Dump Foote's Lane

A GROUP of diehard football fans has launched a campaign to take big matches away from Foote's Lane. Hundreds of supporters have given the new stadium the thumbs down after claiming that it lacks atmosphere.

And now a band of football loyalists is determined to end their sport's short and controversial relationship with Foote's Lane and take the most important games back to club grounds.

They are determined at the very least to force the States Recreation Committee, which owns and runs the ground, and the Guernsey Football Association to allow supporters to cross the running track and get closer to the action at Foote's Lane.

The disgruntled fans have secured the backing of a succession of top officials. And, albeit off the record, several island players have already declared their support for the campaign.

But the supporters face a tough challenge after the executive of the GFA admitted that there is a gentleman's agreement with Recreation to play up to eight island matches a year at the new stadium.

That agreement led to last season's Muratti being played there and several of this season's top games, including Guernsey's home South West Counties Championship fixtures and the Upton Park Cup, have been scheduled to take place at Foote's Lane.

Along with hundreds of campaigning fans, officials from four top clubs and at least half of the senior island squad believe that Foote's Lane lacks atmosphere and is therefore a poor venue for football.

'The facilities are tremendous and it looks great, but there is absolutely no atmosphere and it's not enjoyable to watch games there,' said Nigel Gavey, a leading figure in the campaign.

'All the fans seem to be of the same opinion: club grounds such as the Corbet Field and the Track are the right places for the big matches.

'The Island Games proved that. The atmosphere at the Corbet Field for the Guernsey games each night was brilliant, but the atmosphere for the final at Foote's Lane was very poor.'

Nearly 5,000 people watched the 2003 Muratti at Foote's Lane. But only 3,000 attended the Games final there. It is believed that the sharp drop in attendance was down to fans staying away after being dissatisfied with their Muratti experience.

Northerners president Dave Finn said: 'My view and the view of our club is that Foote's Lane totally lacks atmosphere. And unless you're sat in the stand, you can't even get a particularly good view of the game.

'The atmosphere for Guernsey's Games matches at the Corbet Field was tremendous. I think that supported the view that big matches should always be played at club grounds.'

St Martin's president Henry Davey agreed with those sentiments.

'I've been there three times and unless they're suddenly going to allow fans onto the athletics track, they'll never get any atmosphere down there,' said Davey.

'For SWCC games and the like, where you get perhaps 200 people, Foote's Lane will have no atmosphere.'

Ex-Belgrave Wanderers president and former GFA vice president Keith Parkyn was even more vehemently opposed to Foote's Lane.

'The place has got nothing,' he said. 'There is absolutely no atmosphere even in the main stand.

'A few girls started singing a few chants at the Games final, but they couldn't get anything going.

'I know a lot of the boys from Jersey weren't happy with it either. A lot of them have said that they won't come over next time if we carry on playing at Foote's Lane.'

Vale Rec secretary Mick Solway said: 'I don't think it's the right venue for football. I'm certainly not convinced about it.

'The facilities at Foote's Lane are superb and the view from the stand is excellent. But I don't feel the atmosphere is quite what it should be. I hope the GFA can resolve the problems.'

Vale's new president Tony Blondel agreed that Foote's Lane badly lacked atmosphere, but he sounded a note of caution.

'It's no secret that the general public hasn't taken to Foote's Lane, but the GFA is under obligation to play a certain number of matches down there,' said the ex-GFA vice president and former island manager.

'I wouldn't go back on a gentleman's agreement made by the GFA executive, although I know a lot of people would do that.

'The stand might be nearly full for SWCC games, but that would still leave three-quarters of the ground empty. The players wouldn't find much atmosphere around the place and atmosphere does help to motivate players. The crowd is certainly too far away at Foote's Lane.'

Muratti organisers are considering renting temporary stands for the centenary Muratti in 2005, but such a move would probably push the cost of a ticket up to around £10.

'That sort of cost would be madness. It would drive so many people away from our big match of the year,' said Blondel.

Anti-Foote's Lane campaigners are appealing for like-minded individuals to sign their letter of protest, which they hope to present to the GFA during the new season.