Lee Croft

[Darren]

So she is partially German then. The original post is this thread is still incomprehensible, the earth is still spinning on its axis and my garden is still waterlogged.

But she is about 95% non-German.

Apparently everyone of European descent is descended from Charlemagne, the eighth century empereor of Germany and France.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

When I grow a beard, I end up with some red hairs in it. This means I suspect I have Viking blood mixed in me somewhere.

Naturally, this means I am disqualified from having a solid grasp of the English language. I'm also unable to claim British as my nationality, and I shall be handing in my passport forthwith.

 

[super_bladesman]

Right, if Lee Croft got nark on because the ball boy was wasting time then he is a bigger tit than I thought. If Croft can come out and say that he has never tried to run the clock down then I can understand why he might have got a little angry but unfortunately I don't believe he hasn't so his actions were completely unnecessary.

Also those Oldham fans that were blaming the ball boy himself would you believe are almost as bigger tools than that fat turd Croft.

 

[Hartley Hare]

Not wishing to be controversial, but to my mind, having seen the reply on TV our ball boy was at fault.

He deliberately kicked the ball away from Croft, who had walked to the ball to pick it up for the throw. He had no business to do that.

Now, I don't know what Croft said to the boy, and if it was a racist comment then that is totally unacceptable, but if he just told the boy-off then he got what he deserved.

HH

 

[Foxy]

He deliberately kicked the ball away from Croft, who had walked to the ball to pick it up for the throw. He had no business to do that.

Whilst he undoubtedly did it to annoy Croft, it was our throw-in and he kicked the ball towards Blackman.

Whatever your stance on the ballboy's actions, Croft should be above trying to intimidate a young lad. It looked worse in real time from behind the incident on John Street than it does on TV. Hence our reaction.

 

[God]

I will say my English isn't that great, and let see what comes out.

Easy to clear things up on this one.Where are from Mendi? Are you a Blade? Are you Nigerian? so whens the money coming ???????????

 

[Bladesman]

Not wishing to be controversial, but to my mind, having seen the reply on TV our ball boy was at fault.

He deliberately kicked the ball away from Croft, who had walked to the ball to pick it up for the throw. He had no business to do that.

Now, I don't know what Croft said to the boy, and if it was a racist comment then that is totally unacceptable, but if he just told the boy-off then he got what he deserved.

HH

It was our throw in and Blackman clearly shouted for it.

As a pro footballer he should be looking to the linesman or the ref to see if its his throw in before storming towards a ball boy to get the ball. He was clearly having a go at the ball boy which is rather pathetic regardless whether what he said was racist.

He was acting like a pillock all through the match despite his whining that fans were having a go at him.

Anyway this is one for the FA and Police to look into.

 

[Hartley Hare]

I have no desire to defend Croft.

The TV replay showed the ball boy kicking the ball away, just when Croft was about to pick it up. Why? for buggerment I suspect?

If Blackman had called for the ball, then he should have passed it to him before Croft came over, or he should have let Croft give the ball to Blackman. Croft must have known it was our throw and understandably was keen for the game to proceed.

Neither come out of this with any credit.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

"Some sheffield fans who sat where it happened did not hear the player say anything wrong to him, but we could be wrong only gods knows.​

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He may have swear at him and then he went over to say sorry to him."​

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WTF? Not only is this incomprehensible drivel but you claim in your profile to be a Blade yet refer to our fans as "Sheffield fans".

As for Croft he certainly squared up with a young ball boy and put his fat head about an inch away from the ball boy's. He also mouthed some obscenity - I wasn't close enough to hear what but it seems several were and claim it was racist.

Unfortunately our poor defending & negative approach allowed Croft to have the last laugh yesterday but hopefully he will have to answer for his pathetic actions.

I hope croft gets the book thrown at him. Pathetic twat.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I don't understand that, the pictures are on Sky Sports news every 10 minutes and Croft is clearly named and Dickov is defending him. The reporting is "allegations of racial abuse" Why would we not name him ?

I have no idea what he said but it's plain to see he is about one inch from his face spouting venom at him. Disgusting behaviour

Pity none of our players got stuck into the fat twat as he bullied one of our ballboys.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

The ball went out for a Blades throw in. Croft looked to get involved and walked towards the ball. Blackman appeared to signal to the ball boy to not rush returning the ball.

As Croft approached him, the ball boy kicked the ball towards Blackman, evidently capable of outwitting a seasoned pro with a simple side foot.

