The Fan and the Steward at Solihull

[LeedsSUFC]

Game was a good, considering the temperatures.

My standouts with Hobson and Crowhurst. Superb goal from Wreh.

Solihull were a solid team, so this result is great.

Regarding the fans, it sparked from their goalie going down after Powell slid in. Their number 5, Howe, goaded the fans on the abuse we were giving the goalie for his ‘injury’, tensions rose here - as they usually do (that is football).

I think everyone can agree:

1) going on the pitch in any case is ridiculous and stupid.
2) the stewards wanted trouble, why were their badges the wrong way around, not showing ID? Untrained and dangerous.
3) the police should have advised the stewards better. Going into the crowd to get someone was always trouble. If he was on camera (which he was), put out post game protocols to locate and prosecute.
4) running away after being caught isn’t a bright idea.
5) regardless of what the bloke did, the restraint was crazy. What reaction did they expect from the others? How much evidence is there that football hooligans get worse with intervention, when the sim in the moment should be prevention…

Maybe next year we’ll have a calm visit to Solihull!

 

[TBV_Dan]

To clarify to TBV, you have young followers amongst you who look up to you all who are supporters of the club for the future, you seem to think this is acceptable running onto the pitch..... Take a look at yourselves and your little crews for gods sake. Pathetic.

It's quite amazing how a thug has now become part of the WOKE Brigade.

Did you even read my original response on this thread?! I very clearly stated in that post that the actions of the young lad in question were 100% wrong, and the decision to eject the fan in question was absolutely justified. What I brought to attention, was just how badly the stewards dealt with that situation, and how appalling their behaviour and response was. This incident isn't just isolated to today; I thought their response to last season's... ahem... incident, was appalling too.


What I saw, was a young fan jump onto the pitch after the goal, presuming at the time that they were going to celebrate with the team (again, equally would have been in the wrong). Instead, they pushed the keeper a few times, and hopped back into the stand, evading stewards. Stewards spend about 10 minutes trying to identify the fan in question, and they send 90% of their away end security team over to begin to escort him out of the ground. For some insanely bizarre reason, they let go of the lad that they were ejecting and turned their backs on him... consequently, that lad took that opportunity, and ran from the stewards towards the exit, stewards eventually chasing after him.

I don't know fully what happened in the chase, as I was focusing on the game & getting behind the team... but noticed a group of fans suddenly run to the corner, about 60 seconds after the lad ran off. After the game, the video gets posted on social media, and having watched it en route back, it quite clearly shows excessive force being used by the stewards in order to detain the fan; full body weight of two stewards on a young lad, knee in back/shoulder/neck, and refusing to ease off, even when the police officer came over to intervene.


Now say what you want, but I personally think that, irrespective of what a person has done at a football game, NO-ONE deserves to be pinned to the ground in the manner that they were today. The bodyweight of 2 stewards pinning the fan to the ground, whilst another one forcefully pushes their head into the ground on multiple occasions. I can only presume that those fans who ran over to the corner shortly after the lad ran away, saw the way stewards and security were dealing with him, and ran over in concern for the fan's safety whilst being 'detained'. Was their response right? Obviously not, but that situation wouldn't have been the situation, had the stewards done their job in full by escorting the young lad out properly in the first place. The very fact that SUFC Police have now tweeted to say that they are "liaising with WMP in relation to investigating all the issues that occurred" seems to suggest to me, that the treatment of the fan in question was unfair and excessive in that situation.


I would also respectfully ask that you keep TBV's name out of this incident, and stop associating fans (or "little crews" as you put it) at games who cause trouble, or get caught in incidents such as today, to a tightly-knit supporter group who today, helped to create a fantastic atmosphere away from home for the team, in spite of what happened. You'll note in that video also, that during the whole incident, the drum kept going, and the fans kept singing in the background... that is TBV's one and only goal; create an atmosphere to be proud of, home and away... and the fact that many fans were still around the drum making noise and getting behind the team even during this incident, shows that what we are doing, as a group, is obviously working.

 

[Rob1920]

1980(ish) a dick head invades the pitch, gets a happy slap from the old Bill and rightly so, forward to 2022, dick head invades pitch, everyone up in arms because said dick head wasn't treated right whilst breaking the law.

This Country is ****ed.

