Caley supporters letter re: semi final

[Hermit Crab]

Below is a letter sent to SPFL secretary about the ridiculous kick off time and venue for their semi final v hearts. Very good points in it.



Caley Jags Together have, today, sent the following letter to SPFL Secretary, Iain Blair.

Date : 13th November 2013

FAO : Iain Blair, Secretary, Scottish Professional Football League

Re: Allocated date & venue, Scottish League Cup semi-final Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Heart of Midlothian

Dear Iain

I write on behalf of, and at the instruction of The Board of Caley Jags Together, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Society, to register the strongest possible protest at the venue and timing proposed by the SPFL for the semi-final of this competition, and to formally request that urgent consideration is given to altering either the date, kick off time, venue or all three. I know that Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC are also extremely disappointed with this choice and have communicated with you, but for the following reasons we wish to have answers to the questions below for our membership and our wider fan base :
The choice of venue, in Edinburgh, for the second year in a row is tantamount to awarding Hearts home advantage in the tie. Notwithstanding that we consented to a Saturday at 15:00 fixture in the corresponding day last year, It is beyond reasonable interpretation to define a ground as neutral less than ten miles from Hearts ground, in the same city, and over one hundred and fifty miles from the other clubs ground. Neil Doncaster’s recent quote regarding the criteria for neutrality in the Ramsden’s Cup Final at the same venue appears to give credence to this . Why is the position different in Inverness’s case? This choice gives Hearts an unfair competitive advantage in the tie, as it guarantees them a vastly larger support on the day. Why was no consideration given to a venue outside of Edinburgh, namely at either Dundee United or Aberdeen? Both of these venues would have been more suitable and still involved a great deal less effort and risk on the part of Hearts fans to attend than those from Inverness. Both venues would avoid the extra fifty miles through Fife and a congested journey through Edinburgh for our support (Dundee is 116 miles, Aberdeen 108 and Edinburgh 158)

The date of 2nd of February and the choice of a 12:15 kick off makes the potentially difficult problem of getting down the A9 in winter conditions liable to simply compound the above, and will further erode our potential support. We cannot predict weather conditions, but February is the most likely month to see extreme winter weather in the Highlands. First Scotrail and Citylink/ Megabus assure us that there is no provision at this time for public transport that will get Inverness Caledonian Thistle fans to Edinburgh on time for this fixture. Megabus have one coach leaving Inverness at 06:50 on Sundays, but timetables are not available beyond 05.01.14 at present. This effectively forces those fans who have access to private transport onto the A9 as early as 07:00 – the coldest and most potentially icy part of the day. Hearts fans, on the other hand, will face a local bus journey or can simply walk to Easter Road. Can you confirm that safety considerations been considered with regard to this, or have they been simply jettisoned in the face of television and gate revenues? Were transport companies consulted about the availability of transport from Inverness? Have you sought the opinion of the Police Service for Scotland on this? Have you consulted directly with any fans representative groups? Have you sought the opinion of Transport Scotland?

At least, as with last year’s semi-final a 15:00 kick off would have allowed time for our fans to get to Edinburgh. The 12:15 kick off appears to be dictated by the fact that BBC Scotland will also be transmitting the RBS six nations tie between Ireland and Scotland at 15:00. This simply means that, yet again our fans are suffering to expedite BBC Scotland’s ratings for a sport that we neither represent or follow, when we should be showcasing a national football cup semi-final. Again coming back to the Ramsden’s cup solution, a later kick off time and broadcasting on an alternative BBC platform would have lessened this problem. Broadcasting from what will undoubtedly be a half empty Easter Road will do nothing for the image of the game in Scotland. Could you tell us why the SPFL has effectively colluded with the BBC on this to the detriment of football?

It is our intention to fight this obviously iniquitous decision and to change it. We have already begun to canvass support from The Highland Council, Transport Scotland, elected representatives and other Supporters Trusts. We will conduct a campaign through every media channel available to us, and already have newspapers committed to joining our fight on this. You will have noted today’s extensive media coverage on the topic. We will encourage and marshal proper, measured protest against this decision and we will petition. We are confident that we will have the support of every right minded football fan.

