The following statement appeared in the programme of March 1 2011.

Statement from the East Fife Players

It is with regret that the captain’s column has been put on hold for this fixture as the team would like to issue a statement to those who are best referred to as the “minority”.

We are concerned that in recent weeks some comments on the AFTN forum have crossed the thin line between strong criticism and personal attack. We all understand and appreciate that the forum allows the fans to express their opinion and have their say but as a team, we firmly consider that some of the posts have become personal and damaging.

We, as a team, know more than anyone that we have under-performed this season. However, the table does not lie and we are where we are due to poor team performances and not individual performances. We win as a team and lose as a team and that is our philosophy. We back each other 100% on and off the park and have a very good camaraderie. Yes we appreciate that there is disappointment when some of us are not in the starting eleven or even the squad of sixteen on match day but we all wish each other the best and want the best for East Fife Football Club and its loyal fans. If a certain player has had a bad game, we all share his disappointment as we are a team. It is up to all of us to ensure that where a team-mate is having a poor game, we still support each other on the pitch. The least we will all give is 100% commitment; we owe that to the supporters.

The team does fully appreciate the support it receives from the vast majority of the fans. We would like to invite any supporters who have concerns about team and individual performances to come to the dressing room either at training or after a match to discuss them with us, as the club operates an “open door” policy.

We accept that in this day and age, a fans forum is part and parcel of football, yet it is unfortunate, as it appears to the team, that certain individuals choose to express their views in anonymity.

The team would also like to make clear that we are in no doubt whatsoever of the manager’s 100% commitment to the club. This has also been highlighted on the AFTN forum and is another issue that has disappointed the team as a whole.

As regards to tonight’s game, all supporters can be assured that the team, whoever is selected in the starting eleven, or who may come on as a substitute, will be doing their upmost to win this match. Your continued support throughout the game will be appreciated as always by the players. Enjoy the game.

The boys!!

This statement is supported as a whole by each team member and management.

This all sounds good from the players. The message reads well, it's genuine and it will hit the mark with most supporters. But taking such a stand over anonymous comments on a website doesn't address what should be the real cause for concern among players. There were 314 people at tonight's match, one of East Fife's lowest ever attendances. It's Derrick Brown territory.
Money is an issue for supporters, having two home games in four days, but there is no hiding the fact that supporters have lost faith in the team, maybe lost faith in the club as well. That's not just a few hot-headed ranters. It's hundreds of fans who, in increasing numbers this season, have decided 'I'm not going'. Why are they staying away? My guess is that for the vast majority of them, their decision has nothing to do with the boo-boys. Let's hope there are more results like tonight's one to persuade those who have lost heart to come back.

I would like to thank the players, management and the club for issuing this excellent statement.

I feel that the club is in good hands and feel good about EFFC.

The vast majority of fans are behind the players, management and club and simply want the best for EFFC.

Sadly, a few come here to have a pop anonymously and usually unfairly at individuals who are not in a position to defend themselves. There are negative bully boys in every walk of life which is sad mainly for them. I would ask everyone to get fully behind EFFC and do as well as we can this year with a great group of players and management team.

One positive out of all this - Hislop had his best 45mins in an east fife jersey last night. Seems like he plays better when he's angry and has a point to prove. Hissy, If you're reading - I bet you can't score 6 more goals beween now and the end of the season [/quote]

Was thinking about 12 myself!!

Nice to read some sensible posts... its been a while!

Yes it has pingpong.

I try to let a hell of a lot go here and it can be hard at times but I think as Mary Bale says, we are good at self regulating.

Personal abuse of players, board and other posters is not what this forum should be about. But one man's harsh criticism is another man's personal abuse. I'm thick skinned. What I think isn't bad can really offend someone else.

I'm going to address the issue in the AFTN blog this evening. I'm glad it's all happened and we can talk about these issues.

Bit amazed my forum can merit a whole captain's comment page in the programme but there you go. Feelings were clearly running strong.

Hopefully EVERYONE can move on now.

I agree wholeheartedly with the players' statement in the programme.
What is absolutely clear is that these guys pay attention to what is posted on here. Worth bearing in mind.
Also worth bearing in mind is that most supporters I speak to find much of the forum content over the top and negative. Anecdotal I admit, but that is my experience.
If it was up to me I would have removed the Hislop thread, no question. Far too personal an attack. You can argue the semantics of whether or not it was abusive.
It is of course up to the site owner but the line between free speech and posting negative, personal stuff if not properly moderated will drive people away from the forum, which is a shame because the rest of the site is excellent.

I don't think it came about because of one thread on here recently, there has been a long build up to this and the poorly titled Hislop thread seems to have been the straw that broke the camels back.

