Gravesham Council Leader's Comments

[JimGNFC]

Page 11 of this weeks Gravesend Messenger (Very small article at the bottom of the page).

 

Football Clubs 'should unite'

 

I'm Gillingham Football Club's biggest fan admits Gravesham Borough Council Leader John Burden.

 

But he also says he's Gravesend and Northfleet Football Club's biggest fan and he wants both sides to work together to find a suitable home - together if possible.

 

John Burden said: "I have been following the success of both clubs in the Gravesend Messenger - I'm now the biggest fan of both clubs.

 

Mr Burden believes the clubs are close enough to each other geographically to merge.

 

He said "I want to see a vibrant sports facility that will develop and expand the teams, securing their long term future."

 

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Its nice to know that the Council leader for Gravesham refers to GNFC as the "second" team when referring to us and Gillingham.

 

As our biggest fan I'm sure he would have no problem naming all our players and even identifying them then - sigh!

[Stu M]

Quote:

I'm now the biggest fan of both clubs.

Well done, Mr Burden. Nice to see your loyalties can shift at the drop of a hat.

Quote:

Mr Burden believes the clubs are close enough to each other geographically to merge.

What utter tosh. So are Arsenal and Tottenham. Clearly, our esteemed council leader's knowledge of the game could be written on the back of a postage stamp torn in half, and then half again.

[Jeff]

Success of both clubs?

Sometimes I wonder what planet politicians are on???

As for a merger, well, I think I know the majority of feelings on that one!

I bet he has never been to either ground.

[Stu M]

Ask him to explain the offside rule! I bet he'd struggle.

[Guest]

His email address is here:

 

http://www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=596

 

 

But don't send anything non-constructive, it won't help our case!

[Hempstead Gaz]

Just sent this off - let us bombard him!!!!

 

I write as a lifelong fan of Gravesend & Northfleet FC. The Board at GNFC have categorically stated they do NOT want to merge with Gillingham FC. Neither set of supporters want the merger. The idea of a 25,000 seater stadium within the Ebbsfllet area will do no favours for Gravesend – our average attendances are at present 1500. Playing before such crowds in such a large stadia will have no atmosphere. But you will already know this as big fan. You will also know that feelings are already running high over any planned merger.

 

Gillingham cannot fill their present ground at Preistfield stadium, with crowds of approx. 8,000 – the only reason Mr Scally wants to move to Ebbsfleet is to franchise his club in the same way as Wimbledon moved to Milton Keynes, and to move Gillingham to where a new fanbase is rapidly growing.

 

He is doing this not for footballing reasons, but for personal financial gain. Mr Scally is already on record saying he quitting the football business in 4 years to concentrate on other business areas.

 

This is not the action of a football fan, but a moneyman.

 

The area can only support one club –and that club must remain Gravesend and Northfleet.

 

I would ask you to reconsider your position on wanting such a move, and suppot Gravesend’s long term plan for full time football at a new stadium of their own.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Quote:

Quote:

I'm now the biggest fan of both clubs.

Well done, Mr Burden. Nice to see your loyalties can shift at the drop of a hat.

Quote:

Mr Burden believes the clubs are close enough to each other geographically to merge.

What utter tosh. So are Arsenal and Tottenham. Clearly, our esteemed council leader's knowledge of the game could be written on the back of a postage stamp torn in half, and then half again.

More like his knowledge of Football could be written on a Postage Stamp......and still have enough room for the complete works of Shakespear!

[Hempstead Gaz]

And Margate thought TDC were rotten to the core. Torys, Labour, they are all the same really. Just want to make a name for themselves, with high profile, expensive projects that no-one can afford. Another notch on their coat of arms.

At least TDC are one faced.

Gravessham say one thing and do another.

I appeal to all residents of Gravesend and Northfleet area to vote for........Lib Dems! (so long as they support Fleet)

[Jeff]

I have mailed him:

 

Good afternoon Mr Burden,

I am not normally one for writing to councillors but after having read your comments in this weeks Gravesend Messanger, I felt the urge to.

