Southend CLUB STATEMENT: TRUE BLUES?!

[davieG]

CLUB STATEMENT: TRUE BLUES?! Posted on: Mon 20 Apr 2009 Southend United Chief Executive Geoffrey King has today issued the following statement regarding Saturday's match with Leicester City:

Prior to the game on Saturday an arrangement had been reached with the Police to have their resources outside the ground on the basis that the Club's own stewarding and security was of a sufficiently robust standard to deal with any difficulties caused by away supporters. The Club has proved that it is capable of stewarding its matches in difficult circumstances on a number of occasions having a record envied by most other Clubs.

On Saturday at the match against Leicester City fighting broke out in the north end of the West Stand (block w) when it was discovered that four Leicester City fans had found themselves in that area. As a result the Police Commander of the day was forced to take the action of calling in the resources that he had outside the ground to quell the situation where police officers and stewards found themselves at the centre of a fight where Southend fans were fighting not only the four Leicester fans but amongst themselves as well. This action has cost the Club £8,000 in additional police charges, money which in all honesty could be put to much better uses.

I never stop seeking to understand why such mindless aggression exists in a sport which more and more is becoming a true family sport. What I do know is that I, the Board and Management of the Club will not tolerate such incidents and where possible the strongest action will be taken against those persons involved.

CCTV images are currently being processed to identify the culprits who once identified will be served with permanent banning orders.

Geoffrey King

Chief Executive

[Guest Bilo]

CLUB STATEMENT: TRUE BLUES?! Posted on: Mon 20 Apr 2009 Southend United Chief Executive Geoffrey King has today issued the following statement regarding Saturday's match with Leicester City:

Prior to the game on Saturday an arrangement had been reached with the Police to have their resources outside the ground on the basis that the Club's own stewarding and security was of a sufficiently robust standard to deal with any difficulties caused by away supporters. The Club has proved that it is capable of stewarding its matches in difficult circumstances on a number of occasions having a record envied by most other Clubs.

On Saturday at the match against Leicester City fighting broke out in the north end of the West Stand (block w) when it was discovered that four Leicester City fans had found themselves in that area. As a result the Police Commander of the day was forced to take the action of calling in the resources that he had outside the ground to quell the situation where police officers and stewards found themselves at the centre of a fight where Southend fans were fighting not only the four Leicester fans but amongst themselves as well. This action has cost the Club £8,000 in additional police charges, money which in all honesty could be put to much better uses.

I never stop seeking to understand why such mindless aggression exists in a sport which more and more is becoming a true family sport. What I do know is that I, the Board and Management of the Club will not tolerate such incidents and where possible the strongest action will be taken against those persons involved.

CCTV images are currently being processed to identify the culprits who once identified will be served with permanent banning orders.

Geoffrey King

Chief Executive

Good to see that he isn't piling the blame onto the City fans, as many other chairmen would be inclined to do. Obviously prepared to take firm action against troublemakers which is refreshing to know, wish that more chairmen were so eager to stamp out trouble.

[MC Prussian]

It doesn't state that the four Leicester City fellas started the trouble.

And yes, nice gesture not blaming the away fans immediately.

[davieG]

A fan's view: Norfolk Shrimp on www.shrimperzone.com came out with this response.

This is the biggest load of cobblers I've heard the club come out with for a long time, the facts are;

1 - The "stewards" who were in east black were woefully inadequate, I had a perfect view from the South Upper Blue, pathetic, if that's the standard they operate to then my kids won't be coming back to RH.

2 - The club could save a damn site more than £8k by getting rid of Jobson, he's been flying under the radar for years, totally useless and signifies all that is bad about our club, too wrapped up in his perceived own importance.

3 - The last time we had Leicester at RH they were a bunch of aggressive pr@cks, doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that after a day on the beer and given the importance of the game to both sides there could be trouble.

As for what went on in the West, can't comment, wasn't in there and too far away to see but it out of character for our fans to "start", maybe they did I don't know but how the hell did away fans get in there ?

There were 4 guys sitting behind me in the South Upper in the first half, at half time they went over to a steward and were duly escorted to the away end, why weren't they ejected for buying tickets in the home end and who was the bird brain that sold them the tickets. Not hard is it, you're not on our booking system as previously purchasing tickets so we need to see some ID sir. How hard is that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those who were, in the West Stand, insist there was no fighting between fellow Southend supporters.

[hairy]

It doesn't state that the four Leicester City fellas started the trouble.

And yes, nice gesture not blaming the away fans immediately.

If you were wanting to start trouble in the home end you would have a few more than four of you.

[RAFRUDY]

tut, tut, tut!!! as for beered up leicester fans at roots hall......

[Edmund]

At the end of the day he wouldn't of been able to place the blame on the leicester fans if he wanted to as it's up to the club to ensure no away tickets are sold to rival fans.

