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#Unity Protest 4th March - Accounts from those there

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  • cantersaddick
    cantersaddick Posts: 16,946
    Stig said:

    PART 1

    Got on the day coach at Ebbsfleet. Nice welcome from our stewards Heather and Dom. Thanks very much for the sausage roll - that was a lovely touch. Straight way told that we had film crews on board and shortly after we were all chanting 'We want Roland Out' whilst cameramen walked up and down the aisle. I thought we could have had a bit more variety with our bus chanting and was wracking my brain for some alternative chants, but I couldn't think of any that were clean enough for tv.

    Had a nice breakfast on the ferry and a chat with @cantersaddick and his mate, who I'd thought told us that his handle was @cafcluke but that doesn't seem to appear here. I expect this is another case of me getting someone's name wrong. I wasn't sure where the ferry was going. I'd assumed Calais, it took a left turn and headed up the coast. After what seemed like ages of slowly chugging slowly up the French coast, I assumed we were heading for Ostend, Zeebrugge or perhaps Trondheim. As it turned out we were heading for the DFDS terminal at Loon Plage which sounds pretty appropriate considering who we were protesting about.

    image

    The up the motorway with Forrest Gump on; we just kept on running and running and running. Was aware that @InspectorSands was on our coach and was tempted to shout out and find out who he was. I decided not to though; I didn't want to shout his name in public for fear of causing a security alert.

    Arrived in St Truiden. A strange town that seemed half shut. Soon after, the heavens opened and I began to wonder wether Duchatelet was like a mad professor who somehow controlled the local weather.

    Duchatelet OUT (1 of 1)-7

    Saw the magnificent 2Percent who were absolutely fantastic. Lively and positive with some great tunes. Just right to get everyone in the party spirit.

    Duchatelet OUT (1 of 1)-6

    No Stig you are right he is @cafc luke

    Good to see you and Cliff again!
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,733

    Back in my S-T hotel sipping one of those dangerous Trappist beers.

    For the early part of my life I didn't even dream of Charlton being in Europe. And then the Premier League days came. I dreamed of Charlton drawing Sparta Prague and hosting a huge party of my tribe. Because the thing about playing in Europe for most clubs is not so much the result, but just being there. Going as a tribe to a new country, getting to know fellow tribe members and locals.

    And so today in the worst possible circumstances my dream came true. And today we were brilliant, as we have been so many times before. I still do not even know exactly who has been at the heart of this operation but you have done a fantastic job. Despite various rumours, the police - low key and courteous - allowed us to march to the very gates of Stayen. You could see that this had been carefully negotiated, and was being reviewed step by step. Stop and think about how some of our fans have built such a relationship with the police in a provincial town in Belgium where Roland Duchatelet calls the shots. And think about how furious he will be that these police, whom he thought he had in his pocket, will have reminded him that Belgium is a democracy, these people have a right to protest, and the police have no reason to think we will be a problem. That, above all, was our triumph today, and whoever have worked so hard to achieve that, well you are the real legends.

    Late on with @TCE , @ThreadKiller , and @oohaahmortimer ( who will not remember this, I suspect) we discussed whether RD has an ego. I think he does. When you arrive at Mordor, sorry, Stayen, a big digi screen displays the many delights it has to offer customers. It includes the dancing , and there is RD , dancing and being the life and soul of the party, followed - rather unsettlingly - by shots of attractive young ladies enjoying the party. Say what you like about Richard Murray but most rival fans would have struggled to put a face to his name. In S-T Roland's face is in your face.

    It' s a bit early to evaluate what this has achieved , but I am very sure we whacked his ego pretty hard today. And unlike at Standard he cannot go whining to the media about how he has been threatened, because once again we displayed that precious commodity that has marked us Charlton fans out over many years, no matter who owned us. That commodity which many other clubs' fans freely bestow upon us.

    Class.

    We have worked

    I just wanted to say thank you for everyone who attended yesterday - very proud to be a Charlton fan.

    A couple of anecdotes about yesterday...no doubt there will be lots more that will emerge during the day...

