North stand stewards

[kano]

Right, let me start by saying, I am a Steward. I don't work in the North Stand, so I an unable to comment on last nights event's and it wouldn't be fair to comment on what might/ might not of happened. However based on my own experience, a fan would not of been removed for the pure fact that he was "singing a song", there would of been several other factors involved in his removal, however like I said before I couldn't possibly comment.

You just did.... while dismissing lots of peoples claims to the contrary at the same time...its precisely this "he must have been up to something" attitude that is letting this stewarding problem escalate.

 

[Peter Grummit]

A couple of points.

Is it a coincidence that these incidents occur at the west end of the North stand under the noses of the police observation box? It confirms to me that the 'authorities' are instigating the incidents.

I don't condone the guy who pushed the fat steward (this in itself will almost certainly get him a ban) but it sounds like he was picked on pretty much at random, and I know he is a very long-standing fan who went (with me) to Newcastle 79 etc. He goes every week with his dad (who may have been the older guy others reported going out with him), brother, nephews. They are a very loyal Albion family with no history of trouble - will this count for anything? I wouldn't bank on it.

I am generally unhappy about the moves away from the Community Stadium ethos that Martin Perry promoted. The club business now seems to pay lip-service to this only when it suits them in PR terms. The reality is we are treated like customers rather than fans now, milked for every penny. The £28 seats is a good example. Another small example: halftime screens are so full of adverts that they don't even give HT scores! Frankly that's the only thing I'm interested in hearing. I suspect at a marketing brainstorm someone pointed out that if people can get the halftimes at their seat they are less likely to go down below and spend money. At Withdean at least they used to read out the scores from all divisions. Sometimes the Amex machine treats the football as incidental.

Don't get me wrong I love the Amex as a stadium and the football we are playing under Gus. But unless we have something like a fan board member then we have no formal voice in these matters. There is only one thing the club will listen to, ££. If the NorthStand is collectively unhappy with how they are treated, then the best protest would be to designate a match where nobody buys anything from the kiosks! Consumer is king (as economists say).

PG

 

[Garage_Doors]

Are you joking? This is a football match not a family meal. Kids have stood on chairs since there's been chairs at football. Please don't tell me you've never seen it, I won't believe you.

Nope not at all, the fact the seats are the folding variety i would said it is dangerous, we all know how children fidget and they can very easily end up falling through the back when it tips.
I would said it was in fact irresponsible for parents to let their children stand on them as to the danger.

 

[rool]

Don't get me wrong I love the Amex as a stadium and the football we are playing under Gus. But unless we have something like a fan board member then we have no formal voice in these matters. There is only one thing the club will listen to, ££. If the NorthStand is collectively unhappy with how they are treated, then the best protest would be to designate a match where nobody buys anything from the kiosks! Consumer is king (as economists say).

PG

Fantastic idea, not sure it would happen though as too many people need pies and pints but it is the only course of action that they will take notice of without being able to eject and ban fans.

 

[GullysGirlsPimp]

You just did.... while dismissing lots of peoples claims to the contrary at the same time...its precisely this "he must have been up to something" attitude that is letting this stewarding problem escalate.

No I didn't, I merely stated in my own experience that this is what usually happens, I haven't dismissed anyone as I wasn't there.

 

[Acker79]

What happened to the good ol' days at withdean where fans seem to accept the club have an obligation to tackle standing, so when the stewards came round and asked people to sit down everyone sat down, the stewards went to their post and then a song or particularly exciting passage of play would bring everyone to their feet and they'd stand for a short while and the whole thing would repeat. Stewards accepted the standing, but did enough to show attempts to tackle the standing, fans accepted this and played along.

 

[portlock seagull]

Can any of the stewards on here confirm whether the club discuss issues such as last night with you? And if so, is there any referal to fans perhaps ever being in the right? Or is there a policy of "we'll back you no matter what on the night" as there appears to be? In the past, I've worked in similar situations and the employer always stands by its employee / the accuser as a first response and will if necessary tell you in private you've badly handled a situation. But in public it will still stand by you just to be seen as being strong / sending a message regardless if the fan, in this instance, did or didn't do anything. Your word overrides any other "evidence".

