Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.
After the Millwall game - club reply to CAST p34, further CAST response p45
Comments
-
I only saw the incident from inside the ground and all looked quite orderly with them being escorted to the JS stand via the pitch. No pushing or shoving except the one argumentative gent. Seemed calm apart from that all things considered.Lurker said:
From what I saw, the bunch entering from the pitch just pushed past a few stewards on the gate between the West and JS and made their way through to pitch side.Markg2004 said:
That was odd, the entrance via pitch side. Fans were jumping the fencing to get into the Jimmy Seed. There was also a ruckus and a fan kicked out before reaching the stand. You'd imagine there were allowed in as it was orderly on the most part, bar the struggle to get into the stand and the lone aggressor.Baldybonce said:
Police using their initiative?Markg2004 said:So what can we take from tonight and Met Police operation? Did they learn from Millwall?
Clearly they must've told the club all egress routes after the game would be open, the club communicated that before the match. Only for them to close the gates down Valley Grove keeping Chelsea back.
Charlton staff i spoke to didnt know the police were going to close those gates as I tried to get out there.
It is like they are making it up at times. Why do this for Chelsea and not Millwall then?
Did you see the Chelsea mob brought in via the pitch?
From my perspective that is pretty spot on. We were told via one of the official club videos that egression from the stadium post match would be as per normal league games. To me in the West Stand it is via the gates into Valley Grove that come out next to the Away support and up towards the station.PragueAddick said:So is this a fair summary?:
- Chelsea were “held back” but outside the stadium
- they had no prior warning this would happen, so they have the hump (understandably, I’d say)
- but we were allowed to exit normallyI wasn’t there so it would be good to get some more comments, to ensure that whatever I say to Len Duvall about this reflects a consensus of views from those who were there.
I went down the stairs and towards those gates as that is my normal route. Other fans were trying to do the same. I even walked past 3 or 4 stewards who did nothing to stop me or say it was closed off. I got to the end and then was told it is closed. I asked why and the lady in green hi-vis said 'we don't know why, i work for the club and we were told it was going to be open". Whilst not verbatim, it was a don't blame us, I wanted to go that way too vibe from her.
I exited via Floyd Road instead and where the fans join up on the way to the station there was a row of police, vans etc, kitted up too stopping Chelsea leaving. CAFC fans were shouting "why didn't you do this for Millwall" etc and some were pulled to aside and spoken too.
Whilst holding Chelsea back helped us get away quicker, we were told all normal routes open which they were not, and it seems Chelsea didn't expect to be held either.Police turned up on horses a few minutes after the gate had been shut.0 -
Bit weird at a football match IMO but whatever floats people’s boats.LargeAddick said:
The latter chant is perfectly acceptable.sam3110 said:
Plenty in the home end joined in on that one, and the "Starmer is a W*nker" chant tooRichard J said:
Many of the previous Chelsea 'fans from 30 years ago are still present.PragueAddick said:
I had a friendly chat with a long serving member of Chelsea Supporters Trust board, whom I know from the Olympic Stadium campaign. Old-skool fan, very much there when they were shit. He says thatTootingRedArmy said:
As per earlier post one of my sons mates is a Met policeman and saw police snatch squads going in to stop groups of Chelsea fans causing trouble down Floyd rd just before the match. Maybe there were other more serious incidents with Chelsea hooligans.shirty5 said:
Then my educated guess would be something untoward went on before kick off, for the Police to take the action they did.ElfsborgAddick said:
Each time we played Chelsea in the Premier League there were no problems leaving the ground together.TootingRedArmy said:
I think Chelsea & Millwall are on another level to those three! I'm not going to put them into a hooligan premier league, of who has the worse hooligans, Bushwackers, Headhunters, Zulus, Baby Squad etc.ElfsborgAddick said:
Do you think Birmingham, Leicester and Portsmouth are high risk?TootingRedArmy said:
Why? Chelsea have a large hooligan element like Millwall, Leeds etc.ElfsborgAddick said:
You think this was a high risk match, why?TootingRedArmy said:It was very sensible to hold the Chelsea fans back, as per earlier post.
Surely in future high risk matches, the stadium announcer at around 85-90 mins informs away fans they are being held back and its also put on the big screen. Fans can decide to wait in the road or stay in their seats with toilets etc. Or just tell them in advance with clear instructions that no fans will be allowed out of the ground once they have entered, till home fans have left and expect 30mins delay.....simple surely?
