Fan behavior update

[TRVMP]

https://gmfc.net/an-update-on-recent-supporter-behaviour-at-matches/

Good, measured statement from the club. 

Long story short, seven people hit with two-year banning orders, and the next Partick game is Category A, meaning we're on the hook for police costs.

I am glad the club pointed out it's not just Morton at fault here but Partick and other clubs too, but our job's to keep our own house in order and the seven bans are a good start.

[SassenachTon]

100% agreed - it's great to see Morton making a stand and taking the behaviour of these cretins seriously. I wonder, however - how can these bans actually be implemented and upheld? It's not like many clubs can afford state-of-the-art CCTV facial recognition tech, and I wonder how many stewards will actually take the time to look at the A4 'banned' pictures on the wall of their hut. A wooly Morton hat pulled down over the brow and a blue & white scarf up near the mouth - and they'd be straight into the ground. Genuine question. 

[Cat10]

Looks like they want to be like that mob from the east end of glasgow… surely cant be that difficult to support team inside stadium and act like normal respectful people outside the stadium instead of acting like instagram gangsters and wee fannys…

[irnbru]

15 minutes ago, Cat10 said:

Looks like they want to be like that mob from the east end of glasgow… surely cant be that difficult to support team inside stadium and act like normal respectful people outside the stadium instead of acting like instagram gangsters and wee fannys…

Saw that last night and still cringing at it. The other photos on their Instagram are even worse. 

[TopCat]

The sense of entitlement to special treatment and expectation of fawning gratitude from these ultra groups seems to be the same at every club. You're getting out your tits and hitting a drum lads, not working as volunteers for the benefit of other fans. 

[Scott]

Is Cowshed Youth different from the original Cowshed group that started in the last couple of years? 

[dunning1874]

Quite apart from any of the cringeworthy aspects, the total lack of acknowledgement of the reason for the bans tells its own story. Creating an atmosphere and being noisy is all well and good, it doesn't have to and absolutely shouldn't come with attacking opposition fans and lobbing missiles about, which is totally unacceptable.

The club have done the right thing here, they've tried to work with these fans and have supported them in making an area of the stadium theirs, and the sort of behaviour we've consistently seen after games from some of them has amounted to throwing that goodwill back in the face of the club. They've worked hard to change their relationship particularly with young fans, see eg the treatment of actual wee weans who aren't causing problems in the Sinclair St end clearly improving, and it’s good to see they're not doing anything that ruins that progress or punishes the support as a whole; they've identified the culprits who've been involved in violence themselves and punished them directly.

[irnbru]

34 minutes ago, Scott said:

Is Cowshed Youth different from the original Cowshed group that started in the last couple of years? 

The club supported that group by letting them paint the Cowshed and promoting them on Twitter so if I was involved in that I'd be a bit annoyed to see daft 'statements' like this. 

As Dunning said, the club have done a decent job in this area. Even if they didn't want to ban people, I'd suspect there is pressure from police and the SFA given that it's been things like fights and throwing flares at stewards that has been the problem. The fact it's a nationwide stadium ban suggests that too - Morton don't have that power. 

I saw a few people mentioning Partick fans getting into the Cowshed as if that was some sort of excuse too but it's a pretty flawed argument. 

[Alibi]

Seems a perfectly reasonable statement from the club.  The targeted ban is welcome too, and let's hope other clubs take similar action (looking at you, Partick).

[Mr.Blue]

2 hours ago, Cat10 said:

Looks like they want to be like that mob from the east end of glasgow… surely cant be that difficult to support team inside stadium and act like normal respectful people outside the stadium instead of acting like instagram gangsters and wee fannys…

Creating an atmosphere is one thing but being wee arseholes before, during and after games is another. 

Batter on with your protest. Hopefully they walk out and don't come back.

[dunning1874]

Speaking of ban worthy conduct, I hope the mods are going to take serious action over the use of "behavior" rather than "behaviour" in this thread title.

[Cet Homme Charmant]

16 minutes ago, Mr.Blue said:

 Hopefully they walk out and don't come back.

Too far.

Only 7 of them have been temporarily banned (correctly, IMO), but telling all of them not to come back is very unfair. They're still young and immature, but they're our the fans of the future.

I know I wouldn't want to be judged as an adult for the fucking stupid things I said and did in my teens (e.g., attending two Whitesnake concerts).

[Rossco1874]

13 minutes ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Too far.

Only 7 of them have been temporarily banned (correctly, IMO), but telling all of them not to come back is very unfair. They're still young and immature, but they're our the fans of the future.

I know I wouldn't want to be judged as an adult for the fucking stupid things I said and did in my teens (e.g., attending two Whitesnake concerts).

