Crowd trouble (6 Viewers)

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
It was deeply disappointing to witness the crowd incidents we had within the stadium against Derby County last Saturday, which continued outside the stadium. We as a Football Club have worked extremely hard to get the Club back into Coventry and into the Arena and to help build the atmosphere and experience on our home matchdays, which thus far have been outstanding. We will not tolerate the behaviour of a small minority who seemed to be hell bent on causing trouble. Anybody proven to be involved in the troubles against Derby County via CCTV footage will be banned from attending matches home and away, and in some cases for life. There is a full investigation ongoing into what happened, involving ourselves, the Police and the stadium, and we will look at any lessons that can be learnt.

We have had questions asked about levels of policing at games, so I would like to clarify how this works. The policing category for every game which dictates how much Police resource is applied to a game is initially agreed during the pre-season and then reviewed between myself and our dedicated West Midlands Police Football Officer around 6 weeks ahead of the fixture, based on a stringent Police categorisation system – this is based on anticipated level of home and away supporters, and any intelligence that might go with it. Once the categories are finalised, the Club is committed to paying for that Police resource and for the Police to deliver that resource on the day. On Saturday, we had more than ample Police resource at the Stadium.

 

Marty

Well-Known Member
90% of problems have been caused since Wasps came in. First it was the fence, then keeping Car Park C closed, then putting up the massive barriers. They keep implementing ideas that don't work, then create additional plans to counter the new problems they've caused. How the safety officer has kept his job after the Derby game, I'll never know.

Simple solution is keep away fans in for 15 minutes at the end of the game.

For me, too much pressure is put on the underpass by the rail line, you have near enough the whole stadium needing to get through one area, get a bridge built behind block 20 and maybe even another at the corner of the telegraph stand and instantly the majority of home fans have to go nowhere near the away fans.
 

robbiethemole

Well-Known Member
Well, last night it wouldn't have been an issue, as we didn't get out of carpark C until 10.20, and when we got onto the 444 the whole site was empty, and most people were at home in bed. Almost like we were being kept in! hahaha
 

Legia Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
It would make more sense to have away supporters at the Telegraph end, park the coaches immediately outside. That deals with the main bulk of fans which then would make it easier for the police to deal with any that are going back towards the station.

I'm not convinced. I suspect the flashpoints would simply move to the bridge over the canal and down by the canal side after that. The main problem is the lack of transport to and from the ground. I remember going to Pride Park a while back where they laid on free buses to and from the station. No idea if the cost of it was covered by the football club, the police or the local council, but it worked well at the time. On another point, given that we don't seem to be able to use the Arena railway station, I really don't understand what the point was of ever having it built.
 

skyblueeyesrevisited

Well-Known Member
I'm not convinced. I suspect the flashpoints would simply move to the bridge over the canal and down by the canal side after that. The main problem is the lack of transport to and from the ground. I remember going to Pride Park a while back where they laid on free buses to and from the station. No idea if the cost of it was covered by the football club, the police or the local council, but it worked well at the time. On another point, given that we don't seem to be able to use the Arena railway station, I really don't understand what the point was of ever having it built.
The police probably use it for a scenic trip to Nuneaton and back. Not seen them doing anything else on match days.
 

GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee

Well-Known Member
Great to see the fence by the bridge stopping a dad taking his autistic son back to the car today which resulted in them pushing him against the wall with it as his son was really upset.

Steward even said he hated the fences.

Also gave a bunch of 12 year olds who were about 6 stone wet the confidence to slag off Bristol in every way possible, and the cringeworthy change to “Bristol get battered everywhere they go” chant. Thankfully no one on the other side reacted or cared, or even heard, but allow them to walk next to people who can get to them and there’s zero chance they do it. The fence gives people the confidence to be a Bell end and then all of a sudden you’re at the end and exposed…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

lifeskyblue

Well-Known Member
Went off at the casino apparently

Not sure what went off but atmosphere quite nasty at foot of stairs as we left (about 5:40)…2 groups facing off with couple of casino staff between. As we were walking to car 3 police vehicles with blue lights heading to that area.


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pusbccfc

Well-Known Member
Thought the atmosphere in Singers was far more positive today and didn't have anywhere near the edge the Derby game did. Even when Bristol fans tried to run over, it was repeated by our fans.

Unlike the Derby game, the fans were singing about the players and not the away support.
 

Langers70

Well-Known Member
Do you mind me asking why he wants you to have a chat with him? Is his own feedback not enough? No dig, just genuinely intrigued.

In terms of the throwing stones, I have a slightly shameful story from when I was about 14 or 15. I was delivering free newspapers on a weekly basis around the estate where my folks lived in Wiltshire. I was delivering in one particular cul de sac when a group of other kids, maybe about 4 of them between the ages of 10-15 starting shouting stuff at me. I can't recall what exactly but given that I was even more of a short arse then than I am now, I wouldn't exactly have been starting anything. Anyway, they were calling me names or something from about 30yds away so I picked up a stone and threw it in their direction. It hit one of them, a little girl about 12 yrs old on the side of her head and it started bleeding badly. Her mum came out and rightly unleashed a world of abuse on me. I apologised as much as I could, made sure she was alright and then went on my way. To this day, I've always thought about that when things like this pop up. An inch or two to the side and I could've blinded her. Thankfully I didn't and I've grown up to stay well clear of trouble.

On a similar note, I had two friends fall out massively a couple of years ago over a woman. One came up behind the other and sucker punched him from behind on the side of the head. Whilst a dick thing to do, that was also out of character. My mate who was hit, fell, knocked his head and needed emergency surgery for a bleed on the brain. Thankfully, he's ok as well and believe it or not, they're now on talking terms, albeit they'll never be great friends again.

