Annual Cost of Stewarding at Plainmoor

[portugull]

Every time I visit Plainmoor I am amazed at the huge number of stewards for an average gate of 2000.

The cost each year must be huge.

When I first went to Plainmoor in 1954 until 1967 when I moved away we had 8,000 regularly with no stewards.

I appreciate because of H & S we must follow national guidelines but I wonder if Andrew Candy can explain how many stewards we are forced to provide and the cost to the club. With our good record I think half the number would be more than adequate.

[hector]

I suspect there are minimum requirements and ratios of stewards per expected attendance. We have a good record but if there was some incident you would need a minimum number to deal with it and organise the crowd to say, evacuate. Of the many disasters that have befallen football stadiums, I suspect inadequate stewarding/supervision played its part and whilst the attendances at Plainmoor would appear to warrant minimal supervision, it would only take a gas leak or a fire to force an evacuation and inadequate stewarding could lead to a potential disastrous situation. Go to any event, like a concert etc and stewards are everywhere and on that basis, I wouldn't say TUFC are over-staffed at all.

[A Candy]

The situation is pretty much as Hector has described with minimum requirements based on expected attendances as set down by The Green Guide and SAG. We have agreed a small reduction this season based on anticipated lower attendances and we continue to monitor this in order to keep costs down.

[brucie]

There seemed to be less stewards about for the Aldershot game (or at least they were keeping a lower profile around the bench)
Think it made for a better atmosphere actually.

[portugull]

My point really is that all major disasters, Hillsboro, Bradford Fire, Heisal in Belgium,Ibrox,involved big grounds and attendances way bigger than we can ever achieve at Plainmoor with a ground limit of about 5,500 to 6,000.

I watch what the stewards actually do and it is minimal. The numbers need to be challenged because the club is being conned by petty bureaucrats

who have no idea of reality just like the majority of politicians. Honestly we need 50% of the current number and the money saved could go on the playing budget. I am serious the present situation is ludicrous.

[Dave_Pougher]

Maybe they could multitask and make money for the club selling ice creams or something.

Wolf nipple chips, Jaguar ear lobes get em while their hot their lovely!

[chunkygull]

Its all red tape, bureauocracy, dictatorship, controlling, power tripping, jumped up little Hitlers, nanny state, non trusting, health and safety gone mad! Just so bloody typical these days and Im sure most people are getting downright sick of it.

[tomogull]

My point really is that all major disasters, Hillsboro, Bradford Fire, Heisal in Belgium,Ibrox,involved big grounds and attendances way bigger than we can ever achieve at Plainmoor with a ground limit of about 5,500 to 6,000.

I watch what the stewards actually do and it is minimal. The numbers need to be challenged because the club is being conned by petty bureaucrats

who have no idea of reality just like the majority of politicians. Honestly we need 50% of the current number and the money saved could go on the playing budget. I am serious the present situation is ludicrous.

Understand what you're saying Portugal and fully agree, but in these times of Health & Safety, we can do nothing more than accept what Andrew is saying. I'm sure this would have been discussed by the Board but no doubt you're right - we're being ruled by bureaucrats.

[rooster]

Postby hector » Today, 11:04
I suspect there are minimum requirements and ratios of stewards per expected attendance. We have a good record but if there was some incident you would need a minimum number to deal with it and organise the crowd to say, evacuate. Of the many disasters that have befallen football stadiums, I suspect inadequate stewarding/supervision played its part and whilst the attendances at Plainmoor would appear to warrant minimal supervision, it would only take a gas leak or a fire to force an evacuation and inadequate stewarding could lead to a potential disastrous situation. Go to any event, like a concert etc and stewards are everywhere and on that basis, I wouldn't say TUFC are over-staffed at all.
hector

Postby A Candy » Today, 11:33
The situation is pretty much as Hector has described with minimum requirements based on expected attendances as set down by The Green Guide and SAG. We have agreed a small reduction this season based on anticipated lower attendances and we continue to monitor this in order to keep costs down.

How much clearer do you want it !!!!!!??????

[Gullscorer]

Postby hector » Today, 11:04
I suspect there are minimum requirements and ratios of stewards per expected attendance. We have a good record but if there was some incident you would need a minimum number to deal with it and organise the crowd to say, evacuate. Of the many disasters that have befallen football stadiums, I suspect inadequate stewarding/supervision played its part and whilst the attendances at Plainmoor would appear to warrant minimal supervision, it would only take a gas leak or a fire to force an evacuation and inadequate stewarding could lead to a potential disastrous situation. Go to any event, like a concert etc and stewards are everywhere and on that basis, I wouldn't say TUFC are over-staffed at all.
hector

Postby A Candy » Today, 11:33
The situation is pretty much as Hector has described with minimum requirements based on expected attendances as set down by The Green Guide and SAG. We have agreed a small reduction this season based on anticipated lower attendances and we continue to monitor this in order to keep costs down.

