ariotofmyown

We said see you soon to a great family friend today, 37 years old... brain tumours are a Bamford.
godfather to my fantastic niece and an all round top bloke. 
 
raising a glass to you Tommo. See you on the other side mate ?.

I hope it's not true, he has some great qualities and thought he would be at Derby along time, I'd go as far as saying hes a keeper. 

Hang on! How have 99% of the dead been vaccinated? 

Not read the whole thread but have to say impressed with people's views over the past couple of pages - thoughtful and considered.  Personally I'm keen to get back to normal, or whatever the new normal is however, living in a vulnerable household I shall remain cautious. No more snogging strangers, and like someone has already mentioned, I'll choose an outdoor seat at the pub where possible!  I know of two people personally who are refusing to take their jabs - mainly on the basis they are concerned about long term affects.  One to be fair is now leaning toward having it (I'm glad as she's a good friend of the family), the other remains strongly in the no camp and is adamant he'll do whatever he likes: #@$*!.   I have my 2nd jab end of this month and I can't wait.  
In my view it's important we continue to work toward getting back to some sense of normality, for our well-being, the economy - a whole host of reasons.  It does need everyone though to still be cognizant that it's not all rosy, some remain vulnerable and not to ignore all risks.  What worries me is people have short memories and will be fairly blasé once they feel they're unshackled.  Same goes with holidays abroad - we've chose to completely veto the idea this year, much as I'd love to spend two weeks next to a pool sipping a Mai Tai. I've been somewhat surprised at a few people I know who are jumping on planes at the first opportunity.  Personal choice I know but for me, we're not yet on top of this, and most definitely not across Europe. For me this summer / autumn remains a bit of a test case - next year will be where things hopefully go back to some semblance of where we were pre-Covid. 
I really look forward to getting back out there, but strongly hope people remain sensible - possibly a vain hope. 

There is a fear that if they let the virus carry on at high levels it might mutate and render the vaccinations useless. 

"Do the points raised reflect your own concerns?
Wholly -  18 %
Mostly -  69 %
Partly -  50 %
Not at all - 20 % "
You say they don't represent the fan base - yet if you look at the stats on the poll on here about how many agree with what was in the letter then maybe you're wrong. So write and tell them you don't support those fans.
Or do nothing.

Ah, that's the one. One day they're powerful enough to influence a bank to force sale of the football club, the next they're a bunch of self importants with no right to speak on behalf of the fans. Don't worry, lot of water under the bridge, so we'll leave it there but I'd forgotten about that 'chapter' of the story.
But thx for the reply, appreciate it.

Easy solution here: any issues you have with the letter representing your own views can be clarified with an additional letter from yourself representing your own views.
(This post may or may not represent my own views)

Great questions to be fair and why I personally chose to decline the invitation to co sign, reading the replies has justified my position.
I'm not sure how the supporter groups handle this issue of speaking on behalf of their members, be it votes, meetings or what and to be honest it is't any of my business either. 
The way I look at it is if you are a Labour member, vote Labour, this doesn't mean you agree with every point on their manifesto. You simply agree with what they are trying to achieve.
We're never going to agree on every aspect of the club from pitch to boardroom, 1 day on this forum will show that, but why knock others for having different opinions, strong opinions that they felt the need to act? 
Having read the letter and despite not signing it, I never felt once that they were trying in anyway speaking on behalf of myself personally, which the topic is getting lost in and the "who do they think they are". They are Derby fans. 
Would it not be a far better discussion if it focused on the points in the letter and why you agree or disagree, the forum is a platform designed to hold discussions, was never intended as a battle base to throw stones at other supporter groups or fans from other platforms.

Full transparency from me (Ryan) on this one: I was approached to offer some thoughts about what could be done and signed this purely from my personal viewpoint that the club is in disarray and we've spent over a year now not being communicated to whilst seeing the name of the club dragged through the mud.
As just an individual, I felt comfortable doing so because I agreed with the points made, but more importantly because I think that going forward, there needs to be a more united voice for supporters as a whole, rather than the array of random splinter groups which appear when crisis arises every few years. 
I'm not a member of RamsTrust or any supporters groups for that matter, just someone who is looking to try and do something. And I know that we all are but hey, every little helps I guess. And one thing I just want to make clear - absolutely, 100% don't think my name would hold anymore weight than any other individuals would. I live hundreds of miles from PP at the moment in a tiny studio flat, and had to wait until 2018 until to get my first season ticket. I've even been known to cancel Rams TV during the off-season. I'm just a Derby County supporter who was approached and is happy to try and help, all with the best of intentions. 
Understand that in the past supporters groups have been divisive and often don't speak necessarily on behalf of supporters whilst all battling against each other. Maybe this is one of those times, and if so I hold my hands up.