    ST Police were brilliant, prepared to listen and negotiate, and stayed in the background generally.
    I seemed to have 2 plain clothes guys 'stalk' me the whole day- however, they did come and introduce themselves at the beginning of the day - but , surprisingly, after the match , both of them came up to me with beers in hand in the bar concourse, and we had a good chat almost as mates. They were very complimentary to us as a group of fans, saying they had NO problems, certainly NO arrests, it was a 'pleasure' to police , and that this has shown them and the Mayor that should we do this again in Sint Truiden then they will likely take a more relaxed view - they also wished us good luck in trying to get rid of Duchatelet.

    We seemed to have so much media coverage - there were interviews,cameras,photographers everywhere. certainly, Roly the Effigy seemed to be the most popular for the media there - and magnificent he was - for that @foresthillred , who spent so many long hours working on it , take a bow, son.Also, @GermanAddick who helped with the construction. Even, at one stage, when we had to make running repairs after his leg had fallen off, and his ear had come loose, one fan decided to drop his trousers and stick it in Rolys face :) - yes, you know who you are :)

    It looked for one moment that you were doing something dodgy to a tramp at the side of the road when you were making those repairs!
  • cantersaddick
    cantersaddick Posts: 16,946
    Stig said:

    PART 2

    Duchatelet OUT (1 of 1)-11

    Well who is that handsome young fella with a black and white scarf and an STVV scarf?
  • Uboat
    Uboat Posts: 12,199
    edited March 2017
    ..
  • Glass_Cartographer
    edited March 2017
    ...53, 54, 55...(message to @Pico 'how many on the coaches again?' Ans '109'... oh)....some time later..107, 108, 109
  • Hmm don't know what happened to the rest of the post above, will need to write again later..
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,815
    I thought it was rather succinct.

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  • andynelson
    andynelson Posts: 1,951
    Succinct could not be used to describe KR's post-match, which suddenly burst out over the tannoy in the bus. Sad to see him change from a thrusting young manager bursting with confidence to a gibbering wreck. Still, it provided a few minutes of gallows humour.
  • bolloxbolder
    bolloxbolder Posts: 7,964
    I guess @Covered End has summed up our day really. I was knackered when I finally got to bed around 2pm, after dropping @Badger home with the remains of the protest banners, so they can be reused at the next protest.

    Apologies for not speaking any longer to @PragueAddick during the March, hope to catch up on another occasion soon mate. Nice to chat to @Fanny Fanackapan and @cherryorchard at the end of the march. I thanked a long standing friend who is part of the Belgium 20 for his role in organising such a great event. Thanks also to CARD, keep up the good work.

    As some one said, as fans we don't have a knock out punch. All we can do is keep chipping away and hope he finally realises he has bought the wrong club and sells at a realistic price.

    Respect to everyone there yesterday. We all stood up to be counted and we all should feel proud for that.
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,157
    sorry to not buy you that beer @bolloxbolder or you @LargeAddick .

    However either of you could get @Addickted to buy you one in lieu of the waffle he owes me.
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,038
    Is that you with the 'We Want Our Charlton Back' banner? I'd have said hello, if I'd known.
  • bolloxbolder
    bolloxbolder Posts: 7,964
    Yes and likewise. Admire your work on here mate. I was row 4 on coach opposite Dom the Steward.
  • Addickted
    Addickted Posts: 19,456

    sorry to not buy you that beer @bolloxbolder or you @LargeAddick .

    However either of you could get @Addickted to buy you one in lieu of the waffle he owes me.

    Did I miss your declared travel time then @PragueAddick?
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 57,833
    Grateful if the chat stuff can be on the other thread please guys and girls, thanks
  • SX_Addick
    SX_Addick Posts: 667
    Others on this thread seem to have summed up the day quite well. Not sure there's much to add regarding the march.

    My son and I travelled independently by car from Essex via Le Shuttle and stayed at the Holiday Inn in Hasselt. The hotel was a ten minute walk to Hasselt station and the train journey a further 15 minutes to Sint Truiden. Having been to Sint Truiden pre-season a couple of years ago, we knew the lay of the land so headed straight for the buffet.

