We ask all supporters to read below ahead of this evening’s Dublin Derby.
Nobody at the club wants to sanitise this fixture. But because of incidents that have occurred in previous years, we remain under scrutiny regarding legitimate security and health and safety concerns from our key match stakeholders.
The vast majority of those in attendance in the Jodi Stand tonight are members of the club or season ticket holders, and there is a collective responsibility on us all to ensure the safety of one another and that our actions do not invite further scrutiny or sanctions.
Bohemian FC Board of Management
Sanctions on away supporters: As communicated after our last home game against Shamrock Rovers, the Board of Bohemian FC conducted a review of matchday operations for this fixture following the completely unacceptable actions of some away supporters that night.
As discussed with our members at our recent AGM, in light of the actions of significant minority of Shamrock Rovers supporters, the board felt that our club had no option but to cut their club’s allocation for the Des Kelly Stand for tonight’s fixture to the bare minimum 10% of overall stadium capacity (ie 358 tickets) as required by league rules. This will be kept under review.
For many years, all clubs coming to Dalymount Park have been afforded the full capacity of the Des Kelly Stand. However, the levels of damage caused to our stadium and playing surface, and dangers posed to the safety of our players and staff, were unprecedented; facts backed up by the match delegate’s report.
Having taken such a step, it is doubly important that our own supporters maintain a high standard of behaviour as was the case when the sides last met at Dalymount Park.
Home supporters, please note the following matchday information:
Block A: Our academy youth teams have been allocated the majority of this area and will be there from early in the evening. Please respect this.
Hanging flags on Tramway End: Due to access restrictions, only designated volunteers are permitted to hang flags on the Tramway End. If you wish to have your flag displayed, please drop it into the club office at Dalymount Park (beside Members’ Bar) by 6.45pm.
Dalymount is a place of inclusion: Everyone has the right to attend games without feeling intimidated, insulted, or lesser. Any abuse or chanting that is deemed misogynistic or sexist simply cannot be tolerated, and that also applies to abuse that is racist, sectarian, xenophobic, homophobic or transphobic.
CCTV: We remind supporters that additional CCTV cameras were installed in the Jodi Stand for the protection of supporters. These are monitored throughout all games.
Pitch invasions and missile throwing: Anyone caught encroaching onto the playing surface or throwing missiles will be banned and could face prosecution.
Use of pyrotechnics: The FAI forbids the use of flares, smoke bombs, fireworks and any other pyrotechnics. They are considered a health and safety danger and the club is liable for hefty league fines and sanctions when used. Anyone caught in possession of such items faces being removed from the stadium. Furthermore, the growing trend of flares being thrown onto the playing surface must stop. It is extremely dangerous, has led to considerable fines already this season, as well as additional costs in repairing damaged surfaces.
Standing in stairwells/aisles: Crowding on the stairwells poses serious health and safety risks, particularly if there is a surge. Please do not occupy the aisles/stairwells; please remain in seated areas where you can remain standing if you so wish. We request that people in F & E leave space free for those who do want to stand.
Overcrowding in walkways: Areas such as those surrounding the food vendors, sweet shop and merchandise store are walkways and are not areas where supporters are permitted to congregate to watch the game.
Make space for one another: More often than not when it appears the stand is full, there are many individual unoccupied seats across the stand. Move up! And when it is close to kick-off and it looks like the place is filling up, please assist fellow supporters in finding a vacant seat.
Counterfeit and duplicated tickets: All membership cards, season tickets and match tickets have a unique barcode that will only scan once. If your ticket barcode shows up on our scanners as having already been scanned, we cannot allow you into the game. It is as simple as that.
Bars: The Members Bar and Phoenix Bar are open as normal, and are open on match-night from 5.30pm on production of membership card/season ticket/match ticket. However, there is limited capacity that clearly cannot cater for all in attendance in the Jodi Stand. Once either bar is full, we simply cannot allow more people to enter for the safety of all. The Jameson Bar is closed this evening.
Fire/Emergency evacuation: In the event of a fire or other incident in the Jodi Stand all supporters should please move down the aisles and on to the pitch and follow the instructions of stewards and Gardaí.
Arrive early to avoid congestion: Bars open from 5.30pm while all turnstiles open 6.30pm. Please arrive early to avoid congestion and to make kick-off in good time. We advise arriving at Dalymount not later than 7.20pm.
Clearing the Jodi Stand area at full-time whistle: For both security reasons and so that post-match requirements such as media obligations can be met, it is necessary that the stand area is cleared in a speedy and orderly manner. Please vacate the stand area and head to the bars or leave the stadium entirely when instructed to do so by stewards.
It has been a very difficult few weeks for all at the club.
Let’s get behind the team from the start.
Enjoy the game.
