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England Ram

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  1. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from angieram in V Plymouth (a) 7th March 20.00   
    Blatant dive. 
    Commentator as biased as they come.
    White didn’t ‘dangle’ his leg. He did the right thing, he plants it short and dives after he’s past it. And even on reply they don’t admit it!!  
     
    Roberts absent for the first but that second is infuriatingly cheating. 
  2. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from Chester40 in V Plymouth (a) 7th March 20.00   
    Blatant dive. 
    Commentator as biased as they come.
    White didn’t ‘dangle’ his leg. He did the right thing, he plants it short and dives after he’s past it. And even on reply they don’t admit it!!  
     
    Roberts absent for the first but that second is infuriatingly cheating. 
  3. Like
    England Ram got a reaction from cstand in V Plymouth (a) 7th March 20.00   
    Blatant dive. 
    Commentator as biased as they come.
    White didn’t ‘dangle’ his leg. He did the right thing, he plants it short and dives after he’s past it. And even on reply they don’t admit it!!  
     
    Roberts absent for the first but that second is infuriatingly cheating. 
  4. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from OohMartWright in V Plymouth (a) 7th March 20.00   
    Blatant dive. 
    Commentator as biased as they come.
    White didn’t ‘dangle’ his leg. He did the right thing, he plants it short and dives after he’s past it. And even on reply they don’t admit it!!  
     
    Roberts absent for the first but that second is infuriatingly cheating. 
  5. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from willipa in V Plymouth (a) 7th March 20.00   
    Blatant dive. 
    Commentator as biased as they come.
    White didn’t ‘dangle’ his leg. He did the right thing, he plants it short and dives after he’s past it. And even on reply they don’t admit it!!  
     
    Roberts absent for the first but that second is infuriatingly cheating. 
  6. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from Rammy03 in V Plymouth (a) 7th March 20.00   
    Blatant dive. 
    Commentator as biased as they come.
    White didn’t ‘dangle’ his leg. He did the right thing, he plants it short and dives after he’s past it. And even on reply they don’t admit it!!  
     
    Roberts absent for the first but that second is infuriatingly cheating. 
  7. Like
    England Ram reacted to hydraulic ram in Prostrate Cancer.   
    If you have problems peeing - get tested! Don't think your condition will just go away.
     It's not always cancer, but you need to know early. 
     After getting a series of high PSA readings at the age of 60(ish), going through several digital exams (ooh, Matron!), too many blood tests to count, three biopsies, (not too bad actually), three or four camera exams (fascinating) and two MRI's,(boring and deafening) I'm lucky enough to only have benign prostate enlargement - but I know if it was cancer I will well cared for and usually you die with it, not from it.
     I'm currently on Finasteride/Tamsulosin treatment and it's helping for now. I had an operation, (Rezum), a few years ago to help reduce the prostate but I'll probably need another, (HOLEP), in the future. I try to be an ambassador for my friends and colleagues who are worried/embarrassed about getting treatment as it can be a worrying process - so if anyone is worried I can honestly say, it's not a real problem getting tested and, if needed, treatment. 
     It's important to get looked at as, if the numbers are high, you will have options. Ignore your condition, and the options go away.
     Believe me, the NHS has some pretty amazing and caring people ready to help you. 
  8. Like
    England Ram reacted to David Graham Brown in Prostrate Cancer.   
    Last September I was playing football with my grandson,and hurt my knee. I didn’t bother the doctors because the knee gradually returned to near normal, but still quite painful at times. It was such a time I winced, and my wife “advised “ me to see the doctor,which I duly attended, knee examination, all OK, I asked for a PSA (having seen the information at Pride Park) check which he duly gave me the paperwork. The test came back 7.1, I’m over 70 so 6.5 is regarded as normal. I was dispatched to the Derby Royal, had the anal examination, ( for the first time) small lump found. In five weeks I’ve had a MRI scan,my prostrate biopsy done, and a QT scan,and I’m now on a hormone treatment plan. It appears they’ve caught the tumour early, and the prognosis is good, they say it will be eliminated. You do lose your dignity at times, but not going through that door and having the exam you could lose a lot more.
    A shout out to the doctors and nurses at the Derby Royal, they have been absolutely terrific, informative, and very understanding, and caring.
     
