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Thread | Tonight
at 15:37 16 May 2015
Anyone else going to the 5th BST Anniversary dinner?
Would be good to put some more usernames to faces.
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Thread | New grounds
at 21:08 4 May 2015
Next season there will be a number for me.
Colchester, Burton and potentially, Chesterfield and Stevenage.
Anybody else looking to add to their total? |
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Thread | Season ticket prices.
at 19:47 1 May 2015
Business as usual £295 for adults, no mention of relegation [Post edited 1 May 2015 19:52]
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Thread | Cornell University
at 16:06 23 Apr 2015
Have just published a paper on Internet trolling.
Apparently those infesting and getting banned from messageboards are easily recognised by their swearing and poor spelling.
Just think, all those years of getting grief for being the spelling police and really I was saving them from themselves  |
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Thread | Wonga
at 20:21 21 Apr 2015
I see the reason for their withdrawal of sponsorship has become clearer.
£40 million losses.
Turns out they accidentally borrowed a fiver off themselves. |
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Thread | Latest legal action
at 17:26 21 Apr 2015
Taking on the Sun for defamation. This will be interesting. |
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Thread | FA Cup
at 17:24 19 Apr 2015
So they couldn't 'do it for Stevie' then.
Just how good are we to push the FA Cup Finalists so close  |
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Thread | Jacobs gone
at 12:54 9 Apr 2015
He's been recalled by Wolves. Shame, as I thought he gave us some pace and trickery that I don't really see elsewhere, unless Barkhuizen gets a run out in his preferred position. |
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Thread | Last night
at 08:36 8 Apr 2015
Another game in which I thought we had the better of the draw, especially in the first half. For long spells, it was us running the game in midfield with some neat play, while Madine continued to show that he is a decent focal point, holding the ball up well and bringing his team-mates into play.
Finally we both won and scored a penalty, with a clear push on Madine and a good finish from O'Hara.
The pitch played its part in reducing the quality of the game, with Jacobs in particular hampered by the inability of the ball to run on the atrocious surface. Another who blamed it was Perkins as he broke with players to both left and right, and only two defenders with him; I thought he just got caught between two minds and ended up doing nothing, but he'll be blaming the pitch 
Once again we started the second half cold, and were immediately punished as Pobrebniak (sp?) ran strongly down the wing before pulling the ball back. It looked like one of our players tried to smash it out for a corner, only for it to strike Hall in the face and rebound into the net. He looked out for the count and eventualyl had to leave the pitch. Shame, as he has been playing well, although I thought Maher did OK in his place.
Second half, we seemed to fade, and didn't have the same dominance in midfield, although Reading didn't really threaten and looked a poor side. How there are in the FA Cup semi-final is anyone's guess. As the game meandered to another draw, Clark will take consolation from the fact that we at least have started to look like a team, with a recognisable shape and no little threat. Far too late and simply highlights what a frustrating waste this season has been, and all so avoidable.
No doubt there will be plenty of coverage about the pre-match scenes. With it being Easter, it was no surprise to see the many gifts of eggs aimed at the West entrance and windows. No doubt the main meal in hospitality at the Fulham game will be omelettes. Along with a flare and fireworks, it livened up the scene and emphasised just how unhappy the fans are with the current regime.
Still not sure they'll go anywhere, but it's clear there is no turning back.
Such a waste of an opportunity to be a real vibrant community club. |
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Thread | Makes a welcome change
at 20:45 5 Apr 2015
To actually come away from a game talking about the game itself, and not in a depressed sort of way. In the absence of our regular correspondent, forced by travel difficulties to miss the game, I thought I'd give a little more depth to how I saw of the match.
Yes, I was gutted they equalised with the last kick, but I also enjoyed a decent game in which we played our full part, finally creating a number of decent chances, and giving the opposition problems.
Right from the off, we were in their faces and winning the ball in midfield, with probably our best line up so far this season, Cubero, Orlandi, O'Hara all on the pitch at the same time.
