Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR DINNER - CANCELLED
killerjerrylee
Posts: 728
There has been much speculation on Charlton Life and elsewhere about the POTY Dinner which was originally scheduled for Sunday 23rd April. Here are the facts.
For 6 years it has been arranged by Jean Huelin (alias Fanny ) and myself, plus last season, Marilyn Toft of the Community Trust, and the 3 of us were all set to arrange a similar event for this season but were advised at the last Fans Forum Meeting that the club intended to change it from a formal dinner into an afternoon buffet following the last match of the season . I argued strongly that the POTY is a supporters and not a club event and it is not for them to call the shots. With only one exception I received support from every known supporters group and the minutes of the Fans Forum Meeting on which it was discussed, plus the Powerpoint Presentation outlining the proposed changes, can be viewed on the Club Website. They were happy for us to do the work and arrange the event but it would have to be controlled by the club.
Since the Fans Forum Meeting, I have continued my negotiations and eventually they conceded that we could revert back to our preferred 23rd April date and hold the Dinner as we wished, but then another problem arose.
Instructions came that the club would no longer accept Fanny as one of the organisers as a result of an email that she forwarded to a member of the club staff in error and which was less than complimentary about their efforts. Although embarrassing, this did seem an over reaction especially at a time when correspondence criticizing most aspects of the club would appear to be far from unknown. To make matters worse, somebody in the club leaked the story to social media and on another thread on Charlton Life several people have expressed their views already. Fanny is very well known and well liked.
We made it clear that Marilyn and I would not continue without Fanny , but surprisingly the club would not see the wider picture and stuck to their guns, so last night the decision was taken to cancel the Dinner for this season. Very sad and very unnecessary in my opinion.
The vote for Player of the Year will still take place as normal (although possibly on line this year) but we will just have to find another way of presenting the cup.
In conclusion, the unreasonable constraints placed on the organising team by the club has made the event unworkable in the current climate. We are of course extremely disappointed that the actions of the club have led to this situation.
118
Comments
-
Sad, but the right decision. We have to stand together.
Maybe, just maybe there will be an opportunity to arrange something when they have (hopefully) buggered off in the near future.23 -
Sorry to hear this.3
-
I'd like to thank Ian & Jean for all their efforts. Personally, I think you've made the correct decision and it just shows Meire once again, for the spiteful vindictive person that she is.
Anyway, this will provide excellent media news, I can see the headlines now.
"Charlton CEO Katrien Meire causes Charlton's POTY event to be cancelled after refusing permission for the Supporter of The Year to organise it as usual"
Just sell the club. Shame on you Katrien.60 -
How pathetic has this club become? It is indeed the correct decision on your part, well done for sticking together.6
-
Shocking to hear this, but I get it.
"With only one exception" name and shame the collaborators - we need to identify them for future reference.4 -
Very sad but not surprised to hear.
Would be happy to assist with or donate to the running of an alternative event by you all.5 -
Has the event as a whole been cancelled or has "an event organised by yourself and the organising team" been cancelled?
Wouldn't be surprised if a POTY does go ahead being club run and obviously with their adaptations!
Sorry to hear about this0 -
They really did pick the wrong club. Charlton fans won't just roll over and die. Stick together and they will go.7
-
Very regrettable but the right thing to do.
Pleased the vote will still go ahead.
Would hope Meire would be suitably embarrassed by this but I suspect not.
Deleware North will be pleased to have lost another income due to Meire's stupidity.12 -
Any club event will not be the POTY. The supporters own the Cup and decide who wins it.41
-
Sponsored links:
-
All because Daisy didn't want to have her weekend spoiled by having to go to Charlton on a Sunday too!5
-
Such a shame.0
-
I think Fanny should leg it on the pitch before the last game to hand the trophy to the winner.
(Or a willing alternative) ?
There must be a way to present the trophy that would shame Meire ? Ideas on a postcard.5 -
That would mean them having to do all the work and take all the financial risk.sammy391 said:Has the event as a whole been cancelled or has "an event organised by yourself and the organising team" been cancelled?
Wouldn't be surprised if a POTY does go ahead being club run and obviously with their adaptations!
