Middlesbrough Supporters Forum Raise Concerns Over Away Support

Without trying to sound like a bell-whiff, what can the MSF do to change anything Mark / Rob?

Is it ammunition for extra stewarding and policing to go to the club with?
There are a few of the specific points of concern that can be tackled ie men in women's toilets - that has to be tackled immediately. Men dealing in (women's) toilets - we have had talks with MFC about ways to combat this at away grounds. But obviously if people report specific incidents then they can be investigated. But women have to know that men will not be entering their toilets we all agree, I am sure.
Despite the result the atmosphere at Luton was amazing. As it was at the West Brom game. It was brilliant to be a part of those crowds and hopefully that will continue but it is not always like that this season. I suppose it is about saying what is not acceptable as "Boro banter."
 
There are a few of the specific points of concern that can be tackled ie men in women's toilets - that has to be tackled immediately. Men dealing in (women's) toilets - we have had talks with MFC about ways to combat this at away grounds. But obviously if people report specific incidents then they can be investigated. But women have to know that men will not be entering their toilets we all agree, I am sure.
Despite the result the atmosphere at Luton was amazing. As it was at the West Brom game. It was brilliant to be a part of those crowds and hopefully that will continue but it is not always like that this season. I suppose it is about saying what is not acceptable as "Boro banter."
Cheers Rob, but what is the outcome to achieve that?

A steward or copper on the door of the ladies loo?

What are the 95% of us who are normal well behaved folk to do to limit the 5%?

Can MSF take this forward and engage with someone to enact change to prevent it?

What is the mechanism we as 'well behaved' fans can do to change it?

Is the hope that people on here who think it is okay to pi55 in the sink in the ladies toilets and snort coke will reconsider their actions because people are reporting stuff to the MSF?
 
I think it was inferred in the meeting minutes but this is quite hard to tackle. Boro can't deal with specific incidents at away grounds so you're relying on the home stewarding. I'd imagine that they would think of it as a one off problem as the fans, Boro's in this case, will be gone for that season in a matter of hours.

So that really only leaves us to police ourselves. Obviously easier said than done. It does carry some risk of abuse back or even worse, but I do think people should call others out when they are behaving unacceptably to those around them.
 
I think it was inferred in the meeting minutes but this is quite hard to tackle. Boro can't deal with specific incidents at away grounds so you're relying on the home stewarding. I'd imagine that they would think of it as a one off problem as the fans, Boro's in this case, will be gone for that season in a matter of hours.

So that really only leaves us to police ourselves. Obviously easier said than done. It does carry some risk of abuse back or even worse, but I do think people should call others out when they are behaving unacceptably to those around them.
Yes, it could be hard to deal with. But our club does work with away clubs, match by match.
But as far as fans taking action themselves we would not recommend this - instead report it later or if you need to speak to a steward be discreet.
 
Cheers Rob, but what is the outcome to achieve that?

A steward or copper on the door of the ladies loo?

What are the 95% of us who are normal well behaved folk to do to limit the 5%?

Can MSF take this forward and engage with someone to enact change to prevent it?

What is the mechanism we as 'well behaved' fans can do to change it?

Is the hope that people on here who think it is okay to pi55 in the sink in the ladies toilets and snort coke will reconsider their actions because people are reporting stuff to the MSF?
We have a duty as a supporters forum to raise issues brought to us by supporters - I am sure you would agree. Some of these reports were really disturbing. We have already met with Middlesbrough FC and have been in talks with the Safety Officer.
As well behaved away fans do not put yourself in any jeopardy - we would underline that - report anything when and where it is safe to do so.
 
My son used to go in the South stand but stopped because of rampant drug use and consequent bad behaviour it can't be hard to stop the open use of drugs in the toilets, anyone found using or under the influence of drugs ( easy to test for) should receive a life time ban, both home and away
 
Stewards are very ineffective IMO, the amount of times they just get told to shut up and they do nothing or they just watch things unfold. I know they are volunteers but you need professionals in there.
 
A steward with his pet spaniel would scare the shoite out of them. Sometimes to queue at the cubicles is shocking, especially the age of them. Something needs to be sorted, even just a copper just walking in maybe a start.
 
This clearly comes down to us. Do we need to make a point of standing guard over the ladies toilets and reporting drug taking? It sounds like it.
 
It is a fashion egged on by social media. Instagram accounts which celebrate the fun of an away day often feature pictures of numerous hard squads with their Green Street inspired clothes.

These people aren't necessarily football fans, they're just the sheep who would have gone to Glastonbury purely for the Instagram pictures, or on the lads holidays of pre-pandemic years.
 
It's not just in the South Stand. On Saturday two lads were sat openly drinking pints of beer/lager some seats away from me. I went onto the concourse and told a steward. He came and had a word and they took their pints back to the concourse. This was in the West Upper. What surprised me was no-one near them had said anything and it was left to me to raise the issue.
 
Hello All

Just to provide a bit of context, the Supporters Forum has received an influx of emails and messages over the last few weeks from Boro fans that are concerned about the behaviour of some supporters at away games progressively getting worse. The feeling is that the that the vibe on the concourse away from home has changed a lot since fans returned to stadiums following the lockdowns.

The actions and attitudes of a minority of others has resulted in regular away day attendees no longer wishing to attend away games. or take their childern.

To give you a flavour of the issues, supporters are fed up with:
- People taking drugs in the toilets
- Male supporters being in the ladies toilets either taking drugs or urinating in sinks
- Female supporters being groped
- Fans being hit on the head by flying pints
- Aggressive behaviour on the concourse.
- Children witnessing fighting and drug taking in the toilets and concourse

That's just to name some of the themes but not specific to one particular game. You may have seen we raised this at the November MSF meeting with MFC and MSF are working with the club and supporters on what we can do to help try and reduce some of this.

Imagine if some of this behaviour was inflicted on your husband, wife, daughter, son, mate etc.

We all know away games are a great day out and the singing on concourse etc is all part of it, but the things mentioned above are not needed.

I think its just a matter of respecting others around you.
That seems pretty standard for most of the local away games unfortunately, the same ones then usually complain they were kicked out for doing nothing wrong

Such a shame we have to share a space with scum like this for just following our team, and be treat like criminals by local police/stewards because of them
 
It's not just in the South Stand. On Saturday two lads were sat openly drinking pints of beer/lager some seats away from me. I went onto the concourse and told a steward. He came and had a word and they took their pints back to the concourse. This was in the West Upper. What surprised me was no-one near them had said anything and it was left to me to raise the issue.
That’s hardly an issue compared to the other things especially if they weren’t causing trouble
 
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