|
Post by eclipse on Sept 14, 2017 8:15:01 GMT
First team games at the Gallagher to be segregated
News Home league and cup games at the Gallagher Stadium will be segregated for the remainder of the 2017/18 season.
For the past five years the club have looked at every game on an individual basis but having spoken to and taken advice from all the various safety bodies, it has been decided that it is in the best interest of home and visiting supporters to have separate sections.
Chief Executive Bill Williams said: “Supporters’ safety has and always will be paramount here at Maidstone United and the decision of the directors has been taken purely on that basis.
“It wasn’t a decision we took lightly but in the context of how our football club has evolved, personally I believe that it is a necessity and not necessary a bad thing.
“In my opinion it improves the overall experience for everyone and it is pretty much the norm at this level, with just three clubs we visited last season having open grounds.”
At present the stadium can only be segregated at the Genco Stand and north east corner of the ground, where catering and toilet facilities are available exclusively for away supporters.
In the next few weeks, the club and Shepherd Neame are investing in better bar facilities under the Genco Stand to make the area more welcoming for both sets of supporters.
Home supporters will use the turnstiles accessed through the car park, while visiting fans will use turnstile eight or nine, located opposite the Kent History and Library Centre on James Whatman Way.
|
|
|
Post by jt on Sept 14, 2017 8:23:54 GMT
Not surprised at all.
|
|
|
Post by tim on Sept 14, 2017 8:24:21 GMT
Understandable, but a shame!
Bloody morons spoiling our game!
|
|
|
Post by Nick on Sept 14, 2017 8:51:37 GMT
No coincidence the decision was taken after the Woking debacle when everyone bar the club officials knew it should have been segregated seems a bit extreme for the likes of visits from Guiseley and Boreham Wood
|
|
|
Post by fleetphil on Sept 14, 2017 8:57:19 GMT
Understandable, but a shame! Bloody morons spoiling our game! The morons always win, end of. It's such a shame, most of us rivals can stand together and have a bit of friendly banter without getting aggressive. I expect this will happen at the Fleet soon. Keep up the good work on the pitch.
|
|
|
Post by rollingstone on Sept 14, 2017 9:33:19 GMT
Can't say I am surprised really,it's been on the cards for a while...
|
|
|
Post by Bernie on Sept 14, 2017 9:40:10 GMT
It's good facilities will be improved at the away end. Those who enjoy mixing with visiting fans will have to do so in the pub. I still wish it was possible to segregate the Town End.
|
|
|
Post by daveu on Sept 14, 2017 9:40:48 GMT
No coincidence the decision was taken after the Woking debacle when everyone bar the club officials knew it should have been segregated seems a bit extreme for the likes of visits from Guiseley and Boreham Wood Maybe you could tell me this week's winning lottery numbers. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
|
|
|
Post by jdl on Sept 14, 2017 9:44:40 GMT
Inevitable, I suppose, but very, very sad. The end of the non-league era.
I'd like to have seen more effort and imagination put into finding ways of continuing non-segregation instead, rather than just taking the 'easy' way out. Most visiting supporters don't give us any trouble, and of those few clubs who do, the trouble makers are a tiny minority, who could easily be dealt with.
Instead of showing the rest of football how it could be done, how it can be different, we've just given in and accepted that visiting fans are trouble. We are now 'them and us' - that is not football supporting as we have always known it.
On a more practical note - now that this has happened and games will be forever segregated, the club needs to give serious thought to how this is to be managed. The current arrangements were a stop-gap and not at all satisfactory. Our biggest asset, the Elvis End stand, will now always be unavailable to us in full, the away supporters who can't fit in their EE allocation will continue to get a crap experience, stuck in that corner, and the main standers will continue to be cut off from their nearest exits and half-time food and drink. If you were planning the stadium from the start with segregation in mind, this is not how you would do it.
Until such time as the TE is replaced by a new stand, it should clearly be the away end - a much better experience for the away support, more safely and easily segregated (with no loss of terrace/seats,)the full EE available for the Ultra Bouncers, and a much better arrangement/experience for the main standers.
|
|
|
Post by suffolkstone on Sept 14, 2017 10:32:36 GMT
Much prefer when it is segregated, it adds so much more to the match day atmosphere. Our best days out, over the last few years have been when have had an end or side to ourselves.
|
|
|
Post by davec on Sept 14, 2017 10:53:38 GMT
How about having a special shitgibbon enclosure outside the ground
|
|
|
Post by Nick on Sept 14, 2017 10:57:42 GMT
No coincidence the decision was taken after the Woking debacle when everyone bar the club officials knew it should have been segregated seems a bit extreme for the likes of visits from Guiseley and Boreham Wood Maybe you could tell me this week's winning lottery numbers. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It's a matter of opinion, but personally I support segregation at National League level as I feel it always makes for a safer environment for both sets of supporters. Mixing largish groups of fans together or in close proximity is simply a risk not worth taking, there's always a chance of misbehaviour by a minority (as per Woking) You can always point to matches where mixing supporters together can work perfectly well, but you cannot guarantee it. It is a pity but there you have it. Not surprising that nearly all clubs at national league level now apply segregation for every match
|
|
|
Post by mrplow on Sept 14, 2017 12:28:11 GMT
Wise decision, Thank god and two fingers to the 'Holier than thou' who said they preferred the risk of violence among both sets of supporters.
|
|
|
Post by senna34165 on Sept 14, 2017 12:39:04 GMT
Wise decision, Thank god and two fingers to the 'Holier than thou' who said they preferred the risk of violence among both sets of supporters. Can you point to and evidence a post that backs up your assertion please
|
|
|
Post by senna34165 on Sept 14, 2017 12:40:10 GMT
Maybe you could tell me this week's winning lottery numbers. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It's a matter of opinion, but personally I support segregation at National League level as I feel it always makes for a safer environment for both sets of supporters. Mixing largish groups of fans together or in close proximity is simply a risk not worth taking, there's always a chance of misbehaviour by a minority (as per Woking) You can always point to matches where mixing supporters together can work perfectly well, but you cannot guarantee it. It is a pity but there you have it. Not surprising that nearly all clubs at national league level now apply segregation for every match How about an effort is made to stamp out the ridiculous behaviour in football particularly at this level?
|
|