Jacobs was looking a real handful, and that paid dividends as O'Hara dinked a ball over the top and Jacobs used his pace to get away from the back line before steadying himself and rifling the ball past Amos. That was one of a number of chances we made in that first half, with a number of headers going over, while we also had a number of shots. Made a pleasant change to see most of the game at the other end of the pitch.
As usual, we had a mad five minutes when the defensive shape disappeared but Bolton were unable to capitalise and we went into the break deservedly in front.
At half time, a number of youths were removed following a flare incident when we scored. Both stewards and police seemed to enjoy the confrontational aspect of this, and were more than a bit heavy handed, particularly with the only one they removed over the age of 15, who objected to his treatment. Did it really need 9 to get him down and then out of the ground?
Second half, Bolton came out a bit more determined, but we were defending OK, and were looking dangerous on the break. As the game went on, we seemed to sit a little deeper, inviting them on, and Bannan missed an absolute sitter when the ball was squared back to him. It seemed that luck was finally going our way, and we even had a number of clear chances to make it safe when Clarke missed from a corner, blazing over from 6 yards, followed by a glorious chance for Cubero. Jacobs made all the running down the wing, cut in and squared it. We were queuing up to score at the back post, as Cubero checked round his man but put it over the bar from 8 yards.
We were left to rue that as the four minutes of injury time came and went, playing the wrong ball and losing possession when breaking from a corner.
Bolton played the ball back in, Bannan was allowed to run the full length of the area, passing in front of at least 6 of us before going to the byline. He crossed to the far post where Heskey headed it back across. Someone headed it towards goal where Gudjonnsen, stood on the goalline, added the final touch. He looked offside to me, but of course, it wasn't given.
We kicked off and the ref blew the whistle.
Gutted not to have won, but for once, we really looked like a team and played our full part in a proper game of football.
Clark has taken some stick over his team selections and tactics, but Saturday showed he can get the team playing, what's more playing with pride in the shirt and with a decent shape.
Obviously, we're down, but if we can keep the majority of that side, we'll do Ok next season and can finally start to turn a corner.
Far too soon to talk about green shoots etc, as we're still in dire straits and there are still the Oystons whoever is manager, but the club goes on. Maybe it's time to drop the antagonism towards Clark and support his team, albeit not forgetting what''s going on off the field. |
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Thread | Quieter than usual
at 08:14 31 Mar 2015
Probably because there's been no game.
Anyone going to Bolton? |
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Thread | International week
at 17:28 29 Mar 2015
Watched a few games over the weekend.
Just watching Scotland now, and I'm delighted to say that Gibraltar have just scored their first ever goal in competitive football.
My daughter's PE teacher is playing upfront for them, yet they're drawing with Scotland.
Anyone else watch the Fleetwood game? I had to check the control on the TV as I thought the volume button was broken. Local derby, but utterly lacking in anything you'd call atmosphere. A draw was probably the worst result for them both, doing neither any real favours.
Can't say I've missed us losing this week, and it'll probably see the confirmation of relegation next week. Roll on summer. |
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Thread | Eclipse
at 11:13 20 Mar 2015
Quite cloudy here in Leeds, but there was enough of a break in the cloud from around 9.00 to see the sun turned into a crescent that slowly went anti-clockwise, with around 80% coverage at 9.30.
Got some good pictures as the light reflected between the windows of our office.
Just after 9.30 the cloud really thickened up so we've seen nothing since.
How was it for you?
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Thread | Message from the Supporters Trust
at 14:18 22 Feb 2015
The recent well-publicised spate of legal cases that the current owners of the club have instigated against fans has set yet another unhappy precedent for Blackpool FC. The fact that such proceedings are happening at all only confirms the dreadful state of relations between the owners and many of its most loyal and passionate supporters; and the action of the owners in suing for defamation/libel has opened an even greater rift between them and many supporters. In fact, it is likely to have further sullied the family name rather than exonerating the Oystons. It is worth noting that many of the accusations levelled against the owners have been echoed throughout the press and yet the Oystons apparently have not pursued those newspapers with the means to investigate and publicise the concerns of supporters.
