Me & Mr.Lawson - An end to it !

[Cookie]

Its true Mr.Lawson DID want a chat.Don't know why he chose me to talk to but maybe it was just because he knew I was going to be there.

Anyway the content of the short chat I had with him was as follows.

He was extremely appalled at some personal attacks on him this week & I can sympathise with his disgust at that too.

He realises that this is a forum & its OUR forum but sometimes some cross the line.I am no saint, as I freely admitted to him but it was those whose directed abusive remarks of him as a person that annoyed him more than anything.

He wished to point out a few improvements that he has managed to make(i.e.a second exit)(albeit it at the Ramsgate end(when segregated.) This is a good step forward but I would just say to him a further exit down the far end would be better.(If indeed that were possible).He also mentioned that in his article in the local he wasn't actually calling people liars about the actual incidences (as I wrongly understood it to be) but saying that falsehoods were made concerning other aspects of safety on the day.

Without going into detail he assures me that he IS was very apologetic that us Gate fans who got a raw deal on the day with lack of amenities etc.

After visiting there today I noticed several police(in uniform Rob),CCTV cameras,(clearly on show) & a security firm,as well as the usual stewards. A THIRD toilet was placed down the far end & a food outlet was clearly available down the far end too.It may not have been right on the day for us but complaints have brought about a change so by airing our disgust we have achieved our goal.It should not be about having a "dig" at our rivals but getting an immediate rectification & response. This he has done & done well & to you Mr.Lawson, well done for achieving that.

He is fully aware of certain individuals who are only intent on causing trouble & he is making every effort to prevent these people going to games & if indeed they do manage to get through the gates then to be kept an eye on in the future.

He is as sickened as we are that these people come to games to spoil things. He is adamant that he is doing all he possibly can to prevent these things happening in the future.

I must say that he HAS learnt a lesson & for that I praise the man for doing so.Hopefullly in big games in the future all these things will be available to us as for other away supporters as they were today.

He apologises wholeheartedly for his mistakes on that day but great credit must go to him for taking steps & rectifying things.

I was very impressed with security today & well done from me at least to Mr.Lawson.

Just one more thing I would like to have said to him but didn't at the time. Get that ground sorted out & you will see a big rise in spectators I can assure you. Make the place more comfortable to be in & ,put a roof on a terrace.

Anyway to finish of with he seems a very friendly & approachable person & a man who is trying his hardest to get things done to everyones satisfaction,& to get things right on all counts off the field.

Time now I think to let this go.Lessons have been learnt & apologies made all round.Any letters of complaint already sent to appropriate authorities, I think, should be left to those who are to investigate further should they deem it correct to do so. Lets move on eh! I know I am!

 

 

[Rob_Butler]

May I also add 6/7 youths tried to enter the ground and were turned away, it seems Ramsgate Football Club are getting on top of the problem.

[Wellsie]

Credit to you too Cookie for being prepared to listen to him.

[Cookie]

I forgot to mention that I also told him that no matter how much (more) he offered me I will be staying a Margate fan. l.o.l.

[Bitch]

Cookie, it always puts a different perspective on it when you actually meet 'the man'. However, Margate fans were abused after the game on boxing day. Fans from other clubs have had to put up with the 'chav' element that latch on to 'big' games. It's not hard to stop for gawdsake! They know it is happening, therefore easy to remedy! but they have not. There is also the 'old git brigade' that stay behind the near goal - so if Rams are shooting to the far end in the second half you have the 'old gits' abusing the 'away' fans in the home end.

 

It's not rocket science. Words are cheap.

[Cookie]

Hi Jane.I fully understand what you are saying but where words are cheap actions speak louder & today,to be fair,actions WERE taken. Time to allow things to settle & to wait another day to see if things are similar in improvement. For today it was pleasing that common sense had at last prevailed. Believe me, if it hadn't I would have said so!

A bad reputation takes time to heal so lets give them a chance to begin to put things right. We cant change the past however distasteful if may have been but we can change the future & it would be helpful if those involved in the past got involved with the future too.Lets get something straight here. I am not praising our arch rivals because I just feel like it or because I had a chat to their Chairman.It was because of what I saw, & what I saw that was a big improvement.

In the same way that a lack of security is mentioned so should the fact that the lessons from before have now been learnt & mentioned likewise.

Happy New Year! looking forward to seeing you..loads!

[Bitch]

Cookie it will be a pleasure to meet you i'm sure. You come highly recommended!

 

Rams have been slow at remedying thier problems, but if you were there today and saw first hand that they have made inroads then fair enough.

 

Thier 'reputation' never bothered me. When i attended i was treated with respect. The bar service was excellent, the only problem i saw first hand on the day was the players foul and disgusting behaviour going through the cage - towards our supporters.

 

Lets hope the 'chav' element have been dealt with and the 'oldgits' and no problem for the travelling support

 

P.S As for thier 'Reputation' - because it had come from a very disreputable source i'd taken no notice of it. I found the Rams a good place to visit and i stand by that.