A Steward's viewpoint

[Platypuss]

predictable mods post

Predictable "thicker than a whale sandwich" post.

Stamp your little feet a bit harder in future, that might just work.

[Winchester Royal]

I don't think so. Fans could be prewarned that their area was to be made standing, and have plenty of notice to relocate if they didn't want to be in a standing area.
Given the club's extending the stadium, theres plenty of room.

To be honest though, this reply here is bollocks because 1, we don't know if the regs are going to change, 2, If they did, we don't know that Reading would change the stadium to accomodate us, and 3, If they did change the stadium, we wouldn't know it was going to be the East Stand....

[The Cube]

However, the point people seem to miss here is that a large proportion of these away fans simply wont be coming back for the next game at the Madejski

Completely irrelevant. I more-or-less agree with everything else you wrote, but until the problem of unfair treatment is sorted out you will have no support from me, or I suspect many others. If the club and stewards have still failed to understand this point, there is no hope EVER for a solution that all parties will find acceptable.

[Platypuss]

However, the point people seem to miss here is that a large proportion of these away fans simply wont be coming back for the next game at the Madejski

Completely irrelevant. I more-or-less agree with everything else you wrote, but until the problem of unfair treatment is sorted out you will have no support from me, or I suspect many others. If the club and stewards have still failed to understand this point, there is no hope EVER for a solution that all parties will find acceptable.

Nail hit squarely on head.

[Sharpy]

agreed platty

[shadesrwrf]

Sadly the powers that be are hell bent on ensuring we all sit down. We've got stadiums full of seats and legislation in place that says we have to park our backsides on them. I'm very much of the opinion that watching football is much more enjoyable stood up. However there are an increasing number of people who disagree with me and are prepared to pay through the nose to sit, presumably to ensure easy access to their tupperware and flasks. I don't see it changing I'm afraid and the message from the club of late is loud and proud. Sit down, shut up, or clear off.

[midlandadie]

Safe Standing Campaign
Added by HNA? on 29/11/06
STAR (the Supporter's Trust At Reading) are putting their support behind a new motion to bring back standing at all-seater stadiums - and need Reading fans' help to make it happen. STAR have released the following:
STAR calls on all Reading fans to contact their MP to ask them to support Early Day Motion 101 in the House of Commons. This EDM states "That this House urges the Government to re-examine the case for introducing small, limited sections of safe standing areas at football grounds; further urges the Government to recognise that there is widespread support for such areas, and that improvements in stadium design and technology mean that with rigorous safety specifications standing areas could be safely re-introduced; and calls on the Minister concerned to convene a meeting of representatives of the police, supporters, Premier League clubs and the Football Licensing Authority to find a way forward."
Both STAR and the FSF (Football Supporters' Federation) strongly endorse this view - the current conflict over standing at football matches cannot go on, but the Government refuses to re-open the debate on this subject. We believe that if we can get enough signatures on this EDM it will put additional pressure on the Government to discuss options for safe standing, but without dialogue nothing will be resolved. Already 46 MPs have signed this motion, including Bracknell Forest MP Andrew Mackay, but other local MPs have not yet signed. The more football fans who contact their MPs about this, the more they will realise that this issue is important to fans. For more information, including how to contact your MP see the STAR website.


STAR Website

[Hyundai Coupe]

The problem with most stewards is they have something missing from their normal lives that they feel the need to stamp their authority too much at a football match. Which only escalates the problem.

Stewards should also remember, respect works both ways. I've been to some footy grounds and the stewards are light hearted and you can have a bit of banter with them.

On the other hand you get agressive stewards like the orange faced lady at Sunderland a couple of seasons back. She was hell bent on kicking someone out and did everything she could to do so.

Oh - and on the subject of standing - perhaps the people who complain about it should stay at home and watch football first or MOTD for an un-obstructed view. Its all part of attending a game.

[working class hero]

Seeing people slung out for standing is likely to discourage you from doing the same.

The writer was referring to away fans - but it must also be true for home fans so where is the problem????

PErhaps thae answer is for stewards to record seat numbers and the club could then rescind access for the next 5 home games and also prevent culprits from buying away tickets? Even fine persistent offenders 100 loyalty points per offence...

Frankly I get miffed at the antics of some of our so-called hard core fans. They only think of their own fun - and sod everyone else. LEt the reasonable fans take the upper hand.

What difference does it make to you if people in the back few rows are standing up?
Fining Royalty points is ludicrous. Why should a fan lose the rewards they've earned from spending shitloads of money on the club, just for standing up and supporting thier team?

What 'antics' are you referring to?

They should lose rewards for being too thick to understand the rules and too obdurate to adhere to them. Act like toddlers and be punished like them.
The antics include the general shifting of seats in away grounds so that they can sit with their mates. I have frequently found some obnoxious spotty oik in my seat at the back of the stand. As a tolerant guy I will usually let this go - but on a couple of occasions I have not been able to get seats with my family elsewhere and have actually been threatened when I eventually got stewards to shift the idiots involved.

Fans could be prewarned that their area was to be made standing, and have plenty of notice to relocate if they didn't want to be in a standing area.
Given the club's extending the stadium, theres plenty of room.

Sounds ever so reasonable. But I bet that if the standing area was the East stand at the North end of the ground that the lads involved would whine incessantly...

The flip side is that at away games we usually get to stand and [if you are willing to look beyond the end of your nose] the home fans get more grief than us....
Much easier to deal with fans who have something to lose..... and taking seat numbers is meaningless with away fans as they do tend to move about the stand.

