Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

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Spike
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Spike »

It's a well intentioned mistake in my opinion. As well as punishing innocent people who aren't aware and just turn up on spec, I wouldn't be surprised if it causes more trouble than it solves when visiting fans get refused entry solely on the basis of age. A backward step in my view.
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JCJ
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by JCJ »

Spike wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 9:40 pm It's a well intentioned mistake in my opinion. As well as punishing innocent people who aren't aware and just turn up on spec, I wouldn't be surprised if it causes more trouble than it solves when visiting fans get refused entry solely on the basis of age. A backward step in my view.
Good Point on away supporters how do they enforce young supporters from other clubs having to be with an adult to get in?

It will be interesting on New Years Day might cause more problems turning young Ebbsfleet supporters away or does it just apply to home supporters?

Also 16 & 17 years old more likely to have 18 year old mates so nothing stopping them walking in with their mates, or will they think it is not worth the hassle and go to support the club down the road.
Ajaxman DFC
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Ajaxman DFC »

Ok, it's just a minoriry causing problems and damaging the club's reputation.
If it get's worse it'll discourage genuine football people from attending, especially famillies who probably spend more money on match days than the herberts provoking trouble.
We've got cameras at the ground. Plenty of people must know who they are by now. So ban them.
The process begins with throwing them out in the first place. In order to do that, isn't it about time our security staff became more pro-active instead of just standing their ground with arms folded trying to look 'ard earning their money doing sweet fa.
I presume they do get paid. If not, maybe it's something the club should consider, if you weigh it up against a dramatic reduction in attendances as some fear.
Especially for the big games ie Ebbsfleet.
M1 South
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by M1 South »

Bloody ‘ell Ajax!! You forgot to put the black hood on before pronouncing sentence!!
KentC.
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by KentC. »

The Duke wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 10:18 am The Club have acted correctly and the membership is a great idea for ALL future [young] Dart fans , I would make it attractive by giving added benefits such as a meet the players , training [ kick a about with Dowse ,discounts on certain matches etc , make it attractive for the good kids and as for the troublemakers , the Club doesnt need them !!!!!

The club would of acted correctly if they are doing the things you mentioned.
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PeteSamson
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by PeteSamson »

It's probably a sign of the times that we are monitored wherever we go, and asked for some form of ID. Many clubs now prefer supporters to buy advance match tickets, often at a reduced price (or at a higher price if you attend on the day). I've got no problem with presenting ID and if that is a club issued Membership Card, so be it. As some have said, the statement doesn't stop youngsters attending, simply by taking some small actions.

I haven't attended any matches so I don't know any of the circumstances. Involving these youngsters who are causing the trouble. If they are well known and recognised, then one might have hoped action could have been taken already to have either warned them to their future actions and told they would be refused admission. Because quite simply, the club would be taken to rask by the FA if further incidents arose.

However, the club are being put in a difficult position and they can't be blamed for being seen to take the action they have. If I had been 16 or 17 (and not 75!), I would have had no problem in taking up the alternatives that have been put forward by the club and taking up ownership of a membership card. It seems the club (and not just the Darts) are in a Catch 22 situation. Damned if they do and damned if they don't, take action. We wouldn't have even been needing to be talking about this 60 years ago, so I suppose it is a sign of the times

Quite simply, the Club could be taken to task by the FA if further incidents arose, and it would be the remaining supporters suffering the basklash, along with the club itself. The agro, surely, is simply not wanted by faithful fans.

