After the problems at the Stoke City game last week QPR 1st sent contacted the Stoke City Fans Forum, which was then forwarded to the club itself. Below is our letter along with a reply from Jonathan Fuller the Chief Executive of Stoke City FC. If you have an experience from this game that you want to share please sent it via email to info@qpr1st.co.uk
Dear SCFF
Let me introduce myself. My name is Tracy Stent and I am Secretary of the QPR Supporters trust (QPR 1st).
Firstly, I would like to say well done on your initiative in the setting up of your group. Fans forums are a welcome introduction for football fans everywhere and I really enjoyed reading the notes from your meeting with Stoke City FC in Saturday’s matchday programme.
There are two issues mentioned within the minutes that, as a visiting supporter to the Britannia stadium, I would like to bring to your attention.
The first one is the catering at your ground. Or should I say the catering for the away fans. The staff were ever so friendly and helpful, unfortunately the choice of fare was not so appealing.
Beforehand, we, my husband and two young daughters, enjoyed a sociable drink in the Harvester restaurant adjacent to the ground. Unfortunately the wait for something to eat was too long and so we told our daughters they could have something hot inside the ground.
However, the only food available were meat pies and sausage rolls which weren’t warm.. Not a lot of good for those who don’t particularly want to eat meat. No chips, cheese pasties, or even hotdogs for those who have the stomach for them! It was rather disappointing to find that a club, which is regarded as a big one in division 2, with a superb stadium, is very basic indeed regarding its catering facilities to the away fans.
The second issue I’d like to bring to your attention is the ‘hooligan’ situation that occurred after the game outside, in the car park (at the away end). Your True Supporters against violence initiative deserves a real pat on the back, especially since the hooligan element at Stoke appears to be alive after what we witnessed. We asked a steward the best way back to the Harvester car park, he pointed us in the direction of the gates at the away car park (where the coaches are parked). Unfortunately it was ‘all going off’ with bottles, coins, sticks and punches being thrown in that area. The gates were locked and we headed back to the other ones (near to the clubshop) but were told by stewards that we ran the risk of being beaten up by gangs of Stoke hoolies if they let us out! It was freezing cold, we had our young children with us and we just wanted to get back to our car but we couldn’t because of the threat of violence. Is this really football in 2002? Apparently the stewards were more than aware of this problem as they informed us the threat of violence was something they were more than aware of after games.
I am not for one moment saying that certain elements of our own ‘supporters’ were entirely innocent but I have been informed that 2 QPR fans, who came into contact with a knife, carried by a gang of Stoke ‘fans’ were injured. It’s very sad that the enjoyment of a family day out is beginning to be spoilt, by the mindless idiots. Even more sadder that your own efforts in this matter are being ruined by those so called Stoke fans. I thought you would appreciate some feedback on our experience.
Good luck in the future with your efforts. By the same account we on QPR 1st are determined to do all we can, in conjunction with our club, to work tirelessly in retaining football for true supporters of the beautiful game.
Kind regards
Tracy Stent
Response from Stoke City FC
Dear Tracy,
A copy of your e-mail to the Stoke City Fans Forum has been forwarded to me. As you are aware this Club is determined to eliminate hooligans who, from time to time, bring shame upon the Club’s name. The number of post-match incidents such as the one you refer to are thankfully decreasing in number but the police and stewards have to remain ever vigilant. Many of the trouble makers do not actually watch our matches but hang out in pubs in the city on Saturday afternoons and only venture to the Stadium towards the end of games to see if there is any “action.” What it is that makes these morons behave in such a fashion is hard for fathom – we can only attempt to alienate these groups through campaigns such as our “True Supporters” and encourage good behavior in line with our “Supporters Charter.” This charter actually arose from supporters seeing similar signage at Loftus Road earlier this season.
I will leave it to our Fans Forum Catering Rep. to answer your queries re
the menu on offer, safe to say that the Club and the Forum are working
together to improve the catering as swiftly as we can.
I hope the post-match incidents on Saturday will not deter you and your
fellow supporters from returning to the Britannia Stadium next season,
hopefully for a First Division match between our two sides.
Kind regards,
Jonathan Fuller
Chief Executive
Stoke City F. C.