Trust sends message of support to Grimsby Town fans
The Fulham Supporters’ Trust have sent a message of support to female Grimsby Town supporters who were subjected to invasive and unacceptable searches prior to last Saturday’s game at Stevenage.
The Mariners’ Trust have submitted a formal complaint to Stevenage and the EFL after their fans were subjected to underwear searches and reports of children being given full-body searches surfaced. You can the Mariners’ Trust’s letter to the football authorities here. Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn is also writing to the Sports Minister complaining about the ‘overzealous’ treatment of supporters.
The Fulham Supporters’ Trust have been long-standing supporters of the Football Supporters’ Federation’s ‘Watching Football Is Not A Crime’ campaign against unacceptable policing and stewarding of football fans. Trust Board member Dan Crawford, who was elected to Supporters Direct’s England and Wales Council alongside Mariners’ Trust’s Hannah Dawson, said: ‘This sort of attitude to football fans belongs to the dark ages and the Fulham Supporters’ Trust had no hesitation in sending our best wishes to all Grimsby Town fans and the Mariners’ Trust as they challenge this unacceptable behaviour’.
This morning’s Grimsby Telegraph reports that 20 Grimsby Town supporters have come forward alleging that they were subjected to the type of searches described. Trust members may also be interested in reading this Guardian article from FSF caseworker Amanda Jacks on the continuing suspicion football fans face just for following their side away from home.
