A beery-eyed mess
If you are unaware of the problem, then here is the story. Previously, the Lookers stand had been operated whereby fans from each tier could meet up in the bar, use the same toilets and facilities and enjoy a somewhat relaxed stewarding procedure. However, the council have now signalled that this practice is currently creating over-crowding in the lounge bar and that some people are transferring from sitting in the Paddock, to sneaking into the more sheltered upper tier.
And thus now, measures need to be put in place. The club, risking the fear of losing it's safety certificate, therefore introduced new measures to it's Lookers members last weekend which will be enforced for the first time tomorrow vs Wigan. But have they seriously thought about the fairness of their implications and have they envisaged the scenarios which may occur once this protocol is introduced?
I wonder. Before I continue, I must first place on record the following,
a) This is not a go at the club, merely an open basis for thought and discussion, and maybe some reflection on the matter could herald a better solution and
b) the club obviously holds all the facts on the matter and hence, my comments may be easily discounted should the full facts be put on record.
After all, this scenario has placed Oldham Athletic in an awkward position with the ruling, one which is quite bizarre and unfair on the club - as I will highlight.
The intentions are that for some reason gravity will come into play, as lower tier fans are now barred from entering the bar lounge and toilets, but upper tier fans can come down and use them. My question is simple... why?
From the fans point of view, many I spoke to after our Cheltenham defeat expressed annoyance at the fact that the intended measures means fans cannot arrange to meet as many would do at half-time. Also, a section of fans will be
deprived of a pre-match or half-time pint, one of the enjoyments of having a ticket in the Lookers stand. Even more unfair is that this has been forced upon the club midway through a season, therefore season ticket holders have had the choice of where to sit, taken out of their hands.
The lukewarm offer of an upgrade to a season ticket has grated on fans who feel upset at being asked to pay further for their tickets. As one fan indicated, he has bought several seats in the current SAS appeal and so paying more money isn't the objection - it's being asked to move that is the problem.
The solutions on offer seem unfair on both sets of fans indeed and some might argue that lower tier fans have brought this on themselves, by transferring upstairs. But surely if this is a problem, rather than barring a set of fans from the lounge, wouldn't it make sense (although be it a small inconvenience) to check supporters tickets that go back into the upper tier?
Surely this will eventually stop people from transferring from areas of the ground. Moving onto the other main area for concern, it seems ridiculous that at present the Lookers stand is in fear of congestion and overcrowding. How can this be when during the early 1990's Boundary Park hosted Premier league
football, yet with half those attendances (say 6,500) we are having this situation?
It seems unreal and although I cannot speak for myself on the current state of play in the Lookers lounge, many others can and have and are not best
pleased about the situation. It is hoped that tomorrow goes well. However, the possibilities are that many Oldham Athletic fans will be upset, angered and bemused at the restrictions being put in place Hopefully, sense may soon prevail, be it that either the Council sees sense in what it is asking or the club can find a better solution can to the situation. Here's hoping.
Keep the faith!