I am becoming increasingly concerned at the divisive comments which are appearing on the message boards of the football and rugby league communities who are associated with The Shay. I am aware that neither is the official forum of either Halifax Town or Halifax RLFC however neither club can ignore the vitriol that is being expressed by people representing both sides of the ‘divide’.

As far as I am concerned both the clubs and the supporters should realise that they are in the fortunate position of having clubs with potential (and it is not everyone who can say that) and that the rightful place for the clubs is either Super League or the Football league. I am encouraged that those responsible for the governance of both clubs are moving in the right direction.

The fact that there are the differences between elements of both sets of supporters places a responsibility on the supporters organisations of both clubs (Fax Trust, HT Supporters Club, HTST) to show leadership and to ensure that the supporters of both clubs work together. There will always be differences of opinion between the supporters of the various codes, but there is no need for people to speak disparagingly of other supporters interests. At these times of economic and financial pressures, for many people, an involvement in sport as either a player or spectator is an outlet which enables people to take their minds of the problems of today and, with their club, to aspire to the success which I believe is within their grasp.

I believe that the clubs have a responsibility too, and they cannot ignore the responsibilities which are placed on them. Above all they should ensure that there is regular contact between them and their supporters, and then ensure that there are meetings with the other club and the Council to ensure that every parties issues are recognised. This forum should also ensure that the requirements of all three parties are considered in an open and transparent forum of the three working together.

The Council also have a joint and separate responsibility in their management of the facility that is consistent and decisive; I can tell you from bitter experience that you cannot win at certain times, but you must make your decisions based on the facts as you see them.

I am aware that in my time working for The Shay Stadium Trust I received criticism from both clubs and on both Message Boards, (but nobody is perfect). What can’t be denied however is with the Independents, Supporters and Clubs working together on the Board of SST, we achieved our aim of securing completion of the East Stand.

The clubs and supporters achieve more when working together and surely now is the time to ignore issues which get blown up out of all proportion and work for success for clubs and community which is long overdue.

agree.

Most fans just get on with it and accept that both clubs are about and both use the same ground.

but there are football and rugby fans who just despise each other with a passion.

Can't please everyone so there isnt much that could be done

I will be the first to say it but I always say what I see........

Your son and his "Forum" regarding the football club do contribute greatly to the ill feeling between the two clubs. Sometimes you need to look closer to home than you would like.

Sentiment wise I agree with your thoughts as I am sometimes a little ashamed at the war of words that rears its ugly head during every season in one way or another. I understand passion can sometimes be misconstrued as I am guilty of it myself and would love nothing more than the 2 sets of fans supporting one another.

However to re visit a previous comment your sons forum (and it's views) can sometimes aggravate the subject and he seems unable to sit on the fence allowing situations to sometimes get out of hand.

I don't blame Gavin entirely for the flak the rugby club receives but I do believe his forum allows some libelous statements to be made. I hope you intend on picking him up on this.

I am not saying members on this forum are whiter than white but the moderators do tend to air on the side of caution and nip things in the bud far quicker. Whereas on the football forum it does appear posters are ‘allowed’ to make judgment and air untruths without consequence.

I prey for the day we work together for the greater good of both clubs.

The other board also has Issues with using the Queens English . Perhaps filters would be appropriate.

Yes. Evriwons spelin an grama iz purfekt on ear.

Don't pretend that was a joke

Like Faxtastic said, you can't please everyone. Its actually much worse at Huddersfield, I've got friends who support the clubs and I find it amazing just how much they despise each other.

I just can't understand it myself, I mean surely it would be an advantage for us if Town were succeeding, and vice versa?

We need a Sports Tzar.

Calderdale Council to fund a new role in the community - a Sports Tzar to foster closer ties with all the local sports and fans of those sports. We could have a sports day. A cross code challenge - Footy, RL, Cricket and darts to name but a few. We'll have to have a couple of hours separating the events though - elf 'n safety an' all that.

A sports Bar, Cracking Idea !!!!

A sports bra?

Come on now, I know Nash has put some weight on but we dont need none of these yet surely.

A Sports Car

My dislike of FC Halifax Town is due to my dislike of Wendy Ball - simples!

Like mentioned neither are official forums for the two respective teams and as such there is probably more vented on here than both clubs would like. Thats just how it is.

Me thinks OP needs to have words with his son if he wants to start building bridges accross the divide.

Defnatley an interesting post by common_sense.

I dont think its that simples.

