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Post by matt3009 on Sept 26, 2013 19:16:42 GMT
Ha ha diamond
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 19:22:45 GMT
Silly idea. That has never ever happened since I started going to away games when I was little. I've only missed a handful of away games in the last 4 years and nobody has told someone to move out of their correct seat. And to be quite honest, I'd say the minority are the people who sit in their correct seats nowadays. Or it's atleast a 50/50 split now. Surely its an equally silly idea that just because it hasn't happened to you its never happened? I'd agree that a lot of fans now don't sit in their allocated seat but its at least in part the knock on effect of your '50+' consistently not using that seat. Ultimately i'm not trying to be some officious, 'sit in your seat or else' type. All I'm saying is that, while its fair to say that allocated seating is stupid, the argument that fans who want to sit in their set seat should subject themselves to the will of an elite of '50+ singers' is a bit selfish. I'm almost 100% sure it hasn't happened to anyone. No fan is going to kick someone out of their entitled seat because their friend is in the seat next to them. Not a chance of that happening. Away games with Oxford United have always been a first come first served seat process. It always will be. So my advice to people is to get there earlier to ensure a chance of sitting in your desired seat, whether that be what's written on the ticket or elsewhere. And you're taking this '50+ singers' thing far too seriously. There are loads of lads who turn up to games who like to stand together, they are no different to all the other fans who meet people they know at the games and like to sit/stand with them. Now I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure all these fans aren't going to pre-book together to make sure their seats are in a nice organised line. You can look it this in black and white, or look at it in reality, and what actually happens at away game sell-outs.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 19:27:08 GMT
I've been an away fan with Chelsea on many occasions and have ALWAYS sat in the seat I have been allocated without issue. I have NEVER seen anything like the clusterf**k that you get in the away end at many L2 grounds. I understand that fans will always prefer to move around and sit with mates etc. so it solely relies on strong leadership from the stewards. If they can't be arsed to do their job properly and maintain a degree of order then you are always going to end up with problems. The knock on effects of a 'free seating' (or 'can't be arsed') approach are the need to clear aisles (often with police support) and overcrowding in some areas. If away fans in the premier league can be controlled without fuss, surely stewards in L2 can manage to do it effectively with smaller groups of fans. I would argue that they do not have many more stewards 'stewarding' per 100 heads say in the premier league than we do in L2, they may even be a quote set out by the football league, it's just that they just have a more organised approach. Now saying all that, I like to sit where I want when I go away so I am not arguing against free seating, simply that the blame lies with weak-arsed stewarding. Because prem fans are prawn sandwich munching plastics, we are real fans in div 4. Well said.
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Post by Lone Gunman on Sept 26, 2013 20:43:17 GMT
Surely its an equally silly idea that just because it hasn't happened to you its never happened? I'd agree that a lot of fans now don't sit in their allocated seat but its at least in part the knock on effect of your '50+' consistently not using that seat. Ultimately i'm not trying to be some officious, 'sit in your seat or else' type. All I'm saying is that, while its fair to say that allocated seating is stupid, the argument that fans who want to sit in their set seat should subject themselves to the will of an elite of '50+ singers' is a bit selfish. I'm almost 100% sure it hasn't happened to anyone. No fan is going to kick someone out of their entitled seat because their friend is in the seat next to them. Not a chance of that happening. Away games with Oxford United have always been a first come first served seat process. It always will be. So my advice to people is to get there earlier to ensure a chance of sitting in your desired seat, whether that be what's written on the ticket or elsewhere. And you're taking this '50+ singers' thing far too seriously. There are loads of lads who turn up to games who like to stand together, they are no different to all the other fans who meet people they know at the games and like to sit/stand with them. Now I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure all these fans aren't going to pre-book together to make sure their seats are in a nice organised line. You can look it this in black and white, or look at it in reality, and what actually happens at away game sell-outs. OK so its a 'first come first served seat process' even if the seats are allocated to people other than those who turn up first. Right?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 21:46:07 GMT
I'm almost 100% sure it hasn't happened to anyone. No fan is going to kick someone out of their entitled seat because their friend is in the seat next to them. Not a chance of that happening. Away games with Oxford United have always been a first come first served seat process. It always will be. So my advice to people is to get there earlier to ensure a chance of sitting in your desired seat, whether that be what's written on the ticket or elsewhere. And you're taking this '50+ singers' thing far too seriously. There are loads of lads who turn up to games who like to stand together, they are no different to all the other fans who meet people they know at the games and like to sit/stand with them. Now I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure all these fans aren't going to pre-book together to make sure their seats are in a nice organised line. You can look it this in black and white, or look at it in reality, and what actually happens at away game sell-outs. OK so its a 'first come first served seat process' even if the seats are allocated to people other than those who turn up first. Right? If you've actually been to an away game, you would know that in REALITY this is what happens, yes. Pretty simple stuff.
