" ISSUES WITH RV, POLICING AND STEWARDING "

After a week from hell trying to sort out two buses after being let down after 2 months of being booked, we managed to get the extra 2 buses sorted on Thursday afternoon, we got 3 buses travelling to West Ham and set off on our pick ups from 8.30am.

On the buses we had a raffle which the winner got £50 and second prize was a City t-shirt donated by my brother Jamie, also a City fixture wall chart was available to everyone donated by Steve Troobloo.

Thanks to Annis everyone was given a free copy of The Rise and Fall of the Valley Rams written by Gwyn Davies, it is an interesting read about how the Rams have been instrumental in some of the measures that we use today, like pub stops, working with the police etc.

For those who have not read the book can buy it here http://www.annisabraham.co.uk/books/buy-books/

There was a RV at South Mimms between 12.00 and 12.30 where we exchanged vouchers for match tickets, unfortunately on entering the services each coach was allowed to park wherever they wished and there was no coordination or control by the police to take out the coaches in the order they arrived, when collecting the match tickets we were give coloured cards by the club to display in the windscreen but the problem was nobody from the police was liaising with the coach drivers to determine when we would leave.

Another point I found surprising was that despite many warnings from South Wales police to make sure there was no alcohol on any coaches, there was alcohol being served at the services and supporters were then taking the purchased beer on to the coaches.

2 of our coaches left the RV at 13.45, one of the 2 coaches weren't told we were going and had to try and catch the convoy, which we did after a few miles.

Bubbled by the police we went down the hard shoulder due to the amount of traffic on the M11, when we got a mile or so from the ground the convoy was then held at a roundabout for no apparent reason for 20 minutes ( we were not told of any reason, in fact we were not told anything at all ), this led to supporters alighting their coaches and deciding to walk the rest of the journey in the fear they would miss kick off as it was now 14.35.

Because the fans got off the coaches this seemed to buck the police up and finally they moved into action and got the coaches moving, we finally arrived at he ground at 14.45, the 3rd of our coaches did not make it to the ground until 15.00 exactly.

So it takes 2 hours 30 mins to get from South Wales to South Mimms and the RV was 12.30 but coaches did not arrive at the ground until 15.00, that is surely not right.

The police officers were friendly enough but there was an apparent lack of organisation to get the coaches to the ground in plenty of time, those of us on coaches did what was asked of us but it did feel like a kick in teeth the way we were held for such a long time.

Being constructive I felt each coach could have been allowed to exchange tickets and make the journey to the ground in their own time and the amount of officers used should have been on Barking Road awaiting our arrival and forming the line down the pavement like they did on the way out, which was a lot smoother and hassle free than the entry in.

Outside the turnstiles, I can see West Ham having many issues and flash points throughout this season due to the stewarding and the bottle necking of fans coming to the turnstiles.

I held back with my daughter as I had genuine concerns for her safety due to the way our supporters were being 'handled' by the stewards and the small space that fans were being hoarded through.

I am not against RV's and police escorts as I feel they help coaches get through built up areas quickly and safely but being that was a Premier League fixture yesterday there was nothing Premier League about the organising by the police or the stewards at the ground.

Once in the ground, our tickets had to be presented before we could enter the seating area and I guessed that as a result we would be seated in our correct seats unlike years that have gone by, so much so that when I handed the tickets out on the coach I gave them out in groups so that friends and family's sat together but once inside the main bowl this turned out not to be the case.

I did not see what happened at half time with the shutters being pulled down so cannot comment but I am aware of two parents with young children travelling on one of my coaches being upset at not being able to buy food or beverages for the children as a result.

All in all, at the next travel group meeting I will raise the concerns that I had with yesterday's lead up to the game and those that other fans on the coach raised, it could have been handled much better than it was leading up to the game and I would point out the way Barking Road was policed on our exit as a way forward for future games.

Thank you to everyone who travelled with Carlos Coaches yesterday and for your patience despite the long time spent on a coach for what really should be a straight forward trip.

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

I personally think it's very odd you commenting on this that has not got the slightest to do with Swansea.

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

We have had our problems in the years gone by but this club has come a long way in the last 10 years or so and as fans we do our bit to improve our reputation and yesterday was unnecessary when we consider the number of clubs we visit where we don't have the delays we had yesterday, Millwall, Bristol City spring to mind.

Thanks for the info Carl. Shame we had to go through all that crap.
No matter how much the Met and west ham tried to spoil it, it was a great trip on bus3.
Talked to some great lads from PT and good young uns from cardiff.

Got two hangovers plus a night out in Bridgends star wars bar afterwards. Just got home now!
And i won the raffle!

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

Just because we chased you for a mile no need to throw your teddy at us.

So getting the fans to a game late is going to help is it? Of course not when you give the "enemy" ammunition to use against you. Bad organisation it was that broke human rights. You don't fight bad with bad.

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

I personally think it's very odd you commenting on this that has not got the slightest to do with Swansea.

