H & W vs Millwall

[frankiegth]

Reading the NLP really angered me. The Millwall hooligan element have succeeded in gaining their shower an advantage via the Hampshire police force. Having to play the game at Fratton park is an absolute disgrace.

It should have been played at H&W with the appropriate amounts of tickets allocated to each team. If it means allocating Millwall very few 100 e.g. because an element of their fans are a shower of excrement (moderators take note ;D) so be it. The hooligan element should NOT be allowed to prevail.

I'm sure, had they drawn Brentford it would have been played at H&W giving Brentford a marked dis-advantage on the day.

It just isn't fair at all and the FA should look to bringing in some ruling to ensure this doesn't happen again. Even if it means NO AWAY FANS.

As I see it, it's a victory for the Hooligans and if Millwall win, I'm sure the non-hooligan Millwall fan will accept the victory without thinking where its roots lay.

So, there you have it, the thoughts of "chaiman Frank" ;D

[coops]

frankiegth said:

Reading the NLP really angered me.

It does that to me every time I open the rag!

[frankiegth]

Didn't even have to open it this time Coops, it was on the front page.

Even so, it still sickens me.

[Croc]

Are Portsmouth taking any charge / cut of the gate for letting them use Fratton?

At least you could hope it absolutely pisses down and the Millwall lot get a drenching in the worst away end of the worst, most detestable football club in England (and I include Pub Leagues in that)

[amberaleman]

I don't disagree with your sentiments Frankie, but arguably the police rather than the Millwall fans are the villains of the piece here for insisting that the match is played at Fratton Park. Their main argument seems to be that Westleigh Park's 4,800 capacity is insufficient to meet demand. But that surely is a matter for the FA, not the Old Bill.

Millwall have cleaned up their act quite a bit over the last fifteen years, and their fans aren't as formidable as they were in the 70s and 80s. Nevertheless, the plod may claim to have "intelligence" that Millwall and Pompey hoolies are planning to renew old rivalries under cover of this tie. But a controlled ticket-only match at Westleigh Park might be a better way of reducing the risk of trouble than playing at Fratton.

The NLP's coverage of the story is typically sensationalist. H&W are described as "FA Cup heroes" which (with all due respect) seems a tad premature. And the shock-horror prospect of the policing bill standing even if the match falls victim to the weather would apply wherever the match is played.

[frankiegth]

You make good points Amberaleman.

As I see it though a 4,800 capacity is well acceptable for a first round game and H&W should not have to forfiet home advantage and an all ticket arrangement should be the way forward.

The "sensationalism" of the NLP on this occasion is a good thing for once 'cos it's an issue that should be highlighted.

[medibot]

It is b*llocks isn't it. The main reason, other than luck, that Sutton are famous is cos we played a big FA Cup game at home. It's half the point of the FA Cup, the big home tie.

Though i did hear that Westleigh was absolutely rammed at the Pompey friendly and that was under capacity so it would be a bit tight!

[bh]

So much for the 'romance' of the FA cup. The fact that a poor First Division, or whatever they call it this week outfit has so many hooligans that the game has to be moved is a disgrace.

I don't know if this should be raised here but is anyone on here aware of what Exeter hooligans did on their journey home from Woking on Saturday? They caused a riot at Basingstoke station, smashing up the train they were traveling on.

I'm sure a lot of people, including everyone who subscribes to this site must condemn this kind of thing which has no place in the Non League game which we all love.

Sorry rant over!!

[frankiegth]

No place for hooliganism in football at ANY LEVEL.

[martello]

I'd heard (or read) somewhere that the police moved it away from Westleigh Park due to safety concerns in the locality, not in the stadium itself, and that capacity wasn't an issue. They were more concerned that the dark rat runs around the WLP area would be a haven for ticketless Millwall fans and would be impossible to police. In switching it to Fratton, the police - and the stewards - would be dealing with something they have to cater for every other week.

[frankiegth]

That being the case then it's as I said in my original post.

Victory for the hooligan element.

Just to be pedantic then, why should H&W have to pay for the policing of an area that they have no control over? Ground yes, but surrounding streets, why should that be? The police force are paid for policing the streets by way of various taxes.

If tonight someone was murdered outside H&W ground, they would not have to pick up the tab for the subsequent investigation would they.

[ambersalamander]

I expect they probably justify that by what they see rightly or wrongly as a hugely magnified RISK of something like that happening, due to an event at H&W. If it happened tonight then it would be far more surprising.

Still don't like it though.

[Giggy of Telford]

Surely if it's because of Millwall then it should be Millwall that foots the bill?

[J Esaj PRA]

But it isn't because of Millwall. It is because Havant's ground is built next to a cesspit of human dross. It is the locals that are a problem - not in the ground, but outside it.

frankiegth said:

Just to be pedantic then, why should H&W have to pay for the policing of an area that they have no control over? Ground yes, but surrounding streets, why should that be? The police force are paid for policing the streets by way of various taxes.

Turn the question around - why should local taxpayers be forced to foot the bill for the policing associated with the activities of a commercial enterprise?

I expect the H&W bods are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of a gate that would dwarf the capacity of their ground. Shame they can't profit directly from it, but there are certainly enough openings to make a commercial killing.

[frankiegth]

J said:

But it isn't because of Millwall. It is because Havant's ground is built next to a cesspit of human dross. It is the locals that are a problem - not in the ground, but outside it.

frankiegth said:

Just to be pedantic then, why should H&W have to pay for the policing of an area that they have no control over? Ground yes, but surrounding streets, why should that be? The police force are paid for policing the streets by way of various taxes.

Turn the question around - why should local taxpayers be forced to foot the bill for the policing associated with the activities of a commercial enterprise?

I expect the H&W bods are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of a gate that would dwarf the capacity of their ground. Shame they can't profit directly from it, but there are certainly enough openings to make a commercial killing.

The local tax payers have already paid for all streets to be policed. If the police think there could be civil dis-order, let them get on with policing like they've already been paid to do. Rather than all sitting on there bums in the local nick suppin' tea and chewin' the fat.