FORZA EASTEND

What's all this about?

FORZA EASTEND literally means strength to the Eastend. However its true meaning can only be found in the lyrics of the Eastend's anthem, Tom Thumb.

An away match at home

Over the past year we have seen a successful supporters campaign led by city fans Ciderhead and North Street to open the Eastend, culminating in a petition signed by over three thousand city fans and the eventual re-opening of our traditional home end. The decision to open the eastend was met with immediate success on its first use against Brentford. The first outing of the Eastenders in over four years drew accolades from manager Gary Johnson and Bristol City Chairman Steve Lansdown. With fans inside the stand commenting that the atmosphere inside the Eastend was like an "away match at home".

FORZA EASTEND builds on their hard work and represents the next step in re-establishing the Eastend as the 12th man, essential in bringing success to the club on the pitch, and increasing the atmosphere on match-day. Since the club has taken the correct decision in re-opening the Eastend, we have seen truly incredible sights within Ashton Gate, an amazing atmosphere during the promotion party against Rotherham, and the neutralising of the vocal activities of away supporters against Swansea and Yeovil town. FORZA EASTEND is the response to the positive decision by Bristol City's chairman, Steve Lansdown, to re-open the Eastend. We aim to actively promote the Eastend and the club as a whole and working with the club, arrange fan-organised events during individual matches this season.

As a fan movement, FORZA EASTEND aims to increase the levels of home support by encouraging noisy fans to congregate in the Eastend, and thus once again fill Ashton gate with the sound of home fans urging City onto victory. It's not enough just to buy a ticket for the Eastend, to sample the atmosphere and rely on the efforts of others to create a red and white wall of sound, all Eastenders must sing until they can sing no more. The library at Ashton Gate is closed for good.

FORZA EASTEND seeks to create a spectacular backdrop to watching Bristol City at Ashton Gate through the use of flags and banners of all shapes and sizes, including the return of our own unique giant flags. As we speak Eastenders, new and old, are creating their own flags and identity within the Bristol City family.

FORZA EASTEND also aims to safeguard the history and traditions of the Eastend through promotion of our own individual Chants and West Country songs. Bland generic songs, which can be found throughout the sea of half empty modern concrete bowls that we come across on our travels, are also to be discouraged.

Throughout the UK, groups of supporters are setting up ultras groups. Their activities such as use of giant flag displays are created for the fans, by the fans. They can be found on www.ultrasuk.co.uk

Whilst FORZA EASTEND is not interested in blindly following others, the UK ultras movement is a positive move and is perhaps long overdue as an antidote to the recent corporate-jester-hat influence in English football. However, the Eastend has always had a degree of fanatic/ultra mentality, the only difference this time is that we are adding flags and colour to the match day experience. Rather than creating something new and artificial, we are building on the fanatical support of Bristol City that is found in the long and fine tradition of the Eastend. FORZA EASTEND seeks to promote and safeguard our unique West Country identity. Rather than shamefully turn away from our regional icons and heritage, we celebrate what separates us from the rest of the UK. Think local, act yokel.

We call upon the club and the two supporters bodies to work closely with us in bringing about the reality of FORZA EASTEND. We ask that the club listen to requests from FORZA EASTEND with an open mind. Permission will

be sought from the club to raise funds for our flags and for their safe display within the ground. More detailed requests will follow.

FORZA EASTEND also supports the campaign for real cider (including local cider farms) and will be issuing advice for the correct purchase and consumption of our local apple based beverage.

News and updates on FORZA EASTEND events and fundraising can be found on independent City supporter's message board www.subcider.co.uk and on the new fanzine