Yellow Division Displays

LeftSideBoy said:
I summarised the YD side of things in this post: https://yellowsforum.co.uk/threads/31-08-24-championship-oufc-v-preston-north-end.11199/post-906304

We have been told that we cannot wave flags during the match, at the start of the 2nd half, and after a goal has been scored. People have been threatened with being kicked out if they do so. Another example of heavy-handed stewarding, but thats a conversation for another time. We are in conversations with the club regarding this, and given the positive effect the YD has had on the atmosphere in recent months, we are sure we can reach a suitable compromise with the club.
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OK, so it's not the flags, but when they're used?
 
Scotchegg said:
OK, so it's not the flags, but when they're used?
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That’s right. They have told us that this is down to EFL regs, but as I have mentioned in a previous post, we have seen many examples of this being allowed at other grounds in the EFL. We are working on this and hope to reach a compromise with the club. Michelle has been very helpful with the YD lads. I just hope that corporate ‘red tape’ doesn’t prevent the growth of something that is incredibly positive for the team, and for the club!
 
LeftSideBoy said:
That’s right. They have told us that this is down to EFL regs, but as I have mentioned in a previous post, we have seen many examples of this being allowed at other grounds in the EFL. We are working on this and hope to reach a compromise with the club. Michelle has been very helpful with the YD lads. I just hope that corporate ‘red tape’ doesn’t prevent the growth of something that is incredibly positive for the team, and for the club!
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I would see it as one step at a time. The pregame displays are fantastic and shows how far things have improved since a year ago.

It looks like other clubs have flag wavers at the front of the stands which could maybe repeated at half time, but appreciate that doesn't really work with goals when fans are at the back of the stand.
 
LeftSideBoy said:
That’s right. They have told us that this is down to EFL regs, but as I have mentioned in a previous post, we have seen many examples of this being allowed at other grounds in the EFL. We are working on this and hope to reach a compromise with the club. Michelle has been very helpful with the YD lads. I just hope that corporate ‘red tape’ doesn’t prevent the growth of something that is incredibly positive for the team, and for the club!
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It seems to me 'someone'/ 'someones' at the club are interpreting EFL regs in quite a repressive manner, especially if stewards are being instructed to act in a heavy handed way

Last time the club acted in a similar manner towards paying customers who put time trouble and effort into improving and enhancing the atmosphere in the soul less breeze block, it resulted in the Ultras calling it a day.

I seriously hope that a compromise can be reached, and quickly , Yellow Division are still relatively new, I don't want to see what they have already bought to recent home matches at the tail end of last season, the start of this season , plus at Wembley , in effect strangled at birth (so to speak)

In my opinion @OUSP and @OxVox should be backing Yellow Division to the hilt- IF its the ego of a club employee or club employees that's led to a jobsworth interpretation and application of Regulations etc, said individual/ individuals need to be firmly put back in their box, and told to not be so petty, by either the MD or CEO, or even better both of them.
 
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Colin B said:
I’ve heard from some of those involved that the H&S mafia have stopped them being able to wave flags during the game.

What is it with certain parts of this club???!!!
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Yes, still can't wave a flag during the game on the back row which blocks no ones view. Of course, absolutely fine for 8 flags waving during the second half vs Peterborough in the playoffs but apparently this season it's far too dangerous. I have raised the point with the stewards and most have all agreed that it's silly but they are being given orders by the security officer. I have been threatened with a ban or ejection if I carry on because "it's an EFL rule and not allowed". They had no response when I provided evidence of Lincoln City, Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Huddersfield to name a few who wave flags DURING the game, and these are in the front and middle of the stands, not to mention we used to do it regularly with permission of the safety officer in the Oxford Ultras days.

Yellow Division have spent thousands on waving flags and plenty willing to wave them all game, including me, who are sadly being blocked. I have a season ticket on the back row in that section so I don't even have to move out of my official seat to do it. Players and staff have asked why they can't be waved more as it looks great and motivates, so come on OUFC, a meeting with the security team to push things forwards would be great...
 
FFS you just couldn't make it up tinpot.. Absolute jobsworth ,snowflake ,woke ,heath & safety gone mad all in one.
Party pooping , miserables gits....
 
Unless there are further rule/regulation docs, the EFL Ground Regulations are:
and the only thing re flags is:
Further, you may not bring into the Ground:
8.2 any flags or banners larger than those maximum dimensions permitted by the Club fromtime to time (or, in the absence of such stipulations, 2 metres x 1 metre) and/or of an offensive nature;
(the EFL Ground Regs are linked off the OUFC site at https://www.oufc.co.uk/burger-menu/club/club-information)

Don't know if flags are mentioned in the Green Guide (The Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds) - its a paid doc.

