Police/steward intimidation*

[Saint_clark]

Perhaps they didn't think there was any threat. perhaps they have more sense than you, or than you give them credit for?

 

That post was a reply to Delldays who gave examples of the Sheffield Wednesday fans throwing punches at Clint Hill, and the Luton fans attacking the York players.

[wessex saint]

I didn't find the repetition of the tannoy announcement inciting as I have a mental age greater than 6.

 

I did however feel the announcement totally detracted from the game and ruined the atmosphere. Therefore, I booed the tannoy and called the pitch invaders "w@nkers".

 

+1.

 

Was in the Kingsland near chapel corner... 1st kiddie who tried to get on was taken out by a world class rugby tackle. Looked like a last ditch tackle to win England the 6 nations. Bloody awesome! Steward should be very proud

[niceandfriendly]

i'm another who totally agrees that the announcements were very patronising and completely unnecessary. not sure about the argument about "should the coppers have taken more action", don't really mind or care.

 

but i agree with the OP when he says the announcements would be seen as incitement to some mindless idiots. there was no threat or hostility at all at the ground, the fans were even clapping eachother... why test the patience of those who we all know aren't very bright, by going way over the top with warnings?

[niceandfriendly]

Steward should be very proud

 

I saw some great tackles too. What makes me laugh is the thought that these stewards are just normal blokes like you or I who have full time jobs, and when asked what they got up to at the weekend they will reply with "oh you know, did a bit of shopping, rugby tackled a few chavs, not much"

 

good on you stewards today

[Saint_clark]

There's one steward in the northam (some on here might know who i'm talking about) who never stops trudging up and down asking you to take to your seats. I saw him when they all lined up down the front, tucking his glasses safely in his inside coat pocket and zipping it right up to his chin before taking a "ready" stance. Made me chuckle.

[saint boggy]

i think the multiple announcements were unnecessary too......BUT to then go on the pitch regardless of these announcements is just crazy! ...Football isn't like it was years ago ,H&S regs require that the club to take ALL necessary precautions to prevent a pitch incursion, not like when i first started going to watch Saints,when EVERY last home game of the season was finished off with a pitch invasion (all very good natured)

anyway,i digress........ pitch invasion is wrong (not to mention, illegal!) BUT repeating the announcement 3 times shows a complete lack of understanding of a football fan's mentality and sense of humour...essentially,they are like children...tell them not to do something and it just makes them more determined to go and do it!

 

re, the OP comment about the Police...it is the job of the stewards to contain and/or apprehend any wrong-doers and then hand them over to the police for THEM to deal with/arrest them.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Well... I do live in a different country.

 

I don't care how he said it. To call a standard announcement (albeit said 3 times) and stewards and police taking up a position to do a job incitement is beyond laughable.

 

If I'm in a kebab shop at 3am and there's a few cops outside on the beat, is their presence incitement for me to punch some guy or throw something throw a window? Or do I have to wait until they tell me not to do that before it becomes incitement?

 

Tbh you had to be there.

It was the very patronising way he said it which incensed everyone around me. Once okay, twice irritating 3rd time just unneccessary.

[The Cat]

Agree about the patronising nature of the announcement.

 

All that needed to be said was something like "please stay in your seats after the game and enjoy the lap of honour so you, the fans can show the team your appreciation for their hard work during this magnificent season, and the players and staff can applaud the fans for their outstanding support"

 

Something like that would probably have got a big cheer and not antagonised anyone.

 

I sit in the Kingsland and even the old people near us were saying the announcements were ridiculous.

[Whitey Grandad]

It's a good question which deserves an answer. If the poilce are not going to do anything, then why were they there? Under what circumstances would they act?

[stmusicdude]

The Police are specifically instructed not to go on the pitch unless in an emergency!