Spot on. It’s not rocket science, if you don’t invade the pitch you won’t get manhandled. Stay in the stand where you’re supposed to be. Invade the pitch & you lose your right to any defence on how you are treated in my opinion.

 

[Pak66]

Spot on. It’s not rocket science, if you don’t invade the pitch you won’t get manhandled. Stay in the stand where you’re supposed to be. Invade the pitch & you lose your right to any defence on how you are treated in my opinion.

That is total nonsense. taking your logic forward any offending pitch invader should be hung drawn and quartered.

 

[shrimperjon]

Did you even read my original response on this thread?! I very clearly stated in that post that the actions of the young lad in question were 100% wrong, and the decision to eject the fan in question was absolutely justified. What I brought to attention, was just how badly the stewards dealt with that situation, and how appalling their behaviour and response was. This incident isn't just isolated to today; I thought their response to last season's... ahem... incident, was appalling too.


What I saw, was a young fan jump onto the pitch after the goal, presuming at the time that they were going to celebrate with the team (again, equally would have been in the wrong). Instead, they pushed the keeper a few times, and hopped back into the stand, evading stewards. Stewards spend about 10 minutes trying to identify the fan in question, and they send 90% of their away end security team over to begin to escort him out of the ground. For some insanely bizarre reason, they let go of the lad that they were ejecting and turned their backs on him... consequently, that lad took that opportunity, and ran from the stewards towards the exit, stewards eventually chasing after him.

I don't know fully what happened in the chase, as I was focusing on the game & getting behind the team... but noticed a group of fans suddenly run to the corner, about 60 seconds after the lad ran off. After the game, the video gets posted on social media, and having watched it en route back, it quite clearly shows excessive force being used by the stewards in order to detain the fan; full body weight of two stewards on a young lad, knee in back/shoulder/neck, and refusing to ease off, even when the police officer came over to intervene.


Now say what you want, but I personally think that, irrespective of what a person has done at a football game, NO-ONE deserves to be pinned to the ground in the manner that they were today. The bodyweight of 2 stewards pinning the fan to the ground, whilst another one forcefully pushes their head into the ground on multiple occasions. I can only presume that those fans who ran over to the corner shortly after the lad ran away, saw the way stewards and security were dealing with him, and ran over in concern for the fan's safety whilst being 'detained'. Was their response right? Obviously not, but that situation wouldn't have been the situation, had the stewards done their job in full by escorting the young lad out properly in the first place. The very fact that SUFC Police have now tweeted to say that they are "liaising with WMP in relation to investigating all the issues that occurred" seems to suggest to me, that the treatment of the fan in question was unfair and excessive in that situation.


I would also respectfully ask that you keep TBV's name out of this incident, and stop associating fans (or "little crews" as you put it) at games who cause trouble, or get caught in incidents such as today, to a tightly-knit supporter group who today, helped to create a fantastic atmosphere away from home for the team, in spite of what happened. You'll note in that video also, that during the whole incident, the drum kept going, and the fans kept singing in the background... that is TBV's one and only goal; create an atmosphere to be proud of, home and away... and the fact that many fans were still around the drum making noise and getting behind the team even during this incident, shows that what we are doing, as a group, is obviously working.

Great post Dan

 

[stewart]

These are my thoughts ….
Great great result and shows a great resilience, which can be an attribute of a good spirit … all in all a great positive result… should we be in this position with our squad 2 games in? Absolutely not… I think it’s scandalous

Great for wreh to score he must be buzzing and let’s hope confidence plays a huge part in his game .

As for the fan running on the pitch I’m not bothered about that. But when they try and Interfere or bully intimate or even assult a player that’s an absolute Liberty completely muggy and the fella should be delt with accordingly .. I ****ing hate seeing that. What I have seen afterwards from the stewards was nothing short of embarrassing and appalling have they not learnt anything about how to restraint someone after the last few turbulent years ? Shocked Southend police have got some big question a coming their way I hope .

Looking forward to the drive or Halifax Tuesday a performance like that and I’ll be buzzing

what was Southend police doing in Solihull , are they just a one constable on a pedal bike village.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I can't understand why the stewards didn't just get him to his feet with his arms behind his back holding his wrists. They were much bigger in weight, and two of them would have secured him easily. Then there would have been no commotion. Instead it looked like a bullying power trip for them, especially the main one. The way he's using his weight, he must have enjoyed it. He was in no rush to get him on his feet.

