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Tuesday, 9th February 2010

It's Westwood heave-ho for famous supporter's bell-ringing

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Published Date: 27 August 2008
The familiar sound of John Westwood's bell will no longer ring out at Fratton Park because of a row over stewarding.
The super Pompey fan walked out of the club's first home game of the season against Manchester United after stewards told him to keep quiet and to stop ringing his bell so loudly as it was disturbing other fans.

The club had moved John, and his drum to the back of the stand, in order to keep the stairwell clear.

He has also been told that if he continues to stand up he could receive a lifetime ban.

He told The News: 'This whole standing issue is a control thing. They are taking the enjoyment away from fans.

'This is my life – all I want to do is support the club. These fans live and breathe Portsmouth Football Club.

'We will leave the instruments at home for a few matches and see how things go.'

Gary Double, club spokesman, said: 'We didn't ask him to leave. It was probably pressure from other fans.

'He wasn't told by our security to leave or to stop ringing the bell or to stop banging the drums.

'But everyone is told to sit down. You are not allowed to stand in the stadium.'

Meanwhile, Pompey have apologised to a small number of fans who had problems getting into the stadium on Monday night after their tickets didn't work.

One fan was told his season ticket had been sold to someone else in a mix-up with the renewal of his ticket through Ticketmaster.

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  • Last Updated: 27 August 2008 8:34 AM
  • Source: NS-Fareham & Gosport
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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Mitchell Newman,

portsmouth 27/08/2008 10:24:49
this is a joke! there has been no problem with it over the last 10 years so why is there a problem with it now? just because an ex copper takes charge at security everything changes and its making this club worse than it deserves to be! sort it out pfc! jpfcw is a club legend! fratton park would be dead without him and his bell, bugle and drums! PUP!
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Ridge,

27/08/2008 10:25:39
i cant belive what is happening! why are the club tryin to stifle the true passion of the club? (the fans) i think its ridiculous love him or hate him the man is a symbol for the clubs passion and support! a home game with no drums and no bell, its disgraceful! whoever is incharge of this is truely a jobs worth! come on guys surely this riduclous
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autrement,

27/08/2008 10:41:54
Where were these fans when Pompey where in the lower leagues? In all the years JPFCW has been ringing his bell it hasnt been a problem. Seems like there is only a problem after the club has a bit of success and it comes from those who dont really know what the club is all about.
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Lber,

away from Pompey :-( 27/08/2008 10:44:29
The fans who have a problem with the bell must have been aware of John's "musical talents" ;-) so as far as i'm concerned, if you buy a ticket / season ticket in that stand, you can expect to hear his "ensemble" playing. To be honest when you hear it on TV / PFCTv it makes me smile! Pompey security/ complaining supporters etc .... GET A LIFE this makes our club different to all of the other sterile supporters in the league!
If you don't like it then sit somewhere else....
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crawley blue,

crawley 27/08/2008 10:53:11
I sit in the fratton end up the top and I am one of about 500 that stands up every match. What are they going to do - ban all of us? Do PFC want a sterile stadium environment like Bolton and Wigan and more than a few others. I am proud of the noise (including bells, drums bugles and anything else) and if you look at the comments of the new players that come to pompey it makes a difference. It was sad to see John feeling that he had to leave the ground (from a seat he didn't want to be in). Surely you could move the complainers to another part of the ground -maybe the south stand upper extension seats as it should be peaceful enough for them there.
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One_Thomas_Thøgersen,

27/08/2008 11:01:09
Yes, this is pathetic. Why has Westwood been moved when he has been in that spot since the Fratton End was rebuilt? I can understand why some fans might not be happy he's been moved next to them - I've been near him at away games and that's been quite enough, thank you very much. But the no-standing rule is in place at all Premiership (and league, I believe) grounds. There are issues with standing fans at Old Trafford (amongst other places) too.
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pompeyupnorth,

scarborough 27/08/2008 11:03:03
I cant belive that pompey could treat him so badley, it might be a pain being next to him but try going to middlesborough, theres no life in their supporters, football needs its wild card supporters, and i agree that while watching games on tv its great to hear the bells and drums, play up john and keep ringing that bell.
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PompeyTim,

Southampton 27/08/2008 11:04:53
I am staggered. This is the continued sanitisation of football. The Premier League won't be content until the stands are full of polite, rich individuals who come to watch their 'product'. I go to every game, home & away, and I am seriously considering giving it up. So many grounds in the Prem are now like morgues & it would break my heart to see FP go the same way. I'd sooner not go than see it become a pathetic version of its former self. The United fans sang "Where's your famous atmosphere?" and they won't be the last. PFC wake up before you kill the goose that laid the golden egg. I, and many others I'm sure, won't continue to swallow the change from a club to a theatre.
John Westwood I am 100% with you on this one. We need you & your guys to help create some atmosphere - hang in there please.
9

Lber,

away from Pompey :-( 27/08/2008 11:06:39
Perhaps the prawn salad brigade are taking over our wonderful fortress?
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spyglass,

cheltenham 27/08/2008 11:19:06
suggest that the steward is given his cards straight away. seems like he believes in the old maxim 'power corrupts'.

soccer fans are there to support their clubs, to do this they shout, scream, chant and play diverse instruments, if you cannot understand that then it should be the spectator and not the supporter who leaves the ground.

countless commentators have made the same comment on the supporters noise at fratton park, 'it is out of all proportion to the crowd size.' long may it be so, when i come home from the park i want to be hoarse from shouting, even if sometimes in the past some of my comments have been uncomplimentary.

bring back the bell, bring on the drums, trumpets and if we can fit them in the massed band of the guards but DO NOT stop supporters supporting.

i think that PFC owe Mr Westwood an apology.
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