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CARD ANNOUNCEMENT: Unity Protest in Sint-Truiden on Saturday, March 4th - transport provided

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  • se9addick
    se9addick Posts: 32,194

    Solidgone said:

    I am thinking of staying in Brussels - I hear the transport is good in Belgium but need to know what the nearest station is for the protest and whether its reachable directly from Brussels and how long it would take?

    Hourly service to S-T, and takes an hour.

    Liege is a lot closer though, and despite what @se9addick wrote above, I liked Liege (in much the same way as I like Swansea). It's a city with a soul and a spirit.

    Really ? I only spent a couple of hours there but it made Eltham look like Santorini !
  • CARD said:

    Charlton fans angry with club boss Roland Duchatelet have announced plans for a major new protest against his ownership in his home town of Sint-Truiden on Saturday, March 4.

    The demonstration will be the largest yet staged by Addicks supporters in Belgium and is being jointly sponsored by an alliance of Charlton pressure groups.

    The Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet (CARD), the Belgium 20 group and the recently formed Women Against the Regime (WAR) are working together to persuade the maximum number of Charlton supporters to travel and get their voices heard directly by Duchatelet, who has not attended a game at The Valley since 2014.

    The Addicks' independent protest fund, which has already raised more than £50,000 to fund protests against Duchatelet's Charlton regime, has pledged financial backing to help keep down the cost of the trip to supporters.

    And transport is being organised to Belgium to help as many Charlton fans as possible take part.

    A CARD spokesperson said: "The next stage of our campaign will be squarely focused on Duchatelet in Belgium. It's clear that previous protests in his home town have got to him and that stepping up action there has to be a key part of persuading him to sell the club as a matter of urgency.

    "The protest will be lawful and responsible, but we have every intention of embarrassing Duchatelet in his own country and we hope as many Charlton fans of all ages as are able will take part.

    "We have chosen this date for many reasons, one of which is that we know Charlton’s away allocation at Northampton Town that day is very likely to sell out regardless. There can therefore be no sensible claim that the protest is affecting the level of support for the team.

    "We are also mindful that Charlton fans want to see manager Karl Robinson given every chance to steer the team towards the League One play-offs if that remains a possibility, and there can be no serious suggestion that protests taking place in Belgium affect that negatively.

    "Further details of the protest's planned itinerary will be disclosed in due course.”


    Charlton fans have made several previous high-profile 600-mile round trips to Belgium, most recently in mid-November when the Belgium 20 came across Duchatelet as he was eating lunch. Embarrassingly for the owner, this enabled fans to refute previous claims by club officials that he watched every Charlton match on a live video stream, as the team was playing Swindon Town at exactly the same time.

    Days later a CARD contingent in a London taxi emblazoned with anti-regime messages visited locations in Belgium targeting Duchatelet's sporting, business and political interests.

    The protests received widespread press and television coverage in England, Belgium and internationally, and even prompted Duchatelet to break his self-imposed media silence, when he was forced by journalists to defend his actions.

    Fans interested in taking part in the March 4 protest can contact charlton.card@yahoo.co.uk

    Very serious question as a very normal fan

    I'm not a fan of CARD, it's too much for me. Why the hell would you go to a foreign country instead of going to Northampton?

    I'm the opposite SA.

    Unfortunately I can't make either regardless as it's my nephews 18th birthday which I'm committed too.

    However if I was free, I'd be going to Belgium, even though I could get a ticket for Northampton. I can't understand how anyone who is seriously anti this regime would not think the same.

    Surely a protest that could have a big and long-term effect on the future of this club, is more important than a new ground tick/a standard away game?
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,271
    se9addick said:

    Solidgone said:

    I am thinking of staying in Brussels - I hear the transport is good in Belgium but need to know what the nearest station is for the protest and whether its reachable directly from Brussels and how long it would take?

    Hourly service to S-T, and takes an hour.

    Liege is a lot closer though, and despite what @se9addick wrote above, I liked Liege (in much the same way as I like Swansea). It's a city with a soul and a spirit.

    Really ? I only spent a couple of hours there but it made Eltham look like Santorini !
    Well its a city built on steel and coal, so it isn't going to be like Bruges; but the riverside is nice and it's a city that isn't feeling sorry for itself, but is pulling itself up. If there was a Belgian version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, the boys would come from Liege.

    Re hotels in Liege our Standard friend booked me Hotel Husa De La Couronne Liege, which was €73 room only and was fine. Right across the road from the high speed rail station, itself a quite remarkable piece of modern architecture. But I have the feeling Liege isn't connected to S-T by direct train, so Hasselt may be better if you are not with the car.
  • charltonbob
    charltonbob Posts: 8,341

    Sint-Truiden isn't blessed with lots of hotels, be warned. Of course, the biggest is Stayen, RD's pile at the ground. You would think it would also be the best. But go look up the reviews on Trip Advisor (sorry, seems its impossible to directly link a TA page). They are both "unique" and somehow depressingly familiar.

