Supporter behaviour!

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2024 3:25:46 GMT Benny said:

When talking about a potential crush situation at Highbury

Leeds fans experienced a Leppings Lane crush at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough the previous season although thankfully without the disastrous consequences that followed.

No ground was immune in those days, even at Elland Road I experienced similar a month or so before Hillsborough when there was a rush onto the terraces of the Lowfields (east) stand there after the police closed the gates to our north stand (kop) without notice just prior to kick off. That sparked a stampede among hundreds of people to get to the last pen on that side. It was ridiculous preparations considering it was midweek derby match against Bradford that ultimately had a crowd of over 33000 in the old division 2.

I think that was just about the last season you could buy a ticket on the gate at Elland Rd.

[Deleted]

When I think back to the old days of standing on the North Bank at Upton Park, I'm surprised there weren't more serious problems and injuries. Even just for a goal you'd sometimes get knocked off your feet, as everybody rushed/pushed forward.

I was once sent sprawling and lost my glasses - crawling about on the concrete steps trying to find them, whilst people tried not to trip/fall over me.

The irony (pun intended) was that there was a sign on the way out, where there was always a crush at the top of the steps, that said "Remember Ibrox".

Thank god those days are over.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2024 15:35:25 GMT yorkshirestone said:

Apr 30, 2024 3:25:46 GMT Benny said:

When talking about a potential crush situation at Highbury

Leeds fans experienced a Leppings Lane crush at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough the previous season although thankfully without the disastrous consequences that followed.

No ground was immune in those days, even at Elland Road I experienced similar a month or so before Hillsborough when there was a rush onto the terraces of the Lowfields (east) stand there after the police closed the gates to our north stand (kop) without notice just prior to kick off. That sparked a stampede among hundreds of people to get to the last pen on that side. It was ridiculous preparations considering it was midweek derby match against Bradford that ultimately had a crowd of over 33000 in the old division 2.

I think that was just about the last season you could buy a ticket on the gate at Elland Rd.

Yes. Ive footage of that seen that. There was also one where Tottenham fans were getting over the fence and sitting by the side of the pitch to avoid the crush. The game carried on and by HT there were several fans just sat by the pitch watching. can you imagine that happening now?

[garstone]

Apr 30, 2024 17:03:53 GMT nws said:

Apr 30, 2024 15:35:25 GMT yorkshirestone said:

Leeds fans experienced a Leppings Lane crush at the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough the previous season although thankfully without the disastrous consequences that followed.

No ground was immune in those days, even at Elland Road I experienced similar a month or so before Hillsborough when there was a rush onto the terraces of the Lowfields (east) stand there after the police closed the gates to our north stand (kop) without notice just prior to kick off. That sparked a stampede among hundreds of people to get to the last pen on that side. It was ridiculous preparations considering it was midweek derby match against Bradford that ultimately had a crowd of over 33000 in the old division 2.

I think that was just about the last season you could buy a ticket on the gate at Elland Rd.

Yes. Ive footage of that seen that. There was also one where Tottenham fans were getting over the fence and sitting by the side of the pitch to avoid the crush. The game carried on and by HT there were several fans just sat by the pitch watching. can you imagine that happening now?

Not if our stewards were there. They would have thrown them back into the crowd to be crushed 🤪🤪

[Deleted]

Not quite on the same scale as some previously mentioned, but mid to late 70s, approaching Ipswich train station from Portman Road, someone had closed a full height gate to keep everyone out of the station, crowd pressed against the metal grill, my dad did what he did, got angry and forced open the gate shouting at the staff, everyone caught their trains. Glad to see things have improved in the intervening decades.

What strikes me about the Gallagher is there really is no plan. Just keep reacting to predictable and preventable events hoping it’ll all be OK.

Now that we know we’re in the National South for at least another season, let’s reconnect with our non league roots and deescalate the atmosphere. Lose the barrier. Ban or control the 40 virgins and their drum. Have a less hostile set up for the few games that need segregation. Make the match day experience pleasurable, particularly for families whose kids want to see the game. Make the Gallagher somewhere you want to go, not somewhere you tolerate because you happen to be a fan.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2024 19:10:10 GMT Benny said:

Not quite on the same scale as some previously mentioned, but mid to late 70s, approaching Ipswich train station from Portman Road, someone had closed a full height gate to keep everyone out of the station, crowd pressed against the metal grill, my dad did what he did, got angry and forced open the gate shouting at the staff, everyone caught their trains. Glad to see things have improved in the intervening decades.

What strikes me about the Gallagher is there really is no plan. Just keep reacting to predictable and preventable events hoping it’ll all be OK.

Now that we know we’re in the National South for at least another season, let’s reconnect with our non league roots and deescalate the atmosphere. Lose the barrier. Ban or control the 40 virgins and their drum. Have a less hostile set up for the few games that need segregation. Make the match day experience pleasurable, particularly for families whose kids want to see the game. Make the Gallagher somewhere you want to go, not somewhere you tolerate because you happen to be a fan.

