BLOODY JOKE

[homer237]

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.

I write with reference to your ejection from the Walkers Stadium during the Coca Cola Championship fixture with West Ham United on Saturday 7th August 2004 for persistent standing within seated sections of the stadium. Your correspondence alleges that Safety Steward number *** failed to communicate the breach of Ground of Regulations to yourself and companion. Furthermore your also indicate in your letter that Safety staff would allow semi standing in seating sections of the South Stand and Visiting supporters were penalised for persistent standing.

In order to answer your communication I have taken time to interview members of the Safety Team, cctv operatives and Public. To which I may conclude that yourself and colleague persistently stood throughout the aforementioned fixture after being instructed verbally and also hand gestured to sit down by safety steward number ***.

He ended with this:

Leicester City Football Club will no tolerate breach of Ground regulations and we are therefore banning you from attending any Coca Cola Championship/Cup football matches until September 20th 2004.

Failure to comply with this directive will inevitably meet with further action.

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

[Guest Guest]

I sympathise with you mate. i dont know whether its a good suggestion but you could always ring 106 and mention it to the birch. if you explain to him what happened he may get things changed quicker than any other way? only a suggestion. keep the faith!

[Teeno]

If I could help I would mate, but I can't. That is bang right out of order, the club is an embarresment, I hope you sort it mate.

[homer237]

I sympathise with you mate. i dont know whether its a good suggestion but you could always ring 106 and mention it to the birch. if you explain to him what happened he may get things changed quicker than any other way? only a suggestion. keep the faith!

11306[/snapback]

Cheers for the suggestion, i tried that tonight, the guy who answered the phone told me that I couldnt talk about that on air and it is a matter i have to take up with the club. My uncle who sits with us has wrote him an email and is sending it tonight. Im trying the keep the faith bit, i did all last season, but when its spat back in your face its not too easy.

[City Fan]

Just go into the ground with your season tickets and sit in any spare places! At least you will still get to see the game that way!

[Teeno]

Just go into the ground with your season tickets and sit in any spare places! At least you will still get to see the game that way!

11309[/snapback]

His ST will become invalid more than likely to after the 20th.

Banning you untill the 02th of September means you wont be able to get to a home game till October 2nd, that aint fair. Not 1 West Ham fan was seated. and in L1 hardly anyone was seated.

[Micky]

I sympathise with you mate. i dont know whether its a good suggestion but you could always ring 106 and mention it to the birch. if you explain to him what happened he may get things changed quicker than any other way? only a suggestion. keep the faith!

11306[/snapback]

Cheers for the suggestion, i tried that tonight, the guy who answered the phone told me that I couldnt talk about that on air and it is a matter i have to take up with the club. My uncle who sits with us has wrote him an email and is sending it tonight. Im trying the keep the faith bit, i did all last season, but when its spat back in your face its not too easy.

11308[/snapback]

That was me before by the way. I cant understand why they wouldnt let u on 106. Id definately persist down that route though. birch is more in touch with the fans than anyone else i can think of. Good luck fella. when you devote money and time to something you expect to be treated better than that.

[Scow]

The stewards and the management of them at our club are a complete joke.

One example last season was the lack of response to the fan that run on the pitch and confronted Ian Walker. Took about 30 seconds until anyone responded.

I and a few other have also encoutered problems with stewards, most notabley the tournament flop. I had purchased tickets to sit in L1 for both days, but was instructed by Stewards that myself and a few others were not allowed to sit there. We asked why, and they couldn't provide us with a reason. I phoned up the ticket office after the first day, and they were shocked to find out that we couldn't sit there.

Aswell as phoning up 106, try Radio Leicester's Monday night moan in next week. I know officials from the club listen to show, and Peter Jones gets on there too, so you can speak to him as opposed to relying on written communication.

[Teeno]

I speak to Peter Jones regually and even have his phone number so If you want I can get in touch with him?

He's a really great bloke and fan of the club so I'm sure he'd help out.

[homer237]

I speak to Peter Jones regually and even have his phone number so If you want I can get in touch with him?

He's a really great bloke and fan of the club so I'm sure he'd help out.

11316[/snapback]

Mate is there any chance you could either ask him to give me a call, i'll PM you my mobile if thats ok? I would REALLY appreciate this.

[Cat Burger]

I was standing up for the whole game on Saturday, basically because the kids in front were standing on the seats and had 2 particularly rough looking dads, who I didn't fancy getting into an argument with, anyway I was sitting right at the back and I didn't see a steward all game where I was.