    Booked a better place (Belle Vie hotel, near the station)

    Stayen is functional (and right at the Stadium) - however, if you have an aversion to giving Duchatelet money then you might want to look elsewhere..
    Belle Vie is nice.
    Belrom is also functional - close to the seedier part of town (not that St Truiden is a seedy town by any means)

    If you want to stay elsewhere and travel in then Hasselt is approx. 20 mins from Sint Truiden, direct link on train.

    Also check AirBnB - last time I went I stayed in cottage in Heers - about 10 mins outside St Truiden
    How could anyone travel over to belgium to protest against the regime & then stay in a hotel owned by the regime :smiley:
  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,271

    Sint-Truiden isn't blessed with lots of hotels, be warned. Of course, the biggest is Stayen, RD's pile at the ground. You would think it would also be the best. But go look up the reviews on Trip Advisor (sorry, seems its impossible to directly link a TA page). They are both "unique" and somehow depressingly familiar.

    Booked a better place (Belle Vie hotel, near the station)

    Stayen is functional (and right at the Stadium) - however, if you have an aversion to giving Duchatelet money then you might want to look elsewhere..
    Belle Vie is nice.
    Belrom is also functional - close to the seedier part of town (not that St Truiden is a seedy town by any means)

    If you want to stay elsewhere and travel in then Hasselt is approx. 20 mins from Sint Truiden, direct link on train.

    Also check AirBnB - last time I went I stayed in cottage in Heers - about 10 mins outside St Truiden
    How could anyone travel over to belgium to protest against the regime & then stay in a hotel owned by the regime :smiley:
    well...it occurred to me that I could join RD for lunch if I was that side of the glass :-)

    But it seems from the reviews that he's no better at running a hotel than he is at running a football club, so I thought, sod that.

  • T.C.E said:

    T.C.E said:

    I'm struggling to find direct flights, I don't want to spend 8 hours getting there via Amsterdam :(

    London - Brussels? there are loads, but depends which airport works for you

    City or Gatwick, my old van wouldn't get me there and I don't have any friends that would give me lift. :(
    Gatwick or City are very straightforward by public transport.
  • Addickted
    Addickted Posts: 19,456
    Stayed there for the second of the pre season friendlies. We got the Sky boxes where the patio doors open out onto the top of the stand. Meant we got free tickets for the game.

    They don't make them available for match days now.

    Only two rooms left at the Belrom :smiley:

  • PragueAddick
    PragueAddick Posts: 22,271

    T.C.E said:

    T.C.E said:

    I'm struggling to find direct flights, I don't want to spend 8 hours getting there via Amsterdam :(

    London - Brussels? there are loads, but depends which airport works for you

    City or Gatwick, my old van wouldn't get me there and I don't have any friends that would give me lift. :(
    Gatwick or City are very straightforward by public transport.
    But no direct flights to Brussels on Saturday, it seems

  • Hotel accomm booked in St. T just in case I can make it. Will be flying from Cork to Amsterdam and getting the train if I do get there.
  • Alex Wright
    Alex Wright Posts: 8,214

    Sint-Truiden isn't blessed with lots of hotels, be warned. Of course, the biggest is Stayen, RD's pile at the ground. You would think it would also be the best. But go look up the reviews on Trip Advisor (sorry, seems its impossible to directly link a TA page). They are both "unique" and somehow depressingly familiar.

    Booked a better place (Belle Vie hotel, near the station)

    Stayen is functional (and right at the Stadium) - however, if you have an aversion to giving Duchatelet money then you might want to look elsewhere..
    Belle Vie is nice.
    Belrom is also functional - close to the seedier part of town (not that St Truiden is a seedy town by any means)

    If you want to stay elsewhere and travel in then Hasselt is approx. 20 mins from Sint Truiden, direct link on train.

    Also check AirBnB - last time I went I stayed in cottage in Heers - about 10 mins outside St Truiden
    How could anyone travel over to belgium to protest against the regime & then stay in a hotel owned by the regime :smiley:
    Just check what *might* be put up in the hotel windows :wink:

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  • Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,462

    Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness

    Hotel in heart of the red light strip. Tut tut
  • Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness

    Great stuff, morts !

  • eaststandmike
    eaststandmike Posts: 14,956
    edited February 2017
    Yeh, one bloke leaves the house early that morning, "see you later love, ill be home in time for me tea"... two days later turns back up slightly worse for wear.

    I actually did that once and thought the bottle of perfume purchased from duty free on my way back would help calm the waters.....................................boy was I wrong!! :neutral:
  • cafcwill
    cafcwill Posts: 1,298
    Hotel Reserved - Belrom I think
    Name down with Card for the Travel
    Now to ask the gf if she wants to come as well.
    Depending on what she says i may have a half a room to let out or a full one to exchange with someone
  • ElfsborgAddick
    ElfsborgAddick Posts: 29,415
    edited February 2017

    Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness

    I stayed there for the pre-season game in 2015.

