Cambridge Game

[braintreejon]

with the rain that fell today on already wet ground, how is the pitch looking for the match?

[fitnessfreak]

Get your flippers out now. Be a miracle if there a match today.

[oranjeboom]

Well thanks for that, you may have put a few off trying with your remarks, like me.
I didn't even know the game was played till coming online and no one has said anything about it so I guess we were pants after two good results. Can someone who went post what happened ta!

[ozbrit]

Looks as if we'd have preferred to have had this one postponed. Fortunately for us, only Nuneaton in the relegation zone managed a win.

[mjt]

first half played well and a bit unfortunate to be 1 down ...second half were never at the races and played poorly, second goal looked offside but third was a giveaway, pitch was in a very bad state at the end and cant see how Sats game will go ahead.

all that effort for long term damage to the pitch I would guess

[ozbrit]

I remember the pitch from the early 80's mjt, it was possibly even worse back then, more like a rugby field. The soil makeup was/is clay, so very little downward percolation was possible. Back then it'd cut up worse than now. When we had a light frost/drier period the groundsman would flatten out all the ruts with the heavy roller. Of course the cosmetic look was good, until the slightest shower fell and the water would then just sit on the surface. It occurred to me that compacting clay might be the opposite what was actually needed. But there again if the ruts weren't flattened I guess that the surface could become dangerous if the ruts froze hard. I recall that some drainage work was carried out in the late 1980's, the drains ran from left to right across the pitch, as you look from the clubhouse end.
When we get the new ground then hopefully the pitch will be professionally laid with gravels and a full drainage network. Then we would be the envy of the area.

[braintreeo]

With the new stadium on the (distant) horizon I hope that the FA and FL will see the benefit in allowing the new 4G pitches for competitive games at all levels below premiership. not only would it cut down maintainance but guarentee games could go ahead, these pitches are now little different than playing on a carpet of grass and are a million miles from the plastic pitches that were in situ at QPR and Luton in the 80's.

In addition it would be another revenue stream for the club being able to hire out facilities on non matchdays. Orients CEO Matt Porter has estimated that private hire for the O's could be worth up to £400k a year in additional revenue, and while I am not suggesting Braintree could draw in the same money anything to increase income must be a massive bonus.

[ryanf]

Hi, apologies in advance, this is going to be a long and rambling post about my terrible experience at the Cambridge game this week.

I'm a season ticket holder, and regularly stand just along from the home dugout. The crowd at the Cambridge game was a lot bigger than usual, and matters weren't helped by the rain - the usual 'bouncy bouncy' crew behind the goal also flocked to our stand because of the heavy rain, making it even more crowded, especially in the second half.

At times in that second half, I was utterly embarrassed to be a Braintree fan, thanks to the behaviour of a number of idiots behind me. I'm well aware that language at football games can get a bit industrial, but some of the stuff was beyond belief.

I'm yet to see the replays, but from our angle it looked like there may have been a hint of offside about the second and third goals. The linesman was obviously going to get a bit of stick after that (cue much swearing and unfunny SpecSavers references), but some of it, I felt, was way over the line. "Hope you burn in hell, c**t" was one particularly nasty shout I heard.

And it wasn't just the poor linesman - even the Cambridge players doing their touchline warm-ups were subjected to a torrent of abuse.

Ours is usually such a quiet, reserved, side of the stadium - as such the constant haranguing of visiting players came as a bit of a shock. One of the Cambridge subs gave as good as he got, and made a 3-0 sign with his hands. I thought it was quite funny, considering some of the abuse this guy was taking. Sadly, the gesture was like a red rag to a bull, and yet more abuse was directed his way.

Furthermore, I was apalled at the constant booing and swearing directed at Gash - who did so well for us earlier in the season whilst on loan at the Iron. In those troubling early months of the season, he gave his all and played his heart out, despite just being in Braintree on a short-term loan. Many of my Iron-supporting friends were disappointed when he had to go back to his home club.

So how do we repay his good service? By treating him like garbage, that's how! It made my blood boil.

Considering the low turnouts for the games against Havant and Gateshead recently, I'm well aware that this loutish behaviour was probably restricted to a bunch of fair-weather fans who just came for the big match, people who wouldn't know that Met Police is even a football team, let alone find their home ground on a map.

And I'd like to reiterate that I'm well aware that bad language is part-and-parcel of the matchday experience.

