Just got back from the new boulevard school where the new memorial stone was unveiled. What a brilliant display in the school, the whole event was a testament to the hard work put in by FC Voices.
Brilliant speeches from Pete Allen, Bill Dalton, the Lord Mayor and the club chaplain. The ceremony was extremely moving and it was so good to speak to so many fans, ex players and members of the current team who all have such special memories of the Boulevrd it was a pleasure and a privilege to be present.
The only sobering thought was a worrying discussion with Adam Pearson who highlighted his ongoing difficulty with the current stadium owners and his desperate need for the fans to continue to support the club, whatever your thoughts on the subject he is either the best actor in the world or a very worried man and I firmly believe it is the latter.
And just to finish check out Sammy Lloyd ukulele on you tube, with his rendition of Old Faithful (we thought Taffy was the singer but Sammy is brilliant and plays the Uke really well!)

We can be part of the solution, or part of the problem. Our club, our choice.

If people stay away from the club in increasing numbers then before long there will be no club to go back to. Not spin, just basic economics.

Correct, particularly with a user agreement that seems to be adjusted on a weekly basis and not in our favour. We can invest energy into heckling as cynics, or into doing something positive, individually and collectively, as has been done to put this memorial in place.

It s certainly a lot more serious a position than many realise and we may all need to come together to support the Club, the main issue is without doubt that user agreement and the way that the owners of the SMC are strangling the Club. The opening poster isn't prefabricating or sensationalising what was said because Adam was quite open about his concerns as he chatted to fans. The cynics can have their say and no doubt they will but in the end it could well come down to 'Do you want a Club to support'. On the positive side of things I think as well however that Adam saw something in the passion, loyalty and depth of caring of the fans yesterday that he perhaps didn't realise, as he sits in the lofty heights of the West Stand, was there.

Indeed. We all have a choice and there are consequences of those choices.

Was the merger of the academy discussed?

It's become the elephant in the room for me.

Even on here if you mention to you are told to stop 'moaning' about it and support the club.

I think its a far bigger issue to a lot of the fans than both AP and merger sympathisers make it out to be.

People talk about fans getting behind the club in times of need, but a lot of fans I know are really hacked off about the merger. It wouldn't be half so bad if AP just came out and said actually it was all about saving money, and if fans started to come back he may reconsider it as the money would be brought in by more passes.
The constant claim about it not producing talent is nonsense.

It shouldn't be under estimated how this decision has impacted on some fans attitude towards the club.

As for not having a club support that is also nonsense, there will always be a club, it just might not be a club challenging the 'Top 4' which is where AP and some expect it should be.

I like AP and I'm thankful for what he has done for the club, I will be showing my support in terms of a pass next year (I didn't this season), but at the same time, I want honesty, I would like him to listen more to the fans (not do everything they ask) but at least listen and consider. If he did, he would realise the merger should have been a non starter. I would rather have spent less on the salary cap, blood more youngsters and perhaps lower expectations (top 4 to top 6).

As for the memorial, its a great tribute to a place that is ingrained into the souls of Hull FC and its fans, it may have been dilapidated towards the end, but for me during the 80's and 90's it was rugby mecca.

The merger has proven to be far far more divisive than either club expected, but IMO that says a lot about how close the clubs are to the fans. I don't agree with it at all but the consensus is that it's about cash or the lack thereof.

As regards "there always being a club, just not one challenging for top 4", well we're not challenging for top 4 now. Goalposts are being shifted in the user agreement and income is down. I fully agree I'd have prioritised outgoings differently and guess AP would too in hindsight. It would be nice to hear this. But the fact remains that books have to be balanced and as supporters we have an opportunity, but not an obligation, to contribute. Those believing their decisions either way don't impact the club aren't being honest IMO.
I don't think there's any way back for the academy in the short term. But regards U23s also don't see how this will take shape.

Lol. Cliches r-us.

You certainly are.