An open letter to Jermaine Beckford

Dear Jermaine,

I heard a snippet of radio commentary from Saturday's game at Peterborough this morning, as I travelled to work. It was the first time that I had heard it, but I had read all about it within minutes of the game ending, through the various social network sites.

I have to say that I was shocked, and somewhat disappointed, with what I was hearing, as it didn't reflect what I had seen on the pitch, with my very own eyes. Apparently, having sprinted the length of the pitch in the dying minutes of the game, to cover for your team mates, you were then expected to sprint all the way down to the other end for a free kick that would, and did, end up being blasted over the bar.

You might want to correct me, if I'm wrong, but I thought you had done a great job getting back, and were conserving energy. I also thought you were hanging back just in case the ball came out of the crowded penalty area (crowded because it looked like you and Kasper were the only players not in there), and be in a position to get it back into the mixer. As they say.

The radio commentary suggested otherwise. Apparently, you were throwing a strop. If you were "throwing a strop", you'd hidden it well from me.

Now I don't listen to the radio commentary as I am at the games. I can see for myself what has or has not happened. Yet those who don't go, and rely on the radio, claim that you are "lazy", "selfish", and other words and phrases that I am too polite to put into this letter.

The radio commentary team appear to have missed the clever runs that you make. The intelligent flick ons and passes that were producing a decent partnership with David Nugent. Obviously the goals that you have scored for us don't mean a thing, because you refuse to chase down lost causes that your colleagues also don't chase when in similar positions. The piece that I heard this morning does nothing to dispel theories bandied around the online LCFC community that some have an agenda.

When you arrived at Leicester City, expectations were high; not just for yourself, but for the club's own performances. You must have been excited for what looked like a promising season.

Sadly, things haven't gone to plan. With a few games remaining, we are relying on other teams to get us into the play-offs. It's been disappointing for you, as well as us fans.

Not everybody blames you, Jermaine. We are where we are because we have changed manager too many times, and we've changed personnel and systems too many times. Our failure to reach the play-offs, which looks ever the more likely, isn't down to one player or person. If anything, it's due to failings throughout the club. To blame one player is unfair, especially when some of us think that player has actually done a lot more for us this season than other fans. Some of us appreciate the work that you've put in this season. I don't want to apologise for those who are blaming you for where we are, as I don't want to be associated with them.

I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to what will happen once this season ends. If you are still a Leicester City player at the start of next season, then you have at least one fan supporting you. If you choose to leave, and I'll be disappointed if you do, then I would like to thank you for your goals and efforts; your hat-trick against Forest has to be one of the high points of the season. I would like to wish you all the best, and if you do hear your name being chanted, then I'll be one the few joining in. 

All the best,

Leesoh x

Unwelcome visitors - Part three

So it continues...

We were given no warning, although past experience, where Barry Fry said us Leicester City fans had a "reputation", leading to an early kick off, the group I travelled with decided to get in Peterborough early for Saturday's game. As an added bonus, it enabled us to get cheaper train tickets. Bonus.

We left Leicester station at 8.15am; there was one officer from the BTP monitoring things, but very few football fans about. The train trip was quiet, reflecting the fact most fans would prefer a lie in, and take a later train.

Arriving into Peterborough almost an hour later, we were greeted by a line of Cambridgeshire Constabulary's finest, barking "Are you Leicester fans?" at almost every person alighting the train. Anyone who is a regular traveller would know that the idea would be to direct the travelling football fans to one pub, which would end up being overcrowded and noisy. There would also be a possibility that once in, we would not be able to leave the premises until the police told us to, which would be at a time of their choosing.

As far as we were concerned, we didn't want to be shoehorned into a pub we didn't want to go to, especially seeing as one of our group was a Peterborough fan!

We ignored the questions, and left the station. All we wanted to do was to have some breakfast, and then a few quiet drinks in the pub of our choosing, and there was nothing to say that we could not do this.

We arrived at the pub of choice; there was nobody on the door, and no signs outside advising us that access would be restricted to one set of supporters or the other. We went to the bar, ordered our breakfasts, and drinks, and took our seats. The staff didn't seem concerned by our presence, and didn't ask us if we were there for the football, or indeed, which team we supported.

It wasn't long after we'd sat down that two police constables came over, and asked if we were Leicester fans, as one of the group was wearing a University of Leicester hoodie. The officers were told that most of us were, but we were with a Peterborough fan. This was when we were told that we were in the designated home fans pub. I explained that it was news to us. The officers accepted our explanation that we were a mixed group of fans, and advised us that we may have to move later if our presence was causing a breach of the peace. Apart from the hoodie, there was no indication that any of us were from Leicester, so we decided to stay.

However, we were quickly approached by a sergeant, who told us that we would have to leave the pub. We were Leicester fans, and we weren't allowed in. He would not accept any explanation that this information had not being communicated to any fans, neither would he accept that we were law abiding citizens, or that we were with a friend who, according to the sergeant, was allowed in the pub. He didn't actually address me, just the male members of the group; I don't know whether to be relieved or insulted!

I tried to explain to the sergeant that we had ordered food and drink, and that given that it was 9.30am, and the pub was largely empty, we should be given the chance to consume our breakfasts, after all, there was no breach of the peace, no breach of the peace was imminent, and that it was private property, and the pub manager had not asked us to leave.

