VILE CHANTS ARE BRINGING SHAME ON RHYL FC
OBSCENE chanting from Rhyl supporters at matches this season could end up affecting the club's great chance of winning the Welsh Premier League.
Today managing director Dave Milner has revealed the Lilywhites are facing FIVE disciplinary charges relating to supporters using foul and abusive language.
The latest example came at Caersws last Saturday where secretary Joe Furnival was called into the referee's dressing room at half time following a complaint from match official Mark Whitby that he had been the target of verbal abuse from Rhyl followers.
This came only a week after an appeal over the tannoy at Belle Vue before the Bangor City game for the fans to tone down their language. Printed handouts spelling out the situation were also given out to the crowd at that match.
The consequences of constantly flouting FAW rules could lead to a warning, a fine or even a deduction of points.
With Rhyl currently leading the WPL table by seven points this could have disastrous consequences.
Mr Milner has now vowed to get tough on offenders by banning anyone heard uttering distasteful chants at games.
"I will also identify offenders and circulate to other teams in the league with a recommendation that admission to away grounds be denied," he said.
Below is a full statement from Mr Milner relating to the above:
"DESPITE a written appeal from Peter Parry and Dave Milner a minority of Rhyl supporters let themselves and the club down at the latest game against Caersws. Secretary Joe Furnival was called to the referee's room where he was confronted by referee Mark Whitby and the home chairman with an allegation that one of the nine fans standing at the rear of the Caersws goal used foul and abusive language aimed specifically at Mr Whitby.
Mr Whitby said if there was a recurrence of this outburst he would stop the game and stewards would be asked to eject the offender/s.
The club were requested to deal with the matter immediately. We are awaiting the charge from the FAW.
We are now faced with FIVE separate disciplinary charges relating to recent games. The club will defend these charges as best it can but it is extremely difficult to defend constant foul and abusive language.
I have heard fans try to defend themselves by saying that "bad language can be heard on all football terraces". This may be so but that doesn't make it right.
Another defence offered by the fans is that "there are more Rhyl fans than any other team" therefore they will be more vociferous. This may be so but I do not hear the constant foul and abusive language from the vast majority of the opposition's fans.
Our fans take pride in the number of songs and chants they have produced and have created a section on their website specifically for such chants.
I show below 11 one-line extracts from some of the chants shown on the website:-
1 We will be running round Bangor with our willies hanging out
2 He's black and white, f*ckin dynamite
3 in your bangor slum
4 And we dont give a f**k,
5 Say **** off to Harris
6 You`ve F **ked fans from every club in this league
7 sh *t on the bastards below
8 Was F * * K Bangor and the Welsh F A
9 The Bangor scum were running,
10 With none of the bangorshiite bitterness....
11 To A Sad TNS B*****d And A S**t Football Team.
These are examples which Rhyl Football Club and any true Rhyl fans find totally unacceptable and bring shame on Rhyl FC.
Any individual or group of individuals heard chanting the above will be denied access to Belle Vue for future games. I will also identify offenders and circulate to other teams in the league with a recommendation that admission to away grounds be denied.
We play in competitions governed by the FAW and are subject to their rules. Whilst the fans may disagree with some of the rules or the FAW's interpretation of the rules we must adhere to them.
The consequences of breaking any of these rules could lead to a warning, a fine or deduction of points.
The FAW have determined that Rhyl FC is responsible for its own supporters at away venues.
We have five outstanding charges and it is now time to take action.
I will emphasise that it is a very small minority of our fans that appear to bringing the club into disrepute and I will target these people and take appropriate action against them."
** RHYL supporters who read this blog - what are your views on this? Do you feel the club needs to take a firmer hand in this situation or is Rhyl FC being unfairly targeted by opposition clubs and the Welsh FA? Comments please....
Older/Newer
« STONES ON TARGET TWICE IN RESERVES WIN | UNLUCKY 13 AT PORT? »
12 Comments
Profile
Dave Jones - For all the latest news from Rhyl Football Club, including match reports, news, views and features log on to Lilywhites On-Line hosted by Visitor sports editor Dave Jones.
Sponsored by...
Rhyl Football in the Community aim through a wide range of initiatives, to encourage people, particularly children, to participate in football and other sports.
WPL crowds are so appallingly cr@p even the slightest cough can echo around the grounds. I do think we need to take this on board, given the disastrous consequences of any possible points deduction. I, for one, am guilty of joining in some of the "vile" chants. I have watched football all over the country and such chanting is just part & parcel of football supporting, but maybe we need to take heed at this moment in time!
As I have stared several times before, I honestly think we have by far the best and most dedicated supporters in the League, and generally their vociferous support is worth a tremendous amount to both the club and the players.
However, it seems that, rightly or wrongly, the club is constantly falling foul of the authorities because of what is considered to be unacceptable chanting and behaviour etc.
On a strictly personal note I feel that some of the criticism is unwarranted, and that football has always had an element of swearing etc. on the terraces. But, whether or not people agree with the criticism and the several charges brought against the club is not the point.
The point is that from now on it is absolutely vital that everyone concerned ensures that we don't give the authorities any more excuses to bring complaints or charges against Rhyl Football Club.
Failure to heed these warnings and moderate behaviour accordingly will place intolerable financial penalties on the club and could even jeopardise our chances of the League Championship. Please believe me, it really is that serious.
