Took this pic a good 10 mins plus after the final whistle.
The whole of the West Sand was trying to squeeze out of one gate. Which wouldn't have been as bad if everyone was then turning right along the "appointed" route, but it was carnage with people not knowing which way they could or should go. So the stairs were backed up all the way to the top and people weren't moving.
Surely that's a safety concern? And it definitely blew a whole in the myth some on here were going along with that the diversion would only add 10-15 mins to the walk to the station.
The more I see, the more horrendous yesterday's stewarding arrangements appear to me..
Suppose you had an emergency and needed to get people out quickly. Not possible with everyone standing on the staircase. Suppose there was a medical emergency requiring a St Johns team quick access to the patient? They would struggle to get through.
I am confused by the apparent disconnect that inside the ground the police are in the control box, but there are no actual police dotted around, visibly, amongst the people. When I started going there used to be an actual presence of half a dozen or so police officers standing on the sidelines, I don’t see any inside stadiums any more.
That is because clubs have to pay for police inside the stadium but not outside. So the cheap option is stewards. You have to feel sorry for the couple of stewards having to deal with the baying mob at the gate incident.
So it is upto the club to shell out the cost for police inside the stadium. Money before safety, not good.
I left the North Lower after our players applauded us. Harvey Gardens was packed solid and unsafe in my opinion. If someone had stumbled and fallen it would have been a serious situation. Shuffled up to junction of Charlton Lane and went down towards crossing. Why did they keep Charlton Lane open to traffic ? A car was stationary on the crossing between the open gates with nowhere to go. Cars behind and a wall of pedestrians in front. I could see the look of terror on the drivers face yet 2 Police officers at the crossing doing nothing about the situation. I hope Network Rail or whoever were remotely monitoring what was going on and prepared to be holding trains if need be.
Are we the only home fans in this Country to have had these restrictions put in place after a home game ? And I mean treated as away fans.
This is my lasting anxiety about the whole thing. The prospect of tragedy was not far away. We'll never know how close and the likelihood that it happens again is high.
And good work @Pelham123 for observing a near train related disaster
The people in charge of our club don’t give a shit income before safety every time. As for the police they are just a joke bunch of cowards nicking a living.
I've asked @greenwichpolice on X on how they think their policing of the game went yesterday. I doubt I'll get an answer.
Great. More of that, everybody. They need to feel that we are not going to just shrug and move on. however wonder if you used a dud address? It’s @MPSGreenwich
I've asked @greenwichpolice on X on how they think their policing of the game went yesterday. I doubt I'll get an answer.
Waste of time commenting on socials, I will be sending email to mps Greenwich 'contact' tomorrow..
So long as a lot of people post/comment on social media, it's well worth it, as whoever the recipient is will hate the negative publicity, and likely actually do something about it.
Obviously, also good to flood there email address to with descriptions of what happened.
Another point, with police directing thousands of fans to Charlton Lane you'd have thought they might have shut the road to traffic around 2pm.
I agree this was negligent. Typically you need an advertised traffic order to close a road, I believe, but the police must have public safety powers. It was an obvious hazard. They also need to explain why officers did not seem to be aware of their own agreement to allow limited access to Ransom Walk.
You would have thought that when closing the roads around the ground before kick off, someone would have asked what about after the game.
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
The people in charge of our club don’t give a shit income before safety every time. As for the police they are just a joke bunch of cowards nicking a living.
Ridiculous comment nothing to do with owners or stewards the police tell the club what going to happen .. the police wanted this game called off once the demonstrations were arranged for London the same day so could not supply the number of police that normally was needed at this fixture .
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
The people in charge of our club don’t give a shit income before safety every time. As for the police they are just a joke bunch of cowards nicking a living.
Ridiculous comment nothing to do with owners or stewards the police tell the club what going to happen .. the police wanted this game called off once the demonstrations were arranged for London the same day so could not supply the number of police that normally was needed at this fixture .
And where's your evidence for this? Oh there won't be, because it's just yet another random empty comment from the forum's resident helmet
There are things here that really don’t add up. Especially last minute changes to routes enforced on the club.
I’ve organised policing for plenty of high category football matches and things are usually sorted and set in stone weeks before.
I’ll wager those who were responsible for the march up town underestimated the numbers and then had to rob Peter to pay Paul.