I've certainly doubted Hissy's abilitys as the man to lead our attack on more than a few occasions, though some of the constant sniping at him for anything and everything on here from one or two posters has been well out of order.

The players, in my opinion, were perfectly entitled to hit back in the way that they did. Constructive critiscism is a good thing but constant borderline personal abuse can benefit nobody and could even affect the clubs ability to attract players in the future (footballers talk to eachother).

Hislop led the team out, got his head down, worked hard, had a good game, scored a goal and the team won. That was the best reaction we could have hoped for. Hopefully we can put this issue to bed now and crack on up the league. Realistically we will lose games before the end of the season, and players will have individual poor games now and then, but when these things happen it isn't because anyone in the team isn't committed.

The players are good enough to finish high up in this league and I believe they showed lastnight that they have no desire to hang around down at the bottom. Lets take a good support through to Alloa and show them that we are behind them 100%.

Its sad that it takes a thread on a internet forum for players to up their game.


Having said that,maybe the supporters who contributed to the thread should actually be thanked by the club instead of being castigated

Think it would help a great deal if more information was coming out of Bayview. At the moment we all have to guess on the fitness of players,injuries etc.
Most supporters would like know how long a player is out for,the number of players carrying knocks,the reason for playing certain players out of position etc.
Giving more info. will surely help us understand below par perfomances from players and the reason why.

The editorial staff at The Bayview have received a number of emails from anonymous supporters complaining that they are under personal attack on AFTN. As a result a page will be allocated in each programme to allow posters,anonymous or otherwise, to explain how personal attacks are affecting how they perform in their day to day lives.
For example if poster A calls poster B a rubber nut and poster B finds that the accusation is affecting his health and personal performance he can email Dr Liam or Dr Eugene who will print each complaint along with their diagnosis and remedy. Complaints of a more personal or delicate nature should be addressed to our Dr Kerriann and be accompanied by photos which will form part of the article.
Programme readers will then be able to send in messages of sympathy and offer advice through this new service which will be called Fulminating Fans Forum (an alliteration never fails).

Now you are taking me to task for NOT getting stuck into someone. What's it to be, love or hate? All I said in the first place was that there was a danger of this thread deteriorating, which is what has happened. It doesn't have to be that way. If someone makes a remark you don't agree with, it doesn't improve matters if your response only fans the flames. Try taking a step back from all of this, to calm down.

I am finding it hard to put into words what I think about the statement from the players.

I do agree that personal abuse is a no-no and I have removed and banned quite a few posts recently for that very reason.

Alot of threads on here turn into a bitch-fest and on reading looks like bitchy wee girls fighting over hand-bags and that has been annoying me recently.

What I don't want and I hope doesn't happen, is that people are too afraid to post their thoughts on here. There's nothing wrong with stating things like 'the final pass was crap' or 'he missed a sitter' etc etc. This is still a fans forum and we have every right to post our thoughts on here.

As I said, it's hard for me to say this without sounding harsh but I think a players' statement was way OTT and that if they are so offended by people on this fans forum then should maybe heed the warning upon opening site.

If people don't agree with me that's fairynuff but this is my personal opinion and not the views of anyone else connected to AFTN, EFST, EFFC etc.....

Agreed Kerriann, on all counts.

Aye, but there was a horrible players v fans vibe. At full-time there didn't seem to be the normal 'winning a game' elation and 'East Fife....East Fife' chants. Just a ripple of applause. Most of the 314 die-hards (moaners and sookers alike) waited, rooted to their spot instead of heading for the exits to see if the players would acknowledge the fans - which nearly all did as they were going into the tunnel.

Front page Courier today
East Fife ask Away From The Numbers posters to play fair...

It seems to me that certain fans need a fall guy every year.Last term it was Brown and these fans would have run him out the club if they had their way.Think If I was to try hard I could name the player and the year right back to the Dougie Hope era and beyond.Christ theres even a fan on this form that still harks back to poor old Dougie with the name he posts under,

Carmaraderie - was that the Italian boy?

Totaly agree keriann, it amazes me that the players are actually bothered what is written here. There must be loads of unofficial fans forums that slate players , managers etc yet this makes the east fife mail and courier. This must be a first that something like this has made local papers, whatever happened to sticks and stones?

Just cut out the personal nonsense. Problem solved.

Searched the web for 16 pairs of testicles, no luck yet. I will contact the papers when I find them and make a donation. Never has the term Man Up been more appropriate. Am embarrassed by the statement and don't how the players can all agree with it.

Still if their that touchy then am willing to give them my full support as usual. Mon the Fife onwards and upwards. Lifes too short for all this let's enjoy the rest of the season, think winter darkness syndrome or whatever it is has had an effect.

