The Fan and the Steward at Solihull

[Tinks]

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.

I didn’t say I did agree did I?

 

[Tommy2holes]

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.

Bang on.

All could have been avoided if their keeper and number 5 didn't goad the fans just before our equaliser.

The stewards actually just walked the guy out.

He was running out of the stadium, which is what they wanted, but decide to Rugby tackly him to the floor and rough him up.

Two well built and aggressive guys against a lad of about 18 who has acted a bell end. He hardly assaulted the keeper did. Just goading after he had been dishing it out himself.

The fan deserves a ban and etc and I don't condone his actions.

In some peoples eyes on here. He should be in hospital now and taken out the back of ground and shot.

Give your heads a wobble. Hot day, few beers and a teenager. I'm sure you were all young once. Except cricko obviously.

 

[Tommy2holes]

I didn’t say I did agree did I?

You said it's still practised. It clearly isn't. It would now be classed as assault and termination of contract with loss of pin

 

[Lavender Blue]

I wasn’t at the game however I have watched the video, firstly if this idiot hadn’t run on the pitch none of it would have happened, alternatively if passion got the better of him, then when he returned to the stand just accept that you are going to get thrown out and take it.
It looked to me that he was trying to bite the stewards leg that’s why he kept pushing his head back. Unfortunately there is a small group of ‘fans’ that always behave inappropriately at away games, I have witnessed this to many times. Give the idiot a life time ban so the fans that go to watch the football can enjoy our away days. ️

 

[davewebbsbrain]

I wasn’t at the game however I have watched the video, firstly if this idiot hadn’t run on the pitch none of it would have happened, alternatively if passion got the better of him, then when he returned to the stand just accept that you are going to get thrown out and take it.
It looked to me that he was trying to bite the stewards leg that’s why he kept pushing his head back. Unfortunately there is a small group of ‘fans’ that always behave inappropriately at away games, I have witnessed this to many times. Give the idiot a life time ban so the fans that go to watch the football can enjoy our away days. ️

Apparently it all started when the keeper and number 5 goaded our fans

 

[Tommy2holes]

Apparently it all started when the keeper and number 5 goaded our fans

That is exactly what happened. Their keeper claimed the ball from Powell and then made out he had been clattered when Powell pulled out. Got a bit of abuse and started grinning and then their number 5 started trapping off and giving gestures. We scored shortly after. At which point someone went on the pitch and started giving it some to the keeper. Uncalled for, obviously.

 

[shrimperjon]

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

They go to every game. Basically there to support local constabulary, spot any trouble makers etc

 

[OldBlueLady]

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?

No. Not really. One was during a live game and one was at the end.

 

[OldBlueLady]

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

Was that aimed at me? I don't think I did - I said they weren't paid enough to deal with idiots like that.

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

So just for clarification, are you saying that the response from the stewards at Solihull (as seen in the video posted) was fair & justified?

Can't see a problem myself. If you can't handle the booze, give up.

 

[Lavender Blue]

Apparently it all started when the keeper and number 5 goaded our fans

That is not an excuse, fans goad players all the time, you wouldn’t expect them to jump into the stands and start pushing fans around, goading and banter is all part of the beautiful game imo

 

[shrimperjon]

The guy that went on the pitch at the end was no angel. When the stewards went it to pull the lad out this guy punched one of them. Made of the whole situation worse in addition to original incident . He was on the edge the whole game

as for people trying to give the pitch invader some defence due to his age and drink etc, we went with two 18 year olds and a 17 year old. Had a few beers (not the 17 year old) but just supported the team and got behind them. At no point did any of us feel the need to invade the pitch and risk getting a ban etc.

we love supporting our club home and away and will be at Halifax Tuesday and would never risk that opportunity. ive been supporting the club for over 40 years and it does appear in the last season or two that we have a new breed of fans trying to be Billy big bollocks whether it be trouble in the stands, pitch invading or taking pyros to games etc

i get passion, I’m as passionate as the next fan, but it must be channelled in the right way. The club is in financial nightmare so bottle throwing and pitch invading is going to cost the club further