As I've said before, one of the biggest problems in football and club's relationship with fans is the presumed guilt of supporters in the face of a stewards accusation. Regardless of innocence or not, as soon as you're picked out you're as good as banned. No recourse, no input. Zero tolerance = zero comeback. This has happened to a number of (what became) high-profile supporters including that chap in the 1901 club last season.

It's actually a big concern of mine given my position at the back of the stand where the noise and flags come's from most of the time. We attract attention because of that and a nicer bunch of people you couldn't meet who have worked hard to establish a relationship with the club (meeting Richard H etc) in the spirit of making an atmosphere. The usual stewards are ok. But there's the occassional rogue like Mr Family Guy last night and we are under constant survalliance from above and below which distracts from the game as yesterdays incidents did for half the stadium. I'm increasingly feeling intimidated / wondering when my time will come?! Lets face it, on the strength of last nights evidence, it could happen to ANYONE whether your old or young, respectable or not, sing or had your mouth shut. Wrong place wrong time scenario. And increasingly the North Stand is the WRONG PLACE and the WRONG TIME could be any future fixture. So perhaps time to rellocate and just sit quietly in another stand a la Withdean. Or stop going - the club doesn't need my support now after all, it's a sellers market and plenty of JCL's will take my place. But if we slip down the leagues, I doubt they'll turn up as I did and the club can "enjoy the silence" as Depeche Mode would say. Actually, given the success of "just can't get enough", maybe that's the NSK's next song?!

Anyway, last nights incident has become a legal matter: the fact a WPC was interviewing the Christmas Pudding on the concourse as I left means it's in the hands of the police now. If I were either of the ejected fans I'd be getting legal council today; the first for being wrongly accused and being banned (lets face it, he's a gonner). The 2nd fan because it's likely to have physical assault charges attached I guess because people got hurt? But yes, the club needs to ask itself Why? Why did 2 normal law-abiding fans suddenly become the focus of incidents and the situations get so out of hand to the point no one was watching the team? And what part their crowd control techniques played in the unfolding events?

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

All that would be needed is the whole North Stand to remain standing during the 90 minutes of the game, they cant throw us all out, can they ?, (As long as its not a rainy day as otherwise that wont count, according to the Stewards !)

 

[doogie004]

wsu steward

Fantastic idea, not sure it would happen though as too many people need pies and pints but it is the only course of action that they will take notice of without being able to eject and ban fans.

i would like to say a big thank you to louise the wsu stand manager last night for helping sort out an issue relating to my parking my minibus at the ground .right from when my reg number was read out ,i went up to her and she not only radioed through but escorted me via the lifts back to the coach park .where the issue was sorted and then back via the lifts and picked up a free programme .she was kind throughout and couldn't do enough to help .i just wanted to point out this was my first ever problem at a brighton game where i neede help from a steward and the help was first class so to louise thank you [not all bad]. one piece of info that you may know already according to louise they will be stewarding us saturday at palace

 

[Philzo-93]

What happened to the good ol' days at withdean where fans seem to accept the club have an obligation to tackle standing, so when the stewards came round and asked people to sit down everyone sat down, the stewards went to their post and then a song or particularly exciting passage of play would bring everyone to their feet and they'd stand for a short while and the whole thing would repeat. Stewards accepted the standing, but did enough to show attempts to tackle the standing, fans accepted this and played along.

That's different though! At Withdean, we had temporary stands that were on the verge of collapse. Now we have proper stands, built on concrete and can definitely support the weight of 25,000+ grown men and women alone

 

[portlock seagull]

A couple of points.

Is it a coincidence that these incidents occur at the west end of the North stand under the noses of the police observation box? It confirms to me that the 'authorities' are instigating the incidents.