I have zero sympathy for Chelsea, Millwall or other clubs with hooligan fans being held back they have caused chaos for decades and if they are inconvencied so be it.
I hope MET Police and our club sort out communication with away fans for all future high risk matches, so our supporters are free to leave safety and without any disrupt, exactly as it should be.
Evidenced before the match down Floyd rd & police teams going in to stop them kicking off.
(one of my sons mates is a Met policeman who arrived very late & saw it & polices football games)
i've seen Chelsea Headhunters in action, both at Valley and The Bridge to know they can't be trusted to behave. A Sat 8pm after a day of alcohol with Chelsea is of course a high risk match. I was very pleased after the match to see the road blocked with vans and large contingent of police and policehorses and get away without having to see any Chelsea fans. Likewise i'm more than happy to wait 30+ mins after the Millwall away to get the train back to London Bridge.
It is what it is some clubs are still stuck in the dark ages and their so called fans can't be trusted to behave.
Charlton station being the main transport point for home and away fans & of course Floyd Rd are the two places for obvious trouble so letting home fans disperse makes perfect sense
moving fwd the Met and club need to give advance warning of arrangements post match, as should Millwall for what the arrangements are for our fixture on Jan 24th at the Den.Was that communicated to those travelling supporters? If not then you can understand their anger and frustration of being penned in like that.
Does anyone know if Jimmy Seed PA announced to Chelsea fans that they were being held back? A policeman with a megaphone was shouting it clearly when i walked pass the policevans with the large group of MET blocking the road. I imagine for seasoned Chelsea fans being kept behind happens regularly and seems very sensible policing to avoid potential trouble & allow Charlton fans to leave peacefully.
Does anyone know caused several hundred Chelsea fans to enter JS via pitch before the ground?
- they had no prior warning of any planned hold-back
- he heard no advice at all from plod outside the ground when they were kettled (his words). He certainly didn't hear the megaphone you mention, he wondered why one was apparently not being used at the very least.
- He says (confirming some remarks from Lifers pre-game) that the Chelsea fan base has completely changed in the last 30 years. "of course" he says "we've still got some herberts, like every fan base".
- he goes to most away games, (he prefers them to home games because he hates the corporate atmosphere at the Bridge) and says they have never been held back anywhere recently. Not at Fulham, and more strikingly not at Leeds. Both sets of fans mingling easily on the way out.
- He says he had heard of some incident in or near the station before the game but heard that it was nothing more than verbals among herberts.
- he witnessed the mounted police at close quarters, and found it both baffling and disturbing.
- he said he spoke to the police on duty outside the station; they had been drafted in from elsewhere and were unable to help people navigate the area because they had no clue themselves (not all wanted to take the train, including him, though he knows the area anyway).
He therefore had the unfortunate impression that the general problem is "with Charlton". That was before I told him the full background to the Millwall game, including previous years where they held us back. Then he wondered about the police with riot gear (which he said they did not actually activate) and what happened to the days when police around the two clubs pooled information, because from his POV the idea that any Chelsea came looking for serious trouble is laughable.
He is involved with their effort to get answers with the police and mentioned that they are co-operating on this with CAST - which is very good news. The Met won't find it so easy to dismiss two coherent and determined Trusts with the same story, which is, essentially , last minute changes by the police to normal egress arrangements, giving the clubs no time to adequately inform fans. (or in this case inform them at all).
I clearly heard them sing some of the ' Blues Brother's' ( Chelsea , Linfield and Rangers ) sectarian chants about the Pope and the IRA on more than one occasion during the match.
5 -
I think that’s the point.Callumcafc said:
Bit weird at a football match IMO but whatever floats people’s boats.LargeAddick said:
The latter chant is perfectly acceptable.sam3110 said:
Plenty in the home end joined in on that one, and the "Starmer is a W*nker" chant tooRichard J said:
Many of the previous Chelsea 'fans from 30 years ago are still present.PragueAddick said:
I had a friendly chat with a long serving member of Chelsea Supporters Trust board, whom I know from the Olympic Stadium campaign. Old-skool fan, very much there when they were shit. He says thatTootingRedArmy said:
As per earlier post one of my sons mates is a Met policeman and saw police snatch squads going in to stop groups of Chelsea fans causing trouble down Floyd rd just before the match. Maybe there were other more serious incidents with Chelsea hooligans.shirty5 said:
Then my educated guess would be something untoward went on before kick off, for the Police to take the action they did.ElfsborgAddick said:
Each time we played Chelsea in the Premier League there were no problems leaving the ground together.TootingRedArmy said:
I think Chelsea & Millwall are on another level to those three! I'm not going to put them into a hooligan premier league, of who has the worse hooligans, Bushwackers, Headhunters, Zulus, Baby Squad etc.ElfsborgAddick said:
Do you think Birmingham, Leicester and Portsmouth are high risk?TootingRedArmy said:
Why? Chelsea have a large hooligan element like Millwall, Leeds etc.ElfsborgAddick said:
You think this was a high risk match, why?TootingRedArmy said:It was very sensible to hold the Chelsea fans back, as per earlier post.
