Videos by stewards

[Svlad Cjelli]

LOLz at the chap looking at her arse. Looks like she's from Whitley, probably has got chlamydia.

no arrests? so why did the police come in to y26 and escort a person out? more like they was to scared to go in to the cardiff fans and nick a few

Do we know there were no arrests - the technique used by the staff at the Mad Stad is to take away fans out when they go to the concourse rather than wade in and take them out of the stand.

I went to a stewarding exercise this year and they are a lot more active than is apparent from when you are watching the game. I still think we should be given some stats on arrests and ejections both for the home and the away stands as it would stop some misunderstandings given the way they work but still no luck.

So what happens if they don't go into concourse at half time and i'm sure they wouldn't even try with a large Cardiff following.

They nearly always do - and not just at half-time. There's often a link between amount of alcohol consumed and raucous behaviour just as there's a link between amount of alcohol consumed and need to empty the bladder once every 45 minutes .....

[Royal Lady]

Well seeing as my mole is the custody bloke at Reading and he was able to finish his shift on time because there NO ARRESTS at the game - I'm pretty sure THERE WERE NO ARRESTS.

Tbf, they'd normally bring them into Loddon Valley custody m8.

Yes, that's where he works, m8!

[Hoop Blah]

I didn't notice any of the Cardiff fans guilty of inciting the home fans for the whole game being removed.

The most noticable ones, who were doing it right next to the stewards and Mr Plod on his nice overtime, came and went as they pleased doing whatever they wanted. When they disappeared at half time they came straight back to the same places and carried on their behaviour.

I've no problem with the behaviour to be honest but I do think it's a case of stewards enforcing one rule for the home fans and one for the aways.

[Royal Lady]

Also, the Cardiff fans were in no hurry to leave at the final whistle - so it would have been nice if prior to the game, a tannoy announcement asked them to stay behind for a few minutes to allow the home fans to leave and get passed the coaches without them all clogging up the roadway - not to mention them chanting and trying to get a reaction from RFC supporters who were walking home. After all, we were kept in for quite some time in the play off semi final leg at their place - and were always kept in at Ninian Park too.

[Svlad Cjelli]

I didn't notice any of the Cardiff fans guilty of inciting the home fans for the whole game being removed.

The most noticable ones, who were doing it right next to the stewards and Mr Plod on his nice overtime, came and went as they pleased doing whatever they wanted. When they disappeared at half time they came straight back to the same places and carried on their behaviour.

I've no problem with the behaviour to be honest but I do think it's a case of stewards enforcing one rule for the home fans and one for the aways.

See all the previous posts over the years explaining why this is inevitable - or rather that there is strength in numbers and a different set of tactics available to be used agaisnt people at the club one time only as opposed to people who want to come back again and again.

[Royal Lady]

Svlad, any idea why a group of Cardiff fans were, seemingly, allowed to sit right next to Y26?

[Svlad Cjelli]

Svlad, any idea why a group of Cardiff fans were, seemingly, allowed to sit right next to Y26?

Nope. Were they there from the start or did they move over dureing the game?

[Hoop Blah]

I didn't notice any of the Cardiff fans guilty of inciting the home fans for the whole game being removed.

The most noticable ones, who were doing it right next to the stewards and Mr Plod on his nice overtime, came and went as they pleased doing whatever they wanted. When they disappeared at half time they came straight back to the same places and carried on their behaviour.

I've no problem with the behaviour to be honest but I do think it's a case of stewards enforcing one rule for the home fans and one for the aways.

See all the previous posts over the years explaining why this is inevitable - or rather that there is strength in numbers and a different set of tactics available to be used agaisnt people at the club one time only as opposed to people who want to come back again and again.

I totally understand why, just pointing out that the 'they're removed when they sneak off to the concourse ' line is largely a bit of steward spin because it's very rarely the case for away fans (as used by both yourself and the star representative on this thread).

I know they say it when STAR have their cosy chats with the club but the evidence with my own eyes is that there is a disparity in treatment (excusable or not it exists and that frustrates fans no end).

[Svlad Cjelli]

I totally understand why, just pointing out that the 'they're removed when they sneak off to the concourse ' line is largely a bit of steward spin because it's very rarely the case for away fans (as used by both yourself and the star representative on this thread).

I know they say it when STAR have their cosy chats with the club but the evidence with my own eyes is that there is a disparity in treatment (excusable or not it exists and that frustrates fans no end).

I can't speak for STAR, but I can categorically assure you that it's standard policy and accepted best practice at every single club to avoid making arrests/removals on teh concourse - this is done as a last resort where the risk of the situation escalating is greater if nothing is done. I'm sorry you don't believe it, but it is a simple, basic, fact that any steward at any ground will attest to. When I've shadowed stewards and safety officers at other grounds it's always been the same and it is here, and of all the supporters I've spoken to after they've been arrested the vast majority weren't "lifted" in teh concourse. And it's common sense from a stewarding point of view - pick people off when alone rather than in a crowd.

There certainly is a disparity of treatment, yes, and it certainly frustrates fans no end, yes, - but that's life! While stewards continue to be at the front-line of enforcing unenforceable seating regulations they'll continue to use teh most appropriate - and different - tactics for home and away supporters.

[Hoop Blah]

Dirk, I'm not disagreeing that taking people out whilst they're in the concourse is the prefered tactic anywhere.

I'm just saying that the stewards and Police at Reading do not run the same rules for home and away fans and that is a source of much frustration and friction within large sections of the home fans who witness it week after week.

On this thread and others it's been suggested that we're not witnessing away fans being kicked out because it happens away from our eyes. I'm just saying we don't witness it because it just doesn't happen very often. Week after week I see away fans doing the same thing as home fans are kicked out for (and worse) and yet they're there for the full 90 minutes.

