Visitor front page

[g66k69]

As the saying in journalism goes , ' why let the truth get in the way of a good story '

[Brian C]

In case you haven't got facebook.

The Visitor have replied:-
Stories on pages 1 and 11 and Town Crier on page 30 all state clearly that the trouble came from Blackpool fans. Police were unable to confirm whether the vandalism of a car outside the ground was also caused by Blackpool fans, therefore we could not attribute this incident to them. Police confirmed that the violence did occur as we reported.

I have again replied with:-
Page 1: Large font headline: FANS’ KICK-OFF SOURS BIG DAY
Sub: Families’ fears over violent football mob
text: “Shocking scenes of violence erupted after Morecambe went head to head with Blackpool FC for their first Football League game. Trouble began after the match when a car carrying senior Blackpool officials was vandalised outside the Shrimps Globe Arena ground. Later in the day, a group of Blackpool fans chanted and marched their way through a Lancaster street."

BC Comment: One car was vandalised in an isolated incident nothing to do with Morecambe fans or Morecambe Football Club. This was carried out by Blackpool fans with a grievance against their current Board and former Chairman Owen Oyston.

Page 11: Mum’s disgust over football violence
Yes, I agree you do state that these were Blackpool fans in Lancaster causing trouble.

Page 30: Town Crier
Again I agree you do confirm that the trouble in Lancaster was caused by a group of Blackpool fans.

The big problem now is that people have read your headline, and that half-truth is what has caused many people to question what happened.

[jon MFC fan]

i have facebook and its a half arsed apology

[Seasider9601]

i have facebook and its a half arsed apology

It's not even an apology Jon mate !!!!!!!!

That's something they haven't done !!!!!

Their most recent story is (wait for it.....) lo and behold, book reviews ...............!!!!!

[Seasider9601]

Just read a post on Facebook commenting on the Morecambe v Bournemouth game:

Is this going to be a friendly match? By this I mean is it going to turn violent? I need to know if its safe to take my 5 year old son.

I hope to goodness you are monitoring and reading this thread on here The Visitor / Johnston Press - because the damage you have done is unbelievable. People are believing what you have written and are in two minds whether to come and watch our table topping team. Good work.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Just read a post on Facebook commenting on the Morecambe v Bournemouth game:

Is this going to be a friendly match? By this I mean is it going to turn violent? I need to know if its safe to take my 5 year old son.

I hope to goodness you are monitoring and reading this thread on here The Visitor / Johnston Press - because the damage you have done is unbelievable. People are believing what you have written and are in two minds whether to come and watch our table topping team. Good work.

And the young woman who wrote the story has probably never been to The Globe and she never asked for any comments from Morecambe FC.
Shoddy journalism.

[Seasider9601]

Shoddy which is having a negative knock on effect too mate.

People questioning whether it is "safe" to come.........

[Brian C]

I think we have done all we can do, it's really up to the club to make JP sit up and take notice. Sad really, 'cos the headline this week could have been so good "Premier League team come to Globe to face League 2 leaders Morecambe"

[jon MFC fan]

you might as well write a letter to the club saying without a public statement about no morecambe fans involved in the post match violence after the Blackpool game which was mentioned in the visitor and also call JP out on this as it is extremely damaging to the fan base and the clubs image

[Teams like Morecambe]

Why hasn't the club issued a statement clarifying the situation through the website? It could also be posted on Facebook and Twitter which would then be shared/retweeted by fans wanting to spread the truth.

[Shrimpy]

Why hasn't the club issued a statement clarifying the situation through the website? It could also be posted on Facebook and Twitter which would then be shared/retweeted by fans wanting to spread the truth.

Probably a case of whilst the club is up for sale they don't have the inclination to pick a fight with the local rag. There will probably be a lot of instances such as this where the club aren't particularly pro active as they are just going through the motions hoping to hand the reigns over to the new owner.

[jon MFC fan]

Why hasn't the club issued a statement clarifying the situation through the website? It could also be posted on Facebook and Twitter which would then be shared/retweeted by fans wanting to spread the truth.

Probably a case of whilst the club is up for sale they don't have the inclination to pick a fight with the local rag. There will probably be a lot of instances such as this where the club aren't particularly pro active as they are just going through the motions hoping to hand the reigns over to the new owner.

but that would have a negative impact for any owner trying to increase the fan base so its better to come out and say it in a statement as time progresses it will be more and more damaging to the club the whole situation can be simply amended by a statement

[Shrimpy]

Why hasn't the club issued a statement clarifying the situation through the website? It could also be posted on Facebook and Twitter which would then be shared/retweeted by fans wanting to spread the truth.

