EXCLUSIVE: Verbal abuse just 'part of the job' for football stewards in South Yorkshire
We've been speaking exclusively to a member of security who works at football grounds across South Yorkshire about his experiences
Ahead of the new English Football League season - stewards in South Yorkshire tell us dealing with verbal abuse off fans is 'just part of the job'.
The 2023/24 campaign gets underway tonight - & we've been speaking exclusively to a member of security who works at football grounds in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster & Rotherham.
We've agreed to keep his identity anonymous - He's been telling us how he tries to diffuse any animosity with supporters:
"There's been a couple of scuffles here and there, but as long as I'm okay with them, they're okay with me.
"If the fans have had a bit to drink for instance, you've just generally got to agree with everything that they say, instead of going in head first in return.
"I try and use breathing techniques to cope with any verbal abuse I get at the games from fans though, which allows me to step back from the situation.
"I do my best not to let it affect me and kind of let it go in one ear and out of the other."
The latest available data shows 68 football banning orders were in place overall across the five South Yorkshire clubs - by the end of last July.