The Tannoy Man

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

I wasn't sure how to title this thread. I hope the other title I could have used will be self evident to anyone reading.

Yesterday, and its been the same at most home games for a long time, we (the fan in the ground) were 'entertained' or rather forced upon us for several minutes pre-match by the Tannoy Man giving us all what seemed like a Big Brother verbal about Racism in Sport, Football and in General.

Personally and I'm sure many like me who are just normal peace living human beings don't need to be spoken to or patronised over a tannoy like this. I'll agree that racism in sport existed, but that was in the past. There is a lot more to concern us, and tbh I for one haven't seen racism in football to be an issue for quite a while.....so why the need for the Tannoy Man at Morecambe to subject us to a verbal lesson immediately before the Big Match, there is at every turnstile a big board warning us about the behaviour expected inside the ground....isn't that enough?

[twosheds]

Sadly it does need to be said...we have witnessed and heard unnecessary abusive comments made in the direction of the away benches and opposition players. Why individuals feel it's alright to behave in this way is beyond me...

[BerlinWaller]

It was probably something that the EFL told every club to read out before the game rather than a speech that Mark put together.

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

Sadly it does need to be said...we have witnessed and heard unnecessary abusive comments made in the direction of the away benches and opposition players. Why individuals feel it's alright to behave in this way is beyond me...

I agree, but now there are clear boards on entry at each turnstile, there are loads and loads of stewards on site, I really don't see the need for several minutes of pre-match preaching over the tannoy, which sounds more like Big Brother talking down to us.

I regularly attend the Atkinson centre in Southport to see some top performers, but am never subjected to any warning about expected behaviour, and never about racism. What's the difference?

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

It was probably something that the EFL told every club to read out before the game rather than a speech that Mark put together.

'Probably' is fine, and I agree, it may have been an appropriate measure for a while. But like all things they need reviewing after a while. Isn't now the time......as being preached down to for several minutes over a Tannoy immediately prior to a big match is completely inappropriate?

[Keith]

I really don't see the need for several minutes of pre-match preaching over the tannoy, which sounds more like Big Brother talking down to us.

I regularly attend the Atkinson centre in Southport to see some top performers, but am never subjected to any warning about expected behaviour, and never about racism. What's the difference?

Oh, stop trying to be a wind-up merchant. Or, being a **!t stirrer, more like.

Next home game, I'd like you to time how long you are "preached" at. Then let me know if it really is "several minutes" or simply hyperbole?

And do you genuinely compare visits to museums and art centres as going to football? If you can evidence occurrences where museum curators had baboon noises made at them, while having bananas chucked in their direction, I bow down and accept that you might actually have a point.

In the absence of that evidence, I suggest you know fine well, "what's the difference".

The EFL have worked hard to reduce racist, sexist & homophobic abuse at football. If your sensibilities are so easily hurt by sixty-seconds of being reminded not to be abusive at football, then I'm amazed you dare to go out on your own.

[Mark S]

Just thought I would clarify after another personal attack by this agitator after having it drawn to my attention.

Not the first time this individual has had a go at me and makes me glad I blocked him and his views on Facebook.

As all sensible fans will realise, I was reading from an EFL script as part of last weekend's 'Together Against Racism' campaign. If he had taken the time to listen, it was also a tribute to a man who had led the campaign against racism in football for decades and had made a massive difference to getting us to a place where it is quite rightly considered abhorrent and has no place in the game.

Most of the stuff I read out is scripted. There is a scripted section every week and is usually less than 30 seconds. This week it was a minute.

Anyone with a good heart would not mind sparing a minute to pay tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to fighting neanderthal racists and making football a better place for all of us.

If 30 seconds of highlighting anti discrimination offends anyone, then ask yourself why?

As for racism being "in the past", I will leave this here for anyone believing such nonsense.

"Kick It Out received 1,332 reports in the 2023/24 season, the highest number ever received by the anti-discrimination and inclusion charity in a single season.

The new figures, incorporating reports from across the professional game, grassroots, and social media, represent a 32% rise from the previous year and are over double the 610 received in the 2021/22 season.

Encouragingly, for the fifth season in a row, Kick It Out’s reports per incident rate has increased, suggesting fans are becoming less tolerant of discriminatory abuse.

The data shows a significant increase in reports of discrimination at grassroots level, up 25% from last season (242 to 303), and on social media, where reports have more than doubled (281 to 589). There has been a small drop in reports related to the pro game (484 to 440), down by 9%, although the number of incidents reported to Kick It Out has increased.

