Admin phantom Posted September 5, 2013 Admin Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 A topic that I’ve not seen raised anywhere else on here yet today. To look at things from a slightly different angle, I wonder how many arrests or police injuries could have been prevented if the crazy decision to let the Rovers fans out so soon after the final whistle was made? By the time I walked around the Dolman, back of the Atyeo to head up past the Williams stand, we were stopped by a line of riot police and police horses. The strange thing was that us City fans were surrounded by the police and kept in at the gates by the entrance to the East End. I remember Leeds being held back, and even more recently remember how long we were kept back at Cardiff There must have been at least 500 city fans that were surrounded by the police. To me letting the homes fans clear the area and go home surely is the priority rather than letting fans exit at the same time then to have the inevitable problems around by KFC I wonder whether there is a general lack of experience with the police dealing with these sort of situations compared to other forces. Talking to officers near us they were equally amazed that the call was made to let everyone out at the same time. Luckily the group of fans were sensible enough to hold their ground, but the 15 minute wait was getting very frustrating when all we wanted to do was to go home Surely this needs to be reviewed in the future, and whoever made the call needs to learn from their mistakes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welcome To The Jungle Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 A topic that I’ve not seen raised anywhere else on here yet today. To look at things from a slightly different angle, I wonder how many arrests or police injuries could have been prevented if the crazy decision to let the Rovers fans out so soon after the final whistle was made? By the time I walked around the Dolman, back of the Atyeo to head up past the Williams stand, we were stopped by a line of riot police and police horses. The strange thing was that us City fans were surrounded by the police and kept in at the gates by the entrance to the East End. I remember Leeds being held back, and even more recently remember how long we were kept back at Cardiff There must have been at least 500 city fans that were surrounded by the police. To me letting the homes fans clear the area and go home surely is the priority rather than letting fans exit at the same time then to have the inevitable problems around by KFC I wonder whether there is a general lack of experience with the police dealing with these sort of situations compared to other forces. Talking to officers near us they were equally amazed that the call was made to let everyone out at the same time. Luckily the group of fans were sensible enough to hold their ground, but the 15 minute wait was getting very frustrating when all we wanted to do was to go home Surely this needs to be reviewed in the future, and whoever made the call needs to learn from their mistakes I did the same thing, I left at FT (didn't stay to watch the afters) and left the dolman to the police area by the EE to get my motorbike helmet. When I got there is was like any normal game with the fans milling out and mixing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakes Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 A topic that I’ve not seen raised anywhere else on here yet today. To look at things from a slightly different angle, I wonder how many arrests or police injuries could have been prevented if the crazy decision to let the Rovers fans out so soon after the final whistle was made? By the time I walked around the Dolman, back of the Atyeo to head up past the Williams stand, we were stopped by a line of riot police and police horses. The strange thing was that us City fans were surrounded by the police and kept in at the gates by the entrance to the East End. I remember Leeds being held back, and even more recently remember how long we were kept back at Cardiff There must have been at least 500 city fans that were surrounded by the police. To me letting the homes fans clear the area and go home surely is the priority rather than letting fans exit at the same time then to have the inevitable problems around by KFC I wonder whether there is a general lack of experience with the police dealing with these sort of situations compared to other forces. Talking to officers near us they were equally amazed that the call was made to let everyone out at the same time. Luckily the group of fans were sensible enough to hold their ground, but the 15 minute wait was getting very frustrating when all we wanted to do was to go home Surely this needs to be reviewed in the future, and whoever made the call needs to learn from their mistakes They are clowns letting all fans out at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Give me a "P". ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miah Dennehy Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I honestly think letting fans out together is the best option. In the past when we aere kept in at AG, all that happened was that 'normal' City fans would disperse, but the meatheads would hang around, athen when we were finally let out it was easier for them to identify who were Rovers fans. There was trouble by the KFC last night , me and my lad walked right into it, but it was relatively easy to just walk away if you didn't want to get involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beijing red Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I wonder if whoever made the decision to let both sets of fans out at the same time has ever been to a football match, let alone a Bristol derby. Just defies all logic. Would be interesting to hear what that person has to say about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 it was obvious as the 2nd half unfolded that the East End corner of the Dolman family stand had a lot of fans bent on causing trouble, so firstly how did they get into that area?, were they sold tickets? or simply abandon their Dolman seats?. However the police did nothing whatsoever to assist the the totally inadequate stewarding at that particular flash point, it was obvious to me at the end of the game there was going to be some form of pitch invasion but nothing was done to prevent it. So let me add this to the mix, remember Leeds won a landmark ruling over police costs within the ground, football costs at matches have been a cash cow to the police, with what happened at Preston and here are the police perhaps trying to make a point? or are the police chiefs just so utterly incompetent?