I read the programme last night thought the comments are right,also heard fans still moaning during and at the end of the game was a bit disgusted especially at the end fans still complaining after a good win,you pay your money and voice your opinions but the abuse has to stop or why go to games I have often said if east fife get beat I am not going back and they we always get a result,I WAS a not a big fan of micheal brown but he has proved me wrong on numerous occasions that he is a top class keeper(hope I dont jinx him)I love every east fife player always will.ignore the Abuse lads as I have done over the years I am older and used to it ,rather they had a pop at me than you boys .

This thread got out of hand not because of the players statement, but because I had the audacity to criticise a poster for his daft comments! It is these critical posters that are the touchy ones! They give it out, but can't take it back!

Look at yourselves!

http://aftnwebsite.blogspot.com/2011/03/east-fife-players-hit-back-at-abuse-on.html

Excellent blog GoF.

Having dished out abuse and personal attacks in the past I can understand why it is done. But, it's not healthy and its not right.

The same time and energy could be better spent with constructive posts.

Showing restraint when fraustations are high, or when someone has had a go at you is hard - but it is worth the effort surely?

What Gof writes about making AFTN a "fun and vibrate place to visit" is true. And lets extend that to Bayview.

Daily Record
East Fife tell fans to stop slagging off the players.. because it's hurting their feelings ...

The Scotsman
Changing room chat: Trouble and strife at fall-out in Fife...

Have to say that is an excellent blog GoF.
I must admit that I do not understand what makes people want to post personal & some cases libelous posts.
Yes I let my feelings get the better of me at games and as well as shouting criticism I also shout a load of absolute shite at times but its in the heat of the moment and within 15 minutes of the game finishing my thoughts turn to whats for tea that night. I cannot for the life of me understand why sometimes days afterwards someone would choose to take the time be abusive to a player or official!
I have been known to give opposing players dogs abuse during a game but generally its because they are the better players in the opposing side & I think they are dangerous to my own team. John Gemmell gets it big time from me but a couple of years ago I would have loved to have seen him in the Black & Gold!
When Willie McCulloch was at Stenny I constantly aksed him how his slimfast diet was going but when he came back we had a great banter about it.
I myself have been the victim of some pretty hurtful & down right slanderous stuff being posted on the old East Fife website forum particularly when we initially set up the Young Fifers and believe me it really does get to you. The people responsible actually apologised to me once I pointed out that my own kids wwere able to read what they were writing but it was still there to be read months later.
Kinda lost track of where I'm going here but suffice to say personal abuse should be left to the Bigot Brothers, we can & should be better than that.

& boy can he throw a hammer!!!!!

And even after this people still want to post with a player's name. Well he's banned now. Sigh.

I think they were fans of other teams coming on for a laugh/pisstake after reading the papers. "let's go on that forum..."

cannot understand players putting statement in the programme. The players should do there talking on the pitch and ignore the comments on the forum. if anything the comments should make the players respond wanting to prove the fans wrong about their performances. remember it was only a few months ago hissy gestured to the crowd after scoring, are we saying the forum is to blame for that reaction from the club captain!

Well said Liam!

Sorry, also wanted to agree with/support the blog comments.
Working at home, getting distracted (AFTN,spotify) etc etc

"We, as a team, know more than anyone that we have under-performed this season."

So, that quote was taken from the players statement, so therefore isn't criticism expected? Why have you under performed? Is it because of a few posts on here have affected your ability to kick/pass a football?

I very much doubt that all the players were in support of a daft statement.

If you don't like what is written on here on anywhere else on the internet, don't read them and stay off the websites, it's not hard. You wouldn't watch an hour of Emmerdale if you didn't like it.

We all know what player has been given the most amount of stick on here, and although some of the criticism may be a bit over the top the majority of it is justified. Any player who plays in an East Fife jersey will get my support if they work hard and show passion and commitment which even John Robertson said they did not have after the Dumbarton game.

So instead of writing a statement amount a fans forum why not do your talking on the pitch and prove us wrong.

I honestly believe that whole statement was written by Hislop. If you go on his Facebook and his personal info,
Favorite teams - Raith Rovers & Tynecastle Boys Club.
How does a player who openly states he likes Raith show passion for us?

I get more and more angry every time I read that statement. Can't believe the board and the players as a whole thought it would be a good idea. Expect attendances to continue to be low and possibly even decrease. Well Done, 'The Boys'

2 words for the players Man and Up.

We all know that aftn is evil. I'm sure Deek Broon said as much years ago, so it must be true!

Let your football do the talking guys, this is a forum where people with differing opinions can express themselves and the moderators imo do a good job in policing the forum.

