FAO Chris Baker

[jc]

Just wondering why Fleet fans weren't allowed onto the open terrace for the second half of extra time last night. It seems a bit silly to me to make a point of not segregating the game, and then deciding to change that policy mid-match because it's a bit of a tense game.

 

Of course, I respect the way you've come on this forum and given your side of the story regarding the Scarborough match and so on, as I'm sure all other Fleet fans do. If there was a particular incident last night that led to the decision, I would of course understand the decision fully. There's no malice intended in this post - it's just something I'm interested in being cleared up.

[Number 8]

Jay's dad and I were sat next to a nice couple from BS, they were very quiet all through the game which I thought was hard for them (they looked worried..). We were really rowdy so I think we put the fear of christ into them... sorry if we intimidated you though not directly..!

[Guest]

Thanks for the question I am happy to explain the reason behind my decision.

 

As you are aware we were approaching the end of the fixture with the possibility of penalties. I had already advised the referee that if the situation arose I would insist that the pens be taken in front of the closed stand for safety reasons. Obviously with 1000+ in the ground everyone would want to move near the end hosting the kicks and the end terrace would have become overcrowded, plus the tension of the kicks may have instigated trouble between the two sets of mixed fans.

 

By insisting the penalties were taken infront of the closed Northfleet Stand it allowed GNFC supporters to stay in the area they were already in minimising the crowd movement but I then had to stop Bishop Stortford supporters moving down and creating an overcrowding issue in the already heavily populated Stonebridge Road stand. I left the decision as late as I felt possible meaning just the last 15 minutes were segregated purely for the safety of the supporters of both clubs.

 

Difficult situation to deal with but hopefully it did not upset too many people who I would sure were already as disappointed as me at the result.

Thanks for the question, see you on Saturday.

[Guest]

Fair play Chris, it was a sensible move. Even during the game a few G&N fans came and stood near us and were clearly acting in a provocative way when your boys scored. Celebrating is one thing, trying to incite is another. One of the culprits was doing the same thing on Saturday at our place, which although peaceful, could've been ugly as our stewarding in my opinion, was very poor.

 

You'll be pleased to know that your favourite (!)player Mr Southam was there with us on the open terrace celebrating wildly - sorry mate.

 

All the best with G&N and your other lot.

 

 

Allez Les Bleus! [color:"blue"] [/color] [color:"blue"] [/color]

[Bernard]

To be fair, as I think those comments were aimed at me, in the heat of the moment with a goal in the last minute of the game, do you really expect me simply to stand there and cheer? Besides, I seem to remember about twenty of your fans doing the same thing as I when your second and third goals went in.

 

I stood behind the goal as it gives the optimum view of seeing the game, since down the side you cannot see the corners of the pitch. I was not there to cause any trouble: as you may have noticed when your three goals went in, I said nothing to anyone. It was the best atmosphere I've experienced at a game and I'd relive it again to experience the thrill of a last minute goal. Obviously, I'm gutted but that game will go down in my memory for many years to come.

 

Furthermore, I had an excellent conversation with a very kind member of your support and was extremely pleased with the conduct of your fans. May the good relationship between us all continue

[Guest]

It was more than one person, so don't know if it was you or not, however shouting and swearing at us when you score and dancing like a maniac in front of our fans (if indeed you were one of those people)is just as likely to undo all the goodwill between our respective fans.

 

Calling us kind afterwards is all well and good, but there were a few there who were close to twatting someone if they carried on.

 

Stand wherever you want (it's your home ground afterall) and in normal circumstances (in our level) we'd have been at the other end of the ground, so it would not have been an issue.

 

It is vcery easy for moments of celebration to be misinterpreted in the heat of the moment and causing violence even among normally reasonable people, you must surely realise this.

 

If you were trying to wind us up, then fine, just admit it, otherwise, you really should've known better.

 

Good luck for Saturday Vs the canvey mongs. They were incredibly arrogant before we turned them over and stole all their lucky heather and nicked the wheels off their houses.

 

 

Allez Les Bleus! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applaus.gif" alt="" />

[Bernard]

All I can say is: take it however you want. I was the one running around, because we'd scored a very good goal. Your fans did the same, end of story. It was an amazing game made better by your vocal support and kind nature. As for the swearing, it was not at you, but at the ref for his atrocious red card decision on Jay on 95 mins. Also, you may have noticed our celebrations carried us away from your fans, not towards, and we didn't go laughing at you when things went our way. You may interpret our behaviour as you wish, but don't judge us to harshly for our impassioned support...

