I was not at the Buxton game due to illness, but I am led to believe there was a problem at the end of the game. As such, I have been asked to post this reminder of what is expected by the FA of fans attending matches:-
[size=5][color=#ff0000]‘Supporters Information: FA Rule E20’[/color][/size] [color=#ff0000]19. An individual may take part in or attend at a Match only on condition that such individual
observes the Rules, and each Affiliated Association, Competition and Club is required to
observe and enforce such Rules.
20. Each Affiliated Association, Competition and Club shall be responsible for ensuring:
(a) that its directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives,
spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conduct
themselves in an orderly fashion and refrain from any one or combination of the
following: racist, violent, threatening, abusive, obscene or provocative behaviour,
conduct or language whilst attending at or taking part in a Match in which it is
involved, whether on its own ground or elsewhere; and
(b) that no spectators or unauthorised persons are permitted to encroach onto the
pitch area, save for reasons of crowd safety, or to throw missiles, bottles or other
potentially harmful or dangerous objects at or on to the pitch.
21. Each Club is expected to provide a private way from the playing area to dressing room
wherever this is practicable.
22. Any Affiliated Association, Competition or Club which fails effectively to discharge its
said responsibility in any respect whatsoever shall be guilty of Misconduct. It shall be a
defence in respect of charges against a Club for Misconduct by spectators and all persons
purporting to be supporters or followers of the Club, if it can show that all events, incidents
or occurrences complained of were the result of circumstances over which it had no control,
or for reasons of crowd safety, and that its responsible officers or agents had used all due
diligence to ensure that its said responsibility was discharged.
23. Any individual referred to in Rule E20 above may be removed from any ground, and such
force used as may be necessary for the purpose of effecting such removal.
24. Each Club shall have bills printed and posted in their grounds, threatening with expulsion
anyone responsible for any insulting or improper conduct towards a Match Official.[/color]
I believe this is to do with an alleged threat made to the referee after the game?
I also believe from buxton fc’s Twitter account that they believe i am to blame?
As people present will confirm i was in happy spirits and had a laugh with a steward at full time, now maybe my memory was blurred by a few drinks but as i have told Buxton i have no memory of even speaking to the ref never mind threatning the guy!
I have apologised to Buxton FC for going onto the pitch and im also very sorry to everyone connected with Witton Albion for any embarresment i may of caused but i maintain i did not threaten any match officials.
Whilst I totally agree with most of the rules, E 24 is surely unenforceable. Does it really mean what it says; “no insulting Match Officials”? So if I shout out the official is a “Blind Bd I can be expelled from the ground? I agree totally that threats to officials are definitely not on but no insults? They have got to be joking and if they are not may I suggest they start their campaign by aiming it at the foul mouthed footballers in the Premier League who are constantly abusing and insulting officials and not the supporters who pay all their wages. (Of course this will not happen as the FA would fall foul of Sky if they suspended a load of players for doing so.)
I have stated many times that I abhor the foul mouthed chants that I hear at ALL football grounds but I will be the first to admit that I swear at times during games along with the vast majority of supporters, but that is in frustration and not premeditated. And I am sorry FA, if a “Blind” referee misses a definite penalty for Witton I will call that official a "Blind Bd” and risk being thrown out of the ground!!
I totally understand that Witton as a club have to try to adhere to the rules, the last thing they need during these tough financial times is to be fined by the FA. Strange isn’t it though that as far as I am aware, and Robbo will correct me if I am but I cannot recall ANY Premier League player or club being fined for these offences, apart from the famous “Rooney” and “Terry” incidents which they could hardly ignore and even these were not actually aimed at the Match officials. “Provocative, threatening” behaviour? Just watch ANY Premier League game when the referee gives a contentious decision, the team affected surround him like Indians around a wagon train! And what does the official do? On most occasions absolutely nothing. What do the FA do? The same, absolutely nothing.
I will believe they mean business when the FA get some B***s and start implementing these rules at the highest level.
Sorry for the rant, going back into my kennel now.
WHS.
I think it’s more if people confront the officials otherwise whole stands of fans would have to be thrown out every week.
Also fans from premiership clubs will pay at most 27% of a players wages. It’s mainly money from sky and sponsorship deals no longer the working mans game. Non league is where it’s at!!
I’ve refereed. It’s not easy. But it’s not as hard as some of the clowns out there make it look. The FA need to take a look at the whole refereeing situation and stop fat, jobsworth, middle-aged blokes with no aspiration from doing it. If we got a bunch of young referees every year who were striving to do their best to get to the Football League, and on to the Premiership, then we’d be far better off. Instead, we get the same old s**t, year in, year out. And that’s why people get pissed off.
[quote=“yorkshire red” post=46037]I believe this is to do with an alleged threat made to the referee after the game?
I also believe from buxton fc’s Twitter account that they believe i am to blame?
As people present will confirm i was in happy spirits and had a laugh with a steward at full time, now maybe my memory was blurred by a few drinks but as i have told Buxton i have no memory of even speaking to the ref never mind threatning the guy!
I have apologised to Buxton FC for going onto the pitch and im also very sorry to everyone connected with Witton Albion for any embarresment i may of caused but i maintain i did not threaten any match officials.[/quote]
Well done for holding your hands up and admitting your mistake Matt.
Can i suggest a few things, just to put the matter to bed?
I would apologise personally to Mark Harris.
Might be worth writing a letter to Buxton too.
