Todays netting and seating

[Red Light]

I was relocated from the Tech End to the Upper Yale - there were plenty of spare seats and moreso towards the half way line but it wont be due to seats not being sold - it's the same scenario when we are in the South Stand at Chester - lots move and stand in the block nearest to the away support.

Thought the netting was strategically decent and in fairness the whole arrangements inside the ground were decent - however we still had the usual idiots in the Mold Road stand who, when we scored our first goal decided to charge through a line of SIA staff, across a block of open seats and were on their way through the netting until the first cop reached the leader - and they wonder why netting is introduced - the same sad lot that spend most of their time ignoring the match, facing and gesticulating at the away support.

Well done to everyone and the match day stewards for their arrangements and time given, lots on a voluntary basis - without them we wouldn't have a match to watch.

What didn't go well was outside the ground.
At the end of the match in previous years away fans exiting the Tech End would be directed to their immediate left / towards Mold Road - in fact a large portable steel gate has been used and located on the corner of the Tech End / Yale Stand. This ensures that the area behind the Yale is retained for home supporters use especially as it provides access to the Centenary Club, club shop. In doing so the police can concentrate on one exit route towards the railway station along Mold Road (which was closed to traffic) is well lit and has better CCTV cover.

Hundreds of Rovers fans were allowed to amble through the Yale car park, a lead group hostile and chanting passing a line of police who allowed them to carry on unescorted until near the flats the inevitable conflict bubbled up with the police then running down the car park. Wasn't good, looked unplanned and could have been avoided with close escort / supervision - you can have as many police as you want but they have to be in the right place at the right time otherwise they become ineffective.

Don't know what the situation was like along Mold Road but the train departing Tranmere supporters should have been properly escorted along a single route and not given the option of being allowed to amble down two routes - not only safer for the Rovers fans themselves it reduces the potential for a kick off - in other words get a firm grip.

[Stafford Red]

Originally Posted by Foxy

The match was extremely well organised by the club. Also credit To North Wales
Police who ran an extremely professional low key operation. Of course the latter won’t get any credit on here from people who just want to stick the boot in whenever they can.

Fair play to all today, big game, big crowd, 3pm on a Saturday. Football as it should be.

[deeside_dragon]

Originally Posted by pagl

Have to say that after all of the complaints and comments this week about the netting and the seating available (inc. mine) then I have to say that it looked
about as perfect as you could get.

Was there really only 1,773 in the away end - not sure how many it hold - but could another 200 be fitted in as was suggested in terms of extra tickets?

The MRS netting again only took up the section next to the Tech End so that seemed sensible - especially when you can see the fans running straight towards the away supporters when we scored.

Well done to the club for the changes made and time to discuss with SAG what the actual number of tickets should be as there were plenty of empty seats in the upper Yale Tech End side.

Think about it, they were only able to run across because the seats were empty. If there was people sitting in them, they wouldn't of had the opportunity.

Originally Posted by fluffysheepsupporter

I agree with the home supporters areas but not letting the away folk occupy any of the lower GUS needs looking at.
Was there any trouble. Didn't see any . And where was the police chopper. Perhaps it can't fly in the dark.

I could hear the helicopter flying around after the match.

[Pistol Pete]

Sorry to jump on this thread, but I have a comment/ question re the Mold Road after the game.
Walking back along the road (which accordingly to the signs was closed until 5.30pm) with my 5 year old son i was nearly hit by a car. When i asked the nearest officer if the road was closed or not, I was told it was "partially closed" and it was my fault if me or my child got run over.
So was it closed or not?

[Red Light]

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

Sorry to jump on this thread, but I have a comment/ question re the Mold Road after the game.
Walking back along the road (which accordingly to the signs was closed until 5.30pm) with my 5 year old son i was nearly hit by a car. When i asked the nearest officer if the road was closed or not, I was told it was "partially closed" and it was my fault if me or my child got run over.
So was it closed or not?

PP I can't comment as I didn't enter Mold Road after the match.
What can happen is this - the closures are put on either end of the stadium to prevent any vehicles entering the closed off area - all appears safe which leads to most of us thinking we can walk wherever we want free from any potential with traffic - this is when you are most vulnerable and the same reason I never ever cross a road on a zebra or pelican crossing.

But what happens to vehicles already trapped within the closure ? they move out of parking spaces. side roads and may not even be aware there are closures - and there you have it.

Similarly at the end of the game I saw a car at the rear of the Yale Stand infront of the club shop move off and head towards the corner of the Tech End / Yale Stand - perhaps he hadn't been here before but he was driving through everyone slowly and carefully until he couldn't go anymore as he came up against a wall of police & SIA staff - but then when someone pointed out his error he then reversed (even worse) through dozens of fans who were standing around - only needs one vulnerable supporters who would be rightly oblivious to the possible movement.

Might be worth introducing a rule on the Yale car park - if cars are permitted to park there they do so on the proviso they are not allowed to depart / move until the immediate exodus of supporters have departed / say 5.30 pm and some stewards are redirected from inside the ground to cover the car park - we had a similar incident last season involving some unsavoury scenes involving one of our own club directors.

[Redordead]

What reason were the Tranmere fans sent around to the Yale and down past the flats?

Surely they could have kept them in for 10-15 minutes at the end

[pagl]

Originally Posted by Redordead

What reason were the Tranmere fans sent around to the Yale and down past the flats?

Surely they could have kept them in for 10-15 minutes at the end

Don't think there is much time to get to the station for the one to Bidston which would have left them either waiting round or going into town for a beer.

[Leighton Red]

Well I can’t believe I’m going to say it but today in the main the away support was decent IMO. They turned up early, made great noise and atmosphere in the ground and despite an idiotic police/stewarding at the end behind the GUS stand with one tiny hole in the gate blocked by the police whilst all supporters tried to peacefully pass through (ok some chanting but all pretty harmless stuff) I thought for a crowd that size and a local derby they were pretty fair. Different scenes to the running battles of the away Chester match and even last weeks Hartlepool game ended with a few scuffles by all accounts. Great game and mediocre result but a fair one and we can tick the game off the fixture list, enjoy the bank balance boost and hopefully look forward to more big crowds back at the Racecourse as we continue to build and grow. Very encouraging seeing so many young fans at the game today and families - the future of our club! COYR, let this year be our turn!!

[Red Light]

Originally Posted by Redordead

What reason were the Tranmere fans sent around to the Yale and down past the flats?

Surely they could have kept them in for 10-15 minutes at the end

Regardless of being kept in after the game (train times perhaps dictated) they should ALL have been sent onto Mold Road 'as one' to disperse or be escorted to the station from there - not permitted to cross over the back of the Yale car park - the police could then have focused all their energies on 'one route' instead of having to dilute and cover Mold Road, Crispin Lane and the Yale car park - having said that there may have been reasons on Mold Road to negate this - but from my view it was 'allowed' to happen with not enough close control & escort - and for the majority of Rovers fans it wouldn't have been an issue but the group looking for trouble at the front were allowed to wander off as they pleased.