[jc]

Thanks very much, Chris - at the time it wound me up, presumably owing to the tense nature of the match, but in retrospect I realize it was a bit of a difficult one. As it happens, I was one of those few Fleet fans on the open terrace all game, and so wasn't personally affected by the decision. I was just curious.

[behindthegoal]

...re Chris' previous response that now explains what happened, can you please explain why the Fleet fans standing at the Swanscombe end were stopped from leaving after the final whistle? As I walked awy from the delighted BS fans I was told by a ginger headed lad (steward) of about 15 that I could not leave the terrarce on the road side. I said why not as I was going out and he said he could not allow me to leave putting his arms wide to add to the crash barriers blocking the exit. I simply walked on the wall to get by him and left the ground. However a group of young Fleet fans did not feel able to defy his instruction and were held back unable to leave and join their parents who waited outside concerned as to their whereabouts. What is all this nonsense about? For goodness sake can we get a bit professional with our stewarding or not bother.

[Harry J Allstars]

What appears to have happened here is no segregation was enforced so the fans mingled together. Once the game went on it was clear tension between the two sets of supporters began to rise so the Stewards decided to enforce segregation trouble is by the sounds of things when the (lets call them) barriers closed some fans still ended up with fans of the opposing team.

 

I think the security have acted poorly in this case. They should have anticipated the possibility of extra time and acted in accordence. I hate segregated games but if it means ensuring the safety of both sets of supporters then thats exactly what should happen.

[Guest]

It is simply not true that the segregation was to apply only from the start of the second half of extra time. I spent the first 45 minutes of the match at the Swanscombe End. At half time I moved to near the half way line on the Stonebridge Road side of the ground. Due to the dramatic way in which normal time ended and having got truly fed up with the obscene nature of our own fan's chants (ie those grouped with the drum), I decided to go and speak to my two sons who with two friends had remained on the Swanscombe End terrace throughout the second half. As I approached the corner to the open end a steward told me that I was not allowed to pass. I explained that my sons were at the top of the terrace and that I wished to speak to them. He then let me on to the Swanscombe End. assuming I may not be allowed to return I stayed there for the rest of the match. Therefore there was already an attempt to stop home supporters watching the game from the Swanscombe End before the start of the second half of extra time. I would also add that I saw and heard no behaviour from the small group of Fleet supporters at the top of the terrace which could be construed as being threatening or intimidating. Finally I would remark that there were a fair number of BS fans under the cover of the Stonebridge Road stand mixed with Fleet supporters. Why not criticise them for standing close to our own supporters? This would of course be as unreasonable as criticising our own well behaved fans at the Swanscombe End in what afterall was an unsegregated game. The vast majority of the visitors were well behaved and so were our own fans. kmj.

[Harry J Allstars]

I would have said all supporters behaved well, although I was never in the Swasncombe end so I wasn't in the heart of any trouble that could have been caused.

 

The point I was trying to make is that the match did start out segregated, we all know this. The segregation was enforced later in the evening, we also know this Chris Baker has admitted it.

 

My point is that when segregation game into play their still would have be fans mixed with opposing fans.

 

The security team should have planned for this before the game. If it had been a league match with no winner having to be decided the no segregation would have been needed but as a winner had to be found the losing team would have been serounded by supporters of the winning team.

[jc]

Quote:

Harry J Allstars said:
The security team should have planned for this before the game. If it had been a league match with no winner having to be decided the no segregation would have been needed but as a winner had to be found the losing team would have been serounded by supporters of the winning team.

The thing is, suddenly switching to full segregation in the middle of a game is impossible. After all, not everybody can be identified by their club colours, because not everyone sports them.

[Harry J Allstars]

Exactly JC thats the point I'm trying to make.

[Number 8]

What's done is done, and 'complaining' about it aint gonna fix the situation.

I think Chris' explanation was very sensible and valid, so who bleeding cares, no-one got battered,knifed or kicked to death so what's the big deal...!!??!!

[Harry J Allstars]

Too right 8, lets be thankful that no one got hurt. Learn from the situation and move on.

 

Also well done to Mr Baker for coming on here to explain himself.