Agreed my son stands in that particular section. Was talking to him last night he said 2 out of the 7 were picked up on the cctv & banned without being involved in anything other than being spotted with those causing bother. There is a core bunch of them that go to all games home & away my son has missed around 5 games (all midweek) in the last 3 seasons so they are spending money going & following the team. The last thing want to do is isolate this particular area of the fanbase & demonise them they are still fans regardless of whether they are being wee pricks outside the stadium.

 

Edit to add my son doesn't get involved in any afters he goes straight to his bus or his pals car after games. He does stand with the young crowd  at games so there is a concern that he could be accused of something just by being in the same area of the ground as those that cause problems.

Edited March 6 by Rossco1874

[Toby]

3 hours ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Too far.

Only 7 of them have been temporarily banned (correctly, IMO), but telling all of them not to come back is very unfair. They're still young and immature, but they're our the fans of the future.

I know I wouldn't want to be judged as an adult for the fucking stupid things I said and did in my teens (e.g., attending two Whitesnake concerts).

Aye, agreed. Let he without sin cast the first stone and all that. Few of us were ever complete angels in our youths, some worse than others.

I suspect the bans will be announced as two years but reviewed in the intervening time, perhaps at Christmas.

I really don’t like seeing anyone getting banned from Cappielow, but if that’s the route the club are going down, the kids can’t really have any complaints. I suspect that Morton are taking such action in cooperation with the police, and a ban from going to games is preferable for all concerned to criminal proceedings that could impact them in later life. Let’s not forget a pyro was thrown in the direction of a child at Firhill the other week. If you avoid prosecution for something as fucking stupid as that you thank your lucky stars, and keep a low profile. I get that it’s a stretch to say the same person got the crayons out to write that abomination of a “statement”, but maybe whoever did should show a bit of self awareness and contrition on behalf of the whole group. I get that it was written by a child of course, though.

TopCat’s point about us owing some sort of debt of gratitude to these guys is a good one. None of us have requested they go on this noble crusade to improve the Cappielow atmosphere, and the novelty has worn off big time, not that any of the adults in the room were in awe of the weans suddenly turning Cappielow into the Ali Sami Yen c.1993 overnight, anyway.

A boycott only works when you know you’ve got public opinion on your side. I’m afraid the kids need to read the room, here. Most folk, apart from their wee clique, realise the position the club have been put in by their behaviour, also accept the pressure coming from the police and football authorities to take proportionate action and sympathise with Morton on it. They may feel another route could have been taken, but ultimately the club aren’t being unnecessarily harsh on them. And when your behaviour becomes an irritation to those around you, as theirs clearly has, you’re howling to the moon in organising a protest or boycott.

I take note of Rossco’s post, which went up halfway through me writing this. There may be an element of truth in that- I don’t know, but the club will also have an appeals process. I’d suggest getting an adult involved in such an appeal rather than trying their luck themselves. Rossco as a parent of a kid in their inner sanctum who also goes to games might be a good candidate. However, kids will generally give their or their pals’ side of the story without providing evidence that incriminates them. Not calling his own kid a liar, but his pals could’ve been economical with the truth.If of course a couple have been unjustly banned, hopefully that sorts itself out.

[irnbru]

25 minutes ago, Rossco1874 said:

Agreed my son stands in that particular section. Was talking to him last night he said 2 out of the 7 were picked up on the cctv & banned without being involved in anything other than being spotted with those causing bother. There is a core bunch of them that go to all games home & away my son has missed around 5 games (all midweek) in the last 3 seasons so they are spending money going & following the team. The last thing want to do is isolate this particular area of the fanbase & demonise them they are still fans regardless of whether they are being wee pricks outside the stadium.

 

Edit to add my son doesn't get involved in any afters he goes straight to his bus or his pals car after games. He does stand with the young crowd  at games so there is a concern that he could be accused of something just by being in the same area of the ground as those that cause problems.

Don't really agree with this - if they are causing bother then they should face the consequences. Going to games isn't an excuse to act however you want. 

[HamCam]

This was another subject that cropped up at the AGM. Some shareholders had first hand experience of the negative actions of the Cowshed Youth and together with other fans made representations to the Club. The Board was very clear they supported the young supporters especially the lads who started out the group but believed recent behaviour especially after the games was unacceptable. Rather than rush to judgement the Board confirmed they had spoken to people and collected all available information before deciding on the appropriate response. I am not sure the club had much choice in this matter. On the plus side the much derided minerals man provided further background on the Firhill mum who ran to the papers about big bad Morton - she was rightly called out as an attention seeker who was never going to accept the apology from the Club.