Plus the nonsense in the away end should have been dealt with by security inside the ground. Having only two uncontactable stewards on a gate that keeps two rival supporters apart makes no sense at all.
All the while protests continue in London, other policing will suffer. Not an excuse but it’s reality.
I always think i hate Palace more, but thats probably because they are just more successful and in the news more these days. Everytime we play Millwall it just reminds me of who I really really hate the most and who our true rivals are! Such a scummy club.
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
That entirely depends on the circumstances. Police can be redeployed after an event is over, especially level 2 officers who are more trained to handle protests and football.
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
That entirely depends on the circumstances. Police can be redeployed after an event is over, especially level 2 officers who are more trained to handle protests and football.
There’s commissioners reserve for that. Very exceptional circumstances for redeployments after a tour. And all officers on duty yesterday would have been level 2 trained.
Unless the cutbacks have changed football policing since I left.
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
That entirely depends on the circumstances. Police can be redeployed after an event is over, especially level 2 officers who are more trained to handle protests and football.
Yeah just feels like there was a disproportionate amount of police vans riot squad compared to any game ive seen in history at the valley including many vs millwall. Very weird
I am not blaming the Charlton fan being attacked as it seems like he was the one trying to put them off trying to attack families, and in doing so has more bollocks than the airhead Charlton fans that goaded the Millwall fans and legged it when they broke through, but that is a prime example of why men should at least learn to defend themselves if they don't want to fight, it is a life skill.
Always a chance of some little scumbag bully like that trying his luck. A week of basic self defence and you'd have a little weasel like that on the deck in seconds. A proper fighter would never attack a bloke with no threatening presence and hands up, proper coward behaviour.
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
That entirely depends on the circumstances. Police can be redeployed after an event is over, especially level 2 officers who are more trained to handle protests and football.
Yeah just feels like there was a disproportionate amount of police vans riot squad compared to any game ive seen in history at the valley including many vs millwall. Very weird
It was excessive and then the man power wasn't where it was needed. Yesterday was a shambles top to bottom.
I am not the type to say people should lose their jobs so willy-nilly, but serious conversations need to be had about yesterday regarding security and fan safety.
Complete lack of care and responsibility, people could have got hurt, luckily they didn't.
If I had kids and witnessed what I saw there yesterday, I wouldn't be taking them back in a hurry, not a good look.
I am not blaming the Charlton fan being attacked as it seems like he was the one trying to put them off trying to attack families, and in doing so has more bollocks than the airhead Charlton fans that goaded the Millwall fans and legged it when they broke through, but that is a prime example of why men should at least learn to defend themselves if they don't want to fight, it is a life skill.
Always a chance of some little scumbag bully like that trying his luck. A week of basic self defence and you'd have a little weasel like that on the deck in seconds. A proper fighter would never attack a bloke with no threatening presence and hands up, proper coward behaviour.
Surely if he had thrown punches back all his numscull mates would have piled in.life skills like self defense would be pretty useless in this situation
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
That entirely depends on the circumstances. Police can be redeployed after an event is over, especially level 2 officers who are more trained to handle protests and football.
There’s commissioners reserve for that. Very exceptional circumstances for redeployments after a tour. And all officers on duty yesterday would have been level 2 trained.
Unless the cutbacks have changed football policing since I left.
Plenty of officers get redeployed after football or protests etc, two of my mates who are level 2 trained got redeployed after I spoke to them at QPR away the other week to a political protest more central.
This wasn't the case anyway as when I walked back to my car I saw about 8-10 police vans parked up near the rose of Denmark, they weren't in a hurry or going anywhere.
This was all just a strategical failure by the Met, the club, security and whoever else had a say. Conversations need to be had.
I am not blaming the Charlton fan being attacked as it seems like he was the one trying to put them off trying to attack families, and in doing so has more bollocks than the airhead Charlton fans that goaded the Millwall fans and legged it when they broke through, but that is a prime example of why men should at least learn to defend themselves if they don't want to fight, it is a life skill.
Always a chance of some little scumbag bully like that trying his luck. A week of basic self defence and you'd have a little weasel like that on the deck in seconds. A proper fighter would never attack a bloke with no threatening presence and hands up, proper coward behaviour.
Surely if he had thrown punches back all his numscull mates would have piled in.life skills like self defense would be pretty useless in this situation
I am more talking about arm control and throws, or being able to maintain distance.
