Did Gateshead do anything to attract the Leythers up there?

"Gateshead Thunder are particularly disappointed that the Leigh fans abused the hospitality at Gateshead International Stadium having worked hard with Leigh Centurions to assist in their efforts to bring a large away following."

Certainly strange when I received a text message from a member of the Gateshead coaching staff last night which read as "Great support for your lads today, hope you stay up - the fans deserve it"!

You within the coaching elite circles now, Matt?

Well my email has gone in -

[iDear Sirs,

I write in reaction to a statement made today (24/08/09) by an official of Gateshead Thunder RL regarding allegations of offensive behaviour by supporters of Leigh RL.

The incidents to which he refers were no worse than can be heard at any RL ground or school playing field.

There was no concerted period of bad language or other disruptive behaviour and certainly there was not even a hint of any aggression.

Unlike the plaintiffs I was sat in the midst of the Leigh supporters and felt it was a good humoured event at which passionate support was given to the team.

Should this complaint be taken seriously and a review of the incidents take place I would be grateful if the investigators were to contact me on this address for my opinions to be taken into account formally.

Kind regards,

Michael Norris FCMA
CEO
Rivertime Corporate Finance Ltd
The Alternative Board (Manchester)
07966 341802[/i

Don't think they're too worried, Frank - they've got our thousands of pounds in the bank now, after all. That said, if they don't retract the statement then I'll certainly think twice about going to Gateshead in the future, and I know I won't be the only one.

A Hymalayan Molehill if ever there was one.

Perhaps they will bring out chants for the over sensitive..

what hospitality????????????????????????

cheerleaders (most clubs do this anyway and it was all in banter when they were over sung maybe some of there fans should try singing)

bars and food, again get this at all grounds.

the tug of war was done in good spirits and i might had no thunder fans wanted to join in thus the leythers avin to beat lads from edinburgh eagles.

SO WHAT I AM REALLY ASKING IS WHAT DID THEY DO SPECIAL FOR THE MAST LEYTHERS IN ATTENDANCE????????

would be interesting to find out HOW they helped leigh centurions out in gettin the fans up there,

i will not now go to gateshead thunders ground again a bunch of naive and ignorant supporters and it seems board.

The basic complaint from many who attended the Thunder v Leigh match was the continued use of the f-word in particular (and other truly offensive terms, not the obligatory and generally well-meaning and most welcome banter!!!)

This f-word was used repeatedly in chants as well as in individual shouted comments, so I can't understand how others failed (or state that they failed) to hear this.

No - we don't hear this every match. Not even the St Helens fans (who turned up in numbers far exceeding Leigh's fans yesterday) felt the need to do anything other than exchange humorous remarks.

If this is what happens 'normally' with Leigh, then I am sorry for the majority of your fans who have to put up with this loutish behaviour. I am not going to pretend that I do not swear - far from it - but I do 'hold my tongue' in public - especially in front of kids!

N

And neither do I really but the point is that kids DO swear wether you like it or not. Words hurt no-one.Was anyone attacked who was watching the game ? Where any stewards complaining because the ones I saw certainly didn,t and most seemed to have smiles on their faces.

You lot really need to lighten up. Some of you Gateshead fans probably don,t give your kids sweets because it will harm their teeth. You need to grow up like your kids will. I doubt any kid present at the game had nightmares or misbehaved at what they saw and heard yesterday.

The Gateshead 5 need to get a life you really are sounding pathetic.

Are these the same St Helens fans who drowned out Eddie Hemmings at the Wigan game with "the referee's a w****r"?

Oh please have a word with yourself! if swearing is the only thing you have to moan about you are lucky we the travelling fans who gave money to your club yes your club had to put up with the inept goings on of the ref if i can call him that ,it was probably your highest attendance and what thanks do we get ,a statement calling the Leigh fans when it should have been applauding us for making the effort ,how many came to Leigh?Pathetic the lot of you !!!!!

Quite probably because that game was only ever likely to go one way, so the Saints fans were happy to sit back and watch the tries roll in. I occasionally attend Saints games, and their language could be deemed far, far worse than anything heard at a Leigh game. That said, they're only words and if people are scared about their kids hearing it then they should either a) explain to them why they're being used or that it's "wrong", or b) buy some earmuffs.

If a few naughty words are the worst thing that happened then I'd consider that a bit of a result for Gateshead. Their accountants certainly will.

Would be interesting to know if any stewards have filed any negative reports or made any complaints about the conduct of the Leigh supporters.

A very cheap and very low PR stunt by the Gateshead Board aimed at one of their franchise rivals next time round.