Worthing defend segregation after criticism from Eastbourne Borough fans

It stemmed from incidents that overshadowed Worthing’s first game in the National League South – at home to Dover on August 6.

A hardcore of about 20 Dover supporters – some of them actually banned from Dover home games – had, by all accounts, arrived on that day intent on causing trouble.

Worthing were taken aback, and have responded by tightening security for subsequent home games, including the Bank Holiday derby with Eastbourne.

Those opening-day incidents have already had repercussions. Monday’s visit to Woodside Road saw Borough supporters segregated – and confined to a small corner of the ground – as Worthing chose the occasion to test their crowd management and safety procedures.

Before the kick-off, with feelings running quite high, Worthing FC chairman Barry Hunter told us: “This is not targeted on Eastbourne Borough.

"Against Dover Athletic, we had a difficult day and an unpleasant experience for our supporters. We are new at this level, and we needed to run a full exercise on segregation at a National South fixture – the physical measures, the ticketing procedures, the admission of spectators and the deployment of stewards.

“We had no concerns ahead of the game about Borough supporters. It might have been any opponent, but the exercise was something that I felt could not be shelved.”

Eastbourne host Dover this weekend and with pro-active intelligence between the clubs, the Sports will be on alert at the SO Legal Community Stadium.

“We are in close contact with our friends at Dover Athletic, who will also be sending some of their own stewarding staff on Saturday,” confirmed Borough CEO John Bonar. “Nobody identified as a potential nuisance will be admitted to the ground. They would simply have a wasted journey.

“We enjoy a fantastic atmosphere at our home games, with everybody enjoying the occasion. It’s in the very best tradition of non-league that – as we often put it – we always have rivals but never have enemies. We’re a big football family at the Lane and Saturday will be no different!”

When Worthing review their segregation plans, they may reflect that Worthing FC did not serve their guests well. There was, for instance, no obvious reason why the away section could not have been extended to the halfway line, to include the small seated stand behind the Woodside Road dugouts. Or would that have displaced home supporters?

Segregation, if absolutely necessary at National South level, must not mean discrimination. Admission charges must be the same for home and visiting supporters for equivalent accommodation. Where does that line come from? It’s in the National League handbook, page 138 rule 20. Food for thought.