If you are, as you say 'the biggest fan of GFC and GNFC', then you should know that the GNFC board have made public the fact that they do not wish to groundshare (or merge) with GFC.

 

If you have been 'following the success of both clubs', then you should also know that GFC are potentially looking at relegation into League One while GNFC have won only one league match since September of last year and are currently managerless. Do you know who they beat?

 

Dwindling crowds for GFC combined with low crowds for GNFC do not merit a large all seater stadium.

The reasons for GFC's apparent willingness to move into the Gravesham area should be looked at very carefully. Is it a co-incidence that any proposed move would be happening at round about the same time that Ebbsfleet would be coming into fruition? I think not.

 

Please keep GFC in Medway and GNFC for the people of this town. Your email address is gravesham.co.uk and not Medway. It would do you no harm to remember this fact.

[Stu M]

One more for luck...

 

Dear Mr Burden,

 

I imagine your inbox must be filling up with a few emails from real fans of Gravesend & Northfleet FC. I was appalled to read of your comments in the Gravesend Messenger about backing a merger between your own town's club and that of an impostor club attempting to relocate itself at our expense.

 

If you are, as you claim, the "biggest fan" of these two clubs, you would realise that no football fan wants to see his club merged with another. And like any business where competition is concerned, the appearance of a rival attempting to tap potential resources should be fought.

 

It is disappointing, therefore, to read about your apparent surrender to the lure of Mr Scally and Gillingham FC. Instead of running pell-mell into a deal with him, perhaps your electorate would like to see you giving their home-town club a chance first. Remember, GIllingham FC will never bear the name of Gravesend, so shouldn't you go with the team that shares your council's name?

 

Gillingham fans are as much in opposition to this plan as Gravesend fans. You would do well to remember that we as a body of people are extremely passionate, can and will raise media campaigns and demonstrate against this move, and that your council and your position as councillor will be held to account at the ballot box.

[Jeff]

Understated ballot box threats - like it Stu M <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Stu M]

"Held to account" is obviously an exaggeration seeing as (a) I no longer live in Gravesham and ( my knowledge of local council elections could be written on the back of Burden's postage stamp mentioned above...! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Jeff]

Yeah but you spin a good yarn mate!

[Graham S]

I too have emailed Mr Burden. Looking at Stu M's now, I see it's very much along his lines, so no point in repeating all of it here.

 

However, just before Christmas I emailed Gravesham's MP Chris Pond, referring to his willingness to lobby on behalf of the naming of the new international station and asking what his position was re the building of a new stadium in the Borough. He replied very promptly, with his views clear I think from this extract:

 

"...I have supported the Fleet's development plans for many years, including helping to raise funds for the ground improvements needed to help them move into the Conference League. I have also been discussing their plans for the future with Brian Kilcullen more recently and have offered my full support.

 

My view is that every major town or city needs a football club to share its name to help put it - and keep it - on the map. Its for this reason that I have both supported the Fleet and insisted that the International Station is indeed called Ebbsfleet, not Dartford."

 

I politely pointed out to Mr Burden that his views appeared to be at variance with his party colleague at national level.

 

I feel this is going to be a long, hard slog. Some people have theirs hearts set on promoting Scally's idea as their pet project & they won't be put off easily.

 

Graham S

[Guest]

1 more for luck

 

Dear Mr. Burden,

 

I am flabbergasted after reading your comments in the Gravesend Messenger this week.

There is nothing further from the thoughts of real Fleet fans than a groundshare with the Gills let alone a merger.

The Fleet are competing in the top echelon of non league football, and in order for us to make the next step up to the professional ranks we need the support of all the local community, including the council.

I would hope that the local council and councillors do all in their power to assist in preserving the identity of its local club, and keep in their minds that Gravesend and Northfleet FC should always be the most prominent team in the Borough.

There have already been discussions between supporters about media campaigns and representatives standing for local and national elections to publicise our plight, and your comments only deepens the resolve.

