Welcome/Welcome Back - **A Personal Message**

[Christian Slater]

Everyone.

Sometimes in life even the best things come to an end. Good days become fewer and we yearn for the slow gentle kiss of death. That's not a quote, I actually made that up!

Anyhow, as some of you have cottoned on, all is not well at TFF Towers. After more than a decade of providing what we believe to be the best UK based football forum on the internet, the time has come to shut up shop and move on. Team Red would like to thank everyone who has contributed the rich tapestry that was TFF. We are proud that friendships were made, meetings were had and, hell, we even had a couple of weddings!

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, Team Red is old, we go outside now and smell the real world. We suggest you do the same. Its great!! We all have kids, Woody has discovered golf, I am the wrong side of 45, Villaboy has now left the Army and is having to work for a living; our priorities no longer revolve around a website. Its time we moved on.

Also, over the last few months a few people seem to have taken it upon themselves to criticise, moan, bitch and slag us off - completely unaware of the hours we put into ensure you can have some internet fun. Sadly, this has finally taken its toll. To be brutally honest, collectively, we've had enough. The promised upgrade wont be happening, because frankly none of us are prepared to sacrifice 48 hours to do it.

We have explored the possibility of passing the forum onto new owners, but there are a multitude of issues over database ownership, DPA and the technical build that makes this impossible.

So with that, we have agreed that our last day of operation will be March 31st 2015. Then the forum will close its doors forever.

I fully expect there to be a backlash, if anyone goes OTT or gets abusive, we'll just get rid.

We ask that everyone enjoys the few remaining weeks of TFF, posts responsibly and uses the facilities with provide with a bit of respect.

Lord Football
On Behalf of Team Red
TFF 2002 - 2015

What's all the conflict that became such a big issue?

 

[Jockney]

All started with Smat posting lots of racist abuse in the Shoutbox and kind of spiralled from there.

 

[Posh Hammer]

And then this whole Syria thing happened.

 

[SamScfc]

Could they really not have let someone else run it instead?

 

[HarvSFC]

Also, VB's reply to Scumbag's post now seems sort of prophetic:

"You are partly right, but actually some way off the mark..

It is not just the leadership that is tired of this forum, but the members and their immaturity. My 7 year old daughter behaves better than some the members on this forum. TFF has a lot of keyboard warriors who think they can get away non stop with slating the running of the forum and the decisions that are made for the good and benefit of the forum. These are the people that hide behind their keyboards and probably can't cut the mustard in the real world.

Having been an admin 3 times, a mod twice and also a regular member, I have seen many of these childish people in my 12 years come and go. However, it is boring now. The amount of people that slag this forum off, get banned and constantly try to get back on under different guises is shocking.

We could close the forum tomorrow if we wished to, but we have given you all the opportunity to ENJOY what is left over the next few months and have fun (something that seems to have been lacking due to some of the above). Should you all choose to not have fun and continue to slag the people off that make an effort to keep the forum alive, then the forum is better off without some of you..."

What a silly c***.

• Back to top

 

[Posh Hammer]

If they really wanted it to carry on, yes, technically they could have.

But handing over the reigns would have damaged their over inflated ego's. So they chose not to. Instead, they picked up their ball and went home.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

All started with Smat posting lots of racist abuse in the Shoutbox and kind of spiralled from there.

I saw that. I've never understood his beef with the Inuits personally.

 

[Spear]

Think like most things in life, the answer lies in the middle, by and large they were really nice guys, maybe 90% of them, but there were some complete and utter twats over the years, and same goes for the posters 90% good, but some just got out of hand, myself included a lot of the time, so you need to be fair I think when making summaries about how it was, they were by and large good guys who ran it well, on their own time, for little or no tangible reward other than to host a forum, when you think on it, we all owe them a deal of gratitude in my opinion.

 

[TomPNE94]

They didn't want anyone else to run it because it's "their" forum and it would damage the legacy. They have probably set up a new forum just for the admins so they can reminisce about the good old days.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Think like most things in life, the answer lies in the middle, by and large they were really nice guys, maybe 90% of them, but there were some complete and utter twats over the years, and same goes for the posters 90% good, but some just got out of hand, myself included a lot of the time, so you need to be fair I think when making summaries about how it was, they were by and large good guys who ran it well, on their own time, for little or no tangible reward other than to host a forum, when you think on it, we all owe them a deal of gratitude in my opinion.

