Shamrock Rovers fans cancel bus services to Derry

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[FONT=Arial]Press Release:
For immediate Release :
General
05.07.11
10pm : No embargo.

[SIZE=5]‘Shamrock Rovers fans cancel bus services to the Brandywell’
[/SIZE]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial]'It is with great regret that the various Shamrock Rovers’ supporters groups have decided to cancel all buses to Friday’s away game against Derry City at the Brandywell. This unprecedented measure has been taken because of genuine fears for the safety of Shamrock Rovers’ fans, the potential damage to hired transport and the frontline risks involved for coach companies’ staff.'

This unprecedented move comes on the back of several clearly premeditated attacks in the recent past on Shamrock Rovers supporters’ buses in and around the Brandywell, which remains a no-go area for the local police.

This alarming situation needs to be immediately addressed by Derry City FC, especially as the club enjoys a unique and privileged position in that it is based in a jurisdiction governed by Northern Ireland’s Irish Football Association and yet plays in the Republic of Ireland’s FAI Airtricity League.


[SIZE=4]Tallaght Hoops SC
Northside Hoops SC
Hoops SC
Pride of Ringsend SC
Derek Tracey No. 1 Crumlin Hoops SC
Ballyfermot Hoops SC[/SIZE][/FONT]

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Interesting. Saying as they also boycott this forum I dont expect many replies from them;)
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=4] [/SIZE][/FONT]

I think the most important question to raise here is whether Myposts spaceship will be making the journey?

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This alarming situation needs to be immediately addressed by Derry City FC, especially as the club enjoys a unique and privileged position in that it is based in a jurisdiction governed by Northern Ireland’s Irish Football Association and yet plays in the Republic of Ireland’s FAI Airtricity League.

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Why does their location/jurisdiction make it 'especially' important that the situation be addressed?

Typical kneejerk reaction by shams or indicitive of issues at Brandywell ? Would hope Derry take possible fan concerns seriously as shams are not the only fans to have encountered problems at the Brandywell. Shame, as it was one of the best away games to visit and always a bit of crack with home fans.

Have shams - or other club(s) raised any concerns with Derry City FC ?

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Originally Posted by marinobohs

Typical kneejerk reaction by shams or indicitive of issues at Brandywell ? Would hope Derry take possible fan concerns seriously as shams are not the only fans to have encountered problems at the Brandywell. Shame, as it was one of the best away games to visit and always a bit of crack with home fans.

Have shams - or other club(s) raised any concerns with Derry City FC ?

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It seems the issue is outside the ground, and it has already been pointed out that is the PSNI's problem

I heard Pat O'Sullivan bought all the buses.

He wants a bear on a honda 50 to jump them for his amusement.

That's the real reason.

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Originally Posted by City till I Die

It seems the issue is outside the ground, and it has already been pointed out that is the PSNI's problem

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Fair enough CTID but clubs usually cooperate to minimise any possible risk to visiting fans (its in everyones interest). As you can imagine this is a constant factor when shams visit us (or vice versa). Have heard some bad reports concerning temporary stewards that Derry take on for certain (bigger) games (not wearing any ID, overly aggressive etc) not sure if there is much/any truth in the stories but they do keep arising, perhaps some further training might be a help ?

Shams are the only club that has "problems"up in Derry (or anywhere tbh), yet this is Derry's fault?

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Originally Posted by City till I Die

It seems the issue is outside the ground, and it has already been pointed out that is the PSNI's problem

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Not aimed directly at you, but if that's generally accepted then there's a fair amount of double standards going on. When incidents happen outside the ground involving Rovers or Bohs, I don't recall too many people agreeing with it when this kind of thing is said.

Was there dialogue, or attempted dialogue since the last visit in preparation for this game? My recollection is that there was coaches attacked after the last game? I generally agree with what happens outside the ground isn't really the clubs responsibility, but at the same time Derry can't really have it both ways - if they don't want the police presence around the ground, then they have to take a greater responsibility for outside too.

Maybe it's a "boycott" because the match on TV, that a European away trip is coming up, loads of people on holidays or that Derry is the furthest Shams have to travel this season?

"Clearly premeditated attacks" or a provoked reaction from some local scumbags to certain songs?
I'm not saying the local scumbags are right, but certain songs really don't help matters. Will the same songs be sung on the Cliftonville Road next time they're up visiting their Belfast muckers?

"Brandywell...which remains a no-go area for police". Where does this inaccurate assumption come from?

Did the SCs contact the club regarding any concerns they may have had? Perhaps an agreed plan could be put in place?

The whole release seems like it could have come straight from Linfield release from the 1970s. Especially the last paragraph about our "priviledged" position in the LoI.

I assume Shamrock Rovers fans will also be boycotting Bohemians, Dundalk and Sligo due to the goings-on outside these matches.

Or maybe this is all to do with the Zayed incident last month? Still annoyed about that, methinks.

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Originally Posted by brendy_éire

Maybe it's a "boycott" because the match on TV, that a European away trip is coming up, loads of people on holidays or that Derry is the furthest Shams have to travel this season?

"Clearly premeditated attacks" or a provoked reaction from some local scumbags to certain songs?
I'm not saying the local scumbags are right, but certain songs really don't help matters. Will the same songs be sung on the Cliftonville Road next time they're up visiting their Belfast muckers?

"Brandywell...which remains a no-go area for police". Where does this inaccurate assumption come from?

