StewardGate: Dulwich Hamlet's long serving servants unceremoniously elbowed out

[Pickman's model]

But seeing as no one knows the exact sequence of events yet, you are out of order to start throwing around such insults. People on this forum care a great deal for the club - you obviously don't - and it won't be particularly helpful to have you charging about throwing around infllamatory insults.

no, you're right i know little of the club and its traditions. but i do know something of how employees should be treated. and to my mind any employer who behaves in this cavalier fashion towards employees of some years standing merits the term i used. i don't doubt that if this was e.g. arsenal or spurs or even little queens park rangers acting in this way you'd be up in arms about it. and unless i am saying anything actually libellous (which i hope i'm not) then i don't see any reason why the robust language we prize on urban is out of order.

 

[B.I.G]

It still is a great laugh, but it has definitely lost an awful lot of the original appeal.

Could be the last season? Go up and give up?

 

[toby kempton]

Thinking of calling a boycott anyone interested?

 

[B.I.G]

Thinking of calling a boycott anyone interested?

Big up the riots.

 

[toby kempton]

As a former steward (sacked yesterday) I was treated very rudely by one of the new stewards
As well as this where I used to stand and work in the left hand corner of the greendale end the ball went out normally i would have to get it straight away but with the 'more professional steward' he didn't get the ball.

 

[sleaterkinney]

They should offer to train up the old stewards.

 

[Scutta]

The fan experience at this club sounds like its getting more and more depressing by the week. No cans allowed, beefy unfriendly security, now this treatment of the volunteer stewards. It's like modern football creep.

I feel sorry for the DH fans who have to put up with all this so suddenly. It sounded like a good time not long ago.

THIS.

it's slowly happening and tbf I think it's going to continue, it reminds me a bit of how Lambeth Labour see Brixton's "regeneration"...

forgetting what made it what it is, in DH case, over the last few years why people came there...

not being this.

 

[editor]

no, you're right i know little of the club and its traditions. but i do know something of how employees should be treated. and to my mind any employer who behaves in this cavalier fashion towards employees of some years standing merits the term i used. i don't doubt that if this was e.g. arsenal or spurs or even little queens park rangers acting in this way you'd be up in arms about it. and unless i am saying anything actually libellous (which i hope i'm not) then i don't see any reason why the robust language we prize on urban is out of order.

You seem to forget that I started this thread because I was seriously pissed off with what happened. That doesn't mean you can come in and start calling people you know nothing about 'cunts' though. That isn't helpful at all.

 

[Scutta]

You seem to forget that I started this thread because I was seriously pissed off with what happened. That doesn't mean you can come in and start calling people you know nothing about 'cunts' though. That isn't helpful at all.

I think it was...... a joke.

well i chortled, but my sense of humour, i suppose is not the best thing to base it on.

 

[Lucy Fur]

As a former steward (sacked yesterday) I was treated very rudely by one of the new stewards
As well as this where I used to stand and work in the left hand corner of the greendale end the ball went out normally i would have to get it straight away but with the 'more professional steward' he didn't get the ball.

Sorry to hear that mate, I'm sure its pretty clear who we would rather have doing the stewarding. Out of interest, can you shine any light on who the 'General Manager' who did the sacking is toby kempton

 

[Pickman's model]

You seem to forget that I started this thread because I was seriously pissed off with what happened. That doesn't mean you can come in and start calling people you know nothing about 'cunts' though. That isn't helpful at all.

yes. but you're forgetting i do know something about them.

 

[Joe K]

We all did so in the best possible spirit, I think, but between This is Deep Play, Brixton Buzz, FTH and others such a hype ended up being created around the club that it's helterskeltered towards being just one more Time Out-style 'experience', and is in the process of being monetised as such. Feel pretty guilty/ angst about it, to be honest. I still genuinely believe (as I did circa 2012/2013) that people should go to watch their local club and participate enthusiastically in what they find there - with the obvious caveats - but the whole culture has changed at CH over the last year or so. Just seems like there's loads and loads of tourists who want their day at the 'proper' football and basically treat it like a freakshow, and who have no interest in engaging with the club's community more broadly. I started going to watch Dulwich because I've always gone to watch my local team wherever I've lived, and because I didn't really know anyone in London and hoped to meet people and make friends - this kind of thing seems pretty universal amongst the 'old' nouveaux (dinouveaux?) but I don't, sadly, see those motives in the 'turn up for a game to see whether Step 3 clubs have corners' lot.

Properly upset at this development and, consequently, will lose my shit at anyone who decides to read this as a 'I was into it before it was cool' post. It's not like that.

 

[Pickman's model]

Sorry to hear that mate, I'm sure its pretty clear who we would rather have doing the stewarding. Out of interest, can you shine any light on who the 'General Manager' who did the sacking is toby kempton

the only general manager i have been able to find is yasmine dawson but all the results are from a couple of years back.

 

[editor]

Sorry to hear that mate, I'm sure its pretty clear who we would rather have doing the stewarding. Out of interest, can you shine any light on who the 'General Manager' who did the sacking is toby kempton

It's a strange situation when a club that has increased its attendances and its profile massively mainly on the backs of its fans starts making decisions that both exclude and alienate those fans.