Stop being normal you're freaking me out.

 

[Christian Slater]

Could they really not have let someone else run it instead?

That's what I can't stop thinking. The suddenness of it all seems vindictive.

 

[Saddlerrad]

I've merged these together...I'd prefer it if we all kept the 'TFF' stuff in one thread if possible. I had about 60 members here before who probably won't have an earth on anything to do with TFF, so I'd rather we kept all that chatter in one place if we can please (other than returning members)...just makes life easier.

I was absolutely 100% gutted when I found out that TFF would be closing and part of me still is, however - I think we can safely say that the core regular user base have moved onto this site and we've started very well IMO. Although it would be nice to say one final goodbye to TFF, get some of the content and attract other members, that probably won't be the case now and now that we have most people here I'm more concerned about how we continue to spread the word and evolve with some of the older guys heading here - although it ended sour with TFF I don't want to be seen from outsiders as totally bitter and aggressive towards the ex admins...if anything, we want some of them back here one day.

Lets focus on what we have and see if we can 'better' what has gone before.

 

[Dazza]

That's what I can't stop thinking. The suddenness of it all seems vindictive.

Agree.You would have thought they would have kept it going until the 31st March like they said.

 

[Spear]

Stop being normal you're freaking me out.

I am normal like, once I have a few whiskies I may elaborate on the 10% of mods and admin who were complete and utter twats and explain why

 

[Saddlerrad]

PS - Welcome Spear and a couple of others

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Villaboy - Most disrespected member 2014

 

[Saddlerrad]

Quick notice - we have had messages from LF and VillaBoy tonight

'Hi, this is Lord Football. Unfortunately some arseclown has already taken my name. Flattery and all that..... on that basis, I wont be joining your little community. However, just to set the record straight. The death of TFF on Saturday was a decision taken out of my hands by the host company. Myself, Woody and VB found out like the rest of you. I have asked for it to be turned back on so people can make arrangements, but I think the site has been deleted. Anyhow, good luck to you. If you want to post this, be my guest'


And VB's...


Hi Chris,

This is villaboy from TFF,

Firstly,

I have been browsing through the site and it looks very well presented. I know there has been quite a bit of bad blood lately, but please take no responsibility for that yourself. It was down to quite a few other idiots using TFF, that thought they had become untouchable and questioned EVERY decision that was made by the Admin Team. In the end, it became too much to cope with and the constant moaning and whinging from a good few members, is what ultimately ended the life of TFF.

TFF, sad as it sounds, was a huge part of my life and I am devastated to see it end like this, when we decided to close it, the admins all agreed that we should go out in style and celebrate the life of TFF, instead it ended abruptly, because of some of the more immature members, when Tom pulled the plug, but to be fair, I don't blame him, he has out more than anybody into TFF in the last decade.

I would, however like to take the opportunity to wish you and TB the very best of luck. You have some brilliant members that have moved across with you from TFF, you also have some real idiots, but everyone deserves a fresh start, and you will soon see for yourself if and when they step out of line.

I doubt I will post at all on your site, as once people know that it is me, I am too long I the tooth, and 43 years old, they will give me nothing but grief!

Anyway, once again, very good luck to you and TB, enjoy the ride and most importantly, have fun, when it stops being fun, then it may be your time to call it a day.

Feel free to post or share the contents of this PM, if you so wish,

Keep smiling,

Jay (AKA Villaboy)



VB has signed up in order to post that to me and I've accepted his registration - however I do firmly believe he has only signed up for that. I thought it would be nice to let people have some clarification.

What are people's thoughts on that? Be nice to get the overall consensus.

 

[GodsGift]

Unfortunately some arseclown has already taken my name. Flattery and all that..... on that basis, I wont be joining your little community.

Fantastic.

 

[Womble98]

"Out of our hands by the host company" "When Tom pulled the plug". Couldn't even tell the truth in his explanation.

 

[mnb089mnb]

"Out of our hands by the host company" "When Tom pulled the plug". Couldn't even tell the truth in his explanation.

