New ban on kids kickabouts after the game

[beorhthelm]

How many more people are going to join this thread and say "If the kids want a kickabout then they should do it outside"....

The club have banned kids from having any sort of a kickabout outside after the game.

This was rigorously enforced on Saturday at about 5.30pm when there was pretty much zero risk to anyone's pie, pint, or personal safety.

Reply from Paul Barber (22 minutes after I sent my e-mail to him...!)

"Dear [Moshe]

Thank you for your email.

I'm not aware of any ban on children playing football but I will investigate further by talking to the Safety Officer when I am able.

Personally, I have no problem with the kids playing outside but it is certainly not practical on the concourses, particularly when busy.

Regards, Paul

Sent from my iPhone"

so what we have, predictably, is one isolated incident being built up into a blanket ban on something.

 

[dougdeep]

I wonder how many of these complainers would be rushing to sue the club if their pride and joy broke a leg.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

This wound me up, Kids have played outside the northstand for the last 3 seasons with no problem, a long time after final KO, the steards outside the northstand were being a complete nause. number 64 a short fat very ugly looking chap. picking on kids, who didnt really know what to say, then a few adults joined in and started kicking the ball about, turned into a bit of a farce, let them get on with it, they hurt nobody, only the drunk fools pride who try to get involved walking passed and make a prat of themselves.

hopefully this was just one douchebag of a steward and all will be back to normal at the next home game.

I was there too and was assured on three occasions that it was an "attention all stewards" directive from the Safety Officer. Hopefully Paul Barber will be able to influence him into accepting a compromise whereby some play is still allowed outside.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

so what we have, predictably, is one isolated incident being built up into a blanket ban on something.

Wrong. "Event Safety Officer at Brighton and Hove Albion FC" Chris Baker issued a directive to all stewards on Saturday to stop all kicking about inside and outside the stadium.

It will be interesting to see how it pans out as Paul Barber doesn't seem to be in favour of such a ban.

 

[backson]

I stayed in the East after the Ipswich game, and witnessed the bottle kickabout going on in there.

The stewards didn't forcibly break it up, but when the bottle came near to one of them,they picked it up and binned it, to a chorus of good natured booing. At that point a fresh bottle would be thrown in, a big cheer went up and the game would continue.


It was when one of the kids picked a bottle up and threw it head height from one side of the concourse to the other that I thought, maybe they have a point.

 

[pasty]

We use the ESL concourse after every game so we can keep an eye on the P&R queues whilst we have a pint. On more than one occasion, one of our group has had a pint knocked over by the kids running around playing football, so I'm all in favour of banning it in the concourses, but it does seem a bit killjoy to ban it outside.

 

[See-Goals]

Went in the ESL for a post match pint once, haven't been back since for this very reason.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

And now this.... I like Paul Barber.

"Dear [Moshe]

Thanks again for your e-mail.

As promised, I have now spoken to our Safety Officer. We have indeed had many complaints and one or two minor issues with children kicking things around the inner concourses.

As such, I do think it makes absolute sense to stop children kicking balls or, worse, plastic bottles around the inner concourses. People are often carrying hot drinks (or pints) and/or food around and we also have staff moving pieces of catering or cleaning equipment around after matches. The inner concourses are also places where we encourage people to relax, enjoy a drink, a bite to eat, and a chat after the match and, as much as I love seeing kids playing football, this is isn't the place for them to do so safely and without inconveniencing other supporters.

On the other hand, and as I have said before, I really like seeing the kids kicking a ball around outside the stadium after the match. It's a bit of a throw back to a different era and as such it's something that I have personally been very relaxed about (and have occasionally even joined in with if I can get on the ball!). Provided it's just a bit of good-natured fun, the parents are aware and supervising their own children, and everyone is sensible, then I really don't see any real harm. (Obviously, small balls are much better than plastic bottles as these can rear up unpredictably and cause injuries).

The Safety Officer agrees with this proposed approach and his match day staff will be briefed accordingly.

Regards, Paul"

 

[hans kraay fan club]

And now this.... I like Paul Barber.

"Dear [Moshe]

Thanks again for your e-mail.

As promised, I have now spoken to our Safety Officer. We have indeed had many complaints and one or two minor issues with children kicking things around the inner concourses.

