Homepage

Away Grounds

This article will cover what you can - and can't - take to away grounds. Drums? Flags? Anything else you should be aware of?

We are contacting all the clubs to ask them some questions based on what members have told us about things they'd like to know in advance.

If there is anything you think we should add to the list of things we ask about please let us know on info@bfcsa.co.uk.

The list below is in Alphabetical order.

Club Drums Flags/Banners Balloons Confetti Last Updated Comments
Accrington Stanley Yes Yes Not Known Not Known 25/11/2009 In the 0708 season Stanely didn't have any problems with anything that was taken in. Which included the whole "shebang" apparently!
Bradford City Yes** Yes* No No 29/10/2008 * No poles with the flags or banners.

** No kettle drums. (This was tongue in cheek, obviously!)
Chester Not Known Not Known Not Known Not Known 26/08/2008 Emailed on 19 August but no reply received by 26/08/2008.
Chesterfield Yes Yes* Yes Yes** 05/02/2009 * large flags allowed but to be draped in the terraced area. Waving flags - will allow ones with small sticks but not any with poles.

** Confetti is allowed if fans are in the terraces. However, if the number of away fans are under 350 then they will be put into the mainstand seating area where confetti is not allowed.
Dagenham & Redbridge Yes Yes Yes Yes 26/08/2008 Reserve the right to refuse to allow any item on the night if it is considered by our stewards or police that they might be used as an offensive weapon.

Flags and banners will also be moved if obstructing any advertising hoardings.
Darlington Yes Yes* Yes** No 04/12/2008 * flags: as long as the people that bring them identify them to the stewards upon arrival. Large flags on pole would be permitted but under certain conditions. Flags must remain in a non-populated area and can only be retrived at the end of the game.

** balloons: as long as there is under 50 of them.
Exeter Yes** Yes* Not Known No 29/01/2009 * They do not allow in small hand held flags on thin sticks about two and a half foot long, however if we have large flags on proper flagpole type things not a problem.

** Drum allowed only if it's not near the control room
Grimsby Not Known Yes Not Known Not Known 06/09/2008 Reply said flags will be OK.
Lincoln City Not Known Not Known Not Known Not Known 06/09/2008 No reply to to three emails.
Luton Not Known Not Known Not Known Not Known 04/12/2008 No reply to to three emails.
Club Drums Flags/Banners Balloons Confetti Last Updated Comments
Notts County No** Yes* Not Known Not Known 29/01/2009 * Flags are ok, but not on poles

** Drums are not allowed in the away end of the stadium.
Port Vale Yes Yes* Yes Yes 24/11/2008 * No poles with the flags or banners.
Rochdale No Yes Yes Yes 12/08/2008 Council banned drums due to complaints from nearby residents.
Rotherham Not Known Yes Not Known Not Known 06/10/2008 Only commented on flags; didn't answer questions about other items.
Shrewsbury Yes Yes* Yes No 27/10/2008 * No poles with the flags or banners.
Wycombe Not Known Not Known Not Known Not Known 29/01/2009 Wycombe haven't replied yet.
 
     
  Notes

Flags and banners shouldn't obsure advertising hoardings and other signs.

Four clubs have now specified that flags with poles are not allowed. I'm not entirely sure that a flag is still a flag without a pole but this is understandable.

Dagenham and Redbridge quite reasonably pointed out that they reserve the right to refuse to allow any item on the night if it is considered by their stewards or police that it might be used as an offensive weapon. The BFCSA Committee think it is fair to say that all clubs also reserve this right. (We also wondered what an inoffensive weapon might look like.)

Comments are generally pasted from the club's reply. Where comments are ambiguous we have decided to leave them alone rather than put our own interpretation on them and risk misleading you.

Details of BFCSA coaches to away games.

Other Clubs

We're unlikely to ever play Borussia Mönchengladbach but it's worth noting that their website has guidance on what visiting supporters are and aren't allowed to take into the stadium. For example, flags are allowed but only if their poles are no longer than 1.5m. They also offer storage rooms for forbidden items. It is interesting to note that dangerous missiles can be stored in these rooms, but not motorcycle helmets.

It's also worth noting that (according to Wikipedia) their mascot is a bumble bee called Bach.

  
     
  Homepage