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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 15:14:57 GMT
There would appear to be a certain amount of buck passing going on. Who by depends on who is telling the truth about what occurred.
Either way, running an event which is likely to attract thousands of people means that you should adopt an approach which is a damn sight more professional and responsible than what we saw yesterday. It doesn't matter if you're only a wee club with semi-pro status, if you can't do it properly then don't try competing at a level that will expose you to crowds like that occasionally.
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Post by stevek192 on Jan 18, 2015 15:31:31 GMT
Lets be honest here and say if you have a ground with a 6,000 capacity and you make it all ticket why should you have less than 6,000 tickets available. There were MORE than enough Police on duty yesterday to have had an all ticket game to comfortably house 4500. There were also more than enough Police to have housed the 300 outside in the home end and to have had segregation row of Police between the fans although to be honest they would have been needed only as a precaution. No, I personally feel the Police were probably to blame because they wanted an easy life.
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Peter Parker
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Post by Peter Parker on Jan 18, 2015 15:35:12 GMT
Lets be honest here and say if you have a ground with a 6,000 capacity and you make it all ticket why should you have less than 6,000 tickets available. There were MORE than enough Police on duty yesterday to have had an all ticket game to comfortably house 4500. There were also more than enough Police to have housed the 300 outside in the home end and to have had segregation row of Police between the fans although to be honest they would have been needed only as a precaution. No, I personally feel the Police were probably to blame because they wanted an easy life. Surely an easy life for the old bill os to hav e all our fans in the ground in one place
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 15:51:57 GMT
Questions: 1) If Woking say they offered us the chance to sell tickets and Rovers say the decision not to make it all ticket was Woking's, who is telling the truth? 2) If Woking offered us 600 seated tickets to sell, would the terrace have been pay on the day or closed entirely? Why could they not have offered us 1800 tickets? 3) Whose decision was it not to allow away fans into the home end with appropriate segregation? So far we have heard that it was the decision of Surrey Police, WFC's chairman, WFC's stewards... what went on and who had the final say? 4) If Woking were told by BRFC to expect large numbers of travelling supporters in line with the numbers at Aldershot (1200 or so with anecdotal reports of away fans in home areas) and Nuneaton (officially 900-odd, unofficial estimates of 12-1300), why was there apparently no contingency plan by WFC/Surrey Police to deal with overflow from the away end's capacity of 1800-odd?
In the end, those who were refused admission after travelling at no little expense to a fixture that wasn't all ticket are owed a full explanation, an apology from all concerned and assurances that steps will be taken to ensure this doesn't happen again. We've seen some of this from BRFC but very little so far from WFC or Surrey Police. That's not acceptable.
Can I suggest that anyone affected and/or has an account of what went on contact BRFC, WFC, Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council and the Football Supporters Federation. We shouldn't just accept this or it will happen again, either to us or to someone else.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 15:56:31 GMT
He finished his post asking if anyone has any other ideas.... Not seen many on this thread, but can see the snipers. As stated above can only look at future games.... heres an idea get that other gormless slimy fool masters to earn his position
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Post by Wreckless on Jan 18, 2015 16:11:09 GMT
Having read BSS's communication again, my conclusion is that one of two things will happen:- Either We will recommend to the opposition that more games should be all-ticket (which may or may not have any effect whatsoever) Or Absolutely nothing different from what happened yesterday!
However, if there is a repeat of the circumstances of yesterday - how about a little openness and communication IN ADVANCE from the club(s)? Our Board could have said last week - on the OS, on the forums and in the local press:- a) We have recommended that the match should be all-ticket, but Woking have refused b) We believe that we will take 1500-2000 supporters to Woking and have advised them accordingly c) Woking/the Police have advised us that a maximum of 1900 Away supporters will be allowed into the ground d) To avoid disappointment, we strongly advise you to enter the ground by 1430
That way at least no one could say that they had not been informed, and the positions of each club would have been clearly understood (rather than the pathetic attempts at buck-passing, finger pointing and self-justification that are currently being bandied around.
There you go Brian - a suggestion.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 16:19:58 GMT
However, if there is a repeat of the circumstances of yesterday - how about a little openness and communication IN ADVANCE from the club(
i stopped reading there
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toteend
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Post by toteend on Jan 18, 2015 16:24:35 GMT
What a load of garbage. All decisions about ticketing etc are the responsibility of the home club. In case you missed it THE HOME CLUB. Why would anyone know how many were going on Saturday as it wasn't all ticket, unless of course you are mystic Meg. Of course as Woking decided not to make it all ticket it's our clubs fault eh Wreckless?
