Arsenal Steward speaks out (7/8)

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=378

Usual thread starter. It’s finding a balance isn’t it. Some people are going to stand up on occasions when the action gets a bit exciting or they want to start a chant to get the crowd going. The club have an argument about people who stand throughout the game if there are people behind them who don’t wish to do the same. So on the basis of this steward’s contribution, if there is no complaint then people can stand. However, there is also an issue for the club, in that the safety licence people pressure them to enforce the rule that fans do not stand throughout the match. Man Utd fans get no away tickets at Boro for this reason.

However, unofficially, I think the club should move to at least attempt to establish separate blocks where people are more likely to stand sometimes due to excitement/encouragement and others where standing simply isn’t really on because there are people who may not be able to get on their feet or have their view blocked for any number of reasons.

Oh and it is possible to move people during the course of a season if it is season ticket holders that are being affected. That was what I meant, although the steward evidently understood this as meaning during the match.

I have protected the steward’s identity because – despite his message – my suspicion is that the club would frown upon matchday staff having any correspondence with unofficial websites, and I want to encourage people who work for the club to put their views across. Even if we don’t like them, at least we know where they are coming from. Keep your friends close and your enemies…

[Galasso]

Interesting to hear the other side but more or less what I would have expected the steward to say. It just begs the questions that we seem to go over and over again.

Why, if it is the law that fans should be seated, that we see away fans, en masse, standing and nothing done. We get the impression from this that stewards and/or police do not wish to take on the away support but are more than happy to deal with the odd one or two. I suggest that if it is the law, and you are in favour of the law being applied rigourously, then all the away fans who are standing should be ejected, if they refuse to sit. Why does this not happen? And against Man Utd, we stood up for the entire game and nothing was done. Why were we not all cleared out?

[REB]

the steward has spoken,, in fairness it is the law,, agree our not,, personly i would love 2 see safe standing area ,when a whole section stands as one then theres not a lot they can do,, i sit above the away fans when im over and there always standing and ive never seen a steward go in2 them,, but it is a thankless job and ive always found them very helpfull

[Galasso]

the steward has spoken,, in fairness it is the law,, agree our not,, personly i would love 2 see safe standing area ,when a whole section stands as one then theres not a lot they can do,, i sit above the away fans when im over and there always standing and ive never seen a steward go in2 them,, but it is a thankless job and ive always found them very helpfull

Yes, you're right mate, it is a thankless job and I find most of the stewards quite helpful - most of the time. This is probably because I haven't had many run-ins with them over the years.

My question is to the steward who makes a point of saying this is the law, then we see the law being applied differently in different areas of the ground and according to how many people are breaking the law. Either there is some leeway or there isn't but the steward sounded as though there was not.

An example of this was at The Theatre of C***s last year. Every time I have been there I have noticed this: In the first 10 minutes, the stewards/stadium security are very active with police, looking for people standing or "exhuberant". They normally find one or two to make an example of and leave it at that. This is what happened to someone near me.

What is unexplainable also is the different attitudes of stewards police between home/away fans at the same ground.

[gunnerhead]

I'd be willing to watch the game lying down if I could only get into one !

Seriously though, I've never been to a game so I don't know how it is to deal with the stewards. I think the steward got off on the wrong foot right on the get-go because first he says the law is the law and then says that they only enforce the law if someone complains. Technically speaking, the law should be the law regardless of a complaint. If he (or she) were to take out the first line in the first point, the argument would be more legitimate.

However, fact of the matter is that these folks are on the front line dealing with the crowds first-hand. The only way the board will hear complaints about whatever rules and regulations they come up with will be in writing so it's nowhere close to being the same thing.

Cut 'em some slack because if you ever needed help, they'd be the first person you'd go to.

[Galasso]

Gunnerhead

The law is not applied because police and stewards take a view depending on factors such as size of support, history of violence, potential trouble spots in the ground. In reality, we all know this. It's like speeding, there is some leeway, but it can be different depending on where in the country you speed.

All one can do is be aware of the situation you are in within the ground and go from there. And as with most things in life, the number of potential complaints far outweighs the actual number of formal complaints.

[Cesc is God]

It's interesting to hear the other side of the story but I still think that they are too tough with us

[Magic Hat]

If the away fans are being allowed to get away with standing then yes, that should be dealt with but my sympathies tend to be with the stewards, ok some are probably enjoying the power it gives them but I don't think the majority of them would be. It is a difficult balance between imposing the law and using common sense, I'm sure they do the best they can.

Admittedly I can't afford to go to games so my view is not going to be the best informed.

[Chunky The Gooner]

Ive a mate who is a steward and she says the have assessors ! So you can imagine they flack they must get from everyone ! Ive never really had a problem with the stewards at the Emirates ( yet !) but at Highbury some of them thought they were the owners of the club ! Like all walks of life and all jobs there are good and bad everywhere.

[dayglosquad]

Thanks to the Ed for keeping my id a secret, you never know what they may say (even though I'm sticking up for them to an extent).
I'm quite pleased with the respoinse, most people understand that we have a difficult time. Whilst we may seem to treat the away fans differently, you must remember that there are a limited number of us & we cant all go & sort out the away fans everytime. We try & deal with their ringleaders, hoping that will set an example to the rest. But if it doesnt work then the ejection squad/police will get involved.
I have NEVER had any problems with home fans, except on the issue of smoking. Now the club will eject the person & suspend their season ticket if caught smoking, I hope that even this will subside.
I have one favor to ask....SING! the atmosphere against Man City was the best I'd heard it at Emirates, keep it going!!!!

[I Hate Hleb]

...I have one favor to ask....SING! the atmosphere against Man City was the best I'd heard it at Emirates, keep it going!!!!

THAT'S BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WERE STANDING - IN CASE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE!!

I SIT NEAR THE AWAY SUPPORTERS AND I HARDLY, IF EVER, SEE THE POLICE DRAGGING PEOPLE OUT FOR STANDING.

BECAUSE THERE ARE 3,000 ODD AWAY FANS STANDING IT SHOULDN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T SORT THEM OUT - DIFFICULT AS THAT IS - IF, AS YOU CLAIM, THAT IS WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES.

OTHERWISE, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS FOR EVEN MORE ARSENAL FANS TO STAND UP IN UNISON IN ORDER TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU GUYS TO PULL INDIVIDUALS OUT.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IT'S NOT ANY EASY JOB BUT ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU GUYS PLAY FAIR. IF YOU SAY THE LAW MEANS EVERYONE MUST STAY SEATED THEN APPLY IT EVENLY. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS TOUGH WITH AWAY FANS, DON'T BE SO HEAVY-HANDED WITH THE HOME SUPPORTERS!!

[Galasso]

We try & deal with their ringleaders, hoping that will set an example to the rest. But if it doesnt work then the ejection squad/police will get involved.

This is exactly what I said in a post some time back with regards to The Theatre of C**ts. However, they do go for the away fans and pick someone out to make an example of them. I would question if it is the ringleader though!