I guess that's the point, if you sit on your jacksie not being involved you remove your ability to do anything other than grumble when you see the outputs. Your right, no debate, but that's all it will ever be unless you take the time to join the discussion. Until then you (not you personally, but in general) choose to exclude yourself from what is said on your behalf*. 
* - resists temptation to make comment on the parallels to so much else happening in society

I think you actually meant that as a serious post didn't you? A whole collective should cease putting forward statements for no other reason than they don't represent your personal views.

Jeez, our club is in the poop, nobody knows what going on and the thing that animates more than most posting in this thread is that they weren't consulted, we've got a poet signing it and someone who signed it blocked a poster on this forum or they think the tone is a bit aloof.
It's a request for info, written by a group of fans who - collectively - have a fair claim to represent more than a single point of view. If you care enough then join Ramstrust (trust me, they will happily take all the help they can get) or set up your own group. I might get on my hind legs at Nick claiming to speak for the fans but at least he's making the effort to do so, not sitting behind some keyboard going 'well they didn't ask me before sending it'.

Then phone Radio Derby and speak to them. I'm going to leave it here as I don't want to derail the thread but what I will say is that over the years most of the times when I've seen people take a pop at Rams Trust it has nearly always been because they feel RT are so self important that they didn't take time to listen to one fan and put their views forward on their behalf. The irony!

It's open, anyone can join, I'm a member (take of that what you will). Honestly, they're not the anti-Christ but just some decent fans trying to open up dialogie with the club. To repeat, I think they go a bit far on where they want that dialogue to take place but they are not some sort of militant group trying to infiltrate our transfer policy. Just fans, that's all.
https://ramstrust.org.uk/wp/

I joined a few days ago, as I wanted to join an official group. They are a registered , formal supporters trust which has a couple of membership options, including full membership with a share in the trust, for £2. I personally had not seen them as being as an active group for some time and not been as active as they can and should be. 
 

That's a bit harsh, they have done everything they can to put as many representative signatures to the letter as possible. I don't feel they are trying to speak for me but they are trying to say that the views presented in that letter are shared beyond any one group. I don't agree with all the points (particularly the one on board meetings - that is them using this situation to reignite their agenda) but the bulk of what is asked for is pretty level and fair. If nothing else, at least they took the time to put it together and register with the owners the general concern of the club - I don't find that self important as an aim.

Actually quite funny. For once. 

They are a splinter faction of the Derby fanbase. Their modus operandi is to tie the limbs of a Ram together tightly and roughly with rope to prevent them from moving or escaping and to then inflict their views on them.

Well done in Ramstrust typing out the letter and moving on from using crayons. 

Full transparency. I was invited to this meeting, but chose not to put my name or the forums to this.
Reason being as I have previously stated, this forum is a platform for fans views, I am not an elected chairman/spokesman to speak on behalf of you all, simply the creator of this platform for fans views which can already be openly seen by the club.
I did not feel comfortable signing on behalf of the forum without consulting you all, and felt my name without attaching dcfcfans.uk held no weight.
My own personal views are that this letter has been created out of concern for the clubs future and regardless of how you feel towards any of the groups that have signed off on it, do not see this as an opportunity to attack supporters groups for speaking on behalf of Derby County fans.
We all love this club. ?

Signed by:
Jim Wheeler, Elaine Dean, Malcolm Turner (RamsTrust)
Lynn Hemsworth (Derby County Supporters Clubs)
Gary Dempsey (DCFC Disabled Supporters Clubs)
Punjabi Rams
Nick Webster (Flagman)
Paddy Breslin (84 club)
Jimmy Gregory (Rams Group)
Ollie Wright (Derby County Blog)
Chris Parsons (Steve Bloomer’s Washing podcast)
Jamie Thrasivoulou (Poet)
Ryan Hills (‘Pride’ author)

To be fair, I think Billy's situation has only got worse since us. As loved as he seemed to be by the squad, he was polarising in equal measure with them as well - some of which didn't make it into the final book.
Been trying to get an interview with him for three years - we persevere.

Think the Bill Davies revelations were my favourite part...the revelations of how he built that band of brothers style squad.
My opinion of him definitely went up after reading it, whilst wondering if he went on to suffer with illness. That paranoia didn't sound healthy.