 

[Jai]

This is way over the top. The thing that people forget it when idiots like this cause issues by running onto the pitch it affects us all. There's a massive desire for football fans to be treated like human beings. Because as you say, we aren't at all. Look at the Bolton fans being forced to drink in Cheshire because the police banned all away fans drinking within 10 miles of Vale Park.

Every time someone does something stupid like this, it undermines this cause. Football fans are normal people, and are treated appallingly in general by police. However, every time some ******** who can't take his ale runs onto the pitch (he could have had a weapon etc), it damages all of us who want to get a train to an away game without being bothered by the police, who want to drink in a pub in the same county as the ground we're heading to, or want to avoid being shoved onto a train heading in the wrong direction just because of police tactics.

The police really don't need an excuse, so why give it to them. This bother today will guarantee a greater police presence at future games and increase the chances of innocent fans getting caught up in something, or assumed to be guilty of something they're not.

All cos some geezer got over excited cos of a bit too much beak.

I'm the first to call for the police to actually treat fans properly. But it's never going to happen at this rate. Your team scores a goal - why go on the pitch? What kind of sad ******* isn't deep involved celebrating with his mates? What motivates someone to jump onto the pitch and cross that line? Alien to me I'm afraid.

Police and stewards have long been bully boys and over the top. Why give them the opportunity?

 

[Whispering Bob]

There was a big hoohah in the summer about fans invading the pitch after a plethora of invasions last season. As far as I’m aware pretty severe punishments were introduced in the EFL, same apply to the NFL?

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think someone on Twitter said that the steward kept pushing the bloke's head back because he kept trying to bite him.

Stewards, generally, at football grounds are paid pretty poor money. They certainly don't get paid enough to be dealing with idiots like him in my opinion.

Too much booze is almost always in the background of incidents like this. I still struggle to see why people need to get so boozed up to watch a game of football! A couple of pints, yes, and maybe another at half time, but why do some people knock them back as if it's their last chance to have one?

Another blemish on our already tarnished reputation.

 

[WickfordShrimper]

Too much ale is almost always in the background of incidents like this. I still struggle to see why people need to get so boozed up to watch a game of football! A couple of pints, yes, and maybe another at half time, but why do some people knock them back as if it's their last chance to have one?

Another blemish on our already tarnished reputation.

I cannot believe you can watch Southend United Sober ;-)

 

[gpd]

A life ban from Ron will do the trick for this particular idiot. All triggered by his pitch incursion and pushing the keeper. The force we see being used was constraint, and may probably have been caused by his resistance to the action they were taking. If he's dim enough to get onto the pitch ...he is likely dim enough to push back against removal. Reflects badly on the club. Ron should make sure he never sets foot inside Roots Hall again.

 

[Mark Corrigan]

The steward was clearly overly forceful and and in all honestly I couldn't give a monkeys. Little coked up s**** like him are putting a stain on our clubs reputation. Maybe his mates will think twice before running onto the pitch and attacking a player next time.

 

[Moley]

You don’t run on the pitch, simple. However the actions from the “Steward/Bouncer” was disgusting and he should be reported and sacked for it. No question about that. Imagine that was your son, how would you feel?

I noticed another chap jump the barrier after the game when the players headed over to thank the fans and and 4 stewards ran towards him to get him off. This guy seemed to be in his 40’s/50’s so obviously they didn’t treat him the same way they did the 20 year old lad, he simply got told to jump back over into the stand and that was that.

Funny that isn’t it?

 

[Rob1920]

That is total nonsense. taking your logic forward any offending pitch invader should be hung drawn and quartered.

With all due respect, that is nonsense too. No one is suggesting killing pitch invaders! The point is if you invade the pitch and then on top of that approach a player (how do they know you don’t have a knife?) you deserve any rough handling that comes your way.

 

[Swiss Tony]

I think someone on Twitter said that the steward kept pushing the bloke's head back because he kept trying to bite him.

Stewards, generally, at football grounds are paid pretty poor money. They certainly don't get paid enough to be dealing with idiots like him in my opinion.

Too much ale is almost always in the background of incidents like this. I still struggle to see why people need to get so boozed up to watch a game of football! A couple of pints, yes, and maybe another at half time, but why do some people knock them back as if it's their last chance to have one?

