The question has been asked, about letting Millwall fans out...

[Nodge70]

Ok i will now throw the Cat amoungst the Pigieons, Why the hell should QPR, police and wrap every supporter in cotton wool. They pay Stewards to do that inside the ground and most of the time when ever you are inside the stadium you are kept safe.

At the end of the day there are bad people in this world that will fight throw stuff, etc.
You have to either be strong or clever to get away from it.

I personally think the club did well, told everyone all the bars would be open at the end of the game. You gone for a drink then left after the trouble had subsided.

Think you should point your Figure of blame at the police will there woefull policing tactics.

It's called "Duty of Care" and the Stadium would not be licenced unless the Safety Advisory Group can demonstrate to the Council that, in conjunction with the police, they can deal with the registered capacity crowd in a manner that does not engender serious injury or life.

[oldhoop]

Here is a copy of the letter which I have just sent to Mr Lawrence (the deputy safety officer at QPR)



Dear Mr Lawrence,



I find it quite incredible that despite a mountain of pre-match intelligence suggesting potential disorder at last nights game that no steps were taken to "lock-in" the away supporters until sufficient time had elapsed for the QPR fans to disperse.



I understand that one of the reasons that you have given previously for this serious oversight is to ensure the safety of the stewards within the ground. If so I would ask you to re=think this policy forthwith before a serious injury (or worse) occurs involving innocent bystanders.



Clearly you have a duty of care to those stewards but I would suggest you have an even greater duty of care to the thousands of "normal" fans outside the ground who are leaving the stadium peacefully.



The sight of women and children literally shaking with fear in South Africa Road is not something that you as Safety Officer should turn a blind eye to and I demand an explanation of this massive oversight along with your professional assurance that there will never be a repeat of the scenes last night which could have been easily avoided by taking the action of delaying those away fans for a few minutes.



Other football clubs manage to do this on the occasion of ganes which are a high security risk why can't we achieve this at QPR?



Please do not delay putting a comprehensive plan together for future high risk games e.g. Swansea City and Cardiff City and let last night be an unfortunate insight as to what might happen if a different strategy is not implemented at these type of matches. As a senior security officer at Queens Park Rangers Football Club I am sure you take your responsibility very seriously and I am sure you would not want "blood on your hands" as a result of not heeding the warning of last nights game.


I look forward to your response.

[qprhoops]

Last night was a disgrace for all concerned and should never be allowed to happen again.

It is high time for the football authorities to take firm action against the likes of Millwall, Cardiff, Swansea etc. Teams like Millwall should be given a final warning and in the meantime, all their matches should be very early kick offs to ensure that their so called fans are sober, if that's a failure, then kick them out of the League.

As someone said to me last night, just take a look at the Millwall fans and see how few women and children are there, and I could see what he meant. Furthermore, a large percentage of them were not watching the football, but just stood staring at the Rangers fans and chanting their usual foul and abusive remarks.

[Nodge70]

Last night was a disgrace for all concerned and should never be allowed to happen again.

It is high time for the football authorities to take firm action against the likes of Millwall, Cardiff, Swansea etc. Teams like Millwall should be given a final warning and in the meantime, all their matches should be very early kick offs to ensure that their so called fans are sober, if that's a failure, then kick them out of the League.

As someone said to me last night, just take a look at the Millwall fans and see how few women and children are there, and I could see what he meant. Furthermore, a large percentage of them were not watching the football, but just stood staring at the Rangers fans and chanting their usual foul and abusive remarks.

Conversely, this punishes the 95% of Millwall fans who are absolutely fine and have no intention of causing any sort of bother. They have a very broad young and female fanbase for home fixtures - similar to us - but that is thinned for away games - similar to us.

Tarring everyone with the same brush doesn't work and is ineffective in cracking the nut. Stoke wheedled out their problem element of away supporters 4 or so years ago by imposing a self regulated away membership scheme that meant only members could go to away fixtures. Something similar needs to be put into place for Millwall and Cardiff

[LBLOCK]

Sorry Nodge need to take exception to your last post that "95% of Millwall fans are fine".

That is b0110x

Same applies for Cardiff and, to a lesser extent Swansea.

Flip it on it's head and you're nearer the mark, ie 5% are alright.

I had to turn off Talksport this morning as they were waxing on about small elements, minority ruin it for larger amount of fans etc.
Fact of the matter is when Millwall and Cardiv are in town their herd mentality is obvious to see and their active mob of 200 or so pretty soon becomes 2000 strong. The overall majority of Millwall fans spilling out of Loftus Road last night were looking for it and trying to be as intimidating as possible - no doubt buoyed up by the fact there would be 1,999 other *****s to call on.
To Millwall they had a right result last night.

Hold 250 outside BQ & Con and wind them up as missing the game but don't hold back a small army of c0cks in case they get a little upset?
Only at QPR..........

Plus if you think Stokes travelling support is any better then you are sadly mistaken.

[eghamR]

Last time I went to the New Den we were locked in for well over half hour after the game by the Police ....if the club are worried about the stewards why don't they get the Police to oversee the lock in inside the ground?

[SM1882]

Sorry Nodge need to take exception to your last post that "95% of Millwall fans are fine".

