Brad
27-02-2009, 09:50 AM
Concerns over drunk fans
By Jim O’Sullivan
ALCOHOL-FUELLED fans arriving late is one of the biggest challenges facing the GAA on big matchdays, a leading official warned last night.
Revised training of stewards is now a serious priority for the Munster Council, according to new secretary Pat Fitzgerald. He says the failure to fill the Blackrock End terrace properly last year at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for Cork’s SHC clash with Tipperary was the reason why people had to be allowed onto the pitch perimeter.
Pointing out their responsibility to ensure patron comfort and safety, he writes in his first report to next week’s annual convention that recent events highlight a need for more vigilance.
"A tiny minority of our spectators do not seem to care about the safety or comfort of their fellow patrons. Alcohol consumption prior to games and indeed attempts to bring alcohol into games have now become our main challenge when stewarding."
He rejects claims of overcrowding on terraces at some of their games, saying that it can be "clearly shown" that the capacity allowed on Health and Safety grounds was not reached on any of these occasions. At the same time, however, he admits that mistakes were made.
What occurred was a failure to properly steward terraces by keeping walkways clear and denying patronsaccess to areas already full. And, from their perspective that was worrying.
"A combination of factors contributed to this problem — late arrivals, patrons not obeying stewards’ instructions and a failure to preempt problem areas on the day. The lastfactor is where we must improve for the future and it is in this area that we are putting plans in place for the year ahead.’’
Specifically in relation to what happened at the Cork/Tipperary game, he explains that with a near to capacity attendance, there was "a failure to fill the Blackrock End terrace properly".
"That meant we had to allow patrons on to the field area for safety problems.
"This problem was caused in the main by some patrons coming in late and a tiny minority refusing to obey stewards and allow other patrons move freely through the terrace.’’
Acknowledging the importance of additional stewarding on big match days, Mr Fitzgerald points out that the Munster Council has recently appointed a provincial chief steward whose brief will be to liaise with event controllers and local Gardaí.
In a wide-ranging report — notable for the presentation of a different form of financial presentation carried out by his assistant, Daniel Nelligan and Council Treasurer Michael Power — he refers to the controversy which raged over the controversial ending to the Tipperary/Clare U21 hurling championship final in Ennis. On that occasion, Tipperary were winners as a result of a disputed refereeing decision when the Clare goalkeeper had a ‘65 awarded against him after he was penalised for stepping outside the square when taking a puck-out.
In commenting on this decision, Fitzgerald refers to the relevant rule and notes that despite warnings to the goalkeeper, "he was clearly shown to have put one foot outside the square on this occasion".
"The problem arises in the application, or should I say the non-application, of this rule on occasions by some very experienced referees. This inconsistency is the devil in the room so to speak and we must ensure if this rule is to remain then it is applied evenly in all competitions by all referees."
Notwithstanding any grievance — perceived or justified — felt by genuine Clare supporters, "disgraceful and dangerous" incidents which involved a tiny minority of young and unruly spectators afterwards had to be "condemned and deplored".
In a reference to the continuing dominance of the senior football championship by Kerry and Cork, he says that the other counties have to look at how they develop the game at under-age level. They must devise proper coaching plans in their clubs and schools if they are to "seriously challenge" the top two on a regular basis. That, he says, will prove the only antidote to long-term failure.
Mr Fitzgerald also questioned the expenditure in preparing adult teams: "We must realise that we are looking for short term gain with little or no long term benefit in most cases.
"Yes, it is important that our county adult teams do well but can we justify the type of expenditure incurred on some of the activities involved when measured against the expenditure committed to ensuring that we provide the proper coaching support and coach training in our clubs."
In response to the economic recession, he points out that the Council has decided to increase family ticket allocations for counties for all their games.
