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Vetch Capacity Cut
Vetch Capacity Cut
Tuesday, 17th Feb 2004 00:00

Vetch Capacity Cut By Over 1,000

Vetch Capacity Cut By Over 1,000

Source: Swansea Council Press Release

The number of spectators allowed on to the North Bank will be cut from 5,358 to 4,286 with immediate effect.

Chair of the Safety Advisory Group, Martin Saville said, "There were incidents at both the Oxford and Preston games where stewards were ignored and in some cases abused. This is totally unacceptable. There are very serious dangers involved". A small minority of fans continue to ignore the requests and instructions of stewards to only stand behind the barriers and not on the marked gangways."

Swans Director, David Morgan said, "The Club has to be very safety conscious and we are disappointed that a few spectators have caused the Club to suffer financially, as well as over 1,000 fans now not being able to gain access at any capacity crowd match. The safety stewards are there for the fans benefit and to try and ensure the fans safety. We again ask the fans to carry out the instructions given to them by the stewards in order that the Club does not suffer further in the future.

The Club has recently introduced a new family enclosure on the West Terrace to try and eradicate the problem of crowding on the North Bank. The Club has asked for quotations from specialist firms for the work required to possibly re-open the back section of the North Bank. Due to the poor condition of the concrete in the back section, it would cost the Club up to £200,000 to fully re-open the North Bank. Due to the remaining life span of the Vetch Field, it has been decided that this option would not be a viable one.

Notes to editors

1. The Safety Advisory Group is a multi agency group consisting of the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance and FLA that advise the Council on its enforcement of Football Safety Legislation.

And the fans respond:

Ade1 Posted on 17/2 9:08Email this Message | re: Council Press Release

This is getting ridiculous! Would this be the same Safety Advisory Group who implemented the strange new regulations to put fences at the fromt of the north bank and created the problem in the first place?? Where have this Safety Advisory Group been for the last 15 odd years since the boards were put up at the back of the bank anyway? Remember Liverpool/West Brom/Cardiff/Hull/Chester/West Ham/Derby all at home and how many 'dangerous crushes' or injuries were there?? None! With more people squashed in as well! Simple Answer - Keep the fences at the front of the bank but put some stewarded gates in it to allow people to stand in front of them as well, creating a new uncovered 'paddock'. The exit to which could be down the side of the NB as well as the normal ones.

IP: Logged
steveAAJ Posted on 17/2 9:26Email this Message | re: Council Press Release

i have seen 1st hand what the state of the nb is like and the fans have only themselves to blame FULL STOP. if the fans cant act like adults a behave themselves,then fek them as they only cost the club money. the fences at the bottom of the terrace are the best thing that as been done down there to stop people goin on the pitch.the fans dont stop it so what option as the club got....NONE

IP: Logged
Ade1 Posted on 17/2 9:41Email this Message | North Bank Solution

Solution: 1 - Put fences back up at front of NB to stop people running on the pitch. 2 - Keep dividing fence (with manned gates) between main walkway and front section of NB to satisfy 'rain induced crushing' regulations. 3 - Stewards to stand at front of NB and to be trained to identify and eject anyone who throws an object or takes part in racist chanting. Obviuosly point 3 is the most difficult to enforce but surely that is what stewards are already trained to do and other clubs must have the same problems (or worse, as our friends up the road know). The way things are at the moment costs the club money and detracts badly from the atmosphere.

IP: Logged
elyrch Posted on 17/2 9:48Email this Message | I fully blame the stewards

This may refer to the Preston and Oxford game but I'll just point out what happens where i stand directly under the camera gantry on the north bank, with reference to a particular incident in the Torquay game. The steward who stands in front of the fencing says nothing at all to people who stand in the yellow area, and so people assume that it's ok to stay there. It's only when the head steward comes along 25 minutes into the match that he demands that people move over. But by then it's too late. He goes away, the people move back and you've guessed it, the steward at the front continues to say nothing because quite frankly he can't be bothered! If they just roped the yellow areas off. (Collapsable rope like you get in the post office or public library queues) they wouldn't have any problems. The stewards don't do their job correctly (and I do accept that it's a difficult job) and it's the fans that are punished. what will happen next? a rule that says that you have to stand within an arms length of the nearest spectator? Also, if anyone from the club is reading this try putting a decent steward in the above area to get rid of the racists that have come to stand there this season, and shout ni er at black players throughout every match. In the Torquay game the steward joined in with Cardiff Sc m chants against Jason Fowler. And you have the cheek to keep punishing the law abiding well behaved fans!!!

IP: Logged
JACKFOREVER Posted on 17/2 10:48Email this Message | re: Council Press Release

"the fences at the bottom of the terrace are the best thing that as been done down there" I HAVE GOT TO STONGLY DISSAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. Those fences are the cause of this problem. full stop. The front of the NB has become a more dangerous place to stand for kids and elderley people as a direct result of those fences. The area on big games has become very over crowded and Uncomfortable. If those barriers were removed or moved further down the problems would ease with immediate effect.

IP: Logged
Aquascutum_Jack Posted on 17/2 13:27Email this Message | re: I fully blame the stewards

"steward joined in with Cardiff Sc m chants against Jason Fowler" And your point being... WE HATE CARDIFF!!! SRS JACKARMY

IP: Logged

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?

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