Nostalgia may bring hope for future
Friday 23rd April 2010, 11:06AM BST.
Another week, another set of interesting developments in the recurring soap opera that is Walsall Football Club, writes blogger Mark Jones.
After the ridiculous knee-jerk reactions to fans legitimately and peacefully voicing their opinions, the club are predictably beginning to climb down. And so they should be.
However as far as I’m aware, at the time of writing, none of the unjustifiable bans dished out to paying customers have actually been rescinded yet. This is something which should be sorted and corrected as soon as possible.
But there have been reports of meetings between club officials and individual supporters over the last week, so credit where it’s due to them for that.
There have also been some encouraging noises that the club are prepared to have regular contact with fans’ groups. In my opinion it would be extremely damaging for the club if this doesn’t get followed through.
In anticipation of any regular dialogue, Walsall Supporters’ Trust are looking to attract new members for 2010/11 and will be recruiting in the Bescot area on Saturday before the Hartlepool game. Membership fees for the year have been set at £2.00.
The Trust ultimately aims to have supporter representation within the club, it owns over 200 shares, which really should be something any enlightened and progressive club owner would embrace.
It’s also my pleasure to mention the newly formed Unity group, who intention is to work alongside, with and for the Trust.
Some of their other stated aims include the sale of the freehold back to fans, a long term change of ownership and giving Saddlers fans a voice.
Unity aspires to be pretty much what it says on the tin in terms of bringing together fans. Darren, Percie and the others have done well to get things moving in a short space of time. I wish them every success.
Saturday should see a larger than usual amount of yellow and white in evidence, in the form of t-shirts, badges and possibly other items of clothing which won’t contravene the sacred ground regulations, as the Cyprus flag theme has been cleverly developed and extended.
It is hoped the final game of the season will have a ‘Back to the Saddlers’ theme, the idea being that we can show the club how things used to be.
By way of clarification I can say that I know for a fact that this is an idea that has come from a genuine fan and not from anyone at the club, so it is worth doing.
To tie in, fans are being asked to look in the back of their wardrobes and dig out a replica shirt from the past, the older and rarer the better. (I’m desperately trying to find my limited edition, long-sleeved, white with black flecks, third choice shirt from 1991, worn only once at Blackpool.)
Anyone who knows a disillusioned fan (come on, we all know loads) could use their powers of persuasion to get them back at least for one day. If you’re a Season Ticket holder who’s still got a ‘Friend for a Fiver’ voucher, use it before it disappears.
And a by-product of the day is that it gives us a chance to show up our opponents, who have no history or legitimacy.
Walsall fans are mobilising, becoming organised and getting their points across.
I hope that the club don’t repeat their antics of the late 90s by trying to marginalise one group and manage to get their collective heads around the fact that it is possible to simultaneously be part of Unity and the Trust (and indeed the Saddlers Club).
In the end we are all fans, we make a significant financial contribution to the club and, judging by the strength of feeling in the recent protests, a hell of a lot of people want to see some changes for the better.
They should be grateful we still care.
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.

One unjustifiable ban has been suspended. Well done on this.
One justifiable one hasn’t.
Report abuse
What justifiable reason is there to ban someone for a peaceful, non-threatening, non-violent protest?
Report abuse
Martin – I am the indivdual of which you speak of that was banned ‘justifiably’. This is not a go, but can you please explain why ?
Report abuse
Of course, I tried to answer tinneds post but it hasn’t appeared.
First of all you have to see the difference between right and justifiable. Don’t think for a moment that I think that the handing out of a ban was the right thing to do on the clubs behalf but it was justifiable.
I understand that you may thinkthat any protest that was undertaken was peaceful and non-violent. But you have to remember that intimidation is in the eye of the beholder.
Your waving of flags and shouting in protest is you right as an expression of free speech. However what of the right of someone to watch the game without having their view obstructed by someone else? I appreciate the complaints the club may have had will have come from people who are probably oversensitive.
But, and taking the club at there word on this, what should they have done? Ignore the complainants?
They made a statement which was stupidly over the top, poorly compiled in tone and content, but it was clear. Any more action like that which had been taken would result in a ban. You made it perfectly clear you were to ignore this warning, and so you were banned.
Yes I can see why you are aggreived, and like I said the actions weren’t right. But they are justifiable.
If you chose to stand outside the stadium, in the street and protest or in the town centre and you had been banned but made it clear you wouldn’t act in such a fashion in the stadium that’s one thing. If you said you were going to do it in an unpopulated section of the ground that is another. But if you conduct and action that for all your intention is non-intimidatory, but does lead to complaints because people felt they couldn’t stand up to let them know what you think- whatis the club to do?
I am not having a go here, but have a think about what your actions may effect on others.
Here’s an example, when I took my driving test, I was advised to imagine that the instructor was someones granny. This would have the effect of toning down my driving. I am not saying you should tone down, not that it matters at the moment, but think of this fromt he perspective of someones granny who is sat next to, or behind you. Just some advice.
Report abuse