And he expresses the view that the recent innovation of a season ticket at national level will be the forerunner to a more extensive and comprehensive loyalty scheme in the years to come.
http://www.irishexaminer.co m/sport/idojeyidey/
By Jim O’Sullivan
ALCOHOL-FUELLED fans arriving late is one of the biggest challenges facing the GAA on big matchdays, a leading official warned last night.
Revised training of stewards is now a serious priority for the Munster Council, according to new secretary Pat Fitzgerald. He says the failure to fill the Blackrock End terrace properly last year at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for Cork’s SHC clash with Tipperary was the reason why people had to be allowed onto the pitch perimeter.
Pointing out their responsibility to ensure patron comfort and safety, he writes in his first report to next week’s annual convention that recent events highlight a need for more vigilance.
"A tiny minority of our spectators do not seem to care about the safety or comfort of their fellow patrons. Alcohol consumption prior to games and indeed attempts to bring alcohol into games have now become our main challenge when stewarding."
He rejects claims of overcrowding on terraces at some of their games, saying that it can be "clearly shown" that the capacity allowed on Health and Safety grounds was not reached on any of these occasions. At the same time, however, he admits that mistakes were made.
What occurred was a failure to properly steward terraces by keeping walkways clear and denying patronsaccess to areas already full. And, from their perspective that was worrying.
"A combination of factors contributed to this problem — late arrivals, patrons not obeying stewards’ instructions and a failure to preempt problem areas on the day. The lastfactor is where we must improve for the future and it is in this area that we are putting plans in place for the year ahead.’’
Specifically in relation to what happened at the Cork/Tipperary game, he explains that with a near to capacity attendance, there was "a failure to fill the Blackrock End terrace properly".
"That meant we had to allow patrons on to the field area for safety problems.
"This problem was caused in the main by some patrons coming in late and a tiny minority refusing to obey stewards and allow other patrons move freely through the terrace.’’
Acknowledging the importance of additional stewarding on big match days, Mr Fitzgerald points out that the Munster Council has recently appointed a provincial chief steward whose brief will be to liaise with event controllers and local Gardaí.
In a wide-ranging report — notable for the presentation of a different form of financial presentation carried out by his assistant, Daniel Nelligan and Council Treasurer Michael Power — he refers to the controversy which raged over the controversial ending to the Tipperary/Clare U21 hurling championship final in Ennis. On that occasion, Tipperary were winners as a result of a disputed refereeing decision when the Clare goalkeeper had a ‘65 awarded against him after he was penalised for stepping outside the square when taking a puck-out.
In commenting on this decision, Fitzgerald refers to the relevant rule and notes that despite warnings to the goalkeeper, "he was clearly shown to have put one foot outside the square on this occasion".
"The problem arises in the application, or should I say the non-application, of this rule on occasions by some very experienced referees. This inconsistency is the devil in the room so to speak and we must ensure if this rule is to remain then it is applied evenly in all competitions by all referees."
Notwithstanding any grievance — perceived or justified — felt by genuine Clare supporters, "disgraceful and dangerous" incidents which involved a tiny minority of young and unruly spectators afterwards had to be "condemned and deplored".
In a reference to the continuing dominance of the senior football championship by Kerry and Cork, he says that the other counties have to look at how they develop the game at under-age level. They must devise proper coaching plans in their clubs and schools if they are to "seriously challenge" the top two on a regular basis. That, he says, will prove the only antidote to long-term failure.
Mr Fitzgerald also questioned the expenditure in preparing adult teams: "We must realise that we are looking for short term gain with little or no long term benefit in most cases.
"Yes, it is important that our county adult teams do well but can we justify the type of expenditure incurred on some of the activities involved when measured against the expenditure committed to ensuring that we provide the proper coaching support and coach training in our clubs."
In response to the economic recession, he points out that the Council has decided to increase family ticket allocations for counties for all their games.
And he expresses the view that the recent innovation of a season ticket at national level will be the forerunner to a more extensive and comprehensive loyalty scheme in the years to come.
http://www.irishexaminer.co m/sport/idojeyidey/