Tonbridge Segregation

[os]

I don't know if more information has been received but the original actions at Tonbridge were from their supporters not ours. Our behaviour was as always exemplary and the problems on the day were reported by the Tonbridge Club Sec on their forum before any mention on here, it is shame that he cannot be more supportive of our clubs action as I am sure he will know the full reasons?

[tonbridgefan]

First, Doswell runs out and kicks out at one of our players.
Second he decides to go sit in the press\ directors box next game...
Now ... segregation .......
I don't know what happened that day when Doswell decided to run out and kick out at one of our players.
He was obviously extremely upset by something our management said to him?
I can't say what I think of Doswell and his actions on this or any forum, particularly about the actions taken by Dos' this season when we played you at home.
He made a comment about our management.. can't quote him but it was regarding their behaviour lets say . So he didn't feel brave enough to stand sit on the touch line?
C'mon ...
All clubs have problems, the few minority of idiots that make things harder.
I know most of our fans .. (like 99%) are really disappointed what happened about that Saturday when Doswell 'decided to sit in the press box' .
I definately won't be going Saturday .. you have made it quite clear as a club.
I hope you go up and we never meet again .
Very sad .

[wellie]

Tonbridge fan.I assume you are not aware of what happened in yor car park after the recent game at Tonbridge .Might explain a lot!

[Beaney]

Dos was aggravated by your bench and supporters that day (and poss. the players). Notice how he didn't get any serious disciplinary action against him. Secondly, he sat in the box to stop the same thing happening yet STILL your supporters had not learnt the errors of their ways. We would like 99% of the Tonbridge fans to come on Saturday, but in fear that the 1% may also come, segregation is a neccessity. I think you should all come along and show how well-behaved you are! As for never seeing each other again, I quite like the cheerfulness of your ground and we always seem to get a good result there so I can't say the feeling's mutual (though of course I would like the club to go up).

[frakey]

Actually Dos spent the recent match at Longmead on the bench as far as I remember. As for a small section of the crowd being abusive, the chants coming from behind the goal that Angels attacked each half seemed to be from more than a small minority.

Incidents that occurred at the end of the game & well after it probably swung the decision and I'm afraid that can only be blamed on the reaction of what was a minority of home fans.

We all know what Dos did, albeit as a result of some provocation, but your skipper was not seriously injured, he carried on and Dos was dealt with by the FA.

As one of your guys posted on your forum after our recent meeting, it was dealt with, history, why react in such a way.

Don't come on Sat if that's your choice - you won't get wet as the forecast is set fair - and if it is a draw, segregate us if you like, most of us U's supporters are used to that from our Conference experiences.

As for it being very sad, that's exactly what I felt about the reaction at Longmead a few weeks back. Honours even!

[Chalmers]

He was on the bench and was abused virtually all game by some neanderthal. As posted elsewhere, the baying crowd who waited around 15-20 minutes for him to go into the tunnel was very sad.

[DaveF]

Just so you know, this afternoon the FA's Head of Security wrote advising us to segregate. Of course, we had already put the plans in place.

[Beaney]

This makes for interesting reading, pages 3/4 esp., a mixed bag of opinions.
www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6938.20.html

[vern]

Cool beans!

[Andy K]

Their forum is very interesting - totally opposite opinions. Mind you, the "Sutton Press" as they quote says there is a history between Sutton fans and Tonbridge Fans. I think both sides will agree thats not the case - maybe a bit of the press building things up a bit too much. Theres quite a bit of "Suttons a crap ground" "Sutton are punishing us" and "Playing Dos's game". Those people obviously don't understand and probably won't understand that segregation is a preventitive measure because of a minority of "Fans" taking a dislike to Dos. Well Dos isn't Hayden Bird and wants to be everyones friend, he's got a job to do. Added to the fact that none of the fans there mentioned their managers especially poor record with the FA on misconduct, and the total misunderstanding about how finances are split for cup games means the net result of this will be real Tonbridge fans will come to the game tomorrow and support their team.

Storm in a teacup I think, but we've done the right thing.

[os]

I think its all a bit silly on their forum, if you read the posts then its totally clear just why there is segregation tomorrow. You cannot have supporters squaring up to opposition management what ever you think of them and Sutton have acted totally correctly to reduce the risk of it tomorrow.

No one is saying that all their fans cause trouble, but they admit they have 1 or 2 idiots who could possibly travel tomorrow.

[taz]

Just seen the bit in the local Guardian. Awesome bit of misleading reporting there!

[Andy K]

From the Sutton Guardian

Sutton have taken the unusual step of segregating the crowd for Saturday’s visit of Tonbridge Angels in light of some unsavoury post-match events - involving both sets of supporters - the last time the two teams met in September.

“If we hadn’t done this and there was a problem, then people would point the finger. The steps will cost both clubs financially, but they have been taken with the full co-operation of Tonbridge,” said Sutton chairman Bruce Elliott.

“Matters surrounding the previous match are being looked at by the FA. It is not a move we wanted to make and we won’t be making a habit of it, but it is to prevent the possibility of any sort of problem and to ensure the safety of our manager.”"

Bit of a contradiction between the first and last paragraph there.

[DaveF]

Unfortunately the local rag made some of it up. Bruce didn't want to make a big thing of it so tried to underplay things, that doesn't sit well with journos.