OSSETT UNITED STATEMENT

AT OSSETT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB WE PRIDE OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY CLUB, WELCOMING FOR ALL OUR FANS, VISITING SUPPORTERS AND NEUTRALS ALIKE, AND ARE EQUALLY PROUD OF THE LEVELS OF SUPPORT WE RECEIVE, REGULARLY ACHIEVING ONE OF THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCES NATIONALLY AT OUR LEVEL. WE VERY MUCH WELCOME THE GROWING BAND OF YOUNGER SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN ATTENDING HOME GAMES MORE RECENTLY, GENERATING A FANTASTIC ATMOSPHERE THAT IS REGULARLY COMMENTED ON BY THE PLAYERS AND MANAGEMENT TEAM.

HOWEVER, IN RECENT GAMES THERE HAVE SADLY BEEN SOME UNPLEASANT EVENTS THAT ARE AFFECTING THE ENJOYMENT OF OTHER SUPPORTERS AND AFFECTING THE PLAYING OF THE GAME WITH TUESDAY’S GAME BEING BRIEFLY STOPPED BY THE REFEREE DUE TO THE ACTIONS OF SEVERAL OF OUR YOUNGER FANS. WHILST IT MAY SEEM LIKE HARMLESS BOISTEROUS FUN TO SOME, WHEN THE REFEREE HAS TO STOP THE GAME DUE TO ISSUES WITH CROWD CONTROL, THERE IS A SERIOUS RISK THAT THIS COULD CREATE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE CLUB WITH ACTION BEING TAKEN BY FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL FINE FOR THE CLUB OR POINTS DEDUCTION.

WHILST STEWARDS AND CLUB OFFICIALS WERE QUICK TO REACT TO THE ISSUES, THE LARGE GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS ARE CHALLENGING TO ENGAGE WITH AND WHEN KEY INDIVIDUALS WERE ASKED TO LEAVE THE GROUND AND REFUSED, THE POLICE HAD TO BE CALLED WHICH THEN RESULTED IN A LARGE GROUP BEING EJECTED FROM THE GROUND – WE DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS, BUT WHEN BEHAVIOUR CROSSES THE LINE THEN IT IS OUR DUTY TO ACT FOR THE BROADER ENJOYMENT AND SAFETY OF ALL SUPPORTERS AT THE GAME AND TO ENSURE THE CLUB IS SEEN TO BE MANAGING ISSUES IN THE RIGHT WAY AND THEREFORE AVOIDING POSSIBLE ACTION BY THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. WHILST THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED WERE EJECTED FROM OUR

MOST RECENT GAME, THEY ARE NOT BANNED.

AT OSSETT UNITED WE WANT ALL OUR SUPPORTERS TO BE AS PASSIONATE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN IN SUPPORT OF OUR CLUB – THE PLAYERS WILL ALWAYS BE AT THEIR BEST WHEN OUR SUPPORTERS GET FULLY BEHIND THE TEAM AND SHOW THEIR FULL SUPPORT AND PASSION. BUT SUPPORTERS MUST ABIDE BY THE RULES SET DOWN BY THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AND OSSETT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB AND ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR STEWARDS AND CLUB OFFICIALS.

THEREFORE, UNLESS THERE IS A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN BEHAVIOUR STARTING FROM THIS SATURDAY, THEN THE CLUB WILL HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO FOLLOW THE ADVICE FROM POLICE AND THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION WHICH WOULD SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER 16S NOT BEING ALLOWED ENTRY TO THE GROUND UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT – A POLICY A NUMBER OF OTHER CLUBS HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED.

IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS CURRENT SEASON, CERTAIN AREAS OF THE GROUND HAVE BEEN MADE UNAVAILABLE TO UNACCOMPANIED U16S, SUCH AS THE MAIN STAND WHICH IS NOW OUR FAMILY STAND.

WE BELIEVE THE MAJORITY WHO ATTEND OUR GAMES DO SO TO WATCH THE FOOTBALL AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. WE ALSO BELIEVE THE MAJORITY ARE NOT THERE TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. THEREFORE WE ASK IF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR DOES OCCUR, PLEASE MOVE AWAY FROM THE AREA. BY DISTANCING YOURSELF IT MAKES IT EASIER TO IDENTIFY THE TROUBLEMAKERS. CHOOSING TO REMAIN IN THE GROUP SIMPLY PUTS YOU AT RISK OF BEING EJECTED FROM THE GROUND.

THE CLUB IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE WHO IN TURN ARE LINKING UP WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

REST ASSURED THOSE IDENTIFIED AS BREAKING CLUB AND FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION RULES WILL BE PERMANENTLY BANNED FROM ATTENDING FUTURE GAMES.

Grant Black

WELCOME TO TODAY’S GAME WITH SHILDON , HOT ON THE HEELS OF ANOTHER EXCELLENT WIN HERE ON TUESDAY EVENING WHICH MADE IT THREE ON THE SPIN AND MAKES OUR POINTS TOTAL LOOK MUCH HEALTHIER . EVER SINCE I WAS APPOINTED , ALONG WITH MY MANAGEMENT TEAM WE HAVE CONFIDENTLY SAID WE WOULD PROPEL THE SIDE UP THE TABLE AND THAT IS STARTING TO BE SEEN AS THE NEW SIGNINGS HAVE SETTLED IN .

THE MINIMUM WE EXPECT IS 100% COMMITMENT AND I AM SURE YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEING FOR NINETY MINUTES , WITH THE POSITIVE RESULTS COMES CONFIDENCE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT ANY SIDE IN THE LEAGUE WILL RELISH PLAYING US .

WE HAVE STRENGTH IN DEPTH ALL OVER THE PITCH AND ANYONE WHO FAILS TO MAKE THE STARTING LINE UP IN ANY GIVEN GAME CAN CONSIDER THEMSELVES UNLUCKY AND I KNOW WHEN CALLED UPON THEY WILL COME ONTO THE FIELD DURING THE GAME AND MAKE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT .

I AM AWARE ON TUESDAY THERE WAS SOME ISSUES IN THE CROWD AND WHILE I WILL

LEAVE THAT WITH THE CLUB TO DEAL WITH , I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHEN THE SUPPORTERS ARE SINGING AND SUPPORTING THE LADS IT GENUINELY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT , HOWEVER IT CLEARLY HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND IN RECENT GAMES AND THAT HAS TO STOP.

WE WANT TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF YOU IN THE STANDS BUT PLEASE AVOID CAUSING NEEDLESS TROUBLE , RESPECT THE CLUB , YOUR FELLOW SUPPORTERS AND ENJOY THE RIDE WE ARE ON AS WE LOOK TO TURN THREE WINS INTO FOUR TODAY.

ENJOY THE GAME .