Cod Almighty | Diary

There are no jokes in the Bible, Keith

11 March 2019

Trentside Diary writes: So out in football world it was a weekend dominated by the unpleasant side. Sadly, this is the side that non-football fans – or, more accurately, people who think they are too good to like football – will pounce on with glee. There will always be those who think, that’s it, that’s football, awful people.

I don’t know the figures but can only think there are probably relatively few 'incidents' compared with the number of fans who go to a match every week. These aren’t due to football, but a reflection of wider society through the lens of football. In reality 99 per cent of us manage to watch a match, maybe have a drink with mates before, after or both, and don’t have to get into a fight, smash something up, or hurl abuse at all and sundry.

The Birmingham City fan who ran onto the pitch and attacked Jack Grealish will, I am sure, not see the inside of a football ground again unless he covers his face and sneaks in as a Santa in December. What, however, will happen to the steward who shoved and appeared to kick Grealish when he celebrated his goal?

There are far too many stories of stewards, and those policing the match, being either pitifully incompetent or actually trying to cause trouble. Stewards at football grounds are meant to be trained and competent. Film of a Cheltenham steward apparently having to be moved away from Notts County fans because he’d "lost his composure". Stevenage stewards making female fans show their bras. A Notts County steward trying to trip opposing fans. Police kettling fans when there is no threat, nothing happening. Police being aggressive and trying to provoke a reaction.

I’m sure many of us could recall numerous similar incidents without too much trouble and many would be at the same grounds. Not the most recent example, but one of the most ridiculous, was when we went to Stockport away a few years ago.

A group of four lads were behind us at the turnstile. They couldn’t prove they were 15 and the steward wouldn’t let them in. The police had stepped up behind them in the queue. Fair enough, you might think? Realising they wouldn’t get in, a quick tot up of their money and the lads realised they didn’t have enough cash for them all to pay full price.

"Where’s the nearest cashpoint?" they asked – not unreasonably? Not according to the long arm of the law, who responded: "You leave the area of the ground and we’ll arrest you." A couple of us went over and spoke to another steward who looked like she was in charge and she quickly decided that the sensible thing to do would be to let them in.

Is there any wonder that things turn nasty very quickly? These lads didn’t get mad – they were just a bit upset – but that’s their experience of matchday policing. Probably the first time they’d travelled to a match on the train on their own.

I would like to believe that the majority of stewards or police are just trying to do a good job but clubs really do need to up their game. Any other 'business' would be all over this. Anyone who didn’t have the right attitude or level of expertise would be gone. It’s time for clubs to recognise there are issues and pledge to tackle poor stewarding.

On the pitch, don’t panic – we’re safe this year and the play-offs were always unlikely. The more Mr Jolley learns about his squad, the better for next season. UTM!