Never going to your ground again.

[Number 8]

I was sat in the stadium (where I always view from) and I was disgusted that the 'jobs-worth' stewards made a bunch of hardy supports (most quite elderly) to move back out into the rain as they were standing just under the shelter. Now I know it's not normally aloud , but as one supporter quite rightly pointed out 'if the fleet stand was open, we wouldn't have to stand out in the rain'... Quite right, and the tea bar stand was full, so they had no-where else to go... In the end they were forced to go back out and watch in the rain, I was furious..!!

If our stewards are gonna treat OUR OWN fans like this, then I completely sympathise with the Scarboro' supporters who had a rough time at Stonebridge Road, and I don't blame them if they do not wish to return.

Fir christ sake stewards, Stonebridge Road is not Stamford Bridge or Highbury, so drop the military attitude and be more compassionate towards other human beings..!!! You were a disgrace Saturday, and I'm not the only one who thought so.!!!

[Richard C]

Quote:

Mepis said:

As for the tea bar, it should not be there i would move it to opposite the club bar, more space for supporters.

Very good idea IMO. Although it wouldnt solve the lack of cover it would create more space when the weather is ok - the area outside the bar is vacant and large enough. Although the problem with this will aswell be money.

[Hempstead Gaz]

I guess putting a small, perhaps 30 metre cover over part of the Swanscombe End would be cost prohibitive. I reckon a bit of welding, a few legths of steel and some corrugated roofing and the job could be done for £10,000. Why not get it done at the same time as the Northfleet terrace is relaid?

I expect the task is not beyond most builders. Take Hornchurch, for example, very basic stand covering, cheap and cheerful, but very effective.

If we offered covered terracing for away fans, we may even attract a few more per game.

[redowl]

I was one of people told to leave the cover and stand in the rain,because I was a fire hazard you could not have set me alight with a flame thrower I was that wet. When you have supported the Fleet from day one you would expect a little bit of common sense and respect for your years.We were moveable if there was any sign of danger.Alas all for 20mins. of thoughtless deeds all this trouble could have been avoided.

[jc]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said: Take Hornchurch, for example, very basic stand covering, cheap and cheerful, but very effective.

Yes, Gary, but their terraces only go back about two steps. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

As behindthegoal quite rightly suggests, none of this would have happened had the game not been segregated - frankly, I can't see any reason why the powers-that-be felt it necessary. At least the Halifax game isn't segregated.

[Guest]

The decision to segregate sits with the clubs Safety Officer in consultation with the local police who get their 'intelligence' on away support from official sources at NCIS. The safety officer is also supposed to liaise with the opposition safety officer to assess trouble rating etc for segregation. The police and the safety officer must have arrived at the conclusion that Scarborough had problematic fans of some description who posed a threat?

The local police liaison officer for Kent police errs on the side of safety each and every time. The club suffers through this as away fans are not allowed into the social club, hence we lose potential revenue.

Its a vicious circle, the football club safety officer must also share the bulk of the blame as he must have assessed the visiting supporters threat midweek, he would also brief the stewards pre match.

Whatever the situation now, it was a terrible call all round. Why were some away fans allowed to sit in the main stand yet others forced to remain outside in the rain? Surely segregation means just that, 100% enforcable, no short cuts. You cant have one rule for one set of people and another for others? The Football Spectators Bill is clear on this point. The club has got to learn from this, get proper stewards in and not the unqualified bunch they have now.

[Guest]

Once again I will state that no elderly Scarborough supporters were turned away from the seated area which is why you saw some seated there. We have never turned elderly or disabled supporters away but do have to make a decision based on who turns up on the day.

 

You are quite right in the fact that I do liaise with both the Police intelligence unit and the away club (when they actually return my calls or emails) and this is how we decide whether to segregate along with info on whether the visiting club has any previous history of problems or if there are known trouble makers expected to visit. Scarborough were reported to be bringing 100 supporters which we would generally segregate as it is easier to manage that number with the amount of stewards available however, as we all know far less than that number actually arrived.

 

As I have stated in a previous thread we had intended to move the supporters to shelter earlier however due to a couple of supporters who felt it necessary to hurl abuse despite several warnings the move was delayed until I was satisfied there would be no disturbance.

 

I am happy that all away supporters are informed that there is seating available to the elderly, disabled or those suffering ill health at the away turnstiles on entering the ground and I can confirm no one fitting this criteria was turned away having asked for a seat.

 

I take on board the comments about people standing along the front of the main stand but again I will point out that at the time of these supporters being asked to move there were well over 100 seats left available and as it was fairly late in the game there would have been no need to pay but again no one wanted to sit. The walkways have to be kept clear as part of our adherement to the current safety certificate and as due to the closure of one of our stands we can expect random spot checks at any fixture from the licensing authorities we have to stick to the rules however annoying this may be to the supporters. We are afterall, as someone quite rightly pointed out, in a society where everyone and anyone could be sued and this applies to the club if we fail to keep these areas clear and someone is seriously injured or worst.