Generally don't but you lot make me laugh with your hard done by tales everywhere you go , a very large percentage have acted like twats for decades so that's how you get treated , simple as that

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

We have had our problems in the years gone by but this club has come a long way in the last 10 years or so and as fans we do our bit to improve our reputation and yesterday was unnecessary when we consider the number of clubs we visit where we don't have the delays we had yesterday, Millwall, Bristol City spring to mind.

But the last couple of big games against prem opposition ie Chelsea and arsenal you misbehaved so you can't then complain surely

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

I personally think it's very odd you commenting on this that has not got the slightest to do with Swansea.

Generally don't but you lot make me laugh with your hard done by tales everywhere you go , a very large percentage have acted like twats for decades so that's how you get treated , simple as that

And you are acting like one now

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

Just because we chased you for a mile no need to throw your teddy at us.

So getting the fans to a game late is going to help is it? Of course not when you give the "enemy" ammunition to use against you. Bad organisation it was that broke human rights. You don't fight bad with bad.

Believe me if someone was chasing me it would take a lot less than a mile , the police obviously didn't want you around the ground until the last minute , and that's because you are not trusted to behave , yes or no ?

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

I personally think it's very odd you commenting on this that has not got the slightest to do with Swansea.

Generally don't but you lot make me laugh with your hard done by tales everywhere you go , a very large percentage have acted like twats for decades so that's how you get treated , simple as that

And you are acting like one now

What have I said that isn't true ?

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

Just because we chased you for a mile no need to throw your teddy at us.

So getting the fans to a game late is going to help is it? Of course not when you give the "enemy" ammunition to use against you. Bad organisation it was that broke human rights. You don't fight bad with bad.

Believe me if someone was chasing me it would take a lot less than a mile , the police obviously didn't want you around the ground until the last minute , and that's because you are not trusted to behave , yes or no ?

Possible but then let me reverse the question. Last time we played them which was not ago none of this happened and there were no problems whatsoever. So why apply these tactics now?

Considering the price of the whole day you would expect the organisation to be better.

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

Just because we chased you for a mile no need to throw your teddy at us.

So getting the fans to a game late is going to help is it? Of course not when you give the "enemy" ammunition to use against you. Bad organisation it was that broke human rights. You don't fight bad with bad.

Believe me if someone was chasing me it would take a lot less than a mile , the police obviously didn't want you around the ground until the last minute , and that's because you are not trusted to behave , yes or no ?

Possible but then let me reverse the question. Last time we played them which was not ago none of this happened and there were no problems whatsoever. So why apply these tactics now?

There is no way of second guessing the met who in my experience are only second to Yorkshire for bring wankers on matchdays , but you can't deny you have brought it on yourselves that's all I'm saying

Why don't you piss off on your own site tw*t

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

Just because we chased you for a mile no need to throw your teddy at us.

So getting the fans to a game late is going to help is it? Of course not when you give the "enemy" ammunition to use against you. Bad organisation it was that broke human rights. You don't fight bad with bad.

Believe me if someone was chasing me it would take a lot less than a mile , the police obviously didn't want you around the ground until the last minute , and that's because you are not trusted to behave , yes or no ?

Possible but then let me reverse the question. Last time we played them which was not ago none of this happened and there were no problems whatsoever. So why apply these tactics now?

There is no way of second guessing the met who in my experience are only second to Yorkshire for bring wankers on matchdays , but you can't deny you have brought it on yourselves that's all I'm saying

Is that why you're lot have to be coached in for our game's as well? Don't say protect you from us! Remember lots of your fans fighting coppers and no one else.
What do you know about arsenal, chelsea? Other than what you read in papers and on here? Stupid statement
And remember we are not only club to be targeted this way,

Getting out was no better, held on our bus for 40 minutes or more with no communication.

Saying that, it's an awful place to get to and the ground has been left to degenerate, the facilities were rubbish.

As for 'waddle's comments, form what I've heard from police previously they are more concerned about the behaviour of their own (home) fans and the consequences of them kicking off than they are of us - and it's been this way for many years. There wasn't any major trouble at Arsenal and the Chelsea incidents could easily have been avoided - it seemed like a set up for the police to lock up a load of known Chelsea hooligans more than anything.

I travel with my son and many more are travelling with their kids too now, so whatever the police need to do to keep us safe is welcome in my eyes. THE MAIN COMPLAINTS ARE THAT DESPITE BEING THE COUNTRIES LARGEST FORCE WHO HAVE A LARGE NO. OF HIGH PROFILE GAMES EACH WEEK THEY STILL DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO ARRANGE A PISS UP IN A BREWERY.

Mind you it's not helped by the traffic in London. When a few west ham fans were leaving early a mate commented on it - I replied that they needed to leave then to get to work on time on Monday

You do realise that there were more Swansea fans arrested last season (on record 2011/2012) than there were Cardiff ? I confidently expect that when the 12/13 stats come out you will also have more arrests, considering we had hardly any last season.