I dislike football but I dont dislike FC Halifax. I have been to two football games in my life and each one was 0-0. Just couldnt get a grip of kicking a ball around for 90 minutes without any score?? But that said, I would like to see FC Halifax win their league, win the next one etc and get back into the football league, just because they are our Joint tenants and neighbours...(can you be both?)

I agree that those that run things or organise things should work together. Both clubs need each other to co-operate and work towards a common goal.

Since I am not in that position it does not matter to me, my dislike of FC Halifax town comes down to hating pub football and that 95% of their fans are pr!cks...

Amen

Well said Mr B. (Humble pie on my behalf as I have been a little critical in the past!)

I would like to volunteer for the post of inter faction liason officer.

People say I am thick skinned but probably just thick.

To point out, me and Mr.Triran actually went to their play-off final in 2006 and wanted them to win (there's even a good pic of us celebrating a goal somewhere) and not only does he not like football, I support York City who Town beat to get to the play-offs and are supposed to be 'rivals'. At the time both of us rose above that just because it was 'Halifax' but I think we can both agree that the attitude of Town supporters and the utter guff they come out with has left us both feeling the can get stuffed nowadays.

I'm not saying some of the Rugby Fans aren't a bit one eyed with their arguments but the Football fans must all be on crack or something the way they carry on. Don't they even have anti-RL chants at their games?

Why?

This is a fans forum, where fans of rugby league and Halifax RLFC can discuss those two subjects and their connected topics. The football club seldom come into the topics, and as this is a rugby league forum, that is how I'd expect it. Users of the football forum have registered on this forum and are allowed to post as long as they obey the rules, unlike other message boards. The council gets a pasting at times; so what? They are an elected body, and their voters have the right to criticise them. Get over it.

Er..... There are no anti rl chants at the football. As someone who was born and raised in Australia, i sPent most of my life watching league( bulldogs fan), but playing football. I even attended the infamous 76-0 drubbing to the broncos. However Im also an avid shaymen, and they were the main reason I moved to Halifax from oz.

Having attended both teams games, and hearing things around the traps. I have always felt an arrogance been shown from the rugby club. This is just a personal opinion. It's something I could go into if probed. But just wanted to post a relatively impartial view. Dismiss me as another football idiot if you want, but just want to post another view out there.

I heard it from a very reliable source...

The sport is boring as hell, the players a set of soft diving girls and is so overhyped. Its simply not for me. I used to watch the results of the soccer lot even if not follow them. Each to their own type stuff.However the comments by Mr Butlers son and his Soccer crew over the past few years anger me not just because of the nastyness but because its full of lies and slander. They have never looked to accept that Fax share the ground and that both clubs needed it. Certain things have been done by both Fax and Town which maybe should have been better done or not at all. But its the constant bitching and lieing and making very slanderous comments with no proof except a reliable source etc that has pushed me personally to the point I hope the Soccer club fail. The personal attacks on Roger Harvey for example is a disgrace just because he chooses to back Fax and sponsor various things at the Shay and elsewhere. Mr Harvey is a outstanding model citizen and has done great things not just for Fax but for the town as a whole. I think Fax should keep well away from the soccer lot as its just not worth the hassle. There are things the club can do together regarding the Council/Shay but apart from that forget it. Halifax Town will always be a small semi Pro side that play before a couple of thousand people at best. A large number of fans will still look down and cause problems with their attitude and behaviour towards us. The ills of the soccer lot is always down to Fax. The state of the pitch-though its always around the goalmouth area where the Grass is missing and the sliding tackles etc do not damage the pitch do they when its wet!

Mr Butler I respect what you have written and some of it I agree with other bits not. But seriously you need to sort your son out and he needs to see he is one of the chief reasons there is so much bad blood and why I hate the Soccer club and hope they fail. Its bad enough allowing and putting things on the Town Supporters forum. But then to come on here and just basically post aiming at causing further problems between the two sets of fans is a disgrace. Sorry but for me your son is an idiot for what he does and maybe you should look to him and his lot over on the Town messageboard to stop posting such libelous and poisonous things with the sole intention to cause friction before coming on here. As for me Halifax Town can rot. I will never want them to do well. My family do not come from the town anyway so they have little connection. I was brought up on RL and following Fax as well as the Basketball team. Just because a team comes from where I was born does not mean I should feel I have to follow them or wish them luck especially when the fans verbally and physically abuse Rugby fans. I was once spat on for wearing a Fax top as a teenager.