Stewards going above and beyond

[silent majority]

I know it can be a frustration for football fans, especially on away trips, where stewards don't interact or don't apply common sense. I'd certainly be the 1st to complain!
However when reviewing some feedback recently the club had this particular email which stood out for me as a very thoughtful act, and I'm pleased it was one of ours;


Good Afternoon

I felt it necessary to contact you to tell you of my praise for one of your matchday stewards. He was in charge of the Club Legends car park on the night of the FA Cup replay against AFC Wimbledon (I did not catch his name).

I was a travelling away fan, and arrived at 19:42 (traffic wasn't good!) without knowing where to park or leave my car. Owing to the time and the emptiness of the car park, the steward allowed me to park in that car park, despite the nature of it! After parking up and running towards the ground, he then offered to drive me to the away ticket office on the other side of the stadium as his shift had ended. I was extremely grateful for this act, and in a time where you only get negative experiences, this was refreshingly positive! I made it in having only missed 26 seconds!

I don't want to get him in trouble for allowing me to park where I did, but I hope word reaches him that I am incredibly grateful for his act of kindness!

Best Wishes

AFC Wimbledon fan

[ChrisBx]

Great to hear. In fairness to the club, the stadium staff and overall match-day experience seem to be praised relatively consistently by visiting fans.

[roversdude]

Great bit of feedback to hear and a great use of common sense

[Filo]

All great stuff and nice feedback, I wonder if he would have been as complimentary had a got a parking ticket

[roversontheup]

That’s great feedback and I’m pleased the Wimbledon fan took the time to do it. Well done the steward too for using some common sense albeit outside of the rules.

[roversdude]

(Tongue in cheek) doubled the away attendance

[silent majority]

All great stuff and nice feedback, I wonder if he would have been as complimentary had a got a parking ticket

Erm, that's pretty much stating the obvious.

[Filo]

All great stuff and nice feedback, I wonder if he would have been as complimentary had a got a parking ticket

Erm, that's pretty much stating the obvious.

Yes I suppose it is, but the stewards action would have been exactly the same, but different feedback from the same level of help

[Drover]

Well done that steward,treat them how we would like to be treated ourselfs.Shame all stewards are not the same.I have been the reciever of similar kind nature myself,in the 80's,went to a Rovers match away at Saltergate,got stuck in heavy traffic on Motorway,was about 15 mins late,could'nt find a turnstile still open,only a member of chesterfield staff,after explaining my plight,he escorted me through stand and players tunnel,then to away end,and never charged me.Free entry.Only vague memories of the match,think we lost 1-0,but I always remember the kind deed of that member of staff.
Thanks for posting SM,I like to read about the mostly good and rarely bad feedback of our staff and stewards.

[Danmckay456]

If also like to pass my thanks on to a car park attendant on Saturday 2nd November me and my wife went for some pictures with my late  dads plot in the memorial garden we knew you shouldn’t park there and he said takes as long as you want class act he even have gave my new wife an umbrella as it was hammering it down it was the top car park near the bike sheds is it possible for who ever it was to Be thanked for their compassion it was around 1pm thanks silent majority

[Colin C No.3]

Lest we forget, it is ultimately an act of kindness.

Kindness. A universally understood act, be it by an individual or a Nation.

Someone once said “Let’s be kind, before it’s too late”.

There are worse edicts to live our lives by.

[Pancho Regan]

That's brilliant SM, credit due to the steward and to the Wimbledon fan for expressing his gratitude to the club.

[Axholme Lion]

The brain deads masquerading as stewards at Huddersfield ought to read that.
This year when we went a male one wanted to pat down a teenage girl Millwall fan! There was almost a riot.
Also three of our lot ( about ten years old ) were having a little kick around with a small ball behind the stand and a 'steward' took the ball off them and put it in a dustbin. You have to wonder what goes through the minds of these idiots.
There was also another incident with a steward goading a fan, the outcome of which was a bobby sending the steward packing after nose to nose telling him he was a disgrace.
Obviously your stewards are a cut above the average.

[silent majority]

Axholme,

We like to think we're different at DRFC. I have a great relationship with the staff at the Keepmoat and we meet and chat about these things regularly. They don't mind listening to me and hearing what my opinion is when it comes to stadium management issues, and I'm sure they understand the points that supporters make. But it's not a one way street, I learn a lot from them too which helps me see the bigger picture and realise some of the issues that arise that we never hear about.

I also chair the SYP Independent Advisory Group which meets regularly, and at these we get the club staff, SYP and supporters from all clubs in SY in the same room. We're beginning to see benefits from that and DRFC have been exceptionally helpful to me in that regard.

[Axholme Lion]

Axholme,

We like to think we're different at DRFC. I have a great relationship with the staff at the Keepmoat and we meet and chat about these things regularly. They don't mind listening to me and hearing what my opinion is when it comes to stadium management issues, and I'm sure they understand the points that supporters make. But it's not a one way street, I learn a lot from them too which helps me see the bigger picture and realise some of the issues that arise that we never hear about.

