Crisis day
FANS United is calling on the 33 Football League and Premiership clubs who
have no fixture on Saturday to rally their fans to attend the Clubs in Crisis
game at Wrexham.
Thousands of football supporters have already pledged to make the event the
biggest Fans United day ever.
All football fans have been invited to gather at the Racecourse Ground on
Saturday 29 January and stand in their team colours alongside Wrexham and
Doncaster Rovers supporters to show their solidarity for clubs on the brink of
financial ruin.
Those that cannot get to the game are asked to send a scarf, banner or team
shirt to display support.
Two months ago more than 10,000 people gathered at the same ground in a Fans
United day to draw attention to Wrexham's FC's own plight. The 132 year old
club is in financial administration, has been docked 10 points by the
Football League and faces eviction from its ground on 21 July 2005.
Last night Surrey based property developer Andrew Smith said he was ready to
buy Wrexham FC, but the details are far from clear and many supporters will
not believe their club is secure until the deal has been finalised.
Other clubs the length and breadth of the UK also face an uncertain future:
Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Bury, Cambridge United, Dover Athletic,
Hendon FC, East Stirlingshire, Gateshead and Grimsby Town are just a few.
A Fans United organiser and Brighton supporter Nic Outterside said: "We are
expecting a bumper crowd at Saturday's game with pledges of support from as
far afield as QPR, Sunderland and Northern Ireland.
"But with 33 English league clubs without a fixture that day, we are now
asking them to rally their fans to join in to help save the heart of British
football.
"So from Aston Villa to Wigan, and Liverpool to Torquay. come along in your
thousands and let's show the FA and Football League that clubs and fans
really do care about each other."
Simon Johnson of the Wrexham Supporters Trust added: "Football fans have had
enough of being ignored. Let us all stand together and show the
powers-that-be that we are desperate to safeguard our clubs for future generations and we
need their help."
Bob Gilbert, an organiser and veteran of Doncaster Rovers own fight for
survival, said: "I urge you, passionately, to turn up at the Racecourse on 29
January to show all these people that millions and millions of us do care."
Notes to Editors:
1. Those fans who cannot get to the game are asked to send a scarf, banner
or team shirt to display support to: Wrexham Supporters' Trust, PO Box 200,
Wrexham LL12 9WG
2. Among pledges of support:
Over 20 fans from Wrexham's greatest rivals Chester City have promised to
make the 14 mile journey across the Welsh border and stand shoulder to shoulder
with their "enemy" on the Racecourse Kop.
25 QPR fans are hiring a coach and travelling from London and at least 100
Bradford City, 50 Barnsley and 40 Chesterfield fans are joining the event -
these clubs have all faced similar crises in the past few years.