Johnny Baguette
Alert Team
Some unsavoury reports have emerged from the League Cup Final. One of our occasional contributors HCC has written to the club accordingly. Read on...
From:
Date: 29 February 2016
To: mcfc@mcfc.co.uk
Subject: Kids Inflatable Bannanas Popped By Overzealous Wembley Stewards on Entry
Dear Supporter Services
Would you be interested in representing my point to Wembley about the meaning of inflatable bananas to City fans? In order to avoid our experience being repeated at future games.
We filled our mini-bus with the inflatable bananas the club kindly gave out at the semi-final. As a momento of the cup run and to add to the fun and atmosphere of the final. Four kids from 6-14 took these to the game (none of the adults). Riding the gauntlet of dispicable Liverpool fans (isolated fans not all) who did not seem to appreciate the common football parlance of 'lads and dads' with verbal attacks and abuse, particular in front of my six year old Son.
The same Son had not been to the semi-final night match on a school night. As you can imagine though he was a grateful recipient of the souvenir from his club and had even named his banana 'Pellegrini' in the build up to the final.
We arrived at the ground 90 minutes before kick off. Three of the kids with the larger bananas together with two adults went into block 119. No one had been drinking in our party. Once through the turnstile in the safety of the ground to our utter dismay we were singled out -against a backdrop of fairly inebriated fans, one particular nuisance Liverpool fan walking at 45 degrees with 'jelly legs' accompanying us up Wembley Way all the way to the City end without admonishment. We were told in no uncertain terms that the bananas could not be taken into the ground. I did not have the wherewithal to ask why or under what terms they were not. We gave them up straight away in abiding by the stewards rules. As the the steward who had taken the bananas and us to his two colleagues began to punctured the bananas in front of our eyes my six year old burst into tears. I appealed to one of the other three stewards to hold at least one back as my Son was distraught, to no avail. We proceeded on. One kind City fan brought the deflated banana to my Son which placated him as he at least got 'Pellegrini' back. The other two boys were left disappointed at the experience, but not the game.
I was pleased to see many other inflatables did get into the City end and add to the atmosphere without issue. I understand this is a particular quirk of our support having stood at Filbert St, The Hawthorns and The Dell, amongst many times, back in the day amongst a sea of fun. Clearly our club recognises the impact these inflatables add to the atmosphere. It's a shame Wembley, or at least the stewards on 119 weren't briefed to the same.
I've since trawled through the T&Cs to assume the bananas must have been a:
'...device capable of causing a disturbance or nuisance.'
(http://www.wembleystadium.com/TheStadium/StadiumGuide/RulesnRegulations#UKcKX7uzFiGe6Pl5.99)
I would not wish to be refused entry to the final. However I feel over zealous stewarding from three fairly imposing guys against three young boys, especially a six year old who was no threat and visibly shaken, and two sober adults was unnecessary and emasculating to law abiding fans who had built up to the spirit of the game with no little effort or emotion.
I would appreciate any representation that the club might get behind that may stop other fans with young children going through the same if we are lucky enough to get to Wembley again. Maybe passing on the nature and meaning of these inflatables to Wembley stewards may avoid the unsavoury nature of behaviour and help switch the experience to one that is much more positive to both parties.
Br
Dave
Season card: etc...
From:
Date: 29 February 2016
To: mcfc@mcfc.co.uk
Subject: Kids Inflatable Bannanas Popped By Overzealous Wembley Stewards on Entry
Dear Supporter Services
Would you be interested in representing my point to Wembley about the meaning of inflatable bananas to City fans? In order to avoid our experience being repeated at future games.
We filled our mini-bus with the inflatable bananas the club kindly gave out at the semi-final. As a momento of the cup run and to add to the fun and atmosphere of the final. Four kids from 6-14 took these to the game (none of the adults). Riding the gauntlet of dispicable Liverpool fans (isolated fans not all) who did not seem to appreciate the common football parlance of 'lads and dads' with verbal attacks and abuse, particular in front of my six year old Son.
The same Son had not been to the semi-final night match on a school night. As you can imagine though he was a grateful recipient of the souvenir from his club and had even named his banana 'Pellegrini' in the build up to the final.
We arrived at the ground 90 minutes before kick off. Three of the kids with the larger bananas together with two adults went into block 119. No one had been drinking in our party. Once through the turnstile in the safety of the ground to our utter dismay we were singled out -against a backdrop of fairly inebriated fans, one particular nuisance Liverpool fan walking at 45 degrees with 'jelly legs' accompanying us up Wembley Way all the way to the City end without admonishment. We were told in no uncertain terms that the bananas could not be taken into the ground. I did not have the wherewithal to ask why or under what terms they were not. We gave them up straight away in abiding by the stewards rules. As the the steward who had taken the bananas and us to his two colleagues began to punctured the bananas in front of our eyes my six year old burst into tears. I appealed to one of the other three stewards to hold at least one back as my Son was distraught, to no avail. We proceeded on. One kind City fan brought the deflated banana to my Son which placated him as he at least got 'Pellegrini' back. The other two boys were left disappointed at the experience, but not the game.
I was pleased to see many other inflatables did get into the City end and add to the atmosphere without issue. I understand this is a particular quirk of our support having stood at Filbert St, The Hawthorns and The Dell, amongst many times, back in the day amongst a sea of fun. Clearly our club recognises the impact these inflatables add to the atmosphere. It's a shame Wembley, or at least the stewards on 119 weren't briefed to the same.
I've since trawled through the T&Cs to assume the bananas must have been a:
'...device capable of causing a disturbance or nuisance.'
(http://www.wembleystadium.com/TheStadium/StadiumGuide/RulesnRegulations#UKcKX7uzFiGe6Pl5.99)
I would not wish to be refused entry to the final. However I feel over zealous stewarding from three fairly imposing guys against three young boys, especially a six year old who was no threat and visibly shaken, and two sober adults was unnecessary and emasculating to law abiding fans who had built up to the spirit of the game with no little effort or emotion.
I would appreciate any representation that the club might get behind that may stop other fans with young children going through the same if we are lucky enough to get to Wembley again. Maybe passing on the nature and meaning of these inflatables to Wembley stewards may avoid the unsavoury nature of behaviour and help switch the experience to one that is much more positive to both parties.
Br
Dave
Season card: etc...
