..probably shouldn't whine about it here, but a strange thing happened to me at dinnertime.

Had to go to the Opticians, so went into our Town Centre for the first time in ages.

Walking across the main square, I saw an old "Pools Mate" approaching. A bloke around my age, perhaps a year or so younger, I didn't go to school with him so I've never been sure.

I've been in his company many times at matches, Home and Away, and have even given him a lift etc in the past plus he used to come and see the band pretty regularly.

"Now then ***** how's it going..."

Not joking, he looked at me like I was a murderer, put his head down, and walked past at speed. One thing I'm certain of is he saw me, and knew it was me.

Thinking about it, it's actually the second time its happened though with different people, in the days since we (including me) started HUST. The first time was in the bogs at an early season Away Game where at least the person i'd previously been on good terms with had the guts to "grunt" at me and chunter a bit about The Bunker Trust.

I'm actually gutted, as the lad at dinnertime always seemed like a good "slightly more than nodding terms" Pools "pal".

How fucking bizarre...

Don't worry, next time I see you passing, I will come over and shake your hands. Keep up the good work with the trust.

Keep doing what you believe in. Only a small minority of idiots who can't seem to accept the truth when it keeps smacking them in the face.

I'm not even involved anymore, that's the daft thing.

There are few people who won’t swallow their pride in the event of a Phoenix club being created, if the worst happens. That means they are desperately clinging onto the the lifeless carcass of this club, because ultimately they’ll have to look on while the rest of us try to build something special up, because of said pride*

* disclaimer - this does not mean I want the club liquidated, i’m just a realist capable of rational thought processes

It’s a shame because the blokes on the other board would be great for a phoenix club with how much volununtary work they have done around the ground over the years. It’s exactly what’s needed for fan owned clubs. Hopefully one day they will come round and also Mr I and Elvisc can become involved again as they have been key to the whole process and are highly respected.

Pretty sure the Trust won't be 'the loser'. The Trust is the only legal entity representing Pools fans, ratified by its national body, with a legal constitution and appointed officers. Its official in every sense of the word. I mean no disrespect about the other groups but they are a brilliantly hardworking, dedicated group of fans. Nothing more, nothing less.

Not everybody is as pleasant as Chips chauffeur to the town today that’s all I am saying


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Welcome to my world ! and thats just through saying it as it is on here

Seriously though, it is sad. I blame the internet and the communication, opinions and bullshit it brings with it. Supporting a football club was much simpler and more pleasant last century, when you just used to just give each other a knowing nod at a game, rather than everyone knowing your name , were you work, the name of your kids and how much you have in the bank.

I saw some of your comments in the last few days and thought it was only a matter of time before you were banned. You made some great points - totally balanced and fair. Plenty of people were agreeing with you as well (and some that I didn't expect would agree to be fair). They'll be down to six or seven people before long, which is really sad. I totally agree, there are some great fans who post there as well, and I look at 1908 to get a different take on things, which I think is healthy. Pretty gutted that there is a divide and more to the point that it is so intense. Fair enough if people think another way is better but people go too far in actively campaigning against the trust.

If you ever see in the town centre walking towards you and I blank you don't take it personal Elvis I try to ignore everyone I put my head down and try to get in and out as fast as possible !

If you see me in town Elvis, you'll probably ignore me as well. To be fair, you don't know me... although I know you...

(As an aside, you did once loudly shout, 'you cheating c-nt' into my 9 year old daughter's ear when sat behind her. You did apologise even though it was very funny!)

Are you sure he didnt give you the cold shoulder because you have recently started to shop in other town centres?. He could be a member of the Friends of Middleton Grange group

Tbf I said hello to Elvis in Asda on Sunday and was blanked too

Were they playing poker at the time?

Forgive me if I bring some reality to this rewriting of history. When Phil and I started the whole Trust movement we went out of our way to involve everyone. Day one the invitees were the likes of Brian Minton, Kev McAlone, Neil Appleyard from the DSA, someone from the SA, an IT guy, Trevor Bennison, an accountant. We tried very hard to be inclusive. We also tried to distance the Bunker and from each and any and every message board. It was clear at that point that the club was in trouble after the attempt to hand over to TMH.