In the meantime, I would appreciate an answer to the questions raised above and how your organisation intends to address our opposition as soon as possible, given the time constraints on broadcasting scheduling etc. This e-mail is also being sent to you in hard copy and will be made available for public perusal on our website later today.

I am available to discuss this matter with you at any time, and look forward to your earliest response.

Yours etc.

David Balfour
Chairman, Caley Jags Together
Parent Category: News

[JimBHibees]

Good letter it is absolutely disgusting how fans are treated in this sport. Shameful to be honest.

[Hermit Crab]

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Good letter it is absolutely disgusting how fans are treated in this sport. Shameful to be honest.

We've suffered at the hands of this with more than our far share of trips to Inverness and county in midweek or during the festive period. Again this year, Boxing Day county away. Another midweek trip to Inverness next year as the semi final for the league cup is the weekend we were meant to be away to Inverness so that's another midweek trip. Complete Bollox.

[Scott Allan Key]

Surely Pittodrie is the best neutral venue if Inverness have to play in a semi versus a central team? 12pm kick-off is ridiculous anyhow, whoever is playing. Always supporters having to travel from afar for any game who are put out.

[worcesterhibby]

Can't really argue with that can you. Aberdeen is the obvious "Fair" venue choice. It's 126 miles from Edinburgh and 105 miles from Inverness. Although because of the roads and rail links the journey From Edinburgh is likely to be a bit quicker.

3.00pm kick off In Aberdeen would have been the right Sporting decision.

[s.a.m]

Good on them. Both the time and venue are ludicrous for this tie.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Pittodrie would be the best choice. The thought of those poor teuchters having to negotiate big city traffic is surely enough to switch the tie on humanitarian grounds.

I expect they'll object to Hampden as a venue, should they reach the final.

If they can bring a measly 10,000 supporters, then they will have half the capacity of the ground. Saying Easter Road is a home tie for Hearts, really sums up their flask and picnic blanket mentality.

Perish the thought that anyone should have to travel through Fife to a game. They'll be complaining about the price of tea and scones next.

They probably have a point about the venue, but letters like that just make them look silly.

[JimBHibees]

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Can't really argue with that can you. Aberdeen is the obvious "Fair" venue choice. It's 126 miles from Edinburgh and 105 miles from Inverness. Although because of the roads and rail links the journey From Edinburgh is likely to be a bit quicker.

3.00pm kick off In Aberdeen would have been the right Sporting decision.

Or an earlier kick off in Aberdeen. At least that way both fans have to travel. The same game as last season yet Inverness get dropped on from a large height again with Hearts having a tie in their own city, total nonsense.

[Robinho08]

I would agree with them. The SF should be held at Tanadise or Pittodrie.

[Jim44]

Everything points in favour of our sordid neighbours. It's ironic also that we have, arguably, weakened their opposition. Hopefully their new manager will be well settled in by then and will have built on the excellent team which our new management team has put together over the past few years in Inverness.

[Hermit Crab]

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Pittodrie would be the best choice. The thought of those poor teuchters having to negotiate big city traffic is surely enough to switch the tie on humanitarian grounds.

I expect they'll object to Hampden as a venue, should they reach the final.

If they can bring a measly 10,000 supporters, then they will have half the capacity of the ground. Saying Easter Road is a home tie for Hearts, really sums up their flask and picnic blanket mentality.

Perish the thought that anyone should have to travel through Fife to a game. They'll be complaining about the price of tea and scones next.

They probably have a point about the venue, but letters like that just make them look silly.

Final won't be at hampden anyway will it. Shut for the games is it not?

[jdships]

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Surely Pittodrie is the best neutral venue if Inverness have to play in a semi versus a central team? 12pm kick-off is ridiculous anyhow, whoever is playing. Always supporters having to travel from afar for any game who are put out.

