Stewards at qpr Saturday.

[red ponty]

I personally had a major issue with a steward on Saturday. I have contacted qpr and asked them to check CCTV cameras and the incident. I've also sent a complaint to the metropolitan police.

Can any of you supporters Tell me Is it normal practice now for stewards to demand your wallet? And then to rifle through it. Because i've never seen that in attending football in this country and abroad for over  fifty five years.

And when with a fellow city fan witness, we went to a Metropolitan Police officer. His view was if I didn't like it. Don't go in, but after spending 100 pounds on a match ticket and train ticket. That wasn't an option. I have been to this ground many times but we'll never go again. Did anyone else have this experience with the stewards? Could they please let me know so I can inform queens park rangers, Reference my complaint..

[Mr Popodopolous]

Get in touch with @JerrySLO Dave Storr and maybe FSA Faircop and or Amanda Jacks potentially if she is still relevant as relevant points of contact, you may know if it is applicable already of course hut believe we had some issues at Cardiff away with police and or stewarding a fortnight ago.

[The Wild Bunch]

18 minutes ago, red ponty said:

I personally had a major issue with a steward on Saturday. I have contacted qpr and asked them to check CCTV cameras and the incident. I've also sent a complaint to the metropolitan police.

Can any of you supporters Tell me Is it normal practice now for stewards to demand your wallet? And then to rifle through it. Because i've never seen that in attending football in this country and abroad for over  fifty five years.

And when with a fellow city fan witness, we went to a Metropolitan Police officer. His view was if I didn't like it. Don't go in, but after spending 100 pounds on a match ticket and train ticket. That wasn't an option. I have been to this ground many times but we'll never go again. Did anyone else have this experience with the stewards? Could they please let me know so I can inform queens park rangers, Reference my complaint..

I had my wallet checked also.

[Unan]

Wallet checking is normal

[hertsexile]

I had a similar experience a few seasons ago when we were escorted the ground by the met only to arrive on the wrong side ! It was an all ticket match yet everyone was checked before allowing us to the right side of the ground ! The stewards searched all of us before allowing us to proceed ! We also missed the first 15 minutes of the match. A total shambles therefore I vowed never to attend a match at Loftus Road again which is a shame as I live very close to London. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Wallet checking is normal

At Loftus Road or in general at games? 

I haven't been away for a while but it sounds..different.

[Unan]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

At Loftus Road or in general at games? 

I haven't been away for a while but it sounds..different.

Generally, easy/obvious place to hide your drugs.

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 minute ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Generally, easy/obvious place to hide your drugs.

Dont recall it at varied away grounds but again perhaps it has changed..am out of touch a bit.

[CTIDhc]

1 hour ago, red ponty said:

I personally had a major issue with a steward on Saturday. I have contacted qpr and asked them to check CCTV cameras and the incident. I've also sent a complaint to the metropolitan police.

Can any of you supporters Tell me Is it normal practice now for stewards to demand your wallet? And then to rifle through it. Because i've never seen that in attending football in this country and abroad for over  fifty five years.

And when with a fellow city fan witness, we went to a Metropolitan Police officer. His view was if I didn't like it. Don't go in, but after spending 100 pounds on a match ticket and train ticket. That wasn't an option. I have been to this ground many times but we'll never go again. Did anyone else have this experience with the stewards? Could they please let me know so I can inform queens park rangers, Reference my complaint..

Hi mate I had the exact same from I expect the same steward, with some very unfair & unsubstantiated allegation made by him as well. I was extremely angry with this on the day and was considering a complaint so am glad someone is 

[KendrickDNB]

Had wallet checked a few times at football would never personally be offended or shocked by it, particularly given how aggressive bagged up people at football can be.

 

But then again I work in club industry and having your wallet checked is totally normally and expected every time I go out so maybe that’s why it doesn’t bother me 

[kmpowell]

I’m going to hazard a guess this was at the entrance to Z2 in the lower tier? It started about 10mins before half time and carried on well into the second half with lots of fans being targeted and then all responding the same angry way.

There was one particular steward there who IMO caused it all, resulting in the unnecessary aggro. It could have been nipped in the bud immediately but the steward kept on and it got to the point where actual fighting broke out between fans and the stewards. 

The supervisor was called, and in fairness he was reasonable, but the damage had already been done and things were well out of control.

Not the greatest of experience for my 10yr old boy on his first away game. It all unfolded within touching distance of us, and when we tried to go for a quick wee at half-time I had to pull him away safely from the spilling over tussles and verbals. 

Lots of witnesses who I’d say would happily back your account, if it was the same steward/area. 
 

Edit: just reread your post and it would seem your incident was outside the ground coming in. So likely not the same steward. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by kmpowell

[TV Tom]

44 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Generally, easy/obvious place to hide your drugs.

In the very unlikely event that i was to take drugs into a football ground the drugs would be inside my pants and not my wallet !!! 

