Loyal fan banned from club

[ged62]

The police were totally out of order when the fans celebrated, I seen one of them actually push a fan to the ground to get to another fan. I questioned one of them on it, his response was I didnt see it

In saying that a few fans did jump the wall. That's a no no these days.

[Seaside Nipper]

A simple layers letter to the club confirming no charges or action pending, job done. 

What this does not do however is take the sour taste of club actions away, if, the club has indeed acted in a completely unreasonable and out of scale manner. 

As usual two sides to every story , but from what I am reading it stinks of a  gross over reaction as per usual , police, club, stewarding etc.  It's just another typical  story these days about fans , their behaviour, police and stewarding controls, authorities and their institutionally held belief that most fans are just scheme trash and generic low life. 

Trouble is once the police are involved, impressions are created, accusations levelled, fingers are always pointed from all sides.  It's always a downward spiral and the ultimate a lose lose situation as far as reputations are concerned.

Crazy times 

[Suggestion]

Good afternoon folks,

just to clear few things up Ive not had to pay for tickets as the time I went in was when my nephew first made the bench and was very kindly given complimentary tickets for the main stand.  

The whole situation is a farce and thats why yesterday with my nephew starting I was going to just turn up and go anyway after purchasing my ticket and my girlfriend and two year old daughter going in using their season tickets I was then told I wasn't getting in or getting a refund for the ticket.

 

I have attached the letter I received from Tony Fitzpatrick. and here is my reply

Quote

Dear Tony Fitzpatrick,

First of I would like to say the club has been misinformed of my arrest during the St Mirren V Morton game on Saturday 6th August 2016, as what actually happened was I was dropped off closer to my house as the proper term for an arrest is to "seize (someone) by legal authority and take them into custody" which I was not. 

I was then told that any evidence (if any) would be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and I would hear from them if I was going to be charged. 

I don't know where the Club got their information from but at this moment and time the Club seem to know more about this alleged offence than what I do as there has been no contact.

Have you personally viewed this CCTV footage which has been captured and recorded on the stadium CCTV system Mr Fitzpatrick? I strongly believe I done nothing wrong on the stated day and feel hurt that you think I have brought the good name of St Mirren Football Club into disrepute.

This is an alleged offence I may or may NOT be getting charged with and feel that not only is this in direct breach of my Human Rights of Presumption of Innocence but is also something the club should be actively be trying to help me with instead of branding me guilty right away.

You could say I did "hinder" Police Officers "make it difficult for (someone) to do something or for (something) to happen." By being on the concourse when we scored and being in there way of people who may or may not have committed a crime, But this is not an arrestable offence and the closest arrestable offence to this would be covered in the Police Act 1996 "Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty" 

To which I never resisted any constables or WILFULLY obstructed any constable and when I was surrounded at the end of the game I fully complied with the police and didn't make a scene which could of caused other fans to get involved making it worse for myself and the club.

My desired outcome to this email Mr Fitzpatrick would be for yourself to remove the ban you have imposed on myself.

Not only do I go to every home and away game,

I along with others are actively trying to improve the match day experience for fans by adding vocal and visual support for the team aswell as promoting a good image for St Mirren through our various Social Media outlets.

I helped SMISA in the background with the fans takeover and will continue to be an active member in the future.

I am also a member of a Supporters Club and every second week help with the general running of this bus. 

I hope we can come to my desired outcome and would like to thank you for taking the time to read this long email 

Please feel free to contact me through this email address or on 07---////-/--- if you would like to speak some more regarding this.

Josh Magennis

 

Would like to conclude by saying this letter and email are all from 4 months ago now, In this time I have tried to speak with Tony Fitzpatrick / Gordon Scott but I am completely disgusted in the way that I have been just palmed off. I have even had George Adam MSP talking to top police / Gordon etc and he's not been able to have any luck regarding this.

think the way the full thing has been handled is a farce whatever happened to Innocent until proven guilty and the club maybe helping the very fans that have helped massively put them in the position there in

Anybody who knows me will know I was constantly trying to do things to help out the club!

[Suggestion]

Would also like to add a note that nothing happened between me and the police at the time of the goal, After the goal I then went up to collect some of my flags to hand to SMISA to use at their event that night. The police then surrounded me at the end of the game when I was clapping the players off the park and I was told they didnt know why they were just told by the control room. I feel that someone may have been a bit pissed off with the banners that I had helped produce and bring to the game and then decided to pin point me even though there was atleast 200 people on the concourse when we scored!

[El Gingero]

I don't know you mate although I would imagine I would know your face from matches.

I find it staggering that a CEO would send that letter without any foundation or evidence that you are being charged with any offence.

The club is trying to promote new lines of communication with the fans but this is totally out of order.

More so than ever I believe that everyone should get behind ONE candidate for the SMISA fans role and get he/she voted on.

Have you approached David Nicol regarding this as he's the present incumbent of the role?