  9. Like
    England Ram got a reaction from Kathcairns in Paul Warne and the importance of tactical flexibility   
    One of the main factors in the next few weeks as we run out the season will be thinness and age of our depleted squad. Some play this down, but I feel it really will make its mark felt.
    A lack of options for those out of form or for a change of pace within games can make all the difference. And some of our older players are looking like they are feeling the strain of a long season already.
    Enjoy your time here, we really are a good bunch........mostly.
  10. Cheers
    England Ram reacted to EFL View in Paul Warne and the importance of tactical flexibility   
    Thanks, duly amended. I took the info from  Wikipedia, think I got caught out by the renaming of the divisions in 92.
  11. Like
    England Ram got a reaction from kevinhectoring in Paul Warne and the importance of tactical flexibility   
    One of the main factors in the next few weeks as we run out the season will be thinness and age of our depleted squad. Some play this down, but I feel it really will make its mark felt.
    A lack of options for those out of form or for a change of pace within games can make all the difference. And some of our older players are looking like they are feeling the strain of a long season already.
    Enjoy your time here, we really are a good bunch........mostly.
  12. Like
    England Ram got a reaction from EFL View in Paul Warne and the importance of tactical flexibility   
    One of the main factors in the next few weeks as we run out the season will be thinness and age of our depleted squad. Some play this down, but I feel it really will make its mark felt.
    A lack of options for those out of form or for a change of pace within games can make all the difference. And some of our older players are looking like they are feeling the strain of a long season already.
    Enjoy your time here, we really are a good bunch........mostly.
  13. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from Ellafella in Paul Warne and the importance of tactical flexibility   
    One of the main factors in the next few weeks as we run out the season will be thinness and age of our depleted squad. Some play this down, but I feel it really will make its mark felt.
    A lack of options for those out of form or for a change of pace within games can make all the difference. And some of our older players are looking like they are feeling the strain of a long season already.
    Enjoy your time here, we really are a good bunch........mostly.
  14. COYR
    England Ram got a reaction from David Graham Brown in Paul Warne and the importance of tactical flexibility   
    One of the main factors in the next few weeks as we run out the season will be thinness and age of our depleted squad. Some play this down, but I feel it really will make its mark felt.
    A lack of options for those out of form or for a change of pace within games can make all the difference. And some of our older players are looking like they are feeling the strain of a long season already.
    Enjoy your time here, we really are a good bunch........mostly.
  15. Like
    England Ram reacted to RoyMac5 in Max Bird   
  16. Clap
    England Ram got a reaction from rammieib in East Stand   
    So, this was taken from the game on Saturday. I clipped it from the highlights so apologies for the not great quality. 
     
    Again, no seats sold for non season ticket holders so all those in that block are season ticketers. 
     
    By the time the knock on effect reaches the back row where we are, almost the whole row is standing. 

    We had one of the complainers shouting at us on the back row to sit down again, but as most of us were able to perch some of the time, only my lad was able to sit for periods of time as the two rows in front of him are clear of people without those seats being sold. 
     
    The rest of the time we had to stand or we see nothing. 
     
    As I said before, if the club want to really deal with it it’s clear where they need to start. 
     
     

  17. Cheers
    England Ram got a reaction from 48 hours in East Stand   
    So, this was taken from the game on Saturday. I clipped it from the highlights so apologies for the not great quality. 
     
    Again, no seats sold for non season ticket holders so all those in that block are season ticketers. 
     
    By the time the knock on effect reaches the back row where we are, almost the whole row is standing. 

    We had one of the complainers shouting at us on the back row to sit down again, but as most of us were able to perch some of the time, only my lad was able to sit for periods of time as the two rows in front of him are clear of people without those seats being sold. 
     
    The rest of the time we had to stand or we see nothing. 
     
    As I said before, if the club want to really deal with it it’s clear where they need to start. 
     