But in my view, the treatment of the Cambridge players and the officals, especially the near-side linesman and Gash, was beyond what I'd consider acceptable. As I say, it really marred my matchday experience and made me embarrassed to be a fan.

Cheers for reading,

Ryan.

[mjt]

Dec 27, 2012 19:28:15 GMT ryanf said:

Hi, apologies in advance, this is going to be a long and rambling post about my terrible experience at the Cambridge game this week.

I'm a season ticket holder, and regularly stand just along from the home dugout. The crowd at the Cambridge game was a lot bigger than usual, and matters weren't helped by the rain - the usual 'bouncy bouncy' crew behind the goal also flocked to our stand because of the heavy rain, making it even more crowded, especially in the second half.

At times in that second half, I was utterly embarrassed to be a Braintree fan, thanks to the behaviour of a number of idiots behind me. I'm well aware that language at football games can get a bit industrial, but some of the stuff was beyond belief.

I'm yet to see the replays, but from our angle it looked like there may have been a hint of offside about the second and third goals. The linesman was obviously going to get a bit of stick after that (cue much swearing and unfunny SpecSavers references), but some of it, I felt, was way over the line. "Hope you burn in hell, c**t" was one particularly nasty shout I heard.

And it wasn't just the poor linesman - even the Cambridge players doing their touchline warm-ups were subjected to a torrent of abuse.

Ours is usually such a quiet, reserved, side of the stadium - as such the constant haranguing of visiting players came as a bit of a shock. One of the Cambridge subs gave as good as he got, and made a 3-0 sign with his hands. I thought it was quite funny, considering some of the abuse this guy was taking. Sadly, the gesture was like a red rag to a bull, and yet more abuse was directed his way.

Furthermore, I was apalled at the constant booing and swearing directed at Gash - who did so well for us earlier in the season whilst on loan at the Iron. In those troubling early months of the season, he gave his all and played his heart out, despite just being in Braintree on a short-term loan. Many of my Iron-supporting friends were disappointed when he had to go back to his home club.

So how do we repay his good service? By treating him like garbage, that's how! It made my blood boil.

Considering the low turnouts for the games against Havant and Gateshead recently, I'm well aware that this loutish behaviour was probably restricted to a bunch of fair-weather fans who just came for the big match, people who wouldn't know that Met Police is even a football team, let alone find their home ground on a map.

And I'd like to reiterate that I'm well aware that bad language is part-and-parcel of the matchday experience.

But in my view, the treatment of the Cambridge players and the officals, especially the near-side linesman and Gash, was beyond what I'd consider acceptable. As I say, it really marred my matchday experience and made me embarrassed to be a fan.

Cheers for reading,

Ryan.

here here ...quite agree was about half a dozen individuals, in particular one male who seemed to have a female with him!!!

[Stuart R]

We just never looked like scoring even though we had a lot of possession, especially at the start. We will have to play a lot better on Saturday on a pitch that will be just as bad if it's on.

[braintreeo]

Dec 27, 2012 19:28:15 GMT ryanf said:

Hi, apologies in advance, this is going to be a long and rambling post about my terrible experience at the Cambridge game this week.

I'm a season ticket holder, and regularly stand just along from the home dugout. The crowd at the Cambridge game was a lot bigger than usual, and matters weren't helped by the rain - the usual 'bouncy bouncy' crew behind the goal also flocked to our stand because of the heavy rain, making it even more crowded, especially in the second half.

At times in that second half, I was utterly embarrassed to be a Braintree fan, thanks to the behaviour of a number of idiots behind me. I'm well aware that language at football games can get a bit industrial, but some of the stuff was beyond belief.

I'm yet to see the replays, but from our angle it looked like there may have been a hint of offside about the second and third goals. The linesman was obviously going to get a bit of stick after that (cue much swearing and unfunny SpecSavers references), but some of it, I felt, was way over the line. "Hope you burn in hell, c**t" was one particularly nasty shout I heard.

And it wasn't just the poor linesman - even the Cambridge players doing their touchline warm-ups were subjected to a torrent of abuse.

Ours is usually such a quiet, reserved, side of the stadium - as such the constant haranguing of visiting players came as a bit of a shock. One of the Cambridge subs gave as good as he got, and made a 3-0 sign with his hands. I thought it was quite funny, considering some of the abuse this guy was taking. Sadly, the gesture was like a red rag to a bull, and yet more abuse was directed his way.

