Posted on 17th March 2017
Fans unite for clubs in crisis
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The Football Supporters’ Federation and Blackpool Supporters’ Trust (BST) are hosting a day of action against the game’s unpopular owners.
BST and FSF are calling on fans to head to the north west and show support to fans of clubs in crisis.
On Saturday 6th May fans from across the country will be descending on the seaside town to offer their solidarity to supporters of Blackpool, Leyton Orient and many other clubs with problematic owners.
Blackpool play Leyton Orient on the final day of the season, and Fans United will offer an alternative for fans of those club wishing to boycott the fixture. It will also be a focal point for other fans to demonstrate against unpopular owners.
The march will commence at 4pm from Pleasure Beach via the Promenade South Shore and on to Bloomfield Road, which will be rounded off with a rally at 5pm.
Following the march there will be fixture at the home of AFC Blackpool where a Blackpool XI will take on a Clubs in Crisis fans’ XI. Live music and drinks will round off the day at The Shovels venue.
Although taking place on a busy end-of-season weekend, FSF chairman Malcolm Clarke urged as many supporters as possible to head to Blackpool
“When I visited Blackpool supporters to speak to them earlier in the year it reminded me of their passion and life-long commitment to their football club,” Malcolm said
“Owners are the temporary guardians of a football club’s heritage – clubs such as Blackpool, Coventry City and Leyton Orient are no exception.
“Directors, managers and players all come and go, but generations of supporters and their families are ever-present.
“We are still, unfortunately, in the position where a handful of club owners are not fit to be guardians of that heritage.”
The day of action is named in honour of the 20th anniversary of the 1997 Fans United protests. These saw fans from across the country, and beyond, rally behind Brighton and Hove Albion against nefarious owners ultimately saving the club.
Thanks to The 92 Groundsman for the image used in this news story. Reproduced here under Creative Commons license.