     

  18. Cheers
    England Ram got a reaction from angieram in East Stand   
    So, this was taken from the game on Saturday. I clipped it from the highlights so apologies for the not great quality. 
     
    Again, no seats sold for non season ticket holders so all those in that block are season ticketers. 
     
    By the time the knock on effect reaches the back row where we are, almost the whole row is standing. 

    We had one of the complainers shouting at us on the back row to sit down again, but as most of us were able to perch some of the time, only my lad was able to sit for periods of time as the two rows in front of him are clear of people without those seats being sold. 
     
    The rest of the time we had to stand or we see nothing. 
     
    As I said before, if the club want to really deal with it it’s clear where they need to start. 
     
     

  19. Cheers
    England Ram got a reaction from Carl Sagan in East Stand   
    As someone who has been right in the middle of this I'll clarify a few points as to what has been shared quite candidly with me with the head supervisor and steward over that area (not their boss as he keeps himself away from coming down to our block but does stand around before the game in the upper block behind us) .
     
    For some context as to my knowledge etc....
    I sit on the very back row of Block I which has been highlighted in the opening picture. Myself and my lad are usually one of the first in to the ground so get to spend around an hour in our seating area every match and have a great relationship with all the stewards near us as we have been there for around 9 years.
    All of this stewarding and not selling the match day tickets has come about by the club receiving more than one complaint from people who sit in the first few rows of block J who sit during the game and can't see due to those in the block below them standing.
    After receiving some of these complaints the club had a representative of the board, or someone reporting directly to the board sit in upper block I to see first hand what the problem is. This was done in the Bolton game and may have also been done in the Barnsley game before.
    From what they saw the report back was to remove those who are not season ticket holders from the lower block I particularly so that those left could be identified and challenged and potentially blocked from the ground if they persist in breaking the ground rules and stand up.
    From that many of us in both the upper and lower blocks received an email, although the stewards have been told that the club are not actually bothered by those standing at the top of J block as no one is complaining behind them and they won't challenge the South stand as the club feel that everyone in that area go there with the understanding that it is a 'standing' area so they don't complain.
    The only real area of concern and focus is our lower block I due to those in the bottom seats of block J who complain, even though they have curtailed sales in the other nearby blocks.
    The stewards are aware, and I have replied in my email to the club to explain the same, that if someone even 3 or 4 rows in front of us stands up, our view of the game is obscured or blocked.
    We are always mindful on the back row to try and perch as much as we can (actually causing some real leg and arse pain in the process) if the 4th row in front is standing, but this is only when the two rows directly in front of us are also perching or sitting because as soon as they stand, we have to stand or we see nothing.
    None of us have ever complained about the standing, even when one of the ladies was 8 months pregnant coming to the games as we love the atmosphere and banter in the area, even if we'd chose to sit if we could.
    Do I understand people complaining.....slightly, and I do get the whole 'it's the rules' argument if it is enforced equally around the ground, but some of these are the same people who remained seated V Morcombe when we scored, all 5, got the pennos and throughout all celebrations and following chants etc so they are always going to miss something when the rest of the ground are on their feet.
    One in particular has made it a point to complain for a long time and even though they have a right to sit in the seat with the ticket they bought, the dynamic of that whole area has changed from what it was, so it may not be the best place for them to remain seated etc compared to the few hundred who now enjoy the match day experience differently there and all those who have to stand to be able to see as well.
    If the club want to stop the standing, as in really stop the standing in that area, the stewards and the club need to challenge those at the front who stand with no one in front of them as they are the real cause of the issue, if it is deemed to be one. As soon as they remain standing it has a knock on effect to the rest of the block. It annoyed everyone of us near the back to be challenged when we don't chose to stand, we are forced to stand to see the game as others obscure or block our views.
     
    I've had no reply to my email after they sent me one so have not been able to enter discussions directly with the club, but the stewards are doing what they have been instructed to by the club.
    Hope that helps in expanding on the explanation a bit.
  20. Like
    England Ram reacted to angieram in East Stand   
    That's really helpful. 
  21. Like
    England Ram got a reaction from LeedsCityRam in East Stand   
    As someone who has been right in the middle of this I'll clarify a few points as to what has been shared quite candidly with me with the head supervisor and steward over that area (not their boss as he keeps himself away from coming down to our block but does stand around before the game in the upper block behind us) .
     
