Clueless stewards barring innocent fans

[DIXIE]

i spoke to one of the stewards today..it seems some who claimed they wasn't there the previous game, infact were.also their was some with tickets who wasn't there who were told they could go in,but not the culprits.they chose not to go in. apparently the refusal of entry was also only for one game.if it stops a repeat of recent events ,surely this is a good thing?

What exactly did the culprits do, any idea ?

[nebulus]

it seems it was behaviour culminating over a period,they had numerous complaints from several barrow fans and saying the cub needs to do something about them before it gets out of hand and they are an embarrassment to the club.

[John Very Little]

it seems it was behaviour culminating over a period,they had numerous complaints from several barrow fans and saying the cub needs to do something about them before it gets out of hand and they are an embarrassment to the club.

How many are you talking about 2,3, 5,10 and did the stewards who stopped people coming in know who they were - if so why were way more than that barred from entering? There's a few lads who stand by us and I know they'd not caused any problems yet they were still barred. Judging by the various people who've mentioned it seems like there must have been around 50 that were barred from entering, there are nowhere near that many who cause problems.

[Alhosk]

This is probably a good reason we're not getting decent crowds despite the good run - not the fact that stewards are turning away a few but the fact that the fans are bickering between themselves about the whole situation. There's clearly no feel good factor about the club at the moment and that's got to be down to a combination of elements; shit food, coin and brick throwing oiks, oiks looking like coin throwing oiks, having to [SwearFilter] against a wall, prices, getting rained on in the shared home end, not rubbing shoulders with the players in the bar, having to queue for a pint in the bar, hoofball, shift working, shit floodlights, stockless/shapeless shop, not getting travel paid for/free scarf, general apathy. Anything else?

[Wintergreen]

This is probably a good reason we're not getting decent crowds despite the good run - not the fact that stewards are turning away a few but the fact that the fans are bickering between themselves about the whole situation. There's clearly no feel good factor about the club at the moment and that's got to be down to a combination of elements; shit food, coin and brick throwing oiks, oiks looking like coin throwing oiks, having to [SwearFilter] against a wall, prices, getting rained on in the shared home end, not rubbing shoulders with the players in the bar, having to queue for a pint in the bar, hoofball, shift working, shit floodlights, stockless/shapeless shop, not getting travel paid for/free scarf, general apathy. Anything else?

Well we can still have laugh and that's what its all about shirley!!

We've never had it so good and the better we do the more the whingeing ramps up!!

[Matt]

Anything else?

The lack of a midweek season ticket is an obvious one missed off your list. Pies too?

[geobarrovian]

This is probably a good reason we're not getting decent crowds despite the good run - not the fact that stewards are turning away a few but the fact that the fans are bickering between themselves about the whole situation. There's clearly no feel good factor about the club at the moment and that's got to be down to a combination of elements; shit food, coin and brick throwing oiks, oiks looking like coin throwing oiks, having to [SwearFilter] against a wall, prices, getting rained on in the shared home end, not rubbing shoulders with the players in the bar, having to queue for a pint in the bar, hoofball, shift working, shit floodlights, stockless/shapeless shop, not getting travel paid for/free scarf, general apathy. Anything else?

I think there is an obvious disconnect there between how tremendously well the team is performing and the current attendances, it just doesn't add up, didn't we have similar, if not occasionally better attendances in the Conference North a few years ago? There are obviously many factors why the attendances aren't as high as they should be and its a complicated situation.

[nebulus]

they said about 20 were refused entry,but like they said some chose not to go in ,,, totally agree on the food front...absolute garbage,,coffee is like [SwearFilter] water... dont understand why the club doesnt take control of catering...especially the mark up on tea,coffee and food...definatly money too be made on that front.never made sense too try and sell beer during the game ,but have done nothing to upgrade the catering.. also never understand how so many people can stand so quiet even when the team are playing well..needs a better atmosphere

[spirit of 1990]

Please SEGREGATE Sensibly!