[redkev]

My mrs checks my wallet every day , 

[Grey Fox]

One advantage of getting old, no one ever bothers checking you

[Mr Popodopolous]

I wonder if they were doorstaff by night, Agency Stewards by day.

Or more accurately, if the steward in question was someone more used to handling nightclubs..some Can do both with ease, but some well it's quite a different skillset and crowd dynamic.

Door staff as stewards can lead to difficulty, can lead to a kickback from fans but sounds like not here.

Remember 2017 when the kid shoved off the chair in the Singing Section v Stoke? May well have been an Agency Door Steward and sometimes they don't mix well with football crowds.

Edited November 13, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[CTIDhc]

6 minutes ago, kmpowell said:

I’m going to hazard a guess this was at the entrance to Z2 in the lower tier? It started about 10mins before half time and carried on well into the second half with lots of fans being targeted and then all responding the same angry way.

There was one particular steward there who IMO caused it all, resulting in the unnecessary aggro. It could have been nipped in the bud immediately but the steward kept on and it got to the point where actual fighting broke out between fans and the stewards. 

The supervisor was called, and in fairness he was reasonable, but the damage had already been done and things were well out of control.

Not the greatest of experience for my 10yr old boy on his first away game. It all unfolded within touching distance of us, and when we tried to go for a quick wee at half-time I had to pull him away safely from the spilling over tussles and verbals. 

Lots of witnesses who I’d say would happily back your account, if it was the same steward/area. 
 

Edit: just reread your post and it would seem your incident was outside the ground coming in. So likely not the same steward. 

The steward I had an issue with was the same one who I saw involved in an altercation at half time 

[luke_bristol]

1 hour ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Wallet checking is normal

Never, ever had my wallet checked going into a nightclub let alone the football, where does it happen to you?

 

edit to add: I’m not calling you a liar! Just curious that I might be living in a bubble

Edited November 13, 2023 by luke_bristol

[1960maaan]

I have never even heard of checking wallets before, not in all the years I've been going.
I didn't think the Police had the right to search you without due cause let alone a steward. 
A pat down is one thing, almost expect it, but to go through someones wallet ? 

[Hxj]

7 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

I didn't think the Police had the right to search you without due cause let alone a steward. 

It's private property.  Acting on behalf of the owners, if they want to search you to let you in they can, you have the option of refusing the search and in that case they are perfectly within their rights to stop you entering their property.

[1960maaan]

1 minute ago, Hxj said:

It's private property.  Acting on behalf of the owners, if they want to search you to let you in they can, you have the option of refusing the search and in that case they are perfectly within their rights to stop you entering their property.

Yep, totally get that and was going to put that in my post. But going through someones wallet is another thing all together. So many things that could be done or accused of, very dodgy ground IMO. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

3 hours ago, red ponty said:

I personally had a major issue with a steward on Saturday. I have contacted qpr and asked them to check CCTV cameras and the incident. I've also sent a complaint to the metropolitan police.

Can any of you supporters Tell me Is it normal practice now for stewards to demand your wallet? And then to rifle through it. Because i've never seen that in attending football in this country and abroad for over  fifty five years.

And when with a fellow city fan witness, we went to a Metropolitan Police officer. His view was if I didn't like it. Don't go in, but after spending 100 pounds on a match ticket and train ticket. That wasn't an option. I have been to this ground many times but we'll never go again. Did anyone else have this experience with the stewards? Could they please let me know so I can inform queens park rangers, Reference my complaint..

The ground regulations are available for you to view before you purchase your ticket. 

The regulations make it clear that searches can happen. When you enter the ground you are effectively giving permission to be searched. 

If you've not got anything to hide in your wallet then what's the issue? Whilst it may be slightly annoying, it is possible for someone to conceal either drugs or a weapon in a wallet. Hence why these regulations are in place.

Edited November 13, 2023 by W-S-M Seagull

[W-S-M Seagull]

39 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

I have never even heard of checking wallets before, not in all the years I've been going.
I didn't think the Police had the right to search you without due cause let alone a steward. 
A pat down is one thing, almost expect it, but to go through someones wallet ? 

It may seem OTT, but then what if a weapon was found hiding in a wallet, would you consider it to be OTT then? 

Maybe there was some police intelligence that people were planning on bringing in drugs/weapons hidden in wallets. 

You just don't know. But these things aren't done to annoy us. They are done to protect us. 

All it takes is a couple of seconds. Just smile and be polite and then continue to enjoy your day.

[southside]

1 hour ago, luke_bristol said:

Never, ever had my wallet checked going into a nightclub let alone the football, where does it happen to you?

