Hull Daily Mail sports staff have been banned from Hull City’s football ground by the club chairman.
Football writer John Fieldhouse tells what happened when he turned up to report on the latest home game.
Hull City chairman Adam Pearson has slapped a bizarre ban on the Mail.
For the first time in more than 20 years as a journalist, a sports club tried to prevent me covering a match.
Incredibly, the move came over a story which had yet to be published and which I had no involvement in.
Pearson took action after the Mail decided to interview star striker Stuart Elliott about his life story. The interview – carried out by a news reporter – took place last Friday.
I understand that the club was angry that the interview took place without the permission of manager Peter Taylor.
However, Elliott had agreed to the interview and had previously spoken about his religious beliefs and his family background in Northern Ireland in various newspapers and even a local parish magazine.
When Taylor discovered the interview was taking place, he rang Elliott’s home to try to stop him talking to the Mail. The interview, at Elliott’s house, had already been concluded. In later conversations with Mail staff, Elliott made clear he was happy for the story to be told because he feels so strongly that his experiences can inspire others.
Within a couple of hours, City imposed a ban effectively ending all communication with the Mail on Friday afternoon.
Pearson warned I would not be allowed into the Kingston Communications Stadium the following day to cover City’s game against Bristol Rovers.
Taylor told me he would not speak to me after the match and said he had banned his players from talking to the Mail. When I arrived to cover the game, I was barred from entry and was unable to use my press passes.
I spoke to a clearly agitated Pearson outside the main reception area and he confirmed the club could not stop me gaining entry if I paid at the turnstiles. Pearson said he had consulted his lawyers and there would be a complete ban on the Mail, which would also cover Hull FC games at the stadium.
I duly purchased a couple of tickets – for myself and a statistician who records the facts and figures on match days. The Mail’s photographer could not do his job. The match pictures in today’s paper were supplied by a Bristol photographer.
However, when I attempted to take my usual seat in the press box, I was confronted by a steward. He seemed embarrassed as he called me by my first name and asked to see my passes.
He then talked to “stadium control” who apparently informed him I could not sit in the press box. I moved a couple of rows away but was told I could not sit there either… in case seats had been sold.
I offered to wait to see which seats were available at kick off but was ordered away from the press area, despite the fact I needed to use the Mail’s telephone for the match report in the SportsMail.
Accompanied by at least four stewards, I was guided to seats at the South end of the West Stand – more than 100 yards away from the nearest fans.
After a couple of minutes, I was then told I would have to move again – this time to the opposite end of the West Stand.
Again, stewards accompanied me on the long walk and made sure I took my seat – again well away from any fans and well away from the Press area.
After another couple of minutes, the steward told me “ground control” were now insisting I had to sit in the North Stand. I refused. After a brief conversation, I was allowed to stay in the West Stand for the game.
However, I had to cover the entire match on a borrowed portable phone and with various notebooks, programmes and team-sheets balanced on my knee.
At half-time, I was closely watched as I headed for the toilets and then stewards made sure I had re-occupied the same seat in the West Stand for the second half. It was like being in a prison camp.
After the match, I was barred from entering the media area where interviews with the manager and players take place.
I was politely shown to the main exit by a friendly steward who, for the last five years, was kindly opening the door which led to the player’s tunnel at Boothferry Park.
Despite the obvious problems, I managed to file me usual match reports, with quotes obtained from other journalists who did speak to Taylor.
However, the situation is threatening to get worse. Pearson is apparently drawing up plans for a legal order which would effectively ban all Mail representatives from the KC Stadium – and make coverage impossible.
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