Another blemish on our already tarnished reputation.

Ale drinkers don't behave like that,he must be a Lager drinker.

 

[Tinks]

I think someone on Twitter said that the steward kept pushing the bloke's head back because he kept trying to bite him.

Stewards, generally, at football grounds are paid pretty poor money. They certainly don't get paid enough to be dealing with idiots like him in my opinion.

Too much ale is almost always in the background of incidents like this. I still struggle to see why people need to get so boozed up to watch a game of football! A couple of pints, yes, and maybe another at half time, but why do some people knock them back as if it's their last chance to have one?

Another blemish on our already tarnished reputation.

Whole heartily agree here with OBL and why the need to “knock” back as much beer as you can. I had some of my best away days years ago with a smashing bunch of lads (who most still continue to support the club) and yes though we did drink and have a fair few close shaves with fellow supporters and the police.
Maybe the young lad in the clip will see this morning that what he done by running on the pitch was wrong and will learn from that. The guidelines are very clear about going on the pitch during play.

As a previous Mental Health Nurse working in high security wards and being trained in Control and restraint have to question his methods. As someone said re laying on the chest is now not recommended in C&R however, it is still practised as long as the airways remain clear (I.e. face to the side)
Nevertheless, one moment of madness/stupidity or passion (call it what you want) has caused this

Let’s not detract that most of the supporters had a good day out and we came away with a point

 

[Tommy2holes]

This needs mentioning beyond discussion of the match performance:

Security rightly attempt to remove the pitch invader from the away end. A significant enough minority of our reprobate fans then assault stadium security and attempt to cause a riot (but dare not not attack the two police officers who attend to the scene, cos they know they will get nicked straightaway) to try and "liberate" the ejected perpetrator, leaving a wretched stain on our support as a whole.

If you thought Stuart Meyrick was a hero for trying to stand up to Ron Martin at Solihull last season, make sure you ask to see his video filming the reprobates attacking stadium security today. Hope he won't have deleted evidence of criminal wrongdoing before the police seize his evidence.

What a thoroughly embarrassing version of events

 

[Danshrimper]

I think someone on Twitter said that the steward kept pushing the bloke's head back because he kept trying to bite him.

Stewards, generally, at football grounds are paid pretty poor money. They certainly don't get paid enough to be dealing with idiots like him in my opinion.

Too much ale is almost always in the background of incidents like this. I still struggle to see why people need to get so boozed up to watch a game of football! A couple of pints, yes, and maybe another at half time, but why do some people knock them back as if it's their last chance to have one?

Another blemish on our already tarnished reputation.

Solihull Moors employ bouncers, not stewards. And we aren’t the only club to have complaints about their treatment of fans.

You can think the guy that a run on the pitch was an idiot and deserved (most of) what he got, which I would agree with.

But at the same time, some roided up nightclub bouncers that have come to the football for the day looking to massage their egos and throw their weight around don’t have free reign to do whatever they want to people just because they’re wearing a high vis. They were being aggressive to people who weren’t even involved in the incident. So no, they weren’t poor, innocent little stewards just trying to do their job.

I have no idea why people on this thread seem to be putting bouncers on the same pedestal as the police.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Whole heartily agree here with OBL and why the need to “knock” back as much beer as you can. I had some of my best away days years ago with a smashing bunch of lads (who most still continue to support the club) and yes though we did drink and have a fair few close shaves with fellow supporters and the police.
Maybe the young lad in the clip will see this morning that what he done by running on the pitch was wrong and will learn from that. The guidelines are very clear about going on the pitch during play.

As a previous Mental Health Nurse working in high security wards and being trained in Control and restraint have to question his methods. As someone said re laying on the chest is now not recommended in C&R however, it is still practised as long as the airways remain clear (I.e. face to the side)
Nevertheless, one moment of madness/stupidity or passion (call it what you want) has caused this

Let’s not detract that most of the supporters had a good day out and we came away with a point

Not to be pedantic as I'm not sure when you trained or last worked in such environments but to do that now would almost certainly result in dismissal.

I also trained in control and restraint and we used the "Rampton" techniques. It then changed to PMVA techniques and now it's TASI.

You could never ever kneel on someone, particularly the chest or neck area.