VALIANT EFFORTS TO STOP FANS SMOKING
VALIANT EFFORTS TO STOP FANS SMOKING
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
Port Vale are continuing to enforce the national smoking ban after fans were caught lighting up at Vale Park.Stewards have intervened when supporters have been spotted smoking and have not suffered the same backlash as their counterparts at the Britannia Stadium
But Vale chairman Bill Bratt said he had sympathy with his Potteries rivals who have been forced to stop making the ban stick because of abuse from supporters who insisting on lighting up in the toilets.
And leading Vale fans fear crowds at Vale Park are down because some smokers were staying away from games.
Mr Bratt said: "We are still doing all we can to enforce the ban. This is national legislation so we have no choice but to do that.
"We can't just give up on it - but Stoke do attract larger gates so I feel sorry for their circumstances."
Mr Bratt admitted that some fans had tried to light up in the toilets but had agreed to put out their cigarettes when approached by ground stewards.
"I think everyone here has been sensible about it," he said. If people do stop smoking when asked that is the end of the matter and we don't eject them from the ground but I can see it could be a problem if anyone refused.
"Thankfully we are not having the difficulties Stoke seem to be facing. One of the problems is that the legislation is still so new but I'm sure things will settle down as it gets more established.
"Eventually it will go the same way as air travel. No-one ever thinks of lighting up on a plane anymore."
Fans also felt that despite some problems, scenes of intimidation and abuse at the Britannia Stadium had not been copied at Vale.
Vale statistician and life-long fan Phil Sherwin said: "I have seen some people having a quick drag outside the toilets in the Railway Paddock but when asked by the stewards they have stopped.
"With the state of some toilets at the Vale, I can't understand even the most committed smoker wanting to spend more than a few seconds there for a fag anyway."
Andy McCormack, editor of Vale fanzine Derek, I'm Gutted!!!, said: "I too have seen people having a crafty one in the Railway Stand and some fans have stopped coming to games because they are not allowed to smoke anymore.
"At Bournemouth they get round it by opening the gates at half-time for people to nip outside for a fag.
"The problem with doing that at the Vale is that they might not come back in if it was a poor game."
Meanwhile Stoke City stadium safety manager John Alcock has hit out at the Government for not considering how football clubs would enforce the new law.
He said: "If you run a pub or club it's easy to stop serving someone or to chuck them out. But we've got 15,000 football fans here.
"I have had a lot of complaints and I am struggling to give them proper answers.
"It is an ill thought-out law. I have contacted virtually every club in the country and they are all having a nightmare.
"I would just ask the fans to help out the club and pack it in just for a couple of hours, but it seems they are not willing to do that."
Are clubs right to uphold the smoking ban at sports stadia?
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
Port Vale are continuing to enforce the national smoking ban after fans were caught lighting up at Vale Park.Stewards have intervened when supporters have been spotted smoking and have not suffered the same backlash as their counterparts at the Britannia Stadium
But Vale chairman Bill Bratt said he had sympathy with his Potteries rivals who have been forced to stop making the ban stick because of abuse from supporters who insisting on lighting up in the toilets.
And leading Vale fans fear crowds at Vale Park are down because some smokers were staying away from games.
Mr Bratt said: "We are still doing all we can to enforce the ban. This is national legislation so we have no choice but to do that.
"We can't just give up on it - but Stoke do attract larger gates so I feel sorry for their circumstances."
Mr Bratt admitted that some fans had tried to light up in the toilets but had agreed to put out their cigarettes when approached by ground stewards.
"I think everyone here has been sensible about it," he said. If people do stop smoking when asked that is the end of the matter and we don't eject them from the ground but I can see it could be a problem if anyone refused.
"Thankfully we are not having the difficulties Stoke seem to be facing. One of the problems is that the legislation is still so new but I'm sure things will settle down as it gets more established.
"Eventually it will go the same way as air travel. No-one ever thinks of lighting up on a plane anymore."
Fans also felt that despite some problems, scenes of intimidation and abuse at the Britannia Stadium had not been copied at Vale.
Vale statistician and life-long fan Phil Sherwin said: "I have seen some people having a quick drag outside the toilets in the Railway Paddock but when asked by the stewards they have stopped.
"With the state of some toilets at the Vale, I can't understand even the most committed smoker wanting to spend more than a few seconds there for a fag anyway."
Andy McCormack, editor of Vale fanzine Derek, I'm Gutted!!!, said: "I too have seen people having a crafty one in the Railway Stand and some fans have stopped coming to games because they are not allowed to smoke anymore.
"At Bournemouth they get round it by opening the gates at half-time for people to nip outside for a fag.
"The problem with doing that at the Vale is that they might not come back in if it was a poor game."
Meanwhile Stoke City stadium safety manager John Alcock has hit out at the Government for not considering how football clubs would enforce the new law.
He said: "If you run a pub or club it's easy to stop serving someone or to chuck them out. But we've got 15,000 football fans here.
"I have had a lot of complaints and I am struggling to give them proper answers.
"It is an ill thought-out law. I have contacted virtually every club in the country and they are all having a nightmare.
"I would just ask the fans to help out the club and pack it in just for a couple of hours, but it seems they are not willing to do that."
Are clubs right to uphold the smoking ban at sports stadia?
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