This seemed to annoy the sergeant, because he had no answer to this. He threw me a dirty look, and said "I'm not happy with this, I'm going to have to call this one in". He left with his phone to his ear.

We didn't seem him again until after our breakfasts had arrived. This time, he turned up with Leicestershire police's football liaison team. These guys travel to every away game, and are a good point of contact if we are having problems with other fans, stewards, or even police officers. They also help to advise the local police teams on the supporters at the games. I am also lucky to know some of them from my role on the Fans Consultative Committee.

So it was the icing on the cake when he came over, not to tell us to leave, but to have a bit of chat about my choice of brekkie! This was after they had been told that there had been no problems in the pub, or with any patrons.

We stayed in the pub until we left for the game, shortly after 2pm. We saw other Leicester fans in there. Amazingly (roll eyes), there was no trouble, or aggravation. Everyone seemed to be having a quiet drink. We did notice that there were fewer people in there than in previous seasons. Outside, it looked as though there were more police officers in the street than was necessary, and several vans parked up and down the street. It seemed like complete overkill when there was nobody causing any trouble anywhere. 

No doubt the constabulary will argue that their presence was responsible for this, however, I would like to put my faith in the ability of the majority of fans to behave themselves. We have taken over 8,000 fans to Nottingham this year, with fewer than 0.1% of fans arrested on the day. We went to Norwich, after being branded "high risk", and there was no trouble. There was no reason to turn Peterborough town centre into a mini-police state, where law abiding citizens are told where they can or cannot go.

Further, splitting fans into designated pubs encourages divisiveness. Yes, there are a minority of fans who want to cause trouble, but I suspect these are the sort of people who would be spoiling for a fight even if football didn't exist. Football clubs talk about encouraging families, or minorities to their stadia, but how can people feel safe when some city and town centres are overrun with police? Does this not say that hooliganism is still a huge problem, when the opposite is true?

I dream of a day when I can go where I want, when I want, even if I follow a football club.

London Road, Peterborough
Taken with a steady hand, despite alcohol consumption

Unwelcome visitors - Part Two

In the 3rd round of this season's FA Cup, my team, Leicester City, were drawn away to local rivals, Nottingham Forest. 8,000 tickets were sold to Leicester fans, however in the days leading up to the game, we were given some "guidance" on where we could and could not go.

Unofficial reports suggest 9 Leicester fans were arrested during the relevant time for this game; that's around 0.11% of the travelling support. I was not able to find out how many of those 9 fans have been subsequently charged with any offence, as I was told that this information was not available.

We are now preparing for a 5th round tie against Norwich City, with fans from both sides confident of reaching the quarter-finals. Leicester City can have a decent away following, and fans were confident that there would be demand for the full 15% allocation we should have been entitled to, which is around 4,200 tickets.

Norwich City's Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has, after acting on police advice, said that we are only entitled to 2,400 tickets.

The reason for this is that Leicester City fans are seen as "high risk". This is all based on two events that took place in February 2008.

The first took place between Leicester City and Norwich City fans on February 16th 2008, after the Norfolk club had lost 4-0 at the then named Walkers Stadium. The second took place a week later on February 23rd 2008, in Earlsdon, a suburb of Coventry, before Leicester's visit to the Ricoh Arena, a good five or so miles away.

The second incident is pretty damning; it was an organised ruck, involving a very large group of men. 36 were eventually convicted for their part, from both sets of fans; 18 Leicester fans were named and shamed in the local press.

The first is slightly more confusing, however. 11 men were given prison sentences, and a further 3 given suspended sentences. Just 2 of those men were Leicester City fans. The rest were Norwich City supporters.

Anyone convicted of a football-related offence is subject to Football Banning Orders (FBO), which prevents them from being within a prescribed area around a football ground for not just the duration of the game, but for the 2 hours preceding and following the game. Furthermore, they must surrender their passports when designated games are played outside of the UK. There are also restrictions on the use of the rail network, and those under an FBO have to seek permission to travel by train from the British Transport Police. 

All those involved in the incidents the Norfolk Constabulary have raised concerns over have FBOs ranging from 5 to 10 years. If any were to turn up to the game, they would be committing a further offence.

Aside from the fact that these incidents happened 4 years ago, if the Norfolk Constabulary have concerns with regards to the safety of law-abiding fans who want to watch the game in peace, then will the Norwich City fans also be subjected to a reduced ticket allocation for this cup tie? After all, their fans are just as, if not more, complicit in any trouble that took place between the two sets of fans.

Or will Norwich fans be sitting in the seats that really should have been allocated to the visitors, whose fans are capable of travelling in large numbers and behaving properly?

Watching football is not a crime, yet the law-abiding majority of fans are still being made to suffer because of a minority who are intent on causing trouble.

Aylestone Meadows - "best and most extensive area of wildlife in Leicester"

Last year, some members of Leicester City Council wanted to build football pitches on part of Aylestone Meadows.

Thankfully, for the residents and visitors to the park, the Planning Department had more sense, and the application was rejected. The pitches will now be built on an old, disused school in the area, a site touted by those opposed to the plans as the most sensible option.

Today, it has been reported in the Leicester Mercury that Aylestone Meadows is home to over 600 species of flora and fauna, including a rare tree, the only one of its kind reported in the world.

It would have been a tragedy to have lost any of these, especially at a site so close to a city centre. It also reinforces, to those few who were ever in doubt, that the right decision was made.