Matchday policing issues thread (Millwall 2025 onwards)

PragueAddick said:

fenaddick said:

superclive98 said:

Uboat said:

Just had this back from the club, following my email at the weekend: 

The very predictable "lessons have been learned" line being rolled out. 

I get the cynicism but what else do you actually expect them to say? They have to acknowledge mistakes somehow 

The problem is that this has happened before, so the lessons have obviously been forgotten.

How many of the management running the club have any experience of a Charlton v Millwall match. 

I'd have been more impressed if the club had put out a statement on Saturday or Sunday acknowledging that there were serious crowd control issues that were being urgently investigated. 

There's STILL nothing on the website,  for example. 

fenaddick said:

superclive98 said:

Uboat said:

Just had this back from the club, following my email at the weekend: 

The very predictable "lessons have been learned" line being rolled out. 

I get the cynicism but what else do you actually expect them to say? They have to acknowledge mistakes somehow 

How about stating what lessons have been learned and advising how things will be different in the future or the steps that they are going to take to try to make things better going forward.
When you hear that lessons have been learned from whatever organisation do you actually believe what is being said? Invariably, I don't.

YTS1978 said:

Anyone else getting sponsored ads to join the British Transport Police on this thread?! If only the Met's policing was as good as their advertising!!!

Does seem to be targeted towards female officers from what I saw

JaShea99 said:

DOUCHER said:

its very simple - hold them in for half hour after the game then escort them to the station - thats it - nothing else needs to be done - the trust need to get all over this and make sure this nonsense doesn't happen again next year 

Only just catching up with this thread so someone’s probably already made the point, but surely you can understand why they’d be reluctant to do this?

To be honest I am with Doucher here, this is the solution.

There are cameras everywhere, if they smash stuff up it will lead to a ban, where there aren't cameras, fine Millwall. 

Met officers have body cams for a reason and should be well equipped to deal with a handful of rowdy football fans. 

The way it was handled was a joke, and simply wouldn't happen at the majority of other grounds. We are a victim of being too nice/well behaved collectively here. If we had a bit more about us (not saying that's right) they wouldn't dare keep us in as it would be more trouble than it's worth. 

Our reputation as a family club precedes us and that is why the Met took the measures that they did.

killerandflash said:

I'd have been more impressed if the club had put out a statement on Saturday or Sunday acknowledging that there were serious crowd control issues that were being urgently investigated. 

There's STILL nothing on the website,  for example. 

It seems you get a reply if you write directly to them. Perhaps they are waiting for the post.

shirty5 said:

Arsenetatters said:

killerandflash said:

I'd have been more impressed if the club had put out a statement on Saturday or Sunday acknowledging that there were serious crowd control issues that were being urgently investigated. 

There's STILL nothing on the website,  for example. 

It seems you get a reply if you write directly to them. Perhaps they are waiting for the post.

Not the case at this stage from what was sent to them on Sunday afternoon by myself 

interesting to see when/if you get a reply it's just a cut and paste of the one they sent @ub@Uboat

Weegie Addick said:

Can people please email photos and first hand evidence to secretary@castrust.org and we will compile and raise with the club. Thank you. (Doesn’t matter if you’re a member or not)

Wasting your time. It's happened how many times? The police do what they like they do not care about us

TelMc32 said:

ElfsborgAddick said:

YTS1978 said:

Anyone else getting sponsored ads to join the British Transport Police on this thread?! If only the Met's policing was as good as their advertising!!!

I answered one and got a reply that I was too short.

I’m sure there’s a job out there for you if you really want it @ElfsborgAddick 😉 🚂 

Just wondering if we can get one of these going around the pitch next time Millwall visit, to put there fans on, when they get turfed out of home areas.

Off_it said:

Boom said:

fenaddick said:

Boom said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

valleynick66 said:

Airman Brown said:

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 everything you have posted was said after the game in 2013 when pretty much the same arrangements were used.

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 ground

As I said I don’t like it but there is a logic to it. 

The 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!

A well respected former staff member recently wrote to Gavin Carter with a goodwill message and a friendly offer to discuss something to help the club on the basis of their many years of experience. They didn’t want anything in return. 

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.

I think it’s only fair to report that as a result of this post, Gavin has now responded to the person who wrote to him.

Good to hear. 

Interesting that  GC reads this site / is made aware I guess. 

Strange also then no comms on the wider subject. 

I've always thought that if i ran a football club or was in a management position, then reading the fan forums would be a no brainer and exactly the thing to do to keep on top of opinions, thoughts etc.

Yes they can go to live fan forums or do the occasional zoom meetings with fans and i'm sure they get tons of emails, but setting aside maybe 30-45 minutes a day to read a site like this is surely the easiest and convenient way to stay on top of what the fans think on anything, and then you can act accordingly.

Our Chairman and CEO clearly read the main Lincoln forum as they post every so often - normally to correct fans who have posted a load of old guff and trotted it out as fact (wouldn't happen on here I know...). The wider comms team have also started posting ticket details etc on the forum.

How does that go down? Does it just create another avenue for people to voice their displeasure or are people generally happy that the club have taken an extra step to communicate? 

Goes down v well. Posters appreciate them taking the time to engage. Don't normally get anyone having a pop (there's always a couple of helmets of course)

Bearing in mind though, that the people posting on your website represent those within the fanbase who, a) know what the internet is, b) have internet access, c) can read/write, and d) aren't currently eating a turnip.

So overall I'd guess that's about 5% of the total.
;-) 

As I said, there’s always a helmet….

aliwibble said:

If I remember rightly, one of @Off_it's kids is a Lincoln fan. Is this another one of those intra-family spats like the occasional bouts if sibling rivalry that breaks out between Golfie, Large and JimmyMelrose?

He thinks he is @aliwibble , but I'm still working on him. 

And @Boom is part of the reason he started following them in the first place. Don't worry, he knows I like Lincoln really - it's a lovely little town with a great church on the hill. Obviously the people let the place down, but you can't have it all!
;-)

aliwibble said:

Maybe if we get them in the FA Cup this season you'll be able to buy him a Charlton Lincoln half and half scarf from the stall opposite the club shop

Don't say that. We'd only lose. :-(

YTS1978 said:

Off_it said:

aliwibble said:

If I remember rightly, one of @Off_it's kids is a Lincoln fan. Is this another one of those intra-family spats like the occasional bouts if sibling rivalry that breaks out between Golfie, Large and JimmyMelrose?

He thinks he is @aliwibble , but I'm still working on him. 

And @Boom is part of the reason he started following them in the first place. Don't worry, he knows I like Lincoln really - it's a lovely little town with a great church on the hill. Obviously the people let the place down, but you can't have it all!
;-)

Town!!!!!

It's one of his two gags YT. The other being "church on the hill". 

shirty5 said:

Arsenetatters said:

killerandflash said:

I'd have been more impressed if the club had put out a statement on Saturday or Sunday acknowledging that there were serious crowd control issues that were being urgently investigated. 

There's STILL nothing on the website,  for example. 

It seems you get a reply if you write directly to them. Perhaps they are waiting for the post.

Not the case at this stage from what was sent to them on Sunday afternoon by myself 

Now received an email from the club replying to my views on Sunday afternoon.

Sent back and no different to what I have already said on here 

ElfsborgAddick said:

I imagine the final words from the club will be that the final descision was from the police.  The police will then say after discussions with the club.

Passing the buck and no acceptance of the issues from either party.

That is exactly how it will play out.