Same thing with the Shoutbox not being compatible with the next version of the board.,,, A real lack of transparency and honesty. Remember that memebrs used to hand over money to thefootballforum in order to help it out.

 

[Destruction]

Haha, they should have crossed checked stories a bit better.

 

[GodsGift]

"It was down to quite a few other idiots"
"thought they had become untouchable"
"it became too much to cope with and the constant moaning and whinging"
"because of some of the more immature members"
"you also have some real idiots"

yeah, the admin team definitely didn't treat their members with contempt...

 

[Alty]

"Out of our hands by the host company" "When Tom pulled the plug". Couldn't even tell the truth in his explanation.

You just have to laugh, don't you? Pathetic.

LF's talk of "little community" really did make him sound like a bitter old fool.

 

[TractorBoys]

I'm going to stay out of the forum politics- just gunna throw it out there that genuinely the only reason why I got involved with this is because of the announced closure of TFF, to keep things together. I noticed 101 forum links being passed around and it was clear that the memberbase was going to get split among a silly number of different forums.

I actually offered to purchase TFF many moons ago, was knocked back, fairly. I didn't then have any interest in creating anything else- and that mindset only changed when I understood it genuinely was closing its doors. For me, you're all welcome.

Just lets not make it a soap opera folks!

 

[Jockney]

Again, not even the slightest admission or acknowledgement that they might just have had a hand in creating the situation. Again, more solipsistic bullshit.

 

[Jockney]

I'm going to stay out of the forum politics- just gunna throw it out there that genuinely the only reason why I got involved with this is because of the announced closure of TFF, to keep things together. I noticed 101 forum links being passed around and it was clear that the memberbase was going to get split among a silly number of different forums.

I actually offered to purchase TFF many moons ago, was knocked back, fairly. I didn't then have any interest in creating anything else- and that mindset only changed when I understood it genuinely was closing its doors. For me, you're all welcome.

Just lets not make it a soap opera folks!

I understand that you have a lot more at stake here than the rest of us, and I am thankful for your efforts, but I really do think letting this run its course is for the best. People need to vent.

 

[ZianfrancoGoal]

I feel they didn't even value the community at all, they valued the idea that they were pillars of a community. When it soon became obvious that wasn't the case...

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

So Villaboy signed up for the sole purpose of repeating himself. What actually was the point of it?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I didn't even know there was any dramz going on. Never really went in the suggestions bit though tbh

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

Ok, I will say a few things from my perspective, from my point of view.

Tom was the only Admin with the power to turn the board off. He hosted the site and had the delete button. LF was at the Football, Woody was offline, and Villaboy didn't have the permissions to turn it off nor did he instruct anyone. Only Tom did, someone pressed his buttons, and he hit self destruct. Tom never said anything to them or even said Goodbye. LF, Woody and Villaboy were all trying behind the scenes to bring TFF back. It had to be done quietly. The Admin all had different views, same as the Mods (most of which are all here).

I will go into a little bit about Modding.
1. You can never please everyone
2. Most stuff 95% of the time, apart from spam, was reports sent it. Reports were treated confidential, and any member warned etc was PM'd and told about it, not in public.
3. How would you feel if you were suspended/warned, and Admin posted all the reasons on the open board. You wouldn't be best pleased. If it was me, I would be pissed off.
4. Most offensive posts and insults used to get deleted rather quick. When said member was warned/suspensed, nobody knew the offence, we kept it secret, as put in point 3.
5. Only Admin could ban a member, we didn't have that power.

I made mistakes, I am human, but I needed to get that off my chest.

Admin kept stuff secret. For reasons above, sometimes you have to. The reasons why the Admin lied about the upgrade stuff, is because they were trying to save it from shutting down. They were trying to persuade Tom to keep it going or find a way of transferring the hosting, without having to announce it and it would end up as an upgrade via a transfer, and none would be the wiser

If they did announce it when it was being discussed, then members would of left and set up their own forum (no offence to TB and Saddlerrad), when at the time, none of that would have been necessary.

I can see both sides of it, I know people were frustrated, but sometimes you have to take a step back, breath, and think

This is the last I will comment on the subject.