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Matchday policing issues thread (Millwall 2025 onwards)
Comments
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JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!4 -
The club had a responsibility (not choice) to communicate the diversion to the fanbase. For whatever reason, they neglected to do this in an effective manner and as a result the management team have lost a lot of goodwill and confidence from fans in their decision making.19
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valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!Fair enough if the club isn’t interested in their view, but they didn’t even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement to say thanks but no thanks.
And no, it wasn’t me.21 -
Airman Brown said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!Fair enough if the club isn’t interested in their view, but they didn’t even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement to say thanks but no thanks.
And no, it wasn’t me.16 -
valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!
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MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷4 -
valleynick66 said:MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷0 -
valleynick66 said:MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷10 -
MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷1 - Sponsored links:
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Hex said:valleynick66 said:MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷I’m suggesting how/why the police could defend it as the least likeky to have problems.Quickly in this context is just that 3k can move quicker toward the station than the larger numbers from 3 sides of the ground.The result / match dynamics always influence how quick the majority of fans leave and can’t be assured beforehand - well I say that - us not winning is highly predictable I suppose 😉😆0 -
valleynick66 said:Hex said:valleynick66 said:MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷I’m suggesting how/why the police could defend it as the least likeky to have problems.Quickly in this context is just that 3k can move quicker toward the station than the larger numbers from 3 sides of the ground.
The result / match dynamics always influence how quick the majority of fans leave and can’t be assured beforehand - well I say that - us not winning is highly predictable I suppose 😉😆0 -
Wow
wtf was the stewards thinking not locking the gate and why wasnt it manned by more aswell as police🤦🏻♂️1 -
You havent read the thread have you @CharltontillidieCOYR7
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valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!
Yeah right. I'll get a tattoo saying "I'm Golfie" on me bonce if that happens.4 -
No statement from the club regarding the utter shambles after the game is indeed annoying.
Personally I'd also like a statement from the police saying that they made mistakes and in future it will be Millwall fan's held behind while the Charlton fans leave after the game just like every other home team does all over the country.
I won't hold my breath though.23 -
CharltontillidieCOYR said:9
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Do we know if one of “our end” wasn’t the boy with the Spurs tattoo who was showing the away end it from the East?2
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CAST has written to the club and will be writing to the police today. Thanks to all who shared information with us directly plus on here.
https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/management-of-last-saturdays-match/22 - Sponsored links:
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I said on the other thread I was wrong for believing in and trying to argue for what the authorities thought best.From the police’s point of view, I very much doubt there is anything to follow up on, much less change next year. They will see Saturday as a non event, despite the footage and incidents. I would imagine it’s acceptable collateral damage (I’m not downplaying what happened to those that got caught up in it, it must’ve been horrible), more highlighting that they’ll be done with it.
It would be great if we had someone within the operations side of the club to step up on our behalf, but I feel that despite the investment shown by the owners on the playing side of the pitch, this highlights that the backend is still very much being held together with the minimum investment and resource.4 -
castrust said:CAST has written to the club and will be writing to the police today. Thanks to all who shared information with us directly plus on here.
https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/management-of-last-saturdays-match/4 -
MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:MartinCAFC said:valleynick66 said:JohnnyH2 said:valleynick66 said:I think with hindsight and having the opportunity to reflect, the decision by the police to not hold back Millwall could still be argued by the police to be reasonable.There is some logic in trying to remove 3k quickly given the perceived risk of adverse reaction by them if kept waiting.I’m assuming in the absence of any reports to the contrary there were no noteworthy skirmishes between the 2 sets of fans excepting the Sam Bartram gate incursion. On that basis I’d guess the police can claim it was the right call.We don’t like it and consider it unfair but it’s not without any safety merit.
What can’t be defended however is the associated club comms, marshalling/announcements post game and not limiting vehicle access in Charlton Lane ie the implementation of it.The Sam Bartram gate / steps fighting I think is likely to be a ‘hands up we got that wrong’ issue as never really seen before to my knowledge.I’d expect (sadly) a similar arrangement next time with a commitment to handle it better.
And as shown by Saturday and the lack of comms before during and after from our club, nothing has changed in how our own supporters were treated at our groundThe corporate knowledge by police and club is lost over the passage of time.But of course not by fans who have no input it seems despite the club statements to the contrary on ‘engagement’ and other such guff!It’s not fair / right but can be argued as the right call even so. More so because it has some precedence.I don’t think there is any agenda / great conspiracy theory at play here just a judgement call that is questionable but defendable. Our relatively well behaved supporter reputation maybe counts against us perversely ? 🤷🤷4 -
Greenhithe said:CharltontillidieCOYR said:0
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Greenhithe said:CharltontillidieCOYR said:Obviously the blokes in our end should just walk off or whatever and look like numpties reacting like that, but equally I have spent many games now being goaded all match by scum fans at theirs (and also more recently last season when stood by the stewards / home fans at the boundary of our end at Reading last season) and as somebody on the whole calm minded, rational and with absolutely no interest whatsoever in that stuff, in the heat of the moment it is difficult for even very rational adults to keep your cool when subject to some of their rank abuse.1
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CharltontillidieCOYR said:Wow
wtf was the stewards thinking not locking the gate and why wasnt it manned by more aswell as police🤦🏻♂️0 -
CAFCTrev said:CharltontillidieCOYR said:Wow
wtf was the stewards thinking not locking the gate and why wasnt it manned by more aswell as police🤦🏻♂️
Surely the biggest risk to health and safety is a potentially dangerous and supposedly segregated football crowd not actually being segregated?0 -
superclive98 said:CAFCTrev said:CharltontillidieCOYR said:Wow
wtf was the stewards thinking not locking the gate and why wasnt it manned by more aswell as police🤦🏻♂️
Surely the biggest risk to health and safety is a potentially dangerous and supposedly segregated football crowd not actually being segregated?9