Never let a presumably pissed up/coked up hooligan get that close to you. I am not talking the average bloke should be dishing out headkicks and hammer fists, but just learn how to stop a bully like that getting that close.
All this stuff about honour among hooligans and not attacking certain people is mostly nonsense, little airheads like that will attack who they want.
Nothing against the Charlton fan, he shouldn't even be in that scenario, that's a failure by the club and authorities, just saying it would be handy.
I think the police wanted to get out asap to get to the united the kingdom march, thought getting millwall out first was their quickest way of getting away - no consideration for anything else
It doesn’t work that way. Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
That entirely depends on the circumstances. Police can be redeployed after an event is over, especially level 2 officers who are more trained to handle protests and football.
There’s commissioners reserve for that. Very exceptional circumstances for redeployments after a tour. And all officers on duty yesterday would have been level 2 trained.
Unless the cutbacks have changed football policing since I left.
Plenty of officers get redeployed after football or protests etc, two of my mates who are level 2 trained got redeployed after I spoke to them at QPR away the other week to a political protest more central.
This wasn't the case anyway as when I walked back to my car I saw about 8-10 police vans parked up near the rose of Denmark, they weren't in a hurry or going anywhere.
This was all just a strategical failure by the Met, the club, security and whoever else had a say. Conversations need to be had.
Clearly things have changed then. Hardly surprising as there are more leaving than joining and more handing in their level 2 ticket.
There should be a post match meeting where things will be discussed.
But as nothing was learned from the last time we played them I wouldn’t hold my breath. Football policing isn’t considered important enough I’m afraid.
There are many questions to be raised from yesterday. Mainly why was a decision to change the routes at the end of the game made at such short notice?
Comments
Suppose you had an emergency and needed to get people out quickly. Not possible with everyone standing on the staircase. Suppose there was a medical emergency requiring a St Johns team quick access to the patient? They would struggle to get through.
Heads should roll over this fiasco
Money before safety, not good.
And good work @Pelham123 for observing a near train related disaster
Those who were at the game, that would have been their full tour of duty.
Especially last minute changes to routes enforced on the club.
I’ve organised policing for plenty of high category football matches and things are usually sorted and set in stone weeks before.
Plus the nonsense in the away end should have been dealt with by security inside the ground. Having only two uncontactable stewards on a gate that keeps two rival supporters apart makes no sense at all.
All the while protests continue in London, other policing will suffer. Not an excuse but it’s reality.
I suspect his front door may well get kicked in by the police in the not too distant future.
Very exceptional circumstances for redeployments after a tour.
And all officers on duty yesterday would have been level 2 trained.
Unless the cutbacks have changed football policing since I left.
I am not blaming the Charlton fan being attacked as it seems like he was the one trying to put them off trying to attack families, and in doing so has more bollocks than the airhead Charlton fans that goaded the Millwall fans and legged it when they broke through, but that is a prime example of why men should at least learn to defend themselves if they don't want to fight, it is a life skill.
Always a chance of some little scumbag bully like that trying his luck. A week of basic self defence and you'd have a little weasel like that on the deck in seconds. A proper fighter would never attack a bloke with no threatening presence and hands up, proper coward behaviour.
I am not the type to say people should lose their jobs so willy-nilly, but serious conversations need to be had about yesterday regarding security and fan safety.
Complete lack of care and responsibility, people could have got hurt, luckily they didn't.
If I had kids and witnessed what I saw there yesterday, I wouldn't be taking them back in a hurry, not a good look.
This wasn't the case anyway as when I walked back to my car I saw about 8-10 police vans parked up near the rose of Denmark, they weren't in a hurry or going anywhere.
This was all just a strategical failure by the Met, the club, security and whoever else had a say. Conversations need to be had.
Never let a presumably pissed up/coked up hooligan get that close to you. I am not talking the average bloke should be dishing out headkicks and hammer fists, but just learn how to stop a bully like that getting that close.
All this stuff about honour among hooligans and not attacking certain people is mostly nonsense, little airheads like that will attack who they want.
Nothing against the Charlton fan, he shouldn't even be in that scenario, that's a failure by the club and authorities, just saying it would be handy.
There should be a post match meeting where things will be discussed.
But as nothing was learned from the last time we played them I wouldn’t hold my breath. Football policing isn’t considered important enough I’m afraid.
There are many questions to be raised from yesterday. Mainly why was a decision to change the routes at the end of the game made at such short notice?