 

I trust that you will be speaking to Brian Kilcullen, the chairman of the Fleet , in order to see his vision of how to secure the long term success of Gravesend and Northfleet FC.

 

Yours sincerely

[Hempstead Gaz]

Yet another, just to be a pain in the ar*e to Cllr Burden, but using Graham S's e-mail

"

Dear Cllr Burden,

 

Further to my earlier e-mail, I refer you to a statement given by Chris Pond MP (Lab) for Gravesham, just before Christmas, in which he quoted :

 

"...I have supported the Fleet's development plans for many years, including helping to raise funds for the ground improvements needed to help them move into the Conference League. I have also been discussing their plans for the future with Brian Kilcullen more recently and have offered my full support.

My view is that every major town or city needs a football club to share its name to help put it - and keep it - on the map. Its for this reason that I have both supported the Fleet and insisted that the International Station is indeed called Ebbsfleet, not Dartford."

 

This appears to be at a complete variance to the line taken by yourself.

 

I have no doubt Mr Pond will be extremely concerned with your views as they appear to not only contrary to those of your MP, but also that of the Labour Party.

 

As one of their biggest fans, you will no doubt remember the FA Cup game versus Aston Villa – where over 7000 Gravesend supporters travelled to the Midlands.

 

These supporters are voters – and will take a dim view of any party intent on seeing their club absorbed by a franchised Championship Club moving into the area to capture the audience.

 

Would you be so keen to see Brighton, Crystal Palace or any other club from outside wanting to move into the area?

 

Your local paper The Reporter took up you stance initially, until it realised it was the WRONG stance. The Editor publically apologised for his error of judgement and has been supporting the keep Fleet in Northfleet campaign since.

 

I ask you to reconsider your views on the potential merger of Gillingham and the Fleet.

 

I plan to bombard Mr Burden at every opportunity, until he changes his tune!!!

[FleetFanatic]

Dear Cllr Burden,

 

I read your traitorous comments in this week's Gravesend Messenger. I refer you to a statement given by Chris Pond MP (Lab) for Gravesham, just before Christmas, in which he quoted :

 

"...I have supported the Fleet's development plans for many years, including helping to raise funds for the ground improvements needed to help them move into the Conference League. I have also been discussing their plans for the future with Brian Kilcullen more recently and have offered my full support.

My view is that every major town or city needs a football club to share its name to help put it - and keep it - on the map. Its for this reason that I have both supported the Fleet and insisted that the International Station is indeed called Ebbsfleet, not Dartford."

 

It would appear you have opposite views compared to that of your own party mp? I have no doubt Mr Pond will be extremely concerned with your views as they appear contrary that of the Labour Party.

 

As one of their biggest fans, have you attended many games? Of course not - you declared how you merely followed the 'success of both clubs in the Gravesend Messenger.' You are merely jumping on the Paul Scally big club bandwagon. Wrong choice - the people of Gravesham will derail the plans of this MEDWAY club.

 

Your local paper The Reporter adopted the same attitude but a public apology quickly followed when they realised it was the WRONG thing.

 

Remember that our supporters are your voters – we will not tolerate seeing our club absorbed by a franchised club moving into the area to capture the audience of a developing area.

 

I ask you to retract your comments in public or face an election battle on a grand scale. I shall also be doing my upmost to investigate whether there exists any 'financial support' received by those in power trying to push the plans through.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Nice one, Darren.

He really does seem a pig, doesn't he. He even looks as though he could be bought!!

[Hempstead Gaz]

To every Fleet fan with access to this forum/email, I implore you to contact Cllr Burden and bombard his inbox with our opinions.

Councillors are a fickle lot - they would sell their grandparents to buy a vote, if this fool realises he is onto a loser, he WILL change his mind. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/boxing.gif" alt="" />

[DarrenGNFC]

I would write to him too, but I don't know as much as you lot do. I know the basics, but I wouldn't be able to quote what the MP said or anything like that, as I wasn't aware.

 

But I'd like to help in some way.

 

I posted the petition on this football message board a couple of weeks ago. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />