BANNED FROM FINCH FARM

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I'm neither shocked or surprised at this news. The club's heirarchy has been alienating itself from it's supporters for years now. This is just another example of how big the gap is becoming.
There are some fans at football clubs who go the extra mile in their support, whether that be fundraising, travelling to see the reserves/youth or simply giving more time and money in their support than your 'normal fan'. The OP is obviously one of these fans. I can see that, posters on here can see that...but the club obviously doesn't, it sees an 'outsider', a trouble-maker who is only there to create a hatred of the board and stir up bad feeling.
The club doesn't deserve some of it's support...and behaviour like this will only ensure that in future it won't have it
 
Bruce Wayne said:
Dan will confirm, but I'm fairly sure on televised games we're not allowed to provide match updates on the FB page.
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Where do they get off with stuff like that? GOT FB on matchday keeps me up to date if I'm at work.

The **** thing about this is they know they will never truly lose fans as it's not like a shop treating you poorly, football is more than a commercial opportunity to all of us, and these pricks know it.

I can choose to support Everton and withdraw my (small) financial support in the way of buying merchandise etc, I think I'll be doing this, what a sad day.
 
Elong said:
Where do they get off with stuff like that? GOT FB on matchday keeps me up to date if I'm at work.

The **** thing about this is they know they will never truly lose fans as it's not like a shop treating you poorly, football is more than a commercial opportunity to all of us, and these pricks know it.

I can choose to support Everton and withdraw my (small) financial support in the way of buying merchandise etc, I think I'll be doing this, what a sad day.
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Not sure I agree with this. Sure, it's the moral high ground, but what do we achieve through putting the club in an even more dire financial situation. I'd love to be sentimental, but I fear the realities of that path.
 
Steve, I heard the full lowdown on this from DtP over in Stockholm last month. I was amazed, ashamed and angry in equal measure.

Keep your spirits up - hopefully someone will see sense.
 
Im disgusted by this.

So annoyed about how they treated you and the inferences that come with their actions. I have noticed they have started doing their own match reports on the reserves and youth teams across social media and would think it has more to do with snuffing out competition rather then anything. Which makes it worse for me, if they had said that you would think they were melts but could prob sit a little easier, but to slur someone with an inappropriate contact label especially when it comes to minors is despicable. I really am furious about this and would love to do something to voice the disapproval as a fans group on their treatment of you mate. Of course nothing should be done with out your consent - but personally i feel we should lambaste them with emails of disapproval and confirmations of not availing of certain services as result - for example i was going to buy a good few hundred pounds worth of stuff of Everton direct before Xmas - im not now after this.

Could lambaste 1 or 2 of the below:

http://www.evertonfc.com/contactus/

mark.rowan@evertonfc.com

Really am furious and gutted about this, they have some cheek, i would even seek a legal consult on this for potential defamation.
 
Absolutely ridiculous that mate, I just saw his from Facebook as I haven't been on much recently. I used to really enjoy reading your reports and it was a great way to find out about the players coming through.

The club look to have reacted in a totally unsolicited way. I can understand safeguarding etc.... But it's clear that Steve has a massive love for Everton and youth football. It should be commended, not ruined.

Ill post about this on our forum to get the message spread a little further. Hopefully the club will come to their senses.
 
Neiler said:
Im disgusted by this, i really am.

So annoyed about how they treated you and the inferences that come with their actions. I have noticed they have started doing their own match reports on the reserves and youth teams across social media and would think it has more to do with snuffing out compitition rather then anything. Which makes it worse for me, if they had said that you would think they were melts but could prob sit a little easier, but to slur someone with an inapropriate contact label especially when it comes to minors is dispicable. I really am furious about this and would love to do something to voice the disapprovel as a fans group on their treatment of you mate. Of course nothing should be done with out your consent - but personally i feel we should lambaste them with emails of disapprovel and confirmations of not availing of certain services as result - for example i was going to buy a good few hundread pounds worth of stuff of Everton direct before Xmas - im not now after this.

Could lambaste 1 or 2 of the below:

http://www.evertonfc.com/contactus/


Really am furious and gutted about this, they have some cheek, i would even seek a legal consult on this for potential defamation.
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This is how I interpreted it. If it's Everton it's always finances at the back of every single decision made. As you also say, the real disgusting damage done here is to impugn by inference the lad's reputation - I find that totally unacceptable to leave that hanging out there: it's unprofessional and a ****ing outrage.

The only saving grace here is the support he's had off this website from owners and posters alike (take a bow Dan and whoever else was involved in drafting that supporting letter). A fantastic display of unity.
 
Just read all this, this morning.

Its an embarrassment.

Sounds like Bally did this out of his own pocket, out of his own time, because of his passion and admiration for the club. Theyve basically **** on him without a valid reason.

He gave insight to part of the club we didnt have access too but are very interested in - the youth team. He gave it a platform for fans to track on how its developing. And im sure those lads playing would like the idea that theyre getting fans to take an interest in them as they start their careers.

He's probably put more into the club over the years than the joke of a group running it too.

Disgraceful really.
 
davek said:
This is how I interpreted it. If it's Everton it's always finances at the back of every single decision made. As you also say, the real disgusting damage done here is to impugn by inference the lad's reputation - I find that totally unacceptable to leave that hanging out there: it's unprofessional and a ****ing outrage.

The only saving grace here is the support he's had off this website from owners and posters alike (take a bow Dan and whoever else was involved in drafting that supporting letter). A fantastic display of unity.
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This, the treatment was disgusting, but the inference to Alan Balls character is despicable when there are other agendas going on. "innapropriate contact" if i had that in writing or had the minutes of the meeting i would be looking at a legal consult as i said.

Trust me they wouldnt be long in apologising.
 
alan ball said:
Dear Friends,

As most of you will know, I've been supporting Everton at every level for many years. By every level, that is senior, to reserves, to youth. In recent seasons I've recorded youth match reports, (never, ever critical of any young player) on Grand Old Team which have been tremendously received and I thank you all sincerely for the support you have given me.

I write this with a tremendous heavy heart. I write this in response to all of you who have asked why my U18s match report have stopped. The reason is Everton have took the decision to ban me. Let me explain.

In September 2011, I was denied access to Finch Farm on the grounds that I was from ToffeeWeb / GrandOldTeam. I had been attending and writing for over 12 months but someone at the Club decided enough was enough. Thankfully, the Club changed their mind on banning me and I was allowed to support the Club.

Fast forward 13 months to October 2012 and I received a letter from Mark Rowan head of media and communications on 5th October telling me that with immediate effect I would not be allowed into Finch Farm to write match reports for Grand Old team or any other source for reasons classed as "inappropriate contact" with academy members on the social networking site Twitter.

I was absolutely amazed at the clubs accusations and immediately demanded a meeting with personnel from Everton Football Club to explain this letter and their accusations as I found these comments very disturbing as did my family.

I was asked to attend a meeting at Finch Farm on Monday 15th October at 2pm where I was met by Adam Green the head of safeguarding who chaired the meeting, Darren Griffiths and Mark Rowan both media and Mike Dickinson who is development\education officer were also present.

I can be totally honest and say that "Tweets" that I had sent players were innocent one's such as if a player was injured I would enquire about the extent of his injury.

Another one I sent was to the Swedish U19 International Johann Hammar congratulating him on his call up for his country, that was classed as "Inappropriate"

I would also ask players if that were looking forward to the next game and was training okay nothing more than that.

I commented that Twitter was a social networking site and therefore if they did not want to be contacted then they should not be on there.

I was also told by the club that I was too friendly with parents of the academy players even though many of them would approach me to tell me how much they had enjoyed my last match report etc.

Another issue they had with me was the fact that I wore Everton attire down at Finch Farm which made me look like an Everton employee.

I was then told that I had requested tickets from the backroom staff which was ludicrous.

I had been down to London to watch the first team in January at Tottenham which was a rearranged fixture due to the London riots in August.

I came home from Spurs then went back down to London for the second day to watch the Academy play at QPR in the FA youth cup so I asked for a ticket to help me with my expense as the two trips were not cheap..

I also went to Scotland in pre season to watch the first team at Motherwell then staying overnight in Glasgow to watch the U21's play at Partick Thistle the next day and was left tickets on the gate.

Whatever was on their agenda that day there was nothing down for me, they wanted me and Grand Old Team out of the picture.

I made a suggestion that I could be accommodated in an area designated for me so that I was not in a position to bother anybody but still it fell on deaf ears.

Their decision was to ban me but I am still allowed to watch the 18's away from home but not at Finch Farm.

As far as I was concerned they could have banned me from Goodison as well because I didn't deserve this treatment after being such a loyal fan.

I e mailed the club in the summer requesting that for their piece of mind that for their benefit I would like to be CRB checked financing it myself also I was willing to attend a safe guarding course but both requests were ignored.

I also collected the team sheets from the games as I am an avid collector of everything to do with Everton, I received an e mail from the club 2 weeks later telling me that I was no longer being sent them which I thought was very petty and how much more could they do to destroy my love for the club.

I decided to contact Robert Elstone which I did by letter and the item was hand delivered by myself to the Goodison reception on the day of the Merseyside Derby on the 28th October telling him how unfair this treatment was to a lifelong blue.

I waited for nearly three weeks for a reply which never came so I rang Robert Elstone's secretary who informed me that the letter was never received and was I able to write another letter.

I wrote it and sent it as an e mail to which I received acknowledgement that she had received it. Within a few days I received a letter from Robert Elstone sent by recorded delivery and the contents of the letter said that he had consulted his staff and therefore was going to withhold his decision and I was not still allowed into Finch farm.

I Used to be an Everton lottery agent from 1978-1989 and was selling 500 tickets a week which earned me Agent of the year in 1987 and was presented with a trophy by Bobby Mimms before a league game.

I have been attending Everton since 1968 and been a season ticket holder since 1977. To anyone that knows me, they will tell you that Everton have been a big part of my life, I met my wife watching the blues and my son is a season ticket holder also, my daughter has attended before now but far from a regular.

I have been very upset with recent events with the so called "PEOPLES CLUB" which is far from what you fans think
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Just read this again in full, and this goes far beyond the call of just preventing your reports this is trying to undermine the fan in us all, are they going to ban us all from tweeting the players?

Is Brian Duffy going to be fined? Is Conor Mc?

I don't hold much weight in terms of contacts at Everton, but I've helped them for free in the past ( security on their site, and locating the fake scouts who circulated their address)

Ill do my very best to voice my disapproval and I will certainly make sure this gets picked up by media.

They have waged wars on fans in a silent and sneaky method for too long, this may me the straw that breaks the camels back, banning the logo I can possible understand, banning match updates? No, banning a fan from following the youth players? It is just awful behaviour.

The People's Club, eh?
 
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