I don't condone the guy who pushed the fat steward (this in itself will almost certainly get him a ban) but it sounds like he was picked on pretty much at random, and I know he is a very long-standing fan who went (with me) to Newcastle 79 etc. He goes every week with his dad (who may have been the older guy others reported going out with him), brother, nephews. They are a very loyal Albion family with no history of trouble - will this count for anything? I wouldn't bank on it.

I am generally unhappy about the moves away from the Community Stadium ethos that Martin Perry promoted. The club business now seems to pay lip-service to this only when it suits them in PR terms. The reality is we are treated like customers rather than fans now, milked for every penny. The £28 seats is a good example. Another small example: halftime screens are so full of adverts that they don't even give HT scores! Frankly that's the only thing I'm interested in hearing. I suspect at a marketing brainstorm someone pointed out that if people can get the halftimes at their seat they are less likely to go down below and spend money. At Withdean at least they used to read out the scores from all divisions. Sometimes the Amex machine treats the football as incidental.

Don't get me wrong I love the Amex as a stadium and the football we are playing under Gus. But unless we have something like a fan board member then we have no formal voice in these matters. There is only one thing the club will listen to, ££. If the NorthStand is collectively unhappy with how they are treated, then the best protest would be to designate a match where nobody buys anything from the kiosks! Consumer is king (as economists say).

PG

I had two guests with me at the Bolton game and they were really annoyed they couldn't get mobile reception and their teams half time scores weren't read out! Couldn't believe it!! That and the fact it costs £35 a seat for 2nd tier football. I had no defence on either charge, they're unlikely to come back sadly...

 

[Ian Bairds Fist]

I agree, and that why I try to do the best I can, and hope that im seen in that way too! Its a shame that you feel its not like that, and i can only hope in future matches, that this gets better for you.

That's often the problem with NSC - we have a debate and then 'hope for the best'. If you're a steward can you please raise this issue with Hebbard and point out that 10 pages on the topic in 15 hours suggests the stewarding last night was a major issue. And then come back to us with his response.

Commander has raised a very important point. Lose the faith of the North Stand and you lose, what little's left of, the atmosphere. Lose the atmosphere and you lose the 12th man. Lose the 12th man and our home advantage is significantly reduced and the gnomes who sit like a church mouse for 90 minutes will soon start to whinge about our home form.

 

[les dynam]

And this is why I'd like to complain to the club. Over zealous stewarding where they're unreasonable and provocative can escalate a situation out of nothing that leads to innocent bystanders potentially getting hurt. I'd complain to the club in your situation, I was saying this at the time you must be several rows down infront of us.

Steward 744 is the round family guy look a like. Seems a real egotist and afraid to say if he got hurt then its all well quoting the law but some common sense might prevent you getting hurt. I mean, I shouldn't get punched in the face but if I walk up to a right thug and ask him to refrain from swearing then chances are I will.

What I'm getting sick and tired of is the omnipresent watching and survallance of the north and the no right to appeal you must be guilty if a steward says they saw or heard you say something you didn't. You're guilty by association and 40 years of loyal supporting and tens of thousands of pounds evaporates in an instant because some hi vis vest wannabe has misheard etc. anyone remember the racist Bellamy coverage in the papers last year? Sheepshaggers but it was seasiders! But in the case of the individual once targeted there's no recourse. You're just banned and the club couldn't care less if you did or didn't. Unless you've ever been wrongly accused of something fairly serious then you'll not understand what I'm taking about when it comes to clearing your name. And even when you do, sometimes you get scant apology and are even still deemed troublesome just because you raged against the machine and didn't just lie down and accept the injustice. If that's what's happened here, and its already happened to some in the 1901 club we know, then I really feel for these fans. The club needs to be open and talk to fans not treat like cattle and criminals. We pay A LOT of money and authorities are still stuck I the 80s often or not when it comes to handling crowds. Anyone bringing hillsborough into this debate is being disrespectful towards the dead. And ironically forgetting the part authorities played in the tragedy because of such prejudices. If anything the fans have moved o. And it's the clubs and associated authorities that haven't.