[Jones28]

Can't argue with any of the points they make really. Pittodrie is 110 miles from Edinburgh and 105 from Inverness, surely that's as close to neutral as you can get?

[Golden Bear]

An excellent letter and it would be difficult for anyone to disagree with the content.

Common sense should prevail, the venue and kick off time should be changed but I strongly expect that they won't be.

[marinello59]

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Pittodrie would be the best choice. The thought of those poor teuchters having to negotiate big city traffic is surely enough to switch the tie on humanitarian grounds.

I expect they'll object to Hampden as a venue, should they reach the final.

If they can bring a measly 10,000 supporters, then they will have half the capacity of the ground. Saying Easter Road is a home tie for Hearts, really sums up their flask and picnic blanket mentality.

Perish the thought that anyone should have to travel through Fife to a game. They'll be complaining about the price of tea and scones next.

They probably have a point about the venue, but letters like that just make them look silly.

And posts like this makes you look silly.

[Jack]

Iain Blair opens email and his first thought is "What type of fan is this and how can I unplug it?"

[blackpoolhibs]

Its a terrible decision to make them play this game at Easter Road, this sport is supposed to be for supporters, and they are doing their utmost to ensure some folk can't make the game.

And they wonder why games are being played in empty stadiums?

[DarlingtonHibee]

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Pittodrie would be the best choice. The thought of those poor teuchters having to negotiate big city traffic is surely enough to switch the tie on humanitarian grounds.

I expect they'll object to Hampden as a venue, should they reach the final.

If they can bring a measly 10,000 supporters, then they will have half the capacity of the ground. Saying Easter Road is a home tie for Hearts, really sums up their flask and picnic blanket mentality.

Perish the thought that anyone should have to travel through Fife to a game. They'll be complaining about the price of tea and scones next.

They probably have a point about the venue, but letters like that just make them look silly.

Wow - what a poor post - would we want to be travelling at that kick-off time ?

[Magnifique]

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Below is a letter sent to SPFL secretary about the ridiculous kick off time and venue for their semi final v hearts. Very good points in it.



Caley Jags Together have, today, sent the following letter to SPFL Secretary, Iain Blair.

Date : 13th November 2013

FAO : Iain Blair, Secretary, Scottish Professional Football League

Re: Allocated date & venue, Scottish League Cup semi-final Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Heart of Midlothian

Dear Iain

I write on behalf of, and at the instruction of The Board of Caley Jags Together, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Society, to register the strongest possible protest at the venue and timing proposed by the SPFL for the semi-final of this competition, and to formally request that urgent consideration is given to altering either the date, kick off time, venue or all three. I know that Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC are also extremely disappointed with this choice and have communicated with you, but for the following reasons we wish to have answers to the questions below for our membership and our wider fan base :
The choice of venue, in Edinburgh, for the second year in a row is tantamount to awarding Hearts home advantage in the tie. Notwithstanding that we consented to a Saturday at 15:00 fixture in the corresponding day last year, It is beyond reasonable interpretation to define a ground as neutral less than ten miles from Hearts ground, in the same city, and over one hundred and fifty miles from the other clubs ground. Neil Doncaster’s recent quote regarding the criteria for neutrality in the Ramsden’s Cup Final at the same venue appears to give credence to this . Why is the position different in Inverness’s case? This choice gives Hearts an unfair competitive advantage in the tie, as it guarantees them a vastly larger support on the day. Why was no consideration given to a venue outside of Edinburgh, namely at either Dundee United or Aberdeen? Both of these venues would have been more suitable and still involved a great deal less effort and risk on the part of Hearts fans to attend than those from Inverness. Both venues would avoid the extra fifty miles through Fife and a congested journey through Edinburgh for our support (Dundee is 116 miles, Aberdeen 108 and Edinburgh 158)

