Join the protest on Friday 12 July!
Please note that Burnley's slot for the ITV Digital protest is
Friday 12 July and not 10 July as previously stated. Our apologies for giving you the wrong information, but we were misinformed. Anyway, if you were thinking about it, surely the idea of taking Friday afternoon off will swing it?
The other clubs protesting with us that day will be Brighton, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Bury and Cambridge. Three will go to Carlton's offices, three to Granada's.
Just to remind you that Burnley FC have asked the London Clarets to attend the protest, and they also want to know the numbers in advance from us, so if you can join the protest on Friday 12 May, please contact London Clarets Chairman Steve Corrigan at
stevecorrigan00@yahoo.co.uk. More information below.
We want YOU to help Burnley FC
As you may well be aware - particularly if you've been visiting the Burnley FC official website - Football League clubs are stepping up their campaign against Carlton and Granada, the infamous ITV Digital defaulters.
Despite all Football League clubs, including Burnley FC, honouring their contract with Carlton and Granada's ITV Digital company to the letter, the TV companies walked away from their £180,000,000 commitment to the 72 Football League Clubs at the end of the season. Burnley FC alone has a £3,000,000 hole in its finances as a direct result of this. Funny, because Carlton and Granada were happy enough to outbid Sky for the contract to show Football League matches last summer - a contract they are now not prepared to honour.
Well, football clubs aren't going to go quietly. Football is fighting back - and this is where you can play a part. You may be aware that over 12 days in July, Football League clubs will protest outside the London headquarters of Carlton and Granada. All 72 Football League chairmen will be part of the protest, as well as supporters. Six clubs a day will mount the protest, and Burnley's day of protest is
Friday 12 July - which is where we come in.
Burnley FC have asked London Clarets members to represent the club and take part in the protest on 12 July. We are pleased to be asked to do this.
Although we all like to carp about the club from time to time, we should acknowledge the movement that has been made, and the attempts they make to maintain contact with the supporters. This summer will see the fourth year running, for example, that Burnley FC have sent a senior representative to the London Clarets AGM. A few years ago, such a level of co-operation would have been unimaginable. Burnley FC should also be congratulated for taking a lead in initiatives to protest against Carlton and Granada, such as the boycott of ITV World Cup matches. It is important now for us to re-pay the faith the club has shown by ensuring there is a decent London Clarets showing on 12 July.
Those joining the protest are required to meet at the Copthorne Tara Hotel on Scarsdale Place in Kensington at
12 o'clock. Nearest tube is High Street Kensington. Transport will be provided from there to the protest venues.
Click here for a map and other location details.
We hope very much that you will be able to join the protest in the name of Burnley. Burnley FC have asked us to give them numbers before the day, so if you do plan to come, please first e-mail London Clarets Chairman Steve Corrigan at
stevecorrigan00@yahoo.co.uk or phone him on the numbers listed in the back of our magazine. Then get your Clarets shirt on and join the protest!
If you can't make the protest, there are other ways to play your part. Why not write to your local MP to make the point that football supporters all over the country are affected by this? Click
here to find your local MP.
You can also write to the following people:
Michael Green, Chairman, Carlton Communications PLC, 25 Knightsbridge, London SWIX 7RZ.
Charles Allen, Chairman, Granada PLC, London Television Centre, Upper Ground, London SE1 9LT.
Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH (e-mail
tessa.jowell@culture.gsi.gov.uk).
Please also sign Burnley FC's petition. Click
here for more information about the petition and click here for Burnley FC's suggestions on how to support the protest.
Background information on the protest
June 2002
