RED BLUE ARMY FORUM

ellblundell · Staff Sergeant

Falling in line.

FATBOY · Colonel

I could talk face to face with Elliott, however, since a few others would wish to know I've said a few things, I'll whack it on here instead.

Yes, we all know things are going to change. It's not going to be as simple as Rushden, where we just stand up when and where we please. Stewards are notirious in the Football League for throwing people out of grounds for "Standing and encouraging others to stand". So yes, we are going to have th change things. Maybe a way of combating would be adding to the membership benefits "Priority on RBA block ticket bookings"? Obviously, we'd have to look into that, and talk to the club about it.

As for stuff such as flags, I am talking to the club safty officer, and we are going to arrange a meeting as to what we can and cannot take into the ground. I will be attending this, however, I think it might be helpful to bring an "older head" along with me, for a different point of view. If you want to help out, PM me and I'll keep you posted.

TIFO will always happen in the East Bank, however, it will have to be within boundaries set by the club. I've had people say to me "we'll just sneak poles in". Alright, we could do, but it will just come down on us harder. I will negotiate with the club as much as possible, to keep going what we've got here.

We'll still have the away days, we'll still have this group ethos, but yes, a few things may have to change. We're not non-league anymore, and we'll have to fall in line like everyone else.

wob · Captain

With the standing issue we'll just have to be strong. If there's a large group of us stood together and ignoring the stewards there wont be alot they can really do. I've heard storys of Accrington supporters being turfed out for standing, but they don't have the same sized following as we do therefore it was probably easier for the stewards if it's just a few standing on their own.

I give you an example; Fulham v Aston Villa last season. I was in the Villa end, in the 2nd row. About 10 minutes into the game the stewards at the front asked the lads in the 1st row to sit down, obviously they ignored them and stayed stood. As I was on the end of the row they came to me and asked me to sit, which I ignored. They then threatened to kick me out, to which I asked if they were going to kick the 3,500 other Villa supporters out aswell, at this point she walked away. Eventually they gave us and just left us stood.

I know there isn't going to be 3,500 of us stood, but the point remains the same, if we stay strong, as a group, and keep stood, eventually the stewards will give up. It's a daft rule anyway, they say standing in a seated area goes against "health and safety" so why is it that people can legally stand before matches or during half time?! Same stand, same people, doing the same thing. Doesn't make any difference if the football's started or not.

If enough of us stay strong we will win.

Rogers · Ginger

Stand up as a group and we will be fine, couldn't give a monkeys about tifo and flags if i am honest. Standing and singing comes first and if every member of the RBA is willing to grow balls (except the ladies of course) and ignore some stewards we shall be fine. Long live the RBA :P

dougoftheshots · Second Lieutenant

talking about flags on poles if you watch liverpool on their big games they are allowed to take them in to the ground so why not us, or is there one rule for the prem clubs and a differant one for football league clubs confused

wob · Captain

I don't think we'll have a problem with flags at home games. Away games will probably bit hit and miss.

It's nothing to do with the Football League because teams like Crystal Palace and Colchester have groups like ours in the higher divisions.

user posted image

YateleyShot · Lieutenant

I'll probably have a different opinion on the matter compared to a few others, but oh well,

I'm all for standing up, adding noise and colour towards the atmosphere otherwise I wouldn't be a part of the group, but when I turn up on a saturday to watch my team play, not to be a part of the RBA, and if it came down to getting chucked out for something as silly as not sitting down, then to be honest I'd rather just sit down and watch the match if i'm honest.

In terms of poles ect, some will allow them, some wont, I think we'll have to just deal with it to be honest, you can already tell from just pictures of the grounds how stewards are going to react.

Oh, and one more thing to add to the first bit, if we give the stewards respect, they'll give us respect IMO, if they ask us to sit down and we dis-obey and start chanting "if you all hate stewards" ect (like at rushden on 1 or 2 occasions) then there just going to be even harsher on us....

Rogers · Ginger

If everyone takes that attitude then we aren't going to get anywhere. Stand as a group. Stewards will try once or twice after that they will give up.

YateleyShot · Lieutenant

Rogers wrote:

If everyone takes that attitude then we aren't going to get anywhere. Stand as a group. Stewards will try once or twice after that they will give up.

I never said against that?

Of course I'm going to stand, and refrain from sitting down as much as possible, but I obviously hold different views as to how far we would go to stand, and i'm not going to stand there and call him a **** or whatever for not letting me stand up.

ishy68stanleyultra · Lance Corporal

hiya all .... we had all the same worries when we went up but tbh there isnt really that many grounds that bother we only had bother at mansfield, notts county you may experience problems with poles and drums but standing shouldnt be a problem at most places anyway glad to have you back in league and all the best for the season........ hopefully will be 2 cracking display1st game of season and its good that we eventually meet on a saturday as numbers will be bigger although expect a change to sunday myself ......... 2 reformed teams back in league day 1 of season hope not but i expect it

-- Edited by ishy68stanleyultra at 17:28, 2008-06-18

Rogers · Ginger

Same to you lads, looking forward to this season and the 9th should be good. :P

ishy68stanleyultra · Lance Corporal

Rogers wrote:

Same to you lads, looking forward to this season and the 9th should be good. :P

cheers dude see ya 9th

wob · Captain

I posted this on UltrasUK earlier, so I thought I'd post it here too for those of you who don't go on that forum...