Surely in future high risk matches, the stadium announcer at around 85-90 mins informs away fans they are being held back and its also put on the big screen. Fans can decide to wait in the road or stay in their seats with toilets etc. Or just tell them in advance with clear instructions that no fans will be allowed out of the ground once they have entered, till home fans have left and expect 30mins delay.....simple surely?
I have zero sympathy for Chelsea, Millwall or other clubs with hooligan fans being held back they have caused chaos for decades and if they are inconvencied so be it.
I hope MET Police and our club sort out communication with away fans for all future high risk matches, so our supporters are free to leave safety and without any disrupt, exactly as it should be.
Evidenced before the match down Floyd rd & police teams going in to stop them kicking off.
(one of my sons mates is a Met policeman who arrived very late & saw it & polices football games)
i've seen Chelsea Headhunters in action, both at Valley and The Bridge to know they can't be trusted to behave. A Sat 8pm after a day of alcohol with Chelsea is of course a high risk match. I was very pleased after the match to see the road blocked with vans and large contingent of police and policehorses and get away without having to see any Chelsea fans. Likewise i'm more than happy to wait 30+ mins after the Millwall away to get the train back to London Bridge.
It is what it is some clubs are still stuck in the dark ages and their so called fans can't be trusted to behave.
Charlton station being the main transport point for home and away fans & of course Floyd Rd are the two places for obvious trouble so letting home fans disperse makes perfect sense
moving fwd the Met and club need to give advance warning of arrangements post match, as should Millwall for what the arrangements are for our fixture on Jan 24th at the Den.Was that communicated to those travelling supporters? If not then you can understand their anger and frustration of being penned in like that.
Does anyone know if Jimmy Seed PA announced to Chelsea fans that they were being held back? A policeman with a megaphone was shouting it clearly when i walked pass the policevans with the large group of MET blocking the road. I imagine for seasoned Chelsea fans being kept behind happens regularly and seems very sensible policing to avoid potential trouble & allow Charlton fans to leave peacefully.
Does anyone know caused several hundred Chelsea fans to enter JS via pitch before the ground?
- they had no prior warning of any planned hold-back
- he heard no advice at all from plod outside the ground when they were kettled (his words). He certainly didn't hear the megaphone you mention, he wondered why one was apparently not being used at the very least.
- He says (confirming some remarks from Lifers pre-game) that the Chelsea fan base has completely changed in the last 30 years. "of course" he says "we've still got some herberts, like every fan base".
- he goes to most away games, (he prefers them to home games because he hates the corporate atmosphere at the Bridge) and says they have never been held back anywhere recently. Not at Fulham, and more strikingly not at Leeds. Both sets of fans mingling easily on the way out.
- He says he had heard of some incident in or near the station before the game but heard that it was nothing more than verbals among herberts.
- he witnessed the mounted police at close quarters, and found it both baffling and disturbing.
- he said he spoke to the police on duty outside the station; they had been drafted in from elsewhere and were unable to help people navigate the area because they had no clue themselves (not all wanted to take the train, including him, though he knows the area anyway).
He therefore had the unfortunate impression that the general problem is "with Charlton". That was before I told him the full background to the Millwall game, including previous years where they held us back. Then he wondered about the police with riot gear (which he said they did not actually activate) and what happened to the days when police around the two clubs pooled information, because from his POV the idea that any Chelsea came looking for serious trouble is laughable.
He is involved with their effort to get answers with the police and mentioned that they are co-operating on this with CAST - which is very good news. The Met won't find it so easy to dismiss two coherent and determined Trusts with the same story, which is, essentially , last minute changes by the police to normal egress arrangements, giving the clubs no time to adequately inform fans. (or in this case inform them at all).
