Statement for Linfield Chairman

[ourkid]

The members of Hatchets and Hammers wish to express our disgust at the Linfield Football Club Chairman and the Management Committee for how they have handled recent events such as the Irish Cup Semi-final aftermath and events at the St Pat's Setanta game.

To start with last night, we saw press sites littered with pictures of several Linfield supporters being man handled by the Gardai, one in particular, a well respected blueman covered in blood after a savage attack by the Gardai. How did our Chairman handle this incident? By condemning his own supporters and claiming that violence was started by Linfield supporters who attended the game wanted trouble and who do not regularly attend Linfield matches. Did the Chairman actually take the time to find out exactly what happened? Did he investigate through local eyewitnesses and through co-operation with St Patricks Athletic to find out if it was trouble caused by Linfield Supporters or by over zealous Police officers who couldn't cope with bulging fans in the security area who were swaying into them due to pressure from the sizeable crowd entering the area.
I challenge the Gardai to provide evidence that these Linfield fans threatened their health in such a manner that it was necessary to break the face of the fan in question. Did the fan carry or throw a weapon, was he physically attacking the Gard? No. Police officers are required to use force when necessary, not when they feel like it, such as what happened on this occasion.

So what exactly did our chairman say?

Originally Posted by Jim Kerr

Linfield chairman Jim Kerr said he "utterly condemned" the behaviour and added that "the name of Linfield Football Club had been dragged through the gutter".
"Some fans with far too much to drink had tickets that were not sold to them and I don't know where they got those tickets and whether they were forged or genuine.
"Alcohol was the problem and there were people here who were spoiling for a fight.
"Some people whom I have never seen at Windsor Park were being aggressive towards fellow supporters, safety officers and the Garda.
"Should we continue in the Setanta Cup next season, we will have to look at transporting our supporters from Windsor Park and make sure they get to the ground without incident. There will be no unorganised travel.

This was on the night in question. How did St Patricks Athletic respond the following day?

Originally Posted by www.stpatsfc.com

Last night St Patrick’s Athletic hosted over 800 travelling Linfield fans to Richmond Park. This travelling fan base, one of the largest to visit Richmond Park in recent years behaved impeccably over the night and gave their team great support.

One incident where two Linfield fans were ejected from the ground following a scuffle with gardai was captured by the press and the resulting images shown in the national media may have given the impression of more widespread trouble occurring at the match which was simply not the case. The match night arrangements ensured that fans were successfully segregated at the game itself and also when leaving the stadium.

For the second time within a month, its a sad day when your opponents come out to your defence and your Chairman and Management Committee are criticising the people that put them into power in the first place and give them a reason to live on a Saturday afternoon. Last month we heard Kerr attack his own fans after the IC Semi Final, whilst Jim Rodgers lept to Linfield fan's defence.

Add to that the disgraceful withdrawal of the Windsor Roar CD from the shelves of the Linfield Superstore, and, what made that worse, the denial of knowledge of said lyrics on the CD, even though this CD is STILL played matchday before EVERY home game, complete hypocrisy. Did Linfield also admit that an estimated £7-8k had been raised through the sale and Windsor Roar campaign, did they return this to the people whose hard work had been 'washed away' with Linfield's press statement?

Originally Posted by www.linfieldfc.com

Linfield Football Club have withdrawn a CD containing twenty songs one of which contained material which could offend and may be deemed to encourage violence.

We would make it clear that this CD was produced independently by supporters.

Once we were made aware of the contents of this song, the CD was immediately withdrawn.

Some people may ask where do we go from here? For some people like me its clear that our Chairman is completely out of his depth, and would rather pander to the press with hasty remarks that criticise Linfield fans rather than waiting for all the facts, liaising with their opponents and fans, then releasing a press statement based on truth.
So on behalf of H&H I would like to make 3 clear statements:

a). We at H&H give thanks to St Pats Athletic for their professional response to last nights proceedings.

b). We hope that our fans in Dublin get home safely, and those savagely attacked by the Gardai get well soon.

c). H&H are united in the belief that our Chairman resign in the coming AGM and should never serve on the Management Committee again. A competent successor should be appointed who is willing to stick by his own club and handle the fans and media in a professional, dignified manner. Before you do, feel free to apologise profusely to the 900 supporters who made their way to Dublin on Tuesday and did their club proud.

[South Stand Loyal]

[aquascrotum]

Well said

[ThreeColoursBlue]

Here, Here!

[Carsie]

Has this been sent to LFC ?

[ourkid]

Feel free to pass it on with a link to it if anyone knows his email address.

[South Stand Loyal]

Print it out and post it to Windsor!!!

[Carsie]

Surely if it was sent via the official site, they would receive it.

[NIBLUES]

taken from a recent report

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...cle3532569.ece



Kerr, 67-year-old, ex-principal of Brownlow Primary School, Lisburn, who was appointed last August after the sudden death of "Mr Linfield" David Crawford.

The choice is an admirable one for he is the ideal leader, has everyone working as a team, the honest, common sense approach of the Ulsterman as well as outstanding negotiating skills and articulate.
Nobody is more suited to lead his management team and the huge contingent of supporters through one of the most critical periods in the club's history.

His demeanour, his clean-cut dress sense are the military hallmarks, his analytical thinking that of the schoolmaster, the passion for Linfield, loyalty, fairness and straightforwardness are his currency.

Q: Your ambitions for the club?

A: To continue being successful without losing the family image - an image underlined when the relatives of the late Arthur Thomas who died in Australia recently made a special visit to Windsor Park. Arthur's motto was once a Blueman always a Blueman. Indeed that would apply to everyone associated with the club which has a fierce and relentless sporting rivalry with other teams. I am proud to be its chairman JOKE!

Are you proud to be a blueman and represent the very fans you are shafting Jimbo?

[ourkid]

On that, why do we persist in putting Chairmen in place who are 65+, its about time we had someone who is in the 'real world' in charge and not someone who still thinks we're in the 60's.

[carrickLFC]

Originally Posted by cornholio

On that, why do we persist in putting Chairmen in place who are 65+, its about time we had someone who is in the 'real world' in charge and not someone who still thinks we're in the 60's.

i think the theory is they are supposed to be older and wiser with a bit of experience. something went badly wrong on this one.

[ritchie johnston]

Great post again but the full management commitee needs to go in my opinion. Bunch of gutless PC gestapo w@nkers.

[Thompo]

nonsense.

[Roger]

And who exactly do you propose will run the club?

[Bluenose]

The General