FL2: Torquay United v Morecambe 30th October 2010

There was a gentleman at the Fans Forum who said that he sits up behind the dugouts and if abuse was being shouted at Bucks he said he would ask said persons to refrain from doing so!!

Leigh I thought you already knew that when you pay to enter a football ground, you are automatically granted a special licence. It allows you to be as rude and offensive as you want and you never need to worry if others don’t like it, as you paid your money and everyone else just has to put up with you.

You can sling personal insults at the manager and who cares if it hurts him; he is getting paid isn’t he? He likes it when we sing his name when we are winning and has to take our abuse when we are not, surely that’s how it’s meant to work?

Wrong wrong wrong, yes he is getting paid but he should be allowed to get on and do his job and the club has a duty as his employer, to protect him from the sort of abuse he so often receives. Is there any other job where someone can be so abused in this way?

I was over that side close to the dugout a number of games near the end of last season. What shocked me was the real venom that was being shouted out to Bucks, this was nothing to do with any fans passion, and it was more like deep bitter hatred for Bucks and just where does that come from?

I thought it was wrong to rope of an area near the dugout last season, it gives the message they are having the desired effect on Bucks, the way to deal with it is put a steward there and it will be his job to prevent it happening.

I really felt sorry for Bucks those games I was over there, so used to the abuse and almost expecting it, he was making his way to the dugout before the match, almost afraid to turn his head and look into the grandstand and the standing area in front of it.

He should be coming out and warmly greeted by the fans, yes I know many do just that, but not all I’m afraid, we have UNITED in our name and should be at all time through good and bad.

The thing is he is so dedicated and committed to his job, has done a very good job for such a young manager so why have some of our fans never liked him? One thing you have to admire and respect him for is he walks away and does not get involved in a slanging match with said so called fans. That has to be very hard as what does get said to him would make any normal person end up throwing a punch.

A football manager’s job is not one I would ever want, some fans always feel they know best as far as team selection, substitutions etc go. It’s a no win situation as no matter what Bucks does team wise, some will always claim he got it wrong again.

I think for some the word support has gone out of supporting the team and the manager and people ask why others don’t go to football matches. I spoke with someone yesterday who went to a game for the first time a few weeks ago at Plainmoor.

He told me he did not mind watching the home team lose and he did enjoy the football on display, but he would not be making it a habit due to what he described as the unhealthy atmosphere around him. I asked him what he meant and he replied it was some of the filth being shouted out and abuse aimed at the ref, linesmen and even the players.

He went on to say he has been to many other sporting events and never experienced anything like he did at that football match and its no wonder some feel football fans are not very nice people.

But that’s not true is it; most are just normal good people who just happen to love football. Sadly at every club there is a minority whose behaviour tarnishes the real lovers of football and the ones who know and understand what the word support really means.

I’m afraid our club can try all they want to get more people to watch games up at Plainmoor, but unless they are football nuts and if they were would be going already, expecting decent clean living people to stand and put up with what will come out of some fans mouths is asking a bit to much.

I have been to many games when it has almost ruined it for me and yes I have asked myself is this what I want to stand and listen to on a Saturday afternoon. It’s just about tolerable if the team win and you see a good game of football, not so much when we lose or play badly.

I have had many debates with those who feel football fans are all hooligans and loud mouths, I know that’s not true as I know so many, but if those who believe that were in our ground and heard some of the abuse for themselves, you would never in a month of Sundays ever win your argument with them.

I don’t know what the answer is but I do know more and more people don’t want to be in such an environment and that is a concern as it will only mean gates getting lower and lower as the years go on unless it can be changed.

Passion is one thing and is what makes being in a football crowd special, abuse and offensive behaviour is something completely different and is damaging football in my view.