Quality of Stewarding at The Madejski

[Thames]

There were a few incidents yesterday afternoon in the corner of Y26 and obviously in the Millwall end.

This was predominantly sparked by Millwall fans running onto the pitch but the situation also turned ugly between Reading supports and our own stewards. What the club really needs to achieve is our home fans seeing eye to eye with our stewards, I believe this would be best served by simply allowing the people at the top of Y25/ Y26 to stand up like certain ground do, not officially obviously but almost turned a blind eye to it.

That may not be a viable option but one thing that always creates a negative atmosphere is when Jobsworthy stewards attempt to make Reading fans sit whilst simply not doing anything to the away supporters. This immediatley angers Reading Fans when Jobsworth stewards give a snooty reply such as "I'm telling you, I'm not telling them, now do as your told" which is word for word what one steward told a chap a few rows in front of me yesterday. This immediatley creates a sour atmosphere between fans and stewards.

After minutes of arguing between stewards and supporters yesterday it became clear that Reading fans were not going to sit down as thier Millwall counterparts were seemingly able to get away with murder. This caused a steward to HEADBUTT somebody a few rows in front of me. I would love witnesses to this incident because it is something I am considering taking up with the club. Granted, said Reading Fan was standing which is against ground regulations but there were people stood up 4 or 5 rows in front of him so I don't think they should be physically assaulting and removing him, surely you start at the front and work your way up!?

A handful of other Reading fans were also removed (very forcefully) for standing but again, not at the front. They had people stood a good 5 rows in front of them, so how on earth are they supposed to sit down?

I leave you with the following quote, given to me by the Chief Steward with wavey hair and a beard which everybody who has sat in the East Stand for the last 10 years will recognise.

I asked him, "Why don't you remove the Millwall fans who are persistently gesturing at us?" The response is fantastic and I couldn't quite believe my ears. "We couldn't do that it will only antagonise Millwall's supporters and escalate the situation". Sorry, but that is ludicrous. What message does that send out to us? Basically, if we all behave like animals then we can get away with it.I told him that this was a joke and he wasn't doing his job correctly before guess what? He removed me from the ground. Big well done to the stewards yesterday.

[Royal Lady]

Was CB thrown out for standing?? That is ludicrous. I've already commented on the Ambulance thread about how I saw stewards walk straight past one Millwall fan who had previously jumped over the wall and "celebrated" a goal with Millwall players. The one who walked past was the one with a beard, quite fat, longish hair? If they aren't going to do their job properly they shouldn't do it at all. I do understand it is difficult to get 1500-2000 away supporters to all sit down, however, if they're going to "turn a blind eye" to them then using some initiative and turning a blind eye to those who stand up at the back of Y26 or whatever would be preferable. If people are standing up persistently from front to half way up, I do think they should be forced to sit down - but from what I have witnessed over the years, those who stand in the front half of a stand normally only do so if there is something "going on" with the Away fans, or if there is heightened excitement in the goal area.

Perhaps the FA/FL need to make it clear to away fans that persistent standing will not be accepted and if stewards request fans to sit down during games and they refuse, then all fans from that team are banned at away matches at that particular ground the following season or something.

[readingbedding]

Frustrating.

But the stewards know that RFC fans will not act in the same way as they guess that some away fans would.

[Royal Lady]

They know that Reading fans, in the main, are pretty mild and tame in comparison to many other fans - but using them as easy targets to throw their weight around and throw them out for standing is not the answer.

[Rex]

Also a home banning order would mean a HST would lose so much more than an away supporter who has not paid for too many away tickets in advance.

[Thames]

The one I'm waiting for (and I believe is only a matter of time away from happening) is when we play a West Ham or Cardiff type with a large away following. If the situation is for whatever reason tense, I would not be suprised if there was a tannoy announcement to inform Reading Fans they would be kept in the ground for 15 minutes so they can disperse away fans.

