Tag Archives: Ivan Gazidis

Safe Standing Petition: Have you signed it yet?

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By now I am sure you all would have read the survey results put out by the Black Scarf Movement (BSM). IF not, ensure you get them read here.

One of the most conclusive answers in the survey was with regards to Safe Standing, with 91.5% of all those surveyed in favour of it. This lead to a groundswell of support to the theory that not only should we look at implementing Safe Standing within the Emirates Stadium, but The Arsenal should be leading the campaign on behalf of all Premier League Clubs.

Arsenal Football Club has a deep and rich history in being leaders, promoting initiatives, our list of ‘firsts’:

  • Arsenal were the first team to use numbers on the back of their shirts
  • Arsenal were the first team to play a match broadcast live on radio
  • Arsenal were the first team to install floodlights in their ground
  • First team to play in a match broadcast live on TV
  • First team to play a match broadcast live in 3D TV

Under Herbert Chapman, we were seen as world leaders in football initiatives, with much of what he bought in then been exported to the global game. In the same sense, the current Arsenal Board should embody the memory of Chapman and lead the campaign for Safe Standing in English football.

Following the BSM’s survey on the atmosphere at the Emirates, and the support which it highlight, Arsenal supporters group REDaction added their support to the initiative, saying:

“The push for safe standing in the Premier League is gathering pace…both Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis have also said that they think safe standing is a good idea…REDaction think safe standing is an issue that Arsenal should use their respected position in the football world to lead the way on.”

They state that the current problem is that whilst many clubs are saying, often officially, that they would support Safe standing if it was bought in, not enough are standing up (excuse the pun) and willing to lead the fight against the Premier League and UK Government. It is their belief, as it is ours, that Arsenal should lead that fight. With our history of being “innovators in football, pushing ideas that seemed revolutionary or even impossible at the time.”

They have begun a petition, which they will present to the board, demanding that Arsenal should lead the push for standing. The board often say they are custodians of the club, on behalf of the fans, if they believe this, they must stand alongside the fans once presented with evidence of thousands of signatures by fans demanding our club lead from the front.

What we are She Wore are asking is that you add your signature to the list. Whether you are a season ticket holder who go’s week in week out, a red member who go’s once a year, or a fan who has perhaps never been, add your signature. Arsenal fans need to stand side by side on this matter, show a collective force.

Even if you do not wish to stand yourself, add your signature, what REDaction and the BSM is asking for is not the entire stadium to be standing, but for those who wish to stand can, in their designated Safe standing area. This will actually benefit those who wish to sit as no longer will they have someone standing in front of them.

And if you live abroad and have never been, add your signature. One day you will go to a game. And one day you will want to go to the Emirates and stand. Look at Dortmund, people travel far and wide to stand in their end. Do not deny yourself a similar opportunity to do the same at Arsenal by not signing the petition.

There is no justifiable reason to not allow standing. The disasters of Bradford and Hillsborough were not caused by people standing. Not allowing Safe standing is a form of control.

Arsenal fans need to stand together. English football needs to stand together. Sign the petition. Let Arsenal be leaders once more.

GC

Arsenal stop plans for Flags inside the ground

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On Friday I like many others got a message from RedAction, the Arsenal supporters group whose main remit is atmosphere inside the bowl, to ask if I could take my flag to the ground Sunday and do I know any others with Arsenal flags. The plan was to get as many flags together so they could put on some kind of display before the game.

I like the old fashioned flags I think they add character to football grounds and even if they only seem to pop at away games its a tradition that should not be lost. There are 100’s of decent Arsenal flags out there, some St George Crosses, some with the old cannon or 30s crest on them, some with names of area’, pubs etc, so much better than 90% of the sterile banners the club used in the arsenalisation of the bowl.

Sadly on Saturday afternoon RedAction sent a message out that its been cancelled due to the ground management saying there’s “unforeseen complexities”. I feel really sorry that a decent idea by RedAction to put on a bit of a show, try to make the bowl look intimidating and create a good atmosphere has been prevented due to a lack of effort by the club to get over the complex idea of a few flags, just how hard can it be ?

I will admit in the past I haven’t been a big fan of RedAction and always wondered, a bit like I do with Ivan Gazidis “what the F*** do you do”. But after a few chats over the last few years I now know what a hard job they have trying to persuade the club to help us help the team. So to RedAction, sorry to hear the hard work you did came to nothing and to the bowls management team SHAME ON YOU.