I accept that this is a fact of life but the explanations offered for this by yourself and the star rep (ie the one about them being nabbed on the concourse) just aren't really accurate, it's just the standard line used to fob off any questioning on the subject and I'm pointing out that it doesn't really wash as an excuse/reason.

[Royal Lady]

Svlad, any idea why a group of Cardiff fans were, seemingly, allowed to sit right next to Y26?

Nope. Were they there from the start or did they move over dureing the game?

As far as I recall, they were there from the start - as I remarked to Schards that there were a few blocks of empty seats in the "normal" bit, which were probably their seats - I obviously didn't watch them like a hawk during the whole 90 minutes - but I didn't see anyone attempt to encourage them to sit elsewhere.

[Svlad Cjelli]

I'm just saying that the stewards and Police at Reading do not run the same rules for home and away fans and that is a source of much frustration and friction within large sections of the home fans who witness it week after week.

No arguments about that. It's life - life is often unfair, or appears to be. The "problem" - if that's the right word - is that typically Reading supporters are very well behaved and any "mis-behaving" is one or two individuals who are usually quickly picked off - if it ever goes that far.

On this thread and others it's been suggested that we're not witnessing away fans being kicked out because it happens away from our eyes. I'm just saying we don't witness it because it just doesn't happen very often. Week after week I see away fans doing the same thing as home fans are kicked out for (and worse) and yet they're there for the full 90 minutes.

See the above - it's easier to deal with a few individuals with something to lose than a large crowd of strangers. And are you sure you see people thrown out - they're just as often relocated to the far end of the ground after being given a warning. And, tbh, just how often do you see home supporter being "thrown out"?

There's also another tactical issue to think of - when you "throw out" a home supporter (i.e. eject but do not arrest them) they'll typically go into town of go home. When you do the same for an away supporter (again eject but not arrest) they'll hang about outside the ground waiting for the game to finish. Do this with enough and you've then created a public order situation outside the ground, rather than inside where it can be controlled a lot better. (This happened v Man City a few years ago - where about 10 or so ejected away supporters went around outside the ground smashing up cars etc after being ejected.)

I accept that this is a fact of life but the explanations offered for this by yourself and the star rep (ie the one about them being nabbed on the concourse) just aren't really accurate, it's just the standard line used to fob off any questioning on the subject and I'm pointing out that it doesn't really wash as an excuse/reason.

I've not offered it as an explanation related to particular matches - I'm just trying to explain the realities of life and why things are different for home and away supporters.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Svlad, any idea why a group of Cardiff fans were, seemingly, allowed to sit right next to Y26?

Nope. Were they there from the start or did they move over dureing the game?

As far as I recall, they were there from the start - as I remarked to Schards that there were a few blocks of empty seats in the "normal" bit, which were probably their seats - I obviously didn't watch them like a hawk during the whole 90 minutes - but I didn't see anyone attempt to encourage them to sit elsewhere.

They may have had tickets there, then - that half of the away end was sold first, and if it looked like that was the only allocation being sold then they probably would have allocated all of it. I'm only speculating there, though.

Was it a problem?

[Hoop Blah]

I've not offered it as an explanation related to particular matches - I'm just trying to explain the realities of life and why things are different for home and away supporters.

Again, I'm not disputing it's the best tactic or that there are obvious differences between home and away fans just that it's very rarely employed in general not in specific examples (although this weekend was an obvious example of times when it was justified but not used).

As for the away fans milling around outside, that doesn't seem to stop them turning away fans away when they're too pissed (something I've witnessed a number of times). Furthermore, haven't they got cooling off cells in the ground they could use or weren't these built in the end?

[Svlad Cjelli]

I've not offered it as an explanation related to particular matches - I'm just trying to explain the realities of life and why things are different for home and away supporters.

Again, I'm not disputing it's the best tactic or that there are obvious differences between home and away fans just that it's very rarely employed in general not in specific examples (although this weekend was an obvious example of times when it was justified but not used).

As for the away fans milling around outside, that doesn't seem to stop them turning away fans away when they're too pissed (something I've witnessed a number of times). Furthermore, haven't they got cooling off cells in the ground they could use or weren't these built in the end?

Yes they have -but I'm not sure the stewards have the power to imprison supporters in the cells, and here we're talking about people who've been thrown out but who've not done enough to be arrested.

[Hoop Blah]

Fair point.

[Royal Lady]

Nope. Were they there from the start or did they move over dureing the game?

As far as I recall, they were there from the start - as I remarked to Schards that there were a few blocks of empty seats in the "normal" bit, which were probably their seats - I obviously didn't watch them like a hawk during the whole 90 minutes - but I didn't see anyone attempt to encourage them to sit elsewhere.

They may have had tickets there, then - that half of the away end was sold first, and if it looked like that was the only allocation being sold then they probably would have allocated all of it. I'm only speculating there, though.

Was it a problem?

What?? It wasn't a "half" it was the triangle shape right next to Y26, the bit where Sky have their commentary box....that's not normally sold first...

[Svlad Cjelli]

It's a part of the East half of the South Stand. If that half of the stand is sold first (and only that initially sold) then it's quite possible that the whole of that half of the stand is sold and tickets allocated there.

Later, when the other half (the West half of the South Stand) is put on sale then tickets there can be sold as a first priority.

[Rex]

Around 5/6 were sat in the top 2 rows throughout. Those runing across and supposedly trying to get behind the screen were NOT sat there in the first half.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Ok - perhaps the stewards thought it was more trouble to leave them where they were than to try and move them to allocated seats.