[FTOF]

I don't really understand the reticence of the club to discuss this matter with individual involved in a face to face meeting.

The situation could be sorted out one way or another in a matter of minutes.

[TediousTom]

This is one of the many good things about this forum.  Undoubtedly personnel at the club will take notice of this thread.

I do not know this young villian but I have every confidence that the whipper snapper involved will have learned his lesson by now and modify his behaviour accordingly.

Let the boy back in.....this club are lucky to have fans wishing to watch them at all.  He was escorted from one game by the Police, big bloody deal.  

Further to this I hope the cliub have refunded the lad for his season ticket monies.  It would appear that he is unable to use the product that he purchased (season ticket) and for that he deserves some sort of refund.  So may I state my support for Josh being reinstated to our number but in furtherence I proclaim that this hopeless club of ours refund the lad.  

 

 

[Suggestion]

Also just to clarify as I've seen a few people say I'm a season ticket holder would like to say that in actual fact I couldn't renew last year as couldn't afford it and didn't want the finance option so would of just being paying in each game so the club have been missing my £20

[linwood buddie]

More importantly ,Who stuck you in and said you were at he games?.

On the other hand they can ban me if they want and let you back in.

[TediousTom]

12 minutes ago, Suggestion said:

Also just to clarify as I've seen a few people say I'm a season ticket holder would like to say that in actual fact I couldn't renew last year as couldn't afford it and didn't want the finance option so would of just being paying in each game so the club have been missing my £20

Good luck anyway young man

[El Gingero]

The club should be backing Josh up and asking the Police to prove he was breaking the law.

They ask for our support and spout we are in this together shite.

Now is the chance for the club to prove we are all one.

[Buddy Marvellous]

he appears to have missed the point of admitting he was on the concourse and that action led to him being taken out by police. To my reckoning is an acknowledgement of wrongdoing on his part.

I (wrongly) thought it was only rangers & celtic that think their fans can behave however they like without consequence?

 

Firstly I witnessed said incident and the boy was doing nothing more than celebrating a late goal exuberantly.

Secondly Police have no right to remove people from a stadium unless they are under arrest and trust me if the boy had committed an offence he would have been jailed pronto.

I am all for stamping out offensive behaviour but the authorities seem hell bent on turning us into a bunch bland, sterile, personality ridden robots.

The club should be supporting this particular boy and making efforts to resolve the situation.

[Isle Of Bute Saint]

Picture the scenario mate.Its 5 minutes to go and you equalise against your rivals.He along with many others celebrate on the concourse(not having breached the barriers of the stadium).No crime committed.One of his mates does breach the barrier and is arrested.He does not enter the field of play.Josh is then assumed to have obstructed an officer in carrying out his duties in arresting this lad and is led from the ground.He is taken away and dropped off 5 minutes later in Causeyside street without charge.Next thing he gets a letter from the club saying he is banned.

Fast forward 4 months and he has still not been charged nor most importantly cleared.The club state that he must have a letter saying he is in the clear but as Josh says the police dont issue such documentation.Result is a stalemate.

Josh had been attending the games by paying for a ticket(on top of his season ticket which has been blocked)to attend games.He has done this without problem and has interacted with the stewards thoughout ie speaking to them etc,Rightly or wrongly this football club is his life and all he wanted to do was support his team.

Roll on to yesterday and Josh,s nephew is making his home debut.A large contingent of our family attend the game but low and behold Josh is refused entry.Special instructions were given to our security(ie stewards) to refuse him permission to enter the ground.Kyles home debut was like a kids first day at school.It only happens once and his uncle was denied that opportunity to see him make that debut.

 

As such i have to make a decision where i put my family loyalties first.I wont step foot into the ground unless Josh is in front of me.

Shoucked and disgusted Iain your family are hard core fans never causing trouble. Something really needs to be done about this to get it fixed for Josh. Would you not be willing to go along and ntalk to Gordon Scott ? I'm getting very disappointed in our club.

[Hendo]

Perhaps Zurich Allan may be along to clarify, but its my understanding there is a difference between being placed under arrest and being charged. If he was not charged, ie had his rights read to him, he could not have been referred to the PF, and the only potential further action could have been receiving a police caution. Surely Mill street could provide clarification.

Hope it gets resolved, from what has been said it seems an overreaction, the club should be adopting a proportionate response to things like this.

[BuddieinEK]

oh FFS... how the hell has this been allowed to drag out and fester?

The person concerned is a relative of one of our up and coming players. That shouldn't make a difference of course, but common sense says GET IT SORTED and remove any possible distraction from the players path.

Having read all the comments to date, I am totally astonished that this wasn't dealt with in a matter of days, never mind dragging on for months.

Is there some kind of personal agenda on either side that has not been shared? If not, the club deserves a rocket up its arse for alienating loyal supporters and cutting off income streams!

Tony... GLS... get together with the lad and talk face to face... RESOLVE the issue one way or the other. Do it now! Stop hiding behind the police as an excuse and make your own decisions as mature businessmen!

