I know there have been threads re; the abuse from Spurs fans on Saturday, but our day was ruined by thugs in our ranks. I should be able to take my son to away matches without exposing him to aggressive and abusive behaviour. If anyone reading this was involved in such behaviour, then shame on you. I have written to Ron Martin re; this issue, text below...
Dear Mr Martin,
May I start by thanking you for your marvellous efforts in securing planning permission for a new stadium. After so many false starts over the years I really thought it would never happen. The club now has huge potential to go places, and I’m sure attendances will increase in the new ground if you keep prices competitive compared to Premiership clubs. Through my season tickets this year I have introduced many friends with children to Roots Hall, and they have loved everything apart from the view from the family stand! In a new ground with good views you have potential to attract many more families, securing the support of the club into the future.
It’s the issue of families and events at White Hart Lane this weekend that has prompted this letter. This Saturday was my 9 year old son’s first experience of an away match, as it was for his 2 friends and their father who I also took along. I also know of many other family stand season ticket holders who used Saturday as an opportunity to experience their first away match and first visit to a Premiership ground.
Unfortunately the day was ruined by a thuggish element of our support, and on the way home my son and his friends were not talking about the fantastic view, loud crowd or experience of seeing England internationals, but of how they were scared by the louts around us.
One gentleman in particular arrived late and immediately started standing up abusing the home supporters. He was then abusive to an elderly couple next to me who asked him to sit down, behaving in an aggressive manner that scared my son and his friends. The stewards became involved and had a word with the gentleman, who then sat down and was not as bad for the rest of the match. However there were still outbursts of abusive and aggressive behaviour from him and his friends, which ruined the day for us all.
I was intending to take my son to Ipswich and Southampton but am now very doubtful whether I will. From reading reports on the Shrimperzone.com forum this was not an isolated incident, and it is probable that the club may have lost some younger supporters (certainly away from home) due to the weekend’s events.
I know that White Hart Lane is outside of your jurisdiction, and I have no complaints regarding the conduct or effectiveness of the stewards, however may I suggest that the following courses of action could improve the situation in the future:
• Issue a statement on the web site and in the next match programme condemning the abusive behaviour of the minority.
• For away games where we are taking a sizable support and are allocated more than one block, sell dedicated rows and/or blocks of seats to families, thus keeping them together and away from the more raucous supporters. I know this makes the logistics of the ticket sales more difficult, but I would hope that this would be offset by the benefits.
To summarise, in my view the new stadium will give massive opportunities to attract more families to Southend United, but it is essential that this is not undermined by a thuggish minority.
Dear Mr Martin,
May I start by thanking you for your marvellous efforts in securing planning permission for a new stadium. After so many false starts over the years I really thought it would never happen. The club now has huge potential to go places, and I’m sure attendances will increase in the new ground if you keep prices competitive compared to Premiership clubs. Through my season tickets this year I have introduced many friends with children to Roots Hall, and they have loved everything apart from the view from the family stand! In a new ground with good views you have potential to attract many more families, securing the support of the club into the future.
It’s the issue of families and events at White Hart Lane this weekend that has prompted this letter. This Saturday was my 9 year old son’s first experience of an away match, as it was for his 2 friends and their father who I also took along. I also know of many other family stand season ticket holders who used Saturday as an opportunity to experience their first away match and first visit to a Premiership ground.
Unfortunately the day was ruined by a thuggish element of our support, and on the way home my son and his friends were not talking about the fantastic view, loud crowd or experience of seeing England internationals, but of how they were scared by the louts around us.
One gentleman in particular arrived late and immediately started standing up abusing the home supporters. He was then abusive to an elderly couple next to me who asked him to sit down, behaving in an aggressive manner that scared my son and his friends. The stewards became involved and had a word with the gentleman, who then sat down and was not as bad for the rest of the match. However there were still outbursts of abusive and aggressive behaviour from him and his friends, which ruined the day for us all.
I was intending to take my son to Ipswich and Southampton but am now very doubtful whether I will. From reading reports on the Shrimperzone.com forum this was not an isolated incident, and it is probable that the club may have lost some younger supporters (certainly away from home) due to the weekend’s events.
I know that White Hart Lane is outside of your jurisdiction, and I have no complaints regarding the conduct or effectiveness of the stewards, however may I suggest that the following courses of action could improve the situation in the future:
• Issue a statement on the web site and in the next match programme condemning the abusive behaviour of the minority.
• For away games where we are taking a sizable support and are allocated more than one block, sell dedicated rows and/or blocks of seats to families, thus keeping them together and away from the more raucous supporters. I know this makes the logistics of the ticket sales more difficult, but I would hope that this would be offset by the benefits.
To summarise, in my view the new stadium will give massive opportunities to attract more families to Southend United, but it is essential that this is not undermined by a thuggish minority.
