Brentford fans have been warned to expect extra security checks before entering the stadium at tomorrow’s match with Nottingham Forest, as the stark realities of last week’s Paris attacks hit home.
Visions of a terrorist attack at Griffin Park would usually be the work of fiction, but the outrageous scenes in the French capital, where normal people were murdered for simply going out and enjoying themselves on a Friday night, suggest that it is wise to be extra cautious right now.
The club have taken these unprecedented steps and implemented an upgraded security policy to ensure the safety of the supporters, however, it is unlikely this can be actioned without causing delays, so fans have been asked to get to Griffin Park 30 minutes before kick off.
The club statement says: “All attendees will be scanned with metal detectors and subject to pat down searches on entry to the ground. There will also be a thorough search of all bags and fans are asked to avoid bringing bags in to the stadium if possible.”
“It is expected that it may take up to 15 minutes longer than usual to enter Griffin Park on Saturday – and at all matches until further notice – so fans are advised to pass through the turnstiles as early as possible. The security searches will also extend to staff and media attending the match and everyone coming to Brentford on Saturday should leave extra time.”
Having attended the match between England and France on Tuesday evening, and witnessing the heightened security first hand, most fans felt reassured by the extra measures. Desperate times certainly do call for desperate measures.
Dave Lane
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On November 21st, 1920, British troops, in the guise of the murderous “Black and Tans”, dropped a red flare over Croke Park, Dublin, during a gaelic football match, to signal the start of a planned revenge massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 13 spectators and 1 footballer, in a fusillade of rifle fire; did this terrible event signal wholesale changes to everyone’s way of life, the surrender of liberties and quality of life?; no, it was seen for what it was, a despicable rogue action by sick individuals, that should not be allowed to impact on the everyday life of normal society; football matches and everyday life continued as normal, noone was searched or manhandled in any way in the course of their peaceful pursuits.
The security of contemporary western society, is not helped by the legacy of reckless and ruthless foreign policy by the likes of Blair, Bush and many others; the wrong headed insensitivity of their invasions, only resulted in further destabilisation of the already volatile nations involved and has had a horrible impact on all western societies, that will only get worse; revenge is the way of life out there, it is never going to stop; where will the yielding of civil liberty and freedom lead to here, if we knee jerk and give in to their inhuman attacks? It is sheer tokenism, if fanatics plan to attack, only an efficient security service, border controls and luck will frustrate, most, of the attacks; this is the price for messing with some seriously screwed up societies.
Why then, do we, our society at large, have to have our lives messed up and blighted by so-called security measures, that are futile and merely bowing and surrendering to the very outcomes that the attackers hope to bring unhappiness to our previously peaceful and trusting way of life?
The time machine to go back and change history was unfortunately already hired out this weekend.
admin, a speedy and thoughtful contribution, thank you
admin, a hasty and thoughtless contribution, no thank you
I don’t think it’s realistic to imagine a world where a responsible football club wouldn’t regularly reassess its security measures – and especially after loss of life was averted at the Stade de France. You may think you are giving up your civil liberties by submitting to a search or having to turn up a bit early. In which case you can choose not to come. You are right that the increase in safety may be minimal. But that isn’t a reason to try to do better.
Whilst I disagree with some of the views expressed by Roderic I don’t feel that this is the forum to carry out this debate. Suffice it to say that we would step in to stop bullying in our countries would it be right to ignore atrocities carried out on defenceless people in other lands ?
This is not a political forum, but is Dave quite rightly letting us know what decisions have been made by the club and Football League league in order that we can better time our arrival and hopefully carrying few bags. Let’s keep this about our football and our safety.
I shall get an earlier train to travel my 70 miles to GP. Thank you.
And it’s going to be freeeeeezing
The blog was discussing the outcomes for our sport, as a result of politically motivated actions; sport has been sucked into the political arena, on many previous occasions, so it is your personal decision to not want any discussion of the subject, Ray, that is your preference, but you should not try to silence free comment.
The best response we can all make to the facistic, racist and psychopathic mentality of the Daesh murders is to ensure that football in this country is a beacon for inclusivity, tolerance, community relations and all of the positive values that bind us together.
We are very fortunate at Griffin Park because, for many years, our club has led the way in promoting such values. However, we must not rest on our laurels and we all have duty to work for sustaining and continuing the fine traditions we helped to bring into the mainstream.
99.9% of our Muslim friends, workmates, neighbours and fellow fans are as horrified by recent terrorist events as others. So we should try to avoid terms like ‘Islamic terrorists’ because these murderers and psychotic individuals defame the religion they claim to to represent.
Where I stand on the Ealing Road we are quite obviously a mixed bunch and any differences that may exist between ourselves dissolve into nothing when The Hoff slams a cracker into the net in the 95th minute. It’s this unity and passion that the brainwashed idiots of Daesh can never understand, and its also our greatest strength.