Bad injury for Toto

Quoted from Cod Cheeks

You ought to read more then mate
I'm no racist
I didn't hear it
And if you think people don't play the race card you must be deluded

When did I say you were racist?

Just because you didn’t hear it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

The ‘race card’ thing is balderdash. Racism is massively under reported and similarly to rape it is because victims are worried about their claims not being taken seriously or being told they’ve made it up. By the way I’m not comparing the crimes just the responses to them.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Get the bit about contract ran out etc... etc... then he went and signed for that North East power house Hartlepool Utd....... as they say cash is King

Didn't fit in there too well either did he?

Quoted from headingly_mariner

When did I say you were racist?

Just because you didn’t hear it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

The ‘race card’ thing is balderdash. Racism is massively under reported and similarly to rape it is because victims are worried about their claims not being taken seriously or being told they’ve made it up. By the way I’m not comparing the crimes just the responses to them.

You didn't, it was a statement not a retort

When did I say it didn't happen?

And for the record I would never defend racism or for that matter, rapists.

Also wishing him a speedy and total recovery

Integral part of the side tha that got us back into the League, turned down the chance of a move the season before and extended his stay with us citing unfinished business or owing us promotion or something similar.

Now an integral part of the seond tightest defence in League 1 .... yet plenty of Town fans still think he was cr@p.  

Get well soon Toto.

Quoted from LH

With respect I don’t think you get to as many games as Tommy does and I would agree with Tommy’s assessment. Toto had a sizeable anti-fan club when at Town.

With regards racial abuse at Halifax - I didn’t hear any myself but I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had happened as there were a lot of low-life twits out for a day out that day. One of the most embarrassing away days I’ve been on all things considered.

I don't disagree that Tommy probably goes to more Town games than me. But I haven't heard any racial abuse from Town fans for years against our own or opposition players. Doesn't mean to say it didn't and doesn't happen just as because I don't get to as many games as Tommy it doesn't mean it did happen.

I just find the silence from any witnesses to the Halifax incident deafening. I'm not naive, I know we have plenty of knobs following Town. Usually when there's an incident, there's a lot more chatter about it than there has over this case.

I suspect he moved purely for financial reasons.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I don't disagree that Tommy probably goes to more Town games than me. But I haven't heard any racial abuse from Town fans for years against our own or opposition players. Doesn't mean to say it didn't and doesn't happen just as because I don't get to as many games as Tommy it doesn't mean it did happen.

I just find the silence from any witnesses to the Halifax incident deafening. I'm not naive, I know we have plenty of knobs following Town. Usually when there's an incident, there's a lot more chatter about it than there has over this case.

I suspect he moved purely for financial reasons.

I have, I’ve heard plenty. I had to pull some crank over it away at Harrogate. There’s a thread on twitter just yesterday where two fans have commented on the racist abuse from fans in the Pontoon towards our own players. Also shows why the supposed “silence is deafening” from witnesses - the fan “didn’t have the balls” to report it, in his own words.

flipping chatter? It was two years ago and people are still talking about it. Why are you finding it so hard to accept? You don’t have to take personal responsibility for it - just accept that it more than likely happened. You might feel better for doing so.

My first post sounded a bit patronising so I apologise for that. Even some of the more rational Town fans I know had a dislike of Toto for various reasons. I think he was a marmite player for us - personally I quite liked him.

With regards Halifax again I’ll say yes it was very quiet but I do remember some on here being in the “prove it” camp rather than outright denial of it happening. I think that tells a story.

Quoted from ska face

I have, I’ve heard plenty. I had to pull some crank over it away at Harrogate. There’s a thread on twitter just yesterday where two fans have commented on the racist abuse from fans in the Pontoon towards our own players. Also shows why the supposed “silence is deafening” from witnesses - the fan “didn’t have the balls” to report it, in his own words.

flipping chatter? It was two years ago and people are still talking about it. Why are you finding it so hard to accept? You don’t have to take personal responsibility for it - just accept that it more than likely happened. You might feel better for doing so.

How do you know I'll feel better about it? And of course I know I don't have to take personal responsibility for it. Don't be so flipping patronising.

This thread was the first time I've seen it mentioned for ages. And whilst I can understand people might not have the balls to report it mentioning it on the internet doesn't come with the same risks. So in these terms it's been pretty quiet.

What I was questioning was not so much racist comments being thrown around as the reason given for Toto leaving.

There’s a startling trend on this forum of the problem being the ‘moderates’, rather than the perpetrators.

It's been over two years since that afternoon at Halifax but it's one that lives on in my mind as one of the most distasteful away days watching Town

From not being able to get in until after the kick off because of the lack of preparation on the gate ( which made a lot of people mardy before we even got in there ) to being three down in next to no time, things were never going to be rosy

With getting in late I was up at the back of the stand to the right of the goal so if there was any abuse aimed at Toto at close quarters I wouldn't have got to have heard it.... there certainly weren't any chants aimed at him ( that was all reserved for the Hurst "spoilt" chant by those who chose to join in) but what I will say is that something caused Toto to totally flip before half time. His head had gone it was so obvious

On the balance of probability I suspect he could well have heard someone make reference to his colour/race and not about his defensive capabilities.

He wasn't having the best of games ( nobody did to be honest) but his reaction told me something had gone on and it wasn't him beating himself up  because of any mistakes he had made in defence

I still hear some Town fans making comments that border on racism ( at Notts County I could hear someone doing just this ) so if there was any racist abuse towards Toto it wouldn't surprise me

It's water under the bridge now though.... two years is a long time and things have moved on and nobody knows for certain what happened that afternoon, except for Toto and the potential perpetrator(s) but whatever did go on, I believe played some part in his decision to leave us