Quality of Stewarding at The Madejski

[Ian Royal]

I stood for virtually the entire match. Stewards came up about twice. I sat down when they asked, I stood up when they went. Seriously, how difficult is that people? They're doing it for appearances because they have to. Try doing the same and there won't be any problems. Antagonise them and you're asking for problems.

Wah wah wah, the Millwall fans are standing. Yeah, well there's several thousand of them and how do you stop them? Ask nicely? They refuse, what do you do? start a riot by trying to forcibly remove two hundred people? Stewards simply don't have the resources to do it and it isn't worth it or safe.

Home fans are easily identified and can be banned, so they're harder on us, because it's easier and less likely to cause a riot because of the consequences.

I didn't see any heavy handed stewarding. There was a guy resisting being removed, and a couple of people getting in the way, they dealt with it. The Millwall fans who were removed were restrained forcefully, but I have no problem with that.

[roadrunner]

[quote="Ian Royal"]Wah wah wah, the Millwall fans are standing. Yeah, well there's several thousand of them and how do you stop them? quote]

[RoyalBlue]

I stood for virtually the entire match. Stewards came up about twice. I sat down when they asked, I stood up when they went. Seriously, how difficult is that people? They're doing it for appearances because they have to. Try doing the same and there won't be any problems. Antagonise them and you're asking for problems.

Wah wah wah, the Millwall fans are standing. Yeah, well there's several thousand of them and how do you stop them? Ask nicely? They refuse, what do you do? start a riot by trying to forcibly remove two hundred people? Stewards simply don't have the resources to do it and it isn't worth it or safe.

.

So why won't the club tell us how many troublesome away supporters are greeted in the concourse and quietly ejected, as we are told it happens? Could it be because the numbers are laughingly small and would just wind up the home supporters even more?

Others have suggest how the situation could be dealt with. They are good suggestions but the club doesn't appear to want to consider them because they appear in the 'too difficult' category.

How many times have we been told that it's not legal to keep visiting supporters back after the game, yet continue to experience that treatment ourselves elsewhere. When was a club last in trouble for doing so? The same applies in relation to allowing home supporters to stand - how many other clubs have been in trouble with licensing authorities for allowing that etc. etc.

[Gordons Cumming]

I stood for virtually the entire match. Stewards came up about twice. I sat down when they asked, I stood up when they went. Seriously, how difficult is that people? They're doing it for appearances because they have to. Try doing the same and there won't be any problems. Antagonise them and you're asking for problems.

Wah wah wah, the Millwall fans are standing. Yeah, well there's several thousand of them and how do you stop them? Ask nicely? They refuse, what do you do? start a riot by trying to forcibly remove two hundred people? Stewards simply don't have the resources to do it and it isn't worth it or safe.

Home fans are easily identified and can be banned, so they're harder on us, because it's easier and less likely to cause a riot because of the consequences.

I didn't see any heavy handed stewarding. There was a guy resisting being removed, and a couple of people getting in the way, they dealt with it. The Millwall fans who were removed were restrained forcefully, but I have no problem with that.

The voice of reason.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the Council. They issue safety certificates...................

[STAR Liaison]

I stood for virtually the entire match. Stewards came up about twice. I sat down when they asked, I stood up when they went. Seriously, how difficult is that people? They're doing it for appearances because they have to. Try doing the same and there won't be any problems. Antagonise them and you're asking for problems.

Wah wah wah, the Millwall fans are standing. Yeah, well there's several thousand of them and how do you stop them? Ask nicely? They refuse, what do you do? start a riot by trying to forcibly remove two hundred people? Stewards simply don't have the resources to do it and it isn't worth it or safe.

So why won't the club tell us how many troublesome away supporters are greeted in the concourse and quietly ejected, as we are told it happens? Could it be because the numbers are laughingly small and would just wind up the home supporters even more?

No the numbers given at the policing and stewarding forum were not laughably small and the away supporters outumbered the home supporters easily. The police liaison officer was happy to give us the figures but the club are less happy as it undermines the family club image with those who only come occasionaly.

I will see if I can get regular figures for the STAR website as the occasional visitors the club worries about are much less likely to visit that.

[Terminal Boardom]

Yet Leeds fans ALWAYS stand at Elland Rd in the Revie Stand AND South Stand. It is the hypocrisy and double standards that winds people up.

Then again, the stewarding is hardly going to attract anyone with a brain. Certainly not on the pittance that they get paid. Quite frankly, the stewarding is a joke and there is always a jobsworth about who wants to look the big "I AM". And it is not something new. I remember having a rant about the stewarding in the Upper West at the Villa Cup Tie over the bootleg scarves on sale outside the precincts of the Mad Stad. I don't necessarily blame the individuals. If anyone, it is the cock who barks out the orders.

[southstand67]

I've never been asked to sit down, but then I do tend to sit right at the back. Occasionally you get stewards coming up, but I think they have to sit there for a short period of time (that's the impression I got having spoken with the guy).

As Ian Royal said; stand up when they've gone!!

[Svlad Cjelli]

You are allowed to stand - especially "at moments of excitement". What you are not allowed to do is to persistently stand.

Although "persistently" is a subjective term, and the definition varies from ground to ground ad steward to steward.

[roadrunner]

I thought the stewards have improved no end in the last 12 months. They have to walk up and be seen to ask you to sit back down, but they know you stand up as soon as they walk down and there's a happy medium there. We might get the odd dispstick at a few games but generally they're alright.

[Terminal Boardom]

You are allowed to stand - especially "at moments of excitement". What you are not allowed to do is to persistently stand.

Although "persistently" is a subjective term, and the definition varies from ground to ground ad steward to steward.

This, hits the nail firmly on the head. Away supporters are generally treated differently to home ones. If only instead of being keyboard warriors on internet forums supporters got off their arses and pestered the authorities for the introduction of safe standing areas (as promoted by the FSF), something may happen.

[Blue_White_Blood]

You are allowed to stand - especially "at moments of excitement". What you are not allowed to do is to persistently stand.

Although "persistently" is a subjective term, and the definition varies from ground to ground ad steward to steward.

If I am excited for the whole game surely I can be allowed to stand the whole the game??

[Svlad Cjelli]

You are allowed to stand - especially "at moments of excitement". What you are not allowed to do is to persistently stand.

Although "persistently" is a subjective term, and the definition varies from ground to ground ad steward to steward.

If I am excited for the whole game surely I can be allowed to stand the whole the game??

I think it would be interpreted what a reasonable person would find exciting - which doesn't include stoppages, goal kicks etc etc.

the fact that you're easily excited probably wouldn't wash with most authorities.

[Gordons Cumming]

If you want to stand, Bracknell Town are looking for support.

[who are ya?]

And decent players.

[Svlad Cjelli]

If you want to stand, Bracknell Town are looking for support.

I go there regularly, although I do tend to sit there.

[Gordons Cumming]

If you want to stand, Bracknell Town are looking for support.

I go there regularly, although I do tend to sit there.

Do you stand there when you get excited?

[Svlad Cjelli]

If you want to stand, Bracknell Town are looking for support.

I go there regularly, although I do tend to sit there.

Do you stand there when you get excited?

No, I just get into fights with the away team's assistant coach, but that's a completely different story ......

[who are ya?]

Do you sing "and if you are a Binfield fan surrender or you'll die"?

[Jerry St Clair]

"In your Wokingham slums, in your Wokingham slums....."

[who are ya?]

"Ascot United are shit, Ascot United are shit"