Sacking long-serving volunteers and replacing them with burly bouncers who don't give a shit about the club is a terrible, terrible move - even more so when it happens with zero consultation or public explanation.

A warning to the the club: the fans that made Hamlet such an inviting, different, unique and press-worthy thing can vanish every bit as quickly as they arrived.

 

[B.I.G]

As a former steward (sacked yesterday) I was treated very rudely by one of the new stewards
As well as this where I used to stand and work in the left hand corner of the greendale end the ball went out normally i would have to get it straight away but with the 'more professional steward' he didn't get the ball.

They cost A LOT of money as well.

 

[Lucy Fur]

It's a strange situation when a club that has increased its attendances and its profile massively mainly on the backs of its fans starts making decisions that both exclude and alienate those fans.

Sacking long-serving volunteers and replacing them with burly bouncers who don't give a shit about the club is a terrible, terrible move - even more so when it happens with zero consultation or public explanation.

A warning to the the club: the fans that made Hamlet such an inviting, different, unique and press-worthy thing can vanish every bit as quickly as they arrived.

Couldn't agree more. And further, I really find it all a bit suspect. Surely this decision would of been made prior to the season beginning and all those affected notified over a week ago. And I'd really like to know who this 'General Manager' is and which organisation they come from.

 

[editor]

We all did so in the best possible spirit, I think, but between This is Deep Play, Brixton Buzz, FTH and others such a hype ended up being created around the club that it's helterskeltered towards being just one more Time Out-style 'experience', and is in the process of being monetised as such. Feel pretty guilty/ angst about it, to be honest. I still genuinely believe (as I did circa 2012/2013) that people should go to watch their local club and participate enthusiastically in what they find there - with the obvious caveats - but the whole culture has changed at CH over the last year or so. Just seems like there's loads and loads of tourists who want their day at the 'proper' football and basically treat it like a freakshow, and who have no interest in engaging with the club's community more broadly. I started going to watch Dulwich because I've always gone to watch my local team wherever I've lived, and because I didn't really know anyone in London and hoped to meet people and make friends - this kind of thing seems pretty universal amongst the 'old' nouveaux (dinouveaux?) but I don't, sadly, see those motives in the 'turn up for a game to see whether Step 3 clubs have corners' lot.

Properly upset at this development and, consequently, will lose my shit at anyone who decides to read this as a 'I was into it before it was cool' post. It's not like that.

I'm not that bothered if fans come along to join in with the singing or just to chew the fat with their pals: there's room for both and often the casual visitors eventually get pulled into joining in with the Rabble (or leaving for pastures new).

I do care when the very thing that made the experience so enjoyable starts being replaced by a corporate mini-me version of what made me give up my lifelong support for my hometown team.

I don't like burly West End style bouncers patrolling the ground. It makes me feel uncomfortable. And what the fuck are they doing there anyway? I like friendly faces who support the club as much as me. Locals. People from the community. People who give a shit about the club and the people who support them.

 

[B.I.G]

Eventually there will be a flashpoint with the new stewards. Its pretty rare for nighclub bouncers to deal with 50 people covering each other's backs.

 

[Joe K]

I'm not that bothered if fans come along to join in with the singing or just to chew the fat with their pals: there's room for both and often the casual visitors eventually get pulled into joining in with the Rabble (or leaving for pastures new).

I do care when the very thing that made the experience so enjoyable starts being replaced by a corporate mini-me version of what made me give up my lifelong support for my hometown team.

I don't like burly West End style bouncers patrolling the ground. It makes me feel uncomfortable. And what the fuck are they doing there anyway? I like friendly faces who support the club as much as me. Locals. People from the community. People who give a shit about the club and the people who support them.

I know what you mean but I think there's a link between the two factors. The more there are through the gate, and the less integrated they are into the whole community - and it's harder to integrate when you're looking at 2000, rather than 650 - the more the whole experience is likely to be packaged up and made into a simulacrum of itself. Part of that is the 'authentic experience' of non-league football finding itself policed by professional security. Seems to me the momentum on the slippery slope is now pretty irreversible.

 

[B.I.G]

Eventually there will be a flashpoint with the new stewards. Its pretty rare for nighclub bouncers to deal with 50 people covering each other's backs.

Sorry Lucy Fur i edited as duplicated.

 

[editor]

I was about to run a post on Buzz about the club asking for more volunteers but now I'm not sure. I also find myself in this uncomfortable position again where a part of me wants to run a feature about the heavy handed sacking of the stewards, but then my loyalty to the club puts me in an awkward situation (ranting away here is one thing, but a Buzz article might create some real bad PR for the club).