Fair to say its been an eventful week since my slightly opinionated thread! I don't take back what i posted even although the player in question got the opening goal and (by all reports) had a good first half, as it was an opinion and obviously had the desired effect with players having points to prove.
However i feel the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. I mean i can almost justify it being brought up in the match programme but 4 papers (so far), we're a total laughing stock. I've been receiving texts from football fans from Dundee and the west coast saying "that we've been taking the pissy wissy out of our poor little players". Its hard enough sometimes to be proud of your local team, but even more so when they leave themselves (and the fans) wide open to ridicule.
My other concern is, where does it stop now, can we now expect every critical post to be in the papers or to start a barrage of personal abuse between fans. Maybe we should have two different internal forums within AFTN. 'A positive forum (glass half full)' and 'a less positive forum (glass half empty)' forum, then the players (who are easily offended) can stick to the positive thread where fans go out their way to make them feel good about their performances every week regardless and the disgruntled fans can have realistic debates on the negative one with other fans without the possibility of being accused of cyber-bullying.
Hope this post doesn't cause as much controversy

I don't know why it was removed. It's poss that GoF is trying to keep the peace. The words horse, stable door and bolted springs to mind though!!

And as Fife fan said, it's all about opinions.

"Can't believe the board and the players as a whole thought it would be a good idea."

Just for clarification the board had nothing to do with the decision to put the bit in the programme; it was the players themselves who took that action.

How about we all move on?

Fife Addict

Just so you know, I also saw no need for you original post to be taken down and I've backed your right to post your opinions in emails I've received and my blog.

I've argued that it didn't cross the line into personal abuse. It was conjecture about performance. Some disagree with you. Some don't.

It was removed Wednesday by request. And no, I won't say by whom and speculating will not get you the answer.

I don't know the exact reason behind the request but I am guessing that with the papers picking up on the players statement, this was thought to be a way to calm things down. I agree.

I can also confirm that it wasn't Hissy who instigated the initial statement. It was other players. I don't know who wrote it, but it did have the backing of the players.

I can also confirm that it had nothing to do with the Board of Directors. Eugene was correct in posting it on here due to the low attendance at the game and the fact it was about AFTN. I asked him to do so once I'd been told the statement was going to be in the programme.

Freedom of - speech/opinion/anononimity etc etc - YES
The catalyst for all of this (in my opinion) was the unfortunate and frankly unfair personal thread title.
Which one of us would like to be lambasted as the worst "insert profession here" ever?! on a public forum.

The main message I took grom the "players" response was that of acceptance of poor form by the team rather than any individual.

That said I think the (inevitable?) National coverage it invoked WAS embarassing and also know for a fact that it was NOT endorsed by ALL the players - some knew f'all about it before print.

Why react to what should be an obvious a minority (even more accurate a "few") on a wee Team Forum?

Worse still IF the players take that "opinion" as a true reflection of the MAJORITY of EF supporters and treat them with a "them and us" attitude nobody wins.

Saturday brings us the chance to jump a few places, even with games in hand.
We have a +'ve GD - one of only 4 in this Div, even Ayr in top 4 have a -'ve, so the football can't be that bad - can it?

Are things really that bad?
Storm in a tea cup if you ask me.

As I have been saying for a long time, this forum is downright nasty at times (compared with other similar sites) and now it has even got to the players.

I cannot believe 'Poo shoot' wrote what he did further up the thread. He is either an immature schoolboy or he has severe problems with emotional intelligence.

I also note that SPF is lying pretty low - and well he should given the fact that he has caused more trouble on this site than all the Cowden and Wraith fans put together.

what a joke cant believe the team felt the need to issue a statement over a bit of constructive criticisim on a web site well done on making the front page of the corier to blown completely out of propotion imo

I, for one, have enjoyed this season. East Fife does not have the crowds / financial resources to survive in Division One. All it can offer is some excitement, some reasons to be cheerful (plus occasional reasons to moan or get moody) and games that have goals and talking points.

Apart from a couple of games recently, all our matches have featured goals, some quite a lot.

I don't pay £13 each week to watch us win the League, just so we can lose most of our games next year. I pay my money to get some 'crack' with my pals and this season Craw and JR, together with all the players lambasted by others in these forums, have given us plenty to talk about.

Ups and downs, downs and ups - that's East Fife Football Club. Has been for years. Bring it on!
(P.S. - Don't shoot me for having an opinion!)

Agree superb post

agree great post can we not make it a new thread instead of scrolling down 80 posts to read it!

Your shell shocked at all the trouble you caused? You should be.

I'm shell-shocked at the statement and press coverage. Go on then, humour me, how did I cause it exactly? Didn't realise I was so influential and everyone listened to me. The Charles Manson of AFTN. I brainwashed lots of posters into posting supposed 'personal abuse' to/about East Fife players...

Maybe it was those liberal Guardian readers or those pesky "pikeys" that you are obsessed with.

Yawn.