And perhaps the same to the ref? Even if it’s just to put your case across?
But definately speak to Mark and see what he thinks is the best course of action.
I wasn’t there on Saturday so can’t comment on what did or did not happen. Sounds as though somebody did speak out of turn to the ref though.
Whilst i wouldn’t want to see a witch hunt, there is a degree of concern with a few recent isolated incidents involving our supporters.
There were issues v FCUM (not necessarily Witton fans, but certainly people there to support the Club on that particular day). There were issues involving a referee last season that saw a reminder in the programme of what is and isn’t acceptable. And now there has been (a possibly minor) incident at Buxton.
Witton have a great set of fans. We have our idiots, as does any club, but by and large we’re a great bunch.
We have made such giant strides in the local community of late, it would be such a huge shame if our reputation in the wider non-league footballing world was sullied by incidents that we all know are not true representations of WAFC.
Matt, this isn’t aimed at you. I think we would all do well to mind our behaviour a little (even WHS by the sounds of it ).
Let’s have a few months without further incident, and get other clubs talking about us for the right reasons.
Emotions sometimes run high, why I myself have called referees all flookin sorts at times, I let rip at that pr*ck at the FCUM game for instance who quite clearly didn’t want to give us the most obvious penalty since records began because he’d allready given us a less obvious one! I reckon Yorshire Reds apology, followed up by Robbo’s advice, should suffice (especially as he denies actually insulting the ref!)
It’s a bit like going into a nightclub, you may pay to enter but you are a guest and can be asked to leave or removed at anytime. Further even though you do pay it becomes a public place before, during and after the match. What that means is the laws of the land apply and any abuse or swearing could be seen as committing a criminal offence under the public order act(usually section 5).
With regards to our fans. We have a great following who normally behave themselves or are kept in check by the rest. But we have been warned over the play off final,had some issues nipped in the bud against FC and now this. Can we all just take a deep breath, calm down and try and think before we act, the last thing we want is a reputation, a fine or to ban any of our fans from following their team. UTA
[quote=“Club_Shop” post=46049]It’s a bit like going into a nightclub, you may pay to enter but you are a guest and can be asked to leave or removed at anytime. Further even though you do pay it becomes a public place before, during and after the match. What that means is the laws of the land apply and any abuse or swearing could be seen as committing a criminal offence under the public order act(usually section 5).
[/quote]
Just drilling down the problem,removing blockers to the incident and giving information in a wider sense to this and other scenarios. Sadly we all have to embrace change apparently and ensure that the quality that WITTON fans good reputation matters and is retained. Otherwise we can all bury our heads in the sand and go to Stafford instead.
[quote=“Left Pegger” post=46052][quote=“Club_Shop” post=46049]It’s a bit like going into a nightclub, you may pay to enter but you are a guest and can be asked to leave or removed at anytime. Further even though you do pay it becomes a public place before, during and after the match. What that means is the laws of the land apply and any abuse or swearing could be seen as committing a criminal offence under the public order act(usually section 5).
[/quote]
I will personally apologise to Mark, i will be sending a letter to Buxton too but im not sure about the ref as i 100% cannot remember saying anything to him!
I was very drunk, i had been drinking since 10am as i dont get a pass to do so very often and i overdid it
I thought we had lost the match :huh: the only reason i was on the pitch was because i tried sitting on the wall and lost my balance, i then tried getting back over but couldnt get my leg over the wall This is when a steward came over and told me to get back over, i believe the final whistle blew and i ran away from the steward towards the main stand as the wall was shorter here and i was able to get back onto the terrace!
The next thing i remember is Pete Riley having words with me about being on the pitch and fir some reason i thought it would be funny to run back onto the pitch and strip off mooney something im not proud off!
It was only when i saw a tweet from Buxton praising the Witton support apart from one clown having a row with the ref and i probed further to find out who they meant and was told it was the same bloke who stripped off?!! :huh:
I still have no idea if im the culprit as i cannot remember and cannot imagine why i would of spoke to the ref after all i was trying to avoid the steward?! i was in a happy mood and not looking for a fight.
The Demon Drink, DEFINITELY to be avoided! I still think the FA have a bit of a cheek making these rules and totally ignoring them when they apply to the Premiership Clubs. One thing you can be certain of I will DEFINITELY not be stripping off at a match, not with my “Physique” and attributes and I will try to swear under my breath in future Robbo.
WHS.
My God Doc, if you said that in Rudheath they wouldn’t have a clue what your talking about. if you said it in Crewe they also wouldn’t have a clue what your talkin about as most are Eastern European!!! Serioulsy though, it seems like a minor incident best put to bed with the actions as suggested. No one died, no one got hurt (maybe just a thick head the day after and maybe a tadge of embarrasment). I also agree with WHS in that if the FA tried to ban supporters verbally abusing the officials most of the football league grounds would be way more emptier (if thats a word) than they are. It won’t happen. In all the Witton games that I have attended the fans have been great. We are one of the few clubs who take significant numbers to away matches and long may that carry on. It not only adds to the attendances for the home club but enhances the atmosphere for everyone including the players. My missus would rather stand with them than sit with me! She got a birds eye view of Josh’s goal against Buxton. (Ricky Villa against Manchester City in the FA Cup final). Anyone remember it? Onward and Upward…SBL
).
This is when a steward came over and told me to get back over, i believe the final whistle blew and i ran away from the steward towards the main stand as the wall was shorter here and i was able to get back onto the terrace!