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Post by Lone Gunman on Sept 26, 2013 22:26:33 GMT
OK so its a 'first come first served seat process' even if the seats are allocated to people other than those who turn up first. Right? If you've actually been to an away game, you would know that in REALITY this is what happens, yes. Pretty simple stuff. I thought junior had left the board... If I have an allocated seat why should I have to turn up an hour before kick off to make sure one of your mates hasn't taken it? And if/when they have and I have to go somewhere else, its me not you who has to deal with the person whose allocated seat I've taken because one of your elite was in mine. I'll repeat for the benefit of those hard of hearing that i don't like allocated seating and I think its better that the singers should be able to congregate. But there has to be some appreciation on the part of the singers that when people have been given a certain seat to sit in they have a right to sit in it no matter when they arrive. If you had a reserved parking space at your workplace and turned up 10 minutes before work to find I'd arrived an hour early and parked in it, I doubt you'd be shrugging and saying 'first come first served.'
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 22:48:03 GMT
If you've actually been to an away game, you would know that in REALITY this is what happens, yes. Pretty simple stuff. I thought junior had left the board... If I have an allocated seat why should I have to turn up an hour before kick off to make sure one of your mates hasn't taken it? And if/when they have and I have to go somewhere else, its me not you who has to deal with the person whose allocated seat I've taken because one of your elite was in mine. I'll repeat for the benefit of those hard of hearing that i don't like allocated seating and I think its better that the singers should be able to congregate. But there has to be some appreciation on the part of the singers that when people have been given a certain seat to sit in they have a right to sit in it no matter when they arrive. If you had a reserved parking space at your workplace and turned up 10 minutes before work to find I'd arrived an hour early and parked in it, I doubt you'd be shrugging and saying 'first come first served.' I shall also repeat myself, because I'm not sure how many times I have to say it. You may think the current system is wrong, fine. But I'm stating what actually happens, and there's no denying that a lot of Oxford fans use the 'first come first served' method. I said in my opinion this improves the atmosphere, others may find this annoying. All I said is that other Oxford fans should turn up earlier to avoid any hassle with finding their seats. It's advice. They may not like what currently goes on, but there's no stopping it, so my advice is to arrive earlier because there WILL be a chance that there seat will be taken close to kick off.
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Post by Lone Gunman on Sept 27, 2013 0:06:13 GMT
I thought junior had left the board... If I have an allocated seat why should I have to turn up an hour before kick off to make sure one of your mates hasn't taken it? And if/when they have and I have to go somewhere else, its me not you who has to deal with the person whose allocated seat I've taken because one of your elite was in mine. I'll repeat for the benefit of those hard of hearing that i don't like allocated seating and I think its better that the singers should be able to congregate. But there has to be some appreciation on the part of the singers that when people have been given a certain seat to sit in they have a right to sit in it no matter when they arrive. If you had a reserved parking space at your workplace and turned up 10 minutes before work to find I'd arrived an hour early and parked in it, I doubt you'd be shrugging and saying 'first come first served.' I shall also repeat myself, because I'm not sure how many times I have to say it. You may think the current system is wrong, fine. But I'm stating what actually happens, and there's no denying that a lot of Oxford fans use the 'first come first served' method. I said in my opinion this improves the atmosphere, others may find this annoying. All I said is that other Oxford fans should turn up earlier to avoid any hassle with finding their seats. It's advice. They may not like what currently goes on, but there's no stopping it, so my advice is to arrive earlier because there WILL be a chance that there seat will be taken close to kick off. Ah, so because a lot of people do it it makes it OK? A lot of people do drugs, it doesn't make them legal. You see how that argument is fallacious? As far as your advice goes, it makes sense. Its just that you have to appreciate that your attitude is pretty selfish when you consider that there will be fans going to games who are not part of your 'elite' (for want of a better word) and would perhaps want to avoid the inconvenience of having to turn up to a given ground an hour in advance of kickoff in order to sit in the seat to which their ticket entitles them. Its surely not so unreasonable a stance on may part?