I clearly heard them sing some of the ' Blues Brother's' ( Chelsea , Linfield and Rangers ) sectarian chants about the Pope and the IRA on more than one occasion during the match.1 -
A Chelsea fan said they had 4 open turnstiles for 3,300 fans, so a gate was opened to relieve the overcrowding and fans walked through that way.Markg2004 said:
I only saw the incident from inside the ground and all looked quite orderly with them being escorted to the JS stand via the pitch. No pushing or shoving except the one argumentative gent. Seemed calm apart from that all things considered.Lurker said:
From what I saw, the bunch entering from the pitch just pushed past a few stewards on the gate between the West and JS and made their way through to pitch side.Markg2004 said:
That was odd, the entrance via pitch side. Fans were jumping the fencing to get into the Jimmy Seed. There was also a ruckus and a fan kicked out before reaching the stand. You'd imagine there were allowed in as it was orderly on the most part, bar the struggle to get into the stand and the lone aggressor.Baldybonce said:
Police using their initiative?Markg2004 said:So what can we take from tonight and Met Police operation? Did they learn from Millwall?
Clearly they must've told the club all egress routes after the game would be open, the club communicated that before the match. Only for them to close the gates down Valley Grove keeping Chelsea back.
Charlton staff i spoke to didnt know the police were going to close those gates as I tried to get out there.
It is like they are making it up at times. Why do this for Chelsea and not Millwall then?
Did you see the Chelsea mob brought in via the pitch?
From my perspective that is pretty spot on. We were told via one of the official club videos that egression from the stadium post match would be as per normal league games. To me in the West Stand it is via the gates into Valley Grove that come out next to the Away support and up towards the station.PragueAddick said:So is this a fair summary?:
- Chelsea were “held back” but outside the stadium
- they had no prior warning this would happen, so they have the hump (understandably, I’d say)
- but we were allowed to exit normallyI wasn’t there so it would be good to get some more comments, to ensure that whatever I say to Len Duvall about this reflects a consensus of views from those who were there.
I went down the stairs and towards those gates as that is my normal route. Other fans were trying to do the same. I even walked past 3 or 4 stewards who did nothing to stop me or say it was closed off. I got to the end and then was told it is closed. I asked why and the lady in green hi-vis said 'we don't know why, i work for the club and we were told it was going to be open". Whilst not verbatim, it was a don't blame us, I wanted to go that way too vibe from her.
I exited via Floyd Road instead and where the fans join up on the way to the station there was a row of police, vans etc, kitted up too stopping Chelsea leaving. CAFC fans were shouting "why didn't you do this for Millwall" etc and some were pulled to aside and spoken too.
Whilst holding Chelsea back helped us get away quicker, we were told all normal routes open which they were not, and it seems Chelsea didn't expect to be held either.Police turned up on horses a few minutes after the gate had been shut.0 -
Was watching from the west upper concourse.Covered End said:
A Chelsea fan said they had 4 open turnstiles for 3,300 fans, so a gate was opened to relieve the overcrowding and fans walked through that way.Markg2004 said:
I only saw the incident from inside the ground and all looked quite orderly with them being escorted to the JS stand via the pitch. No pushing or shoving except the one argumentative gent. Seemed calm apart from that all things considered.Lurker said:
From what I saw, the bunch entering from the pitch just pushed past a few stewards on the gate between the West and JS and made their way through to pitch side.Markg2004 said:
That was odd, the entrance via pitch side. Fans were jumping the fencing to get into the Jimmy Seed. There was also a ruckus and a fan kicked out before reaching the stand. You'd imagine there were allowed in as it was orderly on the most part, bar the struggle to get into the stand and the lone aggressor.Baldybonce said:
Police using their initiative?Markg2004 said:So what can we take from tonight and Met Police operation? Did they learn from Millwall?
Clearly they must've told the club all egress routes after the game would be open, the club communicated that before the match. Only for them to close the gates down Valley Grove keeping Chelsea back.
Charlton staff i spoke to didnt know the police were going to close those gates as I tried to get out there.
It is like they are making it up at times. Why do this for Chelsea and not Millwall then?
Did you see the Chelsea mob brought in via the pitch?
