Post by Natty on Feb 24, 2009 9:31:03 GMT -1
SOCCER fans were livid last night after bosses at Premier League club Middlesbrough asked them to be QUIETER during games.
Supporters of the struggling team were handed letters telling them only to make a noise when the team scores.
That would make matches spookily quiet as the side has failed to find the net for EIGHT HOURS as they plunged into the relegation zone.
Letter ... safety officer Sue Watson
The note, from safety officer Sue Watson, also asked fans not to stand up too much during games.
She wrote: “I am receiving more and more complaints from our own fans about both the persistent standing and the constant banging and noise coming from the back of this stand.
“Please stop. Make as much noise as you like when we score, but this constant noise is driving some fans mad.”
Stunned supporters couldn’t believe it when the letter was dished out at the Riverside Stadium before Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Wigan.
Season ticket holder Andrew Leigh, 45, said last night: “It’s a passionate sport. Are they going to give us prompt cards to tell us when we can sing and when we can’t?
“You’d think that given our current league position, the club would be wanting us to help rally the team.
“When we were at our old ground Ayresome Park, you used to be able to hear the crowd from the town centre.
“We need to bring back the Riverside Roar.”
The letter was given out by stewards to fans in the stadium’s South East corner, where many moved last season to create a singing area.
After receiving the letter, furious supporters set up a Facebook group calling for Ms Watson to quit.
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One fan said: “The letter’s an utter disgrace. The anger and resentment it’s caused shows what a PR disaster it is.”
Last night Boro’s chief operating officer Neil Bausor insisted the club DID still “encourage passionate and noisy support”.
He added: “We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and we accept the letter could easily have been misunderstood. We apologise to any supporters who have therefore been understandably annoyed.”
;D no wonder the team cant win
Supporters of the struggling team were handed letters telling them only to make a noise when the team scores.
That would make matches spookily quiet as the side has failed to find the net for EIGHT HOURS as they plunged into the relegation zone.
Letter ... safety officer Sue Watson
The note, from safety officer Sue Watson, also asked fans not to stand up too much during games.
She wrote: “I am receiving more and more complaints from our own fans about both the persistent standing and the constant banging and noise coming from the back of this stand.
“Please stop. Make as much noise as you like when we score, but this constant noise is driving some fans mad.”
Stunned supporters couldn’t believe it when the letter was dished out at the Riverside Stadium before Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Wigan.
Season ticket holder Andrew Leigh, 45, said last night: “It’s a passionate sport. Are they going to give us prompt cards to tell us when we can sing and when we can’t?
“You’d think that given our current league position, the club would be wanting us to help rally the team.
“When we were at our old ground Ayresome Park, you used to be able to hear the crowd from the town centre.
“We need to bring back the Riverside Roar.”
The letter was given out by stewards to fans in the stadium’s South East corner, where many moved last season to create a singing area.
After receiving the letter, furious supporters set up a Facebook group calling for Ms Watson to quit.
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One fan said: “The letter’s an utter disgrace. The anger and resentment it’s caused shows what a PR disaster it is.”
Last night Boro’s chief operating officer Neil Bausor insisted the club DID still “encourage passionate and noisy support”.
He added: “We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and we accept the letter could easily have been misunderstood. We apologise to any supporters who have therefore been understandably annoyed.”
;D no wonder the team cant win