For over a year on the various boards and Facebook groups, we argued our case as politely as possible and as inclusively as possible in the end we gave up as some people were determined to disrupt the process. I have taken more abuse than anyone over these past few years and it continues to this day and there were times where I lost my temper with it. But its interesting that in some peoples opinion I can be abused all day long but if I say anything back its the end of the world.

We started with the best of intentions and almost everyone is on board now other than four or five people.

I just can`t help believin he was just focused.

Look Mr Blue has given his reasons for banning you;

“I have had to ban him and remove his post personal pm from him let’s unsavory bye bye”

You can’t really argue with that.

I must say though employing Hutchy from the ‘Darlo Rivals’ days as his agent and proof reader could backfire.

But those four or five people will never accept that they are in almost glorious isolation while there are still only 1000 Trust members ...

... they are convinced that the missing 2000 supporters hold their point of view.

I'm speaking for myself of course, but would suspect there are many many others of the same view, and some of those view have already been expressed. They haven't got a clue etc who I am etc but I'd happily shake Elvis and Mr I by the hand and buy them a pint for what they have done and tried to do for our club.

I've tried my best to put a Trust point of view across on the Supporters Facebook page. Whilst some folk blindly stick to their points in the face of overwhelming evidence, I think a lot of people will have taken things in. I've got too much work on at the moment to keep it up, so if anyone else fancies some interesting debates then give it a go.

What I think would really help is if the Trust did a straightforward explanation of admin and liquidation, what they actually mean and what the implications are.

There is so much misinformation on there, and it would put a stop to a lot of the rumours, bluffing and outright bullshit.

Thanks Mr Watty. If we've still got a club next season I'll take you up on that.

Too right. Them and loads of others have spent loads of time and effort in getting the Trust where it is now. I feel shan for not having done anything other than being a member, but I've had shitloads on me plate over the last couple of years and am likely to for the foreseeable future.

When it is clear what path the future of the club will take, I'm going to cash in my stash of coppers and 5ps and hoy that in.

No, it will not put a stop to rumours, bluffing and outright bullshit. There are people on there who have their own agenda, or at the very least are unwilling to entertain any point of view which is not their own.

It's pissing into the wind.

I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a dessert spoon whilst licking phlegm off a tortoise than go on that board!!!!

Like yourself PIN I've tried many times, usually with the same people might give it a rest for a while though as my head is fucking knacking from banging it against a brick wall.

Phil you are way way better than these so called (pools family / friends) simply because you are and have always been a superb honest and very decent bloke ( a real family member of our little artlepool club ) who has dedicated 40 odd years of your life and your families valuable money time and love to follow our club. I do not understand any of these zombies who we all believe to be our friends and fellow (Hartlepool united family members) supporters over the decades only to find out these people do not love our club like the rest of us do. These are terribly desperate times for our club and these people just want to score points and foook us over in a way that only Darlo fans of the 70s 80s and 90s would have loved to do given half the chance.....the major difference is these are supposed to be Poolies?? I have come to the conclusion and it saddens me to say that some of these people don't give a flying foooook about our club and have used it for something to do to pass time and get away from her indoors! See the rest of us cry real tears of joy and happiness when our little club gets promoted and our hearts almost pop out of our chest with excitement but equally ache if our team is relegated or in sad times like our current situation. Thats why us real supporters are in a different league when it comes to Pools and this lot will only ever be " half in half out " pretenders. BTW you should still be involved because people like you Mr.I / Monkey bottom and many others have gone that extra mile to save our club when most of us stand back and hope.

Phil its probably nothing personal, he is likely still distraught at the break up of the Passion Killers

How's it going Bert ?

I spotted Elvisc in the Indian last night, don't think he spotted me like but still.. Fuck the trust.

Wait a minute isn't derwent supposed to be superwatty? Or was that tree with disorder?

Not guilty Mr Monty. I might have been tempted to go along with it for a bit of fun but now Mr Watty has committed to buying ale I'm certainly not getting involved.

How ironic is it that one of the main aggressors towards Mr I was calling for the "detectives" to do some digging on the current hierarchy a couple of days ago, you couldn't make it up

If you really knew me you'd know that on a Fri day night it's BERTHA not Bert.