From my perspective that is pretty spot on. We were told via one of the official club videos that egression from the stadium post match would be as per normal league games. To me in the West Stand it is via the gates into Valley Grove that come out next to the Away support and up towards the station.PragueAddick said:So is this a fair summary?:
- Chelsea were “held back” but outside the stadium
- they had no prior warning this would happen, so they have the hump (understandably, I’d say)
- but we were allowed to exit normallyI wasn’t there so it would be good to get some more comments, to ensure that whatever I say to Len Duvall about this reflects a consensus of views from those who were there.
I went down the stairs and towards those gates as that is my normal route. Other fans were trying to do the same. I even walked past 3 or 4 stewards who did nothing to stop me or say it was closed off. I got to the end and then was told it is closed. I asked why and the lady in green hi-vis said 'we don't know why, i work for the club and we were told it was going to be open". Whilst not verbatim, it was a don't blame us, I wanted to go that way too vibe from her.
I exited via Floyd Road instead and where the fans join up on the way to the station there was a row of police, vans etc, kitted up too stopping Chelsea leaving. CAFC fans were shouting "why didn't you do this for Millwall" etc and some were pulled to aside and spoken too.
Whilst holding Chelsea back helped us get away quicker, we were told all normal routes open which they were not, and it seems Chelsea didn't expect to be held either.Police turned up on horses a few minutes after the gate had been shut.No tickets shown on the gate and a few took a tumble testing to clamber through which would have been the highlight of the night if not for Miles.0 -
Not heard the f@ck the pope and IRA ditty for a long time… took me right back! Whatever… weirdos.3
-
Covered End said:
A Chelsea fan said they had 4 open turnstiles for 3,300 fans, so a gate was opened to relieve the overcrowding and fans walked through that way.Markg2004 said:
I only saw the incident from inside the ground and all looked quite orderly with them being escorted to the JS stand via the pitch. No pushing or shoving except the one argumentative gent. Seemed calm apart from that all things considered.Lurker said:
From what I saw, the bunch entering from the pitch just pushed past a few stewards on the gate between the West and JS and made their way through to pitch side.Markg2004 said:
That was odd, the entrance via pitch side. Fans were jumping the fencing to get into the Jimmy Seed. There was also a ruckus and a fan kicked out before reaching the stand. You'd imagine there were allowed in as it was orderly on the most part, bar the struggle to get into the stand and the lone aggressor.Baldybonce said:
Police using their initiative?Markg2004 said:So what can we take from tonight and Met Police operation? Did they learn from Millwall?
Clearly they must've told the club all egress routes after the game would be open, the club communicated that before the match. Only for them to close the gates down Valley Grove keeping Chelsea back.
Charlton staff i spoke to didnt know the police were going to close those gates as I tried to get out there.
It is like they are making it up at times. Why do this for Chelsea and not Millwall then?
Did you see the Chelsea mob brought in via the pitch?
From my perspective that is pretty spot on. We were told via one of the official club videos that egression from the stadium post match would be as per normal league games. To me in the West Stand it is via the gates into Valley Grove that come out next to the Away support and up towards the station.PragueAddick said:So is this a fair summary?:
- Chelsea were “held back” but outside the stadium
- they had no prior warning this would happen, so they have the hump (understandably, I’d say)
- but we were allowed to exit normallyI wasn’t there so it would be good to get some more comments, to ensure that whatever I say to Len Duvall about this reflects a consensus of views from those who were there.
I went down the stairs and towards those gates as that is my normal route. Other fans were trying to do the same. I even walked past 3 or 4 stewards who did nothing to stop me or say it was closed off. I got to the end and then was told it is closed. I asked why and the lady in green hi-vis said 'we don't know why, i work for the club and we were told it was going to be open". Whilst not verbatim, it was a don't blame us, I wanted to go that way too vibe from her.
I exited via Floyd Road instead and where the fans join up on the way to the station there was a row of police, vans etc, kitted up too stopping Chelsea leaving. CAFC fans were shouting "why didn't you do this for Millwall" etc and some were pulled to aside and spoken too.
Whilst holding Chelsea back helped us get away quicker, we were told all normal routes open which they were not, and it seems Chelsea didn't expect to be held either.Police turned up on horses a few minutes after the gate had been shut.If this is the case then this is something that Carter needs to answer to.The millllllll game has been done to death.The food/drink kiosks now seem to have gone back to square one.How many high end staff are at The Valley on a 9-5 basis?1 -
Heard it a couple of times in the last few years, on Wembley way before the Ireland / England and at Charlton Station before the Wrexham game last season.Curb_It said:Not heard the f@ck the pope and IRA ditty for a long time… took me right back! Whatever… weirdos.1 -
Millwall and Chelsea fans denying hooliganism is a bit like alcoholics insisting they can stop anytime they like. Total confidence. Zero evidence. Both clubs have a well-established heritage range of hooligans. Not just the youths either, there are still blokes in their 50s and beyond who clearly woke up thinking, “Just one more punch up, for old time’s sake.” Vintage aggro.
