Request from our Police Football Liaison Officer

[Cockle43]

At the recent Supporters Groups Forum our dedicated Police Football Liaison Officer, (PFLO), requested that we raise, through our groups the fact that there have been a couple of recent incidents that have caused concern and he wanted brought to attention.
There was two incidents at the Good Friday game where a plastic drinks bottle was thrown on to the pitch towards an opposition player, at the end there was also a fan encroachment by someone wishing to get a 'selfie'.
The PFLO has asked us to make clear that these actions are against the ground regulations and can result in action from both the club and from the police.

Please take note of this concern and moderate any behaviours accordingly, the Police will be looking and we have been warned. Let's not spoil what could be a memorable season with a bit of thoughtless behaviour.

For those that haven't seen the minutes from the meeting here is the relevant extract, KB is the PFLO:-

5. TL. The North Bank has been successful but there is a small problem with “new, young” supporters, including throwing things onto the pitch and coming over the wall to take selfies.

KT advised that KB had requested for this to be discussed. He welcomes new supporters but pointed out that offenders could face a banning order.

TH. Supporters around the culprits have had a word, i.e. the “older” fans are “self- policing”.

KT suggested signs to inform new supporters and remind regulars.

TL will check the existing signs and consider more if necessary.

An action was agreed for Supporters’ Groups to send messaging to fellow supporters about their behaviour and the impact on the Club.


Don't shoot the messenger, but message delivered, as requested...

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Do you remember how this came about?
I think it might be worth having a word with opposition players who score and then parade in front of said North Bank, or in any football ground.
No excuse for hurling objects, but why not prevention better than cure?

 

[Cockle43]

Do you remember how this came about?
I think it might be worth having a word with opposition players who score and then parade in front of said North Bank, or in any football ground.
No excuse for hurling objects, but why not prevention better than cure?

Fair comment, however the ground regulations are the ground regulations.

Players trying to goad a reaction is exactly what they are looking for, the ground regulations mean the fans have to be bigger than that, not easy in the heat of the moment, granted, but the warning has been given...

 

[amsemp]

Do you remember how this came about?
I think it might be worth having a word with opposition players who score and then parade in front of said North Bank, or in any football ground.
No excuse for hurling objects, but why not prevention better than cure?

You’re never going to entirely stop that unfortunately, even if the ref gives yellows. Our players are often guilty of it too.

Give them a bit back by all means, but lobbing bottles is just a bit scummy.

 

[Bazza the dog]

There seems to be a pattern (footballers are the biggest lemmings out there) of giving it the big one in front of the opposition fans when scoring a goal, and acting the victim when it comes on top for them (maybe this sums up the society we live in now)

Of course, nobody should be lobbing things on the pitch but take that 10 stone wringing wet pr1ck from Solihull, who with zero provocation went straight to our fans after scoring, and stood there arms open giving it loads which for me should have been at least a booking for inciting the crowd.

Would he have done that in front of the Millwall fans?. I think not.

My point is that our local cozzer should be telling the opposition manager to have a word with his players when it comes to this type of celebration because it just wind people up to say the least and could cause a bigger issue than a few plastic bottles being thrown on the pitch.

Even Kendall did it the other day at Ebbsfleet and I thought to myself "what are you doing you idiot" so it's not just the opposition playing these stupid games.

 

[Gremlin]

Do you remember how this came about?
I think it might be worth having a word with opposition players who score and then parade in front of said North Bank, or in any football ground.
No excuse for hurling objects, but why not prevention better than cure?

It was her fault, your Honour. She was wearing a short skirt.

 

[Bazza the dog]

It was her fault, your Honour. She was wearing a short skirt.

What a ridiculous comparison.

 

[GBJ]

There seems to be a pattern (footballers are the biggest lemmings out there) of giving it the big one in front of the opposition fans when scoring a goal, and acting the victim when it comes on top for them (maybe this sums up the society we live in now)

Of course, nobody should be lobbing things on the pitch but take that 10 stone wringing wet pr1ck from Solihull, who with zero provocation went straight to our fans after scoring, and stood there arms open giving it loads which for me should have been at least a booking for inciting the crowd.

Would he have done that in front of the Millwall fans?. I think not.

My point is that our local cozzer should be telling the opposition manager to have a word with his players when it comes to this type of celebration because it just wind people up to say the least and could cause a bigger issue than a few plastic bottles being thrown on the pitch.

Even Kendall did it the other day at Ebbsfleet and I thought to myself "what are you doing you idiot" so it's not just the opposition playing these stupid games.

I wondered what Kendall was doing too. Would like to think better of our players.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

A Boreham Wood 'fan' climbed over the barrier in an Isthmian play-off against Kingstonian in 2010.
The object of the fan's ire was Francis Duku, who is 6ft loads in his stocking feet and probably lived in a gym!
The fan punched Duku in the face and simply jumped back over the barrier.
Now, let's make that a fan with a knife attacking Appiah-Forson after he scores in an away ground at their home end.
What then? Sooner or later this goading is going to end in tragedy.

