Another one off to Ricoh Arena, who funnily enough have their out of office on!! Did my best to sum up some of the good work a lot of you have done in fact finding.
Dear Whomever It May Concern,
I'd like to write to you today on account of Saturday's incidents and to request clarification on a few matters.
Saturday saw a re-occurence of protests against the clubs owners SISU. This resulted in somes fans bringing banners bearing slogans on, these slogans were not offiensive and consisted of a basic SISU OUT motif.
I'd like to complain about stewards who were extremely over-zealous at this game and the prior fixture at home to Watford. Most fans could understand the stewards taking the banners, it was something we thought might happen, despite it being allowed at every other football league ground. What many fans were extremely disappointed with however, was the manner in which they were taken. As you are aware a large contingent of fans sit under the score board in block 15. At the Watford game, a large banner was passed down along the crowd reminiscent of the way a large shirt is passed down at big games. A large group of stewards ascended to the top of block 15 but refused to take the banner, instead, when they saw that it had reached near the bottom where an unlucky group of around 3 men were trying to fold it back up to send to the top. Unfortunately, led by a senior steward, this group ran full speed down a gangway and shell-shocked this group, seizing the banner and running out on the pitch area with it. Said senior steward, then stood at the bottom of block 15 and smiled at the fans, causing outrage.
This led to the increased tensions on Saturday the 10th of September against Derby. Again, banners of a smaller size and plainer motif were at the game and were unfurled. Again, stewards waited until the banner was in a less populated area and attempted to seize it. However, this time an unsightly tug of war ensued and the banner was reclaimed. It was then, draped across a vomitory and was left alone by stewards.
I'd like to complain that due to the stewards behaviour, the scenes we saw at the game on Saturday, were perhaps not a primary cause but were very much in the minds of fans who then had their fears compounded by heavy handed policing.
I'd like to know why fans aren't allowed to use these banners and please, please, do not recycle the line about fire safety. Friends and colleagues have contacted other football league grounds who contradict your colleagues statement on CWR regarding it being an issue that all clubs adhere to. Portsmouth FC have stated they never have removed a banner or any kind of flag as long as it's not offensive.
I'd appreciate a response and I'd like to commend you on an otherwise fantastic stadium.
Regards,
Glenn Storer.
