Stevenage v Grimsby Town

[AdamStag]

That's disgusting guys! Think we should all boycott the place!

Stevenage fans seemingly already boycott their games

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Saw this on the BBC website where it was in the top ten most viewed stories, so it will get some numbers reading it. Based on the news report and the complaint there are some very serious issues here. Have people had similar problems at Stevenage before?

 

[valefan16]

Never had an issue there before and been with the wife on my last visit. Seems mega overkill and surely the female steward being made to go in the gents is not pleasant for her as much as the male fans?

Very odd unless a specific threat had been raised.

 

[Son of Cod]

Reports coming out that Stevenage have done this on purpose to get one of their 1FF match threads up to 2 pages.

 

[Urban]

Grimsby in SHOCK stewarding drama!

 

[Vanni]

Haha. Yep, trouble at FGR, Barnet and now Stevenage. But tbf, we also had trouble at Barnet and a tiny bit of bother with the stewards at Boro too, so perhaps the fishes are all a lovely bunch really and we're misjudging them all.

 

[mowgli]

Does this happen to home fans as well or just away?

 

[Laker]

That's shocking, Stevenage should have the book thrown at them for that.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Saw this on the BBC website where it was in the top ten most viewed stories, so it will get some numbers reading it. Based on the news report and the complaint there are some very serious issues here. Have people had similar problems at Stevenage before?

Not to this extent but they've always been shite when we've gone there. I'm almost certain I know exactly which one the "antagonistic" female steward mentioned in the Mariners' Trust letter is, sounds very familiar...

 

[Judge Dredd]

Also, the MT have done an excellent job of getting this coverage. I've seen it on Sky Sports News (app and tv), in The Times app football section, the Guardian app headlines page (think it was in the top 5 on their front page), BBC news top 10 stories etc. It would be nice to have stewards held to account for once, some of them do more to create issues than they do to prevent them but fans never seem to have their complaints addressed. I know football matches need stewards but they need to be properly trained and accountable too.

 

[Gladders]

Seems Herts police briefed Stevenage about potential for trouble due to lies made about Grimsby fans at Chesterfield by Derbyshire Police. Apparently causing trouble and forcing pubs to close while didn't happen and the pubs weren't closed. This could open more cans of worms

 

[GodsGift]

I'm pretty sure I know who the female steward is too. If she's the person I'm thinking of then it was her who told me and a group of reporters, who were already inside the ground before a game last season, to leave and re-enter using the "correct" entrance - even though another steward had told us to use the other gate. We were literally 30/40 yards away from the press box but you could just tell she was enjoying pissing us off.

 

[Gladders]

@DerbysPolice "We're unsure why we're accountable for the potential season-long suffering of fans due to the Tweet in question which we've now clarified..."
11 Aug 17

Thanks Derbyshire Police

 

[Vanni]

Playing devil's advocate here, but Stevenage's hands are tied to a certain extent. It looks like they're looking at ways to decrease home crowds as their stadium simply cannot cope with their ever increasing fan base and so they absolutely had to take this this unorthodox approach.

A poorly supported club making sure they get even less people through the gates. Unbelievable Jeff.

 

[Gladders]

Playing devil's advocate here, but Stevenage's hands are tied to a certain extent. It looks like they're looking at ways to decrease home crowds as their stadium simply cannot cope with their ever increasing fan base and so they absolutely had to take this this unorthodox approach.

A poorly supported club making sure they get even less people through the gates. Unbelievable Jeff.

Then issue less tickets and make it all ticket (which they did to an extent as they only gave 1000 compared to 1400 last year, but was still pay on the day. Only 770 actually went)

 

[Boletus Edulis]

There are clearly two sides to all arguments, and I am sure more information will come out so I don't want to come to conclusions yet. Two immediate observations. First, one of the authors of the letter appears to be very credible with a 'professional' as well as fans insight. Second, I went on to a Stevenage forum and a number of posters made the point that this was not the way to proceed. That the fans should have contacted the club direct, and then only gone to the press if things were not dealt with. I have a healthy scepticism for most corporations, and too often nothing happens until the press are involved, so I don't blame them going nuclear. This is not to attack Stevenage individually I just don't always trust organisations when things are dealt with in private. It certainly seems to have got people's attention, and mimimises the chances of this being swept under the carpet.

 

[Vanni]

Then issue less tickets and make it all ticket (which they did to an extent as they only gave 1000 compared to 1400 last year, but was still pay on the day. Only 770 actually went)

I was only mocking Stevenage's poor home crowds, and IMO they should be grateful that some sides take a decent number of fans to their ground. I'm one who fully believes in making the most out of every opportunity, but all Boro have done in this case is to make sure that fans of other clubs who are yet to go there will think twice before going. Now are Stevenage so rich that they can afford this? I think not.

 

[pontoonlew]

Grimsby in SHOCK stewarding drama!

I mean I'd understand if our fans behaviour in all incidents was out of line, but one incident involved having an infalteable ball, the other was for hitting somebody with a blow up toy and the final one involved a bra ffs!

I'm not sure what people are skeptical about either. The stuff about searches happened and the toilet stuff happened. In fact the reaction by the fans was a credit to them, I was stood outside (I wasn't allowed on the terrace with my chips) One female steward alongside 4 male stewards antagonised fans throughout. It was only when the fans asked for the police that it sorted itself out and the stewards were told to leave.

In the second half the same group of stewards kicked off as they were told they were stood in the way of the game. Police called and stewards taken away, AGAIN. Not a single fan that I saw had to be dealt with by the police.

What's worse is, our idiots weren't even present at the game. I visited 3 pubs before hand, all mixed fans in there, all absolutely fine with not even a hint of hostility. Stevenage had planned for a riot and when it didn't happen, decided to try to cause one themselves.

 

[Davidimp]

I've seen the pic on twitter of the 'female' stood right next to the gents urinal! Seriously WTF! Did they have a male stood in the ladies??
Yes I've seen trouble when we've played Grimsby but the vast majority of Grimsby fans are decent people and women and little kids is nothing short of disgraceful. These stewards need dealing with and shouldn't be allowed in a football ground again!
Our fans already thinking twice about going especially those like me who take their kids with them.

 

[GTFCfish]

Here is the bitch in question:

https://mobile.twitter.com/danbirtless/status/899049870882996224

 

[darren gregory]

Football fans treated garbage shocker .....as ever footy fans treated like 3rd class citizens.
Too many stewards think they are old bill and act all high and mighty. We have our own saddos who feel it is acceptable to get stuck into away fans ( Bris Rovers )