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 This happens all the time, although we are not usually held back as by the time we have walked around we are allowed to mingle with the very fans they have tried to keep us apart from, Cardiff, Millwall, Wolves etc! I never could understand it. Last night I was held up as you were. Waited about 20 mins then they decided to let us go. You had to walk single file through the gates with a police horse each side of you. There was nobody causing trouble or shouting etc just patiently waiting to go home. I was with 3 other people, they filed through the gap but when I followed they stopped us leaving again, I was told to wait a minute. There didn't seem to be anything going on so I politely asked the policeman on the horse if I could get through as the 3 people I was with have just been let though. He said 'no, you'll soon catch up' I said I didn't know where they were parked. He just looked at me and shrugged. Considering I was obviously a lone female I thought that was pretty poor to be fair. Luckily the people I was with soon noticed I wasn't with them and came back and waited. The horse began to get a bit jittery, he gave it a pat and said 'he wants to get home' to which someone in the crowd said 'so do we'. So the policeman on the horse, older bloke with glasses, said ' at least you aren't sweltering in all this' pointing to his 'armoured' uniform! Doh, how is your uniform our fault, you grumpy git (I wanted to say but bit my tongue). A few minutes later they let us pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted September 5, 2013 Author Admin Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I honestly think letting fans out together is the best option. In the past when we aere kept in at AG, all that happened was that 'normal' City fans would disperse, but the meatheads would hang around, athen when we were finally let out it was easier for them to identify who were Rovers fans. There was trouble by the KFC last night , me and my lad walked right into it, but it was relatively easy to just walk away if you didn't want to get involved. Valid point, but I can only compare to being held back at Cardiff. By the time we came out the streets were clear, those of us that were escorted back to the station didn't come across any home fans. Just seems a less volatile way to handle a potential situation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Net Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 it was obvious as the 2nd half unfolded that the East End corner of the Dolman family stand had a lot of fans bent on causing trouble, so firstly how did they get into that area?, were they sold tickets? or simply abandon their Dolman seats?. However the police did nothing whatsoever to assist the the totally inadequate stewarding at that particular flash point, it was obvious to me at the end of the game there was going to be some form of pitch invasion but nothing was done to prevent it. Exactly! I think I might apply for the post of football liaison officer with A&S. Those of us who are vetrans of these matches could have told them where the trouble would come from, yet even when these guys were mobbing up and removing the advertising hoardings, spitting at players etc, it was left to the stewards to deal with. Police should have been prepared, and in the vicinity - how many times was that guy in the yellow top allowed to come on the pitch and then go back behind the hoardings? They like to let things happen, and then trawl through cctv to find the culprits, rather than be pro-active at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pongo88 Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Personally I think the biggest problem was the lack of action from the police and stewards during the match. Before the match we were told there was going to be a zero tolerance attitude. Instead, a few muppets were allowed to do what ever they liked without any action being taken. The obvious example what the chap in the yellow t shirt in front of the Dolman, but there were quite a few others. Not just City fans, as some gas came onto the pitch during the match, danced in front of the goal and were allowed back into the Wedlock. If, instead, this small number of people had been thrown out of the ground immediately, things might have been different. Allowing these idiots to do what they wanted and get away with it just encouraged a large number of other fans to think they could do anything as well. There were a couple of young fans sat next to me in the Dolman(approx aged 11 and 14) who thought the antics of the muppets were fantastic and decided approx 10 minutes before the end of the match to go pitch side so that they could join in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Club and Country Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 They wanted trouble it's as simple as that. Now they will tell the whole country how great they are when they make 50 arrests in a months time! Why not try and prevent the trouble first eh? I seem in her interview and I quote 'known trouble makers from both clubs clashed' how was that ever allowed to happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Squirrel Kingdom Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Some good points made in this thread. I wonder what Su Mountstevens is doing this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Some good points made in this thread. I wonder what Su Mountstevens is doing this morning. Eating cakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevP Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 They wanted trouble it's as simple as that. Now they will tell the whole country how great they are when they make 50 arrests in a months time! Why not try and prevent the trouble first eh? I seem in her interview and I quote 'known trouble makers from both clubs clashed' how was that ever allowed to happen? At half time outside the Williams, a thug Police Officer kitted up to the eyeballs ( and I mean THUG ) lashed out and hit a City lad right in the face....this nearly sparked a kick off, luckily some our the fans were sensible enough not to react. Police provocation. Witnessed. I hope those lads that saw it report it today and get the hooligan Police Officer sorted. Thats a sackable offence anywhere else, wonder if he gets off with it....just a thought like.