 

HTH

 

He has already stated they were on the pitch in fact they wonderd on to the pitch almost straight away they looked lost as to what to do, but then so did some stewards

[John Boy Saint]

A slight aside:

 

I saw the Des Kelly on Saturday column yesterday (I know the scourge daily snail!!) There was a bit in there about a pitch invader at a Baseball game in the states, the crowd were getting increasingly in upset that the intruder was eluding the stewards, until an "obese Policeman" pulled his gun and Tasered the pitch invader. As Kelly went on to say: "These people have a choice. They can decide to stay precisely where they are meant to be, off the field of play and in the grandstands. Or they can run onto the field and play a game of 'Shock the Monkey'.

 

I bet a fair few in the ground would like to watch that, and a few nutters would quite happily oblige to take a 12,000 volt jolt just for our entertainment!!

[chrisobee]

A slight aside:

 

I saw the Des Kelly on Saturday column yesterday (I know the scourge daily snail!!) There was a bit in there about a pitch invader at a Baseball game in the states, the crowd were getting increasingly in upset that the intruder was eluding the stewards, until an "obese Policeman" pulled his gun and Tasered the pitch invader. As Kelly went on to say: "These people have a choice. They can decide to stay precisely where they are meant to be, off the field of play and in the grandstands. Or they can run onto the field and play a game of 'Shock the Monkey'.

 

I bet a fair few in the ground would like to watch that, and a few nutters would quite happily oblige to take a 12,000 volt jolt just for our entertainment!!

 

I saw the Video, way OTT it has to be said.

[JRM]

Lots of hypocrites in the northam today.

 

Booing the tanoy announcement about not going on the pitch, singing "on the pitch" and then calling the lads that went on the pitch w4nkers.

 

Make your minds up.

 

exactly what i thought. Northam has a large percentage of morons, the one thing i would change about the club is the supporters.

 

nothing wrong with running on the pitch, long may the tradition continue.

[JRM]

i think the multiple announcements were unnecessary too......BUT to then go on the pitch regardless of these announcements is just crazy! ...Football isn't like it was years ago ,H&S regs require that the club to take ALL necessary precautions to prevent a pitch incursion, not like when i first started going to watch Saints,when EVERY last home game of the season was finished off with a pitch invasion (all very good natured)

anyway,i digress........ pitch invasion is wrong (not to mention, illegal!) BUT repeating the announcement 3 times shows a complete lack of understanding of a football fan's mentality and sense of humour...essentially,they are like children...tell them not to do something and it just makes them more determined to go and do it!

 

re, the OP comment about the Police...it is the job of the stewards to contain and/or apprehend any wrong-doers and then hand them over to the police for THEM to deal with/arrest them.

 

pitch invasions are not wrong.

f*ck off with your health and safety, its because of people like you that i'd actually make the effort to invade the pitch just to annoy you

[Matthew Le Tissier]

I must say, the lads who went on the pitch were dicks as what's the point. but the stewards were a descrace. Slamming people to the floor and getting ontop giving digs with there knees. I was hoping someone was going to give one a good hiding.

 

They should not be allowed to use physical violence. After all all they done was walk on the grass, that doesn't warrent a body slam.

 

Would be intresting if a fan got injured by one and see him get his skinny sad ass sued.

[70's Mike]

I must say, the lads who went on the pitch were dicks as what's the point. but the stewards were a descrace. Slamming people to the floor and getting ontop giving digs with there knees. I was hoping someone was going to give one a good hiding.

 

They should not be allowed to use physical violence. After all all they done was walk on the grass, that doesn't warrent a body slam.

 

Would be intresting if a fan got injured by one and see him get his skinny sad ass sued.

 

Semi agree if someone breaks into my house i am expected to use "reasonable force" to get him out, under uk law at the moment " reasonable force" is ask them nicely or the OB will arrest me

[SNSUN]

Running onto the pitch is for idiots. This is why I sit at the back of the stand. (Unless my short sighted other half accompanies me down to SMS, then I have to compromise.)

[Tractor_Saint]

Running onto the pitch is for idiots. This is why I sit at the back of the stand. (Unless my short sighted other half accompanies me down to SMS, then I have to compromise.)