[Guest Basildon Fox]

CLUB STATEMENT: TRUE BLUES?! Posted on: Mon 20 Apr 2009 Southend United Chief Executive Geoffrey King has today issued the following statement regarding Saturday's match with Leicester City:

Prior to the game on Saturday an arrangement had been reached with the Police to have their resources outside the ground on the basis that the Club's own stewarding and security was of a sufficiently robust standard to deal with any difficulties caused by away supporters. The Club has proved that it is capable of stewarding its matches in difficult circumstances on a number of occasions having a record envied by most other Clubs.

On Saturday at the match against Leicester City fighting broke out in the north end of the West Stand (block w) when it was discovered that four Leicester City fans had found themselves in that area. As a result the Police Commander of the day was forced to take the action of calling in the resources that he had outside the ground to quell the situation where police officers and stewards found themselves at the centre of a fight where Southend fans were fighting not only the four Leicester fans but amongst themselves as well. This action has cost the Club £8,000 in additional police charges, money which in all honesty could be put to much better uses.

I never stop seeking to understand why such mindless aggression exists in a sport which more and more is becoming a true family sport. What I do know is that I, the Board and Management of the Club will not tolerate such incidents and where possible the strongest action will be taken against those persons involved.

CCTV images are currently being processed to identify the culprits who once identified will be served with permanent banning orders.

Geoffrey King

Chief Executive

I was in block W on Saturday and the fighting broke out a couple of rows above me. The Leicester fans were outed after the second goal went in and were beaten to shit by the Southend knob ends who were giving aggression out all afternoon in that section. They were then arrested for their troubles. At that point I decided that keeping quiet would be the best option.

[Tubes]

Are me and my two mates who ran on the pitch likely to be hearing anything?

[Daggers]

This whole thing is pathetic.

[Munzie]

Are me and my two mates who ran on the pitch likely to be hearing anything?

Yes...Southend are about to offer a week's trial.

[Ruralfox]

I was in block W on Saturday and the fighting broke out a couple of rows above me. The Leicester fans were outed after the second goal went in and were beaten to shit by the Southend knob ends who were giving aggression out all afternoon in that section. They were then arrested for their troubles. At that point I decided that keeping quiet would be the best option.

I know a lot has been said on this site about the 'trouble' at Southend but us away fans were, as is always the case, very well behaved. We were there to celebrate an inevitable win and our deserved return to the championship. I cannot remember the last time I actually saw real fighting inside a football ground, as occurred at Southend, with families becoming distressed. Something went wrong with Southend's ticket policy because there were empty seats (or - as we were all able to stand and stretch - empty standing places) which might have meant that all our supporters could have been accommodated in the away end. My surmise is that Southend fans frustrated by their club's position in the league seized upon the excuse of finding a small number of away supporters in their midst to stake their claim to their 15 minutes of fame in front of the local police cameras. They wanted their season to end with a bang and not with a whimper. Incidentally, wasn't their mascot the most pathetic you have ever seen in any ground in any league? Rather like their fighting, largely amongst themselves.

[Guest Basildon Fox]

I know a lot has been said on this site about the 'trouble' at Southend but us away fans were, as is always the case, very well behaved. We were there to celebrate an inevitable win and our deserved return to the championship. I cannot remember the last time I actually saw real fighting inside a football ground, as occurred at Southend, with families becoming distressed. Something went wrong with Southend's ticket policy because there were empty seats (or - as we were all able to stand and stretch - empty standing places) which might have meant that all our supporters could have been accommodated in the away end. My surmise is that Southend fans frustrated by their club's position in the league seized upon the excuse of finding a small number of away supporters in their midst to stake their claim to their 15 minutes of fame in front of the local police cameras. They wanted their season to end with a bang and not with a whimper. Incidentally, wasn't their mascot the most pathetic you have ever seen in any ground in any league? Rather like their fighting, largely amongst themselves.

The Southend Fans were giving it all game. I went out with them at the end and the 100 or so that were trying to be intimidating in the ground went the opposite way to where the Leicester fans were at the end of the match. They took the chance to beat up on a few Leicester fans who were stupid enough to jump up for the second goal. If they wanted real trouble they would have gone round to the Leicester end but when faced with the choice of having to lay into more than 5 lads they did not want to know. However if the Leicester fans had given muted celebration (like I managed to do) then there would not have been a problem for them. The £8,000 bill is laughable as after the scuffle there was one seat damaged that I could see.

As far as the ticket policy I noticed dozens of empty seats in the away end too. If I could have I would have gone in there but apparantly they were sold out?! I managed to get a ticket in the home section because I have an essex postcode. I joined on the day of the game and despite obviously having a Leicester accent was able to buy a ticket no problems. It seems to me that Southend were not too bothered by who they sold to as they got a bumper crowd. They certainly made more than £8k in selling home tickets to Leicester fans i'll bet!

