Donkey

Comments (1)

I read the response by nuttytoffee to the fan article written by Liam Cassidy, "Get your money then treat 'em like shit." Read this response and you will be appalled by the way a young fan was treated, all for the sake of three players signing a piece of paper. Is this really the way to handle potential future die-hard supporters? How times have changed.

I remember 1985. I was 17 years old. Dad had parked the car in the Stanley Park parking area. Walking the distance to Goodison was nothing (I now live in the US where nobody walks if possible!) We came around the back of the Park End heading for the Main Stand, Top Balcony, turnstiles. ?Inchy? was walking the other way, coming toward us. ?Inchy? I shouted in awe and he smiled said something kind in return. That will never happen today. Players think they are above those that pay to watch them IMHO. They do not walk past the Park End. They do not SEE the fans. It is get in, get out and let's go.

I was at Hillsborough in 1985. Wednesday were a strong side and we were close to winning the League. Andy Gray scored the winner in a tense battle. Neville (Southall) produced a save almost equal to that of the one at Spurs. I remember the game like yesterday but I also remember how I was able to close in on the bench before the game and secure the signatures of players such as Alan Harper, Kevin Richardson and the manager Howard! Does that happen today? I doubt it.

Rewind back to my time in the UK. My best mate Phil was and is still an avid Wigan RL fan. He introduced me to rugby league. I still went to watch my beloved Everton whenever possible but I also went to watch Wigan. That was back in the day when Wigan DOMINATED rugby league - from 1989 until I moved to the US late 1993. I saw Wigan play at Wembley as many times as Everton - and that was a lot! Wigan then were the equivalent of MU/Chelsea/Arsenal as they are now, within rugby league.

1992, Phil and his wife were expecting their second child. his brings me back to ?nuttytoffee?. His son?s request was handled abysmally by the club.

1992. I drove down to Wigan from Lancaster. I was able to park my reliable Peugeot 205 right outside the front offices of Central Park. I entered the offices with a Congratulations card in my hand complete with the envelope with a stamp placed on it. I told them of my friend?s upcoming event. I asked if it would be possible for those great players of the time to sign it and then mail it back to me. I thought then it was a no-brainer; the card and mailing costs were covered.

Phil and Denise?s second child arrived. On the same day so did my pre-posted paid card to my address. I confess I steamed it open. My jaw dropped?

Wigan greats had signed the card, greats such as; Joe Lydon, Frano Botica, Andy Gregory, Jason Robinson, Shaun Edwards, Dennis Betts, Martin Offiah ? and they mailed it back to me.

I have great memories of walking into the pub Phil was manager of. I said, ?This got mailed to me by mistake.? I gave him the card. His face when he saw who had signed it was, as MasterCard like to say, ?Priceless.?

I can only hope the PL does not reflect what the US has become/is.

Money is the ?carrot? to move the donkey. The only problem with this ? the donkey remembers the carrot and forgets the supporters.
Gary Sedgwick, Harlingen, Texas, USA     Posted 23/06/2007 at 01:26:22

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