MadStad steward watch 09/10

[bigmike]

I will never forget being told that the reason I couldn't bring my camera into the ground was because.

1) I might hit somebody with it
2) I might throw it at somebody.

My sister had bought a pair of new shoes once and took them to the game, in their box. She was told that she could take them in as long as she promised not to throw them on the pitch.

Do they have a single brain cell between them?

Easy answer to that question yes but they left it in the car

[handbags_harris]

From my vantage point in the Upper West I noticed the Silver Fox, with a couple of his mates, escorting a group of about 10 lads in the front row of Y24 up into the concourse. Any ideas why?

[East End Lady]

the boys had been mouthing off a little bit - no more that they probably would be normally, but as it was such a small crowd the stewards could obviously hear them a little clearer. They had been spoken to at one point but obviously ignored it so were made to all go out on the concourse. They came back in after a few minutes so presumably got a telling off in private as it were.

[rabidbee]

Do the stewards do requests? Any chance they could eject anybody who starts up the "Where's the money gone?" chant in future.

[(.)Boobies(.)]

In a show of immaturity and eagerness to relive my yoof, why don't we all stand as one and really wind the stewards up?
* Let them walk up and make their fuss. Sit down, let them get to the bottom and then stand again, all of you!
* Also why not make a point of not only cheesing them off, but improving the atmosphere by standing and singing when ever they make their way up to tell you to sit down? That my boys is football, they can't be heard while you're singing, let alone get their "please sit down" across.

It's all about numbers. If you all grew some nuts and stood together, it's a lot harder for them to make anyone remain seated. PLAY THE GAME. Sit, wait, stand, sit, wait, stand...

GROW SOME BOLLOCKS, play the game and stand together!

[Royal Lady]

1. I don't want to grow any bollox thank you
2. That's all very well, but please do it if you sit towards the back of the stands.

[Deathy]

1. I don't want to grow any bollox thank you
2. That's all very well, but please do it if you sit towards the back of the stands.

Which reminds me, are you a granny yet?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

1. I don't want to grow any bollox thank you
2. That's all very well, but please do it if you sit towards the back of the stands.

You mean stand at the back.

[Royal Lady]

1. I don't want to grow any bollox thank you
2. That's all very well, but please do it if you sit towards the back of the stands.

Which reminds me, are you a granny yet?

About 4 weeks to go, thanks for asking.

[FiNeRaIn]

Welcome to mdoern day business, I mean football...where this is all part of the product.

[(.)Boobies(.)]

1. I don't want to grow any bollox thank you
2. That's all very well, but please do it if you sit towards the back of the stands.

Which reminds me, are you a granny yet?

About 4 weeks to go, thanks for asking.

A Grandmother? You're almost ripe for the West Stand my love.

[Royal Lady]

I prefer to sing and shout though.

[Gordons Cumming]

Stewards are killing the game for spectators.

That and fans who think they're sitting in their armchair at home when they're at the game.

Health & Safety certificates are, not the Stewards. They are just pawns. At Reading it's the council who call the shots, not Reading FC. (excuse the pun)

[(.)Boobies(.)]

THE LAW ON STANDING IN ALL-SEATED GROUNDS

Ever since the introduction of all-seater stadia, many supporters have continued to stand in front of their seats, often for the duration of the game. It is widely believed that this practice is illegal. This is not the case, even within Premier League and Championship grounds. The law only provides that these clubs should provide seats for all supporters, not that supporters must sit in them. The point is confirmed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport: 'At no point has it been argued that the individual spectator commits a criminal offence by standing in a seated area` (Source: Letter to Football Supporters Federation, 2008). Standing in seated areas, is, however, contrary to ground regulations. The Football League`s model set of ground regulations states: 'Nobody may stand in any seating area whilst play is in progress. Persistent standing in seated areas whilst play is in progress is strictly forbidden and may result in ejection from the ground.' It is notable that the two sentences are contradictory, the first bars all 'standing`, the second 'persistent standing`. In practice, standing to go to the toilet or snack bar and standing at 'moments of excitement` is always permitted.

