First time I’ve left before half time tonight

2600 ?!! Looked more like 600 tops in ESL.

 

That's what they announced - I didn't even think there was 600!

 

You have my utmost sympathy. I'd have been just as annoyed as you, if I had been at Oakwell. It would obviously have been a little more expensive to the club to open the Upper Tier too, but in view of the small crowd anticipated, how much more would extra stewarding actually have cost? How many stewards would have been needed? It's amazing to think that 39250 of us attended our 6th round replay with Leicester in 1961 without a single steward present. Quite apart from the atrocious weather, I, like many others, vastly prefer the view from the Upper Tier in any case.

 

Yes, we booked the back row too, but when we got there people were sat in our seats and they didn’t look the type to take kindly to being asked to move, so we went a few rows further forward. I booked the back row because the view in the ESL is the worst in the ground. We were on the back row last year, but every year before that they opened the upper tier.

Re the health and safety issues:

1 - Where was the forward planning? Rain in Barnsley isn’t uncommon and a look at the weather forecast the day before would have surely foresaw this potential issue.
2 - The decisions were being made by someone in the control box. I would have guessed at about 1000 people on the concourse. Extraordinary circumstances call for plans to be changed. There were a lot of stewards on the concourse. Three are the bottom of the stairs to the upper tier and one a few yards away in front of the door. Had they opened the upper tier there were at least 3 spare stewards there, for example. Also, only half the fans would have remained in the lower tier.
3 - Most importantly, they will say it was a safety issue, and yet one of the stewards supervisors told us, 1000 of us, to “stand at the back”. Pretty sure that would contravene their H&S rules, as well as being physically impossible. Do they just choose which H&S rule to stick to?

There wasn’t only a lack of foresight and lack of customer care, there was a total lack of organisation. We overheard the senior steward who seemed more interested in making sure none of us went upstairs. Nobody seemed to have a clue who was in charge or who to speak to and nobody from the club came and addressed the supporters who were on the concourse. There was a real feeling that the club did not give a hoot whether we got drenched or not, watched the game or not or whether we even stayed.

And leaving the ground was downright ridiculous. We attempted to leave at the far end near the car park but were told we couldn’t. Not sure why opening the gate slightly so we could slip out was such an impossibility for them. We were told to go to the gate at the side. We went to that gate, but no, it was the one further up. After trying three gates we were told it was the very end. So we went up there where we could see an opened gate, but again we were stopped. This time directed to a side gate. This led to a conversation between the senior steward and the steward at the gate about whether she was allowed to open it. It was farcical. Then when we were walking towards the car park we saw people being let out of the gate we were told we couldn’t leave by. God help us if there’s ever a fire or other emergency!

We went to the office to complain, but again the lady in there couldn’t to tell us who was making the decisions. A chap was brought out to speak with us, and he was apologetic and pleasant enough, but he was the turnstile manager, so it wasn’t his fault. I’ll be contacting the club to complain and request a refund, but I’ve been going to Oakwell since 1977 and I won’t be going to any further games where they only open the ESL. And yes, we knew only the ESL was open, but that’s not the point. The question is a) why? and b) why no contingency was put in place for if half the home fans were sat in torrential rain, or any other event that could have happened.

It really does feel that over the past couple of seasons BFC is being run by total amateurs.

 

Pinched my reply

 

Well done to anyone who attended. You didn’t have the option to turn it over to Emmerdale.

 

I have sat in that stand since it was opened. Lower tier Row. O. Whilst we have had downpours b4 . None that I can remember being as heavy in such a short burst. Sometimes an act of god is unpredictable. So whilst I get your point I'm not sure what procedures could be put in place for example if the ground was full. They'll certainly be aware of what happened last night and hopefully look into a solution. But let's be honest. There are dozens of grounds that would not be able to put a contingency in place. To rehouse to other parts of the ground. Not having enough cover.
Take a raincoat next time. You can always take off what you've got. But can't put on what you haven't got. ( tongue in cheek.) I learned that a long time ago. Especially having been to Oldham several times lol.