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Post by Si Bradbury on Sept 27, 2013 7:49:16 GMT
Oggie your view on the reality of the situation may be right and "probably" happens at most football grounds we visit. But this topic was about over-zealous stewarding and incidents where innocent Oxford United fans are ejected for one reason or another, which includes situations such as seen at Northampton.
Therefore, your argument has already been tested at three of the league away games this season, Portsmouth, Burton and Cheltenham. At Portsmouth most people were forced into their allocated seats, at Burton stewards were moving people as well as some keen supporters who despite an empty stand wanted 'their' seat and at Cheltenham it happened down the side.
You argue with stewards and you line yourself to be chucked out. It's common sense on the parts of both stewards and supporters.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2013 12:02:05 GMT
I shall also repeat myself, because I'm not sure how many times I have to say it. You may think the current system is wrong, fine. But I'm stating what actually happens, and there's no denying that a lot of Oxford fans use the 'first come first served' method. I said in my opinion this improves the atmosphere, others may find this annoying. All I said is that other Oxford fans should turn up earlier to avoid any hassle with finding their seats. It's advice. They may not like what currently goes on, but there's no stopping it, so my advice is to arrive earlier because there WILL be a chance that there seat will be taken close to kick off. Ah, so because a lot of people do it it makes it OK? A lot of people do drugs, it doesn't make them legal. You see how that argument is fallacious? As far as your advice goes, it makes sense. Its just that you have to appreciate that your attitude is pretty selfish when you consider that there will be fans going to games who are not part of your 'elite' (for want of a better word) and would perhaps want to avoid the inconvenience of having to turn up to a given ground an hour in advance of kickoff in order to sit in the seat to which their ticket entitles them. Its surely not so unreasonable a stance on may part? Really can't agree that my attitude is selfish. I've come on here and given people advice for future sell out away games, that's the opposite of selfish in my opinion. At games which are complete sell outs 9 times out of 10 I've sat in the correct seat. At Portsmouth I helped out with the Ultras and then couldn't find my seat at kick-off, which is fair enough so I had to make do. Hence the 9 times out of 10. And I'm not sure where you're getting the "part of your 'elite'" bit from. If you're referring to the singers who like to stand together, I can't help but think you're assuming I'm one of the 'seat stealers' just because I supported the fact that them standing together improves the atmosphere. I only came on here to help out fans being caught up in these situations. Having an 'entitled seat' may be all well and good, but in reality when you turn up 5/10 mins before kick-off, the stand is completely full and you can't see a single seat number, you're going to be caught up in one of these situations.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Sept 27, 2013 12:09:54 GMT
If I've bought a ticket for a seat, then I'll sit in it. I couldn't care less who got there first. It's mine, move on. I understand why people do it, but ultimately I'm not getting kicked out of game by stewards because some is in my seat and I nick someone else's and they complain. Fans need to realise that at some clubs, the stewards have a certain attitude and shouldn't be so selfish by getting there early.
I know that's being blunt, but so be it.
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Post by Colin B on Sept 27, 2013 12:13:33 GMT
Gunman and Oggie, you two have hijacked this thread with your bickering, which Brahma Bull helpfully set up to help people who had fallen foul of the over zealous Cheltenham stewards.
How about you both give it a rest and let the thread get back to it's original purpose?
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Post by Si Bradbury on Sept 27, 2013 13:16:12 GMT
Back on topic as Eric points out, we contacted our colleagues at Portsmouth and they had no problems or issues with stewarding or ejections at Whaddon Road. They had once incident which was caused by an individual climbing over the advertising horading and he then realised the errors of his ways and shot back into the crowd. Portsmouth have regular meetings with their club and police about their fans and any issues, and they intend to report back any other incidents.
So I am disappointed that it appears to me Oxford United fans have been targeted by aggressive stewarding in a deliberate tactic. I am still utterly amazed and angry that stewards would rip up fans tickets in front of them.