Speaking from a personal point of view, my number one priority when I go to football is supporting my team. Whilst I obviously prefer to stand, I've been with supports that have sat down but still produced a decent atmosphere, the main one was sitting with Celtic fans at QPR last summer. I was in the stand down the side where everyone was sitting but still making a fair bit of noise. Obviously supporters are louder when stood, but if it comes to "sit down or you're out" I'd rather sit down where I can still give vocal support to my team, I'm not much use if I've been kicked out am I?

So yeh, my team comes first to me and I'd rather give them support whilst sat down than be booted out.

ellblundell · Staff Sergeant

fair one wob but if we do get flags and things in than can you realy use them when we are sitting down.
yes sure flags we can, but if we get in surfers than can we realy do it sitting down confused

Rogers · Ginger

Standing > Flags.

Tenerife Shot · Staff Sergeant

For my two pennies.... An Ultra group HAS to stand. I have never seen myself a sitting down Ultra group, if it is sat it refrains from being an Ultra group.

Look at Euro 2008, the big tournament and 1000's stand and Uefa don't or can't do anyhting about it.

I know I am a bit out of it down here in Tenerife but would it be a stupid idea to before every away game get ATFC to contact the Club that we are visiting and ask for permission to get all the flags/drums in?? An official letter that can be produced on arrival.

Tim · Captain

that would be a good idea in my opinion because then were not taking the drums/flags there and then getting told we cant use them.

last season we went to crawley on the train and the bastards said we couldnt take in plastic poles, i dont know why??

also, at woking we were in the seated stand and me/fatboy had our drums taken off us.

if we were told in advance that we couldnt take these in then at least we have a bit of time to discuss alternatives like displays etc......

shotsyoungfollower · Corporal

Not all grounds are all seated anyway, sure enough you have grounds like Bradford etc which are all seated but you also have grounds like Morecambe that have standing areas, so it may just be the minority we have trouble getting two sticks and the drums into. But all in all if we all stand they cant exactly kick us all out, can they?

-- Edited by shotsyoungfollower at 11:33, 2008-06-24

ellblundell · Staff Sergeant

no but they can chuck the ring leaders out like chappie ect, no efence chappie, but if he goes than what support will we have then, because we need the big voice people to start of the songs, not saying that we cant but the atmosphere would die down without people like him. So if it comes in between getting chucked out or sitting, i say supporting my team and watching them would come befor standing and creating a atmosphere, because you can sing while sitting, yes its better standing but if you get chucked out for standing what songs are you going to sing then, and i think i speek on a lot of peoples behalf when i say this.

Tenerife Shot · Staff Sergeant

If one of the "top guys" gets thrown out for basically doing nothing wrong I would expect all the group to walk out en masse.

wob · Captain

In an ideal world TS, but in reality it won't happen.

ellblundell · Staff Sergeant

if one gets kicked out people wont follow

chris woods · Lieutenant

No. People paid to watch the game, but im sure there will be some agg if someone is being thrown out, my dad always ends up having a ruck with stewards at Chelsea over them telling people to sit down biggrin

Besides we can smuggle. biggrin

(that is a joke)

keith65 · Corporal

if we all stand as one rba,and eveyone else.and become united and all stand and sing like we used to in league.and stand tall for aldershot town football club then we can win every battle what is put in front of us......ie...standing,drums,flags....and respect from rest of clubs in the leagues we all will go far. bring on the league

BWA_Ultra · Sergeant

If you stand together as a group, and all remain stood together you will be ok!

If they target individuals as a last resort they should sit and as soon as the stewards move on stand up again, almost musical chairs if you like.

ellblundell · Staff Sergeant

nice plan but there are more stewards to back up the ones who have left and is there a point of keep standing and than sitting every 5 mins that would just ruin the atmosphere.

Rogers · Ginger

BWA Ultra is from Colchester who have been in the football league for some time mate. If it works for them there is no reason why we can do it.

BWA_Ultra · Sergeant

It isn't really sitting, standing etc. as most of the time the majority of you would be stood, it is a last resort just as they move passed you. They cannot physically ask more than 10-15 of you to sit at a time so you would need a good 50 standers for it to work.

Alternatively just remain standing throughout. It is a hard one to explain really but the main thing is you agree on how you combat it because if people start giving in then you are done for.

The hardest bit is usually at the start when they try to impose themselves on you, if you can come out of that well they usually leave you alone after.

dougoftheshots · Second Lieutenant

looking at the posts about standing at away games next season, its ok saying if every one stands the stewards will leave us alone but at some time in the season the word will get around to other club stewards that the rba of aldershot dont take any notice of the away ground rules about sitting down this will mean that the rba will be targeted and which in turn could cause trouble which is what we as a group dont want to be branded as trouble makers, if stewards start ejecting rba members from the ground and report it back to aldershot then its not going to look good on rba. dont get me wrong i will stand with the rba at away grounds but please dont take it to the point that the rba get branded as hooligans.
we as a group have built up a good name for our selfs so lets not spoil it just for the sake of standing.

YateleyShot · Lieutenant

Agreed Doug, it takes years to get a good name, and a matter of minutes to destroy it, and this was the point I was trying to make earlier in the thread, if it gets to the stage where you either obey the stewards or you get into serious trouble, then just use the common sense, no matter how ultra you think you are by disobeying them.