Fans of Bristol Rovers have reacted with anger towards a Bristol City Council campaign video.
The #WeAreBristol campaign launched last week with the aim of bringing together different communities in the city and to unite and challenge people to look for similarities between them.
The video shows a social experiment, with Bristolians from across the city split into groups and then asked questions ranging from "who has ever saved a life?" to "who used to bunk off school?", with those answering Yes asked to congregate in one place together to show that they share experiences.
Some of the people participating in the video are dressed in Bristol City shirts, with one carrying a flag.
But there is nobody in the video kitted out in a Rovers strip, and fans aren't happy about it.
However, Bristol City Council has told Bristol Live that there were several Rovers fans included in the video and were invited to wear their team's shirt if they wanted to, but that nobody chose to.
Rovers fans have refused to share the video, some even calling for it to be reshot, and see it as failing to do the very thing it was aimed to do, bringing the city together.
Bristol Rovers have always been seen as the underdogs in the city, the poorer neighbours. Therefore, when feeling not included the fanbase and the club can be sensitive. The recent #WeAreBristol campaign video appears to have hit a nerve with Gasheads.
The council funded film was produced by Fable Studios, based in Bedminster, and presented by Bristol University Professor Bruce Hood.
Filmed at the BottleYard studios in the city, the idea being to showcase a wide range of people, to reflect the diversity of the city. The council have said the aim was to, "positively challenge people to look for similarities with their neighbours and wider areas."
This was created against the backdrop of what Mayor Marvin Rees called, "Fractures across the political landscape which have led to a growing feeling of division amongst the people that live and work in Bristol.”
The aim was to overcome these barriers, and in the Mayor’s own words ‘bring people together around the pride we share for our city.”
But this clearly hasn’t happened with Rovers fans. The video which features at least four people with City shirts on, and waving a flag has no fans in Rovers colours in it. For a city with a proud football tradition, for many this is problematic.
A number of Bristol Rovers fans have come forward to give their view. Lifelong Gashead, and former journalist Nick Rippington said: “Rovers fans are up in arms. There is a person featured who is blatantly wearing a Bristol City shirt and a City flag being waved around in the background, yet no recognition of Bristol's oldest club.
“How you can promote diversity then alienate half the football supporters of Bristol I really don't know!”
After watching the video, gashead Larry Bennett was so annoyed when he was handed a #WeAreBristol card at the Harbour Festival last weekend that he ‘ripped up my card in utter disgust. Inclusivity my arse.”
You can watch the video here:
Some key figures connected to the club feel let down by the decision to edit the film with only City colours present. The voice of Bristol Rovers for 30 years, former PA man Nick Day watched the film and was outraged. He said: “God knows how much taxpayer money has been spaffed on clueless marketing gurus for this tosh,”
“A video campaign meant to champion unity in this great city has alienated half of it, and thousands of people by focusing on only one of our football teams and totally ignoring Rovers. Fans I spoke to are furious,” he added.
Prominent Rovers fan Chris Brown, author of the book ‘Bovver’ on football hooliganism has contacted Bristol Rovers direct, he said: “I have contacted the club, asking if they are going to complain to the council. I’m still fuming!
“If no Rovers fans turned up then why ramp up the behaviour of the City fans, waving a flag and singing? Seemed a bit over the top to say the least. Didn't see any other local sports being represented.”
The council has been mindful of the film's impact and moved swiftly to offer an explanation, insisting that: "Rovers fans did take part in the film, and were given the option of wearing their football shirts."
They are hoping that the overall positive message of the film does not get lost, and people can see beyond this and connect with the wider message, and stated: "We hope that football fans of any club will appreciate the sentiment of the film, and the importance of overcoming hatred, racism and discrimination in our city."
Gary Marks who is a regular at the Memorial Stadium, however, took to Twitter and simply stated, "Not a single Rovers fan then?"
And his direct response from the council read: "We invited Rovers fans to join us - unfortunately filming took place on a day when Rovers had an away game.
“We really hope Rovers fans, City fans, and fans of any football club will still enjoy the film. We support different teams but #WeAreBristol.”
In response to this defence Michale Wilcox jumped in and rebutted: ”Did you not think that it was, therefore, better not to make any reference to league football clubs than if you weren’t able to find them.
“Also our away representation is pretty good, but only a small proportion of fans would be visiting a game.” He received no reply.
Bristol City Council have been encouraging organisations and city institutions to share the video on social media platforms. What is undoubtedly a positive message has been shared by the likes of Bristol University , WeThe Curious, Bristol Energy, and also the YTL Arena.
Bristol Sport Foundation, the community arm of Bristol Sport, have also tweeted their support. But as yet there has been nothing from Bristol Rovers or it’s community department Bristol Rovers Community Trust.
With its fanbase so vocal, Bristol Rovers have received complaints direct, and Bristol Live understands that the club has raised its concerns with the council and is working with them to find a solution.
In an official statement they said: “Bristol Rovers is a family club and a core pillar of the local community. The club prides itself on being approachable and representative of the city.
"With that in mind we fully support the intentions of the campaign and look forward to working with the council on this and other initiatives in the future.”
The Bristol City Council official statement in full reads: "Rovers fans did take part in the film and were given the option of wearing their football shirts if they wanted to. People were free to wear what they preferred.
"We have already been working closely with Rovers Football Club with a joint mission to create an inclusive city where no one is made to feel isolated because of their background, beliefs or where they come from.
"We hope that football fans of any club will appreciate the sentiment of the film, and the importance of overcoming hatred, racism and discrimination in our city.”
The #WeAreBristol film is now being screened daily at Big Screen Bristol in Millenium Square.
For more information on the look out for the Facebook and Twitter page with the hashtag #WeAreBristol
