I'm suprised this hasn't been mentioned but I thought the stewards at Sunderland were absolutely attrocious. They seemed intent on causing bother (at least in the are behind the goal where we were sat). Hassling and picking on our fans with no good reason all match, getting our fans wound up to the point of breaking and then leaving it to the police to deal with. A young lad sat behind me was thrown out for standing up when most others were doing the same.
i guess it got lost in the performance! not sure where i stand on this (no pun intended) - my understanding is that it is an offence to remain standing throughout the game so I guess the stewards were only doing their job, but at the same time they weren't obstructing anyone's view and they were certainly aggressive in their approach to asking them to sit. haven't got much sympathy myself though, who pays £24 to go to a game and then spends the whole time inviting a row with the stewards?
Weren't the police in our end brought in from South Yorkshire? Sunderland fans were at one stage singing "Yer can stick yer Yorkshire bobbies up yer @rse".
You may not have noticed but Barnsley fans were also sitting in the section immediately behind you, and while you were all stood up it was impossible for those in the first 3 or 4 rows to see the goal mouth area. So not only did you upset the stewards and the police but a lot of your fellow fans as well. While they were trying to calm you all down the police and stewards were apologising to us for them having to block our view!
Not having a go at the police... It was the aggresive nature of the sunderland stewards. They seemed intent on causing trouble IMHO.
RE: Not having a go at the police... To be honest, yesterday I did feel as if we were being treated like cattle by the stewards and police. The seating was a bit of a farce too. Why bother giving you a seat number if your going to be told "just sit anywhere" by a ginger jobsworth. That blonde stewardess looked fit as though...
Really? I didn't think anyone in that area would be blocking anyone's view to be honest. Perhaps the stewards could have mentioned that?
The Stewarding was slightly heavy handed, some of it was just but someone got ejected near us for no obvious reason that we could see. I agree with Amos, what was the point of giving seat numbers when the stewards could not be bothered to direct you to your seat they just replied sit wear you want. Dont know if anyone can shed any light what happened after the match when all the horses and police ran towards the back of the coach area. The police should expect a reaction when sticking cameras in peoples faces.
Don't Blame The Stewards...... for doing their job. Nothing more annoying at a football match when your sat watching the match, and some idiot wishes to stand up and block your view, so you have to stand up.
You were at the game then? And able to make to comment on the behaviour of the stewards in the area i'm talking about? You don't think they were extemely aggresive and intent on stirring up the fans?
RE: perhaps it sounded that way from the commentary! i was sat on the 2nd row in the upper tier, they wernt blocking my view i could see over their heads
No he wasn't is the answer you are looking for, coz if he was he would have known that the lads that copped for the most hassle were sat in a section by themselves not blocking anybody's view.They are top boys who generate the atmosphere away from home and are indeed Barnsleys Ultras I agree stewarding overzealous and the Football Ground Guide warned of this,they didn't win though did they? LOL
If that is the case, does anyone know how many Manure fans were ejected last season? They stand up at every ground except old trafford and because of how many of them there are, nothing is ever done. My brother is a Manure season ticket holder, he goes to all the games and told me there is never anyone ejected for standing. Just shows there is 1 rule for us and 1 rule for them
We arrived early and were told by the stewards that we had to sit in the seat given on our tickets. When we tried to get to them a policeman was blocking them off and told us that people were to sit anywhere as they were in charge of the "line" between home an away fans. We did as he said and he then went and spoke to the steward and told him that people were to be allowed to sit where they wanted and that's what happened. Not very well organised really!