[potter3]

The Southend Fans were giving it all game. I went out with them at the end and the 100 or so that were trying to be intimidating in the ground went the opposite way to where the Leicester fans were at the end of the match. They took the chance to beat up on a few Leicester fans who were stupid enough to jump up for the second goal. If they wanted real trouble they would have gone round to the Leicester end but when faced with the choice of having to lay into more than 5 lads they did not want to know. However if the Leicester fans had given muted celebration (like I managed to do) then there would not have been a problem for them. The £8,000 bill is laughable as after the scuffle there was one seat damaged that I could see.

As far as the ticket policy I noticed dozens of empty seats in the away end too. If I could have I would have gone in there but apparantly they were sold out?! I managed to get a ticket in the home section because I have an essex postcode. I joined on the day of the game and despite obviously having a Leicester accent was able to buy a ticket no problems. It seems to me that Southend were not too bothered by who they sold to as they got a bumper crowd. They certainly made more than £8k in selling home tickets to Leicester fans i'll bet!

The £8K is policing costs rather than damages.

And I'm not sure but I think they opened up 1 section for the away fans on the day? They were selling away tickets outside it seemed anyway.

[Ruralfox]

The Southend Fans were giving it all game. I went out with them at the end and the 100 or so that were trying to be intimidating in the ground went the opposite way to where the Leicester fans were at the end of the match. They took the chance to beat up on a few Leicester fans who were stupid enough to jump up for the second goal. If they wanted real trouble they would have gone round to the Leicester end but when faced with the choice of having to lay into more than 5 lads they did not want to know. However if the Leicester fans had given muted celebration (like I managed to do) then there would not have been a problem for them. The £8,000 bill is laughable as after the scuffle there was one seat damaged that I could see.

As far as the ticket policy I noticed dozens of empty seats in the away end too. If I could have I would have gone in there but apparantly they were sold out?! I managed to get a ticket in the home section because I have an essex postcode. I joined on the day of the game and despite obviously having a Leicester accent was able to buy a ticket no problems. It seems to me that Southend were not too bothered by who they sold to as they got a bumper crowd. They certainly made more than £8k in selling home tickets to Leicester fans i'll bet!

Interestingly to me, at Millwall a few weeks ago at the final whistle a few Leicester fans in the home area near the away fan's block, revealed their colours and celebrated the victory; they were then ushered out by the stewards. For all their fillibustering the home supporters seemed to take a passive view of the situation. I walked to the New Den from the tube at Canada Water and back, in a Leicester shirt, with a minimum of banter. I had to ask home fans the way to the ground (never having visited and stupid as it sounds). For me it is ironic that of all the away games this season, including Leeds, seemingly the most 'trouble' in the ground should happen at (not so genteel) Southend on Sea.

[Maybes]

Majority of the Southend fans saying it was the Leicester fans kicking off. Laughable

[C-man]

Something went wrong with Southend's ticket policy because there were empty seats (or - as we were all able to stand and stretch - empty standing places) which might have meant that all our supporters could have been accommodated in the away end.

The empty seats were there because the aisles were packed. People had shifted from right behind the pillars to the aisles to stand. We had about 50 in our aisle in the second half.

[Ruralfox]

The empty seats were there because the aisles were packed. People had shifted from right behind the pillars to the aisles to stand. We had about 50 in our aisle in the second half.

But there were a fair number of empty seats behind me (slightly to the right of the goal) from the start of the match and empty yellow plastic seats (to the right side over there); more than the number of fans who moved towards the aisles and the front I believe. As those who sat in the right side nearest to the home fans had numbered tickets it is not the case that Southend opened up this section at the last moment. I think they set what they thought was a total manageable quota of away fans which they knew was less than the total seating available. Consequently, some of our our fans who could not get tickets bought tickets in the home areas and in the corporate boxes.

[Ultra]

According to the OS, the away turnout was 2,141, which is apparently more than either Leeds or Chelsea took to Southend.

The Southend fans on Shrimperzone (a miniature version of Waccoe) were indignant about their club selling tickets to away fans in home areas, even though a lot of them were happy to get tickets like that from Colchester only a few weeks ago.

[Guest]

With regards to the police costs, my understanding is that if the police have a baton charge, they can charge the club more, and that taking the baton out of it's holster constitutes a baton charge.

This may turn out to be rubbish though.

[Jon the Hat]

With regards to the police costs, my understanding is that if the police have a baton charge, they can charge the club more, and that taking the baton out of it's holster constitutes a baton charge.

This may turn out to be rubbish though.

Right lads, lets earn some overtime!