How was your day at work dear?

[BrianWade4]

Well I arrived about 5.30pm and after a briefing I took my regular place in the North Stand.

After the gates had opened one of my fellow stewards pointed out that there was a couple of people who where very hostile. No problems as we are not playing well and emotions are running high.
After Millwall scored one male stood on his seat and was told to get down.

###. We encourage people not to do this. If they fall and injure themselves we will be sued and it will be my fault. ###

We did try to explain this but it was impossible to do so as the group repeatedly told us to f@ck off, called us c@nts, issued threats of violence, pushed me and my colleague and bizarrely wanted us to sort out the Millwall fans when they broke through the steward lines.

Some other fans joined the group berating us, but other fans told then to shut up and get behind the team but apparently those fans were also c@nts and twats.

I also had coins thrown at me. One did hit me on the back but a padded coat stopped any injury. My supervisor was hit on the leg and we have identified the rich male who can afford to throw money around.

Before one male went home he took time to call me a w@nker a **** and a f@cking c@nt. and according to this educated young man the ref, linesman, Sami Hyypia, all the players and all stewards are also f@cking c@nts. Brief posturing in a poor attempt to get on the pitch followed and swearing a bit more atMillwall fans.

So yes a lovely day at the office dear. And of course this was all to help our lads overturn an early reverse at the hands of a mediocre Millwall team.

I earn minimum wage for being a steward but love it as I have been a lifelong Brighton fan (57 now). I hope you all have a calmer day at your jobs.

Oh and I will be there for the next game

So what did you think of the guy near me in WSL who kicked and punched about 4 stewards before being restrained/ ejected? Second half of Millwall game. Any news on him / what caused it / how it was handled

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

(Why did there appear to be such a heavy handed response to the one guy in WSL having a (verbal) pop at our Management team?)

No one should have to put up with abuse while carrying out there duties at work no matter what the form, or do you really think verbal abuse is ok.

Was it abuse? Maybe, maybe not.

IMO giving Hyypia and Jones stick is perfectly acceptable in the present climate.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Millwall club and local plod will deal with those identified up there.

Unlikely.

 

[daveyboy1973]

I think that a few stewards who think that wearing that jacket is an extension of their penis's and they are power crazy men who are probably battered at home by their wives ( I do believe they are not allowed to take the jackets home) and unfortunately because of this most people have a bad perception of stewards. 90% of them are probably decent people just trying to do a job

 

[wellquickwoody]

interesting debate and I think some questionable comments.

Firstly, I do not believe that stewards should "expect" to be verbally and physically abused. We are there to comply with FA regulations and to ensure the safety of spectators. If you have an honestly held belief that abuse goes with the job then I am assuming that a good kicking also goes with the job and I should expect this.

In all the time I have been a steward I have never ejected anyone. There is no policy to throw a certain number of people out each week and there is no performance indicator aligned to people being thrown out. I advocate re-educating fans to not call the ref a f@cking c@nt or a c0ck sucking c@nt at the top of your voice when the crowd is silent. I would encourage the use of alternative phrases.

I did ask one of the abusers to look around at the amount of young kids in the North stand. He said they should f@ck off to the family area. How lovely! Also some stewards do have body worn video. Not me I am afraid but I will get one

And yes I will be executing interventions at the turnstiles on Boxing Day. Something I regret As I have never done this before.

Had SOME sympathy with you earlier in the thread,but the fact is that you should know what the job might entail before taking it on. Let's be honest, you see being a steward as an opportunity to see football for free, you really do not do it to aid your fellow man?

As for 're-educating fans' who dish out verbals to the ref, or telling what should be the vocal, raucous end of the ground 'to think about the children', and 'executing interventions'? You really would be doing yourself and the fans a favour by looking for another job.

Are you a club stooge on here?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Had SOME sympathy with you earlier in the thread,but the fact is that you should know what the job might entail before taking it on. Let's be honest, you see being a steward as an opportunity to see football for free, you really do not do it to aid your fellow man?

As for 're-educating fans' who dish out verbals to the ref, or telling what should be the vocal, raucous end of the ground 'to think about the children', and 'executing interventions'? You really would be doing yourself and the fans a favour by looking for another job.

Are you a club stooge on here?

I stewarded during my uni years as it was a decent weekend job. Not early, not late. It doesn't ruin the weekend (Whaddon Road and Wembley)

There were a fair few whom made it difficult on the rest of us. There were the career security and nobs who were on a power trip and made it their mission to create an event, but there are also a lot of kind people trying to earn some cash, subjected to vile behaviour for simply adhering to their instructions.

Would these piss artists or just rude fellows take such abuse in their job?

I work in special needs, so abuse is expected. The pupils have many difficulties, so they can be excused to a certain point. An adult at a football match? Part and parcel of a day out? Tsk.

It's not unreasonable to ask someone to stop standing on the furniture.

 

[KneeOn]

Wow.

In what world would being physically assaulted acceptable? Yes, you need to expect an amount of abuse if you try to enforce rules because people by and large hate any sort of authority. But that does not excuse the behaviour shown.

Take a long hard look at your selves. If yoi think its to be expected and accepted as law of nature that these actions are permissible because for 23 times a year you stand or sit somewhere in Sussex, then you are part of the problem.

