Mate of mine kicked out of Amex ground with 7yr old kid

[Doc Lynam]

A mate of mine from work was at the stadium to get his 7yr old a BHA footy shirt; saw that one of the entrances to the pitch was open and asked a guy at the enterance if it would be ok to show his kid a quick view of the pitch. Shortly after being let in he was approached by 2 security guards and asked what he was doing there. After he explained he just wanted to show his kid the view he was told to clear off.
I completely understand that security have one job, to make something secure. But it hardly makes for a magical moment and show a little bit of a Dickensian attitude towards its fans young and old.

 

[clippedgull]

Depends what attitude they took and probably just as important what instructions they were under.

I get your point about the 'magical' aspect but tours are available for a proper nose around!

 

[Perkino]

Say your mate was into leaving unattended packages around and was simply scouting the area. I think it's great that people cannot just venture in whenever they like.

The real question is who left that bloody door open

 

[ozseagull]

Sounds terrible. Security guards keeping the amex secure. Whatever next

 

[Brian Fantana]

A mate of mine from work was at the stadium to get his 7yr old a BHA footy shirt; saw that one of the entrances to the pitch was open and asked a guy at the enterance if it would be ok to show his kid a quick view of the pitch. Shortly after being let in he was approached by 2 security guards and asked what he was doing there. After he explained he just wanted to show his kid the view he was told to clear off.
I completely understand that security have one job, to make something secure. But it hardly makes for a magical moment and show a little bit of a Dickensian attitude towards its fans young and old.

I think it's more a case of the club probably not having a unified policy on this sort of thing, hence the mixed messaging received from the two different sets of staff that he spoke to. The commercial cynic in me would suggest that the club probably wants to maximise revenue from the official tours.

 

[User removed 4]

A mate of mine from work was at the stadium to get his 7yr old a BHA footy shirt; saw that one of the entrances to the pitch was open and asked a guy at the enterance if it would be ok to show his kid a quick view of the pitch. Shortly after being let in he was approached by 2 security guards and asked what he was doing there. After he explained he just wanted to show his kid the view he was told to clear off.
I completely understand that security have one job, to make something secure. But it hardly makes for a magical moment and show a little bit of a Dickensian attitude towards its fans young and old.

Exactly , they could have used a bit of discretion , but then again security guards arent well known for their intellect.

 

[User removed 4]

Sounds terrible. Security guards keeping the amex secure. Whatever next

Do leave off mate , there's keeping a place secure , and there is using your loaf .

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Say your mate was into leaving unattended packages around and was simply scouting the area.

What if, what if........ FFS.

 

[Goldstone1976]

What you would hope would have happened is that the security guys clocked the "intruders" immediately, saw that one was a kid and approached them quickly, but in a non-threatening way, asking what was going on. The "intruder" would explain, in a non-aggressive way, that he'd asked for permission and that it had been granted. The security guards would then say "OK - have a quick butchers from here, while we're with you. Then we'll escort you out the way you came. It's security, innit? I'm sure you understand". 1 Minute later, the "intruders" would leave with one of the security guards who'd shut the open entrance behind them. After cordial "cheerio"s, the security guard would go and find the person who'd let the "intruders" in, and say "Please don't let people in unescorted, whatever the reason. Either say 'No, it's security, innit?' or say 'You're not really supposed to, but come with me for 30 seconds'" Everybody happy and security of the stadium is maintained.

I wonder how much of this actually happened...

 

[Diego Napier]

Do leave off mate , there's keeping a place secure , and there is using your loaf .

Yes but then again security guards aren't well known for their intellect.....

 

[The Birdman]

Depends what attitude they took and probably just as important what instructions they were under.

I get your point about the 'magical' aspect but tours are available for a proper nose around!

you can still be polite

 

[Gazwag]

Can't you see the pitch from just inside the entrance, ie close to the person who said it was ok

 

[MattBackHome]

What you would hope would have happened is that the security guys clocked the "intruders" immediately, saw that one was a kid and approached them quickly, but in a non-threatening way, asking what was going on. The "intruder" would explain, in a non-aggressive way, that he'd asked for permission and that it had been granted. The security guards would then say "OK - have a quick butchers from here, while we're with you. Then we'll escort you out the way you came. It's security, innit? I'm sure you understand". 1 Minute later, the "intruders" would leave with one of the security guards who'd shut the open entrance behind them. After cordial "cheerio"s, the security guard would go and find the person who'd let the "intruders" in, and say "Please don't let people in unescorted, whatever the reason. Either say 'No, it's security, innit?' or say 'You're not really supposed to, but come with me for 30 seconds'" Everybody happy and security of the stadium is maintained.

I wonder how much of this actually happened...

I bet this is an accurate version of events. Or at least more accurate than simply being told to 'clear off'.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I snuck into the away end on my one and only visit and was politely asked to leave within about a minute. Whilst I do not normally sneak into places, a quick view of the inside was too much to resist. I apologised profusely, explained that I was from SA and they understood. I was impressed with their efficiency and politeness and left feeling like the naughty boy that I was, but not that I was about to bundled into a van and locked up. So that was nice.

 

[Gazwag]

If he purchased two of the very cheap tickets for the Cheltenham game his son would get a view of the pitch, the players and everything

 

[chimneys]

A mate of mine from work was at the stadium to get his 7yr old a BHA footy shirt; saw that one of the entrances to the pitch was open and asked a guy at the enterance if it would be ok to show his kid a quick view of the pitch. Shortly after being let in he was approached by 2 security guards and asked what he was doing there. After he explained he just wanted to show his kid the view he was told to clear off.
I completely understand that security have one job, to make something secure. But it hardly makes for a magical moment and show a little bit of a Dickensian attitude towards its fans young and old.

The only 2 issues here are:

1. What was precisely said by the security guards and how was it delivered when he was "told to clear off".

Could have been that they were blunt/aggressive, or it could have been that he was explained to politely but firmly, he tried to argue the point unsuccessfully, took umbrage and moaned to you that he was "told to clear off".

2. Was he standing on the grass even if not on pitch as that is an absolute no no to the club and would get a very swift/blunt response.

Any idea on either?

 

[Hyperion]

Tours, matches and some events are available for fantastic views of the pitch.

Poor staff training though to be told by one person to go in and then security to hoof them out.

 

[Doc Lynam]

The only 2 issues here are:

1. What was precisely said by the security guards and how was it delivered when he was "told to clear off".

Could have been that they were blunt/aggressive, or it could have been that he was explained to politely but firmly, he tried to argue the point unsuccessfully, took umbrage and moaned to you that he was "told to clear off".

2. Was he standing on the grass even if not on pitch as that is an absolute no no to the club and would get a very swift/blunt response.

Any idea on either?

He was asked what he was doing "i'm just showing my kid the pitch" then asked to leave immediatley and they shouldn't be there.

Also he wasn't on the pitch with his kid or anywhere near it.

To respond to earlier post when he left he did feel more like an intruder then a fan with his boy.

 

[b51]

Tours, matches and some events are available for fantastic views of the pitch.

Poor staff training though to be told by one person to go in and then security to hoof them out.

Yeh, but did he actually get permission to go in, or was that a little tale to the guard. Who knows

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Say your mate was into leaving unattended packages around and was simply scouting the area.

or leaving a 7 year packed full of explosive in the ground.