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady bunch Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I honestly think letting fans out together is the best option. In the past when we aere kept in at AG, all that happened was that 'normal' City fans would disperse, but the meatheads would hang around, athen when we were finally let out it was easier for them to identify who were Rovers fans. There was trouble by the KFC last night , me and my lad walked right into it, but it was relatively easy to just walk away if you didn't want to get involved. did not think of that happening, but yep it makes sense in some ways to all go together. said the meatheads cant all just bugger off somewhere else and let us get on with going to and from a footy game in peace.... COYR... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshtonGreat Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 If people behaved themselves, there wouldn't even be the need for a police presence. You don't get it at rugby games, not to that extent anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Personally I think the biggest problem was the lack of action from the police and stewards during the match. Before the match we were told there was going to be a zero tolerance attitude. Instead, a few muppets were allowed to do what ever they liked without any action being taken. The obvious example what the chap in the yellow t shirt in front of the Dolman, but there were quite a few others. Not just City fans, as some gas came onto the pitch during the match, danced in front of the goal and were allowed back into the Wedlock. If, instead, this small number of people had been thrown out of the ground immediately, things might have been different. Absolutely so. That clown ran on about 3 times in the second half and absolutely nothing was done to him. If a policeman had put his arm up his back and thrown him out it would have served as a deterant to others. I really was utterly baffled by the incompetence of both the police and stewards last night, there were kids no older than 8 or 9 who managed to get on the pitch at the end for God's sake, how on earth did they fail to stop them? The police were quick enough to ask for £60k to police a testimonial but were utterly hopeless last night, by the time they got in the ground at the end the game it had been over for five minutes plus. Perhaps the overtime money was more interesting than doing anything to earn it. If Rovers had taken the lead in the second half I seriously doubt that the game would have ended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalonred Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I left the Williams at FT and couldn't believe they'd opened the gates to let the Sags out? The horses were still ploughing up the pitch at the time and they were letting the Gas out? Questions need to be asked! As was said, if the home fans had been dispersed before opening the away gates there wouldn't have been the issues in the KFC car park surely? A couple of the Gas 'mugs' that had been 'escorted out of the stadium'.... after their goal celebrations.... were high sixing their mates and explaining what a jolly time they were having after being chucked out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftwingfullback Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 It's obvious, policing at matches will be like the Cardiff game, little to no arrests at games then the whole hoohar in the papers weeks later saying do you know these people. It makes the police look like they are doing a good job catching people, keeps their arrests rates up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Net Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I left the Williams at FT and couldn't believe they'd opened the gates to let the Sags out? The horses were still ploughing up the pitch at the time and they were letting the Gas out? Questions need to be asked! As was said, if the home fans had been dispersed before opening the away gates there wouldn't have been the issues in the KFC car park surely? A couple of the Gas 'mugs' that had been 'escorted out of the stadium'.... after their goal celebrations.... were high sixing their mates and explaining what a jolly time they were having after being chucked out! As already mentioned, when this has been done in the past, once you get a couple of streets away from the ground you are a sitting duck for the groups of fans hanging around for trouble. Don't forget, this isn't like a normal game, where the majority of away fans will disperse in the same direction, and have a police escort back to the station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Absolutely so. That clown ran on about 3 times in the second half and absolutely nothing was done to him. If a policeman had put his arm up his back and thrown him out it would have served as a deterant to others. I really was utterly baffled by the incompetence of both the police and stewards last night, there were kids no older than 8 or 9 who managed to get on the pitch at the end for God's sake, how on earth did they fail to stop them? The police were quick enough to ask for £60k to police a testimonial but were utterly hopeless last night, by the time they got in the ground at the end the game it had been over for five minutes plus. Perhaps the overtime money was more interesting than doing anything to earn it. If Rovers had taken the lead in the second half I seriously doubt that the game would have ended. Bizarrely, I had my 2 kids (7 & 9) asking me if