    For some context as to my knowledge etc....
    I sit on the very back row of Block I which has been highlighted in the opening picture. Myself and my lad are usually one of the first in to the ground so get to spend around an hour in our seating area every match and have a great relationship with all the stewards near us as we have been there for around 9 years.
    All of this stewarding and not selling the match day tickets has come about by the club receiving more than one complaint from people who sit in the first few rows of block J who sit during the game and can't see due to those in the block below them standing.
    After receiving some of these complaints the club had a representative of the board, or someone reporting directly to the board sit in upper block I to see first hand what the problem is. This was done in the Bolton game and may have also been done in the Barnsley game before.
    From what they saw the report back was to remove those who are not season ticket holders from the lower block I particularly so that those left could be identified and challenged and potentially blocked from the ground if they persist in breaking the ground rules and stand up.
    From that many of us in both the upper and lower blocks received an email, although the stewards have been told that the club are not actually bothered by those standing at the top of J block as no one is complaining behind them and they won't challenge the South stand as the club feel that everyone in that area go there with the understanding that it is a 'standing' area so they don't complain.
    The only real area of concern and focus is our lower block I due to those in the bottom seats of block J who complain, even though they have curtailed sales in the other nearby blocks.
    The stewards are aware, and I have replied in my email to the club to explain the same, that if someone even 3 or 4 rows in front of us stands up, our view of the game is obscured or blocked.
    We are always mindful on the back row to try and perch as much as we can (actually causing some real leg and arse pain in the process) if the 4th row in front is standing, but this is only when the two rows directly in front of us are also perching or sitting because as soon as they stand, we have to stand or we see nothing.
    None of us have ever complained about the standing, even when one of the ladies was 8 months pregnant coming to the games as we love the atmosphere and banter in the area, even if we'd chose to sit if we could.
    Do I understand people complaining.....slightly, and I do get the whole 'it's the rules' argument if it is enforced equally around the ground, but some of these are the same people who remained seated V Morcombe when we scored, all 5, got the pennos and throughout all celebrations and following chants etc so they are always going to miss something when the rest of the ground are on their feet.
    One in particular has made it a point to complain for a long time and even though they have a right to sit in the seat with the ticket they bought, the dynamic of that whole area has changed from what it was, so it may not be the best place for them to remain seated etc compared to the few hundred who now enjoy the match day experience differently there and all those who have to stand to be able to see as well.
    If the club want to stop the standing, as in really stop the standing in that area, the stewards and the club need to challenge those at the front who stand with no one in front of them as they are the real cause of the issue, if it is deemed to be one. As soon as they remain standing it has a knock on effect to the rest of the block. It annoyed everyone of us near the back to be challenged when we don't chose to stand, we are forced to stand to see the game as others obscure or block our views.
     
    I've had no reply to my email after they sent me one so have not been able to enter discussions directly with the club, but the stewards are doing what they have been instructed to by the club.
    Hope that helps in expanding on the explanation a bit.
  22. Cheers
    England Ram got a reaction from Crewton in East Stand   
    As someone who has been right in the middle of this I'll clarify a few points as to what has been shared quite candidly with me with the head supervisor and steward over that area (not their boss as he keeps himself away from coming down to our block but does stand around before the game in the upper block behind us) .
     