At the Millwall Gate 21 incident, there were plenty charging through like it was "Back to the Future IV: The Punch-Up" desperately wanting to relive their "hooligan glory days' As for sympathy for Chelsea fans being held back, I’m struggling. The Met actually showed rare common sense. There’d already been enough nonsense & trouble on Floyd Road pre-match.Maybe Chelsea get waved out politely at other grounds, but Floyd Road has a very real potential flash point for a kick off when both sets of fans meet.
Things definitely feel different from our Prem days. For whatever reason, there seems more edge, more tension, more people itching to prove they’ve “still got it”. That's a bigger debate....
Personally, at The Den I’ll be bringing my weapon of choice: a flask of coffee. I’ll be sitting in the upper tier at the final whistle, practising radical defiance by remaining seated. Maybe the entire away end should do the same, just stay put until Millwall announce we can exit to South Bermondsey. No drama, no aggro, no sprinting into rain-soaked chaos.
Charlton fans: sitting calmly in our seats, confusing everyone, and living dangerously by not behaving like idiots. Revolutionary stuff. COYA
4 -
@TootingRedArmy, you must be around my age but I guess you dont know any proper Leeds or Chelsea fans of similar age, because if you did you’d understand how remarkable it is that nowadays they are allowed to leave together after games.The Spanners are the least reformed fanbase in the country, and the Met seem more scared of them than 30 years ago. That is a pathetic state of affairs.7
-
Sponsored links:
-
Yes I'm a vintage Addick ! I know both vintage Leeds & Chelsea fans but not asked them about exiting matches as their mainly armchair fans or living aboard. From my son's friend who is a MET Policeman and saw trouble on Floyd Rd with Chelsea fans, It seems very sensible to have taken precaution to hold them back, but a mistake not to have made an announcement in JS. However I heard loud and clearly a policeman yelling into a megaphone at junction of Floyd rd to the chelsea fans that they were being held back. Imagine if there had been widespread trouble after the match and at Charlton station, what the reaction would have been on this message board. MET can't win..... damn if they do, damn if they don't !PragueAddick said:@TootingRedArmy, you must be around my age but I guess you dont know any proper Leeds or Chelsea fans of similar age, because if you did you’d understand how remarkable it is that nowadays they are allowed to leave together after games.The Spanners are the least reformed fanbase in the country, and the Met seem more scared of them than 30 years ago. That is a pathetic state of affairs.
Millwall fans are like a premieval lost tribe, dear old David Attenborough missed them on his wildlife programme on London. Quite the creatures from the land that time forgot. COYA3 -
Well they can win by treating all football fans like humans and make sure they are properly communicated to and given access to basic things like water and toiletsTootingRedArmy said:
Yes I'm a vintage Addick ! I know both vintage Leeds & Chelsea fans but not asked them about exiting matches as their mainly armchair fans or living aboard. From my son's friend who is a MET Policeman and saw trouble on Floyd Rd with Chelsea fans, It seems very sensible to have taken precaution to hold them back, but a mistake not to have made an announcement in JS. However I heard loud and clearly a policeman yelling into a megaphone at junction of Floyd rd to the chelsea fans that they were being held back. Imagine if there had been widespread trouble after the match and at Charlton station, what the reaction would have been on this message board. MET can't win..... damn if they do, damn if they don't !PragueAddick said:@TootingRedArmy, you must be around my age but I guess you dont know any proper Leeds or Chelsea fans of similar age, because if you did you’d understand how remarkable it is that nowadays they are allowed to leave together after games.The Spanners are the least reformed fanbase in the country, and the Met seem more scared of them than 30 years ago. That is a pathetic state of affairs.