Racism remains the most reported form of discrimination, with the charity seeing an alarming 47% (496 to 731) rise in racist abuse across all levels of the game this season, while faith-based discriminatory reports were also up by 34%, driven by a sharp increase in antisemitism (63%) and Islamophobia (138%)."

I fully support the EFL initiative and will continue to.

[redrobo]

Mark S and I have had minor disagreements in the past all of which is so long ago that I can't recall what the issues where, but Mark S is a splendid servant to our club along with others who give up their time to provide a respected service to all on a Match Day.

He most certainly does not need or deserve the criticism that he gets from time to time.

Keep up the excellent work Mark.....the vast majority appreciate what you do....

[Westgate Wanderer]

Loved the half time songs on Saturday, positive thinking and I need a miracle! Almost as good as its all about you when the ref is being an ass! It was the EFLs annual kick racism out on Saturday hence the announcement pre match. Is nice that we can actually hear it on the Berlin Wall nowadays! Keep up the good work Mark S.

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

Just thought I would clarify after another personal attack by this agitator after having it drawn to my attention.

Not the first time this individual has had a go at me and makes me glad I blocked him and his views on Facebook.

As all sensible fans will realise, I was reading from an EFL script as part of last weekend's 'Together Against Racism' campaign. If he had taken the time to listen, it was also a tribute to a man who had led the campaign against racism in football for decades and had made a massive difference to getting us to a place where it is quite rightly considered abhorrent and has no place in the game.

Most of the stuff I read out is scripted. There is a scripted section every week and is usually less than 30 seconds. This week it was a minute.

Anyone with a good heart would not mind sparing a minute to pay tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to fighting neanderthal racists and making football a better place for all of us.

If 30 seconds of highlighting anti discrimination offends anyone, then ask yourself why?

As for racism being "in the past", I will leave this here for anyone believing such nonsense.

"Kick It Out received 1,332 reports in the 2023/24 season, the highest number ever received by the anti-discrimination and inclusion charity in a single season.

The new figures, incorporating reports from across the professional game, grassroots, and social media, represent a 32% rise from the previous year and are over double the 610 received in the 2021/22 season.

Encouragingly, for the fifth season in a row, Kick It Out’s reports per incident rate has increased, suggesting fans are becoming less tolerant of discriminatory abuse.

The data shows a significant increase in reports of discrimination at grassroots level, up 25% from last season (242 to 303), and on social media, where reports have more than doubled (281 to 589). There has been a small drop in reports related to the pro game (484 to 440), down by 9%, although the number of incidents reported to Kick It Out has increased.

Racism remains the most reported form of discrimination, with the charity seeing an alarming 47% (496 to 731) rise in racist abuse across all levels of the game this season, while faith-based discriminatory reports were also up by 34%, driven by a sharp increase in antisemitism (63%) and Islamophobia (138%)."

I fully support the EFL initiative and will continue to.

My post wasn't a personal attack, it was about what the 'The Tannoy Man' said, where have I made what i posted a personal attack? I admit I have felt the need to write about 'The Tannoy Man' before, but if memory serves me right that has only about the quality of acoustics over the loud speaker (or whatever) on the Berlin Wall. That's my right I think, after all Shrimpsvoices is a Fans Forum.

I refute your suggestion that I am an agitator or that what I said above is a personal attack. Having an opinion which might be at odds with yours doesn't make me an agitator.

I firmly believe that the Ground Rules/Regulations posted around the ground are sufficient to make all and sundry aware of the conduct expected in and around the ground. The Stewarding in and around the ground has become a lot more robust in recent years. So I don't see the need for a 'The Tannoy Man' to become involved before every game. What is so wrong in posting my two pennyworth on Shrimpsvoices?

[al1]

I think that every EFL match will have had the exact same announcement at the weekend,its just the way things are these days!

[Keith]

What is so wrong in posting my two pennyworth on Shrimpsvoices?

Okay, you've said your piece. Whether you believe it or not, MarkS has shared evidence that racism remains a problem in the game. Personally, I suspect the reason it has declined is not because racism has gone away, but because decent people are no longer willing to tolerate it, which forces the racists to keep quiet. If a short announcement pre-match helps to reduce racism, sexism, and homophobia further, and reinforces that everyone is welcome at a game, then to me, that's a minute of time spent well.

If you feel strongly about it, contact the club and give them your feedback.

[redrobo]

The one thing that Mark always does is to thank the away supporters for attending the game.

