Pre Match trial of outside area - observations

DevizesRed said:
Did anybody else witness hot dog gate behind the North Stand yesterday? Somebody bought one from the kiosk outside the ground while queuing up and when searched was told he wasn’t allowed to take it into the ground. Had to stand by the security and it it before he was allowed in.

Brings a whole new level of overkill by the security team and new meaning to the game of ‘hide the sausage’ !!!
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Ridiculous. I know where i'd like to 'hide the sausage'! Incidents like this can really take the gloss off a good day. Where are these directives coming from??
 
I think the overall idea is good and if it generates more income then fine. But it does have a knock on effect on queues to get in. People that are using the food and drink facilities around the ground are leaving it till later to go into the ground. This is perfectly understandable but for the usual later arrivals this makes a much longer queue. The North stand queue was much longer than usual yesterday. we could do with another turnstile or two. As that won't happen I shall just have to arrive 10 mins earlier ! As for the searching as usual - pathetically over the top. At Villa and Wolves we had a cursory search, while it seemed that very few home fans were searched.
 
We just walked around the ground before going in. Unfortunately had to show our season tickets four times before we reached the turnstiles.
 
DevizesRed said:
Did anybody else witness hot dog gate behind the North Stand yesterday? Somebody bought one from the kiosk outside the ground while queuing up and when searched was told he wasn’t allowed to take it into the ground. Had to stand by the security and it it before he was allowed in.

Brings a whole new level of overkill by the security team and new meaning to the game of ‘hide the sausage’ !!!
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They were told, apparently, that they can't take hot food into the ground. The response was that is wasn't hot. There's hot food in the ground so what is the issue?

Seems that irritating fans is high on the agenda.
 
Yesterday was sadly predictable which was a shame. Dare I say it but I think they might have ratched it up a notch. Casual observations were this. Two ticket checks before even reaching the south stand turnstiles, nice one.

Then a really quite rough search on entry by some guy with shovels as hands. He then grunted 'enjoy the match' which was a nice touch, no really. I felt like Tysons sparring partner. You get less checks entering Dorchester Prison.

Once inside, the yellow painted lines were strictly enforced to keep off the six year olds desperate for photos . Perhaps they were worried one might throw a dolly mixture or cola bottle at Lewis Dunk.

All looked promising both on and off the pitch then 'it started'. Out of the blue Mr angry suddenly storms up our stairs and starts gesturing / shouting for a couple of blokes in the back row to sit down. I tell him to 'give them a break, its pretty pathetic '. He's really angry now and starts rattling off / snarling about the FA, I thought he was going to nut me. Someone else politely points him towards the away end- he huffs, goes away never to be seen again.

That aside (and yes I'm watching the game as well) did anyone see the steward in the MS gesturing at those in the hospitality boxes to sit ? Did that really happen .Despite the fact there's a big metal barrier in front of them it must be to stop the uncontrolled crowd surge the club claim might occur in their risk assessment.

Likewise does anyone know the guy in the East stand who was eventually escorted out . I think he was guilty of standing in the back row and he argued the toss for some time as did a few others. That said they might have been passing on a message that his wife was giving birth or something but he was arguing he'd rather watch Dango at left back at least until half time.

We didn't see Mr angry again in our block but we did have another visit up the stairs. This time by a 'head steward' who looked like he fell out of his new age traveller caravan at Shaftesbury common at 3am that morning, found a XXXXL stewards jacket in the hedge then somehow winged his way into the ground with the sole purpose of marching around, waving a radio and telling people off. Probably a nice guy with an interesting story to tell but clearly in the wrong job. He didn't come up again, just tutted and shook his head as he was roundly ignored.

That said we had plenty of smiles from a lady steward who as well as the sun and the result brightened up the day so not all bad. Thats my last visit to Alcatraz Dean Court for 4 months or possibly for good once the points get tallied up, so I'll spare you any more off field match reports.
 
red_house said:
Yesterday was sadly predictable which was a shame. Dare I say it but I think they might have ratched it up a notch. Casual observations were this. Two ticket checks before even reaching the south stand turnstiles, nice one.

Then a really quite rough search on entry by some guy with shovels as hands. He then grunted 'enjoy the match' which was a nice touch, no really. I felt like Tysons sparring partner. You get less checks entering Dorchester Prison.

Once inside, the yellow painted lines were strictly enforced to keep off the six year olds desperate for photos . Perhaps they were worried one might throw a dolly mixture or cola bottle at Lewis Dunk.

All looked promising both on and off the pitch then 'it started'. Out of the blue Mr angry suddenly storms up our stairs and starts gesturing / shouting for a couple of blokes in the back row to sit down. I tell him to 'give them a break, its pretty pathetic '. He's really angry now and starts rattling off / snarling about the FA, I thought he was going to nut me. Someone else politely points him towards the away end- he huffs, goes away never to be seen again.

That aside (and yes I'm watching the game as well) did anyone see the steward in the MS gesturing at those in the hospitality boxes to sit ? Did that really happen .Despite the fact there's a big metal barrier in front of them it must be to stop the uncontrolled crowd surge the club claim might occur in their risk assessment.