 

[OldBlueLady]

No doubting at all that the opposition player deliberately goaded our supporters after scoring, but there is no excuse for lobbing bottles, plastic or otherwise. This is absolutely where the older and more experienced supporters have to step in and dissuade the younger ones from silly reactions. Unfortunately there will inevitably be some today wanting to get on the pitch at the end, therefore delaying the customary final walk round with their children.

Don't spoil it for everyone else, just let everyone enjoy it.

 

[Bazza the dog]

No doubting at all that the opposition player deliberately goaded our supporters after scoring, but there is no excuse for lobbing bottles, plastic or otherwise. This is absolutely where the older and more experienced supporters have to step in and dissuade the younger ones from silly reactions. Unfortunately there will inevitably be some today wanting to get on the pitch at the end, therefore delaying the customary final walk round with their children.

Don't spoil it for everyone else, just let everyone enjoy it.

Nobody is saying it's an excuse for chucking things on the pitch however, it's also the responsibility of the players not to aggravate a situation isn't it?.

Apart from diving across the face of a flying plastic water bottle mid air, how are the older people supposed a spur of the moment act in the face of some prat, who thinks he can provoke the opposition fans with no consequences of action from the ref, and fans alike.;

 

[crangoner]

Do you remember how this came about?
I think it might be worth having a word with opposition players who score and then parade in front of said North Bank, or in any football ground.
No excuse for hurling objects, but why not prevention better than cure?

Whataboutery, as ever, is not needed.

Players celebrate goals. Always have and always will. Can't hack that, then don't be a spectator at a match.

Goading and inciting are two different things, the former practically ubiquitous and the latter, at our level, practically unheard of.

The few that break rules and laws may invoke harsher collective punishments.

Let's not make excuses for the juvenile few responsible for doing this.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Whataboutery, as ever, is not needed.

Players celebrate goals. Always have and always will. Can't hack that, then don't be a spectator at a match.

Goading and inciting are two different things, the former practically ubiquitous and the latter, at our level, practically unheard of.

The few that break rules and laws may invoke harsher collective punishments.

Let's not make excuses for the juvenile few responsible for doing this.

Far from an excuse; a reason.
Players doing it invite problems, and sooner or later, a serious one as outlined.
PS. 'Players celebrate goals. Always have and always will. Can't hack that, then don't be a spectator at a match'.
This is not the context here.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Before forums and t’internet there was no warm songs such as this.
I’m not condoning these actions but if these things do happen then surely that’s what the stewards are there for, no?

It’s down to them to do their bloody job.
Chasing a 13 year old on the pitch really shouldn’t be that’s hard!!

 

[hlane17]

Do you remember how this came about?
I think it might be worth having a word with opposition players who score and then parade in front of said North Bank, or in any football ground.
No excuse for hurling objects, but why not prevention better than cure?

This. I don't condone fans throwing objects at all, but when players deliberately goad the home fans, they expect nothing back?

Recall Woking's players doing something similar running right in front of the East Stand crowd a couple seasons ago and then crying victim after the incident.

I personally won't feel sorry for any player who does this, including Kendall against Ebbsfleet.

Football is a tribal, emotional game and if you want to play into that, do it at your own peril and you better be able to handle the flak.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

This. I don't condone fans throwing objects at all, but when players deliberately goad the home fans, they expect nothing back?

Recall Woking's players doing something similar running right in front of the East Stand crowd a couple seasons ago and then crying victim after the incident.

I personally won't feel sorry for any player who does this, including Kendall against Ebbsfleet.

Football is a tribal, emotional game and if you want to play into that, do it at your own peril and you better be able to handle the flak.

My concern is an escalation to the point of real violence.
Somebody, player/fan, getting seriously hurt as a result of this pointless goading.
I wonder whether players think they are immune to a disturbed Millwall-like fan with a knife?

 

[hlane17]

My concern is an escalation to the point of real violence.
Somebody, player/fan, getting seriously hurt as a result of this pointless goading.
I wonder whether players think they are immune to a disturbed Millwall-like fan with a knife?

Agreed. We've already seen it come to physical blows between player and fans with the Woking incident in recent seasons.

 

[Tony Allen]

Players get booked for taking their shirts off so why not a booking if a player celebrates in front of opposition fans

 

[chelmo]

To be fair if a player is getting abuse of fans the player will give it back to them
If you don’t like it back at you don’t give it

 

[Smiffy]

The Solihull player chose to celebrate in front of the home fans rather than his own fans at the same end of the ground. He received zero abuse in the lead up. He was a ****house and rightly or wrongly got a reaction. He should have been booked by the ref for blatant incitement, but they rarely act. This has and will continue to happen a lot at RH as it’s most NL players cup final when they come here in front of 9,000 crowds.