No crowd trouble where I was!

[AFF]

Hi Rob.

 

I've read with interest the latest item on the Official web-site, and although a minor issue within the article as a whole, reference to any level of crowd trouble could give the wrong impression.

 

Permit me to post an extract of a small contribution that I made to the Weymouth message board when one of their people from the other end of the ground asked what had happened:

 

".....perhaps I can comment about the stewarding etc behind the goal as I was standing right beside the fence at the back of the terrace. There were initially two Dorch stewards, two or three Wessex men and then two policemen on our side of the fence. The police dog arrived after 20 minutes or so and stood at my feet looking hungry until half-time..

 

The stewards made it absolutely clear at 2.50 that anyone pressing against the fence would be ejected and they clearly meant it. None of our people did, until we scored and there was a surge towards the fence which gave way. However, the police, stewards and one or two of our people immediately stepped in and the crowd retreated allowing a couple of our guys to get back to their feet. No problemo.

 

Nothing was thrown from our side to yours, but a few odd bits of stuff came the other way. A Cadburys chocolate covered toffee bar hit me but I'm watching the calories so I left it on the ground. I was hoping that paper money might follow but it didn't.

 

I can only imagine that the stewards on your side hadn't made it clear that pressing on the fence would be unacceptable because that began to happen just before half-time and the eejit who was ejected was wound up, probably on shandy, and didn't see the second half. I suggest that he paid the price for a fair bit of aggression directed toward the fence by a number of your people in the preceding 7/8 minutes.

 

It would be wrong to say that the stewards on your side lost control, but it was building and they made the decision to clear your lot out. I guess that most of your lot would have moved behind the opposite goal anyway.

 

The stewards and police on our side were entirely good humoured, did a very professional job, and never looked like 'losing it'. Well done to all of them. There were enough stewards around that I was never uncomfortable that anything might 'kick-off'. I'm no expert, but I doubt that the form of fencing is to the appropriate standard and the fans should have been 12 yards rather that 12 feet apart."

 

 

One last point, Rob. Martyn Harrison did come over to the home fans during the half-time interval, but stayed on the green bit. The Weymouth Official who came into the crowd and directed the stewards and the police in the ushering of the home fans away from the area was Gary Calder. He stayed on the empty terrace for the remainder of the second half.

[Rob_the_Saint]

Nothing to do with me, AFF. I do think it unnecessary to mention so long after the game though. Nobody died did they?

 

Maybe Webbo could arbitrate and edit it if necessary?

[AFF]

Nothing to do with you?

 

Has some lap-dog taken over your site, Rob? I wouldn't mind but he hasn't been to an away match since 1998, and he's only made it to the Fortress once this season.

 

If I were you Rob, I would organise the Web-site PotS vote without telling him and put it somewhere he's never been.

[JKiF]

lucky the half filled bottle of 'pop' missed yer eh, AFF

[AFF]

I missed that, JKiF. What flavour was it?

[JKiF]

think it was lemon. I did ask for diet coke but....