    For some context as to my knowledge etc....
    I sit on the very back row of Block I which has been highlighted in the opening picture. Myself and my lad are usually one of the first in to the ground so get to spend around an hour in our seating area every match and have a great relationship with all the stewards near us as we have been there for around 9 years.
    All of this stewarding and not selling the match day tickets has come about by the club receiving more than one complaint from people who sit in the first few rows of block J who sit during the game and can't see due to those in the block below them standing.
    After receiving some of these complaints the club had a representative of the board, or someone reporting directly to the board sit in upper block I to see first hand what the problem is. This was done in the Bolton game and may have also been done in the Barnsley game before.
    From what they saw the report back was to remove those who are not season ticket holders from the lower block I particularly so that those left could be identified and challenged and potentially blocked from the ground if they persist in breaking the ground rules and stand up.
    From that many of us in both the upper and lower blocks received an email, although the stewards have been told that the club are not actually bothered by those standing at the top of J block as no one is complaining behind them and they won't challenge the South stand as the club feel that everyone in that area go there with the understanding that it is a 'standing' area so they don't complain.
    The only real area of concern and focus is our lower block I due to those in the bottom seats of block J who complain, even though they have curtailed sales in the other nearby blocks.
    The stewards are aware, and I have replied in my email to the club to explain the same, that if someone even 3 or 4 rows in front of us stands up, our view of the game is obscured or blocked.
    We are always mindful on the back row to try and perch as much as we can (actually causing some real leg and arse pain in the process) if the 4th row in front is standing, but this is only when the two rows directly in front of us are also perching or sitting because as soon as they stand, we have to stand or we see nothing.
    None of us have ever complained about the standing, even when one of the ladies was 8 months pregnant coming to the games as we love the atmosphere and banter in the area, even if we'd chose to sit if we could.
    Do I understand people complaining.....slightly, and I do get the whole 'it's the rules' argument if it is enforced equally around the ground, but some of these are the same people who remained seated V Morcombe when we scored, all 5, got the pennos and throughout all celebrations and following chants etc so they are always going to miss something when the rest of the ground are on their feet.
    One in particular has made it a point to complain for a long time and even though they have a right to sit in the seat with the ticket they bought, the dynamic of that whole area has changed from what it was, so it may not be the best place for them to remain seated etc compared to the few hundred who now enjoy the match day experience differently there and all those who have to stand to be able to see as well.
    If the club want to stop the standing, as in really stop the standing in that area, the stewards and the club need to challenge those at the front who stand with no one in front of them as they are the real cause of the issue, if it is deemed to be one. As soon as they remain standing it has a knock on effect to the rest of the block. It annoyed everyone of us near the back to be challenged when we don't chose to stand, we are forced to stand to see the game as others obscure or block our views.
     
    I've had no reply to my email after they sent me one so have not been able to enter discussions directly with the club, but the stewards are doing what they have been instructed to by the club.
    Hope that helps in expanding on the explanation a bit.
  23. Like
    England Ram got a reaction from OoooMarkWright in East Stand   
    As someone who has been right in the middle of this I'll clarify a few points as to what has been shared quite candidly with me with the head supervisor and steward over that area (not their boss as he keeps himself away from coming down to our block but does stand around before the game in the upper block behind us) .
     
