Southampton stewards under investigation.

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Southampton_FC

Southampton_FC

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Apr 3, 2011
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Thought i'd put this here rather then beefy's corner.

"AN INVESTIGATION is under way into the actions of stewards following the death of a 93-year-old Stoke City supporter who was knocked to the ground at a Potters' match.
Mabel Smith, of Bucknall, was caught in a crowd surge while celebrating a Peter Crouch goal during Stoke's match at Southampton in May.

The pensioner – who was the Potters' oldest fan – fell over and smashed her head on the floor.
She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but died on June 27 after suffering a stroke.

Now supporters are being urged to come forward with any photographic evidence which may help to establish whether stewards at St Mary's Stadium did enough to clear the aisles of fans following the half-time interval.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, said: "If you took a photograph at Southampton and it shows the aisles, we would like to see it.
"This is in connection with the investigation into the injury sustained by Mabel Smith, and the extent to which the stewards took action to clear the aisles.
"Also, if you have any evidence on that point in particular and haven't sent us a statement yet, we would like to hear from you."
Mabel's daughter, Shirley Noyes, who lives in Sussex, said: "Southampton Football Club have compiled a report into what happened on the day, but we are not satisfied with it.
"Our main concerns are whether or not the stewards cleared the aisles adequately before mum's fall.
"The club has accepted that she fell over because some Stoke fans behind her were cheering, but they have told us that they are confident there was pro-active stewarding on the day, which we don't agree with.
"I was at the match on the day and while I didn't actually see what happened to mum, I saw her injuries when she was in hospital and I know there is more to this. "We just want to find out what happened, and if it was something to do with the stewards then we want the club to admit responsibility and that they were in the wrong.
"If the aisles weren't kept clear, someone needs to own up to that, and if anybody has any photographs that would help our case then we would appreciate their help."
Bryan Shaw, chairman of Stoke City Supporter's Club, added: "There were a lot of people who were there on the day and who probably saw what went on.
"It's very common nowadays that people take photographs and videos on their phones, so anything like this could help.
"I don't think people realise how serious this actually is, but I do hope that they will support the investigation, come forward and bring the evidence with them in the hope we can finally put this to rest."
Anyone with any information or photographs which might help, or witnesses who have not yet made a statement about what they saw on the day, are now being urged to contact case worker Amanda Jacks.
She can be reached via email at [email protected]."

Source - http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Family-Stoke-City-fan-Mabel-Smith-fight-truth/story-19582240-detail/story.html#axzz2aXIdRV85

Thoughts on this? just seems a tragic accident to me, and maybe is not directly linked with her death. but none the less RIP
 
I'm sorry and I know it sounds harsh, but that's to do with fellow fans and if people don't want to sit - they simply won't sit.

If it happens en-masse, there's little to be done by any stewarding team.

Still a sad story, RIP.
 
Might be wrong but sounds to me that they want some money. That's the way it reads to me anyways.
 
Agree with both of you. it happens alot as an away fan. the amount of times i've seen people go down a few rows from fans going mental as we scored. i dare not count.
 
Sadly we are in a blame culture......looking for people to blame for this tragic accident. I cannot see how blaming or otherwise of stewards would actually help. Are they saying that people should not jump up and down when a team scores.......You could argue if that is/was the case what was the lady in question doing in the aisle? If the stewards were clearing the aisle they would have asked the lady to go back to her seat also surely...Or have I got the wrong end of the stick here?
Either way it is not going to bring the lady back nor can I quite understand how the stewards could have/would have prevented this.
 
Sad situation, but surely the old lady knew the risks of going to away games. Just a tragic accident.
 
I posted this yesterday on Beefy's ... it is simple witch-hunting, or as Fran rightly pointed out, someone grieving and this is their way of dealing with it.
 
Very tragic indeed, RIP. But as you all have said, away fans (including ours!) go mental when a goals scored and even the most stable person could easily take a fall down the stairs. When 3,000 fans stand the whole match how on earth are the stewards going to make them all politely sit down when a goals scored? Does seem like they're looking for someone to blame.
 
Like I said on the Beefy's discussion we had on this: Rightly or wrongly I'm not sure the away fans section is the smartest place for a 93 year old lady to be stood, you could have a steward for every fan in there, but if they score everyone goes mental and people are going to be pushed. I know that sounds a bit cold, but it really is the way I look at it.
 
It may have been a tragic accident but it's absolutely right that there should be an investigation. If the stewards are found to have done everything possible to prevent something like this happening then fine, but if not then improvements have to be made or it is more likely to happen again in future. I can't see how this is any way a witch-hunt, it's quite normal for investigations to be done when things like this happen and that's right.
 
blame culture britain... Hate to sound harsh, but she did not even die of the injuries sustained after the fall.. but 6-7 weeks later.. Of a stroke.

Sorry for your loss, but surely it is the fault of the Stoke fans before the Southampton stewards? And even then it seems like a massive accident. You can't blame people for celebrating a goal inside a ground, in the away end especially. There are family stands for this very reason......
 
I read about this elsewhere and comments from Stoke fans were generally that the stewards couldn't have tried any harder to get them to sit down but that basically, it was the last game of the season and they were there to party.

Its very sad but also, and I hate to say this, somewhat irresponsible to take a frail 93 year old and put them in that environment. I suspect her daughter is feeling a tad guilty.
 
Sadly, many elderly people (in previously good health) die after a fall. At 93, you can't deal with an accident in the same way as you can at thirty. There is always a final thing that finishes you...often a broken hip, head injury or even bronchitis. What was she doing alone in a volatile (not aggressive situation)? Her daughter admits she couldn't see from where she was. I'm pretty sure that if she'd asked everyone would have shuffled up so she could be near her mother. I know I changed seats to help someone once. By all means investigate that everything was done properly, but the power and responsibilities of stewards is limited.
 
pass the football said:
It may have been a tragic accident but it's absolutely right that there should be an investigation. If the stewards are found to have done everything possible to prevent something like this happening then fine, but if not then improvements have to be made or it is more likely to happen again in future. I can't see how this is any way a witch-hunt, it's quite normal for investigations to be done when things like this happen and that's right.
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There was an investigation. Her family just wasn't happy with the result, so they want another one.
 
My understanding was that the lady died of a stroke........so just as easily could have been because of the fall or as a result of her age......it is a tragedy either way. How ever you will never know I would suspect whether it was or wasn't because of the fall. The family could not possibly say in truth that her death was totally unexpected at that age. Which ever way the old lady went.
 
pass the football said:
I don't but it's heavily implied and much, much more likely at any rate than her dying of an unrelated stroke so soon afterwards.
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Not convinced. Was it a stroke from a clot or a TIA? It's a remarkably common occurrence at that age as it happens. Yes of course it could have been caused by the fall, much as it may well have nothing to do with it. A sad tragedy of course, but dangerous to make assumptions as to the forerunner to a stroke.
 
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