Millwall fans are like a premieval lost tribe, dear old David Attenborough missed them on his wildlife programme on London. Quite the creatures from the land that time forgot. COYA4 -
Exactly. After all even the Spanner herberts are a minorityfenaddick said:
Well they can win by treating all football fans like humans and make sure they are properly communicated to and given access to basic things like water and toiletsTootingRedArmy said:
Yes I'm a vintage Addick ! I know both vintage Leeds & Chelsea fans but not asked them about exiting matches as their mainly armchair fans or living aboard. From my son's friend who is a MET Policeman and saw trouble on Floyd Rd with Chelsea fans, It seems very sensible to have taken precaution to hold them back, but a mistake not to have made an announcement in JS. However I heard loud and clearly a policeman yelling into a megaphone at junction of Floyd rd to the chelsea fans that they were being held back. Imagine if there had been widespread trouble after the match and at Charlton station, what the reaction would have been on this message board. MET can't win..... damn if they do, damn if they don't !PragueAddick said:@TootingRedArmy, you must be around my age but I guess you dont know any proper Leeds or Chelsea fans of similar age, because if you did you’d understand how remarkable it is that nowadays they are allowed to leave together after games.The Spanners are the least reformed fanbase in the country, and the Met seem more scared of them than 30 years ago. That is a pathetic state of affairs.
Millwall fans are like a premieval lost tribe, dear old David Attenborough missed them on his wildlife programme on London. Quite the creatures from the land that time forgot. COYA
1 -
I really did try hard to feel sorry for the Chelsea fans who were kept behind after the Charlton match. I sat with it. Reflected. Looked deep within myself. Sadly, sympathy never quite arrived.
Yes, it’s always the minority that spoil things for the majority but if your club comes with a long-standing hooligan record that’s unfortunately part of the package. The Met didn’t just spin a wheel marked “Chelsea” and decide to inconvenience them for fun. They clearly judged that something in Chelsea "fans" pre-match behaviour suggested a bit more “after-match enthusiasm” might be on the cards.
Holding them back while Charlton fans left peacefully? Sensible. Thirty minutes? Hardly a life sentence. People have waited longer for a pint at Stamford Bridge!
Imagine the alternative headline if Chelsea fans had been released, trouble kicked off, and someone got hurt: “Police failed to act despite warning signs.” The outrage would have been deafening. If the majority of Chelsea fans were inconvenienced and I’m sure many were then perhaps the answer isn’t outrage but a bit of honesty. An acknowledgment that yes, the club does still have an element of support who enjoy a scrap more than the scoreline. History didn’t just happen by accident. COYA's
0 -
Would you like to stand still with no communication packed in, in freezing temperatures because of a few bad Charlton fans? Would you not be worrying about being able to get home? What about those with disabilities, children and older fans? No sympathy for them at all?TootingRedArmy said:I really did try hard to feel sorry for the Chelsea fans who were kept behind after the Charlton match. I sat with it. Reflected. Looked deep within myself. Sadly, sympathy never quite arrived.
Yes, it’s always the minority that spoil things for the majority but if your club comes with a long-standing hooligan record that’s unfortunately part of the package. The Met didn’t just spin a wheel marked “Chelsea” and decide to inconvenience them for fun. They clearly judged that something in Chelsea "fans" pre-match behaviour suggested a bit more “after-match enthusiasm” might be on the cards.
Holding them back while Charlton fans left peacefully? Sensible. Thirty minutes? Hardly a life sentence. People have waited longer for a pint at Stamford Bridge!
Imagine the alternative headline if Chelsea fans had been released, trouble kicked off, and someone got hurt: “Police failed to act despite warning signs.” The outrage would have been deafening. If the majority of Chelsea fans were inconvenienced and I’m sure many were then perhaps the answer isn’t outrage but a bit of honesty. An acknowledgment that yes, the club does still have an element of support who enjoy a scrap more than the scoreline. History didn’t just happen by accident. COYA's
Of course the police have to do something if they think there is a risk but they still have to police things well. They have a duty of care over those Chelsea fans too and they put them at risk in a different way. If they really thought the Chelsea fans might kick off they also put residents living on Valley Grove at risk too7 -
What’s become clear from recent matches involving Millwall & Chelsea is that there are very different policing approaches to crowd management of how away fans are released after the match. The common issue seems to be a lack of clear communication with away & home fans. Whatever view people take on the decisions themselves, not knowing what’s going to happen until the final whistle helps no one & only increases frustration.
Hopefully the MET & clubs involved will work together to improve this going forward. This feels like exactly the sort of issue where fan advisers and CAST should be able to have meaningful input.
