[Football] Wallet checking

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

This was a first for me.
Steward insisted in checking my wallet on going into the ground on Saturday. On questioning him he said it was club policy and he needed to look for drugs. I asked him how he would do that and will he be taking all my cards out? I reluctantly handed it to him and kind of wished I’d made more of a fuss. My main worry was that he would find my old Blockbuster Video card From 1997.
Anyway- another club to add to my ever increasing list of grounds to dislike.

 

[ROSM]

Brentford historically has always been a nightmare for police and stewards (even back to the mate 80s where you were filmed walking to the ground and nicked if you stepped off the pavement).

My 12 years old daughter was told to turn her pockets out with no adult near her - a potentially embarrassing situation for a young girl. I did mention it to the head steward who had a tie on who seemed to feel it was okay as she wasn't patted down. I didn't want to make more of it so left it at that.

I wouldn't have minded if their searching of lads in their 20s was as proportionate (the ones I saw weren't)

 

[Official Old Man]

Whilst I have to admit that some security guards do go too far, I'd rather have a strict search than some moron gets in with a gun or bomb.
I do wonder what good the security is at Brighton. Being scanned by a lightsaber that I've never heard go off (what does it search for) and a quick feel by a guy (he has never questioned my lipsil). Obviously the trained dogs who roam around concentrating more on away fans probably work more than anything else.

 

[pasty]

I do wonder what good the security is at Brighton. Being scanned by a lightsaber that I've never heard go off (what does it search for) and a quick feel by a guy (he has never questioned my lipsil).

Similarly, after a pat down, I have only ever been asked once to remove my inhaler from my pocket to prove it is what I said it was.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

Whilst I have to admit that some security guards do go too far, I'd rather have a strict search than some moron gets in with a gun or bomb.
I do wonder what good the security is at Brighton. Being scanned by a lightsaber that I've never heard go off (what does it search for) and a quick feel by a guy (he has never questioned my lipsil). Obviously the trained dogs who roam around concentrating more on away fans probably work more than anything else.

Yeh I get that, searches at The Amex seem to be more relaxed this season. Ive been in without any search several times lately and would rather be scanned and for everyone to be scanned. However, a wallet is a wallet and handing it over to a complete stranger did not sit well.

 

[Deadly Danson]

Glad someone mentioned this. The only place previously I've ever been asked to look through my wallet was Brentford last season. I generally just let them get on with it but, I have to say, it's a bit of a cheek just to go and watch a football match and frankly way over the top and intrusive. It was a thorough old search too and I was still allowed in with my bottle WITH TOP on and obviously a huge stash of cocaine in my back pocket

 

[Victor Chandler]

My mate had his wallet searched for “contraband”. He wasn’t happy but didn’t make a fuss. I think he was too flabbergasted.
While waiting for my mate there was a certain well known Albion fan having a real go at various stewards, quite rightly in my book, for having his wallet searched. Even more annoyingly they refused to answer his various sound points one of which was do you think they are doing this round the corner at Twickenham.

 

[ROSM]

Glad someone mentioned this. The only place previously I've ever been asked to look through my wallet was Brentford last season. I generally just let them get on with it but, I have to say, it's a bit of a cheek just to go and watch a football match and frankly way over the top and intrusive. It was a thorough old search too and I was still allowed in with my bottle WITH TOP on and obviously a huge stash of cocaine in my back pocket

That's my point. I had to empty all my jacket pockets out but not the back pocket of my jeans.

 

[ROSM]

My mate had his wallet searched for “contraband”. He wasn’t happy but didn’t make a fuss. I think he was too flabbergasted.
While waiting for my mate there was a certain well known Albion fan having a real go at various stewards, quite rightly in my book, for having his wallet searched. Even more annoyingly they refused to answer his various sound points one of which was do you think they are doing this round the corner at Twickenham.

I think they do rely on the 'not wanting to make a fuss' attitude. Stewarding by consensus perhaps. As i say a lot of what they did were on the border of not acceptable and maybe over the top as they don't have much of an answer when people do challenge. Mind you having heard of 2 fans being pushed down the stairs by stewards and police at half time and police pushing other fans in the chest perhaps not making a fuss was a sound approach

 

[Deadly Danson]

That's my point. I had to empty all my jacket pockets out but not the back pocket of my jeans.

Ah so you got all your drugs in too!
Seriously though, I agree - if Brentford are so worried about what you are taking in that they are going to search a wallet that thoroughly then not patting down the back pocket of your jeans (which was the same for me) is inexplicable. Just hire a few sniffer dogs like other clubs.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

I think they do rely on the 'not wanting to make a fuss' attitude. Stewarding by consensus perhaps. As i say a lot of what they did were on the border of not acceptable and maybe over the top as they don't have much of an answer when people do challenge. Mind you having heard of 2 fans being pushed down the stairs by stewards and police at half time and police pushing other fans in the chest perhaps not making a fuss was a sound approach

I did see the tail end of this. Lots of very flustered looking Old Bill and angry fans.

 

[ROSM]

Ah so you got all your drugs in too!
Seriously though, I agree - if Brentford are so worried about what you are taking in that they are going to search a wallet that thoroughly then not patting down the back pocket of your jeans (which was the same for me) is inexplicable. Just hire a few sniffer dogs like other clubs.

Ironically I had 4 co codamol in there

 

[studio150]

My son had to get his card wallet out, for the steward to flick through it.

If it was a search for drugs, why weren't the police sniffer dogs present, given that the dogs seem well trained in knowing whether someone has drugs on them.

A strange approach, as the wallet search wasn't carried out on every fan.

 

[METALMICKY]

Whilst I have to admit that some security guards do go too far, I'd rather have a strict search than some moron gets in with a gun or bomb.
I do wonder what good the security is at Brighton. Being scanned by a lightsaber that I've never heard go off (what does it search for) and a quick feel by a guy (he has never questioned my lipsil). Obviously the trained dogs who roam around concentrating more on away fans probably work more than anything else.

It's all very inconsistent with the the wand search at the Amex. On the odd occasion I've been asked to show what's in my pocket it's either been my key fob or mobile power bank.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Glad someone mentioned this. The only place previously I've ever been asked to look through my wallet was Brentford last season. I generally just let them get on with it but, I have to say, it's a bit of a cheek just to go and watch a football match and frankly way over the top and intrusive. It was a thorough old search too and I was still allowed in with my bottle WITH TOP on and obviously a huge stash of cocaine in my back pocket

There's no logic to whether bottle tops are allowed. For example, Burnley allow bottle tops, Accrington Stanley don't.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

This post was inevitable

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Similarly, after a pat down, I have only ever been asked once to remove my inhaler from my pocket to prove it is what I said it was.

A steward tried to confiscate my HyloForte eye drops (which have a push up action) at the Amex, until I pointed out they were just eye drops which I use for medication on my very dry eyes. I have no idea what he though they actually were.
I have felt like I should carry my prescription form with me at times so that I can prove they are prescribed.

When we had the European games last season, I had my walking stick examined (apparently it is UEFA rules?)

 

[Perry's Tracksuit Bottoms]

What I don't understand about these searches is that if you're determined to take something in, whether it's a bottle top, a packet of sandwiches or a lifesize bronze replica of Wilfried Zaha, you just slip it into your pants and no-one's going to find it. Which makes the searching completely pointless.

 

[ditchy]

This was done by Tony Bloom . It was a covert exercise to see who had an Amex Card for likely entry to the Fan zone vs. West Ham

 

[jonny.rainbow]

I was asked if I had a wallet by the steward who searched me. (I didn’t)

I just thought he was being conscientious and helpful in case I had dropped it on the way to the stadium.