Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Justice for the Archway One – Update about banned charity worker

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In October, we wrote about how an Arsenal fan who does a lot of work for a local charity was unfairly banned from The Emirates and the impact this had on the local charity. The back story is that a fan got in a few verbal’s with another Arsenal fan, 7 hours after a game, 3 miles from the ground. It was an argument not related to football, and just so happened to occur on a day Arsenal were playing. It was a situation that could happen to anyone at anytime.

The fan in question was banned by the club, based on advice by the WPC who headed up the Arsenal police intelligence team. This despite the judge stating during the case that the fan should not be banned as it was clearly not football related. What occurred was clearly exploitation of power, banning a single fan on the basis of a decision by a single officer.

Since our article on the matter, there have been developments in the case. The WPC who ‘advised’ the club on the matter has since is currently  “subject to ongoing disciplinary measures at present and no longer a part of the Arsenal Football Intelligence Unit.” The reason behind the disciplinary measures have not been released, yet this case was not the 1st time that said WPC was controversially involved in the ban of fans, after once saying “The football ban should send a clear message that police will not tolerate disruptive behaviour, before, during or after any matches” after two fans got banned due to a fracas which started due to them standing up.

So with the WPC in question now no longer part of the Arsenal Football Intelligence Unit, the question is, why are the club still upholding the ban, despite it being a ban based solely on her advice. A petition was recently started by friends of the banned for to gain “Justice For The Archway One”. Pin badges are also being sold by the badge sellers throughout pubs and outside of the stadium to raise funds to enable the fans to fight his case against the club.

We at SheWore back this campaign completely. This is Big Brother, This is 1984. This is the club banning someone for an action which just happened to happen on a game day. It could happen to anyone. You could be drinking in Liverpool Street on the day of a game, get in an argument, and get banned, or Regents Park, or Euston, or even on the banks of the River Thames in Temple, all these places are around 3 miles from our ground.

Both Arsenal Football Club & the Metropolitan Police had been served subject access requests under the Data Protection Act/Freedom of Information Act for all correspondence/evidence/statements relating to the decision to ban Mr Doherty, however neither has been forthcoming with any information stating they will not disclose to third parties & that all correspondence is confidential. Mr Doherty has made complaints regarding the actions of both parties & this now lies in the hands of the Information Commissioner’s Office. It must be remembered that Failure to comply with the Data Protection Act is a Criminal Offence!…

***EDIT*** at 5pm on 10th Dec I got a call from Mick saying the information request has arrived (timing eh?) and proves the policewomen in question has told the club she didn’t ask for a ban from the Courts, when she did. So misled Arsenal football club into giving him a ban***

The decision to ban the fan was clearly wrong it is impacting on the charity and sets a very poor precedent.

Sign the petition now and show your support, not just for the banned fan, but for all fans who could be potential banned after this poor decision.

GC

I am sorry Kenny, Twitter isn’t going to help

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Something has bugged me for a few weeks now. Something which I wanted to blog about, but wondered if it was too insensitive or would be too far against what many people want to read, that something is with regards to Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom.

The frustration’s began a while ago, when a Twitter account surfaced rumoured to be from his nephew. It became clear it was indeed, his nephew, but it also became very clear that his nephew was clearly attention seeking. I do not know how old his nephew is, but it was obvious that he was trying to build a Twitter following through being Sansom’s nephew. It came across as very sad and attention seeking.

Then the news about Kenny Sansom being an alcoholic broke. I had a massive issue with this at the time, the reason being this ‘World Exclusive’ of Sansom’s cry for help, appeared in the very first Sunday edition of a well known tabloid. I took this original story with a pinch of salt, wondering how much Sansom was paid by said tabloid to ensure it had a massive World Exclusive on its first edition.

My frustrations with the Sansom situation increased, as no sooner had he come out (for the 3rd time in the press, no less) as an alcoholic, another Twitter account appeared, with it’s Bio being:

“An account created to show support for suffering alcoholics & homeless. Inspired by my uncle Kenny Sansom to help others like him that aren’t in the public eye.”

How sick in the head must you be to set up a Twitter page about a family member who is an alcoholic? Anyone who has dealt with an alcoholic family member (my family has a history) knows your 1st thoughts are with helping them. Clearly in this case, family members see it as a way to increase publicity. Maybe it is this exploitation of Sansom which drove him to drink to begin with?

