I am not going to rant
about commercialism within football, as it's simply there. Of course
you got genuine sugar daddies – those who want a club to succeed
and enjoy sharing a happy time together with their available money.
But I'm going to write about fans who stood up against greedy
businessmen and did not hold back in order to protect their biggest
love in life – and keeping their pridefully gained history to
remain alive and kicking.
The strongest and most
powerful example in modern football is of course AFC Wimbledon. Back
in 2002 already, the Wimbledon FC supporters founded their own club
in protest over plans to re-locate their much loved club up to Milton
Keynes. It was amazing to witness, that determination – with almost
all the loyal fans taking part. When the first ball started to roll
at their shared Kingsmeadow stadium there was one main target:
getting back into the nationwide football league as soon as possible
– and after only 9 seasons they accomplished their heroic
achievement!
Five promotions in nine
seasons time, exceptional. The whole project was from scratch. WFC
fans paying contributions and season tickets year in year our, a
sponsor sniffed the opportunity to become part of the exciting
project and not only that: former players of the 'old' Wimbledon its
Crazy Gang are working within their managerial ranks. This is
a club of the people, and the reason why I like following them and
their progress ever since their establishment.
Which I also find great
is that – as they demanded it, and rightly so – they've took back
all the trophies ever won and the full history of the old club for it
to remains in the area. A current long time target is to build an own
ground near to where the old club used to play, with the old
greyhound track seen as ideal location. I hope for them they can get
that ground, but only if fresh from current issues in that
surrounding area.
Another fine example,
which came due of AFC Wimbledon's success, is FC United of Manchester
– who set up a heritage club in protest against the Glazer family
their ownership of United. Also here a lot of fans are taking part,
building up a healthy finance. Their greatest success so far is no
doubt reaching the 2nd round of the FA cup back in 2011.
Also a great achievement for them is that they've received permission
to build an own stadium in the north of Manchester, which will be
used for the first time when season next season kicks off. I do hope
for them have kept a register of all the fans who joined their
project from the start in order to avoid glory hunters to suddenly
hijack their current and future achievements. But I have no doubt
they got that protection in mind themselves.
There are also some sad
stories about fans trying to break free of their current club owner,
but do not understand how it works. Or are simply too selfish. Mind
you, I think the FCUoM fans do agree. Fans at Old Trafford were being
fooled by conmen who sold Green and Gold scarves, and gained a lot of
money via other ways as well, in order to make a bid to buy out the
Glazer family. I smelled a stinker from a long distance myself, most
didn't. They thought buying a scarf was enough, while still buying
(season)tickets and a new jersey each and every season – feeding
the Americans with just as much money as before purchasing their
'protest scarf'.
The big con was of
course was that after a long period of collecting money from
desperate United fans, they pulled out the plug one month before
their set date to make a formal offer – stating they had 'internal
disagreements' – and we never heard from them ever again. They did
gain millions of pounds, but that money 'is gone'.
A current big fight
which is going on is taking place at Portsmouth FC. A club who got
into turmoil after their old manager Harry Redknapp spend way too
many millions on 3rd grade Premier League players 'trying
to become a big player in the top'. He finished 13th in
his first season back in the top flight, and resigning during the
second while struggling on the bottom trying to avoid the drop. To
show his dignity, he joined their most hated rivals Southampton two
weeks later. If QPR would go down this season, it would be Redknapp's
4th Premier League club he will sank out of the top
flight and therefore it is making him the ideal new manager for the
English national team, don't we agree? – (sorry, this a snap I
simply couldn't refuse)
Sadly for the
Portsmouth loyal – gathered together as the Pompey Supporters Trust
– is that after several years they are still not owning the club.
However, not that long ago the administrators have thankfully
indicated they only want them to succeed with their bid to take over
the powers. It's just a matter of time. I hope for them that a big
sponsor would be willing to join in when accomplished and they'll be
back soon to Play Up Pompey – as their loyal fans deserve
their true love to be theirs again.
(AFC Wimbledon fans after winning play offs final in 2008)
:) Good writer
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