Kid in the Car Park - Page 2

Stanleymad · 14-04-2010, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr T

It was myself in conjuction with Mick S and his deputy Safety Officer that asked for the thread to be locked ( thanks Mel)

I am at work and will gather the rest of the facts by this evening and post back.

What I am disappointed in is people with either no or minimal facts making comments

I'll present the facts and also post the Football League Ground Regulations that each + everyone of you accept every time you enter a Football League (and Premier League Stadium).

The Crown Ground has a full safety certificate issued yearly by Lancashire County Council under the guidance of the Football Licencing Authority.
We're in the "big boys" league now, we accepted membership and the income that goes with it. We have to abide by the rules!!

PS The mood is good, highest league postion in my lifetime, no relegation battle, fantastic cup runs, gates up (we're not even bottom of that League Table) and the club in the "black"

As per Coley "Keep the faith"

Thanks Mr T, pm me later once u want to post about it further then i will unlock the thread

Mr T · 15-04-2010, 18:54

This response is not intended "to pour petrol on the flames" nor be a "club cover up", just some facts.

I am an Accringtonian, ASFC supporter and a club official and have been since my school days. My belief and hopes are that Accrington Stanley can and will be a force in the Football League for the rest of my lifetime and beyond. Our fanbase is young, vibrant, passionate and increasing.

I am initially disappointed that the club appears on the surface to be "banning" fans of the future, hence my decision to investigate further.

I am also the Clubs Child Welfare Officer and represent the Club on Safeguarding issues.

I have subsequently found out that 2 young boys have regularly been overstepping the mark and being abusive to club stewards, staff and players. The pair also entered (uninvited) an away team's coach and attempted to obtain kit and equipment. When asked to leave, they became more abusive and stewards were asked to intervene. The boys were asked to leave the car park. More absuse was directed at the stewards. The abuse has happened on more than one occasion, and has been described as a regular occurance.

On Tuesday evening when one of the boys arrived at the ground, he was spotted by stewards, and I believe he was given a letter informing him of a one game ban. He informed his mother of this by phone and she rang the club.I have checked with the club ad his mother did ring. When it was explained to her the circumstances of the ban, she agreed with the club's decision and actions. Why he remained at the club until the end of the match, I have no idea. With regards to the allegations made that he could have been in any danger during his wait, I can confirm he was continually monitored by the Club's CCTV and the police officers present had no issues with our actions. I can also confirm that under Football League Child Protection guidelines, the Clubs actions are completly acceptable.

I hope this young man remains a Fan and will glady have chat with him, if he has any issues.

Now turning to the wider issues of stewarding and match day safety.
I know our safety record is good, our home arrests are zero and ejections are very low. We want fans to have a good matchday experiance, and need all Accy fans (and neutrals) to come on a regular basis. I am inspired by the passion of our fans.

However IF ground regulations were to be enforced to the letter of the law, the Clayton End would be sparsly populated. Bear in mind that " Entry to the ground shall constitute acceptance of ground regulations" ( the opening words of the ground regulation document.)

Below are some examples of which ground regulations are not strictly enforced.

Ground reg 2: Following articles must not be brought into the ground; knives, fireworks, smoke canisters,air horns, flares, laser devices, bottles, cans, poles and any article that might be used as a weapon

Ground reg 9: Use of threatening behaviour, foul or abusive language is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest or ejection, The Club may impose a ban for one or more matches.

Ground reg 10 Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harrasement is strict forbidden.

Ground reg 13 Nobody may stand in a seated area

Ground reg 14: The obstruction of gangways, access ways, exits and enterances, stairways and the like is forbidden

Ground reg 17: Attempting to enter the ground, or being inside the ground whilst drunk

Ground reg 23: At all times whilst present in the ground,persons must comply with any and all instructions of any steward or officer of the club and/ or police officer. Failure to comply with an instruction may lead to immediate ejection from the ground.

A long list of regulations that the club have no choice on which to enforce. Also we are regularly inspected by Lancashire CC and the Football Licencing Authority to ensure we are doing things properly.

If the club continualy turn a "blind eye"' the authorities may reduce the overall useable capacity of the stadium. Due to the small physical size of the stadium, we cannot afford for the useable capacity to be reduced as a result of a lack of enforcment of regulations.

None of this is meant to be draconian, as previously stated' our supporters are FANtastic and needed by our club.

Also the stewards do a good job. They are only working to the regulations. Without them we could not open the ground. (thanks to UK Cowboy for kind + sensible words

) We have gained a Football League award for our match day experiance, and the stewards were given top marks for their customer service.

Sermon over; keep the faith and hopefully 3 points on Saturday.

If any body want to dscuss any of this face to face, I'll be at the ground from 9am Saturday AM

Mr T

VALAIRIAN · 15-04-2010, 19:05

All fair points and put over well, if these are the facts, then it appears that the club were not at fault.