With our visit to The Den on 24 Jan fast approaching , it would be really helpful if Charlton could communicate in advance what the current plan is between the MET & Millwall for post-match arrangements. If the intention is to hold back Addick fans for 30 minutes + , then so be it at least people can plan accordingly & expectations are managed.
2 -
An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.0
-
These decisions were based on intelligence, which indicated a risk of disorder towards Chelsea fans. The measures implemented ensured supporters were kept safe.Dansk_Red said:An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.
From who?4 -
I wouldn't have thought a flask would hurt a Chelsea fan.guinnessaddick said:
These decisions were based on intelligence, which indicated a risk of disorder towards Chelsea fans. The measures implemented ensured supporters were kept safe.Dansk_Red said:An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.
From who?0 -
Risk towards Chelsea fans lol - seems like a cop-out from the police3
-
Sponsored links:
-
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/15/probe-launched-after-chelsea-fans-complain-of-poor-policing-at-end-of-fa-cup-tie-at-charltonDansk_Red said:An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.
0 -
It seems for Chelsea fans nothing quite compares to the indignity of being kept behind for a bit after a match in SE7 &having to endure the horror of… waiting.
Yes, following our recent fixture, Chelsea felt hard done by. Not by referees, VAR, no, by the MET, who cruelly stole precious minutes of their time in the name of public order. Minutes that could otherwise have been spent tweeting, phoning lawyers, or drafting enquiries.
And enquire they did. Phones were lit. Emails were sent. The Met’s time was generously donated to the cause of explaining to Chelsea why being briefly delayed might possibly be preferable to a full-scale punch up on Floyd Rd
“Is this a joke?” wondered Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian, apparently aghast. For a fleeting moment one might assume Steinberg was a Chelsea fan himself, such was the tone of wounded disbelief. But no after googling he supports West Ham. Which makes it all the more impressive. This wasn’t tribal loyalty; it was pure performance art.
Soon enough, an “articulate” Chelsea fan emerged in correspondence & Guardian decided this view was one the nation simply had to hear. After all, when Chelsea are inconvenienced, democracy demands coverage. The line that truly beggars belief, & what a tgem: “Met said that officers had acted after receiving intelligence indicating a risk of disorder towards Chelsea fans and said that the measures ensured safety.”
Come on. Really?
Because those of us with eyes or in my case talked to "MET Charlton fan" & social media had already seen what was going on down Floyd Road before the game. And it wasn’t Charlton fans rehearsing Shakespeare. Chelsea fans were misbehaving early doors, as per various posts The suggestion that the danger was mysteriously towards Chelsea fans is, at best, a creative rewrite.
Now, to be fair, there was clearly very poor communication. On that point, sympathy is warranted. Nobody enjoys being left in the dark, especially when the pub is closed and the train timetable beckons. But being held back? That seems like a fairly sensible decision if the Met genuinely believed disorder was brewing.If police intelligence suggests things might kick off, the options are: 1) Hold people back briefly, or 2) Let everyone pile out and deal with the consequences using horses, vans, and headlines.
One of these options tends to lead to more complaints than the other. Yet somehow the narrative has become one of Chelsea as innocent victims cruelly delayed. One can only imagine the inquiry titles being drafted: The Great Delay of 2025: A Tragedy in Blue.
Hopefully, Charlton will clearly communicate arrangements to Addick fans after the upcoming Millwall away match. But don’t worry, Chelsea. If it happens again, I’m sure there’ll be another enquiry ready to go.
2 -
why wasn't there an independent review after CAST's representations ? far more ridiculous than what happened to chelsea fans - getting held back at an away game> whatever nextDansk_Red said:An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.3 -
The Met were clearly schooled at the same classroom as the West Midlands Police.guinnessaddick said:
These decisions were based on intelligence, which indicated a risk of disorder towards Chelsea fans. The measures implemented ensured supporters were kept safe.Dansk_Red said:An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.
From who?0 -
Anyone else feeling this thread has kinda been hijacked by one person?1
-
I heard of an incident that happened at the station before the game where a group of our 'risk' attacked some like minded Chelsea, I have no proof only hearsay but I trust my source(s)TellyTubby said:
The Met were clearly schooled at the same classroom as the West Midlands Police.guinnessaddick said:
These decisions were based on intelligence, which indicated a risk of disorder towards Chelsea fans. The measures implemented ensured supporters were kept safe.Dansk_Red said:An artical in The Gaurdian stating that the police are insigating an independent rewiew on polcing of the Chelsea game after complaints from CST.
From who?0