 

edit to add: I’m not calling you a liar! Just curious that I might be living in a bubble

Never, ever had my wallet checked, football or otherwise, didn't know it was a thing, I must have  gotten old

Edited November 13, 2023 by southside

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, redkev said:

My mrs checks my wallet every day , 

My wifes purse with her debit card in got nicked last week. I never reported it though as the thief is spending less than she did.

[maxjak]

1 hour ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

The ground regulations are available for you to view before you purchase your ticket. 

The regulations make it clear that searches can happen. When you enter the ground you are effectively giving permission to be searched. 

If you've not got anything to hide in your wallet then what's the issue? Whilst it may be slightly annoying, it is possible for someone to conceal either drugs or a weapon in a wallet. Hence why these regulations are in place.

Yep your right............my 6 foot by 4 foot wallet is where i always hide my weapons

[W-S-M Seagull]

4 minutes ago, maxjak said:

Yep your right............my 6 foot by 4 foot wallet is where i always hide my weapons

Pocket knife, vial of acid etc etc easily can be concealed in a wallet. 

You have to remember it's London where a threat of a terrorist attack is significantly higher than it is in Bristol.

[Fammyfan]

I understand the concern, wallet contains valuables and personal details.

Also understand the importance to do searches for safety.

Was it just the wallet being searched? as surely any weapon that can fit into the wallet can also be put into a shoe etc.

[Son of Fred]

6 hours ago, 1960maaan said:

A pat down is one thing, almost expect it

At my age I quite look forwards to it...

[phantom]

10 hours ago, red ponty said:

I personally had a major issue with a steward on Saturday. I have contacted qpr and asked them to check CCTV cameras and the incident. I've also sent a complaint to the metropolitan police.

Can any of you supporters Tell me Is it normal practice now for stewards to demand your wallet? And then to rifle through it. Because i've never seen that in attending football in this country and abroad for over  fifty five years.

And when with a fellow city fan witness, we went to a Metropolitan Police officer. His view was if I didn't like it. Don't go in, but after spending 100 pounds on a match ticket and train ticket. That wasn't an option. I have been to this ground many times but we'll never go again. Did anyone else have this experience with the stewards? Could they please let me know so I can inform queens park rangers, Reference my complaint..

Sadly this is one of those times in life that are very frustrating and annoying but as below the stewards are well within their rights to do the check. 

I'd say it says more about the stewards at Loftus Road more than anything. 

I'd be personally surprised if you would be told anything different should you get any responses 

It'll no doubt leave a very bitter taste in your mouth, but my advice would be to move on 

7 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

The ground regulations are available for you to view before you purchase your ticket. 

The regulations make it clear that searches can happen. When you enter the ground you are effectively giving permission to be searched. 

If you've not got anything to hide in your wallet then what's the issue? Whilst it may be slightly annoying, it is possible for someone to conceal either drugs or a weapon in a wallet. Hence why these regulations are in place.

As annoying as it was I hate to say that there's nothing they did wrong 

 

10 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Get in touch with @JerrySLO Dave Storr and maybe FSA Faircop and or Amanda Jacks potentially if she is still relevant as relevant points of contact, you may know if it is applicable already of course hut believe we had some issues at Cardiff away with police and or stewarding a fortnight ago.

Hate to say it's nothing Jerry or Dave have any jurisdiction on, they can only assist at Ashton Gate. 

Amanda Jacks was the "FSA Faircop", and is no longer in that role and am not aware that anyone replaced her

10 hours ago, hertsexile said:

I had a similar experience a few seasons ago when we were escorted the ground by the met only to arrive on the wrong side ! It was an all ticket match yet everyone was checked before allowing us to the right side of the ground ! The stewards searched all of us before allowing us to proceed ! We also missed the first 15 minutes of the match. A total shambles therefore I vowed never to attend a match at Loftus Road again which is a shame as I live very close to London. 

I was caught up with this same incident and ironically exactly one of the reasons why I will never visit that dump again 

The other was how we were kettled in bars in Shepherd's Bush, marched to the ground, deliberately making us late and then witnessed numerous assaults on City Supporters by the MET, all of which went unpunished.... 

Sadly QPR stewards and MET police always seem on edge compared to other grounds in London (though Fulham stewards are not far behind) 

[RedM]

I've always found the QPR stewards quite chilled, but realise this is just my experience. My bag was searched by a female steward, I remember this as she was chatty and friendly, saying she liked my coat. I was not given a pat down and she only glanced at my bag, certainly didn't go though it.

Searches do vary very much from ground to ground, Cardiff,Swansea, Leeds and Leicester have been quite through, eg full body pat down and contents taken out of my bag, but I have never had my purse opened and it's certainly bigger than a man's wallet.

Just about all grounds they search bags, I just have a small bag,  probably only 20% or less I've been patted down or asked what was in my pockets.

Before anyone says it, I do realise being female most probably gives me a very different experience. I'm certainly not a youngster either. I find most stewards are ok, and some of them even friendly if you are pleasant enough and interact with them.