The date of 2nd of February and the choice of a 12:15 kick off makes the potentially difficult problem of getting down the A9 in winter conditions liable to simply compound the above, and will further erode our potential support. We cannot predict weather conditions, but February is the most likely month to see extreme winter weather in the Highlands. First Scotrail and Citylink/ Megabus assure us that there is no provision at this time for public transport that will get Inverness Caledonian Thistle fans to Edinburgh on time for this fixture. Megabus have one coach leaving Inverness at 06:50 on Sundays, but timetables are not available beyond 05.01.14 at present. This effectively forces those fans who have access to private transport onto the A9 as early as 07:00 – the coldest and most potentially icy part of the day. Hearts fans, on the other hand, will face a local bus journey or can simply walk to Easter Road. Can you confirm that safety considerations been considered with regard to this, or have they been simply jettisoned in the face of television and gate revenues? Were transport companies consulted about the availability of transport from Inverness? Have you sought the opinion of the Police Service for Scotland on this? Have you consulted directly with any fans representative groups? Have you sought the opinion of Transport Scotland?

At least, as with last year’s semi-final a 15:00 kick off would have allowed time for our fans to get to Edinburgh. The 12:15 kick off appears to be dictated by the fact that BBC Scotland will also be transmitting the RBS six nations tie between Ireland and Scotland at 15:00. This simply means that, yet again our fans are suffering to expedite BBC Scotland’s ratings for a sport that we neither represent or follow, when we should be showcasing a national football cup semi-final. Again coming back to the Ramsden’s cup solution, a later kick off time and broadcasting on an alternative BBC platform would have lessened this problem. Broadcasting from what will undoubtedly be a half empty Easter Road will do nothing for the image of the game in Scotland. Could you tell us why the SPFL has effectively colluded with the BBC on this to the detriment of football?

It is our intention to fight this obviously iniquitous decision and to change it. We have already begun to canvass support from The Highland Council, Transport Scotland, elected representatives and other Supporters Trusts. We will conduct a campaign through every media channel available to us, and already have newspapers committed to joining our fight on this. You will have noted today’s extensive media coverage on the topic. We will encourage and marshal proper, measured protest against this decision and we will petition. We are confident that we will have the support of every right minded football fan.

In the meantime, I would appreciate an answer to the questions raised above and how your organisation intends to address our opposition as soon as possible, given the time constraints on broadcasting scheduling etc. This e-mail is also being sent to you in hard copy and will be made available for public perusal on our website later today.

I am available to discuss this matter with you at any time, and look forward to your earliest response.

Yours etc.

David Balfour
Chairman, Caley Jags Together
Parent Category: News

Maybe the SPFL will just have to suck it up and send one of their people carriers up to pick them all up :)

Hibs have been the only one who have seriously invested in our ground to bring it up to a certain standard in the last few years so I feel its only right we get our reward for investing into our infrastructure.

And what is safer having 400,000 Yambams heading up to Pittodrie or wherever or half a dozen yokels and a sheepdug coming down to Edinburgh?

[Seveno]

Though they only have a small support, ICT fans are being treated with contempt and does nothing to promote football in the Highlands.

Just another example of real fans being treated appallingly for the benefit of TV and the armchair followers.

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

It just reeks of the SPFL pandering these stinking yams again, admittedly ICT don't really have a large support but that shouldn't make any difference, ridiculous time and venue for them but on the other hand more money for us I suppose.

[GreenCastle]

This isn't about the yams coming to ER, Hibs getting extra money from a one off game or moaning.

This is about another ridiculous decision by those running our game.

It's about treating football fans fairly in this country - yes ER has been redeveloped etc to host games like this but for a semi final it should be at a venue that is around half way in distance for both - unless it is clearly stated in advance the location of venue.

The kick off time is a double blow as seriously with the cost and hassle of getting to the game is it worth it for fan?

I still think the Scottish FA have made a mistake with the Scottish Cup Final being named at Celtic Park already - should have waited to at least see who was contesting it.

[Hermit Crab]

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Maybe the SPFL will just have to suck it up and send one of their people carriers up to pick them all up :)

Hibs have been the only one who have seriously invested in our ground to bring it up to a certain standard in the last few years so I feel its only right we get our reward for investing into our infrastructure.