As such, I do think it makes absolute sense to stop children kicking balls or, worse, plastic bottles around the inner concourses. People are often carrying hot drinks (or pints) and/or food around and we also have staff moving pieces of catering or cleaning equipment around after matches. The inner concourses are also places where we encourage people to relax, enjoy a drink, a bite to eat, and a chat after the match and, as much as I love seeing kids playing football, this is isn't the place for them to do so safely and without inconveniencing other supporters.

On the other hand, and as I have said before, I really like seeing the kids kicking a ball around outside the stadium after the match. It's a bit of a throw back to a different era and as such it's something that I have personally been very relaxed about (and have occasionally even joined in with if I can get on the ball!). Provided it's just a bit of good-natured fun, the parents are aware and supervising their own children, and everyone is sensible, then I really don't see any real harm. (Obviously, small balls are much better than plastic bottles as these can rear up unpredictably and cause injuries).

The Safety Officer agrees with this proposed approach and his match day staff will be briefed accordingly.

Regards, Paul"

Common sense prevails.

Barber OUT, etc.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

There's a big old field right outside the ground opposite the club shop. No doubt belongs to the Uni. Couldn't the club rent it out for a couple of hours, provide a few balls, five-a-side goals, some form of coaching/supervision etc. Might just spot a star in the making. Kids could run about to their hearts content while dads and mums have a beer inside and nip out to check on junior occasionally. Everybody wins.

 

[pasty]

And now this.... I like Paul Barber.

"Dear [Moshe]

Thanks again for your e-mail.

As promised, I have now spoken to our Safety Officer. We have indeed had many complaints and one or two minor issues with children kicking things around the inner concourses.

As such, I do think it makes absolute sense to stop children kicking balls or, worse, plastic bottles around the inner concourses. People are often carrying hot drinks (or pints) and/or food around and we also have staff moving pieces of catering or cleaning equipment around after matches. The inner concourses are also places where we encourage people to relax, enjoy a drink, a bite to eat, and a chat after the match and, as much as I love seeing kids playing football, this is isn't the place for them to do so safely and without inconveniencing other supporters.

On the other hand, and as I have said before, I really like seeing the kids kicking a ball around outside the stadium after the match. It's a bit of a throw back to a different era and as such it's something that I have personally been very relaxed about (and have occasionally even joined in with if I can get on the ball!). Provided it's just a bit of good-natured fun, the parents are aware and supervising their own children, and everyone is sensible, then I really don't see any real harm. (Obviously, small balls are much better than plastic bottles as these can rear up unpredictably and cause injuries).

The Safety Officer agrees with this proposed approach and his match day staff will be briefed accordingly.

Regards, Paul"

HUZZAH. Outbreak of common sense

 

[foul old ron]

Don't ever remember seeing kids having a kickabout in the WSL concourse but not really the place to do it IMHO.

Really? You must leave early.

 

[Napper]

There's a big old field right outside the ground opposite the club shop. No doubt belongs to the Uni. Couldn't the club rent it out for a couple of hours, provide a few balls, five-a-side goals, some form of coaching/supervision etc. Might just spot a star in the making. Kids could run about to their hearts content while dads and mums have a beer inside and nip out to check on junior occasionally. Everybody wins.

Does limit the spontaneous comical sight of pissed up middle aged men gate crashing the game trying to roll back the years

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Does limit the spontaneous comical sight of pissed up middle aged men gate crashing the game trying to roll back the years

Sadly, yes. No more sweetly volleying that coke bottle into the entrance of the Mens urinals. GOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Sadly, yes. No more sweetly volleying that coke bottle into the entrance of the Mens urinals. GOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!

It was a 50:50 - why was his father so upset ?

 

[dazzer6666]

Really? You must leave early.

LOL. Have never left the Amex before the final whistle, but don't normally stay around drinking afterwards.........have my son with me !

 

[shwoody1]

Well done Paul Barber, he really does have a bit of class about him. Now oscar start him up top tomorrow night!

 

[wellquickwoody]

. Couldn't the club rent it out for a couple of hours, provide a few balls, five-a-side goals, some form of coaching/supervision etc..

Are you offering to pay for this? Or should the club (therefore all fans) subsidise that for the parents that don't want to look after their own kids?

 

[el_ciddy]

HUZZAH. Outbreak of common sense

Fair result all round, well done Mr Barber if true.

 

[albionsam]

Quite. I love a kick about and kicking bottles. Only problem is I'm quite aggressive when I play, so if the red mist comes down and I rake your boy's shin or break his ankle, I'm sorry. It's just boys being

Doubt you would be able to keep up with my boy let alone get a tackle in .
And if you did touch him it would be the last thing you do pal .