I think most of the stewards enjoy doing this sort of thing to well mannered people like you probably are, then don't dare enforce the rules for people who look like they'd give them a good old smack. I apologise if anyone who comes on here is a steward and doesn't behave like that. But the general impression I get is that they aren't doing their jobs properly and they either just watch the game or eject people for the fun of it. Now I have a hot head when somebody interrupts me while I'm watching the game and I'm not exactly the model fan. When we were losing or something wasn't goin our way on the pitch I got some real rollockings from the stewards last season. They just need to communicate better and use some common sense

Why didn't they go up and tell you to sit down? its just ridiculous. It makes my blood boil and basically the club doesn't deserve your money if they are going to treat you that way. I think you should report it to watchdog. We are a part of this club aswell why don't they realise it??!?

[homer237]

Im going to post this on filbertstreet.net too, need as much as i can get.

[Guest Daniel]

They probably wont help you there mate, all abit arrogant for my liking.

I feel sorry for you mate and what has happened is not fair on you.

Some people get punished for good support.

Joke.

[Wellman]

thats bang out, i feel for ya mate, i haven't got a clue on what to do, but how many games you miss???? This is ridiculous

[Oli]

Thats a joke mate. Can't believe that. You keep the faith like they ask and they throw it back at you.

[kerryh]

The stewards at the club make me sick - they become power crazy - I have had a chat previously with Peter Jones about this (the tournament that Scowy mentioned) - he was very sympathetic. Give him a ring and explain - his direct number is: 01162 294527.

Good luck.

[Muz]

Well they ought to sort other things out like a fan running on the pitch rather than someone standing ****ing ridiculous!

[homer237]

Cheers for the support guys. I just called Peter Jones, he didnt know id received a letter from Kevin Barclay, i explained to him exactly my feelings and i explained to him what the letter said. He will speak to Kevin Barclay on Monday and we shall go from there but he told me not to give up as it will look like I am taking the punishment and so looks like I accept what is happening.

[Muz]

Hope you get it sorted mate!

[Ash]

One word = Joke

[Teeno]

He's a good man Peter Jones, hopefully hell sort it for ya mate and you'll be back n ya seat cheering on the lads at the Watford game.

[homer237]

Hi guys, just to keep you updated:

I received a call from Peter Jones today, he told me that Kevin Barclay refuses to accept anything that i have said. If I try to get in contact with anyone else at the club i will receive the same answer according to KB.

When i asked if I had a right to view the CCTV footage, I was told that when the game is over the tapes are bagged up and sent to the police. They are stored until they are needed for court evidence, therefore I cannot view it.

Peter Jones helped me no end through this, unfortunitely he has no authority over Kevin Barclay.

[Oli]

Hi guys, just to keep you updated:

I received a call from Peter Jones today, he told me that Kevin Barclay refuses to accept anything that i have said. If I try to get in contact with anyone else at the club i will receive the same answer according to KB.

When i asked if I had a right to view the CCTV footage, I was told that when the game is over the tapes are bagged up and sent to the police. They are stored until they are needed for court evidence, therefore I cannot view it.

Peter Jones helped me no end through this, unfortunitely he has no authority over Kevin Barclay.

12306[/snapback]

So you are still banned? I feel for you mate. Dont give up though.

[davieG]

Hi guys, just to keep you updated:

I received a call from Peter Jones today, he told me that Kevin Barclay refuses to accept anything that i have said. If I try to get in contact with anyone else at the club i will receive the same answer according to KB.

When i asked if I had a right to view the CCTV footage, I was told that when the game is over the tapes are bagged up and sent to the police. They are stored until they are needed for court evidence, therefore I cannot view it.

Peter Jones helped me no end through this, unfortunitely he has no authority over Kevin Barclay.

12306[/snapback]

If you can afford a few quid you could try contacting a solicitor for advice, knowing LCFC I'm sure they will have cocked up some procedural nicety.

Are you a member of the trust, I know you copied this to them, have they come back to you?

[Steven]

Hi guys, just to keep you updated:

I received a call from Peter Jones today, he told me that Kevin Barclay refuses to accept anything that i have said. If I try to get in contact with anyone else at the club i will receive the same answer according to KB.

When i asked if I had a right to view the CCTV footage, I was told that when the game is over the tapes are bagged up and sent to the police. They are stored until they are needed for court evidence, therefore I cannot view it.

Peter Jones helped me no end through this, unfortunitely he has no authority over Kevin Barclay.

12306[/snapback]

There are bound to be others in a similar situation. My advice is club together and consult a solicitor.