So I am on my way out of the south stand today when I realised I had left the latest issue of king of the kippax in a plastic bag under my seat. I literally had one foot out of the exit so quickly about turned to return and get it. I was immediately clotheslined across my chest with some force by a female steward snarling I couldn't go back in once I had left. I think my momentum and the force she thrust her arm out, meaning i was hit with some power shocked her as she quickly apologised for hitting me but said she couldn't let me back in. I replied that was ridiculous, I had left something under my seat it would take me seconds to go and get it. No I was not allowed back in! Luckily for me the head steward, the rasta guy who is a decent chap, overruled her but had to escort me back to my seat and wait, then ensure I left.
What the fuck is it with stewards and treating football fans, who are paying customers by the way, like some sort of criminal to be shoved and denied a simple request to return and get something they have left behind? Who makes up such a stupid rule anyway? I get you can't have loads of fans traipsing back into the stadium willy nilly but surely common sense should be applied when someone has forgotten something? She didn't know what I had left and wasn't interested, it was she had her orders and no way was I going back in. Kudos to the head steward for showing some common sense but I was still treated as if I was doing something wrong. He even said, " I have had a word Barbara" as I left. Going to a game these days is like being a visitor to a cat A prison!