GC

SheWore Exclusive: #NoPintsNoProgrammesNoPies

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Anyone who follows Arsenal via Social Media would of come across the brilliant ArsenalFansTV on YouTube. Recently they have come to the publics conscience with ‘The Ranting Arsenal Fan’ calling out the AST and journalists. However, on Tuesday, another fan came to prominence, announcing #NoPintsNoProgrammesNoPies. Today he exclusively writes for shewore.com

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Fifty years ago this week, a great man said:

 “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will  not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”

This week, I, an average fan said:

 “No Pints, No Programmes, No Pies.”

I do admit, mine lacks that profound quality that will see it being quoted in 50 years time.

The reason I open with Martin Luther King, is that there has probably never been a more iconic representation of the power an individual can have when his peers support him.

At times, I think, “I am just an average fan, what difference can I make?”

A different part of me however, looks at the achievements of Martin Luther King, who without Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, #hashtags or ArsenalFanTV, was able to make such a huge difference to the world we live in.

It is this ‘Martin Luther King inspired’ part of me, that leads me to believe that though I am just an average fan, I can at least try to make a difference to the fortunes of the club I love so much. After all, it was I that said on ArsenalFanTV on Tuesday night:

 “Not trying, is even worse, than trying & failing”.

With inspiration from 50 years ago and self issued advice from 3 days ago I am going to try and make a difference.

NO PINTS. NO PROGRAMMES. NO PIES.

Some of you may have heard this slogan. If you have, I have overcome my first obstacle.

My second obstacle, is attempting to convince you to get on board this campaign and to implement it on Sunday.

This is what I will try and do below.

In the 6 months leading up to November 2012, Arsenal earned £37.8m in match day revenues over the course of 10 home games in this period.

It doesn’t take a mathematician to calculate that as £3.78m per game.

I have assumed an average ticket price of £46 and an average attendance of 60,000. Multiply these two assumptions and we get a total of £2.76m from ticket sales.

  • Total Match Day Income  – £3.78m
  • Less  Ticket Sales   – £2.76m
  • Equals  Other Match Day Income – £1.02m

This £1.02m is within OUR control.

I realise this figure, based on assumptions, could be higher or lower, but the fact remains. We as fans, plough a sizeable chunk of cash, into the club every game. We need to realise, this cash has power attached to it. On Sunday, let’s retain our cash and our power until the club display to us that they deserve us to relinquish our cash and power.

Many of you may have heard the immediate rebuttal to this campaign.

“Catering is outsourced, so No Pints and No Pies wont hurt the club.”

That may be correct, but now I require you to read between the lines here and look at the ultimate objective of this campaign. This is not about pints, programmes or pies. This is about every single one of the products and services that generates an additional £1.02m for the club every single match day.

Us fans have the power to hit the club in the only area that it understands. Financially.

Whether it’s pints, programmes, pies, or whether it’s merchandise, sweets or a Bovril, it all contributes to the £1.02m that we plough into Mr Gazidis’s pockets.

Before you spend any money at the stadium on Sunday, just remember, that £4 pie you’re eating can be purchased every single minute of every single hour of every single day this year by Ivan Gazidis, based on the package he received from the club last year. (He would still be left with £38,600 by the way.)

In other words…that pie you are buying goes towards funding Ivan Gazidis…not towards funding Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema, Marouane Fellaini, Julio Cesar, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria, or any of our other failed transfer targets.

As I come to an end, I want to be clear about one thing.

This campaign is not designed to punish the club, it is designed to stimulate the club. I love this club far too much to want to punish it.

I am shamelessly seeking exposure for this No Pints, No Programmes, No Pies campaign, because I want this club to see this.

I want the club to react.

I want the club to reward the loyal fans with much needed world class players.

I want the club to start displaying some ambition.

Please get on Twitter and Facebook and spread #NoPintsNoProgrammesNoPies

This is a boycott of ALL additional match day expenditure.

If the club takes notice and completes a deal before the match, then by all means implement a new campaign.

#TwoPintsTwoProgrammesTwoPies

But until that happens, let’s keep our cash and let’s keep our power.

I have a dream…please help it become a reality.

Moh

Moh’s ArsenalFansTV interview can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq0aSa-WUjo