Jump to content

BRFCS

BY THE FANS, FOR THE FANS
SINCE 1996
Proudly partnered with TheTerraceStore.com

Stand Up Sit Down

Members
  • Posts

    7
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Stand Up Sit Down

  1. We really need the clubs to start lobbying the Government on our behalf and it would be tragic if they waited until their stadiums were half empty before doing anything. Notwithstanding the standing issue, petty restrictions on some supporters are getting beyond a joke with some clubs seemingly making up the rules as they go along about what is and isn't acceptable.
  2. We're Not Singing Anymore... While Stand Up Sit Downcontinue in their efforts to try and achieve a common sense solution to the issue of standing in our football grounds it would seem from the feedback that reaches us that more and more supporters are increasingly disgruntled with many other issues; draconian and sometimes excessive stewarding, arrests for reasons that many would deem trivial (and a waste of tax payers money) that have lead to banning orders, atmospheres that are akin to visiting your local library, match day announcers and music drowning out traditional chanting and the increasing manipulation of fans to support their clubs in ways officialdom feel appropriate. Fans of some clubs are fighting back with varying degrees of success. Arsenals’ Red Action are given absurd “health and safety” reasons against their having a large flag whereas Abramovich contributed financially so a group of supporters at Stamford Bridge could have a new flag made up. Middlesbrough have a 12Th Man group that their club approve of, but the efforts of the Ultras at Leeds were thwarted at every turn by Bates and the management at Elland Road. Liverpool fans have started a “Reclaim the Kop” group to educate what they call the Sky generation in the traditions of their club but a determined bunch of Man Utd fans are fighting against petty restrictions at Old Trafford that would see them taking in their large flag just once a season. Apparently, the club just don’t have the resources for them to display their flag… On arrival at my club, West Ham, the norm now is to be greeted not by friendly stewards but burly and surly teams of “security” who rudely demand to look in your bag or search you. Similar applies to away fans, no warm East End welcome, just hauled out of the que for a full search regardless of your age or appearance. I for one find it alarming that these stewards and teams of security personnel have more powers than the police and many, I’m sure, delight in exercising their power rather than use it appropriately. Once you’ve surrendered your bottle tops, umbrellas or any other item that could be deemed an offensive weapon or potential missile and made it to your seat don’t waste your breathe and try to start singing; within seconds you’ll be battling against a sound system as powerful as any night clubs as it blasts out the latest hit! You may have been given inflatable sticks to knock together or a preapproved, safety passed small flag could have been left on your seat for you to wave around as your players make their way to the pitch. How goals are celebrated are invariably dictated to by the club as Tom Hark is blasted out the second the ball hits the back of the net, if there is no music, be careful how you celebrate a goal in case a steward deems you over zealous! And as for wanting to stand up, well we all know what happens then! Don’t even bother directing any song or gesture towards the away fans, you may be hauled out by several coppers clad in riot gear; woe betide you if you start singing something that may be deemed racist, sexist or any other “ist” by the stewards. A set of northern supporters who were being derogatory about East London when Leyton Orient were the opposition were told they were being racist as were the supporters who sung that Newcastle was “just a small team from Scotland”. Of course there are always two sides to every story but with depressing regularity we get to know of fans who’ve either been ejected or threatened with ejection for behaviour that was not only accepted but considered part of being a football fan for us not to take their indignant claims seriously and as truthful. Why is this? What is behind this relentless drive to turn our stadiums into serene havens where our emotions are controlled by music and stewards? Some say those in power won’t be happy until the working classes no longer comprise the majority of supporters. Some may feel that perhaps such thinking is the result of an over active imagination but given the ticket prices of many clubs perhaps there is an element of truth is this argument. Certainly if you consider that we’re apparently in need more ‘education’ when it comes to matters of race and domestic violence you could consider that we’re collectively viewed as a bunch of knuckle dragging, partner abusing racists like no other group in society! I bet the crowds at Twickenham or Lords aren’t on the receiving end of notes in programmes and displays by local school kids reminding them racism and ‘partner abuse’ is not only wrong but against the law. If the behaviour of the modern fan was akin to that of 20 odd years ago, they’d be plenty of justification of how we’re treated today but the crowds now are so far removed from those times that every incident involving supporters (or even club managers!) is guaranteed more headlines and commentary than people blowing each others brains out at nightclubs or on the streets! The Government is determined that every leisure activity from visiting an old wreck of an ancient castle to a football ground should be accessible and welcoming to all. Is this behind the increasing efforts to sanitise the game? Football is unique and just not comparable to any other sport or past time. Fans are tribal and in my experience all that matters to fans is that those next to them are wearing the same shirt as they are. Certainly as a woman I’d have no qualms about travelling to a game on my own as I’ve done a couple of times; I feel safer more comfortable surrounded by my fellow fans than I do in other circumstances. Certainly, I get served at the bar very quickly as I’m pushed to the front by the blokes around me! Indeed a rather ‘well to do’ female columnist in the Times wrote in amazement at how well she was treated by fans and how much she enjoyed the atmosphere when she very reluctantly