 

[Buzzer]

Wow.

In what world would being physically assaulted acceptable? Yes, you need to expect an amount of abuse if you try to enforce rules because people by and large hate any sort of authority. But that does not excuse the behaviour shown.

Take a long hard look at your selves. If yoi think its to be expected and accepted as law of nature that these actions are permissible because for 23 times a year you stand or sit somewhere in Sussex, then you are part of the problem.

No-one here had said it's acceptable Just that it's to be expected, as you've acknowledged in the first paragraph...and then contradicted yourself in the next paragraph by saying that anyone who expects it is part of the problem. You might want to take a hard look at yourself if you follow your own advice, in that case.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

No-one here had said it's acceptable. Just that it's to be expected, as you've acknowledged in the first paragraph...and then contradicted yourself in the next paragraph by saying that anyone who expects it is part of the problem.

But why should it be expected? That's tantamount to being accepted.

Oh, it happens. It shouldn't happen.

 

[Buzzer]

But why should it be expected? That's tantamount to being accepted.

Oh, it happens. It shouldn't happen.

No its not. Not at all. It's to be expected because sometimes people can't control themselves. The club and police know this and that's why they have cctv, rapid response units and police there. The club aren't condoning it by being prepared for it. What a strange conclusion you draw.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

No its not. Not at all. It's to be expected because sometimes people can't control themselves. The club and police know this and that's why they have cctv, rapid response units and police there. The club aren't condoning it by being prepared for it. What a strange conclusion you draw.

Accepting poor behaviour as being something that just happens is tantamount to condoning it. Surely everyone has some modicum of control. They're lucky to stay in the ground, if they can't adhere by the rules of the venue.

 

[Buzzer]

Accepting poor behaviour as being something that just happens is tantamount to condoning it. Surely everyone has some modicum of control. They're lucky to stay in the ground, if they can't adhere by the rules of the venue.

But some people don't. That's why the club pau a fortune for all the preventative measures. No-one is saying it's acceptable. Please desist with this argument.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

But some people don't. That's why the club pau a fortune for all the preventative measures. No-one is saying it's acceptable. Please desist with this argument.

I'm not going to desist as accepting something as the norm, doesn't mean that a certain profession should expect to be abused as part of their role. There should be a risk that it may happen, but it shouldn't just be shrugged off as being listed in the job description.

 

[Richy_Seagull]

If you are a life long Brighton fan why not just buy a ticket and watch the game like everyone else?

Sounds like you had a shit night but you don't get any sympathy from me because it come with the territory I'm afraid.

Wow, what an idiotic post. Getting coins thrown at you is "part of the territory" is it? I get annoyed at away games when asked to sit as I like to stand up when watching. Never thought of chucking shit at them though.

 

[Dan Aitch]

Let's hope there is a representative from the stewards at The Amex on Thursday. Seriously. I'd really appreciate their take on any suggestions that are offered.

 

[Buzzer]

I'm not going to desist as accepting something as the norm, doesn't mean that a certain profession should expect to be abused as part of their role. There should be a risk that it may happen, but it shouldn't just be shrugged off as being listed in the job description.

There IS a risk though. The club knows that and puts in place protection for the stewards as I keep saying. It is bound to happen. I'm sorry it does, I don't think it's right that people do it either but it does.

This is a job where you have to expect it will happen from time to time. You ask anyone if a steward at a football match can expect to get abuse once in a while. I think it is a unanimous YES. That really isn't the same thing as saying it's considered acceptable. It's not and that's why the perpetrators are punished and the stewards supported.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

There IS a risk though. The club knows that and puts in place protection for the stewards as I keep saying. It is bound to happen. I'm sorry it does, I don't think it's right that people do it either but it does.

This is a job where you have to expect it will happen from time to time. You ask anyone if a steward at a football match can expect to get abuse once in a while. I think it is a unanimous YES. That really isn't the same thing as saying it's considered acceptable. It's not and that's why the perpetrators are punished and the stewards supported.

Are the stewards being supported and the perpetrators punished in this instance?

 

[goldstone68]

Could someone please explain the meaning (executing interventions at the turnstiles). I am of the understanding that the fans who were abusive etc will be refused entrance to the ground, and if so how many innocent people will be ejected or shot, without any proof of them being involved at all. Or is it going to be left to the stewards photographic memories or is it just if your face does not fit etc your not coming in pal?

 

[vegster]

It's not quite that simple. You cannot enter a hostile crowd alone. You need Police and response teams. And of course when you do that the club are accused of being heavy handed.

We will complete interventions at the turnstiles when they arrive for the next match.

Excellent, nab them just when they think they have got away with it.

 

[Soulman]

There IS a risk though. The club knows that and puts in place protection for the stewards as I keep saying. It is bound to happen. I'm sorry it does, I don't think it's right that people do it either but it does.

This is a job where you have to expect it will happen from time to time. You ask anyone if a steward at a football match can expect to get abuse once in a while. I think it is a unanimous YES. That really isn't the same thing as saying it's considered acceptable. It's not and that's why the perpetrators are punished and the stewards supported.

I think you've made your position perfectly clear, in fact i thought you did that in the last few posts.
In other words it happens, but is not acceptable.