Tomorrow marks a day the London Owls could never have imagined as we prepare to stage a protest in the capital.
Up to 100 of us, including a contingent from the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust, will be gathering outside the Thai Embassy to voice the strongest of feelings over Dejphon Chansiri’s disastrous ownership of our wonderful football club.
The date of September 4 was chosen to coincide with the 158th birthday of our founding and we’ve picked the time of 4-5pm for the protest, partly to give those working in London a chance to maybe leave work a little earlier on the day and play a full part in proceedings.
We ask everyone to wear a Wednesday shirt or top if that’s possible – black and gold is even better – but it’s fine if not and we’d like you all to gather from 3.45pm onwards.
The key objective is to play our part as London Owls in the growing protests against Chansiri’s calamitous tenure and to embarrass him in front of his compatriots.
The story has been reported in The Bangkok Post and we have contacted Thai press organisations to try to get further coverage.
In addition, we have been in touch with several UK media outlets and their publicity has very much put the London Owls in the spotlight.
Our protest is being co-ordinated with help from the Supporters’ Trust who have provided valuable assistance and are sending a busload of members to London for tomorrow’s protest.
Formal approval for the protest has been given by the Met Police but they have made two requests:
Firstly, that we assemble on the opposite way side of the road to the Embassy, outside Imperial College.
Secondly, that we have stewards in high viz at a ratio 1:10 protesters. Stewards currently are as follows: Julie Silverwood, Sandra Talton, Ellie Greenwood, Paul Woolfson, Rory Galloway, Bryan Crank, Mike Peacock and Ian Bennett from the Supporters’ Trust plus 1.
Paul (London Owls secretary), Ellie (London Owls) and Ian will also hand over a letter to the Embassy.
The Embassy is at 29-30 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5JB. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Gloucester Road tube station and 27 and 70 buses stop nearby.
If you’re coming from St Pancras, it’s 10 stops on the Piccadilly Line to Gloucester Road tube station.
For those who are in London but can’t make the 4pm start, you’re very welcome to join as soon as you can get there … the more the merrier.
A number of you have said you will be bringing banners, so there’ll be no shortage of ‘graphics’ – but please keep them family friendly.
There will also be a Digivan driving around the square with one side displaying a black and gold message ‘Save Wednesday from Chansiri’ and translated into Thai on the other side, while the back panel will display the London Owls logo and other images.
And, as with Wednesdayites all over the world, the message is clear from the London Owls:
‘Dejphon Chansiri – get out of our club’
Thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing many of you in London tomorrow!
