Hull City stand up against 'Bubble' trips

Last updated : 08 November 2005 By Michael Morris
Cardiff City fans are well used to such arangements. Already we have been made to take coach only trips to Stoke, Millwall, West Ham, Bristol City and ourselves to Elland Rd back in January.

It's not been officially announced yet (that I'm aware) but this December's trip to Leeds will be a bubble trip.

Now the West Yorkshire Police are planning to implement the same sanctions against Hull City but the Tigers are having none of it. They will also receive a reduced ticket allocation.

They have not received official confirmation from the police yet but have said on the Official Hull City Website

"When the official confirmation from the West Yorkshire Police does arrive confirming 1,700 tickets and restricted travel, it is the intention of Hull City Football Club to refuse the 1,700 tickets under these terms.

The club believes it should receive 10% of the Elland Road capacity and that Hull City supporters should be allowed to travel by whatever means they so wish. The likely scenario upon Hull City refusing to accept the restrictions imposed is that we will receive no tickets for the fixture whatsoever, which is the position Millwall FC found themselves in.

The club will however be making a stand against a proposed scheme that we feel endangers the very essence of supporting your team both home and away. The scheme will create an unacceptable precedent if accepted and football supporters up and down the country could find themselves having to travel on regulated coach transport on a regular basis.

This cannot be right for the game generally. Home and away supporters in the same stadium is a vital ingredient in the continued good health of football in this country.

Hull City FC will hopefully, in their non-acceptance of these proposed restrictions, ensure that they do not become the norm. Away supporters should have 10% capacity and should be able to travel when and how they like. That is part of the historic fabric of football in this country."

The area feel so strongly about it that the local paper The Hull Daily Mail have started a petition against the idea and are printing coupons in the paper that supporters can fill in to show their opposition to the measures that the Hull Chairman calls "Draconian". They can also email and fill in an online form as well.