There's understandable confusion and anger over the club's recent announcement regarding the Kop. Here's what's happened, which other clubs are facing similar issues, and a potential solution
Thanks for this, Joseph and for your work with ‘Stand United’.
Since I sit in the South Stand, this hasn’t been a problem that’s affected me and I’ll admit I had no idea that trouble of this kind had been brewing in the Kop, until I read the notice on the Club website and saw the discussion on one of the forums.
I have to agree that the memo was poorly worded, and it took me a while to work out exactly what it was saying! As you and others have pointed out, earlier communication would have been more effective as well as a clearer explanation and the need for the actions taken.
Being an ‘older’ and less mobile person, I do need to sit for matches and I was delighted when the Taylor Report decreed that grounds should be all-seater and for a while, this was enforced. If you read the Ground Rules or Stewards’ Handbook of any Club, you’ll find that they should enforce this, but unfortunately these days, the stewards (and even Police at times) just don’t seem to have the clout, authority or willingness to do this; or quite often the number of those “supporters” who try to sit or stand in the wrong place or cause overcrowding (such as standing on the steps and refusing to move) is too overwhelming for the stewards to deal with so they simply let it go and this creates a 'vicious circle' where nothing gets resolved. In the past, I’ve only witnessed this sort of behaviour at ‘away’ matches, and hadn’t realised that it was now infiltrating into the Kop at Bramall Lane. It is right for the Club to want to deal with the matter, but the way in which it’s been approached probably leaves a bit to be desired!
I think it’s great that so many groups are working together to enable a solution to be found; and hope that the Kop supporters will – all – be able to watch the games in the way they wish before too much time elapses.
Its a question of working together to build a working solution. Importantly, whilst that work is ongoing, it is essential that the fan base respect the situation and individuals take responsibility for their own behaviour and work within the current guidelines/restrictions.
Thanks for this, Joseph and for your work with ‘Stand United’.
Since I sit in the South Stand, this hasn’t been a problem that’s affected me and I’ll admit I had no idea that trouble of this kind had been brewing in the Kop, until I read the notice on the Club website and saw the discussion on one of the forums.
I have to agree that the memo was poorly worded, and it took me a while to work out exactly what it was saying! As you and others have pointed out, earlier communication would have been more effective as well as a clearer explanation and the need for the actions taken.
Being an ‘older’ and less mobile person, I do need to sit for matches and I was delighted when the Taylor Report decreed that grounds should be all-seater and for a while, this was enforced. If you read the Ground Rules or Stewards’ Handbook of any Club, you’ll find that they should enforce this, but unfortunately these days, the stewards (and even Police at times) just don’t seem to have the clout, authority or willingness to do this; or quite often the number of those “supporters” who try to sit or stand in the wrong place or cause overcrowding (such as standing on the steps and refusing to move) is too overwhelming for the stewards to deal with so they simply let it go and this creates a 'vicious circle' where nothing gets resolved. In the past, I’ve only witnessed this sort of behaviour at ‘away’ matches, and hadn’t realised that it was now infiltrating into the Kop at Bramall Lane. It is right for the Club to want to deal with the matter, but the way in which it’s been approached probably leaves a bit to be desired!
I think it’s great that so many groups are working together to enable a solution to be found; and hope that the Kop supporters will – all – be able to watch the games in the way they wish before too much time elapses.
Sue.
Thanks for the informed view.
Its a question of working together to build a working solution. Importantly, whilst that work is ongoing, it is essential that the fan base respect the situation and individuals take responsibility for their own behaviour and work within the current guidelines/restrictions.
UTB