Amanda Jacks has been dealing with individual cases and we would be pleased to hear feedback from fans who have contacted them (The FSF) directly.
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Post by fishpaste on Oct 2, 2013 17:55:54 GMT
Silly idea. That has never ever happened since I started going to away games when I was little. I've only missed a handful of away games in the last 4 years and nobody has told someone to move out of their correct seat. And to be quite honest, I'd say the minority are the people who sit in their correct seats nowadays. Or it's atleast a 50/50 split now. Surely its an equally silly idea that just because it hasn't happened to you its never happened? I'd agree that a lot of fans now don't sit in their allocated seat but its at least in part the knock on effect of your '50+' consistently not using that seat. Ultimately i'm not trying to be some officious, 'sit in your seat or else' type. All I'm saying is that, while its fair to say that allocated seating is stupid, the argument that fans who want to sit in their set seat should subject themselves to the will of an elite of '50+ singers' is a bit selfish. My supervisor went to Rushden (play-off) with his wife and two kids. He sat quite central and as the crowd built up he was getting surrounded by kids. They had to stand and 4 lads (late teens) stood right in front of them. He asked them to move and they shuffled to one side but were constantly pushing against the two on the end seats. They were trying to intimidate the wife and kids to move. He got no support from anyone around him so he moved. He never goes to aways now.
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Post by londonroader on Oct 2, 2013 18:52:25 GMT
If I've bought a ticket for a seat, then I'll sit in it. I couldn't care less who got there first. It's mine, move on. I understand why people do it, but ultimately I'm not getting kicked out of game by stewards because some is in my seat and I nick someone else's and they complain. Fans need to realise that at some clubs, the stewards have a certain attitude and shouldn't be so selfish by getting there early. I know that's being blunt, but so be it. I have been asked to sit in my seat on occasions at away matches, but when I point out there is someone already sitting there the stewards put the responsibility on me to move the occupants of the seat, more than once when I refuse and say it's the stewards job they then threaten to chuck me out, I usually wander off and stand out of the way in an empty area. I don't understand the confrontation attitude of stewards, when it's them who are not carrying out their duties properly
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Post by bazzer9461 on Oct 2, 2013 19:56:03 GMT
If I've bought a ticket for a seat, then I'll sit in it. I couldn't care less who got there first. It's mine, move on. I understand why people do it, but ultimately I'm not getting kicked out of game by stewards because some is in my seat and I nick someone else's and they complain. Fans need to realise that at some clubs, the stewards have a certain attitude and shouldn't be so selfish by getting there early. I know that's being blunt, but so be it. I have been asked to sit in my seat on occasions at away matches, but when I point out there is someone already sitting there the stewards put the responsibility on me to move the occupants of the seat, more than once when I refuse and say it's the stewards job they then threaten to chuck me out, I usually wander off and stand out of the way in an empty area. I don't understand the confrontation attitude of stewards, when it's them who are not carrying out their duties properly well some of the stewards I have encountered are quite decent but then are some who think now they are in some sort of authority they think they are god's.... w**kers if you ask me
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Post by Gary Baldi on Oct 2, 2013 20:58:15 GMT
If I've bought a ticket for a seat, then I'll sit in it. I couldn't care less who got there first. It's mine, move on. I understand why people do it, but ultimately I'm not getting kicked out of game by stewards because some is in my seat and I nick someone else's and they complain. Fans need to realise that at some clubs, the stewards have a certain attitude and shouldn't be so selfish by getting there early. I know that's being blunt, but so be it. I have been asked to sit in my seat on occasions at away matches, but when I point out there is someone already sitting there the stewards put the responsibility on me to move the occupants of the seat, more than once when I refuse and say it's the stewards job they then threaten to chuck me out, I usually wander off and stand out of the way in an empty area. I don't understand the confrontation attitude of stewards, when it's them who are not carrying out their duties properly Presumably those sort of little dictator Stewards only care about 2 things: 1. Gangways are kept free 2. People don't stand They don't care that you are in the right seat or not. Cheltenham was a prime example of that. Only that health and safety and the safety certificate is maintained so they don't get in trouble. If people won't move, sit on them. Simple. If a steward asks, you are sitting on your seat!
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