    We had a few in town after the game then went back to the hotel a bit early than preferred as my chum had his young lad with him. I then went off for some more beer but just found live models in shop windows!!!!!

    I ended up drinking in the petrol station down the road from the hotel.
  • RedChaser
    RedChaser Posts: 19,900

    Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness

    I stayed there for the pre-season game in 2015.

    We had a few in town after the game then went back to the hotel a bit early than preferred as my chum had his young lad with him. I then went off for some more beer but just found live models in shop windows!!!!!

    I ended up drinking in the petrol station down the road from the hotel.
    I have heard of meths drinkers but petrol Elfs, did it put a tiger in your tank? :wink:
  • RedChaser said:

    Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness

    I stayed there for the pre-season game in 2015.

    We had a few in town after the game then went back to the hotel a bit early than preferred as my chum had his young lad with him. I then went off for some more beer but just found live models in shop windows!!!!!

    I ended up drinking in the petrol station down the road from the hotel.
    I have heard of meths drinkers but petrol Elfs, did it put a tiger in your tank? :wink:
    All civilised as they had a 'bar area' in the shop.
  • Announcement from us, The2Percent our role in the Belgium Unity Protest, Live music following the march, venue to be revealed at a later date and its a good one!

    I sent you guys a tweet but hopefully I'll be out there, need a hand with anything? Guitar/backline tech so plenty of experience to exploit ha


  • well...it occurred to me that I could join RD for lunch if I was that side of the glass :-)

    But it seems from the reviews that he's no better at running a hotel than he is at running a football club, so I thought, sod that.

    Well Prague I can say from experience that the beefsteaks in his - now not so favorite restaurant, are utterly delicious. Around the best I've had.
    Be assured I there for the very best of reasons.

    PS; I am also in the Belle Vie hotel - see you there.

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  • just had a quick look at hotels. if (and I hope this will happen) a few hundred of us go down there have I got it right there's only 10 hotels in the town?
  • T_C_E
    T_C_E Posts: 16,449
    edited February 2017


    well...it occurred to me that I could join RD for lunch if I was that side of the glass :-)

    But it seems from the reviews that he's no better at running a hotel than he is at running a football club, so I thought, sod that.

    Well Prague I can say from experience that the beefsteaks in his - now not so favorite restaurant, are utterly delicious. Around the best I've had.
    Be assured I there for the very best of reasons.

    PS; I am also in the Belle Vie hotel - see you there.

    And me......... ;)
  • Nutz55
    Nutz55 Posts: 25
    Booked in at the Belrom as well but I'm Billy no mates so be good to see a few of you there!
  • Try Leuven. 3p minutes on train.
  • Fiiish
    Fiiish Posts: 7,998
    se9addick said:

    se9addick said:

    Sint-Truiden isn't blessed with lots of hotels, be warned. Of course, the biggest is Stayen, RD's pile at the ground. You would think it would also be the best. But go look up the reviews on Trip Advisor (sorry, seems its impossible to directly link a TA page). They are both "unique" and somehow depressingly familiar.

    Booked a better place (Belle Vie hotel, near the station)

    Stayen is functional (and right at the Stadium) - however, if you have an aversion to giving Duchatelet money then you might want to look elsewhere..
    Belle Vie is nice.
    Belrom is also functional - close to the seedier part of town (not that St Truiden is a seedy town by any means)

    If you want to stay elsewhere and travel in then Hasselt is approx. 20 mins from Sint Truiden, direct link on train.

    Also check AirBnB - last time I went I stayed in cottage in Heers - about 10 mins outside St Truiden
    Tell me more about the seedy part of town, I'm currently running a Northampton v St Truiden playoff to decide where I go on March 4th and you might just swing it.
    There is a long wide road from town out to the airforce base. Every other building has a semi-naked woman in the window looking for "business" or is a "night club"

    Disgusting
    That's genuinely what Liege is like - wonder what it is about these places that attracts Roland ?
    No wonder none of the network players could seem to keep their legs together.
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,822
    Send me a message if you need some free leaflets - Happy to do you 2,000 A6 double sided.
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,240

    Booked the Belrom with Threadkiller
    Apologies in advance for drunkenness

    I stayed there for the pre-season game in 2015.

    We had a few in town after the game then went back to the hotel a bit early than preferred as my chum had his young lad with him. I then went off for some more beer but just found live models in shop windows!!!!!

    I ended up drinking petrol in the station down the road from the hotel.
  • kafka
    kafka Posts: 2,387

    Try Leuven. 3p minutes on train.

    Isn't Leuven the home of Stella Artois?
  • Isn't Leuven the home of Stella Artois?

    and home of Meire's old University who awarded her their top academic prize in 2016 for having been appointed CEO at Charlton.

  • adrian
    adrian Posts: 760
    Booked the only single room left at the Belrom yesterday.