On the eve of Bradford City’s important home match with Gillingham, joint-Chairmen Mark Lawn has made some characteristically blunt statements in the Telegraph & Argus stating that “It’s time for fans to be fans.” He said:

“The club has done it for the fans with the special offers and letting them come in for £1. Now it’s time for our supporters to do their bit.”

In what was largely otherwise a balanced and well-timed statement – tomorrow is indeed a time for supporters to be behind the team and cheer them on – comments suggesting that we somehow need to start acting differently really irk with me and, judging by the online reaction, many other supporters. The insinuation is that we fans are not getting behind the team and are moaning is simply not true in my view.

With a few exceptions during the first half of the season, home games have been played out in front of positive backing and the players have benefited from the crowd’s support. The Oxford game, for example, was a cracking atmosphere. 10 home games unbeaten is a great achievement, but we supporters are entitled to accept a small part of the credit for that too.

The expectation levels have clearly dropped, and this is helping the team to perform. Compare the atmosphere this season with last, and also the 2008/09 missed play offs season, and you would find numerous examples of City fans hindering their team because they were demanding more than they were capable of. This season the team has unfairly been booed off at half time or the final whistle on one or two occasions, but in the main – and in trying circumstances – we have stuck with them.

The recent Hereford home game was a prime example. Good support, loud backing and a positive atmosphere during the 90 minutes – then in the immediate aftermath local radio received numerous texts of moans and message boards went into overdrive criticising the tactics. That might not be fair on Phil Parkinson and doesn’t help, but surely it is better that this sort of reaction takes place away from the match rather than during it? Moaners can stay away says Lawn. Well, in my experience, this season most seem to have.

Equally insulting from Lawn is to mention the special offers of season ticket and £1 prices in the same breath as expecting more from supporters. As fans we have generally showed great loyalty to the club during some very difficult times, but just because it’s cheap to get in does not mean we shouldn’t be disgruntled at what has, frankly, been a really poor season. And simply laying on cheap season tickets does not mean the Board should be absolved of sharing some of the responsibility for how this season has gone.

I can only speak for myself, but so far this season I have attended 33 of the 45 games we have played. I have given up holiday, travelled hundreds of miles and spent a lot of money backing the team. Now I am told I need to do my bit? Even if all you do is attend home games or – if you live away from Bradford – the ‘local’ away games, how is this not doing your bit? We have some terrifically loyal and passionate supporters who have stuck by the club through thin and even thinner. We deserve more respect than this.

The frustration is that such confrontational comments override the very laudable intentions of Lawn’s message. He has a great opportunity to rev up the atmosphere for tomorrow and to make sure that Gillingham face an intimidating cauldron of noise (and as much as some people mock that idea, try visiting some of our League Two peers’ grounds and listen to the crashing sound of a pin dropping), and he takes a hostile approach.

Whether moaners or not, we love our club. Tomorrow would have been played in front of a positive backing before Lawn’s comments. Now, I feel less enthused to cheer.

Categories: Opinion

Tags: Gillingham, Mark Lawn, Supporters