Online protest as BBC withdraws football commentary

Local radio station BBC Essex, is set to reduce its live commentary of both Southend United and Colchester United’s games for the forthcoming 2008/9 football season.

Southender Gary Bullock told us: “From a Southend perspective, last season’s home gate averaged over 8,000. With travelling fans averaging a creditable few hundred, that leaves over 7,000 avid supporters who, for reasons such as other commitments or financial considerations, will not now be able to enjoy the excitement of a Saturday afternoon’s sport. Even more supporters will suffer as the financial burden of spiralling fuel costs make the prospect of regular away travel simply too expensive. Considering the nature of the Corporation’s funding I would have expected a more community-friendly approach to broadcasting schedules.

A member of Shrimperzone.com, a Southend United fansite, has instigated an on-line petition to press the BBC to reconsider. www.petitiononline.com/bbcessex/petition.html.

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