I guess you will feel that similar restrictions would be justified at your club too ?

Carl I agree it was dire, I understand they couldn't control the traffic on the M11, but that roundabout hold up was shocking, the fact they would not allow half time alcohol proved to me it was 5 hour drinking break was exactly what they had planned, the way they manned the turnstile entrances should be taken further by our club, and how the hell does that ground pass fire regs? Exiting was also a f**k up

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

Just because we chased you for a mile no need to throw your teddy at us.

So getting the fans to a game late is going to help is it? Of course not when you give the "enemy" ammunition to use against you. Bad organisation it was that broke human rights. You don't fight bad with bad.

Believe me if someone was chasing me it would take a lot less than a mile , the police obviously didn't want you around the ground until the last minute , and that's because you are not trusted to behave , yes or no ?

Possible but then let me reverse the question. Last time we played them which was not ago none of this happened and there were no problems whatsoever. So why apply these tactics now?

There is no way of second guessing the met who in my experience are only second to Yorkshire for bring wankers on matchdays , but you can't deny you have brought it on yourselves that's all I'm saying

Is that why you're lot have to be coached in for our game's as well? Don't say protect you from us! Remember lots of your fans fighting coppers and no one else.
What do you know about arsenal, chelsea? Other than what you read in papers and on here? Stupid statement
And remember we are not only club to be targeted this way,

Yes so who are the other teams targeted for being troublemakers al , I don't understand what the argument is tbh , you are treated badly because of your record of trouble that's a fact , something you used to ( and many still do) revel in

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

if you are going to use an analogy get it right - its sow you dim wit, not sew. No-one was darning yesterday unless they were stitching their sides together after they split laughing at the 1-4

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

if you are going to use an analogy get it right - its sow you dim wit, not sew. No-one was darning yesterday unless they were stitching their sides together after they split laughing at the 1-4

Yes a spelling comment !!!!
A sure sign that you've got f**k all to say , and it was my phone that cocked it up not me

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

your spelling is that of a two year old

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

We have had our problems in the years gone by but this club has come a long way in the last 10 years or so and as fans we do our bit to improve our reputation and yesterday was unnecessary when we consider the number of clubs we visit where we don't have the delays we had yesterday, Millwall, Bristol City spring to mind.

But the last couple of big games against prem opposition ie Chelsea and arsenal you misbehaved so you can't then complain surely

Always easy to comment on something you know feck all about. City were set up at Chelsea, police made major errors, mainly not looking after their own fans and allowing 200 known chelsea hooligans to attack normal fans - so after the game they got what they deserved - albeit at the expense of convictions.

Last edited by arri potta on Sun Aug 18, 2013 6:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

did anyone really expect anything different ? lots more bubbles to come i imagine

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

your spelling is that of a two year old

Love the spelling comments

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

We have had our problems in the years gone by but this club has come a long way in the last 10 years or so and as fans we do our bit to improve our reputation and yesterday was unnecessary when we consider the number of clubs we visit where we don't have the delays we had yesterday, Millwall, Bristol City spring to mind.

But the last couple of big games against prem opposition ie Chelsea and arsenal you misbehaved so you can't then complain surely

Always easy to comment on something you know feck all about. City were set up at Chelsea, police made major errors, mainly not looking after their own fans and allowing 200 known chelsea hooligans to attack normal fans - so after the game they got what they deserved - albeit at the expense of convictions.

Whatever your excuses it all goes back to your hooligan element ,FACT

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

if you are going to use an analogy get it right - its sow you dim wit, not sew. No-one was darning yesterday unless they were stitching their sides together after they split laughing at the 1-4

Yes a spelling comment !!!!
A sure sign that you've got f**k all to say , and it was my phone that cocked it up not me"

It was my phone not me ffs
So you didnt type it then - computer error eh, too many fingers on the keyboard?

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

your spelling is that of a two year old

Love the spelling comments

You are trying to hijack another thread. You must be a very lonely individual.

Twaddle
palace Brighton Burnley Bolton to name couple that are trouble spots not forgetting our derby! Or are you going to blame our fans for reason its a bubble game? besides it is no excuse for bad treatment of fans, we only had 1 arrest at home last season less than you even, so comparing historic trouble is a bit rich considering your fans were fighting police because they couldn't get at our fans so no angels are you? But hey everyone loves Swansea don't they!

You've wallowed in your reputation for many years holding certain people as heroes , now unfortunately you're being treated like the animals you once behaved as , I personally think you reap what you sew

if you are going to use an analogy get it right - its sow you dim wit, not sew. No-one was darning yesterday unless they were stitching their sides together after they split laughing at the 1-4

Yes a spelling comment !!!!
A sure sign that you've got f**k all to say , and it was my phone that cocked it up not me"

It was my phone not me ffs
So you didnt type it then - computer error eh, too many fingers on the keyboard?

f**k me you do know about advances in technology like predictive text and smart phones don't you