COYD
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DA Mikey
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by DA Mikey »

Good post PS. A blend of ‘Black Mirror’ style advances in technology, coupled with a few bad eggs spoiling things for the majority means that we are under heavy surveillance wherever we go, whatever we do in this day and age (unless living in a cave is your thing, which is quite tempting at times).
It’s really no different here, the issue being youthful exuberance spilling over to the odd bottle being thrown onto the pitch, some distasteful language and a bit of pushing and shoving. Most of us were young lads once, so (depending on how long ago) we can all remember what it was to be impudent and sprightly and a bit of a tearaway.
But it can go too far, especially if allowed to continue unchallenged and I know a few people who have been affronted by the voices and actions of these kids - some of whom have been drinking - particularly at evening games. So this is probably a good move by the club, one of those inevitabilities which might as well come in now and hopefully prevent something happening which could bring the club into disrepute.
Fred OLness
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Fred OLness »

KentC. wrote: Fri Nov 18, 2022 2:18 pm
The Duke wrote: Thu Nov 17, 2022 10:18 am The Club have acted correctly and the membership is a great idea for ALL future [young] Dart fans , I would make it attractive by giving added benefits such as a meet the players , training [ kick a about with Dowse ,discounts on certain matches etc , make it attractive for the good kids and as for the troublemakers , the Club doesnt need them !!!!!

The club would of acted correctly if they are doing the things you mentioned.
The problem certainly needed addressing but,
The club will surely lose revenue and vocal support by adopting these measures.
I think the Junior/Youth Membership Card is an excellent forward thinking idea.
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Spike
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Spike »

So does anyone know yet, if this applies only to home fans? If so, how do you tell if someone is an away fan or not? If it doesn't apply to away fans then how are the turnstile operators expected to know who is who? Some people don't even support either side, they're just out to see a game of football.
If 50 or so Ebbsfleet youngsters turn up at Christmas, presumably the turnstile operators are going to have to turn them away if they look around 13-17? Are Ebbsfleet aware of this? Are they and other away fans expected to join our membership scheme?
If proof of (over 18) age is required, what ID is deemed acceptable?
As this policy only applies to 13-17 year olds, are older looking 10-12 year olds going to require ID? They might not even have ID at that age.
There's no mention of how many people an "adult" can bring in, so what's to stop one 18 year old bringing in half a dozen of his troublemaking mates? In fact, what's to stop him bringing in a coach load? If there's a maximum number, what is it?
Have we informed all the other clubs in the league that their young fans could be refused entry?
It seems to me that in order to solve one problem we are potentially setting ourselves up for a whole host of new ones.
I wouldn't want to be working on the turnstiles as they seem to have inherited the burden of implementing this policy and yet nobody seems to have thought things through, or if they have, they haven't told us what the rules are.
It's all very well saying something had to be done, but you need to be very specific and clear about what the "rules" governing entry are if you want to avoid confrontation and confusion.
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DA Mikey
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by DA Mikey »

Blessed are the cheesemakers.
KSTDART
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by KSTDART »

A Dartford regular came to the game today with his son and daughter. He came through the turnstile , his son followed and then his 17 year old daughter. She was then stopped and refused entry . She said thats my dad and brother who were in front but whoever was on the turnstile said he did not believe her . It only got resolved when her brother came back to look for her but this f*cking ridiculous . It was just as well it was her brother that realised and came back not her dad !
rambo
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by rambo »

The club have made a mistake and need to rethink this.
There was no atmosphere no noise and no drummer yesterday
I am sure this will harm the efforts on the field eventually
Just off the top of my head I believe the club should have an open day when they will register all the junior tickets at no cost. Make the youngsters aware that they will get free offers to get in at no cost for say five games per season
Obviously make it easy to obtain the permits throughout the season always at no cost
Make it clear anyone misbehaving will have the permit withdrawn for the season
Without these young people in the ground we are nothing
👎👎
Tall Dart
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Tall Dart »

rambo wrote: Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:53 am The club have made a mistake and need to rethink this.
There was no atmosphere no noise and no drummer yesterday
I am sure this will harm the efforts on the field eventually
Just off the top of my head I believe the club should have an open day when they will register all the junior tickets at no cost. Make the youngsters aware that they will get free offers to get in at no cost for say five games per season
Obviously make it easy to obtain the permits throughout the season always at no cost
Make it clear anyone misbehaving will have the permit withdrawn for the season
Without these young people in the ground we are nothing
👎👎
A good idea handled badly. Heard first hand that a number of would be youth fans understand they are no longer allowed in unless with an adult, not even aware of the youth card. Looks like the fans have either miss understood the new system or have voted with their feet.