And what is safer having 400,000 Yambams heading up to Pittodrie or wherever or half a dozen yokels and a sheepdug coming down to Edinburgh?

Complete rubbish, it's nothing to do with hibs investing in their ground it's about treating fans fairly. You've missed the point completely mate. It's about caley being forced to travel 160 miles for a game on a Sunday morning with no transport links to get them there on time, while hearts fans just jump on the number 1 bus.

A neutral venue is supposed to be neutral like meeting in the middle. Pittodrie or tannadice are ideal. Both sets of fans have to travel more or less the same distance to get there. I say almost home advantage to hearts again.

[Makaveli]

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Maybe the SPFL will just have to suck it up and send one of their people carriers up to pick them all up :)

Hibs have been the only one who have seriously invested in our ground to bring it up to a certain standard in the last few years so I feel its only right we get our reward for investing into our infrastructure.

And what is safer having 400,000 Yambams heading up to Pittodrie or wherever or half a dozen yokels and a sheepdug coming down to Edinburgh?

TBH I think that's a reasonable and generally ignored point, even if it was tongue in cheek.

Not nice for ICT fans but how many of them would have went to Pittodrie anyway? Hearts would have a bigger support wherever this game was played.

[Carheenlea]

Easter Road is now a modern, fit for purpose stadium, and an obvious choice for a neutral semi final venue. We have to face the old firm at Hampden in Glasgow so the argument about "home advantage" doesn't really stack up. Sure, it is a nuisance for ICT fans to travel long distances, but that is a consequence of their location, every away game bar Ross County is a decent trek.
Sadly, it is not just about the fans. The Suits will have top class hospitality for the sponsors and guests in facility's befitting of a semi final or final, unlike the ramshackle Pittodrie or Tannadice.
Plus, I`m sure we will get a wedge for rent, so all in all, a good choice

[WhileTheChief..]

Football fans moaning about nothing again. Its only an extra 20 mins drive to get to Edinburgh in comparison to Aberdeen.

More cash for us and presumably ICT will happily take the TV money from the BBC. Perhaps the fans should start by complaining to their own chairman.

Besides, after all the crap they have spouted about us over the last week or 2 they can go do one.

[worcesterhibby]

As this is a cup game, do the SPFL have to pay for all the damage that the Maroon Morons will do to the Stadium/ Toilets again ? If hearts are the ones who will have to pay..I hope we demand a very sizeable deposit.

[Gatecrasher]

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Football fans moaning about nothing again. Its only an extra 20 mins drive to get to Edinburgh in comparison to Aberdeen.

More cash for us and presumably ICT will happily take the TV money from the BBC. Perhaps the fans should start by complaining to their own chairman.

Besides, after all the crap they have spouted about us over the last week or 2 they can go do one.

It's not about the distance they have to travel though. Its about the distance in comparison to Hearts who are based about 15 minutes away. The KO time being moved also ensures no public transport can guarentee them being at the stadium in time for Kick Off. Sure ER is a better Stadium than Pittodrie but if a Scotland International game can be held there so can a league cup semi Final. It's about being fair to those who actually bother their arse to support their club for once.

I for one think it's a belter of a letter and hope the letter is responded to with a reasoned arguement rather than fobbing them off.

[Carheenlea]

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Football fans moaning about nothing again. Its only an extra 20 mins drive to get to Edinburgh in comparison to Aberdeen.

More cash for us and presumably ICT will happily take the TV money from the BBC. Perhaps the fans should start by complaining to their own chairman.

Besides, after all the crap they have spouted about us over the last week or 2 they can go do one.

[Golden Bear]

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Football fans moaning about nothing again. Its only an extra 20 mins drive to get to Edinburgh in comparison to Aberdeen.

More cash for us and presumably ICT will happily take the TV money from the BBC. Perhaps the fans should start by complaining to their own chairman.

Besides, after all the crap they have spouted about us over the last week or 2 they can go do one.

Aye that's the game.

We're all right Jack so to hell with anyone else.