The sad thing in all this is I genuinley believe the Police at Reading FC do a decent job. They are approachable and fair whereas the stewarding team seemingly go out with the intention of removing people from the ground. Also, I remember reading a few months ago that Reading FC were going to attempt to use Police at the ground as little as possible and handle all stadium security themselves.

Yesterday proved they are incapable of this and after speaking with a few Police Officers, they admitted themselves how unimpressed and heavy handed Reading's stewarding team were. In fact, if it wasn't for a few Police Officers there, the situation could have been alot worse. They had to diffuse a couple of situations between Reading Fans and Stewards. Our stewards are no more than thuggish bouncer types using the outdated heavy handed methods of the 80's.

Who is CB sorry Royal Lady? Feel free to send a PM.

[who are ya?]

One steward in Y26 said to me "can you just sit down while I'm up here so it looks like I'm doing my job then you can stand up again when I've gone"

[Big Foot]

Not sure the police can headbutt people, never mind stewards

Shameful behaviour

[EPR]

The impression I get is that standing is tolerated to some extent as long as it is from the back forwards. Stewards look for anybody being inconvenienced by standing (e.g. you standing and the person behind you sitting down and having to bend to look around your fat arse) and if they see that then they have to act.

[jonboy29red]

I noticed a man come down from the top offering a steward outside !! Still u can't tell steward how to do there job ur only get an official warning like I got after the qpr game last season

[SHORT AND CURLY]

Perhaps the FA/FL need to make it clear to away fans that persistent standing will not be accepted and if stewards request fans to sit down during games and they refuse, then all fans from that team are banned at away matches at that particular ground the following season or something.

Not going to happen at Reading
Old Wiggy would lose the takings from tickets and ale/refreshments etc.
Its easier to lose one or two home fans and all that they spend, rather than 2000 from the south stand.

[Royal Lady]

Yes, having thought about it, the away team must also pay the home team the maximum cost of away fans tickets - ie - we'd get 2000 x £27 or whatever the maximum is - therefore, the away team will then take steps after it happens once to ensure that it doesn't happen again or it will keep costing them.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

we would allocate the entire away end if they had no fans.

[Sharpy]

was rather shocked on Saturday by:

a) millwall barging people out the way, leading to a little boy getting knocked over

b) the chap who ran onto the pitch with his kid....

scum

[LWJ]

LOL @ me getting escorted out, then grabbed by some guys at the front, who the stewards elbowed out the way, so the guys chased them into the concourse, and started to brawl with them, and i just walked back in.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Perhaps the FA/FL need to make it clear to away fans that persistent standing will not be accepted and if stewards request fans to sit down during games and they refuse, then all fans from that team are banned at away matches at that particular ground the following season or something.

Standing isn't "tolerated" but there's a recognition that if a large group of supporters stands then it's not practical to attempt to make them sit - in such cases the stewarding emphasis changes to one of keeping aisles and gangways clear. Of course, with home supporters standing, clubs have an additional weapon that they don't have with away supporters - identifying them and issuing club bans for persistently breaking ground regulations.

But frankly imposing penalties on *all* supporters of a club for the actions of *some* at a previous match is not only completely unacceptable but has also been tried and has been found not to work. The only lasting effect is on the revenue stream of the home club, who are financially penalised because of the actions of visiting supporters.

[Royal Lady]

Oh and at least one seat was broken in the Millwall end, but I doubt we'll bother sending them the bill.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Seats are always getting broken for one reason or another.

At Old Trafford they routinely replace over 300 seats after every match.

[Royal Lady]

Seats are always getting broken for one reason or another.

At Old Trafford they routinely replace over 300 seats after every match.

Oh. Ok then. Glad you're ITK.

[roadrunner]

LOL @ me getting escorted out, then grabbed by some guys at the front, who the stewards elbowed out the way, so the guys chased them into the concourse, and started to brawl with them, and i just walked back in.

The bloke and his kid was a bit

The kid was giving the stewards a really struggle too. Took two to get him out.