Should we boycott Wimbledon? Your responses
As expected, there have been quite a few response to Firmo's appeal for guidance on whether or
not to boycott our match at Wimbledon [click here]. It seems clear from the responses received that quite a few people are facing the same dilemma, feeling that a boycott would be the right thing to do while finding it hard to contemplate giving up watching the Clarets. A selection of responses is reproduced below.
My protest will be made by visiting AFC Wimbledon's temporary home at Kingstonian when the Clarets play at Selhurst Park. I shall wear my Burnley shirt with pride and declare my support for the Wimbledon cause.
And I'll dare to say what others will not: if it was Blackburn and not Wimbledon in this position, my feelings would be exactly the same. Franchising is wrong, Koppel is wrong and anyone who puts money into Franchise FC is morally corrupt, not to mention extremely selfish. If ever there was an issue in which voting with your feet could work, this is it.
I urge you all to look at the bigger picture and boycott the game at Turf Moor as well. It won't hit BFC in the pocket as most people have a season ticket anyway. But it will show that supporters are not prepared to watch franchised football, be it their own team or the opposition.
Rob Winkley
What if you were to go to the game wearing AFC Wimbledon Shirts or scarves as a way of showing your support for the REAL Wimbledon team? Not only would you be making a statement of your disapproval but you'd also be making a financial contribution to their new club.
Andy Braid
This is an interesting one. From a purely parochial point of view, it's is a nightmare scenario. As a London Claret, with a young family, work commitments, etc., it is difficult to go to many matches outside the South East. For this season, I am unable to go to Reading (pre-booked holiday) and Millwall (thank you, Theo). To miss another game in London would be purgatory. In addition, the Wimbledon game is the last game of the season. If the Clarets needed a point to return to the top-flight, could you seriously countenance boycotting the game? Hmm.
In short, I think what WISA are doing is fantastic, and they have my admiration and support, but I WILL be going to the match.
Mick Green
Have never been much of a Wimbledon sympathiser - something to do with Jan 75, I think. However, I am totally against Wimbledon upping sticks to MK and the franchising of any club, and applaud what the fans have done in setting up the alternative AFC Wimbledon.
I have no problem with Wimbledon fans boycotting all the home and away Division One games next season, and going to watch AFC Wimbo at their Kingstonian base instead. But to ask fans of away teams not to back their own club is too much. For instance, If the Clarets are trying to hang onto a one-goal lead at Selhurst Park on the final day of next season - when that game is scheduled - or trying to claw back a goal which could make all the difference to where we finish (maybe even celebrating promotion) I would find it hard to accept that the lads would not be benefiting from the usual sizeable following roaring them on. Surely it is just handing a match advantage to Wimbledon if away fans do not turn up.
Our support at away games can help the players perform, and I think the point can be hammered home to Koppel et al just as effectively if Wimbledon fans don't go, so away fans outnumber home fans at every Selhurst Park fixture next season and thrust Koppel's lot towards a miserable season and hopefully relegation.
Lorne Hayhurst
It will be interesting to see how long the support for Wimbledon AFC will last. I do hope they do well .They have a long way to go to get back in the league, but I wish them well. I wonder what the odds are on the two Wimbledons meeting in the league in the next ten years or so?
I think a lot of Burnley fans, particularly those in the London area, will be searching their consciences, wondering whether to support their fellow football fans or decide that they just cannot miss the game, though by May
4th the furore will have died down somewhat and the decision will be easier, especially if we need a win or draw to gain promotion / avoid relegation.
I think it's up to the individual to decide what they think is best. No one will be blamed for supporting their team and no one will be blamed for showing solidarity with fellow supporters.
Brandon Cook
I personally, at present, don't intend going. Although if the game means something at the end of the season, my morals will go out the window.
Mark Slater
I could comment as a member of London Clarets, as editor of Clarets Mad or as Chairman of CISA, but for once I comment as myself.
To boycott a game is without doubt one of the most difficult things to do, and made only slightly easier for myself by the fact that it is at Selhurst Park, which is by no means the easiest journey from my home base in Burnley.
What is very easy to do is just ignore the pleas of the Wimbledon fans and go and watch my club, but I can't just do that. I honestly think it is the responsibility of every football supporter in this country to play his or her part against franchising. It makes no difference that it is Wimbledon, the club who have become something of a joke at times because of their lack of fans.
It is Wimbledon now, but what happens when another club want to move? It won't be Burnley we might say, but why won't it be Burnley? I don't think for one minute that Barry Kilby would want to move us but Barry won't be there for ever, circumstances can change very quickly. His successor could decide to move us to Cornwall and there would be nothing we could do about it. For instance would you trust Andrew Watson to keep us at the Turf if he thought he could make more money by moving us somewhere miles away?
Our club, via Burnley Football Supporters Club, stood alone last Saturday at the National Federation's conference by not supporting WISA. I found that very sad.
Being a Wimbledon supporter for the last quarter of a century must have been a wonderful experience. The Clarets contributed to it strongly. Would they have been considered for the Football League had they not had that Cup win in 1975 behind them? They finally lost their Premiership place two years ago (so what) but now they look set to lose their club completely. Just imagine how you would feel if it was Burnley.
Yes, the most difficult decision of all is choosing not to go and support your club when you have the opportunity to go. It needs a damn good reason, but offering my support to genuine Wimbledon supporters at this time is one very good reason.
I wouldn't do anything to stop a Burnley supporter going to the game. I have no personal problem with anyone who chooses to go to the game. I do ask though that you think long and hard before paying your money at Selhurst Park next May. It is after all just one game. Please do not allow them to get away with introducing franchising into English football.
If you are able to attend the London Clarets AGM then do so and listen to what WISA have to say. We are all fans after all.
Tony Scholes
E-mail us your thoughts - londonclarets@gmail.com.
Click here to visit the WISA website.
As with all articles on the site, the
views expressed in the comments section are those of the individual contributor, and do
not necessarily reflect the view of the Burnley FC London Supporters Club
