Mum at the Match
Guest
I have waded through all 29,or was it 30 pages, about the fight and tried desperately hard to reply yesterday.
I am appalled at how so many of you are quick to slur the names of a nice bunch of lads just because of their association with Ginge and his son due to the trouble on Saturday.
Let's be honest here - the group are all middle aged family men who are loyal supporters of Southend and have been for many years. Yes they are mouthy and like a bit of fun, but they are no different from many other supporters and are definately not trouble makers. I am one of the wives who attends as many Southend games as funds and commitments allow - home and away. My husband and young son attend all home matches and yes can be seen in the West Bank along with Ginge and the rest of the friends - quite often with their sons too.
Now for the truth of the initial fight.
*Please note that I do not condone fighting of any kind.
I am a mum who attended the game with my young son, my husband and friends on Saturday. Ginge came to sit with me because the 3 seats in front were empty at the time. He was sad - not angry 1. because his team were losing and 2. because of the incident in the pub before the game which involved his son
The initial incident began because a man, who had been very mouthy throughout the first half – quite normal at a football match - returned to his seat to find Ginge sitting in it talking to me. He told Ginge he was sitting there. Ginge humorously replied, no actually he was sitting there. The man proceeded to give lip and Ginge got up to leave. I suggested, as they were both Southend fans and wanted to watch the game, that the man sit in one of the empty seats alongside. He would not and gave more lip even though Ginge had got up from the seat. A punch was then thrown. The stewards tried to stop this and I think would have, however, Jamie got involved with a group further up. At this time I took my son and his friend to safety to sit higher up in the stands with their dads. I do not know what happened and do not know if any disabled people were involved or if Gower, Maher or any other team members names were mentioned, but they were not in my presence!
My husband has since spoken to Ginge. He is remorseful over the incident and would be the first person to admit that he should not have shown this behaviour, but as you say people do many things they wouldn't normally if their family r involved.
Ginge was wrong to fight, especially with his own fans, he knows that.
His son's behaviour is getting increasingly out of control and Ginge's friends have tried, on many occasions, to talk to him. He turns on them too. They accept him because of their friendship with Ginge, but how much longer this will go on, who knows. I feel Jamie has a lot of growing up to do and needs some help to overcome his behaviour difficulties - as you say he is volatile.
Ginge was known for trouble many years ago, but in recent years he has become a quieter man and does not usually get involved in trouble. He was definitely provoked on this occasion and although I don't condone his behaviour, I have some understanding of why it happened. Jamie, on the other hand, should not have got involved. Some of the friends did try and stop it, but when the testosterone is pumping things go too far.
Stewards did get hit when trying to restrain the men involved, which is very unfortunate, and I'm sure innocent people got caught up. I did not see the injured man, but hope that he was not as badly hurt as many of you are saying and wish him a speedy recovery if he was.
Now guys, please think about your attitudes and ensure you know the facts before you start making comments. The men involved will be dealt with appropriately I'm sure, but please know that I feel saddened that this involves a friend of mine, who I know to be a genuinely nice guy.
And please, please don't link the whole group of friends as being troublemakers just because of association - they truly are a nice group, who may at times be mouthy, just like many of you I'm sure, but they are not aggressive just loyal Southend fans and friends.
I am appalled at how so many of you are quick to slur the names of a nice bunch of lads just because of their association with Ginge and his son due to the trouble on Saturday.
Let's be honest here - the group are all middle aged family men who are loyal supporters of Southend and have been for many years. Yes they are mouthy and like a bit of fun, but they are no different from many other supporters and are definately not trouble makers. I am one of the wives who attends as many Southend games as funds and commitments allow - home and away. My husband and young son attend all home matches and yes can be seen in the West Bank along with Ginge and the rest of the friends - quite often with their sons too.
Now for the truth of the initial fight.
*Please note that I do not condone fighting of any kind.
I am a mum who attended the game with my young son, my husband and friends on Saturday. Ginge came to sit with me because the 3 seats in front were empty at the time. He was sad - not angry 1. because his team were losing and 2. because of the incident in the pub before the game which involved his son
The initial incident began because a man, who had been very mouthy throughout the first half – quite normal at a football match - returned to his seat to find Ginge sitting in it talking to me. He told Ginge he was sitting there. Ginge humorously replied, no actually he was sitting there. The man proceeded to give lip and Ginge got up to leave. I suggested, as they were both Southend fans and wanted to watch the game, that the man sit in one of the empty seats alongside. He would not and gave more lip even though Ginge had got up from the seat. A punch was then thrown. The stewards tried to stop this and I think would have, however, Jamie got involved with a group further up. At this time I took my son and his friend to safety to sit higher up in the stands with their dads. I do not know what happened and do not know if any disabled people were involved or if Gower, Maher or any other team members names were mentioned, but they were not in my presence!
My husband has since spoken to Ginge. He is remorseful over the incident and would be the first person to admit that he should not have shown this behaviour, but as you say people do many things they wouldn't normally if their family r involved.
Ginge was wrong to fight, especially with his own fans, he knows that.
His son's behaviour is getting increasingly out of control and Ginge's friends have tried, on many occasions, to talk to him. He turns on them too. They accept him because of their friendship with Ginge, but how much longer this will go on, who knows. I feel Jamie has a lot of growing up to do and needs some help to overcome his behaviour difficulties - as you say he is volatile.
Ginge was known for trouble many years ago, but in recent years he has become a quieter man and does not usually get involved in trouble. He was definitely provoked on this occasion and although I don't condone his behaviour, I have some understanding of why it happened. Jamie, on the other hand, should not have got involved. Some of the friends did try and stop it, but when the testosterone is pumping things go too far.
Stewards did get hit when trying to restrain the men involved, which is very unfortunate, and I'm sure innocent people got caught up. I did not see the injured man, but hope that he was not as badly hurt as many of you are saying and wish him a speedy recovery if he was.
Now guys, please think about your attitudes and ensure you know the facts before you start making comments. The men involved will be dealt with appropriately I'm sure, but please know that I feel saddened that this involves a friend of mine, who I know to be a genuinely nice guy.
And please, please don't link the whole group of friends as being troublemakers just because of association - they truly are a nice group, who may at times be mouthy, just like many of you I'm sure, but they are not aggressive just loyal Southend fans and friends.