Edited March 7 by HamCam

[SpoonTon]

I think the kids need to realise that the 'spend lots of money' line is a terrible one to go down. The ones under 16 pay £5 entry and come clad in their own merchandise, meanwhile increasing costs for Morton to police games. The message should be abundantly clear - as long as they are causing trouble, Morton are subsidising their hobby, not the other way round. 

When I arrived at the game against Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, there were a bunch of them trying to start a fight with Hamilton fans and others kicking up a fuss about being searched on the way in. They then enter the ground and start singing their wee 'Morton Hooligan' song and then singing about supporting their club not being a crime. There are plenty among them causing trouble and then immediately playing the victim card. They say things about being the future of the support, but for the first time ever I was glad my wee girl didn't come along with me to a Morton match - some of these boys have no idea where to draw the line. It's not pleasant. 

The problem is that it has become a fad among pretty much all clubs, and they're all wee copies of each other. They sing the same songs, throw flares about the place, and do stupid stuff like trying to steal each others scarves. For many of them the football is a pretence to play the hooligan - it's not about Morton, per se, and there's no long term benefit for Morton in this, because once the fad wears out, they'll be away. 

I'd say that when some of these lads started following Morton the whole thing was welcome, but it has turned sour over the last year or so. There's definitely a group in there that should be encouraged, welcomed, and made to feel like an important part of the club but as long as they're so closely attached to those creating trouble that's very difficult to do. 

Don't try to start fights. Don't try to steal scarves. Don't throw flares (and other objects) about the place - especially when there is no consideration over who is going to get hit. Drop the song about being hooligans. And don't try to play the victim card when this behaviour is called out. None of this is about supporting the club. (I'd also say drop the black hoodies and balaclavas/scarves over face - but mostly cause it's cringey and just makes every club's set of supporters look identical).

[TRVMP]

3 hours ago, dunning1874 said:

Speaking of ban worthy conduct, I hope the mods are going to take serious action over the use of "behavior" rather than "behaviour" in this thread title.

Let's not nitpick, let's focus on the soccer issues at the arena. 

[The Bewilderedbeast]

51 minutes ago, SpoonTon said:

I think the kids need to realise that the 'spend lots of money' line is a terrible one to go down. The ones under 16 pay £5 entry and come clad in their own merchandise, meanwhile increasing costs for Morton to police games. The message should be abundantly clear - as long as they are causing trouble, Morton are subsidising their hobby, not the other way round. 

When I arrived at the game against Hamilton a couple of weeks ago, there were a bunch of them trying to start a fight with Hamilton fans and others kicking up a fuss about being searched on the way in. They then enter the ground and start singing their wee 'Morton Hooligan' song and then singing about supporting their club not being a crime. There are plenty among them causing trouble and then immediately playing the victim card. They say things about being the future of the support, but for the first time ever I was glad my wee girl didn't come along with me to a Morton match - some of these boys have no idea where to draw the line. It's not pleasant. 

The problem is that it has become a fad among pretty much all clubs, and they're all wee copies of each other. They sing the same songs, throw flares about the place, and do stupid stuff like trying to steal each others scarves. For many of them the football is a pretence to play the hooligan - it's not about Morton, per se, and there's no long term benefit for Morton in this, because once the fad wears out, they'll be away. 

I'd say that when some of these lads started following Morton the whole thing was welcome, but it has turned sour over the last year or so. There's definitely a group in there that should be encouraged, welcomed, and made to feel like an important part of the club but as long as they're so closely attached to those creating trouble that's very difficult to do. 

Don't try to start fights. Don't try to steal scarves. Don't throw flares (and other objects) about the place - especially when there is no consideration over who is going to get hit. Drop the song about being hooligans. And don't try to play the victim card when this behaviour is called out. None of this is about supporting the club. (I'd also say drop the black hoodies and balaclavas/scarves over face - but mostly cause it's cringey and just makes every club's set of supporters look identical).

Completely agree.

I read recently that a 75 Yr old female Arbroath supporter was knocked to the ground, after a recent away game at Stenhousemuir, by a crowd of youngsters as they chased after the away fans

As a result the woman fractured her hip and had to lie in a puddle for an hour (allegedly) until an ambulance arrived as the first aiders were wary of moving her for fear of making her injury worse.

Sadly, older fans, who will have been watching their clubs for years, will stop going and parents with decent younger kids will be put off taking them along if these arseholes go on unchecked.

Edited March 6 by The Bewilderedbeast

[DumfriesTon]

End of the day, don’t start fights with the opposition fans and then you’ll be fine to attend games. That statement and victim mentality in the comments of the Twitter post is quite funny.

I quite like the older guys with the drum. They create a good atmosphere but seemed recently they’ve been taken over by these wee guys singing about Morton Hooligans.