I know they read these boards, so I'm going to wait to see if they offer any kind of explanation for their actions, and perhaps some appropriate compensation for the stewards,

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

We all did so in the best possible spirit, I think, but between This is Deep Play, Brixton Buzz, FTH and others such a hype ended up being created around the club that it's helterskeltered towards being just one more Time Out-style 'experience', and is in the process of being monetised as such. Feel pretty guilty/ angst about it, to be honest. I still genuinely believe (as I did circa 2012/2013) that people should go to watch their local club and participate enthusiastically in what they find there - with the obvious caveats - but the whole culture has changed at CH over the last year or so. Just seems like there's loads and loads of tourists who want their day at the 'proper' football and basically treat it like a freakshow, and who have no interest in engaging with the club's community more broadly. I started going to watch Dulwich because I've always gone to watch my local team wherever I've lived, and because I didn't really know anyone in London and hoped to meet people and make friends - this kind of thing seems pretty universal amongst the 'old' nouveaux (dinouveaux?) but I don't, sadly, see those motives in the 'turn up for a game to see whether Step 3 clubs have corners' lot.

Properly upset at this development and, consequently, will lose my shit at anyone who decides to read this as a 'I was into it before it was cool' post. It's not like that.

You're mostly right I think but I think it's the Guardian/Vice coverage thats done it. Compared to that the more local media is irrelevant. It was in the guardian. Now it's full of Guardian readers.

 

[Lucy Fur]

I was about to run a post on Buzz about the club asking for more volunteers but now I'm not sure. I also find myself in this uncomfortable position again where a part of me wants to run a feature about the heavy handed sacking of the stewards, but then my loyalty to the club puts me in an awkward situation (ranting away here is one thing, but a Buzz article might create some real bad PR for the club).

I know they read these boards, so I'm going to wait to see if they offer any kind of explanation for their actions, and perhaps some appropriate compensation for the stewards,

Do it!

 

[Dulwich Mishi]

The general manager is a new appointment by the owners of the Club, his name is Chris Taylor, he is at all home games and very approachable. I am happy to point him out to anyone on Saturday.
If you wish to email him is email is [email protected]
He is the person responsible not just for stewarding, but bringing in extra bar staff; working hard to establish the soon to be coming outside bar; moving some of the food outlets to the far end of the ground where there is more space; re-hanging the bar door (Which we have always been previously told was not possible due to it being a structural support, or something like that...)
I am sure he will listen, and take all correspondence seriously.

 

[Pickman's model]

The general manager is a new appointment by the owners of the Club, his name is Chris Taylor, he is at all home games and very approachable. I am happy to point him out to anyone on Saturday.
If you wish to email him is email is [email protected]
He is the person responsible not just for stewarding, but bringing in extra bar staff; working hard to establish the soon to be coming outside bar; moving some of the food outlets to the far end of the ground where there is more space; re-hanging the bar door (Which we have always been previously told was not possible due to it being a structural support, or something like that...)
I am sure he will listen, and take all correspondence seriously.

in the light of this i retract 'cunt' pending further developments.

 

[editor]

You're mostly right I think but I think it's the Guardian/Vice coverage thats done it. Compared to that the more local media is irrelevant. It was in the guardian. Now it's full of Guardian readers.

I'm not sure it's that black and white to be honest. Crowds have continued to rise and the big Guardian/Vice features were ages ago.

 

[editor]

The general manager is a new appointment by the owners of the Club, his name is Chris Taylor, he is at all home games and very approachable. I am happy to point him out to anyone on Saturday.
If you wish to email him is email is [email protected]
He is the person responsible not just for stewarding, but bringing in extra bar staff; working hard to establish the soon to be coming outside bar; moving some of the food outlets to the far end of the ground where there is more space; re-hanging the bar door (Which we have always been previously told was not possible due to it being a structural support, or something like that...)
I am sure he will listen, and take all correspondence seriously.

He introduced himself to me last night and we had a good chat. His skill set would seem very suited to the club and, as you say, he is very approachable.

 

[Dulwich Mishi]

And, personally, I think this could have been handled better, but it was done I believe in 'good faith to improve the Club'.
One (ex-)steward actually said to me,-NOt Toby who has posted on here, I hasten to add!- as he saw the new stewards last night: "I bet not one of them's British..."
So, in his case, does he deserve to still be a steward despite his 'voluntary' service?

 

[Joe K]

You're mostly right I think but I think it's the Guardian/Vice coverage thats done it. Compared to that the more local media is irrelevant. It was in the guardian. Now it's full of Guardian readers.

Yeah, but that wouldn't have happened without independent media creating the buzz in the first place.

(Note that this is in no way a criticism of BB, or FTH, or even me & RMV - all this stuff was done in a proper spirit of enthusiasm/ idealism. Certainly when we were first doing TiDP going to Dulwich and being involved had an early-days-of-rave, edenic quality compared to the other non-league football we'd been to, and we couldn't really shut up about it. Now I guess we're in an era analogous to imitation Joe Bloggs jeans and 'Ebeneezer Goode'.)

 

[sealion]

A warning to the the club: the fans that made Hamlet such an inviting, different, unique and press-worthy thing can vanish every bit as quickly as they arrived.

The trouble is the owners may see this as the way forward-day trippers with disposable cash turning up for the "experience". It probably won't work long term but when the coin is rolling in the greed goggles obscure the future.