 

The stewards are as you all know mainly volunteers who despite much critiscism turn up week in week out to provide a service to the club and without these people the club would not be able to even open the turnstiles to supporters so please consider the fact that they give up a large amount of their time to see that each fixture passes smoothly. What you will not know is that they are about to be trained and have all agreed to give up their Sundays undertaking NVQ training (unpaid) to bring them up to a suitable level of competency so consider whether you would be so commited.

I do not generally answer message board threads but felt strongly that this time our point needed to be got over. Yes unfortunately the weather was not kind to us on Saturday, two or three yobs delayed the moving of a nice bunch of supporters to covered accomodation but a high level Scarborough Official thanked the club for the way we moved their supporters under cover when they did not expect us to.

Now let's move on learn from this and enjoy another good win over Halifax (Un-segregated I might add).

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Thanks for responding again, Chris - as you say, lets just live & learn from what happened - clearly a combination of factors led to the unfortunate situation that occurred, but equally clearly, the matter was addressed to the best of your ability.

 

I think the main issues that our supporters will have had are:-

 

1. Why werent the couple of guys (and I wont call them supporters) giving "jip" to the Scarborough fans, moved away earlier to allow the Scarborough fans to move? (And has any further action been taken against them, as we dont want these people coming to our ground again, if their sole intention is to hassle the away fans).

 

2. The alleged poor attitude of the stewards towards the Scarbough fans in relation to photos, etc.

 

The second of these issues already appears to be in the process of being tackled, based on your reply.

[behindthegoal]

...the good news is that it is not segreagated tonight. Lets have a ruck!! Only joking honest!!

 

It is good to see some common sense at last and I hope we can have more un-segregated games.

 

I think segregation actually leads to increasing the tension between groups of fans at times as it enforces the tribal them and us attitude rather than the "friendly" banter when we are all mixed in.

[redowl]

Did anyone from the club go round with the safety officer when he had his inspection?.Or did he go on his own and come to this decision to close the stand?.Because who ever you ask you seem to get the same reply quote(We dont know what he wants done.)but if someone was with him he would have stated exactly what he wanted done,and then put in writing.Perhaps he might even consider doing one half at a time, just as long as he can see some action is being taken.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I can't believe that nobody at the club knows what exactly needs to be done. That is stupidity in the extreme. Having worked in Health and Safety, i can ensure you inspectors are very thorough in their inspections and reams of paper in their reports. How come the club made a statement that the work would be carried out at the end of the season, if they don't know what the work is?

[David Holden]

Who said they don't know Les?

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Redowl, in his post before mine!

[David Holden]

Ah OK, so long as it wasn't anybody who knows what they were talking about <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Exactly! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

[EUFC FAN]

Quote:

AmericanFLEETFANNo1 said:
I can't believe that nobody at the club knows what exactly needs to be done. That is stupidity in the extreme. Having worked in Health and Safety, i can ensure you inspectors are very thorough in their inspections and reams of paper in their reports. How come the club made a statement that the work would be carried out at the end of the season, if they don't know what the work is?

Well at least one steward knows, because he chatted to me and my brother about it for five minutes on Saturday! He said that it was closed (by the fire brigade) because the in the event of an emergency the steps of the terrace well deemed unsafe for a quick evacuation. He also said that they have to repair the whole stand in one go before it can be opened. They were not allowed to fix part of it and open just that bit.

[David Holden]

Quote:

He also said that they have to repair the whole stand in one go before it can be opened. They were not allowed to fix part of it and open just that bit

 

Perhaps he should have read the The News Page first.

[EUFC FAN]

Quote:

David Holden said:

Perhaps he should have read the The News Page first.

Hmmm. May be it was just his opinion, as it seems to have no bases in actual reality or fact! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[UP FLEET]

Quote:

GNFC FAN said:

Quote:

AmericanFLEETFANNo1 said:
I can't believe that nobody at the club knows what exactly needs to be done. That is stupidity in the extreme. Having worked in Health and Safety, i can ensure you inspectors are very thorough in their inspections and reams of paper in their reports. How come the club made a statement that the work would be carried out at the end of the season, if they don't know what the work is?

Well at least one steward knows, because he chatted to me and my brother about it for five minutes on Saturday! He said that it was closed (by the fire brigade) because the in the event of an emergency the steps of the terrace well deemed unsafe for a quick evacuation. He also said that they have to repair the whole stand in one go before it can be opened. They were not allowed to fix part of it and open just that bit.

As of saturday's match (before the new meeting with the fire safety people had taken place), the above quote was correct as i had heard the same thing and that was from someone dealing with the inspection,and he has no reason to make it up.The section in question now is the middle section behind the goal towards the back, and exits have to be created from the footway at the back to the stairs either side.And as stated, ony if this is cost effective will it be done.

[UP FLEET]

Quote:

David Holden said:

Quote:

He also said that they have to repair the whole stand in one go before it can be opened. They were not allowed to fix part of it and open just that bit

Perhaps he should have read the The News Page first.

Perhaps he would have if he was a clairvoyant............Saturday being the 05/03/05!!!!!!!!!!!!