If that is the quoted reason then it is utter ***** !!! Do you know who sat there for many years through the lower divisions ? ... yes, it was ME :003:, Big Stu, Calum, and Stu's brother Ross (although a lot of the time Blair or Willie Fisher would get his ticket as he was working away). To one side was P&B, Sian, ATT (Above the Tunnel), and a few others, to the other side Doresboy, Guzz, Uncle Albert, Kenny & Barry Wright etc ..... We might have got worked up and shouted "words of encouragement" over the tunnel to ICT players and opposition alike but I can 1000% guarantee that there was never a stick or any other object poked down in the direction of any player, nor a desire to do so.
If that is what is being said, and it is being said about seasons in the lower divisions then I would like more details as it appears to be defamatory.
my understanding of the reason for banning the sticks is two fold...
the stick thing came to light i think when abovethetunnel's wee boy used to waive one above the tunnel when the teams came out or we scored (remember those days...). someone comlplained to mike smith that they couldn't see the game for the flag flying. i suspect that the complaints about the flag then came from folk sitting in the 'dear' seats (black seats or folk eating prawn sandwiches..) and the boy was then told he couldn't fly the flag on a stick though it was ok to take it in without it. i was told who one of the complainants was too and he occasionally gets a wee mention or 2 on this board...
when we moved into the premierleague a risk assessment was carried out by the police (apparently) regarding the ability of fans to throw things on to the pitch or at players or whateverand at the start it didn't seem too problematic. however, when the flag thing reared it's head it was a case of banning sticks was one less risk and the least costly (in monetary terms) to the club. i'm a bit reluctant to post here what the findings were just in case it puts ideas in folks heads but i'll pm you scotty and speak to L_G about it. if you feel it's worth posting then feel free...