I no longer go to away games so I'm not in a position to comment BUT I wonder how many other clubs in our league take the trouble to acknowledge away fans and thank them for attending and to wish them a safe journey home.....

I'd like to think the majority do BUT....

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

I no longer go to away games so I'm not in a position to comment BUT I wonder how many other clubs in our league take the trouble to acknowledge away fans and thank them for attending and to wish them a safe journey home.....

Accrington did a couple of weeks ago.....they even went a bit further over the tannoy by advising travelling shrimps supporters who were reliant on trains about cancellation to services to Preston for the next couple of hours.

[John L]

I no longer go to away games so I'm not in a position to comment BUT I wonder how many other clubs in our league take the trouble to acknowledge away fans and thank them for attending and to wish them a safe journey home.....

Accrington did a couple of weeks ago.....they even went a bit further over the tannoy by advising travelling shrimps supporters who were reliant on trains about cancellation to services to Preston for the next couple of hours.

That was surely a wind-up as there were as many trains running as cancelled!

[thedoc]

Anyone who thinks that racism isn't a problem in football - or society in general - is living in cloud cuckoo land. `Tannoy Man' Mark has expressed this perfectly in response to this topic and I'm glad that he hasn't just blindly and obediently read out what he was sent by the EFL - he has obviously actually thought about it and expressed those thoughts very clearly. Maybe those individuals who disagree with him ought to think about this topic and their fatuous belief that racism is no longer an issue as carefully as he clearly has. I don't subscribe to Political Correctness I believe in Political Education instead. So how about leaving cloud cuckoo land and thinking about what is happening in the real world instead? Speak to our black players about their experience of racism. That way, you might even educate yourselves at the same time...

[Wild Bill]

Really odd that someone could have a problem with football trying to kick out racist attitudes from the game.

[Phil Anderer]

Mark's comments lasted less than a minute, and I can't personally understand why anyone would have a problem with them. There remains plenty of racism around, including at football matches, so a reminder like that focuses the minds of potential perpetrators and those who might hear them. Keep It up Mark.

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

Mark's comments lasted less than a minute, and I can't personally understand why anyone would have a problem with them. There remains plenty of racism around, including at football matches, so a reminder like that focuses the minds of potential perpetrators and those who might hear them. Keep It up Mark.

There is a clear notice at each turnstile which clearly brings to the attention of EVERYONE entering the ground of what the acceptable behaviour is.

There are plenty of Stewards both inside and outside the ground who no doubt will be fully aware of all their duties.

There are several players every game who could easily be the victim of racial abuse, some of them are regular Morecambe players. I have NEVER heard a Morecambe player targeted. The last I witnessed of an away player was at least two years ago aimed at Akinfenwe. I felt ashamed to be a Morecambe supporter that night. Was anything actually done about it? Fortunately it was a was a one-off and I haven't heard any other racial abuse on the terraces.

My point is, there are warnings either posted on boards as supporters enter the ground, and plenty of stewards who are trained to be on the look for unacceptable behaviour. Is it really necessary for a tannoy announcement irrespective of its length, especially when there if no evidence or sign of racial abuse inside the ground?!

[twosheds]

Everyone is entitled to there opinion but isn't it about time you gave it all a rest. It's obvious that there IS a problem in this sport otherwise there would be no need for such announcements.

Just because you haven't witnessed any such incidents it doesn't mean they don't happen.

[Keith]

My point is, there are warnings either posted on boards as supporters enter the ground, and plenty of stewards who are trained to be on the look for unacceptable behaviour. Is it really necessary for a tannoy announcement irrespective of its length, especially when there if no evidence or sign of racial abuse inside the ground?!

You genuinely believe that a message that lasts less than sixty-seconds is too much, because it has been two years since you heard any racist abuse? Seriously??? TWO YEARS??? The battle has been won eh?

There may be signs up, but who actually reads them? It's like the small print when you buy a new TV or download Apple Music, nobody reads them, but they can be referred to if needed. The verbal announcement is also to reinforce a zero tolerance and (hopefully) give bystanders the confidence to report anyone who is being racially abusive, knowing that stewards will take it seriously.

You are also skimming over the fact that there was an additional comment referring to Lord Ouseley who died. Lord Ouseley founded the 'Kick It Out' campaign 25 years ago.

Come back when there hasn't been any racism in football grounds for twenty years, not two, and you may have a point. In the meantime, anything that reduces abuse of people, players or spectators, of any race, gender, or sexuality is a good thing.