Torquay United Fans Forum

I have also have had an issue with stewards at Plainmoor albeit back in 2007, It was due to what happened the week before at Bath City, if anyone remembers it? .. The following week my group of friends and I where about to enter the Pop when we found out that Stewards had CCTV images of us on paper and refused entry to two of my friends. I managed to make it in but shortly before KO I was asked to go to the police control room to basically be accused of causing trouble at Bath. I was allowed to remain in the ground for the match but was then handed a ban by the club. My two friends were asked to leave and we're given a ban immediately.

Following an investigation and a letter from Dave (SouthamptonGull) the club decided that we were not troublemakers but actually victims due to the objects thrown at us by Bath fans which obviously provoked us. I was 17 back then and obviously a bit immature.

Now my long-winded point is that at football now you're dealt with before facts are established due to the risk that stewards have to asses, as and when. I never held that grudge and continued to support us because I know I'll behave myself .. Those of you that know me well will know I'm not the sort to start the trouble but I like to voice my opinion and if that involves swearing and a few hand gestures then that's up to me. Most people these days swear in day to day life whether it's casually in conversation or when angry etc. Football has survived with it for decades, it won't be eradicated so people need to deal with. I suppose it's why we have Family stands so people with kids have the option not to subject their children to swearing.

I'd imagine 95% of people who regularly attend football matches has sworn at an oppo player or given a hand gesture. If there is nothing more in it than the OP, then the stewards need to be careful, as with no crowd, there is no need for them, and then they'll have to spend a Saturday stewarding their family in the garden.

Hope you and your mates can get back in the middle of the pop tomorrow. After that, it's up to your group, like the rest of us, to get behind our players as much as you can.

taxilady wrote: They do have to check Brucie, you'd be surprised what can be concealed in a handbag !

No, Taxilady - it is no surprise to us guys what you ladies can conceal in your handbags !

Like TomoGull, after leaving the Union at about 2.55 (that's the only good thing about being crap and the crowds being so low - you can leave the pub and be on the terrace in time for kick-off, without queuing or struggling for anywhere to stand) and wandering down to the empty Ellacombe End of the Pop Side, I too noticed your group being spoken to by one of the stewards, one of whom did seem a little aggressive in his attitude towards you. You get to recognise regulars 'in your patch' and I didn't recognise any of you, so wondered if you were a group from elsewhere on a Stag Do or something, such was the attention you seemed to be getting.

Have to be honest - I have flicked the V's at Exeter before - especially when we have scored and I was probably older than 22.

sorry to hear there's been all this trouble. would have been pretty p11ssed off with that sort of treatment from stewards at any point of my years of supporting Torquay. We had something akin to that at Fratton Park when a somewhat large female steward took it upon herself to attempt to get the top 4 rows of our (singing) supporters to all sit down like good children; Southampton Gull just got a chant going about If You Love Torquay, Stand Up & the whole stand arose! Obviously completely different circumstances to here, but same sort of attitude about crowd containment (like criminals) instead of looking after crowd safety & enjoyment of adults. Have to say though, don't tar all the stewards with the same brush. I regularly take a small rucksack into the ground with me; the stewards at the Bench turnstile are brilliant. They do have to check Brucie, you'd be surprised what can be concealed in a handbag ! I generally find the stewards at away grounds to be ok as well, just doing their jobs. It's the same with everything, a small minority can really mess things up for everybody. Hope Andy Candy can sort it out for you Steve.

You were told you weren't allowed to stand at the away end because you're a risk to what exactly? The away end was closed. You were no closer to the oppo down the away end than down the family stand end. In fact, if, fit whatever reason, an away fan were to go in the home ends, I'd reckon they'd probably likely be found in the FS.

Seems overzealous, but then we only have your version of events. Still, I'm quite capable of behaving myself at football, consequently I don't have trouble with stewards. I'm not the only one. Has your mate considered why he's being singled out?

Matt.

Just do as they ask and then wet yourself laughing afterwards. That's all you can do. I'm sure most are down to earth sensible people but you always get the odd knobhead. If one had said to me that he was 'ex military' then I'd have said that his experiences had now become trivialised and have culminated in ticking off young lads at Torquay United. Not Besiktas, Zamalek, Wisla Krakow or Roma but Torquay. I'm ex RSPCA but i don't get a job as a park warden and then lecture all the dog walkers about how i know how to keep dogs under control and tell them if i don't like their interactions with the dogs whilst out on the walk then i'll ban them from the park. In the RSPCA some of think they are the same as policmemen when in actual fact they have zero powers like you and I. It's the uniform I reckon. Power mad. Why can't they just be down to earth.