accompanied her young son to a Premiership game. Another woman journalist, also attending her first game last week wrote with enthusiasm at how entertained she was by the “fight” between Wenger and Pardew and that going to live games was much more fun that going to the theatre and yet these type of woman are supposedly terrified at the mere thought of going to a match hence the apparent desire to rid those who don’t sit quietly for 90 minutes from the stands completely. Is it really necessary to treat supporters in such contempt just so fans new to the game can attend? Surely while the fans have moved on with the vast majority behaving, the authorities view us as if from a time warp and they continue to so at their peril. If this drive to apparently alienate the “traditional” fan from the game by either pricing them out or deciding their behaviour isn’t appropriate nor welcome continues then sooner or later these same people will be scratching their heads and wondering where we all are. At least once a season, dropping attendances will hit the headlines; to thousands of us the solution is simple, bring back standing areas, stop manufacturing the atmosphere and let fans continue doing what they’ve done for over one hundred years.. supporting their teams vocally and passionately while on two feet. Stadiums are plenty big enough to accommodate both the sitters and the standers, lets start talking before it is too late. Amanda Matthews Stand Up Sit Down
  3. Neil, yes I was on at about 8.45. Only2 - that is exactly what we hope to achieve!
  4. Just to let you know that we're going ahead with our protest on Sunday. We had thought we'd postpone it, but since WHU have decided to ban some fans for two games for persistant standing, it is now very much on. Red cards will be distributed outside the ground and we're asking that fans hold them up while the players are shaking hands just before kick We hope that this will raise awareness of our objectives and perhaps get us some media interest. The protest is not confined to WHU fans, you'd be more than welcome to join in should you so wish.
  5. Jan, you're obviously not familiar with the stance of the safety officer and stewards at Reading. One whiff of booze on you're breath and you're not coming in. If they take a dislike to your attire, you're not coming in. They are particularly draconian. I don't dispute you get some fans who get lary and have one too many before the game but frankly, I'd rather be sat near them then people who raise an eyebrow if you call the ref a ######, or want to start singing or dare to stand up for a second too long. As for cages, that is the last think we want. Something along the German model would be ideal but in the meantime, we're trying to get a common sense solution to the problem - manage properly what already happens. And finally, standing at football is not against the law, if it was then the police would arrest people for standing. It is against ground regulations. Thanks to those of you who've already signed our petition and who actually understand what our aims are. Stand Up Sit Down
  6. Jan, that is why we're campaigning for seperate areas; we're just as much about those who wish to sit and enjoy the game as we are about those who wish to stand. As to your comment that you're happy for "either to happen" from the feedback we get, I don't think it is too dramatic to say that football could potentially be losing a whole generation of supporters. Of course ticket prices and other factors play their part in fans not attending live matches but there are plenty of people out there who can afford the prices and aren't put off by kick off times to suit TV who are choosing not to attend because of the increasing sanitisation of the game. It seems to be that you can only support your club now on the terms of the club, joining in with blaring music 10 minutes before kick off, celebrating a goal with Tom Hark drowning out the roar of the crowd and so on. Of course some clubs can afford to lose supporters and clubs lower down the leagues are perhaps benefitting from those turning their back on the commerciliasation of the Premiership but what about the rest of them? one day I can see plenty of scratching of heads as the world of football wonders where the fans have gone.. Finally, Reading FC recently stated that for every "yob" they can get rid of, they'll attract a family of four. (Ok, you do the maths!) Trouble is, one persons passionate fan is another persons yob and therein lies the problem, in my humble opinion.
  7. Good Afternoon Just to let you know that two West Ham supporters approached us yesterday and asked for our support in a small protest they're planning on the day of our forthcoming game. The protest will be held outside the ground and will have no effect on the game itself. The main aim of this protest is to persuade our club (and hopefully others) that they should be speaking out, on behalf of their fans, in favour of safe standing areas. Many supporters are feeling increasingly alienated from their clubs as they feel strongly that the somtimes heavy handed enforcement of the regulations have a detrimental effect on the atmosphere that being a part of is integral to their support of their club. Indeed, the two supporters behind this protest have decided that they will no longer attend games at the Boleyn. Of course we understand that the regulations have to enforced but since the Chief Executive of the Premier League has recently said that he feels that some standing should be tolerated we feel strongly that rather than merely hold their hands up and say "we don't want to do this, but we have to" clubs should be lobbying the Government for at the very least a proper and open debate on the issue of standing and giving supporters choice. The Football Foundation - funded in part by the Government and the FA - have also recently called upon the Government to readdress their stance on safe standing in our football grounds. Any Blackburn supporters who are in support of choice and also feel that atmospheres in grounds are suffering would be more than welcome to join us. Just to clarify, we're not asking you to stand in the ground by way of support and the event will take place outside the ground before kick off. If you'd like further details, please email me at info@standupsitdown.co.uk Thanks for reading. Amanda Stand Up Sit Down
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.