North stand back-chat? (From The Argus)

North stand back-chat?

8:40am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Your Argus

LAST Saturday, I saw Brighton and Hove Albion play Newcastle while sitting at the front of the north stand in the Amex stadium. I was given a ticking-off for using the profound word “b*****d” by another over-zealous response steward.

Minutes later, a much more serious expletive was chanted out by people in the north stand, to which I asked the response steward if he was going to do anything about it. He responded, “Yes, but to which one?” The response steward argued that because children were in the vicinity it was inappropriate to use a word, even though it is commonly used in playgrounds and in the dictionary.

However, this response steward deemed it was justifiable for a large sectarian group to use expletives. Ignoring the obvious victimisation of the response steward towards me (a season ticket-holder), there is a salient point to be made, which is this: if you wish to protect your children from obscenities, don’t take them into the north stand. When I bought my season ticket in the north stand I was told, “If your language isn’t quite what it should be and it takes you a little longer to sit down, then this is the stand for you”.

However, so far this season, stewards seem to have been quite aggressive in maintaining these standards. But why? The whole reason people choose to sit in the north stand is because of its raw passion. For this passion to come across, it’s important not to stifle fans by asking them to temper any coarse language or actions.

If you have children, or are concerned and offended by such language, then the family stand (east stand) has strict rules on this. I suggest sitting there. It’s disappointing because this response steward’s actions overshadowed a fantastic evening and a great win for the Albion. How many more times must we suffer such incompetencies?

Chris Sparks, Sutherland Road, Brighton