WHY DOES THE CLUB PERSIST WITH THIS BIZARRE SEGREGATION SET-UP?????

Spirit of 1990 (Ian) I implore you to discuss this situation with club officals before it is too late.
House the traveling support as far away as possible from Barrow fans.

Suggestion: either side of the main stand. OR Cross Bar End.
Forget the concerns of the Corporate Diners (I think this was a concern of the previous owners of the club).
I don't think the club will worry too much about Corporate Diners if their regular fan base starts to dwindle because of hostility on the terraces.

Ian, you refer to Non-League Football. There are a few National League sides (ex Football League) who have organised hooligan elements within their fan base. And I'm not talking about groups of kids, either. So far we've had 'handbags at dawn', coin throwing and smashed coach windows by a group of kids. Somebody on this thread has already passed comments on our stewards not taking action against Macc and Wrexham fans because of their (supposed) fear of those fans. How would these stewards react if a full blown fight broke out between these young kids and organised hooligans? And what about the safety of our stewards?

A SIMPLE solution would be to keep rival support as far away as possible from home fans. I've already incated 2 possible solutions. I'm certainly no expert but it doesn't need expert analysis to see that the CURRENT SEGREGATION policy does NOT work!

I look forward to hearing your response on this matter.
I hope that you may be able to discuss alternative segregation with club officals in the very near future ...
We could have a disaster... just waiting to happen with this current policy of segregation

Tomahawk Kid, the answer(s) I received.

The club cannot use the West Terrace for away supporters due to corporates moving to the stand and back, this means they have to walk through the away supporters which breaks segregation rules.

I suppose that makes sense, it's not ideal but our stadium is an old one and has been added to throughout the years without much thought of such things as segregation or corporates, this is probably the only way around it. As I've said before, I personally have never liked any of the HSE being given over to away supporters but as a segregation area, it works when used....or is probably the best option we have.

There have been several questions regarding turnstiles....and lack of at certain times. I replied to one person but to try and cover other supporters here is the answer to that one.

The club understands the frustrations surrounding turnstiles not always being open on matchdays. In one game recently we were three turnstile operators down, basically they operators didn't turn up, we cannot legislate for absenteeism. On that occasion Andrew Casson & Ronan quickly had to fill the gaps created.
Turnstile operators have been one of the most difficult positions to fill at the club. If anyone is interested in becoming a turnstile operator, it is a paid job with free entry.

If anyone is interested in that job, or if you know of anyone who might be, I'll happily pass your details onto the relevant people.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Please SEGREGATE Sensibly!


WHY DOES THE CLUB PERSIST WITH THIS BIZARRE SEGREGATION SET-UP?????

Spirit of 1990 (Ian) I implore you to discuss this situation with club officals before it is too late.
House the traveling support as far away as possible from Barrow fans.

Suggestion: either side of the main stand. OR Cross Bar End.
Forget the concerns of the Corporate Diners (I think this was a concern of the previous owners of the club).
I don't think the club will worry too much about Corporate Diners if their regular fan base starts to dwindle because of hostility on the terraces.

Ian, you refer to Non-League Football. There are a few National League sides (ex Football League) who have organised hooligan elements within their fan base. And I'm not talking about groups of kids, either. So far we've had 'handbags at dawn', coin throwing and smashed coach windows by a group of kids. Somebody on this thread has already passed comments on our stewards not taking action against Macc and Wrexham fans because of their (supposed) fear of those fans. How would these stewards react if a full blown fight broke out between these young kids and organised hooligans? And what about the safety of our stewards?

A SIMPLE solution would be to keep rival support as far away as possible from home fans. I've already incated 2 possible solutions. I'm certainly no expert but it doesn't need expert analysis to see that the CURRENT SEGREGATION policy does NOT work!

