Altrincham say they are to ban a fan of theirs after footage of him spitting at a Dorking Wanderers volunteer filming when the two sides met.
The incident occurred as fans were making their way out of the ground after the National League match on Saturday, the 6th of April, which ended in a goalless draw.
The CCTV footage captured a football fan spitting at a cameraman who was recording the spectators. The video has gained significant attention on social media, accumulating thousands of views.
The volunteer, who was wearing a high-visibility vest, works for Bunch of Amateurs, an independent production company that focuses on documenting non league football.
BoA is an independent production. We support Arsenal, Spurs, Charlton, Southampton etc. We work for the love of non-league and we ALWAYS want to give every club positive attention.
My camera ops do not deserve verbal abuse, let alone being spat on š” pic.twitter.com/0SHO603Sl8
ā BunchOfAmateurs (@bunch_amateurs) April 7, 2024
BunchOfAmateurs tweeted along with a video: “BoA is an independent production.
“We support Arsenal, Spurs, Charlton, Southampton etc.
“We work for the love of non-league and we ALWAYS want to give every club positive attention.
“My camera ops do not deserve verbal abuse, let alone being spat on š”
“This happened ‘cos the visiting fans were frustrated with the match and several took it out on my cam op (and at leat two found the spitting funny).
“We’re totally aware that this does not represent all Alty fans – we met plenty of good people at both games.
“We’re following up with the relevant authorities but the point we want to make here is – please, if you see my team filming a match, don’t give them abuse – they’re just filming football šā½ļø”
Dorking Wanderers wrote: “We like Alty, from the CEO to Phil & his great team, but this is an absolute shambles from a grown man, spitting on a volunteer.
“We stand with this young lad & have no doubt Alty will deal with this accordingly. MW”
Altrincham responded: “This kind of behavior has absolutely no place in football or anywhere for that matter.
“We will be taking this incident seriously and any Altrincham fan who does this can expect a ban.”
This kind of behavior has absolutely no place in football or anywhere for that matter.
We will be taking this incident seriously and any Altrincham fan who does this can expect a ban. https://t.co/s9mhKM9dCz
ā Altrincham FC (@altrinchamfc) April 7, 2024
Rich Phippen, director of Bunch of Amateurs, said to Messenger Newspapers they had been recording ‘Dorking uncovered’ when the incident took place.
“For my crew to get verbally abused is not unusual, we do take a bit of stick from fans.
“Sometimes it’s funny sometimes it’s definitely not funny.
“Altrincham fans in particular have given us quite a bit of abuse in the past two games.
“Partly why I posted that tweet was to discourage people to stop picking on my camera guys because they’re not part of the Dorking Wanderers club.
“Even though it’s a completely reprehensible action, it’s senseless on every level because they’re picking on people who are not even Dorking supporters.
“Sully is the guy who was spat upon. He was shocked and frustrated about the abuse he got.
“While he’s shocked at the spitting, he’s probably even more bemused by the reaction of the other fans who thought it was funny. That really got to him actually.
“One guy lost his head but the other fans were laughing at it and I think that really bothered him.
“We do want to point out that we get on very well with Altrincham as a football club and they were very very welcoming to my crew when we filmed there it’s just the way things have gone with supporters, it has been a negative experience for us.”
In reaction to the footage, the man, who wants to stay anonymous, said he apologises “unreservedly” for his actions and has offered to personally apologise to the camera operator, the club and Bunch of Amateurs.
His family and friends said to Messenger that his actions were “completely out of character” and said that there is “no excuse” for what he did that day.
While a family member said: “We have tried to get in touch with Bunch of Amateurs and Alty FC and have offered to travel down to apologise.
“His friends have been rallying around him and reaching out to him because they know things like this can really affect someone’s mental health and they know him as we all do, as a gentle giant.”
The family add that the spitter has been left “in bits” over what happened and hope, the film company take his apology, while Altrincham FC interim CEO, Sam Mackenzie, says she’s been in contact with both the chairman and CEO at Dorking Wanderers and added: “We are taking the incident seriously”.
Twitter users reacted as Altrincham vow to ban the fan after footage of him spitting at a Dorking volunteer filming…
@Davey20003: I’m an Alty fan and we should be better than that. He’s a well known fan to the club, so they’ll know who he is. He’s actually normally a decent bloke, though he can occasionally be a bit hot-headed, as shown here, but obviously, action needs to be taken against him.
@crawleybee1986: I and many people are hot headed at games and do/say silly things, but would never spit.
@nickvarney90: There’s no such thing as a “decent bloke” who spits at people
@zefrogi: Utterly disgusting. These guys are here for the love of the game and looking for some experience. Not to be abused, in any sense. Good on the lad for speaking up and BoA for showing this inexcusable offence.
@GlosGroundhop: Donāt let it get you down. Iām a big fan of your work. Very high quality and excellently put together. Iāve always been against spitting, itās what I call āthe lower life formās call for helpā when they resort to it. Keep up the good work
@harryt84: Thatās disgusting. Hopefully @altrinchamfc will help in identifying this vile individual and ban him. Donāt need people like that attending games. Keep up the fantastic work gang šŖš»
@MeganStow: Canāt be hard to find? Disgusting behaviour
@DavePutman_: So grim. Hope Alty deal with this wrongun appropriately.
@JohnSW20: Thatās just vile behaviour, I hope they are found and punished. No one deserves that when youāre trying to do your job. Absolute scum š¤¬
@PUPompey: Assuming their club has given you the names so you can report to police? š¤¢š„“
@footymum73: Absolutely vile! what a coward doing that over the fence then quickly walking away š¤¬
@LouieJake7: Disgusting, should be ashamed of em selfs
@Mcgoo_84: Forget Alty dealing with it. Report it to the police. Not going to struggle to identify him are you? Thereāll only have been about 8 of them. @bunch_amateurs
@Inter_Alty1977: This is digusting behaviour & spitting is the lowest of the low! It has also tarnished the club & our fans reputation… NOT ALL ALTY FANS ARE LIKE THIS! Dorking staff were friendly on the day &one director had put a tab for free pint on arrival that several took advantage of.
@Sam647803328582: Just awful, and from a fan who has travelled to watch this match. If he was on the supporters bus I hope he is banned from this too. I donāt want my child and his friends growing up. Thinking this is acceptable behaviour.
@tom_murray456: absolute worst of the worst. one of the worst things you can do to someone. saddens me to see alty fans acting that way
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