 

Yes, the announcements were way OTT, yes the crowd were a little p*ssed off with it. However, I, and about 25,300 of the crowd managed to contain our 'anger' and decided to stay where we were (for me, one row from the front).

 

So, no matter where you sat at the game and what intimidation you had, more than 99% of the crowd managed to curtail their anger and applaud their team at the end. There's always that other one percent in any walk of life

 

BTW SNSUN, don't you get to go to new grounds next season with the other half Bet she's rubbed it in at every opportunity - I'm sure you would in the same situation!

[SNSUN]

BTW SNSUN, don't you get to go to new grounds next season with the other half Bet she's rubbed it in at every opportunity - I'm sure you would in the same situation!

 

My missus, her brother and her best friend have all been giving me a bit of stick - next season will be the first in the 4 years I've been with her that Saints and Norwich haven't been in the same league! It's going to be weird...

[ringwood]

I think people just didn't like being spoken to like they were 5 year olds.

The announcement was way over the top and to do it 3 times was incitement.

 

Yes was the announcement necessary? the screens had the message up, I suppose they decided we needed the announcement as we had no programmes!

 

If they were serious why wasn't the years ban part of the original announcement, surely that was the only real message needed, and then only once,

 

The message from the Northam was more of a reaction, including the on the pitch if Wotton scores, Paul even turned around at that chant when the penalty was awarded and was 'HUMOUR' from the Northam , the 'whose the ****** on the mic was funny as well,

 

As usual the stadium manager and stewards got it wrong, police dogs last time by the Northam and guess what it was the Kingsland that had the first break onto the pitch, this time no dogs just no need to have the police there at all, far better to of had them in the tunnels in the background, were they actually needed?

 

Where was first incursion ah yes Kingsland!

[Huffton]

A slight aside:

 

Or they can run onto the field and play a game of 'Shock the Monkey'.

 

I bet a fair few in the ground would like to watch that, and a few nutters would quite happily oblige to take a 12,000 volt jolt just for our entertainment!!

 

That would be far better half time entertainment than what we have now, I would actually pay more for my season ticket if they brought that in!:supz:

[Tractor_Saint]

That would be far better half time entertainment than what we have now, I would actually pay more for my season ticket if they brought that in!:supz:

 

Are you ITK - how much is it for next season ?

[Northant Saint]

Sounds like a repeat of last season to me. The police and stewards wont stop the crowd getting on the pitch if they want to, and so there is absolutely no point in provoking the chav elements of our fans by setting up human walls and putting out announcements.

 

Yes the police did there jobs, unfortunately though, the job wasn't very well thought out.

[Trader]

Everybody seems to assume that invading the pitch is illegal, but I'm wondering whether, under UK law, it is.

 

The only offence that I can see is one of trespass on the club's property, which under UK law is a civil offence, not a criminal one.

 

Which means that the club could sue the offenders in the civil courts, or more probably ban them, but as it's not a criminal offence it's nothing to do with the police.

 

The police are probably there for deterrent purposes, but it would explain their reluctance to get involved.

 

Any lawyers out there?

[Tractor_Saint]

Everybody seems to assume that invading the pitch is illegal, but I'm wondering whether, under UK law, it is.

 

Isn't it private land and the rules are printed in the programme (when you can get it) and on the hoardings. If they want to ban you, that's their rule, just like a public house doesn't have to let you in if they don't like the look of you.

[latter day saint]

i did lol when they announced about the bans just as a bloke was being lead off the pitch. the look on his face went from smug git to that of a little boy who'd just been put to bed

hope it was worth it.

[RedWillie]

it's a specific offence covered by section 4 of the football offences act 1991. Basically anyone entering the field of play i.e. Pitch and area immediately next to it i.e. Over the hoardings without lawful excuse the onus is on them to prove that they had a good reason to do so,is guilty of tne offence and can be arrested.

So don't do it....

 

Sent from my Nokia phone using Tapatalk.

