A regional press football reporter was denied access to the press box at an away game after a critical article he wrote when a match had to be postponed due to heavy snow.
Dave Flett, York City reporter for The Press, Dave Flett was refused a press pass for the team’s away match at Luton Town on Tuesday because the club deemed a report he wrote ‘inflammatory’.
His article in December referred to the clash between the two Blue Square Bet Premier sides which was abandoned due to snow, with Dave arguing it should have been called off earlier by Luton Town because it took many fans 12 hours to get home.
But after being told he would not be welcome to attend the rematch, he decided to sit with the York fans in the away end of the Kenilworth Road ground to ensure he could file a report.
Dave said: “I was very disappointed to be declined admission into the press box at Kenilworth Road, especially having worked there on so many occasions in the past as one of the local press pack.
“I stand by the sentiment in my article on the original game and still believe, considering the severe weather warnings in place, more could and should have been done by Luton Town and the referee to consider an early postponement.”
Steve Hughes, editor of The Press, said he was very surprised at the stance taken by Luton Town.
He said: “Dave is a well respected sports reporter and he gave his honestly held opinion after it took York fans 12 hours to return from a game that many felt should have been called off hours earlier due to the atrocious weather.
“Luton said they would be happy for another reporter to cover last night’s game, but that misses the point. We have a duty to York City fans and it is not for football clubs to decide who covers their matches.
“They have every right to disagree with Dave’s opinion but trying to ban him from the ground smacks of censorship and that’s not acceptable. I am delighted he managed to file his reports anyway.”
Luton Town had not responded to requests for a comment at the time of publication.
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This is a ridiculous move by the club. Kudos to Mr. Flett for using his common sense.
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maybe he should have stuck to the facts as a reporter and not foisted his opinion on everyone. There is far too much comment and inaccurate speculation in football reporting generally now, especially the nationals. Fans can make their own minds up!!!
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Respect to Dave Flett and his editor. The well-being of soccer fans is as important as the game itself. Sounds like these fans were low on the list of their own club’s priorities.
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exevening – opinion is often key to a good sports report. And, as he was writing for a local, it was his duty to express what the fans were thinking in print.
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Got banned from a football club press box myself about five years ago, after a critical story angered a touchy manager and the club, so can sympathise with this. Well done for highlighting.
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exevening, it seems you are not short of an opinion or three. If journalists are going to be banned from press boxes for having opinions then we are all in trouble. This is a blow for freedom of speech and Luton Town’s board should be left with no doubt that they are in the wrong. Voltaire’s “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” should be the creed of all fair-minded people.
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Typical of football clubs, who behave like they own the world – and most local papers now are so scared of upsetting them and potentially damaging the revenue stream, they let them do what they like. Well played Dave
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It was hardly Luton Town’s fault the game was postponed – the ref makes the decision on abandoning games.
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Luton’s stance is laughable given the chairman is a journalist by profession. As for not being in the Luton press box – not missing out there either. But I commend speaking out. Too many clubs think they can do what they like. Now they just look petty minded.
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People are missing the point here. Luton’s ground is a complete dump in one of the worst towns in the UK. I would willingly insult it on order to get banned so I wouldn’t have to cover a football match there
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On what grounds should the game have been called off? The pitch was perfectly playable at kick-off, and was passed as such by both managers and the match-day officials. A snowstorm arrived 15 minutes into the game and conditions worsened – it was just one of those things. Mr Flett’s inflammatory reporting, especially given the recent history between the two sides, was unnecessary and one-sided.
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As a Luton fan, I completely disagree with the club banning Dave Flett. But he doesn’t come out of this with any credit at all either. His stories on the abandoned game were irresponsible (especially considering the trouble last season) and ill-informed. He is obviously unaware that referees decide if games take place, not the home club. For some reason he has a real dislike of the club, which is weird as he used to work for the Luton News. Twiki, it may be a dump, but it’s our dump and I love it. Rather Kenilworth Road than some soulless out of town identikit ground that looks the same as all the others.
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Sorry duke 88 and johnb, I think you might be the ill-informed ones in this case. As Flett made reference to in his “inflammatory” report, Chelsea and Aresnal DID postpone their matches on the weekend in question despite the pitches being deemed playable by referees. The safety of travelling supporters was also cited as a factor in both fixtures being called off.
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footballfan: The fact is everyone (YCFC, LTFC and the ref) agreed that the game should start. Unfortunately we had heavy snow in the second half, no one’s fault, sometimes these things happen. If we had called the game off early and no snow had arrived, no doubt he would have moaned about that as well. As I said, he shouldn’t have been banned, but quite why Mr Flett decided to write a piece saying it was our fault and that it was some sort of revenge for them beating us in the play-offs is beyond me.
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