Lee - Sky Sports Expert

Health and safety mad!

Ridiculous rules ruin Bradford banter

Posted: 24th September 2009 16:41

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Health and safety mad!

Lenny the City Gent

One thing Lenny used to do was to lift up his shirt and wobble his belly to the crowd. It's been part of Lenny's act for years, the supporters would chant for Lenny to show off his tummy, they'd wait in anticipation and cheer when he obliged. It was a bit of fun, a bit silly but it did no harm. He's no longer allowed to do this because it 'incites the crowd'

Lee Norton
Quotes of the week

Bradford Fanzoner Lee Norton provides one of the most entertaining blogs of the season, but he writes with serious intentions...

There's been a bit of a stir at Valley Parade over the last few weeks and it has nothing to do with our improved form on the field.

Health and Safety! It's something that is now dominant in the work place, often going too far, and now it seem, it's getting just as daft at football matches.

Lenny the City Gent

It recently came out that the Bradford City mascots had to sign a 'Code of Conduct' that ensured they behaved themselves, were politically correct and couldn't jeopardise the club in any way. This had a big effect on 'Lenny the City Gent'

I'm sure other supporters have noticed Lenny, he's a small, rotund man who walks around in a bowler hat carrying a briefcase. An odd mascot yes, but one that's been part of Bradford City since I can remember. Like any mascot Lenny's job is to get the crowd going but these new 'rules' have made his job extremely difficult.

Firstly, being slightly overweight, one thing Lenny used to do was to lift up his shirt and wobble his belly to the crowd. It's been part of Lenny's act for years, the supporters would chant for Lenny to show off his tummy, they'd wait in anticipation and cheer when he obliged. It was a bit of fun, a bit silly but it did no harm. He's no longer allowed to do this because it 'incites the crowd'.

Stampede

Also, Lenny used to buy a large bagful of small sweets (wrapped up penny chews) and walk around the stands throwing these out to children. The club didn't provide these sweets, Lenny had to go and buy them himself, and as a child I remember waiting for Lenny to come to my stand so I could get some free sweets. Lenny is now forbidden to do this!

Why? Well because of Health and Safety grounds of course. A sweet that has been thrown into the stand could hit a small child in the eye and blind them. Also the rush of children trying to catch the sweets could cause a stampede and again cause injury. Either way, Lenny isn't allowed to throw anything into the stands anymore.

Now in my personal opinion this is absolutely ridiculous. I don't blame the club entirely, it's mainly down to the 'where there's a blame, there's a claim' mentality in society these days, and I guess the club are just trying to protect themselves but it's ludicrous!

A rush of children could cause a stampede? Well when we score a goal we jump around and cheer like crazy, surely that's more dangerous than a few children trying to catch some sweets? Are they going to ban celebrating a goal on Health and Safety grounds?

A flying sweet could injure someone? Well what about the footballs? They get kicked into the crowd a number of times during the game, and at some speed too. Aren't they more likely to injure someone? Surely they need to do something about that?

Well apparently so, because both before the game and at half time against Burton at Valley Parade there was a tannoy announcement... "Will supporters please be aware of flying footballs" - sigh, I give up!

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Comments (3)

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Andy Leng (Bradford City fan) says...

Having read this post and knowing Lee personally nothing is far from the truth, its completely out of order that health and safety ruin football not for the adults but for the children which are the future fans, whats next?

Posted 11:57 25th September 2009

Sam Needham (Bradford City fan) says...

well about lenny the city gent lets just celebrate like mad on saturday show the club what health and safety is

Posted 22:01 24th September 2009

Ant Meads (Millwall fan) says...

Very entertaining blog. the days of our mascot Zampa the Lion wrestling with Cyril the Swan at Swansea and Cyril ripping his head off are probably long gone. A sad day for football!

Posted 20:07 24th September 2009
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