Keep Bristol in Bristol Campaign Bulletins

By Big Dave
March 8 2003

Welcome to the fourth bulletin of the campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol. Over the past week Bristol supporters were encouraged by Malcolm Pearce’s comments that he was optimistic that the Shoguns will remain – and prosper – in Bristol.

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Everyone associated with the club has thrown themselves into the campaign to keep the club in the city. Another of Bristol’s MPs has publicly backed the call for Bristol to remain in Bristol, and the players themselves, in returning their most recent win bonus, have made their own very special gesture of support for Bristol rugby during this difficult time. Meanwhile, supporters have been out and about, publicising the club and encouraging each and every Bristolian to back their team. These efforts will continue in the coming week, so read on to find out what you can do to help.

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‘A DEAL WILL BE DONE’ – MALCOLM PEARCE

In an interview with the Evening Post, Shoguns Chairman Malcolm Pearce has indicated that Bristol will stay in the city. Describing any move to Oxford as ‘a last resort’, Pearce revealed that ‘parties’ were expressing an interest in investing in the club to keep it in Bristol.

Pearce said, ‘I think that a deal will be reached. We have had more interest in the past week than in the last few months.’

You can read the full interview at http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=107111&command=displayContent&sourceNode=107110&contentPK=4415999

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DO YOUR BIT – THREE STEPS TO HELPING BRISTOL RUGBY

So, what can you do to help the club? Lots! Oliver Gaudion, has put together ‘Three Steps to Helping Bristol Rugby’ ahead of the derby match against Gloucester, and every Bristol supporter can do their bit to publicise the club, help get a big match day crowd and show that Bristol wants and deserves top class rugby. If you can help in any way with this over the coming week, please get in touch with Oliver at oliver.gaudion@baesystems.com. Everyone who can help – no matter how much they can do – will be made very welcome.

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Step 1 – Flyer/Poster Distributors Needed This Weekend

Here's a quick and easy way to help the club. We are planning on distributing flyers and posters to pubs, rugby clubs, gyms, etc. this weekend (to encourage people to take advantage of the £3 discount offer on tickets). For a small group this is a big task. However, for a large group of dedicated supporters with just half an hour each to spare this is a quick and easy way to lend a hand.

We want to distribute to your local pubs (on Friday evening, ready for the Six Nations), your local rugby clubs (Saturday morning, for those that have home fixtures) and your local gyms and leisure centres, or anywhere else you can think of.

Email oliver.gaudion@baesystems.com and volunteer your support, telling us which pubs/clubs/gyms etc. you can cover. We’ll then tell you about how to get hold of flyers.

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Step 2 – The Wednesday Flyer Brigade!

We would like your help in dishing out flyers in the centre of town on Wednesday 12^th March, 5 - 6pm. We can help publicise the £3 discount on tickets and encourage extra support. Between 5pm and 6pm we should catch a lot of workers in the city.

Email oliver.gaudion@baesystems.com and volunteer as much time as you can afford - every little bit helps.

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Step 3 – Nothing to do Saturday 15 March? You have now!

Come along and help promote the club by giving out flyers and children’s face paints in the city centre.

We will also be circulating a petition for the 'Keep Bristol in Bristol' campaign. Your help, however much time you can give, is needed between 1pm and 3pm.

For further details, email oliver.gaudion@baesystems.com.

‘Three Steps to Helping Bristol Rugby’ builds on work already underway. Bristol fans handed out leaflets to shoppers in central Bristol ahead of the Harlequins game last weekend. Their efforts were featured in BBC Radio Bristol broadcasts, and an article in Bristol’s weekend sports paper, The Green ‘Un.

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ROGER BERRY SUPPORTS RUGBY IN BRISTOL

Kingswood MP Roger Berry has joined the supporters’ campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol. Following fellow Bristol MPs Steve Webb and Valerie Davey, Mr Berry has said:

‘Bristol Rugby is part of our community. It belongs to our community. It is essential that we secure Bristol’s rugby heritage for the future.

‘We simply cannot afford to lose such a prestigious club.’

Malcolm Pearce has acknowledged how the support of Bristol’s MPs has shown to him the club’s importance to the city. Bristol fans can be proud that it was their letter writing and lobbying that has secured parliamentary backing!

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DOWNLOAD A CAMPAIGN POSTER

The independent Bristol news and comment website, www.thatbebristle.co.uk has joined the campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol, opposing any move to Oxford.

You can download and print a campaign poster from http://www.thatbebristle.co.uk/general/campaign.htm. Put this up in your front window, in your car, your office or club noticeboard – anywhere people will see it.

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PLAYERS MAKE SACRIFICE FOR THE FUTURE OF BRISTOL

In an impressive gesture, Bristol’s players have shown their commitment to the club by returning the win bonuses that they received after Sunday’s victory over Harlequins.

Director of Rugby Peter Thorburn said, ‘The senior players decided that with the current financial situation it would be right to return the bonus.’

Bristol and Argentina star Agustin Pichot explained the thinking that lay behind this decision, ‘We all have our responsibility to fight for the Shoguns . . . players, staff, supporters and businesses all need to work together to keep the club alive in Bristol.’

The players deserve our thanks for their commitment to the club and to the city. Over the next week let’s all do what we can to pay them back by doing our bit to get a big, passionate Bristolian crowd for the West Country derby against Gloucester on Sunday 16 March.

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SPREAD THE WORD!

Please forward this bulletin to everyone that you can. It is currently being sent to over 350 individuals and organisations, including supporters, former players, local rugby clubs, Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council, MPs and the media. If you would like to be added to the campaign mailing list, please email helpingbristolrugby@talk21.com. If you have ideas about how the campaign should move forward, please discuss them on the message board of the Independent Bristol Rugby Website, www.bristolrugby.net.

To join the Bristol Shoguns Supporters’ Club, contact the chairman, David Higgs, at ugyhiggs@aol.com.