    For some context as to my knowledge etc....
    I sit on the very back row of Block I which has been highlighted in the opening picture. Myself and my lad are usually one of the first in to the ground so get to spend around an hour in our seating area every match and have a great relationship with all the stewards near us as we have been there for around 9 years.
    All of this stewarding and not selling the match day tickets has come about by the club receiving more than one complaint from people who sit in the first few rows of block J who sit during the game and can't see due to those in the block below them standing.
    After receiving some of these complaints the club had a representative of the board, or someone reporting directly to the board sit in upper block I to see first hand what the problem is. This was done in the Bolton game and may have also been done in the Barnsley game before.
    From what they saw the report back was to remove those who are not season ticket holders from the lower block I particularly so that those left could be identified and challenged and potentially blocked from the ground if they persist in breaking the ground rules and stand up.
    From that many of us in both the upper and lower blocks received an email, although the stewards have been told that the club are not actually bothered by those standing at the top of J block as no one is complaining behind them and they won't challenge the South stand as the club feel that everyone in that area go there with the understanding that it is a 'standing' area so they don't complain.
    The only real area of concern and focus is our lower block I due to those in the bottom seats of block J who complain, even though they have curtailed sales in the other nearby blocks.
    The stewards are aware, and I have replied in my email to the club to explain the same, that if someone even 3 or 4 rows in front of us stands up, our view of the game is obscured or blocked.
    We are always mindful on the back row to try and perch as much as we can (actually causing some real leg and arse pain in the process) if the 4th row in front is standing, but this is only when the two rows directly in front of us are also perching or sitting because as soon as they stand, we have to stand or we see nothing.
    None of us have ever complained about the standing, even when one of the ladies was 8 months pregnant coming to the games as we love the atmosphere and banter in the area, even if we'd chose to sit if we could.
    Do I understand people complaining.....slightly, and I do get the whole 'it's the rules' argument if it is enforced equally around the ground, but some of these are the same people who remained seated V Morcombe when we scored, all 5, got the pennos and throughout all celebrations and following chants etc so they are always going to miss something when the rest of the ground are on their feet.
    One in particular has made it a point to complain for a long time and even though they have a right to sit in the seat with the ticket they bought, the dynamic of that whole area has changed from what it was, so it may not be the best place for them to remain seated etc compared to the few hundred who now enjoy the match day experience differently there and all those who have to stand to be able to see as well.
    If the club want to stop the standing, as in really stop the standing in that area, the stewards and the club need to challenge those at the front who stand with no one in front of them as they are the real cause of the issue, if it is deemed to be one. As soon as they remain standing it has a knock on effect to the rest of the block. It annoyed everyone of us near the back to be challenged when we don't chose to stand, we are forced to stand to see the game as others obscure or block our views.
     
    I've had no reply to my email after they sent me one so have not been able to enter discussions directly with the club, but the stewards are doing what they have been instructed to by the club.
    Hope that helps in expanding on the explanation a bit.
  24. Cheers
    England Ram got a reaction from angieram in East Stand   
    As someone who has been right in the middle of this I'll clarify a few points as to what has been shared quite candidly with me with the head supervisor and steward over that area (not their boss as he keeps himself away from coming down to our block but does stand around before the game in the upper block behind us) .
     
    For some context as to my knowledge etc....
    I sit on the very back row of Block I which has been highlighted in the opening picture. Myself and my lad are usually one of the first in to the ground so get to spend around an hour in our seating area every match and have a great relationship with all the stewards near us as we have been there for around 9 years.
    All of this stewarding and not selling the match day tickets has come about by the club receiving more than one complaint from people who sit in the first few rows of block J who sit during the game and can't see due to those in the block below them standing.
    After receiving some of these complaints the club had a representative of the board, or someone reporting directly to the board sit in upper block I to see first hand what the problem is. This was done in the Bolton game and may have also been done in the Barnsley game before.
    From what they saw the report back was to remove those who are not season ticket holders from the lower block I particularly so that those left could be identified and challenged and potentially blocked from the ground if they persist in breaking the ground rules and stand up.
    From that many of us in both the upper and lower blocks received an email, although the stewards have been told that the club are not actually bothered by those standing at the top of J block as no one is complaining behind them and they won't challenge the South stand as the club feel that everyone in that area go there with the understanding that it is a 'standing' area so they don't complain.
    The only real area of concern and focus is our lower block I due to those in the bottom seats of block J who complain, even though they have curtailed sales in the other nearby blocks.
    The stewards are aware, and I have replied in my email to the club to explain the same, that if someone even 3 or 4 rows in front of us stands up, our view of the game is obscured or blocked.
    We are always mindful on the back row to try and perch as much as we can (actually causing some real leg and arse pain in the process) if the 4th row in front is standing, but this is only when the two rows directly in front of us are also perching or sitting because as soon as they stand, we have to stand or we see nothing.
    None of us have ever complained about the standing, even when one of the ladies was 8 months pregnant coming to the games as we love the atmosphere and banter in the area, even if we'd chose to sit if we could.
    Do I understand people complaining.....slightly, and I do get the whole 'it's the rules' argument if it is enforced equally around the ground, but some of these are the same people who remained seated V Morcombe when we scored, all 5, got the pennos and throughout all celebrations and following chants etc so they are always going to miss something when the rest of the ground are on their feet.
    One in particular has made it a point to complain for a long time and even though they have a right to sit in the seat with the ticket they bought, the dynamic of that whole area has changed from what it was, so it may not be the best place for them to remain seated etc compared to the few hundred who now enjoy the match day experience differently there and all those who have to stand to be able to see as well.
    If the club want to stop the standing, as in really stop the standing in that area, the stewards and the club need to challenge those at the front who stand with no one in front of them as they are the real cause of the issue, if it is deemed to be one. As soon as they remain standing it has a knock on effect to the rest of the block. It annoyed everyone of us near the back to be challenged when we don't chose to stand, we are forced to stand to see the game as others obscure or block our views.
     