The FSA site has an entry re OUFC on flags and banners - but might be out of date, it quotes Sarah Gooding.
"Oxford United Football Club actively encourage supporters to display banners and flags and the club are proud to support our supporters home displays."

Be good if someone can ask whoever it is at the club what regulation they are referring to.
 
The ground regs also state entry could be refused to anyone:
"whose presence within the Ground is, or could (in the Club’s reasonable opinion), constitute a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person."

could cover a fair number of the supporter base ;-)
 
For the record before any unnecessary digs, OUSP met with Joe Nicholls (Yellow Army) and Andy Taylor prior to the season starting. All of us were united in looking at ways in which we could support any fans groups to improve the atmosphere. The reason I questioned about flag use as such was that was clearly discussed about flags and banners being allowed as long as they meet the usual fire standards. Discussions also took place in regard to the club being open to finding storage solutions at the stadium, but that spaces that were the clubs rather than the stadium company were limited but not impossible to work around.

There were lots of discussions about fund raising and working closely with the club so it wasn't possible to discuss every eventuality, and therefore the potential use of flags during games wasn't discussed. That's why I was seeking more information as fan engagement is a regular agenda item for our meetings and this can be raised ahead of our next meeting. If that means that I'm "going native" then so be it.

I would however reiterate the point that things have improved considerably in the last 6 home games, and hopefully gives a platform to go even further.
 
on a slightly off-topic (but related to stewarding) note - why was everyone entering the right side of the East stand being searched and bags checked, which led to queues going all the way across the stand, but nothing on the left side? Seems weird. I walked to the end of the queue for the right side (and the turnstiles mentioned on my ticket) and was right next to the left side turnstiles - no queue or checks there - I thought **** it, and just went to the left hand turnstiles (tickets seem to work for both) and straight in.
 
WokinghamYellow said:
I also see that young lad vlogger has been banned from filming any pitch action, yet there seemed to be preston vloggers producing content with pitch action included
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Well, that is specifically mentioned in the ground regs. Re the Preston (and indeed other away fans) doing it, might just be harder to spot when they are only there once, U's fans likely to be in same spot every week. Or they could hold "an appropriate license"?

20 Save as set out in paragraph 17 above, no person (other than a person who holds an appropriate licence) may capture, log, record, transmit, play, issue, show or otherwise communicate (by digital or other means) any Material in relation to the Match, any players or other persons present in the Ground and/or the Ground, nor may they bring into the Ground or use within the Ground (or provide to, facilitate or otherwise assist another person to use within the Ground) any equipment or technology which is capable of capturing, logging, recording, transmitting, playing, issuing, showing or otherwise communicating (by digital or other means) any such Material.
21 The copyright, database rights and any other intellectual property rights in and to all Material that you produce at the Ground in relation to the Match, any players or other persons present in the Ground and/or the Ground (whether produced in breach of paragraph 20 above, or pursuant to paragraph 17 above, or otherwise) is hereby assigned (including by way of present assignment of future copyright pursuant to section 91 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988) to the Club and the EFL. You further agree (if and whenever required to do so by the Club and/or the EFL) to promptly execute all instruments and do all things necessary to vest the right, title and interest in such rights to the Club and the EFL absolutely and with full title guarantee.

As someone who has in the past been on the end of lengthy legal threats from the EFL lawyers for having photos of action (and fixtures) on my old website, the EFL are generally v inflexible about anything like this, no matter how stupid the resriction is (could you imagine a gig venue threatening legal action against someone who publicised when a gig was on? No they would welcome the publicity - not the EFL).
 
Colin B said:
I’ve heard from some of those involved that the H&S mafia have stopped them being able to wave flags during the game.

What is it with certain parts of this club???!!!
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That reminds me of the original flag gate… which was the reason we were packing it in in the first place. The second flag gate incident (more famously known) is the reason we packed it in for good. Good to see the club are still shooting themselves in the foot.
 
There's a lot of stuff in the ground regulations that the club and stewards turn a blind eye to.
Swearing / persistent standing / occupying a different seat.
I take a photo of the scoreboard but nobody seems to be stopping me.
Whereas as Gav says, the video uploads seem to get taken down by the EFL as breach of copyright.
I think even a flask of tea would be a breach as it could be considered a "portable container and which could cause damage or personal injury"

For some reason there is no joined up thinking between the different departments.
The marketing and I think players and management all like the extra atmosphere generated by the flags and surfers and displays. They get shared on the social media
However someone else has decided it's time to rein these in.
 