If only we could. But I fear that barrier is here to stay. The club (appears) to blame the police or local authority, but I get the feeling they're happy to just go along with it. I really don't want to criticise the club after all Terry and Oliver have done for us, but it feels like they're not listening to the fans at all on this.

OK, we know there is no simple answer (that we can afford, anyway), but still something needs to be done. And the answer certainly isn't a permanent barrier and loads of 'security' staff. It's expensive, takes up a big chunk of the Genco, lets away fans have our best stand, and, far from being a solution, it just creates the hostile atmosphere we are trying to avoid.

And I'm with Bernie on the 'virgins' too. They make plenty of noise, which adds to the atmosphere, but some of them behave like total dickheads. And songs like the 'f**king' one aren't going to encourage families to come back. As a sustainable club, our future depends on growing the attendance - we need averages of around 3,000 and regular gates bigger than that to fund the NL and ground improvements. Perfectly possible, with a town this size, and all the positive PR from the Cup run, but how many new fans, especially families, come back after hearing and seeing the sort of thing we've seen recently?

And the way George and the players only applaud them, pisses me off. This not only alienates other fans, who are just as passionate, and who care just as much, but it also encourages the idiots to think that their behaviour is approved of. I wonder what they'd think if the players rushed over to the MS or the TE at the end of the game and applauded their support? Probably go home and sulk and go back to watching PL games on the TV.

[Deleted]

George applauds the main stand after the game, so do some of the players. They just don’t do it as a group. And let’s be honest, there’s usually only a couple of dozen of us left in that stand after most games.

[Deleted]

You beat me to it daveu.
There's usually a few hundred to applaud in the Genco and very few in the MS 5 minutes after the match.
Also fair to say the Genco boys give about 10 times the volume of MS.
Not a moan, just saying how it is.
No idea why anyone is moaning about the drumming. Its good imo.

[Deleted]

The drum is brilliant, gets the whole stand going. The Genco gives something to the team that the 2 other stands cannot. We need all the Genco, that way the away fans wont be near the younger fans to cause any trouble. Win win.


Come on owners!!!! We want the full Genco for goodness sake.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2024 21:18:13 GMT daveu said:

George applauds the main stand after the game, so do some of the players. They just don’t do it as a group. And let’s be honest, there’s usually only a couple of dozen of us left in that stand after most games.

George might (some time later), but the players rarely bother. We often stay back to applaud the players, but they seldom come over to the MS.

How many would stay in the Genco if they knew the players weren't coming over?

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2024 21:28:30 GMT nick said:

You beat me to it daveu.
There's usually a few hundred to applaud in the Genco and very few in the MS 5 minutes after the match.
Also fair to say the Genco boys give about 10 times the volume of MS.
Not a moan, just saying how it is.
No idea why anyone is moaning about the drumming. Its good imo.

The drum is excellent (except when it's near you and you didn't realise!). It's the yoof associated with it that are the problem.

[Deleted]

The drum has become the focal point of those more interested in abusing away fans than watching the game.

Move it from the middle to near the riverside and put up a few posters, let away fans congregate the other end, with normal fans in the middle.

And brutally suppress the dozen 12 year olds who have taken to moving next to the away fans near the end of the game.

[Deleted]

How about taking the drum and the drummer in to the river and drowning the fucker. I have to say it annoyed the f**k out of me on the occasions that he migrated to the town end and stood six feet away from me in fact I remember once telling him to f**k off back to the Genco or I would grab the drum and put his head through the canvas and shove his sticks up his nostrils. Anyway our crowds will plummet next year as all the George and Ash out boys have said that they would rather be in the NL in 24th place getting hammered week in and week out than being in the top 6 of this tinpot league winning games more often than not and so i assume they won't be returning . As for segregation I fear that is hear to stay as the Non entity that us our safety manager, who was doubtlessly bullied at school,would feel put out that nobody is listening to him which indeed they shouldn't. The owners will do nothing to upset their little man and certainly will not listen to supporters. After a year of poor health i am hoping to return to watch some,not all,home games and i think I'll stick to the town end well away from the braindead zero IQ knobheads that sully the name of our club.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2024 20:43:32 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

If only we could. But I fear that barrier is here to stay. The club (appears) to blame the police or local authority, but I get the feeling they're happy to just go along with it. I really don't want to criticise the club after all Terry and Oliver have done for us, but it feels like they're not listening to the fans at all on this.

Let's find out which is true. I've written to both to find out what their influence is. As they are both public bodies they have to reply under the Freedom of Information Act (the club doesn't) so I'll let you know what I hear back in due course.

[Deleted]

I'm with Grovegreenie, more than anything i would like to see the club relocate away support out of the Genco.