It's not up to the police how many were allowed on our terrace, it's H&S. If everyone had to be in the ground by 14:30 it would make no difference as once capacity was reached the gates would then be closed.
There you go Wreckless- an answer.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Jan 18, 2015 16:32:30 GMT
First of all, credit to bss for representing the authority of Bristol Rovers for coming on and clarifying some of the misrepresentations of earlier thoughts and threads.
As a follower of multiple away games this season, I see the situation lays squarely at Woking.
The lack of pro action led to this situation. They knew a large contingency were attending from arguably the largest club in the division, and they were happy to take the money (most important to them) with as little responsibility as possible ie Rovers fans locked out (least important to them). They filled their boots and as a club offer little on return for sea support. The ground was big enough to accommodate EVERYONE, but the lack of forward thinking and initiative left a minority of our supporters feeling very let down. We could have surely been non segregated as in previous away meetings?
The stewards tried to do their best by what I could see (in new stand behind the goal, futile attempt, and for a while there was confusion....but to be honest, brutally honest....with hindsight, was their £15 better off spent elsewhere? (playing devils advocate)
The brave guys and girls whom travelled and couldn't get in, hats off to you, but you didn't miss much. Of course you weren't to know that, but at the end of the day I salute you and credit you support even though it's not officially recognised.
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toteend
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Post by toteend on Jan 18, 2015 16:32:38 GMT
Strange thing is Bulbous , that it was Ken Masters that tried to resolve the issue at the ground. He therefore tried to be constructive, and he didn't call anyone a gormless slimy fool either.He got their chairman to approach the police with a view to getting our fans in.
By the way did you go, because from your contribution so far you have nothing to add to move the debate on, and it seems you know nothing of the events that took place
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Peter Parker
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Post by Peter Parker on Jan 18, 2015 16:59:46 GMT
Does anyone know how many Luton took to Woking? I imagine if Luton were top they took a few
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Post by Wreckless on Jan 18, 2015 17:11:18 GMT
What a load of garbage. All decisions about ticketing etc are the responsibility of the home club. In case you missed it THE HOME CLUB. Why would anyone know how many were going on Saturday as it wasn't all ticket, unless of course you are mystic Meg. Of course as Woking decided not to make it all ticket it's our clubs fault eh Wreckless? It's not up to the police how many were allowed on our terrace, it's H&S. If everyone had to be in the ground by 14:30 it would make no difference as once capacity was reached the gates would then be closed. There you go Wreckless- an answer. Thank you for your "answer" to my suggestion.
Quite correctly, concern had been expressed that no one had come up with any suggestions - Sorry for trying.
I fully understand that this is the responsibility of the Home Club. If you actually read my suggestion it is obvious that I have understood this. I have also understood that the Club told Woking that we were expected to take 1500+ - they are clearly prepared to take on the Mystig Meg role - and I don't think it unreasonable for them to take a view. I have no idea whose "fault" it was nor have I suggested that it was ours. I don't know who decides how many will be allowed in - but it should be a number that is a known quantity - to our club as well as theirs. I do appreciate that once it's full it's full - you can't fit a quart into a pint pot - but at least no one will have travelled under any illusion.
In short - you have not provided any kind of answer - merely consigned my suggestion to the garbage bin. Maybe that is what it deserves, but I haven't seen too many other suggestions. I have merely made a request for better communication - and made a suggestion as to how that may be achieved.
PS - I think the capacity available for Away supporters at Woking was actually mentioned somewhere on the OS last week, but I do believe that (based on discussions between the clubs prior to the match) where there is seen to be a significant risk that support may exceed capacity the Club should be explicit about it wherever possible. Otherwise people will roll up and expect to get in. I suspect that no one travelled yesterday in the expectation that they would be locked out.
