Post by trolley59 on Mar 18, 2014 19:46:48 GMT
Bognor fan here. Very disappointed to read these comments, most of which are unfair as normally where ever we go; and we take a fair support to most games we have NO trouble.
The match at Dulwich a few weeks ago was unfortunate it that a few people on a stag day in London with Bognor fans were a little OTT. Any damage done and it was broken fixing brackets not hoardings ripped off the walls etc was I believe paid for. The other antics were just high jinks on such a day.
Dulwich however with their biggest crowd of the season should look at themselves however as they had insufficient stewards, bar staff and only one food outlet open which caused problems on the day.
I anticipate there will be a fair following for this game depending on league standings etc, and yes there are a fair amount having a weekend away. However this has happened many times before with no problems.
In the past we have always enjoyed good banter with Maidstone fans and I can never recollect any trouble with the two sets of fans. I think that maybe certain members of your forum are perhaps over reacting without knowing the true facts and have perhaps not come across us before.
Anyway all said and done I look forward to seeing your magnificent new ground and an entertaining game in April.
It's easy for fans from other clubs to read each others forums and put opposition clubs in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, and thus make other clubs look "bad" whilst hiding issues within their own ranks.
I've read Dulwich's forum, and I'm quite disappointed to hear the things they are writing about us (as you are by what you are reading on here) I was stood with the Dulwich fans in the 2nd half and I thought they were a credit to their club, however the knee jerk reaction is to now point out the 1 or 2 fans who weren't a credit to their club.....purely in defence of my own club.
I appreciate there have been issues at our place, but considering the crowds we get, the matches we've played, in the main we don't have a problem. However, the issues we do have can't be ignored. And obviously when it comes to it, each set of fans blames the other and it just becomes a pointless exercise in tit for tat. ie Dulwich highlight a couple of your fans who misbehave on your forum, and you moan about the lack of stewarding at Dulwich on your forum.
The basic problem is our ground is too small for the crowds we get and so the "non league" tradition of changing ends can't really be adhered to, but when we have larger numbers of away fans, they expect to be able to change ends in the traditional way (which I don't have an issue with)....I personally wouldn't want to steam into a packed end of home fans and expect to be welcomed with open arms by all, at present the choice is there for visiting fans to mix on a packed terrace. Beer is also allowed on this terrace (in the traditonal non league way) and whilst the banter between fans can be a little on the edge, the flashpoint often comes when there is a "big moment" on the pitch...ie a goal being scored......you have rival sets of fans stood side by side, going through different "football" emotions at the same time....fans celebrating a goal are elated, fans conceding a goal are annoyed......fans with drinks in hand, throw pints into the air (probably because it's easier than holding them) with their arms and already annoyed away fans get soaked.....hey presto.
So who's to blame? home fans, away fans, stewards, bar staff, upbringing, social skills......well this would obviously depend on what club you followed (we blame Wealdstone, they blame us, Dulwich blame Bognor, Bognor blame Dulwich) but ultimately it's a mixture of all these things.....which is why the subject of segregation has come up.
Personally I'd prefer you left our place talking about the football, and when I left on Saturday, the vast majority of Dulwich fans were doing just that......but negative news seems to travel a lot faster than positive news
great reading, and why we should have an away section at the Gallagher, in most non league grounds both sets of fans are at least the length of the pitch apart, and those big moments only normally affect your mate standing next to you,
But for instance in the town end we have the kids in front leaning on the pitch barrier, Mums and Dads standing behind them keeping a careful eye or not in some cases on there siblings, Maidstone Fans young and old standing in there chosen places, 100 away supporters added into the mix, and doing what away supporters do singing their hearts out for their team, a big moment happens, Maidstone Fans gets the hump, away fan tells him go away, someone chucks beer, little Joey gets beer in his chips, Dad gets the raving, and in a flash we have returned to the 1970;s
we all get branded as the lowest of the low, and our clubs get dragged through the dirt,