Although you may know each other, the forum is built on people knowing they can stay anonymous.
Lets keep it that way. No outing each other. It's up to the individual to use their own name if they wish.

I'm Spartacus!

But your petty jealousy against anyone who stuck their hand up and tried to help is irrelevant here - Al has never rubbed shoulders with the management and has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the 'man on the terrace'.

I feel really sad about this whole episode, and whilst the current situation continues, WTW will be forever that bit poorer for it.

With reference to the WW1 'celebrations' ongoing - I'd want Al at the side of me every day of the week!

I wish I could broker a deal!

It might be a Business and not a social club but can you imagine any of the super stores rubbing 50,000 customers up the wrong way and that custom staying away or going elsewhere they would soon have a massive drop in income.I can see it from the clubs side not wanting certain stuff brought into the ground but can also see it from a fans side when some cock sure steward who thinks hes God without any manners can do as he feels what he wants.

Sorry to say this because on occasion you talk sense.

However to suggest that a club like WTRLFC is a business not a social club is frankly the dumbest post ever IMHO.

It's the exact opposite and this club absolutely depends on the goodwill and hard work of those "over indulged fans" and MC will realise that hopefully sooner rather than later - you really come across as bitter and there is no place for it in a small community club involved in a very small sport with very little money, get a grip.

(This is not about Al, by the way, never met the guy, and is just an observation from the past decade or so.)

No petty jealousy here. I admire those who help, I don't have the time to sadly, and don't have a problem with those. I've always had a problem with those who were quick to brown nose whoever was in charge for their own ends. Management should always keep as far away from supporters as possible.

Those who were quick to slurp up to Rogerson, Richardson, Elston and Glover then kick them once it all went wrong. Those are the ones who do my head in.

If it means upsetting some to run the club on as close to an even keel as can be possible in sport, so be it. The long term future of Wakefield Trinity is far more important than any of us individually.

If I come across as bitter, so be it. When you see "super fans" banging on about being loyal and stuff on here when scrabbling for freebees, you start to get annoyed. C'est la vie.

Apart from mentioning about renewing my season ticket within the context of this thread, I along with others' have kept out of this Bigal debate, along with snowie and bazz I pride myself on being a friend of his and his family. If your post was aimed at me then I'm sorry to say it's misplaced, it was simply a bit of banter meant for noboby else than those two to try and lighten the mood on a sad state of affairs,
if I am wrong then please accept my apologies for jumping in with both feet.

It wasn't aimed at you.
Clearly there is no problem people knowing each other outside the forum (though in some cases I wonder why
It was just a reminder when people were guessing if someone was Al or how they were connected, it can get out of hand and "out" someone who doesn't want outing.

No problem so far with anyone's post above

I would say though, in reference to the business v social club debate, in my opinion it is very definitely a business.

Sports clubs are a very specific business that rely on loyal customers but that is no different to Next, Cineworld or William Hill.

It is good to have a business that will get customers that buy your product no matter what you do, but equally, it should always be accepted that you can pick up and lose customers based on your decisions.

MC could decide the investment in the team should be reduced and could send us to Championship as a conscious business decision based on attendances and general income so that he can run the business more efficiently.
The loyal supporters will still come, but many will stop watching or watch elsewhere because the product has changed.

In sporting clubs, the customers (us) think they have a stake in the club.
Although there is a very clear emotional stake, they don't really have a say, except to not buy the product any more, which will influence the decision.
Same as for Marks and Spencer and any other retailer

That would be like opening a roundabout next to the Alton Towers entrance, you'll get some fares because some peeps love roundabouts but most will go for the big rides inside the theme park.

I've been following this story from time to time but still don't have the full picture. Whilst I appreciate it was now a while ago what exactly was the incident with Big Al? Was he denied entry with a drink? Did a steward rough hand him? What happened please since it all appears to be riddles at the moment.

If Trinity were a business in the real sense it would have died some time in the early 70's as would the game as a whole.

Ditto now, Carter isn't keeping the club going as a pure business interest as he knows he won't get much of his money back - who invests in a business where a loss is a certainty, come on, he'd be better off buying lottery tickets. His reasons may be many and complex and although he's intent on running it in a business like way which I admire he knows it's not ever going to perform like a real business and that is a fact.

So no a RL club is not and never will be a real business and will always depend on the goodwill of it's customers to survive in a way Tesco or any real business never could or would never expect to.

Try reading the 2nd post on Page 15 of this thread (by RealSteel)

Many thanks Fordy. It is clearer for me now.