Iolo is not Pete.

What he undoubtedly is (if you'll excuse me speaking for you Iolo) is a younger patriotic man who likes the niggle of rivalry and competitiveness and who has grown up in Wales where the "anyone but the English" mentality is prevalent, even if we, here, disagree with it.

It exists and is actively encouraged by a great many who see anti-Englishness as a part of Welsh patriotism. There is also a bit of English / Welsh tension in Aberystwyth (where he lives) as a result of massive over settlement by retired wealthy, non-integrating Englishmen. Yet the lad acknowledges he has English friends and states his rivalry is merely a sporting one.

I have one at home (who you Cru and Chubbs both know) that makes sense of the patriotic Welsh chippiness towards the English the same way.

Cut Iolo some slack.

I have nothing against international rivalry on international matches! However trying to push the idea of the cru being welsh club for welsh people or somehow should have an anti English edge, I find rather annoying given the amount of time and money English fans have put into following and supporting the cru. jannerboy the the two andies not to mention kenny and his wife to name a few. Also you forgot that his university town is nationally famous for a university with the highest drop out rate In the uk

Edited for accuracy .

A fair point Chubbs. The hardcore of Celtic Crusaders had a solid and harworking English element (your good self included) and the new franchise has them too, I believe.

So perhaps a short history lesson might educate Iolo a little.

Iolo,

Back when Celtic Crusaders was started in ... 2005(?) ... the first supporters club was formed. As Chubbs says, this supporters club had a very high number of English members, who took active positions. The two Andys, Kenny and Jannerboy that Chubbs speaks of encouraged the Welsh locals and put in a great many hours of their own time arranging transport, fundraising alongside the club and numerous other functions.

Andy Burns led most of the singing and Andy Birchall wrote most of the songs. Chubbs himself was / is the fairest (IMHO) moderator on the Crusaders fans messageboard.

So this is why Chubbs is not impressed by some of your comments. Traditionally Celtic Crusaders welcomed a lot of English supporters who did an awful lot for the club (an AWFUL lot). Now though the franchise may have significantly changed, the fans from South Wales that take the road North bring that history with them and would prefer that the welcome for English supporters be one of them.

......

Your club's is a completely new dynamic now so obviously things need time to settle. But with a few facts reposted here, perhaps you guys can give each other another chance.

I'm flattered that's the nicestthing u ever said to me! Former moderator is the title now as I can't get to Wrexham for games being as it's something like 400miles each way so I felt a bit out of place modding a board for a team I can't watch. However I will try to get to at least 1 racecourse game this year depending on how many scorps away games I plan on going too

Sorry to be pedantic, but that's not true. Andy Burns wrote almost all of the popular songs and Kenny Roberts wrote the "Men of Harlech" lyrics.

No offence to Mr Birchall.

Always one pedantic old sod! I think the general point is still the same though.

OK...just keep him away from....

Fair enough TR, I never really was one of the BA (though often joined in with the singing). am happy to be corrected. But in the context of my point to Iolo (about the massive contribution made to Celtic Crusaders by English fans) is actually proven further by your correction.

It only exists in Wales, we have bigger fish to fry tbh. In fact most English sports fans see Scotland/Wales as a couple of little brothers and want them to do well when they play(6 nations excepted.)

These are the matches of choice.

I'd rather he kept away from this...

Nothing wrong with a bit of patriotism to get some publicity, create some interest and help interntaionla RL.


Are most of the Welsh speakers and PC politicians from N. Wales ?
will it hurt the Crusaders to have a Welsh identity.?
Will it affect English Rl fans coming to wrexham?

Will chants of Wales, Wales and England, England affect the atmosphere in the ground?

I for one hope you exacerbate your Welshness as the catalans have expressed their national identity as a way of popularising the sport.

As long as you dont start burning the coaches as well as the cottages English fans will flock down to watch games.

Now if we could get a club in Dublin that would make me happy and i would love to be going to matches singing The Filds Of Athenry and A Nation Once Again and anything else to promote a nationalistic fervour.