How much clearer do you want it !!!!!!??????

What is your point, Rooster? Mr Candy's post is indeed quite clear as to the facts of the situation. Hector's post, also quite clear and reasonably argued, regarding the number of stewards is, however, nevertheless his opinion.

The alternative view that there are currently more stewards at Plainmoor than is really needed, with the reasons given, is also a perfectly valid opinion. The complaint (with which many supporters and people at the club would probably agree) that the club is bound by excessively bureaucratic and unreasonable 'nanny-state' rules and regulations is also a fair point to make.

One gets the impression you are criticising posters such as Chunkygull, Portugull, and Tomogull, rather than dispassionately discussing the issues they are addressing.

[Dave]

Wouldn't mind betting a few quid the families of the 66 who died at Ibrox, 56 who died at Bradford and the 96 at Hillsbrough, not to mention 1000+ fans who sustained injuries in those disasters wished the 'nanny-state' rules that exist today were in force back then, the events on those tragic days may never have happened and 218 people may have lived to see another day.

Roosters point was quite a simple one if you ask me, the suggestion made by Hector, which was confirmed as 'fact' by Andy Candy, clearly spells out for us there are rules and regulations that TUFC in fact every football club have to follow regards stewarding numbers, those rules are in place to help ensure the health and safety of everyone attending the match, wonder which group of people would be the first to shout and scream if an emergency evacuation was required at plainmoor and there was not enough staff on duty to ensure it was completed in a safe and timely fashion , highly likely those who complain about the nanny-state rules.

The number of stewards asked to report for duty can only be based on an assumption of what the attendance is likely to be. If I was ask a question now, like how many Nuneaton fans will attend Saturday, most Torquay fans I think, would say between 40-60, yet reading their forum the suggestion is nearer 200 will attend, so a likely crowd figure I would say is quite difficult to forecast correctly.

I made a suggestion a while ago, that if we had far to many stewards could we not send some home, I was some what shot down in flames for that, and being honest some fair points were made counter my opinion, so quite prepared to except I was wrong.

I'm not going to put up an argument as to whether the rules and regulations are over kill or not. But I will suggest considering there has not been another major incident or disaster at a football ground with in the UK since Hillsbrough, the improvements made to Stadia , and rules and regulations regards crowd control and stewarding numbers are spot on.

[ferrarilover]

Good God almighty, what a load of stuff and nonsense. The stewards are there to marshal the panicking masses in the event of zombie apocalypse or similar. Very occasionally, a knuckle dragger gets in and violent men must deal with him on behalf of the rest of us. Absenting either of these two crashingly rare events, stewards sit, silent and unmoving for the duration, then go home. Just ignore them, and, if you must interact with them, treat them like you'd treat anyone else.

It's not hard.

Matt.

[portugull]

You are completely missing the point.

[rooster]

What is your point, Rooster? Mr Candy's post is indeed quite clear as to the facts of the situation. Hector's post, also quite clear and reasonably argued, regarding the number of stewards is, however, nevertheless his opinion.

The alternative view that there are currently more stewards at Plainmoor than is really needed, with the reasons given, is also a perfectly valid opinion. The complaint (with which many supporters and people at the club would probably agree) that the club is bound by excessively bureaucratic and unreasonable 'nanny-state' rules and regulations is also a fair point to make.

One gets the impression you are criticising posters such as Chunkygull, Portugull, and Tomogull, rather than dispassionately discussing the issues they are addressing.

My point being, Hector gave his opinion, this was then confirmed very kindly by Mr Candy so there you have it.........the answer and reasoning behind it. Not criticising and apologies if it came across that way, its just thats it...........if the club employ to many stewards and it appears everything is fine there will always be people who say theres to many stewards, if they don't employ enough stewards and somethings goes wrong there will always be those who say there not enough stewards, damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Best advice is that they're there, they shouldn't really impact on your enjoyment of the game (unless your misbehaving!), take comfort in the fact they will deal with any issue that arises and perhaps deal with events that most wouldn't want to get involved in and hopefully everyone will be happy.

[Gullscorer]

Fair enough Rooster..