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Post by poorblue on Jan 18, 2015 17:12:47 GMT
Hi May I firstly apologise that I was not at the game yesterday and therefore was not directly on hand to help in regards to our supporters who with deep regret, were not able to get into the game at Woking. I received several messages on twitter and other means around 3.20 and began to act immediately by contacting my fellow directors of the situation. May I offer my thanks to them for immediately responding and were already responding, including the Chairman. Realising that there was space in certain parts of the ground, Nick put maximum pressure on their Chairman to open those areas and allow our supporters in. I only understand from hearsay, that their Chairman responded, spoke to the Police and this request was rejected, but I cannot confirm this. May I make it clear that the safety and welfare of all concerned is paramount and if there is a dangerous situation then those responsible must be obeyed and remembering at the same time, that the staging of a home game is the responsibility of the home club and their decision is final. However, in my own personal view, and again I was not there, is that it is safer to have people in a stadium rather than outside on the street - providing there are sufficient facilities to accommodate them. I am disappointed this did not happen. I have spoken to the Chairman this morning as I promised I would. Nick makes it absolutely clear that Woking were advised by BRFC that we were expecting in excess of 1,500 supporters to attend the game. It was Woking's decision therefore not to make the game all ticket and to charge on the gate. Clearly, they felt they had sufficient room in a stadium, catering for over 6,000 to do this. Secondly, they no doubt appreciated that the Rovers allocation would have been greatly restricted, possibly to 600 on an all ticket game and this would have had an effect on matchday revenue. They must also have been aware from our other away games that Rovers away support is constantly in excess of 1,200 and this attendance yesterday was not uncommon. So where do we go to from here? 1. Firstly, again may I offer my sincere apologies to those of you who travelled and could not get in. Thank you for making the effort and spending money to travel. 2. I have asked Nick if in future, particularly at small grounds like Dover, we recommend all-ticket to prevent this happening again, but again this is the choice of the home team. 3. That we do continue to emphasis to the club's we visit of our potential support and ensure sufficent space to cater for everyone- but this does go without saying, as the club does this already. If you have any suggestions which may help avoid this in future then please do email me at br467@btinternet.com and I will pass these ideas on. best wishes Brian SS Interesting Strange that you should say all ticket for Dover when the ground guide suggests that their capacity is only a couple od hundred less than Woking. Rather undermines your response Brian. Asleep at the wheel, perhaps?
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Post by poorblue on Jan 18, 2015 17:15:41 GMT
I was one of the locked out. This is straight from the horses mouth not rumour, I was there and heard it first hand. Some 20 minutes after kick off a senior police officer at the gate where rovers were standing offered to try negotiating with Woking to let the gas fan in. All fans were calm and not aggressive although clearly frustrated. He was gone for some 10-15 minutes and upon his return stated there was space within the home terrace. The police officer stated he had no objection to letting away fans in with Woking providing a steward wall as segregation in the home end terrace. Woking had refused he stated. Ps The same officer along with very helpful Woking steward let an ill invalid Gashed and helper into the said terrace. The police were excellent and so the Woking stewards but where was the Woking cooperation with Rovers officials. Read more: gasheads.org/thread/2143/lock-out-woking-response?page=1#ixzz3PC4p8crH
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Post by EssoBlue on Jan 18, 2015 18:03:50 GMT
The problem with making a game All Ticket is that it is likely to reduce the number of home fans. Hence why Woking chose not to.
However, making it All Ticket just for away fans is likely to result in away fans in the home areas (ie Torquay).
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Post by michaelb on Jan 18, 2015 18:14:10 GMT
I always find getting there early helps
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2015 18:21:35 GMT
I always find getting there early helps How does this help in avoiding the away end being full before all the away fans are in?
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Post by trueblue92 on Jan 18, 2015 20:54:02 GMT
I was locked out and the chairman did not ask the police to let us in. The head policemen went in to the safety room asking if they could make segregation. For us which the answer was it's to late notice. The stewards and police were both saying common sence would be to let us In, also the police said they were only paid to be outside the ground unless a serious incident occurred.
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Post by Bath Gas on Jan 18, 2015 22:20:48 GMT
Rather strange that BSS has given his post on here a different title to his identical post on Gas Chat, which is titled "My sincere apologies - we did all we could!"
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Post by CountyGroundHotel on Jan 19, 2015 3:07:03 GMT
ffs give the guy a break!Hounded for not coming on here,tries to give some answers to yesterday's situation and your on him like a dog with a bone,give it a bloody rest. Not at all. He has no answers to yesterdays situation, but he can influence the future. I am, correctly I think, pointing out that if Dover is the bench mark, as he states, for an all ticket game then Woking should have been. That being the case Hopefully, if not all, the away remaining games should be. At the end of the day upto 300 were locked out due to poor planning by either Woking or BRFC, we can agree that, surely. Its hard to see Woking wanting to lose multiple £000's due to this. I was speaking to Nicky Bainger, their Commercial Manager (ex pro) who sold out the hospitality lunch etc. He had some interesting comments about leadership coming from the top and the effect of a lack of. Its not about Brian coming on here, its about managing the club. This was poorly managed, and he is an executive director. Hopefully you pointed out to Nicky Bainger the lack of leadership & planning shown by the home club on this occasion. I doubt it though as that wouldn't suit your agenda. Unless of course you are suggesting that the Rovers board are so great they should take over the decision making for all clubs in the Conference? Hopw
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