Croft then squared up to the ball boy and appeared to say something to him, sparking wild reactions from John Street (not me squire, I sat down quietly, honest ).

At this point, Croft continued to play to the crowd and wind us up further, only to have another pop from a safe distance 10 yards away from the nearest baying fan when they scored.

Yes thus proving he is a first class coward. A fine player for dicksplash to have in his team.

 

[Jehovah]

I remember 3 ballboy incidents.
1. Karl Robinson lasts season when we won 2-1. Had a right go at a ballboy for taking to long to give the ball back.
2. Kevin Blackwell having a right go at a lane ballboy for accidentally throwing the ball at him when trying to throw it to the United player next to him.
3. United fans verbally destroying a Watford ballboy at Vicarage Road under Robson. One side of the pitch was like a construction site and the ball comically kept bouncing down some steps to the ballboys frustration. I think United fans thought he was doing it on purpose when he clearly was not.

The ballboy kicks the ball away from Croft and gets bollocked accordingly. Its the nature and level of the bollocking thats potentially a concern, but I am not suprised Croft made some kind of comment out of annoyance. I think most would.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

The following words spring to mind:

Mountain, molehill, agenda

Let's crack on then, shall we?.........

 

[SheepdipBlade]

The following words spring to mind:

Mountain, molehill, agenda

Let's crack on then, shall we?.........

This is only true if we're talking about Croft handing out a bollocking.

If he's been racist - or argueably even if he didn't intend to be racist but his words were taken as such by a 14 year old - it needs due scrutiny.

 

[Bladesman]

Probably would have been better for Croft to complain to the ref about the ball boy not returning the ball quick enough.

Not sure why he felt the need to dish out abuse to the lad when the ref could have told the ball boy to cut that out.

 

[super_pig]

I remember 3 ballboy incidents.
The ballboy kicks the ball away from Croft and gets bollocked accordingly. Its the nature and level of the bollocking thats potentially a concern, but I am not suprised Croft made some kind of comment out of annoyance. I think most would.

naah i'm sorry mate.. shoving the keeper into the hoardings is cheap.. but intimidating a ballboy is about as low as it gets IMO

 

[Hartley Hare]

In an attempt to lighten the mood of this thread.

It did occur to me that the ball-boy completed a perfectly weighted pass to Blackman, a feat various other Bramall Lane employees failed to do on Saturday.

I wonder if the boy is part of the youth set-up. He maybe a future player, who knows?

HH

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I know two who sit on the very front row in the section closest to the incident. They've given statements.

Perhaps he was repeating sarcastically?

Surely the police just need to speak to the photographer and the girl sat next to him.
They're sat about a metre away and if they didn't hear anything racist, how could a bloke sat in Row A?

 

[Wapping Blade]

This is only true if we're talking about Croft handing out a bollocking.

If he's been racist - or argueably even if he didn't intend to be racist but his words were taken as such by a 14 year old - it needs due scrutiny.

Maybe, but in what other walk of life would we accept an adult behaving like that to a child?

 

[Bladesman]

Surely the police just need to speak to the photographer and the girl sat next to him.
They're sat about a metre away and if they didn't hear anything racist, how could a bloke sat in Row A?

View attachment 5343

Well a number of people have made statements to the police and it could be that they both have made a statement.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Maybe, but in what other walk of life would we accept an adult behaving like that to a child?

As someone who has worked with teenagers for about 25 years this kind of adult aggression towards teenagers is far from uncommon. As a trainee teacher I was told where to hit pupils without leaving bruises and as a youth worker I had to intervene on many an occassion in equally tense situations to the one at BDTBL.

If we leave aside the racism allegation for a minute - I'd begin by asking whether kicking the ball to Blackman was justified given the officials' decision - and even if the action was unjustified, was Croft's reaction justifiable? I think I'd argue that Croft's action was unjustifiable, but far from unusual. Adults regularly treat teenagers unjustifiably through frustration - therefore Croft's actions aren't really worth losing sleep over and I'm sure the lad would get over it soon enough. Unjustified, but not an unusual teenage experince -

HOWEVER -

If Croft used racist language - or language that the lad perceived to be racist then we enter a whole new scenario. If that is the case - and I assume the accusations of racism have come from the lad himself - then Croft has a lot to answer to. In the wake of the John Terry affair this needs to be investigated in depth (as I assume the statements taken from nearby spectators are part of) and if race formed any part of his rant at the lad, then Croft needs a lengthy ban and to offer a public apology for his racism if he, his club and football are to retain any credibility.