Anyway I'm probably going to be banned for telling 744 he was a disgrace on my way out
When being he was being interviewed b a Wpc. After all, having an opinion which is dangerously opposite of steward probably contravines section 59.3a of a public order act somewhere. Getting a bit fed up with football just for this reason. Who needs this shit after a hard days work and 2.5 drive each way? Increasingly I don't me thinks!

This sums things up nicely. I don't even sit in the North, but i often get cross just by glancing across and seeing the stewards engaged in silly little huddles and pointing up at certain groups. Just let people be! Other than the aggressive pointless stewarding... NOTHING bad happens in the North. It's just a load of people trying to support their team and enjoy their football. FFS whoever is in charge of the stewarding, just let people be and we'll all be happier.

Oh and by the way, it's not an offense to start a chant anyway. And EVERY major ground has a large area of tolerated standing (like the entire Kop at Anfield, for example) so i don't swallow this 'FA have warned the club about persistent standing line' for one second.

 

[rool]

i would like to say a big thank you to louise the wsu stand manager last night for helping sort out an issue relating to my parking my minibus at the ground .right from when my reg number was read out ,i went up to her and she not only radioed through but escorted me via the lifts back to the coach park .where the issue was sorted and then back via the lifts and picked up a free programme .she was kind throughout and couldn't do enough to help .i just wanted to point out this was my first ever problem at a brighton game where i neede help from a steward and the help was first class so to louise thank you [not all bad]. one piece of info that you may know already according to louise they will be stewarding us saturday at palace

ermm, nice one Louise

 

[Acker79]

That's different though! At Withdean, we had temporary stands that were on the verge of collapse. Now we have proper stands, built on concrete and can definitely support the weight of 25,000+ grown men and women alone

I can't tell if you're being serious or not.

I case you are, and for anyone else who might not be aware - stewards enforce seating as a requirement from the FA and local councils licencing (liverpool reduced Man Utd allocations due to persistent standing because of the local council), united reduced liverpool's for the same reason, sunderland, bolton and man city all also reduced allocations due to persistent standing), it isn't about how safe the stand is, it's about football stadia being all-seater and the FA embracing this.

 

[Return of the Rev]

I had two guests with me at the Bolton game and they were really annoyed they couldn't get mobile reception and their teams half time scores weren't read out! Couldn't believe it!! That and the fact it costs £35 a seat for 2nd tier football. I had no defence on either charge, they're unlikely to come back sadly...

good

 

[wellquickwoody]

This.
Parents think it is ok for a child to stand on a seat . wonder if they let them do it home?

Generally speaking I have very little time for anyone sporting fluro yellow as a means of imposing their authority. In this instance though they have my full support, kids should NOT be taught that it is OK to stand on seats anywhere, and on my one game in the north last season far too many were. People should save their complaints for real issues, like when are we gonna get chips?

 

[hola gus]

I urge every single one of you to stand in the north stand in the next home game as a form of protest and sing your hearts out for the lads. May just create our best atmosphere of the season so far!

 

[GullysGirlsPimp]

That's often the problem with NSC - we have a debate and then 'hope for the best'. If you're a steward can you please raise this issue with Hebbard and point out that 10 pages on the topic in 15 hours suggests the stewarding last night was a major issue. And then come back to us with his response.

Commander has raised a very important point. Lose the faith of the North Stand and you lose, what little's left of, the atmosphere. Lose the atmosphere and you lose the 12th man. Lose the 12th man and our home advantage is significantly reduced and the gnomes who sit like a church mouse for 90 minutes will soon start to whinge about our home form.

In all honesty, you're best bet is to speak to the club directly and raise any concerns you have with them.

 

[Eurobound]

So- where would the complaint go to? Chief Executive?
What legal rights does any ejectee have? Expect theres some small print in the Season ticket conditions
Suppose any letter detailing an issue from the club could be deemed libellous