by whubris on Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:51 pm
I might not be a regular contributor any more (thanks to lack of Foxtel mostly) but as one of the trinity of hard working longtime organisers on the Bris Hammers scene I think I've earned the right to speak out on this.
I agreed with everything Dave and Norven said, and then I saw Bret's site - and frankly I've hit the fucking roof on this. Bret - this is not acceptable.
Tony's dead right - I stopped going to games as often because of the aggro. It's just not fun any more and frankly it's fucking embarrassing to see a bunch of ludicrously over-drunken dickheads making utter fools of themselves in public by getting bolshy with everyone not in C&B. I'd be ashamed to wear the C&B if I didn't realise that the club is more important than the wankers and not the other way round.
Genuine hardcore fans are being ostracised because of it and all the hard work that Dave, Tony and I (among others) have done in the last few years will be for nothing. This new site is not only embarrassing, but it uses the logo (and name) that we developed for our own identity when we don't want to be a part of the site at all. By all means have a link to this forum and use the logo as part of the link, but it's not right to just take the logo and use it as your own whenever you want.
Readers, what do you really want? If you want to fight and make trouble, then join up with all the other people who can't handle their booze and go and make trouble - but please don't wear the C&B when you do, and don't associate with people who wear it while you're carrying on like that.
If on the other hand you want to discuss West Ham United and football (and other things) and find like minded people for a few enjoyable pints and the odd game, then stick around.
As far as I'm concerned you can do both if you want but not at the same time - I'd like to be able to wear the C&B with pride.
The best BH game I ever went to was the FA Cup Final against Liverpool. Scouse and Cockney mixed, we sang our songs to one another, we had some banter and rivalry, and we shook hands at the end. You don't have to bash your opponents heads in to be a true fan - in fact maybe that shows a bit of insecurity. If you're a true fan you know they are true fans as well (even if they're misguided) and that they deserve respect for that.