The final straw for me came when Kenny Sansom begun his own Twitter account. It became clear immediately that it was unlikely that it was him tweeting. The tweets were in the same childish manner as the previous accounts, set up by his nephew. Was this a coincidence? Was this his nephew giving advice? Or was it his nephew once more using his Uncle’s great name to grow his own ‘popularity’, increasing his own attention, living his life through Kenny?

On his account, Kenny begged the attention of other ex-players. Continually tweeting them, begging for RT’s. I begun wondering once more, whether this was Kenny himself, or his nephew hoping to open up dialogue with the likes of Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, et al.

Most recently, a tweet from his account made me disgusted that it became the straw that broke the camel’s back:

“It’s Ben. Kenny’s really down & struggling big time having fallen off the wagon a few times. Trying to find some ideas to pick him back up?”

This is exploitation. Kenny’s name, his illness, is being used by those around him. His family should be helping him fight the battle, not making his dirty laundry public at every opportunity.

Yes, alcoholism affects a lot of people, and those who suffer from it need to seek help, but they also need to help themselves. What they do not need is to be exploited by those closest, their family, for the sole reason of gaining followers.

Kenny, turn Twitter off and tell your nephew to stop being an attention seeking prick. The Arsenal are with you every step of the way. Other’s are simply exploiting you.

Sporting Chance Clinic
Alcoholics Anonymous

Keenos
 

Everton – The best team we’ve played this season

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Walking away from the Emirates Stadium last night, the talk was whether the draw against Everton was 2 points dropped or a point gained. For me, it was 2 points dropped. To win the league, you need to be winning your home games from winning positions. This was the 2nd time we have let slip a lead at home. Whilst we might currently be 5 points clear, this gap could have been doubled had we held onto leads against Aston Villa and Everton.

At 1-0 up with 6 minutes to go, you would expect Arsenal to be able to hold on. However, the Everton goal, we could do little about. Critics might say Gibbs should have got closer, or that Szczesny should have saved it, but these are harsh. Gibbs’ positioning was correct and it was a rocket of a shot which went past Szczesny before he could react. Criticism of the pair, taking into account their form this season, is harsh. Especially Szczesny, who has won us more games with sensational saves than anyone. He surely has plenty of good faith in the bank.

Anyway, whilst it was 2 points dropped, the Everton side were comfortably the best I have seen us play. Despite us losing to both Aston Villa and Manchester United, Everton were comfortably better than both. Currently 5th in the league, they are just 2 points behind Liverpool, and on yesterday’s showing, they have to be taking into consideration for the race for the Champions League.

If I were a Manchester United or Tottenham fan, I would be very worried. With Everton playing so well, both sides might not even get into the top 5 this season, meaning no European football.

It is no European football that is benefiting Everton this season. There game is about high pressing and plenty of energy in the midfield, with a solid 3 of the impressive Ross Barkley (Surely he and Wilshere should be England’s midfield in Rio?), James McCarthy and Gareth Barry. Everton have played just 17 games this season. This was Arsenal’s 24th. Not playing Thursday and Sunday every week (yes, I know they played midweek this week) is certainly helping Everton. You only have to look at how Swansea have struggled this season to see the effect.

Lack of International football is also a factor, with the likes of Distan, Barry, and Pinner not playing it, and many others being fringe squad players. Olivier Giroud & Aaron Ramsey, for example, have played 27 games for club and country this season, whilst Romelu Lukaku & Gareth Barry have played 17 and 12 respectively. Lack of games is certainly keeping the Everton side fresh.

They are also receiving the massive benefit of 3 on loan players, in Lukaku, Barry and goal scorer Gerard Deulofeu, they have essentially managed to nab themselves £30m+ worth of talent without needing to spend a penny. My views on the loan system are for another blog, however would Everton be where they are were it not for their loan players? Probably not.

What is for certain is that Everton have moved forward under Roberto Martinez. Playing good football and looking very solid. They have lost just 1 game this season, remember. With his style of play, tactics and ability to run a football club, not just the team, a couple of good years at Everton and I could certainly see Martinez being in the frame for the Arsenal job.

We should not be too down hearted on a draw at home to Everton. They are the best side we have played and are very hard to beat. Whilst it is 2 points dropped, they have, and will continue to, take points off other sides at the top of the league.

With Napoli, Manchester City and Chelsea coming up next, we have an important few weeks coming up. It is important that we continue to back the side. The next 3 games will determine our season.

Keenos