OUFCGav said:
Well, that is specifically mentioned in the ground regs. Re the Preston (and indeed other away fans) doing it, might just be harder to spot when they are only there once, U's fans likely to be in same spot every week. Or they could hold "an appropriate license"?

20 Save as set out in paragraph 17 above, no person (other than a person who holds an appropriate licence) may capture, log, record, transmit, play, issue, show or otherwise communicate (by digital or other means) any Material in relation to the Match, any players or other persons present in the Ground and/or the Ground, nor may they bring into the Ground or use within the Ground (or provide to, facilitate or otherwise assist another person to use within the Ground) any equipment or technology which is capable of capturing, logging, recording, transmitting, playing, issuing, showing or otherwise communicating (by digital or other means) any such Material.
21 The copyright, database rights and any other intellectual property rights in and to all Material that you produce at the Ground in relation to the Match, any players or other persons present in the Ground and/or the Ground (whether produced in breach of paragraph 20 above, or pursuant to paragraph 17 above, or otherwise) is hereby assigned (including by way of present assignment of future copyright pursuant to section 91 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988) to the Club and the EFL. You further agree (if and whenever required to do so by the Club and/or the EFL) to promptly execute all instruments and do all things necessary to vest the right, title and interest in such rights to the Club and the EFL absolutely and with full title guarantee.

As someone who has in the past been on the end of lengthy legal threats from the EFL lawyers for having photos of action (and fixtures) on my old website, the EFL are generally v inflexible about anything like this, no matter how stupid the resriction is (could you imagine a gig venue threatening legal action against someone who publicised when a gig was on? No they would welcome the publicity - not the EFL).
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sounds like we should all hand our phones in at the turnstile! they will bring those lockable pouches in that they have at the o2 soon. Imagine not being able to check scores or anything until after the game!
 
Scotchegg said:
I would however reiterate the point that things have improved considerably in the last 6 home games, and hopefully gives a platform to go even further.
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After being on the end of heavy handing, aggressive stewarding for waving a flag I will respectfully agree to disagree on this. The security officer is letting them lads down at the moment and needs to do MUCH better. I've seen the good and the bad over the years and coming in this strong at the start of the season is a worry...
 
Colin B said:
For clarity, I wasn’t talking about the planned display, but the waving of flags in general.

The club’s representatives have clamped down on it this season.
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Was that after kick off C,
there were lots at the start ? ( East Stand)
 
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Yellow River said:
It’s important that the club learn from their previous mistakes, remember the over zealous stewards backed by a heavy handed safety officer and club officials?

If Saturday’s feel good positivity is to be nurtured and allowed to grow, a light touch from the club is needed.
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Above is what I posted at the beginning of May after the first leg of the Peterborough game.


It would be a great shame and an act of stupidity from the club if they go in heavy handed and try to micro manage fans display and support.

Hopefully common sense will be allowed to prevail.
 
WuTang said:
After being on the end of heavy handing, aggressive stewarding for waving a flag I will respectfully agree to disagree on this. The security officer is letting them lads down at the moment and needs to do MUCH better. I've seen the good and the bad over the years and coming in this strong at the start of the season is a worry...
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I was specifically talking about the prematch displays, but I'll take forward the issues that you and others are experiencing throughout the game. I see no reason why there couldn't be some flexibility shown at the back of the stands as this has no impact on any other supporters.
 
I wonder what the Security chap interpreting regs in such unsympathetic, rigid and oppressive ways wears to work on matchdays?

After all, it is an offence to dress up as, or to resemble, a police officer or member of the armed forces

The Seamen’s and Soldiers’ False Characters Act 1906 and Police Act 1996 – were put in place to prevent people from impersonating a police officer or armed forces personnel deliberately, as it can be very confusing for members of the public and it could also lead to dangerous situations.
 
Fanatica said:
That reminds me of the original flag gate… which was the reason we were packing it in in the first place. The second flag gate incident (more famously known) is the reason we packed it in for good. Good to see the club are still shooting themselves in the foot.
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I know it's ridiculous, it's health and safety gone mad, due to a bunch or brainless morons who have no idea what fun is.

However, rather than pack it all in, couldn't you ultras not just reform, without flags, and just focus on making a HELL OF A LOT of noise during games, completely out singing the opposition fans for the whole 90mins?!?

I know it's not the point, but that would be much better than a couple of massive flags, but not a huge amount of singing.

It would be great to reproduce the kind of relentless loud singing that we hear from our fans when we play away, at home as well.
 
I might be wrong and I’m sure @WuTang can correct me, but wasn’t Jim Goddard involved with match day safety when the ultras had problems with the club over similar things?

Edit: Jim Goddard was working at the club in the 18/19 season, the same season that the ultras decided to call it a day at the end of it.
 
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