Sorry to hear about this
And as @killerjerrylee says the supporters own the trophies.2 -
Since the club have a well-earned reputation for an inability to organise a party in a brewery, it would be interesting to see what sort of a hash they could make of the arrangements if they do try to organise by themselves their preferred after-match bun-fight at such short notice.
I think you have made the best decision possible in awful circumstances of the club's creation.2 -
A real shame. I know a number of people really enjoy this event and comments regarding organisation of this are always complementary. Much respect to the show of solidarity towards Fanny. Whilst I do not know her personally, there are plenty of fans who know what she has contributed over the years and appreciate her for that.
I find it utterly disgusting that the club would be so vindictive to the point where the dinner has to be cancelled. It just shows this regime's contempt for the fans and proves that they are not fit to be custodians of our great football club.20 -
This! They pick on one of us they pick on all of us!Davo55 said:Sad, but the right decision. We have to stand together.
Maybe, just maybe there will be an opportunity to arrange something when they have (hopefully) buggered off in the near future.
Get out of OUR club!8 -
It's a tough call, but I think you've done the right thing. Sticking by your principles and by Fanny was exactly the right thing to do. Hopefully this lot will sell up sooner rather than later and then the petty vindictiveness will stop.1
-
If the club organise an alternative event, it would be shameful for anyone to attend & could be picketed to prevent it.24
-
Well done Ian and your team, I too think it is the right decision.0
-
Sponsored links:
-
Real shame, but understandable how and why you have come to the decision.
I'm sure there's a way to do the presentation still just not over dinner.0 -
This. Such a shame but 100% support for the decision. Up yours, SWMBO.Covered End said:I think Fanny should leg it on the pitch before the last game to hand the trophy to the winner.
(Or a willing alternative) ?
There must be a way to present the trophy that would shame Meire ? Ideas on a postcard.1 -
East Kent Addicks.se9addick said:Shocking to hear this, but I get it.
"With only one exception" name and shame the collaborators - we need to identify them for future reference.13 -
To be fair does it make a difference? If it's going ahead who is attending now, Bexley Dan, Seriously Red, Sue Parkes and Karl Robinson who've have voted Johnnie Jackson as POTY?sammy391 said:Has the event as a whole been cancelled or has "an event organised by yourself and the organising team" been cancelled?
Wouldn't be surprised if a POTY does go ahead being club run and obviously with their adaptations!
Sorry to hear about this0 -
Bloody hell. POTY not my bag, but I know what it means to so many people so good on you all for sticking to your guns.
If Meire dares try that, I'll happily picket The Valley too.Covered End said:If the club organise an alternative event, it would be shameful for anyone to attend & could be picketed to prevent it.
11 -
Well I hope everyone's watching and when people ask why that supporters group doesn't exist anymore in 10 years they'll all know.Airman Brown said:
East Kent Addicks.se9addick said:Shocking to hear this, but I get it.
"With only one exception" name and shame the collaborators - we need to identify them for future reference.4 -
Please God in 10 years these awful people will be a distant memory.0
-
So the control freaks have had some of our most respected supporters stand up to their bullying..........well done to Marylin, Jean & Ian on this decision.
I'd like to vote for Katrien in our "own goal of the season" poll, maybe she can present the award to herself to fill the void that she has created.3 -
I've been to the last two POTY dos and thoroughly enjoyed them. Ian and Jean do a cracking job.
I was also at the fans forum last year where the fans' feelings were made quite clear. That the club tried again to take it over this year shows an utter disdain for us all. To then compound this by holding the organisers to ransom over what is clearly a personal issue is nothing short of vindictive and a disgrace.
I'm so angry about this but to be very clear I very strongly agree with its cancellation in the circumstances.
Everything they touch turns to shit, they should keep the wooden nose out of well-organised fan events.
Up for a picket.30 -
She'd find some way of cocking that up tooNo.1 in South London said:So the control freaks have had some of our most respected supporters stand up to their bullying..........well done to Marylin, Jean & Ian on this decision.
I'd like to vote for Katrien in our "own goal of the season" poll, maybe she can present the award to herself to fill the void that she has created.2