I look forward to hearing your response on this matter.
I hope that you may be able to discuss alternative segregation with club officals in the very near future ...
We could have a disaster... just waiting to happen with this current policy of segregation

Tomahawk Kid, the answer(s) I received.

The club cannot use the West Terrace for away supporters due to corporates moving to the stand and back, this means they have to walk through the away supporters which breaks segregation rules.

I suppose that makes sense, it's not ideal but our stadium is an old one and has been added to throughout the years without much thought of such things as segregation or corporates, this is probably the only way around it. As I've said before, I personally have never liked any of the HSE being given over to away supporters but as a segregation area, it works when used....or is probably the best option we have.

There have been several questions regarding turnstiles....and lack of at certain times. I replied to one person but to try and cover other supporters here is the answer to that one.

The club understands the frustrations surrounding turnstiles not always being open on matchdays. In one game recently we were three turnstile operators down, basically they operators didn't turn up, we cannot legislate for absenteeism. On that occasion Andrew Casson & Ronan quickly had to fill the gaps created.
Turnstile operators have been one of the most difficult positions to fill at the club. If anyone is interested in becoming a turnstile operator, it is a paid job with free entry.

If anyone is interested in that job, or if you know of anyone who might be, I'll happily pass your details onto the relevant people.

Breaks segregation rules? Okay; that's fair enough, if the club have to abide by rules imposed by, I presume, the FA? I didn't know that.

Just a shame that the Holker End has to be used for segregation. IMO it's not adequate with regard to safety and on a more personal note - and I'm sure I echo the thoughts and feelings of many Barrow AFC fans - it's OUR HOME END and it's so sad that it's used to house away supporters.

[The Tomahawk Kid]

This is probably a good reason we're not getting decent crowds despite the good run - not the fact that stewards are turning away a few but the fact that the fans are bickering between themselves about the whole situation. There's clearly no feel good factor about the club at the moment and that's got to be down to a combination of elements; shit food (Eat before you attend the match! Problem Solved!) coin and brick throwing oiks, oiks looking like coin throwing oiks, having to [SwearFilter] against a wall, prices, getting rained on in the shared home end, not rubbing shoulders with the players in the bar, (Who gives a F**K as long as they do the job on the pitch!) having to queue for a pint in the bar, (Which Bar? Change Bars!) hoofball, shift working, shit floodlights, stockless/shapeless shop, not getting travel paid for/free scarf, general apathy. Anything else?

S**T Stadium! Probably the main factor!

[Steelworks End]

There aren't too many alternatives, to be honest. If the West Terrace can't be used for the reason given by Ian, then it only leaves the Holker End, the Popular Side, or the limited area between the Crossbar and the Popular Side. I doubt that it would be feasible to house away supporters in this latter area as it gives access to and from the Crossbar; no pints at half time would upset too many Barrovians! That only leaves the Popular Side, and to use part of this for away supporters would mean that they would have home fans on both sides of them - and two sets of segregation fences. Probably against the rules as well.

I agree with Tomahawk that the Holker End is OUR home end (although personally I haven't stood there for many a year), but under the present arrangements Barrow supporters still have a large part of the terrace for their own use. All we need is a roof!

[Gasser]

Why do those on the corporate have to walk through the west terrace? Another 30 seconds to walk round to the turnstiles wouldn't hurt would it?

[Moribund]

Why do those on the corporate have to walk through the west terrace? Another 30 seconds to walk round to the turnstiles wouldn't hurt would it?

If the rules state they can't walk through opposition fans, they're hardly gonna be accommodating of making them leave the ground and walk alongside a road!

Who cares that away fans have a quarter of the Holker Street End? When was the last time we would have filled it?

[spirit of 1990]

Why do those on the corporate have to walk through the west terrace? Another 30 seconds to walk round to the turnstiles wouldn't hurt would it?

They'd have to come back in through the gate or turnstiles and still walk through the away supporters as the away supporters would need access to the toilets. That'd be breaking the segregation rules again.