The outcome of the cases that have so far been made public tells us more about the frailties of the law than it does about the merits of the cases. In defamation law, the burden of proof lies with the individual making the statement, and that seems fair: if you make a statement it should then be your responsibility to prove it. However, there is no legal aid applicable in these cases and the costs mount very quickly. Any fan choosing to defend a defamation claim will quickly find himself incurring costs of as much as £10,000 even before reaching the High Court, where costs can escalate into the £100,000's. Add to that any damages awarded and it is clear that only those with very deep pockets can afford to bring or to defend such cases. It is reasonable to assume that financial and/or professional ruin would dissuade most people from attempting to prove the truth of some comment that they made on an internet message board.
Of course, even if you did have deep pockets, being able to prove anything about the finances at Blackpool FC would require complete access to the accounts of the various businesses that now comprise our Club, plus the assistance of a team of forensic accountants. Deloitte & Touche, when approached by the Trust, suggested that the cost of such an examination might exceed £20,000.
There is no doubt that some fans have written things that cannot be supported and that any reasonable person might object to. However, the vast majority of those involved have simply questioned the truth of various statements that the owners have made. The Oystons need not verify any of the claims that they have made regarding the football club to anyone other than the shareholders of their businesses. Indeed, the Oystons recently changed the constitutions of various Blackpool FC companies to ensure that the little power other shareholders had to hold the owners to account is now removed almost completely.
The publication of public apologies from at least two of those involved, including the Trust's former Chairman, Tim Fielding, has led to further questions and even greater unhappiness amongst supporters. We are aware that Owen Oyston was convicted of rape in 1996. He has, as is his right, protested his innocence of that charge from the point when he was arrested. Imagine then, if his release from prison had been dependent on him writing an abject apology to his victim, acknowledging his guilt and agreeing never to contradict that statement. We can only guess at what choice Mr Oyston might have made but would contend that no one should ever have to make that decision, for it makes a mockery of justice and personal freedom.
It is with all these things in mind that Blackpool Supporters’ Trust requests that the Oystons should reconsider their strategy. They can choose to take a different approach in their relationship with many of the supporters and cease to prosecute anyone who has perhaps been overenthusiastic or mistaken in the language they have used. Perhaps less comprehensive but much more sincere apologies would be preferable.
It is clear that the truth is important to the Oystons and if they have been wrongly accused, then simply opening up the books to an independent group of forensic accountants would be a constructive means of establishing the true facts. The results of such an investigation could be made public to allay any concerns supporters might have about what monies have been invested in the club and how they have been managed.
In the meantime, there are supporters without deep pockets who have incurred considerable costs as a result of the cases brought against them by the owners, costs that leave them financially compromised. If you are able to help even in a small way to contribute any assistance, there is a support fund, justice4fans. This is managed by an Independent Panel of three non-committee members of BST. They will determine the future allocation of any collected funds to those who have been subject to libel action by the Oystons and who make application for assistance. Fans will have concerns as to the merit of individual cases and as such, we can confirm that a set of rules for the distribution of funds has also been agreed, which will ensure that the most deserving individuals benefit most from the fund.
If anyone does have any specific queries or concerns that they wish to clarify with BST prior to making a contribution, please email to: secretary@blackpoolsupporterstrust.org.
Contributions to justice4fans can be made as follows:
Via the link below
or alternatively direct from a personal paypal account using this method
1. Visit https://www.paypal.com/uk/
2. Sign in using your email and paypal password
3. Click on MyPaypal
4. Click on Pay or Send Money
5. Click on Send Money to Friends or Family
6. Enter Justice4fans@outlook.com and amount you wish to donate and click NEXT
7. Follow on screen instructions to complete the donation |
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Thread | Preston
at 21:30 16 Feb 2015
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Thread | Penalties
at 22:05 8 Feb 2015
Would you have booked or even sent off the Ivorian keeper for two shameless cheating scenes in feigning injury?
He then goes on to score the winner. Spoilt it as far as I am concerned. |
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Thread | Ishmael Miller
at 09:34 2 Feb 2015
Orlandi's column reports that he's gone. While we haven't seen the best of him, it's not like we have many options up front.
Sorry to see him go. |
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