Thought the new management wanted "everyone" involved. May take something to sort this mess out.
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JCJ
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by JCJ »

The club do need to rethink this atmosphere yesterday was dreadful,

Other clubs will welcome these young supporters with open arms and will be hard to get them back and these are the club’s future, be good to hear something from the club on this
KentC.
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by KentC. »

Would be good to know what the clubs thoughts are on this now we’ve had the game and people’s opinions.
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Park Life
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Park Life »

KentC. wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 3:14 pm Would be good to know what the clubs thoughts are on this now we’ve had the game and people’s opinions.
They tweeted this today:-

https://www.dartfordfc.com/youth-membership-scheme/
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Sleightly Deceptive
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Sleightly Deceptive »

Can’t help but think we might’ve scored a bit of an OG on this one. I stand reasonably near to the ‘yoof of today’ (when they were present) and they didn’t really do much more than ‘test’ the stewards’ patience. To be honest, the stewards have never really been required to do much ‘proper’ (confrontational) work and when ‘called upon’ there may be a tendency to over react a bit and ‘rise to the bait.’ I think the ‘yoof’ might respond better to a few ‘words of advice’ from the DFCSA ‘elders’ keeping them in check whilst maintaining our very important growing fan base. The ‘kids’ are only trying to impress the birds anyway! 😉 I’d rather have them being a tad naughty, now, at PP, than them becoming a bunch of tossers at the Village or Webbedfeet. The atmos against Concord was flatter than a witches tit!

Now, if the clever boffins could come up with a scheme to get rid of the shit standard of refereeing in this league, then I’m ‘all in!’
KentC.
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by KentC. »

Park Life wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:58 pm
KentC. wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 3:14 pm Would be good to know what the clubs thoughts are on this now we’ve had the game and people’s opinions.
They tweeted this today:-

https://www.dartfordfc.com/youth-membership-scheme/

Thanks PL.

I don’t see this as positive and the cynical in me would say this is a failure on the clubs part and a cop out rather than deal with any trouble etc. I know Ebsfleet have had issues this season, it’s not just us. I’d be interested to find out how many clubs in our league have this same ruling.
Tall Dart
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Tall Dart »

I initially thought it sounded like a good idea in a way. However you would have thought there would have been a big discussion on when and how to implement it. It does unfortunately come across as somewhat rushed in. Considering they generally just cheer on the team, not ever seem much in the way of trouble in the ground. Who knows, maybe the club have some other information that's has forced their hand. But why weren't we handing out a free DFC pack with application form etc inside, if we wanted to retain the loyal fans, that turn up week in week out?! OG is an understatement. I thought we were supposed to be bringing everyone together, on and off the field. Some of the earlier good work put in by the club (seemingly pushed along by Douse), has been undone. These guys are the future of the club.

Not sure how they come back from this one...
Ring of fire
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Re: Change of admission policy for supporters 13 -17yrs old

Post by Ring of fire »

The vocal yoof is most welcome and is the future!
However, without their own Adult supervision, behaviour had seemed to be deteriorating. Bottles started to be used as missiles at the opposition keeper, smoking / vaping amongst kids and annoying other spectators (who reported these), foul language used, entering pitch perimeter, as short cut to toilets (Drug Smell there). 1-2 older teenagers seemed to be stoking it up, with more unacceptable language and misdemeanours!
Dunno what's meant by 'DFCSA Elders' keeping them in check... As far as we know, DFCSA committee members are merely volunteers who mostly have match day duties and often miss some of the action already. In any case, they're untrained at crowd management!
Just wishing that the club's invitation to apply for the Youth Membership is swiftly successful, so that a more organised / supervised DFC Youth voice is heard in harmony. Hoping all means are also used to clearly communicate the reasoning behind this action!
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