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Post by pinkpanther on Jan 3, 2020 16:22:06 GMT
As an away fan (Dulwich) I prefer not to be segregated, but can understand why some clubs feel it's advisable especially if the ground is likely to be close to full capacity. (Personally I just think it encourages gobshites to shoot their mouths off from a safe distance without the danger of picking on the wrong person and getting more than they bargained for.) However even if the segregation was only advised by Police and/or local authority I think most clubs' safety officers would play safe and heed that advice rather than making their own call that it's not necessary. I'm fairly certain ours would. What I don't understand with the Maidstone arrangements is making games all ticket for away fans but not home fans. Surely that's just going to encourage some away fans to pay on the gate for the home sections of the ground? Quite a few of our supporters said they intended to do that. As it happens pay on the gate was made available for the Dulwich game at a couple of days notice, and reading this thread it sounds like the same happened for Tonbridge which is just messing everyone around. The advance tickets weren't available online, only from our ground during clubhouse opening hours and matchdays, and the first of the two home games at which they were due to be available was postponed. This was the last of four away games in between paydays for me (after Oxford, Hornchurch, Hungerford) and we had another one at Hampton yesterday. For me personally I couldn't afford to do all those games, so the ticketing thing just made it easy to choose Maidstone as the one to miss when I would otherwise have probably missed Hungerford instead Making away fans all ticket presumably makes it 2easier2 to determine how much of the Genco stand to allocate to away fans. In theory it removes the 'threat' of unnecessary overcrowding in either the away or home sections.
I can see the advantages in this approach. Whether they outweigh the disadvantages I'll leave to others.
Dulwich were allocated 550 tickets according to our Safety Officer. We've only ever taken that many to play-off finals. We were probably close for our first ever National South game at Welling last season, which is also our shortest away trip in the division. We were never going to take more than 300 for a midseason league match that isn't a traditional derby fixture, albeit with a history of some big matches between the clubs in the last 5-7 years. We only sold around 130 tickets in advance, because people knew they could just pay on the gate for the home turnstiles. Does MUFC have a policy for dealing with away fans who enter the home turnstiles then start cheering their team? It's sure to happen sooner or later if it hasn't already.
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Post by Bernie on Jan 3, 2020 16:30:14 GMT
A couple of men were taken through the gate to the away corner, who I assume were stray Tonbridge fans. Not everybody scans social media. There must have been some away fans who decided against attending due to the hassle of buying tickets, who subsequently didn't know the restriction had been eased. It's not the best tactic for attracting paying customers. Don't think any league games will attract more than 550 away fans this season.
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Post by pwoodstone on Jan 3, 2020 16:31:09 GMT
Making away fans all ticket presumably makes it 2easier2 to determine how much of the Genco stand to allocate to away fans. In theory it removes the 'threat' of unnecessary overcrowding in either the away or home sections.
I can see the advantages in this approach. Whether they outweigh the disadvantages I'll leave to others.
Dulwich were allocated 550 tickets according to our Safety Officer. We've only ever taken that many to play-off finals. We were probably close for our first ever National South game at Welling last season, which is also our shortest away trip in the division. We were never going to take more than 300 for a midseason league match that isn't a traditional derby fixture, albeit with a history of some big matches between the clubs in the last 5-7 years. We only sold around 130 tickets in advance, because people knew they could just pay on the gate for the home turnstiles. Does MUFC have a policy for dealing with away fans who enter the home turnstiles then start cheering their team? It's sure to happen sooner or later if it hasn't already. With a 10 minute phone-call, the club could have garnered this information! Frustrating as it shouldn't be this hard at this level. It's part of the reason we love it! As for our policy for dealing with away fans buying tickets in the home end - removal from the terrace and a summary execution probably.
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Post by pwoodstone on Jan 3, 2020 16:32:19 GMT
A couple of men were taken through the gate, who I assume were stray Tonbridge fans. Not everybody scans social media. There must have been some away fans who decided against attending due to the hassle of buying tickets, who subsequently didn't know the restriction had been eased. It's not the best tactic for attracting paying customers. Don't think any league games will attract more than 550 away fans this season. I saw a few down the river side and they watched the game in peace. Some clearly with Maidstone supporting friends (but wearing Tonbridge scarves) and a few by the dugouts.
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Post by jdh80 on Jan 3, 2020 20:46:56 GMT
A couple of men were taken through the gate to the away corner, who I assume were stray Tonbridge fans. Not everybody scans social media. There must have been some away fans who decided against attending due to the hassle of buying tickets, who subsequently didn't know the restriction had been eased. It's not the best tactic for attracting paying customers. Don't think any league games will attract more than 550 away fans this season. Those two men you mention might have done what I've done at a number of away games politely ask the steward if you can be escorted to the club shop to get a pin badge etc, most clubs stewards seem happy to do this when we've been segregated the last few years.
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Post by Bernie on Apr 22, 2023 19:48:02 GMT
Here we go again. Can we hope to mingle with away fans next season? Stop making it difficult for away fans to visit? If Dartford and Ebbsfleet can have over 3000 unsegregated supporters, why can’t we do better?
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Post by 61666 on Apr 23, 2023 7:19:03 GMT
Hopefully the Club will have a long good look at itself before the start of next season - there are many issues to sort out, not just on the pitch. One small positive has been moving the queue to the pie shop, so it runs alongside the pitch. Not that many people seemed to mind not seeing the game when it ran behind the Town End, but it pissed me of, because I pay to watch the game, not queue for pies or drinks. Still think away fans should be given the Town End too, but seems that ain't going to happen.
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Post by daveu on Apr 23, 2023 10:51:04 GMT
The segregation issue isn't going away all the while Kent Police have a say.
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Post by yorkshirestone on Apr 26, 2023 17:06:05 GMT
The segregation issue isn't going away all the while Kent Police have a say. The Police are controlled/held accountable by the Police and Crime Commissioner, an elected post apparently next due to be vulnerable - sorry elected - in 2026. www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/get-in-touch/contact-us/ If there are genuine solutions to their concerns it might be worth getting in touch, and if they're unhelpful, just remember that when it comes to the next election.
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Post by pwoodstone on Apr 26, 2023 17:33:18 GMT
They will just counter with many many instances of disorder, however minor.
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Post by Raymondo316 on Apr 26, 2023 17:53:18 GMT
Only 5-6 league games will be segregated next season, so we don't really need to worry about it as much.
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Post by jdl on Apr 26, 2023 21:43:53 GMT
Only 5-6 league games will be segregated next season, so we don't really need to worry about it as much. If Darts go up and Dover go down, who will be visiting us who 'requires' segregation?
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Post by daveu on Apr 26, 2023 21:47:42 GMT
Only 5-6 league games will be segregated next season, so we don't really need to worry about it as much. If Darts go up and Dover go down, who will be visiting us who 'requires' segregation? Tonbridge would be one. Not sure who else.
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Post by Raymondo316 on Apr 26, 2023 21:49:24 GMT
Only 5-6 league games will be segregated next season, so we don't really need to worry about it as much. If Darts go up and Dover go down, who will be visiting us who 'requires' segregation? Tonbridge, Torquay and Yeovil.
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Post by Raymondo316 on Apr 26, 2023 21:51:45 GMT
Also maybe Weymouth
I remember some of their supporters caused a load of problems when we played them back in 2019.
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