I don’t understand why there’s so much rivalry (From Worcester News)

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I don’t understand why there’s so much rivalry

11:41am Thursday 9th February 2012

By Carl Heeley »

I HAVE never understood why there should be so much rivalry between sporting clubs in Worcester.

Surely, anyone with an appreciation for sport should want all to do well – from Worcester City, Warriors and the county cricket club to the Wolves basketball team and individuals representing the city. I am a fan of sport in Worcester and I want to see all prosper.

I look at the bigger picture, it’s not about one code of sport but about success for the city and county. I support others here because I want them to do well.

The football club has had a lot of criticism from people outside of its core support in recent times because of the apparent financial mismanagement of the past.

But things are looking better now and, headed up by our board of directors, it’s looking like there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

The profile of the club, in comparative terms to the level the Warriors and cricket club play at, has always surprised me.

We have always attracted a lot of interest but need a little bit of help from outside.

The club are trying to move forward and, although we are one of the best supported at our level, we don’t have the financial backing of some teams.

Players want to come and join us because City are now seen as a side who can push on towards the Blue Square Bet North play-offs, whether that be this season or next.

However, we need to try and make that next step without anything really changing or an increase in resources.

The gates are not going to treble, nor is someone going to throw millions of pounds at our cause.

We are quite unusual in that respect because most clubs have some kind of financial investment from an outside party.

It becomes increasingly difficult to get better players for the same money although we have done that of late – following the acquisitions of Stuart Whitehead, Tyler Weir, Ellis Deeney and Greg Mills – and can do it again.

Players in the non-league game expect to be compensated financially for their efforts but a few old-fashioned values remain. They play because a club looks after them, they enjoy their football and also have pride in wanting to be successful.

Crucially, City are in a stable position with a decent fanbase and not running the risk of a benefactor walking away, as has happened to other clubs at our level.

But we do have to find a solution in the next 16 months as to where we will play in the short-term while the proposed move to Nunnery Way is ongoing.

City have faced many challenges in the past and will tackle more in the future but I believe we can still achieve success.

I am sure it will be tough going forward but I feel positive and am certain we will keep moving in the right direction.

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Comments (5)

12:17pm Thu 9 Feb 12

Nigel Thornberry says...

I'm a big Worcester fans when it comes to all sports, particularly in the cricket and the rugby, although I do watch the odd WCFC match and always check their results to see if they have won. I think that the rivalry stems from the fact that all WCFC fans on here seem to jump on the defensive as soon as someone says anything negative about Worcester City, and instead of having reasoned debate they then proceed to make wild claims that sixways has no atmosphere and that all their fans are glory supporters which is clearly incorrect and very childish. I believe that is the kind of petulance that puts people off being interested in the football club.

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1:16pm Thu 9 Feb 12

DeBrian Thronker says...

I agree with Nigel. I vividly remember posting a piece of constructive criticism on a previous Worcester City article about how the footall club over-charge for matchday tickets, and received a flurry of abuse from several City fans. I try to make it along to a few City games each season, but the appeal is lessened by the petulance of which Nigel spoke. Hum ha!

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8:26am Fri 10 Feb 12

adecrean says...

I consider myself a Worcester sports fan - but with a clear pecking order 1. Football 2. Cricket 3. Rugby. But I recognise there is a little jealousy at the resources and support etc the Warriors enjoy. BUT to Carl's point, the current Board and a set of active supporters have done a superb job to give City a chance of a long term future. We need to continue & build on that. It would be great to see some real cooperation and mutual support across the three clubs / sports - rather than the negative feeling that seems to prevail...

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1:36pm Fri 10 Feb 12

Jeremy Pitt says...

Of course City fans are protective of their club, all sports fans are, its part of supporting a club. However Nigel, you're wrong, many supporters including myself have been very critical of the club over the past few years. It is down to this criticism that we have been able to force debate on the future of the club. more than that, we have been able to secure regime change, so that the club might have so hope of a future. One of the most disappointing aspects over the last few years has been the lack of support from the general population of Worcester sports fans outside of a core of WCFC supporters. So although some talk of a vision of a Sporting Worcester, the truth is that there is a "them and us" attitude which eminates from both sides of the rugby / football divide.
I am still convinced that if we hadn't suffered the boneheaded obstinance of the previous Chairman, his board and their advisors, that we might now be seeing a true Sporting Worcester set up at Sixways, incorporating football, rugby and hockey teams representing this fine City. Instead we have the nightmare of a pointless and soulless concrete eyesore being built on a retail park within spitting distance of one of the finests small modern stadiums at Sixways in the country!

Of course City fans are protective of their club, all sports fans are, its part of supporting a club. However Nigel, you're wrong, many supporters including myself have been very critical of the club over the past few years. It is down to this criticism that we have been able to force debate on the future of the club. more than that, we have been able to secure regime change, so that the club might have so hope of a future. One of the most disappointing aspects over the last few years has been the lack of support from the general population of Worcester sports fans outside of a core of WCFC supporters. So although some talk of a vision of a Sporting Worcester, the truth is that there is a "them and us" attitude which eminates from both sides of the rugby / football divide. I am still convinced that if we hadn't suffered the boneheaded obstinance of the previous Chairman, his board and their advisors, that we might now be seeing a true Sporting Worcester set up at Sixways, incorporating football, rugby and hockey teams representing this fine City. Instead we have the nightmare of a pointless and soulless concrete eyesore being built on a retail park within spitting distance of one of the finests small modern stadiums at Sixways in the country! Jeremy Pitt

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3:19pm Fri 10 Feb 12

Nigel Thornberry says...

Hi Jeremy, you undoubtedly know a lot more about the football club than me so I won't disagree with your opinion. From a rugby supporters perspective I think no warriors fans really have anything against the football club, it is just slightly infuriating how WCFC supporters seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder and therefore often find it helps them if they make stupid claims that the warriors fans are all glory supporters etc. In other words they ask for support from warriors fans whilst having digs at the warriors fans. I think the football club should have a little bit more respect. Just because football is a bigger sport worldwide you should recognise that is not the case in this city.