Furthermore, I was apalled at the constant booing and swearing directed at Gash - who did so well for us earlier in the season whilst on loan at the Iron. In those troubling early months of the season, he gave his all and played his heart out, despite just being in Braintree on a short-term loan. Many of my Iron-supporting friends were disappointed when he had to go back to his home club.

So how do we repay his good service? By treating him like garbage, that's how! It made my blood boil.

Considering the low turnouts for the games against Havant and Gateshead recently, I'm well aware that this loutish behaviour was probably restricted to a bunch of fair-weather fans who just came for the big match, people who wouldn't know that Met Police is even a football team, let alone find their home ground on a map.

And I'd like to reiterate that I'm well aware that bad language is part-and-parcel of the matchday experience.

But in my view, the treatment of the Cambridge players and the officals, especially the near-side linesman and Gash, was beyond what I'd consider acceptable. As I say, it really marred my matchday experience and made me embarrassed to be a fan.

Cheers for reading,

Ryan.

This is something I have passed comment on before. I have stood behind the goal on a few occasions and the language has gone far beyond genial banter, moreso given that there are kids about.

What I found dissapointing is that there were club officials on the terrace at the time and a quite word could have nipped it in the bud but it was allowed to continue.

[orangenblue]

Totally agree with what's been said. I know who your talking about mjt. Listening to the bile that comes out of his mouth has made me watch the game from a different part of the ground. Shouldn't we all be policing these louts though, not just the stewards?

[ironhorse]

I agree that sometimes supporters get carried away and banter can sometimes become bile, if people know who the main instigator is why not inform the Supporters Club chairman to have a word in the first instance. We always claim to be a family club and even I at times have been guilty of swearing or having a go at officials, part of the game,as a former chairman I tried to set and example but I am human after all, I have once or twice had a quite word where due,but if it takes the pleasure of the experience away from fellow members of the Iron Faithful then a quite word to maybe curb the enthusiasm might be enough. If the "culprit" is a regular reader/contributor on the Forum maybe he should take it on board.

[braintreeo]

Dec 28, 2012 3:06:42 GMT orangenblue said:

Totally agree with what's been said. I know who your talking about mjt. Listening to the bile that comes out of his mouth has made me watch the game from a different part of the ground. Shouldn't we all be policing these louts though, not just the stewards?

The Stewards are unpaid supporters are they not? If so they deserve credit for getting involved. That said I have never seen them get involved in anything other than chatting amongst themselves or with home supporters who they probably know.

As I wrote in my earlier post I have stood behind the goal when club officials (Including senior supporters club officials) were present and tbh they seemed to find the abuse quite amusing. it wasn't banter it was abuse and IMHO should be stamped out. My son is coming up to the age where I will take him to games I would like to take him to Braintree but there is no chance while the current levels of abuse are happening, believe me it is far worse than at any of the FL games I have been to this season. I love a good atmosphere, I love a bit of good humoured banter, but really the club have to act on this as some of it is quite disgusting.

[honestjohn]

This is not a matter to be dealt with by the Supporters Club Chairman....it is solely and totally the responsibility of the Stewards who will chastise a child if his coat is hanging over the wall but prefer to fade into the background when something less favourable arises. The duties involve the safety and comfort of the spectators which they do not appear to be doing. I am not aware of any financial reward apart from free entrance to the match but as well as their watching the match they must not forget their duties.
It is NOT an easy job but if this indiscipline from a small number of spectators continues then unfortunately we may be forced to hire the police which again may involve more expense,
I hope this does not arise as we have always been viewed as a friendly and welcoming club, Just remember all the positive Tranmere comments.
Lets get trhgis sorted before families turn their backs and we need every single one of them now.

[gingermunky]

For the Cambridge game we had 13 home stewards.3 of those were with the 5 Cambridge stewards in the away end so 10 stewards to man 2 and a half sides of the ground.i personally have spoken to home fans before about foul/abusive language and have been told to f##k off.so it's not just as easy to blame the stewards.if Braintree would have won,nobody would be having a pop at the stewards.if people know who the offenders are those people should be pointed out to the safety officer or a steward then this person could be dealt with.im sure people will agree that with 10 stewards were a little under manned and can't hear everything that goes on