I think its pretty pathetic really, but if calling Whitby ****ing useless is going to get the club in trouble I guess I'll have to learn to bite my tongue. Though I think our much loved secretary needs to heed those words too, having shouted down to Coyne at Aber, 'I'll come down there and shove this up you ****ing a***. If he wants to deny it, I have witnesses.
I always find the subject of swearing an interesting one. The word **** appears in the Oxford dictionary and like it or not has become an everyday part of the English language for a large portion of the British public. Who decides that use of the word is vile and unacceptable? As used in the Whitby incident the word is there merely to accentuate the level of uselessness, which in Whitby's case is most apt! Its not in anyway used threateningly. Be interesting if in the unlikely event of him getting higher up the ladder, when 40,000 give their forthright views on Whitby's level of uselessness will he threaten to stop that game too?
as for the Welsh Fa threatening to dock points. I'm sure the threat of lawsuits and withdrawl from their tinpot league will soon have them flapping.
I agree to a certain extent. The quotes taken from a web forum, however have nothing to do with it. I think it is ridiculous to quote them.
However I have heard foul and abusive and distasteful language used on many occasions. In fact it is one of the main reasons my family doesn't attend matches. We should definitely be doing everything we can to make a match more family friendly and not just appeal to the single male fans.
I was at Caersws and was unaware of any problems, although I admit I wasn't part of the 9 behind the goal. It was hardly a powder keg atmosphere.
Some of the language of coaches and players also leaves a lot to be desired.
I haven't heard the one-line extracts numbered 1 and 10, but fitting them into a song does display a certain degree of inventiveness.
I see that Dave Milner does give the 11 quotes here - which is the fould and abusive word in the phrase "in your bangor slum ?" Is it now official that "bangor" is a term of abuse ?
So the result will be given on the FAW website as
Rhyl 4-1 XXXXXX City
I reckon a few satirical chants are called for
"We know you're the best ref in the world
But wasn't that decision slightly absurd"
OK, rhyme and rhythm not very good but it will come. One or two pins in the balloons of pomposity.
I would ask the Welsh FA if they enjoyed the TV pictures of 1500+ people inside Belle Vue for the Bangor game.
Did they not feel that a match where the referee was verbally abused if he got a decision wrong, 2 sets of fans derided each other for 90 minutes and players like Limbert and Neil Roberts took fearful stick from opposition fans was bad for the image of the league. Or did they sit back and wish that every game in this joke of a league was more like this. And if they were might they find it easier to get a decent sponsor rather than the feeble efforts they've managed so far.
Or perhaps they feel that Druids v Airbus in front of less than 80 people is what this leagues all about. No swearing, no passion, no interest. Wonderful.
if that's what the league's going to come to then this may well be my last season. Cos I've had enough
I think Craig is spot on with his comments about this league and the running of it. Dave Milner is simply stating facts, we would be foolish not to heed the warnings.
Craig is right in what he says; what do the people who run this league want?
Do they want sanitised passionless football in front of pathetically small crowds in joke grounds; or do they want games such as Rhyl v Prestatyn or Rhyl v Bangor in front of crowds well in excess of a thousand people who are passionate about their teams and their football?
Yes, we are guilty of having supporters who sometimes go too far with their obscenities and we must put our house in order from now on: but the authorities also need to get their priorities right in terms of which clubs give this League any sort of credibility at all in the eyes of the outside world and potential sponsors.
There are some interesting points here
(1) - It's commented that attendances in the League are small.
(2) - Mike3legs says his family wont come to games because of Foul and Abusive language. This isn't an isolated case as my family and some friends are the same.
So what are the FAW/WPL doing to rectify Issue (1) - They are ensuring that (2) is rectified by clamping down on Foul and Abusive language.
I would have to confess that I'm not a regular at BV (work), but I was at the game against Bangor and I thought that the bahviour was good by Rhyl Fans and genuinely thought it was because of the plea from a club representative before the game.
I think that Rhyl Fans are the most pasisonate in the League, but let's show passion through catchy songs that don't offend. Lets's sing songs that you'd let your kids sing to in the house, or songs that teachers would allow in the playground, so the next generation of Rhyl Fans develop this changing football mentality.
I will be at the Prestatyn game on Monday and I will be hoping that we can sign songs that dont offend, sing songs that inspire the players to victory and develop a songs that develop a friendly, unique derby atmosphere.
I plea to all our fans to make it a day to remember for all, a day that Rhyl FC are proud of and a day that the swelled derby crowd will never forget. Maybe then, they will walk home and think to themselves...
"I really enjoyed that, a great atmosphere, no offesnive songs or chants, and a cracking game. Maybe football has changed. I'll go to BV next week to see for sure and take my mates to show them too."
I understand your point. But that doesn't really sound like a direct quote from all the 12-15years old kids who've been coming recently to BV - not being dragged along by their parents for famly entertainment, but coming despite their laZY parents who are probably sitting in front of the telly.
this is a discrace !!!!!
grow up mike, we all know you are religious and you would be the best cristian in the world if you have never used a swear word, c'mon dont send your kids to school or out of the house if you dont want them to hear swear words or go watch croquet and take them to watch that,also the majority of kids that come are guilty of this and they like the songs. swearing is not acceptable but its reality people hear it every day, i seriously cannot understand why people are so offended by swearing. swearing's everywhere and if your not used to it, i suggest you return to the shell you've been hiding in and dont come out !!!!!!!!!
PATHETIC