Lord Mayor of Leicester joins online petition supporting the Fosse Boys
The Lord Mayor of Leicester has joined nearly 400 people in signing an online petition supporting the Fosse Boys
Councillor Colin Hall is backing the 50-strong group of diehard Leicester City fans who say they have been banned from the Walkers Stadium.
The group is trying to crank up the atmosphere at the ground but say they were threatened with permanent bans and arrest at Saturday's game against Reading if they entered as a group.
It follows about 22 letters sent to the club from fellow fans complaining about noise made by the Fosse Boys at a previous match.
The club says it is unable to comment on the situation.
An online petition in support of the group received almost 400 signatures in 24 hours.
Lord Mayor Colin Hall, who is a big Foxes fan, said the club was "victimising" the group.
He said: "I am completely in support of the Fosse Boys as there position is much like mine – they just want to support their club.
"They have been victimised by the club for merely taking an active stance and I think that the club should have handled this far better."
Michael Kelly, 26, a season ticket holder from Leicester started the online petition to show the club that other fans support the group.
Mr Kelly said: "The success of the petition doesn't really come as a surprise.
"The Fosse Boys have been given a great deal of support both at the games by people coming up and congratulating them and via the online community.
"I feel it is essential that the club realise this, which is why I have started the petition.
"The club see the Fosse Boys as a small group of customers that they can brush away, rather than a group of loyal supporters who want to get behind their team."
The Fosse Boys are hoping to resolve the situation on Friday when they have a meeting with executive members of the club.
Members of the group said they were overwhelmed by the amount of people who signed the petition.
A 22-year-old Fosse Boys member from Market Harborough, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the amount of people who have signed the petition. Thank you to them all." Female member Deb Breward, 46, from Shepshed, said: "It's just absolutely amazing and goes to show that how many people – not just us – think it's disgraceful the way we have been treated."
This campaign comes just a few weeks after nearly 10,000 people signed a petition calling for club ambassador Alan Birchenall to keep his job.
There were rumours that The Birch was being forced to retire on his 65th birthday.
But the club eventually decided he would be able stay on in his £30,000-a-year ambassador role.
46 Comments
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by madmac, enderby
Sunday, September 05 2010, 5:18PM
“sorry,should read supporters.”
by madmac, enderby
Sunday, September 05 2010, 5:16PM
“i agree.they dont sing songs that the kop will join in,they choose to sing their own songs and repeat them about ten times,half of which dont apply to the game or the ground or the present players.when the kop actually do sing they seem to stop.it seems to me they would be better off in L1,where those supports appear to stand for the whole game.”
by David, Enderby
Saturday, September 04 2010, 8:22PM
“Having re-read the numerous arguments, I think it would be fair to say a compromise would be the sensible solution. Ideally the club should engage in regular communication with this group who are basically a clearly enthusiastic young bunch (aside from the mindless minority i mentioned in my earlier post).
In return for this they will agree to remain seated and sing more traditional songs whilst having some modicum of consideration for the regular supporters around them and their sensitivities- at the heart of it, all parties concerned want a successful Leicester City of whom we can all be proud.”
by madmac, enderby
Friday, September 03 2010, 6:22PM
“then find smewhere at the back.G1 and G2 are always empty.”
by madmac, enderby
Friday, September 03 2010, 6:20PM
“then find somewhere at the back.g1 and g2 are always empty.”