    I've had no reply to my email after they sent me one so have not been able to enter discussions directly with the club, but the stewards are doing what they have been instructed to by the club.
    Hope that helps in expanding on the explanation a bit.
  25. Cheers
    England Ram got a reaction from jimtastic56 in East Stand   
    As someone who has been right in the middle of this I'll clarify a few points as to what has been shared quite candidly with me with the head supervisor and steward over that area (not their boss as he keeps himself away from coming down to our block but does stand around before the game in the upper block behind us) .
     
    For some context as to my knowledge etc....
    I sit on the very back row of Block I which has been highlighted in the opening picture. Myself and my lad are usually one of the first in to the ground so get to spend around an hour in our seating area every match and have a great relationship with all the stewards near us as we have been there for around 9 years.
    All of this stewarding and not selling the match day tickets has come about by the club receiving more than one complaint from people who sit in the first few rows of block J who sit during the game and can't see due to those in the block below them standing.
    After receiving some of these complaints the club had a representative of the board, or someone reporting directly to the board sit in upper block I to see first hand what the problem is. This was done in the Bolton game and may have also been done in the Barnsley game before.
    From what they saw the report back was to remove those who are not season ticket holders from the lower block I particularly so that those left could be identified and challenged and potentially blocked from the ground if they persist in breaking the ground rules and stand up.
    From that many of us in both the upper and lower blocks received an email, although the stewards have been told that the club are not actually bothered by those standing at the top of J block as no one is complaining behind them and they won't challenge the South stand as the club feel that everyone in that area go there with the understanding that it is a 'standing' area so they don't complain.
    The only real area of concern and focus is our lower block I due to those in the bottom seats of block J who complain, even though they have curtailed sales in the other nearby blocks.
    The stewards are aware, and I have replied in my email to the club to explain the same, that if someone even 3 or 4 rows in front of us stands up, our view of the game is obscured or blocked.
    We are always mindful on the back row to try and perch as much as we can (actually causing some real leg and arse pain in the process) if the 4th row in front is standing, but this is only when the two rows directly in front of us are also perching or sitting because as soon as they stand, we have to stand or we see nothing.
    None of us have ever complained about the standing, even when one of the ladies was 8 months pregnant coming to the games as we love the atmosphere and banter in the area, even if we'd chose to sit if we could.
    Do I understand people complaining.....slightly, and I do get the whole 'it's the rules' argument if it is enforced equally around the ground, but some of these are the same people who remained seated V Morcombe when we scored, all 5, got the pennos and throughout all celebrations and following chants etc so they are always going to miss something when the rest of the ground are on their feet.
    One in particular has made it a point to complain for a long time and even though they have a right to sit in the seat with the ticket they bought, the dynamic of that whole area has changed from what it was, so it may not be the best place for them to remain seated etc compared to the few hundred who now enjoy the match day experience differently there and all those who have to stand to be able to see as well.
    If the club want to stop the standing, as in really stop the standing in that area, the stewards and the club need to challenge those at the front who stand with no one in front of them as they are the real cause of the issue, if it is deemed to be one. As soon as they remain standing it has a knock on effect to the rest of the block. It annoyed everyone of us near the back to be challenged when we don't chose to stand, we are forced to stand to see the game as others obscure or block our views.
     
    I've had no reply to my email after they sent me one so have not been able to enter discussions directly with the club, but the stewards are doing what they have been instructed to by the club.
    Hope that helps in expanding on the explanation a bit.
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