Likewise does anyone know the guy in the East stand who was eventually escorted out . I think he was guilty of standing in the back row and he argued the toss for some time as did a few others. That said they might have been passing on a message that his wife was giving birth or something but he was arguing he'd rather watch Dango at left back at least until half time.

We didn't see Mr angry again in our block but we did have another visit up the stairs. This time by a 'head steward' who looked like he fell out of his new age traveller caravan at Shaftesbury common at 3am that morning, found a XXXXL stewards jacket in the hedge then somehow winged his way into the ground with the sole purpose of marching around, waving a radio and telling people off. Probably a nice guy with an interesting story to tell but clearly in the wrong job. He didn't come up again, just tutted and shook his head as he was roundly ignored.

That said we had plenty of smiles from a lady steward who as well as the sun and the result brightened up the day so not all bad. Thats my last visit to Alcatraz Dean Court for 4 months or possibly for good once the points get tallied up, so I'll spare you any more off field match reports.
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It’s out of control really. Football is supposed to be a pleasant experience. This is taking us unnecessarily back to the eighties where we were demonised.
 
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Some fair criticisms here but the idea that having to show your ticket to get into the perimeter of the ground is some sort of hardship is a bit of a stretch.
 
RobTrent said:
Four times?
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That'll happen if you go in and put of different zones. I don't see the issue personally but if you really hate having to quickly show your ticket then presumably you wouldn't walk around the ground. It's clearly part of the new licence set-up, which people seem to like.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
That'll happen if you go in and put of different zones. I don't see the issue personally but if you really hate having to quickly show your ticket then presumably you wouldn't walk around the ground. It's clearly part of the new licence set-up, which people seem to like.
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So there are zones within the perimeter!? And showing your ticket to get into the perimeter isnt enough?
 
RobTrent said:
So there are zones within the perimeter!? And showing your ticket to get into the perimeter isnt enough?
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I don't walk around the ground tbh but aren't there checks at the south end? Presumably the away end has checks and depending on when you get there there might be checks by the main entrance.
 
Where we enter the ground to the main stand is to the left of the club shop and the stewarding is good. I can relate to the heavy/handedness a year ago but now we have regular stewards who are friendly and not over the top.

I expect an issue is the extra security being hired now and they are used to different audiences?

Are they external hires rather than afcb employees as assume some of the older regulars are club employees or are all sourced via a third party supplier?

Worth adding that I know a lot of non afcb fans who think the security team with the players are some of the best in the league for a friendly demeanour but keeping order. I think it’s Joe and Bob? They are helpful for fans getting autographs/selfies whereas some clubs have staff really hostile to fans.
 
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The queue for the NS was much longer than usual and as KO approached the searching for flares, fireworks, umbrellas with secret compartments, flasks, hot food, crisps and under hat contraband was changed, some might say abandoned. That explains my feeling of unease and lack of safety.
 
red_house said:
Likewise does anyone know the guy in the East stand who was eventually escorted out . I think he was guilty of standing in the back row and he argued the toss for some time as did a few others. That said they might have been passing on a message that his wife was giving birth or something but he was arguing he'd rather watch Dango at left back at least until half time.

We didn't see Mr angry again in our block but we did have another visit up the stairs. This time by a 'head steward' who looked like he fell out of his new age traveller caravan at Shaftesbury common at 3am that morning, found a XXXXL stewards jacket in the hedge then somehow winged his way into the ground with the sole purpose of marching around, waving a radio and telling people off. Probably a nice guy with an interesting story to tell but clearly in the wrong job. He didn't come up again, just tutted and shook his head as he was roundly ignored.
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Yes, that was my friend who was suffering with Sciatica who had the pleasure of steward 180.

He was eventually allowed back in so long as his sat on the top of his seat and not fully stand.

Was a pathetic little Hitler who revelled in his yellow jacket. There are ways to deal with situations, and ways not to, and he was so over the top especially as its the back row and not blocking anyones view.


Its not a good look on the club.
 
Herbs said:
Yes, that was my friend who was suffering with Sciatica who had the pleasure of steward 180.

He was eventually allowed back in so long as his sat on the top of his seat and not fully stand.

Was a pathetic little Hitler who revelled in his yellow jacket. There are ways to deal with situations, and ways not to, and he was so over the top especially as its the back row and not blocking anyones view.


Its not a good look on the club.
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Derek will have an explanation.
 
RobTrent said:
Derek will have an explanation.
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You missed the bit where I said I felt the majority of the criticisms were fair in relation to the heavy handed stewarding then? I think this happened near me and, whilst I didn't know the circumstances of the individuals involved at the back, the head guy at the front got told by a couple of people that they thought it was way OTT. He gave some vague explanation about it not being the club's fault... Premier League are forcing them etc. which nobody was buying.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
You missed the bit where I said I felt the majority of the criticisms were fair in relation to the heavy handed stewarding then? I think this happened near me and, whilst I didn't know the circumstances of the individuals involved at the back, the head guy at the front got told by a couple of people that they thought it was way OTT. He gave some vague explanation about it not being the club's fault... Premier League are forcing them etc. which nobody was buying.
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Only being semi-serious ;-)

Interesting that the PL are ignoring the thousands of people stood at other grounds, and focussing their wrath on one person stood up at the back of the stand. And being told to sit on the top of the seat because that’s a get out clause!

Brilliant!!
 
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