    It was a bit of a surprise to see a rather static Roland sat outside as we arrived. He looked worse for wear and I wondered whether Fanny and the other WARriors had carried out her threat to jump out of a cake wearing something skimpy. That might account for it.

    Inside we had first dibs on the buffet which hit the spot nicely. Given the strength and variety of the beer, I'm pleased we were drinking bottles and not pints. We caught the end of the Sky game and gave up our table as the coaches were 'due to arrive soon'. We had prime spot to watch the first half of the Charlton game via Roland's live stream. Well done to whoever filmed that. It was good to hear some anti Roland chants from Northampton.

    The band started up as the coach travellers arrived. I didn't think I was a Ska fan, but they were brilliant and certainly energised the crowd before setting off. Others have described the march and it was everything you'd expect from Charlton fans. There never seems to be an adequate climax to these protests though, and people inevitably just drifted away. I was disappointed I couldn't get to De Kanarie for a reminiscent beer - but then the weather was nowhere near as good as July 2015.

    We too drifted away and went back to Hasselt. Caught the end of the Liverpool game in some dodgy bar near the station and had a drink in Wembley.

    A great experience. Enjoyed the gig and will hopefully catch them again. Will be at the next Belgium protest if Roland doesn't go soon - maybe in the summer when it's warmer?
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,815
    The lack of climax to the protest was I am afraid my fault. I had around 20 confetti cannon but in the rush to start the march had given them away to others to get out there.

    Had thought they would be classed as littering which was why we haven't fully planned them but seems police less bothered (until they find bits of metallic confetti all over the town for the next 2 months).

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  • Mametz
    Mametz Posts: 1,254
    Neil disappoints again with lack of climax!
  • RedPanda
    RedPanda Posts: 4,989
    Some thoughts...

    The organisation yesterday was top notch all day. Hundreds of man hours would have gone into that, all involved are Charlton heroes far beyond all our players (one or two excepted).

    I was disappointed by the lack of STVV fans joining us. Theyre historically a lower league team so I think a lot are still grateful for that.

    I still can't get over the darkened concourses with disco lights and crap music, all through the game. That house dj in Crossbars may not have solely been Meire's idea.

    I had fun joining the Belgian 20 during and after the game, although hazy running on the pitch to sing "we want Roland out" is something I'll remember.

    The Roland effigy was also a highlight, I should have taken one of his banknotes as a souvenir (one side included the names of Thuram, Reza etc, the other Yann, Morrison and so on).

    Belgian beer is lethal.
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,733
    STVV are a small club in a higher league than their history demands - a bit different to us. What some of their fans realise is that Roland does not prioritise success, he got the ground for peanuts and developed it for his own financial benefit and STVV are only a small part of that. This means that if and when things go belly up they will find themselves in not such a great position with no ground or assets! Some of the identity of the club has been lost too. But you wouldn't expect massive numbers yet - it is important that some of their fans have realised the future issue and we know that an owner who does not prioritise success is not going to be great in the long term.

    I think Roland will not be happy with alliances of fans groups from different clubs in his network - especially if we are involved.
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,815
    Sorry to hear about your fall but good to hear you didn't get hurt too badly by the fall.

    I don't expect kindness and decency from people i don't know; but to hear stories that show it still exists reminds me that the glass is often at least half full :smile:
  • .
    Roland's view of what success is for his own, home town club summed up in one picture...money from advertising, no fans.
  • Athletico Charlton
    Athletico Charlton Posts: 14,282
    edited March 2017
    .
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,815
    That's the away end under development isn't it?

    I think it was against Oostende where the away fans could be counted on one persons fingers without the need to utilise the opposable digits.

    Could be wrong though as the Belgian beer is quite strong.
  • Badger
    Badger Posts: 4,842

    .
    Roland's view of what success is for his own, home town club summed up in one picture...money from advertising, no fans.

    Top left of the picture along the stand, hotel.shoppping, business, top right eat&drink, party, sports. All a bit worrying.