Tommy's Tinpot Tribute

[pjdaly]

At the risk of repeating myself (and I am indeed repeating myself because I put the points I’m about to make on this forum about 3 or 4 years ago) I have to ask whether the way we do our minute’s silences is acceptable. It’s certainly not to me, but perhaps I am in a minority of one. Having “a few moments” (about 30 seconds) during half time to remember one of our own, when subs are kicking about on the pitch and people are drifting off to do whatever they do at half time, seems almost like an insult rather than a tribute. That’s what happened yesterday in remembrance of Tommy Dixon (and has happened on other occasions also). It has an air of “when we can bother to spare a few seconds” about it, which seems anything but respectful. What is so difficult in having a word with the ref before the match and telling him to call the players round to the centre circle, waiting for the declaration over the PA, then starting and finishing the minute on the ref’s whistle? The combination of whistle and players gathered in the middle makes it crystal clear to everyone in the ground what exactly is going on and generally pulls everyone together (bar maybe the odd moron who might want to make a noise, a phenomenon which gave rise to the less appealing minute’s applause in an effort to drown out the idiots).

I ask you Peter, as a member of the board who serves us well with info on this forum, can you have a word please? Can we do it right, because it seems tinpot, unprofessional and disrespectful to me the way things are done. I believe Brian Arrowsmith was present yesterday; I wonder what Brian thought about the “tribute”, bearing in mind he was a team-mate of Tommy’s during the time the latter played for us, having made his debut on 21st October 1961 and his final appearance on 20th May 1963? I realise maybe only very few of those present yesterday would have had any recollection of Tommy Dixon but is that an acceptable excuse? Surely a minute’s silence is not simply about personally remembering but more about acknowledging and respecting that someone, even if it was long before our time, served our club?

[Uncle Peter]

I'll raise it at our next board meeting. Leave it with me

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

[pjdaly]

Thanks very much Peter for your very prompt response!

[bigcod123]

Me and people around me thought it was in bad taste...should have been at the start.

[McMark]

I was commenting to a friend about the surprise to the lack of tribute to Tommy Dixon just before yesterday's kick off. I think the halftime debacle was just an after thought by someone, and a fitting tribute should be called for before kick off against Boston United.

[boyliegladbach]

who decides who get a silence in there honour.

tommy played for a couple of seasons in the 60s and scored a few goals, wasn't barrovian so no real links to the town apart from the football.

not being disrespectful to him, but these silences should be reserved for people who have outstanding links to the club or major achievements not just anyone.

[Leo]

who decides who get a silence in there honour.

tommy played for a couple of seasons in the 60s and scored a few goals, wasn't barrovian so no real links to the town apart from the football.

not being disrespectful to him, but these silences should be reserved for people who have outstanding links to the club or major achievements not just anyone.

I suppose in that case it should be an 'all or nothing' thing then? Either they go the whole hog of doing it pre-match, or they dont do it at all. Doing it half arsed 'can' leave a bad taste

[Nigel Bamford]

The announcer said before kick-off that there would be a period of silence at half-time and I rolled my eyes at the thought. Sure enough, we had the debacle of subs going through the motions on the pitch, the -naturally excited - children coming on to the pitch for their kick-around and, as you say, folks going off for a coffee or to the loo etc. and it's just awful. If we're going to do it then, for heaven's sake, let's do it properly.

However, I am with boyliegladbach on this because I think these tributes have got out of hand. I am someone who remembers Tommy but, let's face it, lots of players have passed through the tunnel and we just can't have a tribute every time one passes away. To draw an analogy with the Danny O'Donnell thread - for most players it's a job and I wouldn't expect my previous employers to hold a minute's silence for me!. When Tommy had done his 2 years that was it. There are very few who transcend that status. I think we have to come up with some guidelines about how long they played for us, what they might have contributed to the club beyond turning up on the pitch and, perhaps, their links to the town.

Alternatively, as I think has been suggested in the past, have one 'Remembrance Day' (last home game of the season?) when a minute's silence is held for all who have died in the previous year and have their names read out collectively.

[Richard Ingham]

Other clubs do a minutes silence once a season to remember former players and supporters, probably with honourable exceptions for stand out servants of the club. Perhaps that is something to consider?

Given the aging demographic of our support base, holding a minutes silence could become a weekly event in the not too distant future if something isn't decided upon? If that were to be the case it does tend to make the event less special and less likely to be observed with the respect it deserves.

[Stu1]

A Johnny Martin had his ashes scattered at Workington yesterday is that the same one who played at Barrow in the 70's. I also think there are too many of these silences

[Holkerbird]

What is wrong with spending 1 MINUTE to respect someone who has played and/or managed the club? It isn't as if it is taking up a major part of the day. However the way we are now going about it is shameful and if this is how we are going to observe it I think we should not bother at all. It was embarrassing yesterday to see the visiting subs wondering what was going on and then finally realising and stopping the kick about.
I haven't seen this done at any other ground we have visited so why it was introduced here is anyone's guess.
Just hang the bunting out when I go please.

[blue nige]

yes i think they should be restricted, but without wanting to labour the point sometimes the announcer does go on a bit! a minutes silence is fine but do we really have to go into a 2minute montage (when sometimes the players are stood there freezing!)telling us in infinate detail about a lot of things that are not relevant!
i don`t mean to offend but let common sense prevail.

[Bigfathoss]

yes i think they should be restricted, but without wanting to labour the point sometimes the announcer does go on a bit! a minutes silence is fine but do we really have to go into a 2minute montage (when sometimes the players are stood there freezing!)telling us in infinate detail about a lot of things that are not relevant!
i don`t mean to offend but let common sense prevail.

That's pretty much what I think too. Perhaps a section of the program for those deceased who were connected to the club should be enough (given the shambles of how it is done currently I mean).

[barrowaberdeen]

Less is more because it dilutes the mark of respect and everyone around me was [SwearFilter] off that it was done so poorly at half time.

[SKIPPER]

A Johnny Martin had his ashes scattered at Workington yesterday is that the same one who played at Barrow in the 70's. I also think there are too many of these silences

No,that was a different JM who always gave us grief whenever we played them. Barrow's Johnny Martin was local. Hugely talented part-time professional who if my memory serves me correctly went off to Blackpool with Emlyn Hughes to play for their third/fourth team in front of one man and a dog.From what I was told at the time (may not be true) they both got fed up with the travelling and not getting anywhere but whereas 'Ginger' made Emlyn stick at it Johnny returned to local football and eventually Holker Street