[NickG]

Everybody seems to assume that invading the pitch is illegal, but I'm wondering whether, under UK law, it is.

 

The only offence that I can see is one of trespass on the club's property, which under UK law is a civil offence, not a criminal one.

 

Which means that the club could sue the offenders in the civil courts, or more probably ban them, but as it's not a criminal offence it's nothing to do with the police.

 

The police are probably there for deterrent purposes, but it would explain their reluctance to get involved.

 

Any lawyers out there?

 

criminal offence to invade football pitch

[hamster]

A slight aside:

 

I saw the Des Kelly on Saturday column yesterday (I know the scourge daily snail!!) There was a bit in there about a pitch invader at a Baseball game in the states, the crowd were getting increasingly in upset that the intruder was eluding the stewards, until an "obese Policeman" pulled his gun and Tasered the pitch invader. As Kelly went on to say: "These people have a choice. They can decide to stay precisely where they are meant to be, off the field of play and in the grandstands. Or they can run onto the field and play a game of 'Shock the Monkey'.

 

I bet a fair few in the ground would like to watch that, and a few nutters would quite happily oblige to take a 12,000 volt jolt just for our entertainment!!

 

 

Was this it?

 

[saint boggy]

pitch invasions are not wrong.

f*ck off with your health and safety, its because of people like you that i'd actually make the effort to invade the pitch just to annoy you

well, others got on, so why didn't you "make the effort"??? huh??...maybe because you're a little pussy who talks big but doesn't back it up with actions....... have a nice day at school today mate!!

[Trader]

it's a specific offence covered by section 4 of the football offences act 1991. Basically anyone entering the field of play i.e. Pitch and area immediately next to it i.e. Over the hoardings without lawful excuse the onus is on them to prove that they had a good reason to do so,is guilty of tne offence and can be arrested.

So don't do it....

 

Sent from my Nokia phone using Tapatalk.

 

Fair enough

[Daren W]

Agree about the patronising nature of the announcement.

 

All that needed to be said was something like "please stay in your seats after the game and enjoy the lap of honour so you, the fans can show the team your appreciation for their hard work during this magnificent season, and the players and staff can applaud the fans for their outstanding support"

 

Something like that would probably have got a big cheer and not antagonised anyone.

 

I sit in the Kingsland and even the old people near us were saying the announcements were ridiculous.

 

Spot on, the atmosphere was that of a fun, end of season knees up. I think most people had no intention of invading the pitch until the announcer warned then not to three times. I really do think it soured the atmosphere a wee bit...

 

One announcement fine, three is just inviting a few idiots to do exactly the opposite of what they're told...

[spyinthesky]

I think people just didn't like being spoken to like they were 5 year olds.

The announcement was way over the top and to do it 3 times was incitement.

 

Spot On

[Psycrow]

After everyone broked onto the pitch, a big "PLAN B" didn't flash up on the screens did it?

[The9]

*Sorry, I meant incitement...

There was absolutely nothing brewing/mentioned during the game until they all lined up down the front and the announcements started. Then people ran on the pitch, and whilst the stewards tried to stop them the coppers LITERALLY didn't move an inch.

 

I thought it was a clever ploy to let the police cameramen get another go at capturing decent images of the same kind of mongs that were involved with the trouble at the derby.

 

It was like entrapment... without trying.

 

And fair enough, the repeated announcements were bloody annoying (not that anyone in the Northam could hear any of the last two due to the deliberate noise-making), but it's pretty specious to try and claim they or the lines of stewards actually CAUSED the pitch invasion, which those mongtard d111cks were going to do no matter what.

 

On the bright side, the 20,000+ still in our seats had the chance to let them know what we thought of them potentially messing up the lap of honour :

 

"Off Off Off"

"W'nkers, w@nkers, w^nkers"

"na-nan-na-naaaah...Fcvk Off"

 

It seriously is the ubergheyest form of desperate, deluded self-promotion.

 

Eejit : "Look at meee, I'm on the pitch - I'm clever !!"

20,000 people : "Er, no you're not".