 

[Shrimper57]

Some people won't be happy until everyone they don't personally like takes a baton to the head - or, in this case, a knee to the chest (and possibly a hand round the neck) - and the irony is they complain about others being authoritatian snowflakes. Since when was the appropriate punishment for making a fool of yourself and running on a football pitch being choked? Anyone would think from reading this thread that he'd killed someone! In fact I'm glad that video was posted without context, because there is no context in which that treatment is justifiable, and were it not a football fan (who, of course, are subhuman and don't deserve rights...if you don't think that mantra would ever be applied to you because you're one of the good ones, just ask the good people of Liverpool how that's worked out before) I'm sure there'd be an outcry. He's clearly shouting for help towards the end. It's good to hear he's ok, because he genuinely could have suffered a much worse fate there.

You don't have to support violence by authority whenever you see it. You don't have to lick every boot that stamps on your face. It's ok to admit that the pitch invader was wrong but that the poorly-trained power-mad steward (there's plenty like it) acted out of line. There are better ways to restrain rowdy people and there are better ways to punish rulebreakers, so none of this is necessary, you just like the idea of gratuitous violence against people you don't like. Which is not how civilised society works. You'd doubtless be happier, ironically, living under Sharia law.

Totally disagree. But then we are allowed to

 

[davewebbsbrain]

That is not an excuse, fans goad players all the time, you wouldn’t expect them to jump into the stands and start pushing fans around, goading and banter is all part of the beautiful game imo

Players are professionals and should remain professional at all times, just like any job

 

[Ramsdenblue]

Apparently it all started when the keeper and number 5 goaded our fans

When they scored, their player came running up to our fans right in front of us and fist pumped the air.
That action got a response from our fans, who were not overly happy.
Some of the SUFC supporters then complained to the steward who was also standing in front us that their players were goading the away supporters and possibly un intentionally inciting trouble, he just smiled and walked away.

 

[secondalibi]

A lot of hot air and nonsense on here. But, lets be honest, this incident isn't really a surprise. There's always potential for something like this happening at away games. Whatever the reasons behind what happened yesterday, people will always play the blame game. Unfortunately, one thing is clear following Southend away, there is an element of our supporters who attend away games, the actual football is very much of secondary importance.

 

[OldBlueLady]

When they scored, their player came running up to our fans right in front of us and fist pumped the air.
That action got a response from our fans, who were not overly happy.
Some of the SUFC supporters then complained to the steward who was also standing in front us that their players were goading the away supporters and possibly un intentionally inciting trouble, he just smiled and walked away.

In that case, report it to their club and the league. A formal complaint in writing to both will have to be addressed. Still doesn't excuse someone thinking he can just waltz onto the pitch towards one of their players.

Unfortunately, that idiot who punched the Colchester supporter several years ago and the Dobbin incident has left us with a bit of an unsavoury reputation. Continuing to behave like absolute morons does nothing to dispel that.

 

[Shrimper57]

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

Yes

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

They go to every game. Basically there to support local constabulary, spot any trouble makers etc

That is easy to understand, what doesn't make sense is why the Bobby didn't stand or stay anywhere near the SUFC fans? Why he wasn't at the turnstiles "greeting" on arrival or anywhere at games end?
At home games, the same Bobby, short, scruffy, baseball cap, arm sleeves of tattoos seems to walk around the ground from the obs office near West family sector, infront of South and East but not go near the North West corner, where he might be useful? I have seen him outside away end at The Hall after game which is a good move.
Bloke needs some guidance and strong words, clean his uniform, smarten up physically and mentally and earn some of respect Mr Spooner had.
Or get a different role and another Bobby in his place?
If the club is being forced to pay for his attendance at Hall, and his away day, then they are being short changed.

 

[Shrimper57]

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?

Sounds like he did not assault the goalkeeper though.