First of all, a big thank you to Brush for starting the flag project off, and of course a huge thank you to all that contributed. I think it went well last night, and there was some decent TV coverage by all accounts. I've had an offer from someone to take the flag to away matches. She's called Rebecca, she's not on here but she's mates with GloucesterRedsBigBro and Prince of Risborough. She's ideally qualified - she goes to every match home and away by car, she's teetotal so there's no risk of her getting into a tangle and leaving the flag flapping about at a deserted away end at Birmingham, and she's is extremely sensible. She'll be taking the flag to Birmingham on Saturday, but she'll need some help there as it's heavy. I'm sure she'll get plenty of volunteers when she arrives. I obviously won't be there, as I'm not a proper fan. Thanks again to all those who contributed and to all the fans who helped transport the flag around the ground last night.
It was brilliant, Ian. I noticed the mature, official looking gentleman down in front of the Ponty organising the movement of the flag. The only downside to it all was that it made a mess of my hair when it was passed overhead. Twice. A huge congratulations to you and everyone else who organised it, old mate. You've all done yourselves and the club proud.
It started off at the west end of the Ponty about 7:30. It was supposed to go along the front of the Ponty towards the east stand, but it developed a mind of its own and went up to the top of the Ponty, then across the back, down to the front. It then went round again, which wasn't in the script. Eventually it got transferred to the East Stand and got transported all the way along to the far end next to the away stand. It then got placed on the supposedly empty seats at that end of the East Stand lower for the match. Whether you saw it or not depends on where you sit, but I don't think there's anywhere in the ground where you can't see the Ponty, where it spend about 10 minutes circulating, so I'm at a loss to explain why you couldn't see it, unless you arrived late. On this subject, the so-called empty seats at the far end of the East Stand are not "empty" enough for the flag as there were a few people sitting in them. Most people there readily agreed to move so the flag could be spread out, but one bloke refused to move from his seat. This meant that the flag had to be folded up a bit to fit on the remaining seats. Eventually the bloke did move up about 3 seats, but it still wasn't enough. Personally I think it should go on the West Stand in the empty section, as it can be seen by everybody there. We wanted to put it in the East Stand last night for TV coverage.
Right, for anyone who wants to see some photos/videos of the flag from last night, I've temporarily put some on my walking website, as they are too big to go on here. Instructions below: - 1) Go to my website http://www.wildyorkshireway.co.uk/index.php 2) On the menu at the top, click Gallery 3) Click on an individual photo to view it. Some are a bit blurred, soz..... 4) There are 2 videos which show the flag on the Sky coverage. Click on the video, wait for it to load, then click play. Best viewed in full screen. If anyone has any further photos, you can download them to me on the feedback form here http://www.wildyorkshireway.co.uk/contact.php and I'll add them to the gallery.
Yes, the commentator spoke about it and what it was about, it was cut short though by the sending off
It was a shame the flag was hidden away from thousands of fans by sticking in the east stand corner and getting people to move when the north stand would have been a better place for it. Putting it by in the west stand by the tunnel makes no difference to where it was last night apart from those in the far end of the west stand might not be able to see it. The flag looked good, especially when the Ponte was properly full.
We asked security if we could put it in the unused area of the North (away) Stand. They refused. We realise that the East Stand was not the best place for it, but we wanted to maximise any TV coverage. I agree that the West Stand is better for the next home game.
People working in a ground part owned by the guy in question refused....That's crazy and should be looked at because that should not be happening.
Don't get too upset about it. We always intended to put the flag in the East Stand, and we'd cleared that with security in advance, but when we got there there was a bloke in the middle of a vast area of empty seats who wouldn't move. To avoid a confrontation with the really nice understanding bloke in the seat, we asked security if we could change the plan and let us put the flag in the away end. There was a brief radio communication followed by the refusal, which I could understand. Putting a home supporters flag in the away end could have been seen as provocative, I suppose. Anyway, it went well and will be sorted for the next home game.