Sorry but we cannot be with the Clarets on Sunday

Last updated : 29 April 2003 By Tony Scholes

Clarets Mad will not be at our game at Selhurst Park where we are obliged to turn out against the Pariahs of English football – Franchise FC – and it is not a decision we have taken lightly.

We will have a match report for you from the game during next week, it is coming from a Burnley fan who is obliged to be there and I can assure you will not be handing any money over to Charles Koppel or his club for the dubious privilege of being there.

This web site covers the Clarets and those of us who are involved with the site do our best to bring you as good a coverage as possible over the season. However there comes a time when we have to look at what is right and what is wrong and our so called opponents on Sunday have treated its fans and the whole of the game in this country with contempt.

Both the London Clarets and the Clarets Independent Supporters Association, at their AGMs last summer, voted to boycott this fixture and Clarets Mad are backing the actions of these two groups.

London Clarets Chairman Andrew Firmin has arranged an alternative for Burnley supporters in the South East for Sunday in conjunction with the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association and they plan to have a day out in Wimbledon. This has been fully supported by CISA along with Clarets Mad and the ‘When the ball moves’ fanzine.

Fans from both clubs (that is Burnley and the REAL Wimbledon) will get together for a drink or two by Wimbledon Common. Any Burnley fans who would like to go along will be very welcome and Wimbledon supporters will meet you between 12:45 and 1:00 p.m. on Wimbledon Station forecourt.

From there it is off to the Hand in Hand where there will hopefully be a kick about between the two sets of supporters besides the drinks and something to eat.

Andrew Firmin said today, "I'd rather stay in the pub with real football supporters than watch Burnley play a fake team. What happened to Wimbledon was just plain wrong. It should never have happened to them, and it must never happen again.

"I'm not giving the franchisers my money. By staying away, I'm showing that I will not stand for what the franchisers who want to set up a club in Milton Keynes are doing. I'm only interested in watching Burnley play against real football clubs."

A spokesman for CISA added, "Our members made it clear last summer that a boycott of this game was the right and proper thing to do. We can have nothing to do with this and stand firm alongside the Wimbledon fans.

"How Koppel got away with this beggars belief but we must ensure that no other supporters ever have to go through this ever again."

Clarets Mad hope that the fans of both clubs have a very enjoyable Sunday on Wimbledon Common.