Loyalty doesn't pay at Arsenal
4 February 2013
We recently wrote to Ivan Gazidis concerning a number of issues at the club, and received a response - not from Ivan himself, but it was a response nevertheless. Check out the News page of this site to see what we originally wrote, the club's response, and our reply.
This dialogue prompted one of our members, a Mr Haynes, to write to us. He grew up in an Arsenal-supporting family whose love of the club stretches back to the 1920s. Like many long-term Arsenal fans, the club is in the Haynes family's blood and that love has been passed down through the generations.
However, like a large number of long-term fans he has become increasingly concerned with the direction the club seems to be headed, under the current Board. The preference of corporate or wealthier 'supporters' seems the be all and end all, with the Board having little respect or thought for those who have followed the club for decades through thick and thin, at home and away, paying thousands and thousands of pounds in the process, all because of their love for The Arsenal.
He therefore wrote to Ivan Gazidis in October 2012 to share the history of his family's love for The Arsenal, and to share his concerns at how after decades of support, how he feels his family is being forced out of the club. The letter asks for measures to be taken to help promote loyalty and recognise those long-term fans who travel long distances to see the team play. The letter was sent by Recorded Delivery, delivered to Highbury House, and then...
Nothing. No acknowledgement of the letter, and no response.
You can read a copy of the letter to Ivan Gazidis by clicking here. Some of it may resonate with some fans, some may not agree with the sugggestions in the letter, but what cannot be denied is this family's support of the club; the love of The Arsenal going back decades, the passion and pride, but more sadly, the lost feeling that's now being felt by more and more loyal Arsenal supporters. You can sense the concern felt by Mr Haynes when he asks "The big question is whether The Arsenal Football Club still believes in me and my family?".
We will be sending this letter on to Ivan Gazidis again, and ask that he pays Mr Haynes due respect and responds this time around.
A message you'll be seeing and hearing more and more from supporters groups across the country over the coming months is the famous Jock Stein quote:
"FOOTBALL WITHOUT FANS IS NOTHING"
It's a statement that our Board may take a flippant attitude towards, but as more and more loyal Arsenal supporters are forced to give up on their club, and as corporate 'fans' continue to head for the exit, you have to wonder who'll be left to come and see The Arsenal. Is that the Board looking out for the long term, caring about the future of this great club?
Up The Gunners.
We recently wrote to Ivan Gazidis concerning a number of issues at the club, and received a response - not from Ivan himself, but it was a response nevertheless. Check out the News page of this site to see what we originally wrote, the club's response, and our reply.
This dialogue prompted one of our members, a Mr Haynes, to write to us. He grew up in an Arsenal-supporting family whose love of the club stretches back to the 1920s. Like many long-term Arsenal fans, the club is in the Haynes family's blood and that love has been passed down through the generations.
However, like a large number of long-term fans he has become increasingly concerned with the direction the club seems to be headed, under the current Board. The preference of corporate or wealthier 'supporters' seems the be all and end all, with the Board having little respect or thought for those who have followed the club for decades through thick and thin, at home and away, paying thousands and thousands of pounds in the process, all because of their love for The Arsenal.
He therefore wrote to Ivan Gazidis in October 2012 to share the history of his family's love for The Arsenal, and to share his concerns at how after decades of support, how he feels his family is being forced out of the club. The letter asks for measures to be taken to help promote loyalty and recognise those long-term fans who travel long distances to see the team play. The letter was sent by Recorded Delivery, delivered to Highbury House, and then...
Nothing. No acknowledgement of the letter, and no response.
You can read a copy of the letter to Ivan Gazidis by clicking here. Some of it may resonate with some fans, some may not agree with the sugggestions in the letter, but what cannot be denied is this family's support of the club; the love of The Arsenal going back decades, the passion and pride, but more sadly, the lost feeling that's now being felt by more and more loyal Arsenal supporters. You can sense the concern felt by Mr Haynes when he asks "The big question is whether The Arsenal Football Club still believes in me and my family?".
We will be sending this letter on to Ivan Gazidis again, and ask that he pays Mr Haynes due respect and responds this time around.
A message you'll be seeing and hearing more and more from supporters groups across the country over the coming months is the famous Jock Stein quote:
"FOOTBALL WITHOUT FANS IS NOTHING"
It's a statement that our Board may take a flippant attitude towards, but as more and more loyal Arsenal supporters are forced to give up on their club, and as corporate 'fans' continue to head for the exit, you have to wonder who'll be left to come and see The Arsenal. Is that the Board looking out for the long term, caring about the future of this great club?
Up The Gunners.