The moral of those two stories - just don't fucking do it...you just never know what might happen. As a stupid, naive 14 year old, I was incredibly lucky that I didn't blind that girl. My mate was lucky he didn't kill another mate. Just don't do it...it's not worth it. As others have said, the effects of 'a little ruck' can have life lasting effects.
All it is,is ive lived a pretty eventful life,and my mate thought his lad would listen to me more.Those days are long in the past for me now.Family man with a great Mrs and 2 beautiful daughters.I dont drink anymore and havent touched drugs in years.I havent been in any kind of trouble for about 20 years.There was a time i didnt think id see 30,im 51 now,so id say thats a result.Like you say...one moment of madness or bravado,can ruin a lot of lives.I spoke to the lad,it seemed to sink in.But who knows? Time will tell.
 

Skyblueweeman

Well-Known Member
All it is,is ive lived a pretty eventful life,and my mate thought his lad would listen to me more.Those days are long in the past for me now.Family man with a great Mrs and 2 beautiful daughters.I dont drink anymore and havent touched drugs in years.I havent been in any kind of trouble for about 20 years.There was a time i didnt think id see 30,im 51 now,so id say thats a result.Like you say...one moment of madness or bravado,can ruin a lot of lives.I spoke to the lad,it seemed to sink in.But who knows? Time will tell.

Fair enough, cheers for the response. Hopefully that's one less kid to worry about.
 

pusbccfc

Well-Known Member
Glad they've been given more than Blues but I thought they may have been given the full 5k.


Baffling when you look back at West Ham and Leeds, two of the most notorious fanbases bringing 6500 here and now we can only handle 4500.
 

COV

Well-Known Member
Glad they've been given more than Blues but I thought they may have been given the full 5k.


Baffling when you look back at West Ham and Leeds, two of the most notorious fanbases bringing 6500 here and now we can only handle 4500.

Not really- fans weren't crossing the segregation in order to attack each other in the runup to those games
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Just install a 5 foot fence down the middle of the block next to singers' corner FFS. Zero risk to crowd safety, prevents the knobs being knobs.
 

COV

Well-Known Member
That stuff happened back in 2010. One incident and suddenly 2000 tickets seats have gone.

I’m not saying it’s right but the Derby match is what’s done this, and that kind of thing didn’t happen before the Leeds & West Ham games
 

Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue

Well-Known Member
Glad they've been given more than Blues but I thought they may have been given the full 5k.


Baffling when you look back at West Ham and Leeds, two of the most notorious fanbases bringing 6500 here and now we can only handle 4500.

That was before we had several full and vociferous blocks, right next to the away fans.

4500 is still one of the highest away allocations in the league, only Preston, Barnsley and Blackburn that I am aware of (happy to be corrected), offer more away tickets currently.

I much prefer what we have the following we have now, rather than being reliant on selling lots of tickets to away fans.
 

pusbccfc

Well-Known Member
That was before we had several full and vociferous blocks, right next to the away fans.

4500 is still one of the highest away allocations in the league, only Preston, Barnsley and Blackburn that I am aware of (happy to be corrected), offer more away tickets currently.

I much prefer what we have the following we have now, rather than being reliant on selling lots of tickets to away fans.

Really? Block 14/15 was definitely a thing when Leeds brought 6400 in 2010/11(?).
 

JAM See

Well-Known Member
Really? Block 14/15 was definitely a thing when Leeds brought 6400 in 2010/11(?).
"She said no Marlon, she said no"

To this day the most sustained away support I've ever heard at either the Ricoh or HR.

We were like rabbits caught in the headlights that day.
 

Sky Blue Harry H

Well-Known Member
"She said no Marlon, she said no"

To this day the most sustained away support I've ever heard at either the Ricoh or HR.

We were like rabbits caught in the headlights that day.
That's what has caught opposition fans out this season at The CBS. he Bristol forum were saying that they couldn't get a head of steam up due to our vocal support. You are correct though, Leeds were/are loud.
 

JAM See

Well-Known Member
I had a ST there at that time and it was never that full and just a few hundred trying to get the songs going… lots of half sung PUSBs. It doesn’t compare to the noise and numbers now is my point.
I've had a ST in various places around the ground over the years.

It appeared obvious to me at the start that the Telegraph stand (behind the goal) would be where the hardcore congregated (I was wrong).

That didn't happen, and over time we've organically ended up with a fantastic home section in a corner.

I love it in Block 15 and it really feels like a proper home end now.
 

pusbccfc

Well-Known Member
I've had a ST in various places around the ground over the years.

It appeared obvious to me at the start that the Telegraph stand (behind the goal) would be where the hardcore congregated (I was wrong).

That didn't happen, and over time we've organically ended up with a fantastic home section in a corner.

I love it in Block 15 and it really feels like a proper home end now.

Most modern atmospheric areas in football stadia are next to away fans. You need it for the 'banter'.

Block 14 and 15 really got going around 2009. I remember when we beat Birmingham 1-0. Not as full as now but it was electric.

Then when we played Blackburn in the FA Cup, it's was incredible. Must have been 3 people to a seat up there at that time.
 

pusbccfc

Well-Known Member
I had a ST there at that time and it was never that full and just a few hundred trying to get the songs going… lots of half sung PUSBs. It doesn’t compare to the noise and numbers now is my point.

It's different now, but by around 2009-10, the corner was busy. The Leicester, Birmingham and Leeds games were always rowdy up there.

I remember a game against West Brom as well being noisy. Think it was a draw?
 

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