I made a gesture at Chesterfield fans the other week and also shouted at them to f*ck off. It was out of frustration and anger and that they had began taunting us after equalising. The equaliser i could take but when these fans had previously been mannequins for the first 55 minutes only coming alive when a goal is scored then THAT really p*ssed me off. Sh*t fans.

I would have had no problems if a steward had asked me to leave or given me a warning, we've all done stuff that has been ott in the heat of the moment. Sadly in this climate of clamping down on everything such events are now being magnified out of all proportion by self important jobsworths. I remember the last game of the season a few year back v Crewe when at the final whistle some youths ran onto the pitch when they had been told not to by the stadium announcer. The stewards just conceded defeat straight away and let it happen.

tomogull wrote: Aw - come on, Gullscorer - that's a little harsh. When you were 22, didn't you get involved in banter and chanting with opposing fans? I know I did ..... mind you, it was all good natured as we got as good as we gave. We don't know the extent of the taunting of course, but surely all that was needed was a bit of common sense and a warning to 'cool it' ?

no tomo he didnt - cos hes a plank.

taunton_gull wrote: More chance of me wearing flares!

get off our forum you hippy.

taunton gull - that would actually be funny if it wasn't true. These people are complete idiots.

Gullscorer wrote:Whatever the rights and wrongs of your encounter with the stewards on Saturday, the question must be asked: what gives you the right to taunt opposing supporters, or for that matter anybody else? It's tantamount to stirring up trouble, and I'm not surprised the stewards regarded the bunch of you with misgivings, and your declared attitude would have done nothing to change their opinions.

Next time, try to behave as real supporters should and support your own team, and don't waste energy taunting others simply because they support an opposing team. And if it was them who started the taunting, then it was juvenile and immature of you to rise to the bait. Try behaving properly in future and perhaps the stewards will one day begin to look upon you as responsible adults.

The fact that one or two of the stewards were behaving like little Hitlers was no excuse. Instead of criticising others, look in the mirror and try to improve your own characters.. And if you think I'm rushing to judgement too quickly here without knowing all the facts, then I apologise, but I can only proceed on the facts as presented and your attitudes as described in your post..

gullscorer is talking wet again.

steve231, dont let the nerks get you down.

SuperNickyWroe wrote: well stop being naughty taunton me old cocker and leave the flares at home.

More chance of me wearing flares!

taunton_gull wrote:I can confirm on two occasions this season I have had a less than welcoming experience with an overzealous female steward on the pop - when I asked why I needed to turn out my pockets I was informed 'that's what happens when your lot bring in flares.' Nothing more to say!

well stop being naughty taunton me old cocker and leave the flares at home.

I can confirm on two occasions this season I have had a less than welcoming experience with an overzealous female steward on the pop - when I asked why I needed to turn out my pockets I was informed 'that's what happens when your lot bring in flares.' Nothing more to say!

Gullscorer - are you actually for real. You are seriously a total idiot. Were these people causing any trouble at the game on Saturday? It appears not and was witnessed by other supporters. Having paid their entrance money they should have been able to stand where they wanted.
One supporter had previously given a V sign to an Exeter supporter. God almighty have you ever been to a match involving Liverpool or Everton supporters.
The capacity for any trouble at the Accrington game was totally zero. Give some people a uniform and they feel the need to act like the gestapo.
These supporters were treated shamefully.
Lets face it 90% of the stewards have not got a brain cell to rub together.
When I was walking into Bristows Bench on Saturday there was a disabled bloke on a mobility scooter waiting with an able bodied companion, waiting to access the section for disabled supporters at the front of the ramp.
The pair of gormless jerk offs in green jacket's ignored the bloke on the scooter didn't speak to him and generally gave the impression that they though the bloke didn't exist.
Rather than making him feel welcome they ignored him and wouldn't let him enter the disabled section. After about five minutes of doing nothing the pair of numptys eventually spoke to another steward in an orange jacket.
He also ignored the disabled supporter but eventually went off into the disabled section with the supporters abled bodied friend.
I could scarcely believe what I was watching. I then talked to the disabled supporter for a few minutes - nice bloke, until his friend came back and he entered the disabled section on his scooter. Not one of the stewards could be arsed to acknowledge the supporter, speak to him, wish him a good afternoon - just treated him like a piece of shit on their shoes.
It's the same when you go in the ground. Is it really necessary for middle aged or elderly female supporters to have to show the contents of their handbags. It is ridiculous.