 

Might sound like a wind up comment but it’s not meant to be and I believe I’m dead reyt in what I’m going to say.

It’s not the clubs fault you get wet through, you bought a seat and was allocated lower stand knowing it would be that. Check the forecast and dress appropriately.

 

I'm not affected myself personally mate. But as an organiser. Try to get things sorted for our less mobile etc by contacting the away side reception etc.. I was pushing one of the wheelchairs. And tried to make em see sense, that what was common sense was embroiled in a stupid jobsworth experience.
I get that some are scared to break the rules. Without permission from above. A little allowed leeway and common sense wouldnt go amiss. When its blatantly obvious nothing will create an issue.
In my role at work some rules beggared belief. I would make my own decision on risks to the environment and perceived personal safety issues that I was willing to risk. Like climb over a 5 bar gate. Cos it was locked, to prevent an environmental issue. Told em so that I would. And never got admonished. Its madness.
Don't climb over gate. Or save hundreds of fish for example is a no brainer in my world.

 

Yes I assumed you were one of the helpers/organisers. In many ways it’s not great being past retirement age but at least my working life wasn’t plagued by the OTT rules and regs that infest everyday life nowadays. The only protective equipment I ever had to wear was during military training or on exercise. We had to pretend we were under nuclear/gas attack and the like and that our charcoal lined suits and smelly rubber respirators would save us from everything being dropped on us. What fun!

 

Sounded like plenty of “away fans”. Probably mostly South Yorkshire based?

 

I bought a ticket for the back row, but some surly looking blokes were sat in our seats and I wasn’t going to argue with them. But to be honest, even in raincoats the deluge last night would have been thoroughly unpleasant to sit in, especially as it’s unnecessary, with two other stands that would have covered everybody.

 

If the ground was full, the people in the ESL would have chosen to sit there*! We had no choice. But there was another option last night for the thousand or so on the concourse. That’s the annoying part. I get it, that the club want to save money wherever possible, by only opening one stand, but last night the penny pinching went before fan safety or consideration. When people are leaving a ground because they are expected to sit in an absolute downpour, with covered stands empty and stewards employed to stand at the bottom of the stairs to prevent people going upstairs, it’s a bit of a poor show.

*Actually, we often ask ourselves why anyone would choose to have a season ticket towards the front of the ESL or especially in the WSL. At least 10 times per season you’re going to be sat in the rain. I only sit in the WSL for the U21 games, and if it starts chucking it down guess what, we go up into the WSU!

 

Whilst I get the point, its not the clubs fault its required to have stewards mate. Especially when we've had plenty of nobheads over the years!

 

You're absolutely right. Seems like the downpour was a bit exceptional but whether the clubs fault or not, it does impact them. It's the clubs loss if people stay away. It appears that some people from last night are more likely not to go to games now setup the same way than before. I notice many clubs give out disposable rain coats if there are heavy downpours. Doesn't solve the problem but shows a bit of consideration for the fans. if it was my business I would be aiming to keep my customers happy.

 

You are right, of course, though I can't believe there would have been a great likelihood of trouble at a match such as last night's.

 

Last night wasn't anticipated for a short monsoon (Hence no raincoats which btw Barnsley have issued in the distant past) to hit the ground. So much so, lots of those there, were wearing summer clothing. I was sat near Bruce Dyer who seemed very amused (along with many others) given he was getting drowned unprepared for any inclement weather. To say some may not return cos of an isolated incident. Thats not what most will do. I get those that may not go if lower tier is just open. But it doesn't warrant all stands being open. (Perhaps ponte for future low attendance games but I'm not sure how much of it offers full protection. ) I'm not sure any stand would provide full cover. The wind carried the rain right up to the back row. Those that renew their season tickets in the east and west lowers. Know exactly the risks they take. Not one league club to my knowledge (unless I've missed a retractable roof bar the millennium stadium but no league club play on it) has total cover and experience similar occurrences.
And to those asking for money back. Really.?. Any outdoor venue of any entertainment. You take the risk.

 

I reckon this thread is a “Storm in a tea cup”......I will get mi coit lol

 

Is it a rain coit?