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW

There are two types of law, criminal law and civil law.
Criminal laws are offences against the state ('illegal acts`), such as smoking in public places. Police may become involved with enforcing criminal laws. Civil laws are contracts between two parties, such as agreements to purchase home insurance. The ground regulations of a club (including the ban on persistent standing) form a contract between the supporter and the club. By standing, the supporter is in breach of that contract. This is a civil, not a criminal matter. Therefore, a supporter cannot be arrested for standing. Moreover, it is not a matter that the police should be involved in, unless (for example) a supporter attacks a steward trying to get people to sit down.

HOW CLUBS APPROACH STANDING IN SEATED AREAS

Since standing is an issue between clubs and supporters, it is up to individual clubs how they deal with it.
While some clubs are very strict, many clubs take a relaxed approach to standing, particularly where it is not causing problems.

As regards the standing issue we take a somewhat relaxed view on this provided the individuals are not causing annoyance to other spectators or obstructing other spectators views.` (Championship Club Safety Officer - in correspondence with SUSD member) "it would be nonsense to introduce (a singing section) and not expect people to stand." (Premiership Club Safety Officer - in correspondence with SUSD member). A measure of persistent standing should be tolerated" (Premier League Chief Executive: FLA board minutes, May 2006).

[boy1985]

Do the stewards do requests? Any chance they could eject anybody who starts up the "Where's the money gone?" chant in future.

Rodgers is gonna have to watch the game from his office then

[rabidbee]

It is notable that the two sentences are contradictory, the first bars all 'standing`, the second 'persistent standing`.

No they're not.

[Dirk Gently]

......
HOW CLUBS APPROACH STANDING IN SEATED AREAS

Since standing is an issue between clubs and supporters, it is up to individual clubs how they deal with it.
While some clubs are very strict, many clubs take a relaxed approach to standing, particularly where it is not causing problems.

As regards the standing issue we take a somewhat relaxed view on this provided the individuals are not causing annoyance to other spectators or obstructing other spectators views.` (Championship Club Safety Officer - in correspondence with SUSD member) "it would be nonsense to introduce (a singing section) and not expect people to stand." (Premiership Club Safety Officer - in correspondence with SUSD member). A measure of persistent standing should be tolerated" (Premier League Chief Executive: FLA board minutes, May 2006).

That is somewhat out of date, since the FLA (Football Licensing Authority) is clamping down hard on clubs (via local councils) to enforce seating regaulations. So the numebr of clubs able to get away with common-sense approaches is going down all the time and is now less than it was in 2006.

The FLA really is the biggest viallain here - they have the power to close the club down if the club isn't seen to do what they demand about persistent standing.

[RoyalBlue]

What i can't understand is their motivation for doing it. Is it direct orders from Madejski?

No it's direct orders from Reading Borough Council who provide the club with the license to hold events at the club and sell alcohol.

So Reading Borough Council only insist that home supporters are made to sit down, whilst away supporters can stand throughout the game?!

I've said it before, RBC owe JM an awful lot and would be very wary of getting on the wrong side of him for fear of losing his financial support to the community. Therefore, if he was that way inclined, I'm pretty sure he could encourage them to take a rather more reasonable and less strict approach to this issue.

[Dirk Gently]

What i can't understand is their motivation for doing it. Is it direct orders from Madejski?

No it's direct orders from Reading Borough Council who provide the club with the license to hold events at the club and sell alcohol.

So Reading Borough Council only insist that home supporters are made to sit down, whilst away supporters can stand throughout the game?!

I've said it before, RBC owe JM an awful lot and would be very wary of getting on the wrong side of him for fear of losing his financial support to the community. Therefore, if he was that way inclined, I'm pretty sure he could encourage them to take a rather more reasonable and less strict approach to this issue.

Nope, the situation is that a home club can take action against home supporters because those supporters are known to them and want to come come back the next week (maybe!). It's not the same with away supporters.

Also, as mentioned many times, it's a numbers game - if a large group of supporters (home or away) stand together nothing can be done. If one or two stand they're easy targets,

[FLTLR]

There is a very simple answer to all this.

Easy - just don't vote for a Labour Council. Standing has never been allowed for as long as Reading Borough Council has been governed by Labour Councillors.

Vote Conservative at the next local elections (provided you are a Reading Borough Council registered voter) and lets see the changes sweep through...