Welcome to the second bulletin of the campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol. Since the last bulletin, there have been some significant developments concerning the future of the club. In the wake of Malcolm Pearce’s statement that the club could well move out of the city, the whole Bristol community – from supporters to Members of Parliament – has swung behind the campaign to secure Bristol’s rugby heritage for the future. There is still all to play for, and everyone who cares about Bristol Rugby can do their bit.

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FANS DENY THAT ‘BRISTOL DOES NOT WISH TO SUPPORT PREMIERSHIP RUGBY’

Everyone was shocked by Malcolm Pearce’s statement of Thursday which, while giving very little away about the question of when or how Bristol’s future will be determined, increased doubts over whether Bristol will still have its top class rugby club next season. You can read the full statement at http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/sub_newsview.ink?nid=7527

Mr Pearce stated that: ‘there is no unexpected crisis at the rugby club and this is not one of those situations in which the vultures circle over an injured animal, waiting to strike at the end.’

However, the rest of his statement was not so encouraging. Giving some indication of the bids that have been tabled to take over from him when he steps down, Mr Pearce admitted that there was contact with a consortium from the Bristol area, but that agreement had not been reached. He also cryptically noted that it was ‘reported’ that Firoz Kassam would want to take Bristol away from their home and see them play in Oxford.

Mr Pearce concluded by saying that, ’Perhaps the time is coming when we should bow to the inevitable and accept the fact that the City of Bristol does not wish to support a Premiership rugby team.’

Bristol Shoguns Supporters Club Chairman David Higgs responded by telling the Evening Post, "It seems clear that the only way Bristol is going to retain a rugby club is for the supporters to show Malcolm Pearce that the club must remain in Bristol.

’The statement issued raised more questions than it gives answers and only increases the uncertainty.

’It is not in the interest of the supporters to move the club out of the city and the message needs to be very clearly made that the club in whatever form must remain in Bristol and that, although the company is owned by Malcolm, the club belongs to the supporters and it should not be for one individual to decide to end decades of rugby tradition in this city.’

Since then, and following the reaction of the Bristol community, Malcolm Pearce has given interviews to HTV West and to BBC Radio Bristol indicating that a move from the city would be a last resort, and that he wants to see Bristol remain in Bristol.

Malcolm Pearce’s contribution to the city and the club since 1998 has been immense, and is hugely appreciated. The Bristol community want to work with him to secure the club’s future.

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MPs BACK THE CAMPAIGN TO KEEP BRISTOL IN BRISTOL

Support for the campaign has come from Bristol’s Members of Parliament. Steve Webb, MP for Northavon in an interview with the Evening Post backed supporters’ efforts to keep Bristol in Bristol.

Mr Webb has said, ‘Sports clubs are part of the life blood of the community and they shouldn't be treated like commodities. The more pressure that can be put on Malcolm Pearce to recognise the depth of the club and its importance to the community, the better.’

He has also spoken with Ian Bell, the Director of Corporate Affairs for the Shoguns who confirmed that no final decisions have been taken. Mr Bell also emphasised that the game against Bath on 4 May at Ashton Gate represents an experiment to see if rugby in Bristol can be secured at an existing alternative venue. Mr Webb will be writing to Malcolm Pearce to appeal to keep the club in Bristol.

MP for Bristol West, Valerie Davey, whose constituency includes the Memorial Ground, today added her voice to the campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol.

Ms Davey said: 'Bristol cannot afford to lose such a prestigious club. The Shoguns' roots are here and it would be a disaster if the team moved away.'

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KEEP BRISTOL IN BRISTOL – IN THE NEWS

David Higgs and Duncan Wood of the Supporters Club have put the case for Bristol to stay in Bristol on BBC Radio Bristol and Star FM, and BBC Online reported on the launch of the internet campaign (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/features/2003/02/17/rugby.shtml)

Following Malcolm Pearce’s statement, Supporters Club representatives have been interviewed by BBC Points West, BBC Radio Bristol and GWR, making sure all Bristolians are aware of what is at stake.

Crucially, the Evening Post has swung its weight behind the campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol, reporting the reaction of the Bristol community to Mr Pearce’s statement (http://62.189.74.93/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=86453&command=displayContent&sourceNode=86451&contentPK=4280569), and publishing an editorial calling for the club’s future to secured in the city (http://62.189.74.93/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=86453&command=displayContent&sourceNode=86451&contentPK=4280557)

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WHAT CAN YOU DO?

It is crucial to keep this issue in the public eye, and sustain the pressure on those making the decisions to keep Bristol in Bristol. Everyone can do this, and it’s getting easier because journalists now want to know what the people of Bristol think!

The Evening Post have asked Shoguns supporters:

What is your opinion on the Bristol Rugby saga? Will you even consider travelling to watch your beloved team play in Oxford, of all places? Now is the time to have your say before it's too late. You can voice your opinion using following methods

email: epsport@bepp.co.uk
fax: 0117 934 3575

Meanwhile, John Newcombe, editor of Rugby Times, has appealed for Bristol fans to speak out in the pages of his magazine:

‘Having been born and bred in the West Country not to have a first class rugby team in Bristol is unthinkable. If you want to air your views on the subject and alternative plans that should be looked into you can e-mail us at: mailbag@rugbytimes.com.’

Remember to make use of the chatroom of the Fanzone section of the official club website, www.bristolshoguns.com to let the club know how you feel.

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BRISTOL v HARLEQUINS, SUNDAY 2 MARCH – BE THERE!

The single most important thing anyone who cares about Bristol can do is to show that Bristol is a city that wants and deserves its rugby team, and it is important that there is a big crowd at the home game against ‘Quins on Sunday 2 March.

Make sure that you are there, and try to bring along as many friends, family, colleagues and team-mates as you can. You can buy discounted tickets if you purchase them before Thursday 27 February. You can buy tickets online at http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/Main_MatchTickets.ink, by calling 0117 311 1461, or visiting the Bristol Shoguns shop at 2 St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol.

Help publicise the match, download and print off matchday posters from http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/sub_newsview.ink?nid=7537, and display them in your window, office, school or rugby club noticeboards – anywhere that they will be seen.

PLEASE make every effort to do what you can to bring yourself and others to this and future matches.

BIG MATCH CROWDS ARE THE CLEAREST SIGN THAT RUGBY IN BRISTOL HAS A FUTURE.

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JOIN THE BRISTOL SHOGUNS SUPPORTERS CLUB

The more members, the greater the voice of the Supporters Club, and the more resources it can put to the campaign to keep Bristol in Bristol.

Contact David Higgs, Chairman of the Supporters Club, Ugyhiggs@aol.com, or pick up a form from the Bristol Shoguns shop, 2 St Augustine’s Parade.

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SPREAD THE WORD!

Please forward this email to as many people as possible, and anyone who wants to be added to the campaign mailing list should email helpingbristolrugby@talk21.com. It has already been sent to over 350 individuals and organisations, including supporters, local media, Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils, Bristol area MPs, former Bristol players and local rugby clubs in the Bristol Combination. If you have suggestions about this bulletin or how the campaign should move forward, discuss them on the message board of the independent Bristol Rugby site – www.bristolrugby.net.

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