Hi guys, I could do with some advice. First the situation:
During the West Ham United Home match on Saturday I along with my brother were ejected from the stadium at half time. While we were going down to the concourses the "Danger Team" grabbed us and using Arm locks and wrist locks escorted us outside the stadium and round to the detention center situated in the North Stand. Eventually we were told why, and their reason was that we were persistently standing throughout the match and ignored numerous verbal requests to sit down as well as hand gestures.
We sit on the back row of Block F1 in the Kop, we were standing now and again as were many, but mainly we were leaning against the back of our seat, which we were told was fine last season, so long as we were not standing directly.
Not once was I told to sit down, my brother did notice a hand gesture at one point and so leaned against the wall which seemed to satisfy the steward waving at him, as no further communication took place between us or any LCFC staff.
We were left outside the stadium stunned, we started to walk away and wait for friends in a local pub to watch the full time scores come through, as we looked back at the stadium almost every person sitting in the North Stand and Every supporter in the West Ham supporter’s area was standing.
We decided to send a complaint letter in to the Health and Safety Manager, Mr Kevin Barclay, as we clearly felt that we had both been very harshly dealt with. In the letter we accepted that safety was the most important aspect of the football stadium and that we were left feeling extremely humiliated by this incident not only because we were not fully aware of the reason why we were being escorted out but also furious that false allegations had been made by a Safety Steward to the club and the Police that we were verbally told on numerous occasions to remain seated.
This letter was also forwarded onto Customer relationship manager, Peter Jones, and Ian Bason at the Foxes Trust.
Today we received a letter from Mr Kevin Barclay, I will quote parts of the letter he sent to me, some of it is needless typing indicating where ground regulations are situated etc etc.
He ended with this:
I am not denying at any point that at times I was standing, I am not denying that during the whole first half I was leaning against my seat. But this letter is basically calling me and my brother a liar, I am not a liar! I have never been involved in trouble or have never been ejected before. I have several witnesses who sit around me who can confirm that I wasn’t told anything by any LCFC staff. I used to be a lifeguard and it is almost the same situation when a kid does a bomb dive or stands on floats in a pool, we give them 3 warnings, there may be regulations put around the pool to warn people of how to behave but you give the benefit of doubt and give them 3 warnings. We were not given one warning, nothing.
Considering the thousands we have pumped into this club, we both have a season ticket, both went to all home and away games last year, and to be treated this way by the club I love basically disgusts me.
I really do not know where to turn now, this is beyond ridiculous, beyond comprehension on my side. I would really appreciate any advice that people could give me, if there is any chance the foxes trust could get involved with this I would be so grateful, as they have not yet returned my letter.
Also if anybody else has similar situations I would also love to hear from you.
Thanks for reading, I know I blabbered slightly.
homer237
During the West Ham United Home match on Saturday I along with my brother were ejected from the stadium at half time. While we were going down to the concourses the "Danger Team" grabbed us and using Arm locks and wrist locks escorted us outside the stadium and round to the detention center situated in the North Stand. Eventually we were told why, and their reason was that we were persistently standing throughout the match and ignored numerous verbal requests to sit down as well as hand gestures.
We sit on the back row of Block F1 in the Kop, we were standing now and again as were many, but mainly we were leaning against the back of our seat, which we were told was fine last season, so long as we were not standing directly.
Not once was I told to sit down, my brother did notice a hand gesture at one point and so leaned against the wall which seemed to satisfy the steward waving at him, as no further communication took place between us or any LCFC staff.
We were left outside the stadium stunned, we started to walk away and wait for friends in a local pub to watch the full time scores come through, as we looked back at the stadium almost every person sitting in the North Stand and Every supporter in the West Ham supporter’s area was standing.
We decided to send a complaint letter in to the Health and Safety Manager, Mr Kevin Barclay, as we clearly felt that we had both been very harshly dealt with. In the letter we accepted that safety was the most important aspect of the football stadium and that we were left feeling extremely humiliated by this incident not only because we were not fully aware of the reason why we were being escorted out but also furious that false allegations had been made by a Safety Steward to the club and the Police that we were verbally told on numerous occasions to remain seated.
This letter was also forwarded onto Customer relationship manager, Peter Jones, and Ian Bason at the Foxes Trust.
Today we received a letter from Mr Kevin Barclay, I will quote parts of the letter he sent to me, some of it is needless typing indicating where ground regulations are situated etc etc.
He ended with this:
I am not denying at any point that at times I was standing, I am not denying that during the whole first half I was leaning against my seat. But this letter is basically calling me and my brother a liar, I am not a liar! I have never been involved in trouble or have never been ejected before. I have several witnesses who sit around me who can confirm that I wasn’t told anything by any LCFC staff. I used to be a lifeguard and it is almost the same situation when a kid does a bomb dive or stands on floats in a pool, we give them 3 warnings, there may be regulations put around the pool to warn people of how to behave but you give the benefit of doubt and give them 3 warnings. We were not given one warning, nothing.
Considering the thousands we have pumped into this club, we both have a season ticket, both went to all home and away games last year, and to be treated this way by the club I love basically disgusts me.
I really do not know where to turn now, this is beyond ridiculous, beyond comprehension on my side. I would really appreciate any advice that people could give me, if there is any chance the foxes trust could get involved with this I would be so grateful, as they have not yet returned my letter.
Also if anybody else has similar situations I would also love to hear from you.
Thanks for reading, I know I blabbered slightly.
homer237
jump around in a demented fashion when weve scored. used hand gestures and vocals in banter with the opposition supporters. smoked a shit load of ciggies , whilst biting my nails as City looked less likely to hold onto a lead, and played pretty shite toward the end of a match..(it wasnt just last season). On the occasion , yes , i admit i got kinda carried away a bit and have been removed from the ground, but in general, along with thousands of fellow city fans i had an incident free match....but hey, what ive just described is how football matches have been since time began.