they could go on the pitch to celebrate at the end which was refused obviously. The Police and Stewards were passive aggressive last night. They failed to do their job at all and when things became clearly out of control some of them behaved in an unacceptable way. It also doesn't help that they turn up with this commando style gear. It changes the way people behave towards them. It says we are here for a fight rather than we are here to police a game of football. The atmosphere in the East End changed when they arrived during the first half from being boisterous to having more of a hostile edge to it. One of the commandos in front of the East End watched about 50 fans go on the pitch at the end and did nothing before randomly battering one of the late comers. He was no more than 3 or 4 yards from the lummox in the yellow shirt who ran on to the pitch after the gas scored, but did nothing then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalonred Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 As already mentioned, when this has been done in the past, once you get a couple of streets away from the ground you are a sitting duck for the groups of fans hanging around for trouble. Don't forget, this isn't like a normal game, where the majority of away fans will disperse in the same direction, and have a police escort back to the station. Once the 'normal' people have gone, who's left? Hmmm, not rocket science is it? The police can also move outwards from the ground and 'patrol' the local areas, that would be novel wouldn't it? Police patrols? There were enough of them last night to make their presence felt in the whole of BS3, only needs a couple walking each street. I don't condone what went on after the game but Im getting really p****d off with the idiots that were either watching it on telly or hearing news reports on the radio or local TV and have now decided that there was a riot the size of an Egyptian presidential takeover and we're all hoolies! A few handbags, a couple of scratched coppers and a spilt KFC bucket doth not a riot make! The pictures in the news articles are quite funny tbh, 'rioting fans invading pitch' showing teenages with huge grins running towards the EE, hardly makes you shake with fright..... still not condoning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftwingfullback Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 The bard, was that the steward by the gate at the bottom right of the ee, if looking towards the pitch? I was stood there quite happily, in the stand I mean not on the pitch, when the steward said to a fan "I don't need police protection behind me" Now what does that tell you? That's not someone there to keep order, that's someone who is happy to try and agitate fans and look for a fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_BCFC Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 It is quite sad that we even have to have this conversation. In theory, there shouldn't be an issue but the idiots make it difficult and they probably should have been kept behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fodbarmyarmy Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I wonder if whoever made the decision to let both sets of fans out at the same time has ever been to a football match, let alone a Bristol derby. Just defies all logic. Would be interesting to hear what that person has to say about it. I think you'll find their comment would be.......... "it shouldn't make a blind bit of difference" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenn Loyal Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 A topic that I’ve not seen raised anywhere else on here yet today. To look at things from a slightly different angle, I wonder how many arrests or police injuries could have been prevented if the crazy decision to let the Rovers fans out so soon after the final whistle was made? By the time I walked around the Dolman, back of the Atyeo to head up past the Williams stand, we were stopped by a line of riot police and police horses. The strange thing was that us City fans were surrounded by the police and kept in at the gates by the entrance to the East End. I remember Leeds being held back, and even more recently remember how long we were kept back at Cardiff There must have been at least 500 city fans that were surrounded by the police. To me letting the homes fans clear the area and go home surely is the priority rather than letting fans exit at the same time then to have the inevitable problems around by KFC I wonder whether there is a general lack of experience with the police dealing with these sort of situations compared to other forces. Talking to officers near us they were equally amazed that the call was made to let everyone out at the same time. Luckily the group of fans were sensible enough to hold their ground, but the 15 minute wait was getting very frustrating when all we wanted to do was to go home Surely this needs to be reviewed in the future, and whoever made the call needs to learn from their mistakes We all know the OB could not run a bath, never have, never will be able to. Wonder if they got a bouns for how many they whacked with batons for no reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miah Dennehy Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 did not think of that happening, but yep it makes sense in some ways to all go together. said the meatheads cant all just bugger off somewhere else and let us get on with going to and from a footy game in peace.... COYR... Agreed (Apart from that COYR nonsense at the end of course ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gol Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I thought the police were awful last night didn't deter any trouble just went looking for a fight. everyone I've spoke to both city n rovers has said exactly the same. There should be an enquiry into how they dealt with this game but we all know that will not happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squire Dastardly Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Eating cakes. Mounting Steven? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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