Did the SCs contact the club regarding any concerns they may have had? Perhaps an agreed plan could be put in place?

The whole release seems like it could have come straight from Linfield release from the 1970s. Especially the last paragraph about our "priviledged" position in the LoI.

I assume Shamrock Rovers fans will also be boycotting Bohemians, Dundalk and Sligo due to the goings-on outside these matches.

Or maybe this is all to do with the Zayed incident last month? Still annoyed about that, methinks.

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Well done on being wrong on every single misjudged utterance there.must be close to a record,even for this forum
You want explanations i'd assume?
How about getting your head out if your ar$€.

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Originally Posted by brendy_éire

Maybe it's a "boycott" because the match on TV, that a European away trip is coming up, loads of people on holidays or that Derry is the furthest Shams have to travel this season?

"Clearly premeditated attacks" or a provoked reaction from some local scumbags to certain songs?
I'm not saying the local scumbags are right, but certain songs really don't help matters. Will the same songs be sung on the Cliftonville Road next time they're up visiting their Belfast muckers?

"Brandywell...which remains a no-go area for police". Where does this inaccurate assumption come from?

Did the SCs contact the club regarding any concerns they may have had? Perhaps an agreed plan could be put in place?

The whole release seems like it could have come straight from Linfield release from the 1970s. Especially the last paragraph about our "priviledged" position in the LoI.

I assume Shamrock Rovers fans will also be boycotting Bohemians, Dundalk and Sligo due to the goings-on outside these matches.

Or maybe this is all to do with the Zayed incident last month? Still annoyed about that, methinks.

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Seems a tad OTT alright but hope Derry would make every effort to ensure safety of fans travelling to the Brandywell. shams (for all their many faults :o) have a resilient fanbase and most are decent fans (REMINDER TO SELF - wash out mouth) that travel the lenght and breath of the country so I would not be as quick to dismiss this as just some stunt.

Wouldn't say its anything to do with the songs, those local knackers are there after every game and Derry are happy to do feck all about it even though the club know all about it... Do you think people wouldn't be put off by buses getting stoned previously? Anyway seems like you dont want the hassle of having away fans going by the way your mutton headed stewards behave.

The time is right for an all-Ireland league.

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Originally Posted by Dave_SRFC

Wouldn't say its anything to do with the songs, those local knackers are there after every game and Derry are happy to do feck all about it even though the club know all about it... Do you think people wouldn't be put off by buses getting stoned previously? Anyway seems like you dont want the hassle of having away fans going by the way your mutton headed stewards behave.

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Hold on, what do you want the club to do? Ban them from the area? Its a problem for the PSNI, the club can only ensure fans safety inside the ground. Outside its a different matter. The club is no more responsible for fans outside the ground as they are for fans in the middle of the town.

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Originally Posted by City till I Die

Hold on, what do you want the club to do? Ban them from the area? Its a problem for the PSNI, the club can only ensure fans safety inside the ground. Outside its a different matter. The club is no more responsible for fans outside the ground as they are for fans in the middle of the town.

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The club should liaise with the cops to stop scumbags pelting buses with bricks. There should be a PR offensive by the club too so that message gets out that that kind of carry on is not acceptable.
I agree, the Shams' comment about Derry's 'privileged' status is not helpful but you have to man up as a club and accept your responsibility in this matter. Saying that it's not your responsibility is wrong. It is your responsibility because what affects the league and its clubs is, by definition, your responsibility.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

Why does their location/jurisdiction make it 'especially' important that the situation be addressed?

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Possibly because they have appear to have specialist dispensation that they can police the ground themselves and that the local police are not to be found in the area. The sort of steward behaviour that marinobohs has mentioned..

If the situation will continue to be ignored either way as has been done, then at least the safety of the bus drivers, the bus companies' property and the safety of the fans can only be guaranteed by not going up.

Its not a "boycott", its the supporters clubs who organise buses to Brandywell saying people will have to organise their own way up to this game. The stonings do happen, and its been getting worse. If it does get much worse the bus companies they travel with wont be willing to take them there or elsewhere in future. Once a few of the buses pulled out, they all pretty much had to since if one went alone it would be pelted even worse. Hardly knee-jerk, and completely understandable that the people who give up their time and money organising these buses dont think its worth the effort/risk to future trips if the PSNI or ahem, other "security" operating in the area helps them out a bit.

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Originally Posted by dave_srfc

wouldn't say its anything to do with the songs, those local knackers are there after every game and derry are happy to do feck all about it even though the club know all about it... Do you think people wouldn't be put off by buses getting stoned previously? Anyway seems like you dont want the hassle of having away fans going by the way your mutton headed stewards behave.

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get a grip dave and speak sense

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Originally Posted by City till I Die

Hold on, what do you want the club to do? Ban them from the area? Its a problem for the PSNI, the club can only ensure fans safety inside the ground. Outside its a different matter. The club is no more responsible for fans outside the ground as they are for fans in the middle of the town.

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only you cant even do that with the goons you employ as stewards up there. The stories i heard directly from good friends of mine over the recent trip to Derry were pretty damning of Derry City FC. I didnt post any for fear of an infraction.

I have to say i am in full agreement with the Supporters Clubs right to cancel the trips for the reason outlined in their release. Damage to 3rd party property, injury to fans and others are all valid concerns given the history of Shams visits to Derry. I also feel that Derry have a responsibility to cooperate with the PSNI in this regard about these issues if and when possible. Would co-operation with the PSNI be out of the question for Derry fans?