Paid stewards....

[sussexdiamond]

RATHER THAN CRITICISE if anyone took the trouble to become a volunteer in any capacity he/she would get to recognize just who does what, and soon realize that just because you wear an orange hi-viz jacket does not mean you are a bouncer. Stewarding comes in several shapes and sizes.

we need people to clean up after the game, people to sell progs and raffle tickets, people to broadcast Radio Diamonds, people to prepare the pitch, paint the ground in close season, prepare the ground for the new seating, help with administering the websites, opening the club shop and a million other jobs. The list is endless.

I realize not everyone has as much time as others to spare, but there is something YOU can do.

YOUIR CLUB NEEDS YOU

[mike]

A few points ...

Stewarding is not just throwing people out for singing (which has never happened).

Stewarding is about building relationships with people making them feel welcome to the club. ( I probably talk to 100 different people a game)

Have a game off because of 5-10 away fans turn up? Most of our incidents have been caused by our fans against our fans ( including a pre season friendly ) or our fans against opposition player/management.

What happens if the match gets abandoned? Stewards will be handing out vouchers

What happens if a fan/player needs an ambulance?

What happens if somebody tries to steal from the turnstiles?

What happens if the tea but catches fire?

Do we need stewards? Yes
Do we need paid stewards? Yes
Do we need stewards like Dover? Definitely not

[discodunk]

When I go, I just see all the stewards walking about, and talking to each other! So why do we have to pay for them to do that??

I try not to get involved in issues like this but what a plonker coming out with a comment like this,,,,as said before NONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS GET PAID,,,,,,AND THEY HAVE PAID,LIKE YOU,TO WATCH THE GAME !!!!!NEXT TIME A BALL GOES OVER THE WALL INTO THE HOTEL YOU MAY WANT TO STEP UP AND FETCH IT(we all know how many times it can go over there) OR PUT THE NETS UP/DOWN WHEN ITS FREEZING COLD OR PISSING DOWN......OR SPREDDING SAND ON THE PITCH TO GET IT PLAYABLE WHEN ITS THREE INCHES OF MUD.......STEP UP OR SHUT UP........YOU PEOPLE JUST DONT GET IT ,ITS YOUR CLUB,YET ALL YOU DO IS CRITICISE THE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO MAKE IT AN ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON FOR YOU.

[Bob's Bitch]

Completely agree with the above three posts. If there are more volunteers then the current ones wouldn't have to do so much, they might even get to watch a full game!

I wonder if a few fans haven't really bought into the ethos of the new club and the idea of fans putting in a bit more effort than usual? Even if you only volunteer for 50% of home games, it'd still be a big help to the current volunteers. Quite a few of them are board members, who are already putting in more time outside of match-days. Eventually I'd imagine they'll start to get annoyed and disheartened at the lack of help their receiving from a fanbase of 500+...

[The Godfather]

When I go, I just see all the stewards walking about, and talking to each other! So why do we have to pay for them to do that??

I try not to get involved in issues like this but what a plonker coming out with a comment like this,,,,as said before NONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS GET PAID,,,,,,AND THEY HAVE PAID,LIKE YOU,TO WATCH THE GAME !!!!!NEXT TIME A BALL GOES OVER THE WALL INTO THE HOTEL YOU MAY WANT TO STEP UP AND FETCH IT(we all know how many times it can go over there) OR PUT THE NETS UP/DOWN WHEN ITS FREEZING COLD OR PISSING DOWN......OR SPREDDING SAND ON THE PITCH TO GET IT PLAYABLE WHEN ITS THREE INCHES OF MUD.......STEP UP OR SHUT UP........YOU PEOPLE JUST DONT GET IT ,ITS YOUR CLUB,YET ALL YOU DO IS CRITICISE THE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO MAKE IT AN ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON FOR YOU.

Unbelievable Jeff!! How do they make it enjoyable? I wouldn't do the job, so fair play to them, but I just don't see the point in paying other people, to do the jobs you have listed... Keep the same people doing it then.

[rudolph_hucker]

There is a lot that goes on during a match that you're unaware of - I hope to be able to watch a game of football uninterrupted soon

Not too patronising eh??
It is your decision to steward/volunteer nobody forces you to do it. There are other people who volunteer and do a whole lot and give a lot more time yet I NEVER see them always complaining. I used to volunteer and help out when I had a few hours spare unfortunately there are a couple of reasons why that has stopped. One is my personal life, the second is the alienation between certain volunteers and the fans.
Yes as a fan I am more than appreciative as to what goes on behind the scenes to keep the games on. I just wish the whining from the people doing it would stop.

[Trek]

The fact of the matter is the club is always going to need additional help as they continue to grow and that will, unfortunately, mean they will on ocassions have to pay for outside assistance in such matters as match stewarding for certain fixtures. I believe this was the case for the Cambridge City and St Andrews fixtures. This is nothing unique to us, even Potton last season did the same when we visited their ground. The only way that this can be prevented is for more volunteers to step forward from the general fan base to assist the existing volunteers on match days.

[Biggles]

Looks like this thread is descending into them and us.

The facts are that in any group there are always the few volunteers that do the work whilst the majority look on and of course the Majority are also the ones to criticise and moan when anything goes wrong.

To the volunteers, you do a great job however most will never praise you but will jump on your backs the second it goes tits up, that's life.

To the Majority, When prices have to rise and paid strangers appear, don't bitch its because most of you can't be bothered to get up and help, you just want to watch the game, yes but the game needs organisation and that only happens with unpaid help or paid help and it seems our unpaid help are getting a little frustrated (understandable) so if we pay for help then fine, I will maybe have to pay a little more in the future, so be it.

No organisers, then no game, simples.

[Pigman]

There is a lot that goes on during a match that you're unaware of - I hope to be able to watch a game of football uninterrupted soon

Not too patronising eh??
It is your decision to steward/volunteer nobody forces you to do it. There are other people who volunteer and do a whole lot and give a lot more time yet I NEVER see them always complaining.

That was never meant to be patronising or complaining lee and I'm sorry you decided to take it that way - I volunteer because I want to, I'll stop when I want to as well. I enjoy the volunteering and would urge others to getvinvolved and spread the load a little.

I'm very well aware of what others do for the club and how they feel about it too, maybe I have too much time on my hands to post on here and ought to do a little more eh? ;) (that bit was a joke, you should know me well enough to know that all I post isn't meant seriously).

[StaceyH]

Let's not get into a big divisive debate about this please guys. Volunteers can only give so much and there will always be games, like the St Andrews one, where we will need extra help from qualified people. We can and do learn a lot from them when they come. It's happened all season and will continue next season.

If you are able to volunteer, whether it be for stewarding or anything else on Matchday (if you're not sure what other help we need, please just ask, the list is long!) please get in touch, your help will be greatly appreciated.