Probably a case of whilst the club is up for sale they don't have the inclination to pick a fight with the local rag. There will probably be a lot of instances such as this where the club aren't particularly pro active as they are just going through the motions hoping to hand the reigns over to the new owner.

but that would have a negative impact for any owner trying to increase the fan base so its better to come out and say it in a statement as time progresses it will be more and more damaging to the club the whole situation can be simply amended by a statement

Club comes out and says reports in the Visitor aren't true and are disappointed with the paper for reporting otherwise (don't forget, the Visitor have defended their articles and feel they have nothing to answer to), the Visitor then gets the hump about it.

Can those currently in charge of the club, for want of a better way of putting it, be arsed with ruffling a few feathers and dealing with any fall out that occurs? I would say not. I don't think the article would have any affect on a takeover to be honest.

[Keith]

Club comes out and says reports in the Visitor aren't true...

No-one, especially not the club can say that the story is "untrue", because it patently IS true. There are no inaccuracies in the report.

Where it fails MASSIVELY, and The Visitor are refusing to acknowledge this, is that it fails to tell the entire story, in it's full context. The damage from the front page of the paper version could not have been rectified, but they've had ample opportunity to edit the on-line news stories to make it clear that the trouble was entirely Blackpool fans and Morecambe fans were not involved.

According to The Visitor, they attempted to get the club's side of the story before it went to press but the club refused to comment. However, the story could have been verified in any number of ways since the original trouble. I find it amazing that they still think the story from the police is somehow acceptable and doesn't imply Morecambe fans were the trouble makers. Obviously anyone who doesn't know about the Oyston/Blackpool situation will simply assume it was Morecambe causing trouble.

Personally, I've unsubscribed from The Visitor's news pages so I'm unlikely to see an apology now. The more 'clicks' on their pages, the more profit for Johnstone Press.

[BerlinWaller]

From what I have been told, the club are threatening to have no further dealings with the Visitor.

[bill ding]

Just checking Twatter this morning , the latest tweet I have is from the Visitor which was put on in the last hour

"Following a minutes aplause for David Robinson play gets underway here at the Globe arena between Morecambe FC & Blachpool FC ! "

[Keith]

I was talking to someone from Morecambe today after the Manx GP races. I was wearing my Morecambe top and had been listening to the commentary. They've been to The Globe a few times but aren't regular fans. I said I'd been at the Portsmouth & Blackpool games and what a great start we'd had...

[Him] There was trouble after the Blackpool game though wasn't there?
[Me] Yes, but it was only the Blackpool fans.
[Him] How do you mean?
[Me] The Blackpool fans hate their Chairman, so as he was leaving, they started to kick his car and stuff
[Him] Oh, and is that when Morecambe fans joined in?
[Me] No, there were no Morecambe fans involved.
[Him] looking puzzled
[Me] It was just Blackpool fans, attacking the Blackpool Chairman's car. No Morecambe fans were involved at any point.
[Him] Oh, right, I didn't realise that. I thought it was Morecambe fans fighting.
[Me] You got this from The Visitor?
[Him] Yes, it said that there was trouble after the game...

Perhaps, if after The Visitor learned the real story, they'd printed a 'clarification', people in the town would actually have learned the real story too? Instead, they stood by the 'implied' story and now people in the town think we were the trouble makers. No damage done by telling half a story eh?

[Westgate Wanderer]

First time in very many years i haven't bought a visitor this week! Doesn't look like i missed their clarificaton or apology to MFC. Anyway was getting fed up of reading about all areas BUT Morecambe news

[Seasider9601]

Same here WW.

I've not bought it either.

Was there any kind of clarification contained within it anyone??

[Christies Child]

Same here WW.

I've not bought it either.

Was there any kind of clarification contained within it anyone??

What do you think.....

NO.....

[Seasider9601]

Unbelievable..... Another mistake.....

[Westgate Wanderer]

Unbelievable..... Another mistake.....

Blimey has Diego got us promoted already??

[Duffman]

Today's Match Sponsor: The Visitor.

At least it might mean an accurate report of what actually goes on.