Also agree, here's hoping for 3 points, sometime soon

Stanleymad · 15-04-2010, 19:09

Thanks for taking the time to explain and allow transparency, hope this puts this to an end now

Posted via Mobile Device

cashman · 15-04-2010, 19:12

gotta say, we encountered a couple of real knobhead stewards on clayton end, couple of months ago, went to see Mick Schultz a few days after, he took it on board, said he would look into the matter, We have had no problem since that time.

DAV007 · 15-04-2010, 21:55

Mr T - thank you so much for an update from the club. Its this kind of honest dialogue which is key to building a relationship between the fans and stewards.

One question, stanley like Liverpool allow flag poles into the home end but not the away end.
Can you assure the fans this will remain in place next season?

Mr T · 16-04-2010, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAV007

Mr T - thank you so much for an update from the club. Its this kind of honest dialogue which is key to building a relationship between the fans and stewards.

One question, stanley like Liverpool allow flag poles into the home end but not the away end.
Can you assure the fans this will remain in place next season?

Dav007, a fair question that I'll have to give a slightly long winded answer to (sorry)

The Club want the flags.

However Mick S is still off recovering from his knee operation. We are also subject to on going and annual safety reviews. I'll ask Mick to discuss this at these reviews.

One point that I know will be raised. Has the necessary fireproofing taken place and the certificates been sorted?? That will be a key point!!

Will keep you all posted

Mr T

DAV007 · 16-04-2010, 10:03

Mr T

Some clubs enforce the law to the letter, others are more liberal and allow fans the freedom to express their support/protest.

Please choose the later.

One more question,
If we role out none offensive banners in protest at ONeill's ownership of the club, will the stewards force them to be taken down and confiscated?

VALAIRIAN · 16-04-2010, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAV007

Mr T

Some clubs enforce the law to the letter, others are more liberal and allow fans the freedom to express their support/protest.

Please choose the later.

One more question,
If we role out none offensive banners in protest at ONeill's ownership of the club, will the stewards force them to be taken down and confiscated?

Not the way forward, in my opinion!! We have a Chairman, in which most of us trust and to that end, we should trust in his judgement and decision making!

Wynonie Harris · 16-04-2010, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAV007

One more question,
If we role out none offensive banners in protest at ONeill's ownership of the club, will the stewards force them to be taken down and confiscated?

Would think you might have trouble finding someone to hold the other end, as most people will be concentrating on supporting the lads. Most of us have misgivings about DO'N, but as Val says, we trust Ilyas and are willing to go along with his judgement.

Still, I presume you've dropped your idea of boycotting home matches (again, most definitely not the way to go in my opinion).

cashman · 16-04-2010, 11:33

Personally i agree wi davos sentiments in that area. Think though theres a time n place fer such protest, n am damn sure on the ground on match day does not fit that criteria, if owt can see it being destructive.

DAV007 · 16-04-2010, 13:48

just asking the question.
I wonder if the new stewarding will copy man united and give life bans to anyone who questions the clubs heirarchy by putting up a banner in protest.

Wynonie - who said it would be me holding up the banner?

Just asking the question.We have had so many changes with the stewarding, its hard to distinguish what they do and dont accept.

100% behind IK, JC, JB and the team. To support stanley does not mean I have to support the people who nearly killed it.

Wynonie Harris · 16-04-2010, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAV007

just asking the question.
I wonder if the new stewarding will copy man united and give life bans to anyone who questions the clubs heirarchy by putting up a banner in protest.

Wynonie - who said it would be me holding up the banner?

Just asking the question.We have had so many changes with the stewarding, its hard to distinguish what they do and dont accept.

100% behind IK, JC, JB and the team. To support stanley does not mean I have to support the people who nearly killed it.

My views on the D'ON are probably similar to yours, Davo. However, our club was about to die, Ilyas and Peter stepped in and saved it. As Ilyas said in his radio interview, part of the deal by which he did this was an arrangement by which he stepped down at the end of the season and David O'Neill carried on as Managing Director. In an idea world, it's not what I would have wanted, but that's how our club survived to play another day.

We are now coming to the end of a traumatic season and the last things we need are terrace protests and season ticket and match boycotts...IMHO!

loweiy · 16-04-2010, 14:14

when it comes to the line " we must obey the ground regulations" whilst I agree I wonder why Man U Liverpool and other big clubs seem to turn a blind eye?

is it because we are small in number?

just an observation

Stephen

cashman · 16-04-2010, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by loweiy

when it comes to the line " we must obey the ground regulations" whilst I agree I wonder why Man U Liverpool and other big clubs seem to turn a blind eye?

is it because we are small in number?

just an observation

Stephen

a few have wondered that, could be small in number

or it could be the other thing.