FWIW I find the stewards in the North stand are pretty decent. Perhaps working with losers is rubbing off on them where you sit?

[Daniella]

Surely if you're a steward then you should expect abuse? Don't like it, get a job somewhere else. How is standing in an all seater stadium not safe? I don't get it. In times of "excitment" there is more chance of an accident then persistant standing so why is it ok then?

This is why you guys need to get a governing body in place that respects the sport. As an outsider im confused as to what these guys actually do other than try and ruin the sport for everyone, and destroy the "typical english atmosphere" i've heard about for years.

[working class hero]

Surely if you're a steward then you should expect abuse?

Only if you are working with mental defectives. Most people can remain civil when confronted with a steward.

[AthleticoSpizz]

agred WCH




I walk the ground


I enjoy the game (regardless of result)


If I want to stand up at certain point in the game.......then I will stand up


too many are more bothered in watching the bullsh1t going on around them....than actually watching the game

[Skin]

too many are more bothered in watching the bullsh1t going on around them....than actually watching the game

What are you going on about? Where did that come from???

[Daniella]

Surely if you're a steward then you should expect abuse?

Only if you are working with mental defectives. Most people can remain civil when confronted with a steward.

Well, no. If bob wants to stand up and shout for his team then why is he having a person coming along and giving it the big one for?
Steward gets involved when none of its business.

[working class hero]

too many are more bothered in watching the bullsh1t going on around them....than actually watching the game

What are you going on about? Where did that come from???

I think he is referring to the numerous youths who spend half the game with their arms aloft, watching to see who is watching them posturing. If a steward could chuck them out he would be doing the real fan a great service!

[Winchester Royal]

Surely if you're a steward then you should expect abuse?

Only if you are working with mental defectives. Most people can remain civil when confronted with a steward.

When I was banned for a few games I was told by the steward who banned me that because I was courteous I'd probably be back within a few games, and that he'd have no problem with me coming back in. If I'd been rude and obnoxious, I imagine I'd still be banned.

I don't see what your problem is with 'the numerous youths who spend half the game with their arms aloft, watching to see who is watching them posturing"
Why does it matter to you what people are doing at the back of the stand?
You get to watch the game, nobody gets in your way.
Can you identify where they are, maybe you could take photos of those fans to back up your argument? In fact, scrap that, Cameras are dangerous, and if there was a fight you might hit somebody with it... I think that opinion is ridiculous. Do you not enjoy the banter between the fans? The traditional football atmosphere, its all a bit of fun... Why must you get so hung up on what other people are doing?

Are you after a ground with a load of robots clapping away to Blue army, dictated by the drummers beat, a soulless, passionless bowl of a stadium, ridiculed by other fans, a symbol of modern footballing commercialisation?

Thats what the club are going to end up if they carry on thier ridiculous policies of giving the passionate and vocal fans a load of trouble for doing what they're always encouraging fans to do... Get behind the boys and make some noise...

Seatbelts anyone?

[Forbury Lion]

A government minister recently said rail passengers should be prepared to stand on journeys of up to one hour and this is on trains travelling up to 125 miles per hour with a terrible safety record compared to stationary football stadiums. That makes no sense to me.

[Royal Lady]

If the club aren't actually against standing themselves, they should say so. The best time to create a standing section would surely be the back few rows of the new extension when it is built.

Back to stewards again, I always thought their job was to keep an eye on supporters AT ALL TIMES. The ones near me watch the match, and occasionally become all jobsworth and shout at people who stand up and shout for an offside decision or some other such thing. They are NOT persistent standers. Also, I always tend to go to the loo about 3 minutes before half time whistle, EVERY time I get down the steps towards the concourse there are two stewards and sometimes a policeman, blocking my way into the concourse and I have to say "excuse me" to get past them. They can't see the supporters from the entrance to the concourse and are, therefore, not doing what they are paid for. I'm happy to meet with whoever, whenever and tell them my thoughts.

[zac naloen]

Can you identify where they are, maybe you could take photos of those fans to back up your argument? In fact, scrap that, Cameras are dangerous, and if there was a fight you might hit somebody with it... I think that opinion is ridiculous. Do you not enjoy the banter between the fans? The traditional football atmosphere, its all a bit of fun... Why must you get so hung up on what other people are doing?

The idea that you aren't allowed professional cameras because they are dangerous is ridiculous. I'd have thought it was far more likely they are banned because of contractual conflicts with bbc and sky/ newspapers. Only their lot are allowed to take high quality photo's.

[Dai Brainbocs]

Can you identify where they are, maybe you could take photos of those fans to back up your argument? In fact, scrap that, Cameras are dangerous, and if there was a fight you might hit somebody with it... I think that opinion is ridiculous. Do you not enjoy the banter between the fans? The traditional football atmosphere, its all a bit of fun... Why must you get so hung up on what other people are doing?

The idea that you aren't allowed professional cameras because they are dangerous is ridiculous. I'd have thought it was far more likely they are banned because of contractual conflicts with bbc and sky/ newspapers. Only their lot are allowed to take high quality photo's.

Exactly. Reasonable points the club wants to make about genuine safety issues are less credible if it uses the cloak of "safety" for things like protecting the rip-off catering franchise.

By all means say "no drinks in containers with lids because we want you to pay our prices", but don't say it's a safety issue, because for 99.9 per cent of people it isn't, and decent stewarding would spot the others beforehand.

It would be perfectly possible to garrotte the person in front of you with your shoelaces. Why aren't these removed on safety grounds?