This is now in the public domain and your actions in this matter will have a significant influence in how fans perceive your trustworthiness.

[bender rodriguez]

I can't beleive the way football fans are treated these days especially our support who apart from the odd nugget are exemplary behaved. 

[northendsaint]

1 hour ago, BuddieinEK said:

oh FFS... how the hell has this been allowed to drag out and fester?

The person concerned is a relative of one of our up and coming players. That shouldn't make a difference of course, but common sense says GET IT SORTED and remove any possible distraction from the players path.

Having read all the comments to date, I am totally astonished that this wasn't dealt with in a matter of days, never mind dragging on for months.

Is there some kind of personal agenda on either side that has not been shared? If not, the club deserves a rocket up its arse for alienating loyal supporters and cutting off income streams!

Tony... GLS... get together with the lad and talk face to face... RESOLVE the issue one way or the other. Do it now! Stop hiding behind the police as an excuse and make your own decisions as mature businessmen!

This is now in the public domain and your actions in this matter will have a significant influence in how fans perceive your trustworthiness.

Both Tony and GLS have my number.Only one of them has been in touch today.The other probably does not know me too well.

[Stuart Dickson]

Can I use this thread to appeal to Tony Fitzpatrick and Gordon Scott to ban all the idiots who were standing on benches at Cappielow on Tuesday night. f**king inconsiderate arseholes the lot of them endangering everyone's lives. 

Got to say this story just sounds ridiculous. If it happened at Greenhill Road than anyone sitting in the front row could be lifted, ejected from the stadium and banned just for getting to their feet and applauding a goal. If this lad "Suggestion" wasn't on the park then he shouldn't be banned. Those standing on benches though - I'd give them the electric chair, especially the 6' something f**ker who was wearing a red condom on his head and who chose to stand immediately infront of me. Grrr

[zurich_allan]

I'd be happy to help in principle with this, as it does sound like a small incident has been completely blown out of proportion. I would need to probably speak in person to Josh (I don't think we've met before) to get some more detail and look at the options to resolve with the club. Easiest thing to do is come to an amicable solution and avoid escalating things where possible, but the club should realise that they have the potential to cause real ill feeling with some of the hardcore loyal fan-base with issues such as these. It just strikes me as a little bit unprofessional if nothing else.

[paisleysaint]

Get it sorted St Mirren! its folk like us who pour our heart and souls into the club week in week out year in year out.

Josh is saints daft and a good lad.

[Guest TPAFKATS]

f**k off Dickson, you attention seeking cock

[iceblink]

Really hope that there is a peaceful resolution to this issue. The club should realise that there are supporters who consider how it deals with issues such as this to be as  important as producing a half decent football on the pitch. 

i was on the train to Cappielow the other night and was personally disgusted by how the police in my carriage threatened to throw young supporters off at Port Glasgow for merely singing pro Saint Mirren songs. I'd imagine these same officers would turn a blind eye to old firm supporters singing songs that are actually illegal, simply due to being out numbered. I can easily believe that this young man was treated unfailrly when celebrating the equaliser

So get it sorted Tony and Gordon before you lose any more good will over what appears to be a storm in a tea cup.

[buddiecat]

Crazy situation, i myself was on the concourse at the time of the incident and was causing more of an obstruction than anyone. I was there to collect some flags from Josh for use at the SMiSA event in the uni that night,he was up in the seats and dropped the bag of flags down to me in the vomitory area i then moved forward onto the concourse to watch and wait until the final whistle, the match ended with hundreds of fans on the concourse,couldn't see Josh because of all the people in the area, but i fear he was singled out as one of the people holding up flags/banners and the instruction from the match commander was to have him taken out of the ground and used as an example of what can happen if you don't just sit on your hands, yes he was boisterous,he and his mates are boisterous at every game home and away,it's not a crime but this being the Morton match and someone in the control room being instructed to get a couple of lads ejected as an example of what can happen or even to calm the situation is what happened here.

How long does he have to wait to find out if he will be charged or not ? in my opinion he should not be banned before he is charged,but i assume the police see it differently and gave his name to the club even though they had by then let him go.

[North Bank Runner]

I witnessed this whole incident. Firstly it was complete over reaction by Police looking to take a hard line approach following the cup final debacle. I sometimes wonder where football is going when you can't celebrate a goal against your rivals without fear of arrest. One boy briefly spilled onto the pitch and quickly realised his error. The Police then wrongly lifted the guy who I presume has been banned by the club. He like me and lots of others were celebrating on the concourse. A quick review of CCTV by officers involved and they realised they had the wrong guy. I saw him being released as I left the stadium. This mistaken identity could have happened to anyone and the Club should revoke this ban immediately.

Edited November 6, 2016 by North Bank Runner

[munoz]

Has the ban been lifted yet ? If not why ? 

Dosn't the club realise that this will leave a sour taste in mouth of not just one supporter . 

The sooner this gets sorted the better .