No Rovers in Flancare

Longford Town FC would like to confirm that following a meeting with the Gardai and the FAI, the Longford Town vs. Shamrock Rovers Eircom League Premier Division game on July 2nd will be an all-ticket match with no tickets available for sale on the night. There will be no tickets available for Shamrock Rovers fans.

This decision was made because of ongoing concerns in relation to hosting games with Shamrock Rovers in Flancare Park. Because of the actions of a minority of Shamrock Rovers fans the security concerns and costs involved has necessitated the need for this decision. As a family club we are aware that many of our supporters are unwilling to bring children to home games involving Shamrock Rovers.

It is unfortunate that our club has had to make this decision and we would request that Shamrock Rovers supporters would accept this decision and not to travel to the fixture as they will not be admitted into the ground.

Ticket details for Longford Town supporters will be announced through this website and via the local media.



The failures of our stewarding has resulted in this. Obviously the club cannot rectify this as many people would feel insulted.

We've had Linfield supporters this year. prober stewarding and segregated terracing yet LTFC cannot manage Rovers support.

A sad day.

That's an awful decision by the Longford board :rolleyes:

terrible :rolleyes:

its down to our disgracful excuses of stewards at the end of the day. LTFC obviously cant trust tem so they wont give them anything to do instead. shameful :mad:

you don't have to be so sarcastic about what I said. The principal problem occured when Rovers fans tried change ends in Flancare at a league meeting last year. It ended up with one of our stewards getting hurt. I feel sorry for the steward in question and I appreciate the effort that the stewards and LTFC go to in hosting a game but if there was a policy in place then LTFC should have done all it could to communicate this policy and enforce it.

There was an effort to stop them midway through the process and some drunkin louts took offence but what would have happened if they were informed that they would be not be changing ends and proper segregation took place, such as the Cup game last year.

Shelbourne fans went to change ends at the last game of the season and the stewards hesitated and then let them change.

You either have a policy regarding away support or you don't, changing policy without communicating it will always be a problem. In general we can't afford to turn away support.

Can I some questions?

What measures are there in place should Shamrock Rovers fans choose express their distain (in Longford) with this ban being taken?

Does anyone have any idea why fans would change ends? LT Fans never do.

I'd almost invite all opposition supporters to discuss issues which have occurred in Flancare without much need for it to happen, It's a fact that damn all away supporters have much good to say about an evening in Flancare.

HAve to say think this will incite Rovers fans more than anything. Expect more than usual to travel now (maybe its clever marketing :) )

In Pats experience we've had some troubles with the stewards in Longford and its the only ground we've ever had any sort of trouble. (Worst when in the ****ings of rain they wouldn't let us exit by the stand but wanted us to go the whole way round the ground - one of our lot said "are you taking the ****?!" and a steward took a swing at him!) Think we were allowed change ends last seasn (although behind the far goal was blocked off)

Longford stewards are trouble makers anyway. Despicable decision. Rovers should appeal and take this to court if necessary

I think its very unfair on the hardcore Rovers fans who go everywhere to SUPPORT their team and then get dragged down by a few morons who are just there for the píss up. LTFC should give tickets to the Rovers SC at least or something like that because its unfair on the sound fans to get punished for something that they didnt do.

This decision beggers belief... So we're capable of policing setanta cup games and of getting a UEFA A Licence, but we can't handle a few hundred rovers fans?

Basically this is an admittance that the club can't steward games at all, and the Gardai can't police them.

We should hand back our UEFA licence....

btw won't this mean more fans travelling from Rovers? The Cup game showed with proper segregation they is no problems.

I really can't get over this reactionary nonsense, it disgusts me.

Again our stewarding capabilities cost us more goodwill, and I personally wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the premier boycott's flancare. Don't think I'd blame them either.

Disgraceful decision by Longford Town.

This is basically an admittence that they're stewarding is inept

Bizarre decision. Surely Longford could have just issued tickets to Rovers club so they would distribute with peoples names attached or something? Out-right ban sets very poor precedent.

Does Flancare have an away section? Could ye not just close off a section for away fans with different entrance & all. Unless its clearly communicated where away fans are supposed to go then just tempting problems like this.

:rolleyes:

What is the latest on the Rovers issue - The Indo and Times reporting that it's a restriction on numbers and Rovers taking responsibility? Does this pre-date the outright ban or have the club got loads of bad publicity just to end up with a solution that wouldn't have been all over the papers?

I think you are likely to have brought bad publicity on the club not & highlighted that may not be safe for people to attend a Rovers fixture.

Local Stewards at town matches are not paid as I sure everyone knows. But for rovers matches the down have to hire stewards from Dublin to contain the rovers fans. I like most of you have been to home matches against rovers. There are usually only a handful of rover’s fans there and amongst that lot are the trouble fans. Extra Garda are called if at more cost to the club. Rovers fans behavior after their win against shelbourn was unacceptable. This was probably the last straw. Some club has to stand up to these troublemakers. Well done Longford for highlighting a problem that needs to be solved. Football is a family game to be enjoyed. Without fear

They should issue Rovers with x amount of tickets.Put them in a particular section of the ground.Make them bring their own security and hold them responsible for any damage caused by themselves.Banning them completely is just way over the top.I know they bring a bad element with them but we managed Linfield alright ( at a great expence to the club ) so we can surely handle Rovers.I think i could safely say that the Gaurds called this one because in all circumstances they have the final word and i am talking from experience on this one as i am involved in event security.It's the cops that are the criminals with the prices they charge and then they just sit and watch the game for free and direct traffic.
While we are on the subject all each club should be made responsible for the behaviour of their own fans both home and away and if a breach of the rules occurs the FAI should fine them thousands of Euro's which would soon stamp out some of the crap.

i am flabbergasted with the decision. we were able to keep linfield supporters under control and why not shams? It is due to very poor communication from the stewards that has brought us into this mess. I was caught up in the shams riot last year and it was due to the lack of competency from the stewards that trouble was allowed to brew

There should being an allocation given to the 400 club and i am pretty sure that would solve the problem. I have no problem with 90% of their support as they are the most vocal in the league.

the goodwill associated with longford town fc from the eircom league is gone im afraid. :mad:

Hadn't heard anything about this and don't think it's the way to go either but I'd say it's to do with the Gardai insisting on extra security we dont want to pay for, last time we played them at home it cost us €7,000 extra security that the Gardai insisted on. Having said that banning them is ridiculous, surely some compromise could be reached

heard that this morning, and im actually quite shocked. this could really stir up the hornets nest. I feel sorry for the genuine Rovers fans and its just a bad decision all round. whats to stop Rovers fans from posing as Town fans?

Its a disgrace, dont agree with it atal!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Longfordian

Hadn't heard anything about this and don't think it's the way to go either but I'd say it's to do with the Gardai insisting on extra security we dont want to pay for, last time we played them at home it cost us €7,000 extra security that the Gardai insisted on. Having said that banning them is ridiculous, surely some compromise could be reached

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You'll still need all the security for outside the ground now though and miss out on the gate receipts. Daft decision.