I also chair the SYP Independent Advisory Group which meets regularly, and at these we get the club staff, SYP and supporters from all clubs in SY in the same room. We're beginning to see benefits from that and DRFC have been exceptionally helpful to me in that regard.

I find that SYP are not the friendliest bunch as an away fan. They seem to go OTT with the way they handle people. I thought the plod and stewards at Sunderland the other year were really good, as were Burton. Treat people in a courteous non confrontational manner and it works wonders.
Well done to your club by the way.

[BobG]

South Yorks plod do have a bit of a reputation Axholme. Mind you, I live in the Thames Valley and at football matches Thames Valley police are bloody awful.

BobG

[5 on Tour]

Axholme,

We like to think we're different at DRFC. I have a great relationship with the staff at the Keepmoat and we meet and chat about these things regularly. They don't mind listening to me and hearing what my opinion is when it comes to stadium management issues, and I'm sure they understand the points that supporters make. But it's not a one way street, I learn a lot from them too which helps me see the bigger picture and realise some of the issues that arise that we never hear about.

I also chair the SYP Independent Advisory Group which meets regularly, and at these we get the club staff, SYP and supporters from all clubs in SY in the same room. We're beginning to see benefits from that and DRFC have been exceptionally helpful to me in that regard.

I find that SYP are not the friendliest bunch as an away fan. They seem to go OTT with the way they handle people. I thought the plod and stewards at Sunderland the other year were really good, as were Burton. Treat people in a courteous non confrontational manner and it works wonders.
Well done to your club by the way.

The plod in the away end at Sunderland last season were shocking with us. They’d sold tickets on the back row which they then shut off and told people to sit elsewhere. There was no room so while they were all trying to find spots everywhere the police came over and tried to make everyone sit down. Including my 10 year old who was stood up so he could see over the people moving around.

Officer - Sir can you tell your child to sit down...
Us - no officer because you’re stood in front of us and he can’t see if he sits down.
Officer - That’s not my problem. Tell him to sit down
Us - He’ll sit down when you’ve moved out of the aisle and he can see
Officer - I’ll stand where I want
Us - Then so will he
Officer - (Glares at us for about a minute) Well if the rest of your lot were sat in there seats we wouldn’t need to be here
Us - Well can they sit on the 200 perfectly good seats at the back?
Officer - Yes of course as long as they sit down
Sunderland Steward - Back rows closed officer for safety fears. You were the officer who told us that.
Officer - (Storms off while muttering something only dogs might here)

He came back about 15 minutes later and tried it again with the fans who still had no seats. He was ignored by everyone for about 5 minutes before he disappeared never to be seen again.

[keith79]

It cost nothing to be nice.

[silent majority]

5 on tour

It's not an offence to stand at a football ground, therefore the Officer cannot enforce that, so well done. However if a steward asks you to sit then you should, especially if he threatens to remove you because he can.

Axholme

As an IAG we've been together about 7 months. So far we've made some great progress with SYP and I'm sure that in future you'll see a completely different approach from them at football grounds in the county.

[Axholme Lion]

5 on tour

It's not an offence to stand at a football ground, therefore the Officer cannot enforce that, so well done. However if a steward asks you to sit then you should, especially if he threatens to remove you because he can.

Axholme

As an IAG we've been together about 7 months. So far we've made some great progress with SYP and I'm sure that in future you'll see a completely different approach from them at football grounds in the county.

I hope you're right. As soon you turn up they seem to have an antagonistic, confrontational manner about them as if they believe something is definitely going to kick off. Rotherham away last season we get a 12.30 KO on a Sunday due to the OB demands, we must have took around 700, mainly families and older people and got treat like war criminals.

[5 on Tour]

5 on tour

It's not an offence to stand at a football ground, therefore the Officer cannot enforce that, so well done. However if a steward asks you to sit then you should, especially if he threatens to remove you because he can.

Axholme

As an IAG we've been together about 7 months. So far we've made some great progress with SYP and I'm sure that in future you'll see a completely different approach from them at football grounds in the county.

Stewards are usually sensible enough to not stand in front of a fan though so it’s not an issue with them. Just certain members of the fiveO.

[Thecarparksteward]

Just wanted to say thank you to those who I helped for the kind words. My actions were made as a result of my character and is a testament to my father and not to the club.  I did receive a thank you from some members of staff senior to me and I was happy to know what I had done had put a smile on someone's face.  Again thank you

[RobTheRover]

Just wanted to say thank you to those who I helped for the kind words. My actions were made as a result of my character and is a testament to my father and not to the club.  I did receive a thank you from some members of staff senior to me and I was happy to know what I had done had put a smile on someone's face.  Again thank you

Top work, sir.