That is b0110x

Same applies for Cardiff and, to a lesser extent Swansea.

Flip it on it's head and you're nearer the mark, ie 5% are alright.

I had to turn off Talksport this morning as they were waxing on about small elements, minority ruin it for larger amount of fans etc.
Fact of the matter is when Millwall and Cardiv are in town their herd mentality is obvious to see and their active mob of 200 or so pretty soon becomes 2000 strong. The overall majority of Millwall fans spilling out of Loftus Road last night were looking for it and trying to be as intimidating as possible - no doubt buoyed up by the fact there would be 1,999 other *****s to call on.
To Millwall they had a right result last night.

Hold 250 outside BQ & Con and wind them up as missing the game but don't hold back a small army of c0cks in case they get a little upset?
Only at QPR..........

Plus if you think Stokes travelling support is any better then you are sadly mistaken.

Have to say I agree with every single word there!

[Goddard]

Last time I went to the New Den we were locked in for well over half hour after the game by the Police ....if the club are worried about the stewards why don't they get the Police to oversee the lock in inside the ground?

Bingo.

Ask a copper if they'd rather do that, or have to deal with what happened last night on the public streets of London... I know what they'd find easier, and would much rather do.

Wrap em up. Let the streets clear. It's that simple.

[Nodge70]

Having experienced Stoke's travelling support twice in the past two seasons, I can assure you that they are a million times better than they were when we last played them.

Also, does anyone really believe that 95% of Millwall's home crowd are hooligans or potential hooligans? You give them too much credit. They have no more than a hardcore of 300, with only about half that number on police "watch" lists. We have a similar number. Don't let perception mask the reality.

Plus - Millwall do let you out but those travelling by train are herded into the pens for South Bermondsey station. I didn't have any problems at all getting back to the car when we last played there straight after the final whistle.

[Sam-QPR]

I wouldn't worry about stewards safety if i was him. They are the furthest people away from the trouble.

When the coins were flying in X block last night they were taking cover on the concourse.

Im sure they are only employed to annoy people not protect or help us

[Olly]

apparently some of the roads around the green were closed off, until millwal, penned in on the green, were escorted to the ground.

[Morris]

The last time we played at the New Den the the police kept us behind for 40 minutes. We were allowed outside the ground but were held back by the police until the Millwall fans had gone. So why can't that happen here ? That was an evening game as well.

[Hertford Hoop]

The last time we played at the New Den the the police kept us behind for 40 minutes. We were allowed outside the ground but were held back by the police until the Millwall fans had gone. So why can't that happen here ? That was an evening game as well.

Answer IMO is because the Police love it, although I wasn't there last night it appears to be similar to games recently against Cardiff and Swansea. Its not rocket science, keep the known trouble teams fans in for 20-30 minutes. Our club should severely restrict the number of tickets given to known trouble clubs. Both the Police and the Stewards get paid to protect the fans from danger so why are the fans let out together when they know there will be trouble?

[IsleworthRanger]

Here is a copy of the letter which I have just sent to Mr Lawrence (the deputy safety officer at QPR)



Dear Mr Lawrence,



I find it quite incredible that despite a mountain of pre-match intelligence suggesting potential disorder at last nights game that no steps were taken to "lock-in" the away supporters until sufficient time had elapsed for the QPR fans to disperse.



I understand that one of the reasons that you have given previously for this serious oversight is to ensure the safety of the stewards within the ground. If so I would ask you to re=think this policy forthwith before a serious injury (or worse) occurs involving innocent bystanders.



Clearly you have a duty of care to those stewards but I would suggest you have an even greater duty of care to the thousands of "normal" fans outside the ground who are leaving the stadium peacefully.



The sight of women and children literally shaking with fear in South Africa Road is not something that you as Safety Officer should turn a blind eye to and I demand an explanation of this massive oversight along with your professional assurance that there will never be a repeat of the scenes last night which could have been easily avoided by taking the action of delaying those away fans for a few minutes.



Other football clubs manage to do this on the occasion of ganes which are a high security risk why can't we achieve this at QPR?



Please do not delay putting a comprehensive plan together for future high risk games e.g. Swansea City and Cardiff City and let last night be an unfortunate insight as to what might happen if a different strategy is not implemented at these type of matches. As a senior security officer at Queens Park Rangers Football Club I am sure you take your responsibility very seriously and I am sure you would not want "blood on your hands" as a result of not heeding the warning of last nights game.


I look forward to your response.

Great letter but I dont think the club give a toss about our safety mate

[swanleyhoop]

Conversely, this punishes the 95% of Millwall fans who are absolutely fine and have no intention of causing any sort of bother. They have a very broad young and female fanbase for home fixtures - similar to us - but that is thinned for away games - similar to us.

Tarring everyone with the same brush doesn't work and is ineffective in cracking the nut. Stoke wheedled out their problem element of away supporters 4 or so years ago by imposing a self regulated away membership scheme that meant only members could go to away fixtures. Something similar needs to be put into place for Millwall and Cardiff

I'd actually disagree with that -- there are lots of women and children at all our away games and, if the implication is that somehow following your club away is too scary for women and children -- well, if you're a Millwall fan, yes, but not for us Rangers.