Voluntary pitch encroachment NO ONE wins!

oh for God's sake.... same morons were probably complaining about financial mis-management of the club - what a great excuse for Directors just to ignore them

we have also had this from rocky forwarded onto us...
Please see below re Saturday’s game with regard to match day safety update.

As regard to the events on the pitch in relation to the players, a fantastic result and the second half our guys looked really good and in control !

The game would have been incident free apart from one medical incident where a lady slipped on the stairs and injured herself slightly just before kick off, until we had two incidents that completely spoilt the day.

At 1532 two males decided to enter the field of play having unfurled a banner over the digi-boards. Their actions held up play for 30 seconds as recorded by the referee.

At 1621 following our second goal, four supporters who we were having trouble with behind the goal at the Fratton end attempted to get on the pitch. Three were successful and were detained at pitch edge.

Following the first incident a public announcement was made warning supporters that to enter the field of play without lawful authority is an arrestable offence.

I was forced to deploy stewards to pitch edge both at half time and full time in order to secure the pitch in an attempt to prevent encroachment.

Following the match I was requested to meet with the referee concerning the two incidents where he informed me, that he would be submitting a report to the FA . This report will now be looked at by the FA and disciplinary action against the club may follow.

As a direct result of this, the police category for Tuesday’s match against West Ham has been increased therefore additional costs to the club at a time where money is a cause of concern to each and everyone of us.

I am now exploring the option of bringing in additional stewards should this 'unrest' continue as the repercussions for the club are not good at all.

All this is very sad, given that the supporters were allowed their protest pre-match which was conducted in a sensible manner only to be spoilt by later events.

Those persons who entered the field of play were arrested by the police and have been charged with bail conditions not to return to Fratton Park and an application for a football banning order application will be made.

I have asked for an appeal to be made via our website etc for supporters to support the club but to refrain from conduct that just adds difficulties to everything else that is happening at this time.

I think its unfair to label Mudie and Farmery as eggers-on! JPFCW I don't know, but agree it's self indulgent. In many ways, you could see it coming over the past few weeks as supporters have been getting slightly peeved over the lack of communication, action from the club. That said, we all know that fines, bans etc. follow for club and individuals involved. Silly !!!

Brainless idiots .. I can understand everybody's different frustrations (to a point) but how can you logically deduce that going onto the pitch in protest is going to help save the club.. What's more even if it could the fools that did it know they will get a banning order .. so they save the club and will never be able to attend a match again.. (for a while at least) That's clever .. very clever..


I know what you mean Russ but can also see Barney's point .. but I would lay £100 on the fact that those five who ran on the pitch on Saturday have a) not attended 10 games between them all season and b) Only went on Saturday because of the march..