one of his team mates (I forget who) asked him for a return pass right in front of me where I used to stand in the Enclosure.

 

it is a very good thing ……….

Bristol sport is a vision by SL of embracing other sports IN Bristol which in the cold light of day might not be anything as rewarding to the spectators that view them
Bristol sport is not BCFC ….BCFC is part of Bristol sport … IT USES THE FACILITIES that the umbrella of Bristol sport provides
2 teams now share the cost of the stadiums pitch … it gets used most weeks and mid weeks... each entity within Bristol Sport is /has to be self sufficient within their own right.

there is a lot more to Bristol Sport than a lot of peeps believe IT to be … Bristol sport is not BCFC … it is an umbrella for SPORT IN BRISTOL

 

When did you find time to go up the chimney's

 

didn't need to, burnt Welsh steam coal and the local sweep was a person of very small stature .. used the soot to regenerate as fuel mixed with sawdust from the localmill … hardware store a roaring trade with wall paper paste …………..

 

In the shape Mr Lansdown wants the FC to be. Using a separate business to run commercial activities is not unusual, creating a highly visible separate brand is.

Commercialisation and fandom can exist more easily than it does here. There are clearly areas where supporters can be involved in preserving the traditions and culture of the club.

These alternatives exist at clubs far bigger and more successful than Bristol City.

Meanwhile ..

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F A N T A S T I C news .. the new complex what a gift to the city of Bristol, Basket ball arena conference centre / venue, hotel housing etc etc and still Space to Incorporate/ modify the last stand a fantastic commercial opportunity to put down a base to support Bristol sporting activities .. make money put BRISTOL on the sporting map … maybe even get a few internationals [ albeit for the immediate future v lesser nations! ]. A slight improvement of the road to Barrow tanks and hey presto …..

 

just watched the video, disappointed .. no heli pad and no Tesco ..

 

Think that shirt is a stunt. a gambling company across a shirt celebrating 125 years of BCFC is too far even for BS.