Judging by the lad's reactions at the final whistle I'd suggest that the kid felt more aggrieved than a simple bollocking - but not knowing the kid and allowing for the fact that there were thousands of people watching it's difficult to tell. However - the reaction of United officials suggests that this is something out of the norm.

 

[Kev Gee]

Didnt a fan try & get at Croft at the end?

 

[Kendal]

therefore Croft's actions aren't really worth losing sleep over and I'm sure the lad would get over it soon enough. Unjustified, but not an unusual teenage experince

So because such shitty behaviour happens all the time, we should just ignore it? What bollocks. Just because someone is a teenager doesn't mean you can abuse them, whether its racist abuse or just general abuse. They're deserving of respect. Surely in your position, you should know that.

I can't get my head round why racist abuse is any different from abuse gingers get, or people who wear glasses. Any lack of disrespect to anyone is unacceptable. But only one form is 'real' abuse.

Of course, Croft has lost any right to respect and now deserves the abuse he gets.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

So because such shitty behaviour happens all the time, we should just ignore it? What bollocks. Just because someone is a teenager doesn't mean you can abuse them, whether its racist abuse or just general abuse. They're deserving of respect. Surely in your position, you should know that.

I can't get my head round why racist abuse is any different from abuse gingers get, or people who wear glasses. Any lack of disrespect to anyone is unacceptable. But only one form is 'real' abuse.

Of course, Croft has lost any right to respect and now deserves the abuse he gets.

I'm not suggesting that it should be accepted - simply pointing out that teenagers experience abuse and aggression from adults on a regular basis - and that teenagers learn to cope with it. It's not nice - its not acceptable - but its the reality.

Do you for one minute think that I don't recognise that teenagers deserve to be treated decently? There's a thing going on here about Grandmas and sucking eggs! - although "respect" may be the wrong word to use as just like adults, not all young people's actions are worthy of respect all the time. Teenagers can be dickheads just as adults can.

As for whether Croft has lost the right to respect - his actions weren't justified no matter what language he used. He's either a bully or a racist bully (it would be interesting to know whether he has a track record of bullying teenagers or not - and its also interesting that he sought to apologise at full time - would he have done that without thousands of witnesses watching? Its my experience that teenagers rarely receive apologies afrom adults)

I'd still be uncomfortable abusing Croft though - as in my book that just lowers me to his level.

Oh - and I'm no longer a youth worker. The delightful Mr Gove has pretty much wiped out youth work as a profession - especially in the field I worked in. Failing to recognise the value of young people can be just as easily a policy failing as a personal failing!

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Croft's actions aren't really worth losing sleep over and I'm sure the lad would get over it soon enough. Unjustified, but not an unusual teenage experince ...

Actually, nether I or anybody I've ever known went through the usual teenage experience of being bawled out by an overweight, self-important-yet-third-tier-level footballer in front of 18,000 people and internationally-broadcasted television cameras. I've lead such a sheltered life.

 

[bartman]

It was that important for Croft to save time that he decided to have a go at the ball boy instead of getting on with the game. It was our throw in and the ball was going towards Blackman. He shouldn't be in a child's face having a go at them. When I was a manager of a girls team and if I bollocked a 14 year old like he appears to have,I would be banned for my behavior

 

[Kendal]

SheepdipBlade, I'm in total agreement with you. I think I read more into what you put than you actually wrote. It just came across as saying teenagers get verbal abuse all the time and we should just accept it. The same could have been said about racial abuse back in the 70s & 80s. Or abuse of servants & factory workers back in victorian times. Just because it happens all the time doesn't make it right or acceptable.
But this belongs in another forum section.

 

[1889]

If he has made a racist remark then he is well out of order, personal insults are totally unacceptable and unwarranted. Croft should be ashamed of himself, the fat bastard!

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Actually, nether I or anybody I've ever known went through the usual teenage experience of being bawled out by an overweight, self-important-yet-third-tier-level footballer in front of 18,000 people and internationally-broadcasted television cameras. I've lead such a sheltered life.

You're missing the point. The reality is that teenagers (and people in general) are resiliant - they have to be or teenage suicide rates would be far higher than they are. I'm not seeking to justify Croft's actions - just saying that if it was "normal" adult bullying then the lad will have experienced the like many times and will recover - - but if racism is involved it moves into a different sphere on a number of fronts.

My original comment was in response to the question - "what other walk of life would we accept this behaviour from?" - My point is that teenagers receive experiences like this from adults in all walks of life.
Your point about the context has some credibility - though a humiliation in front of 18.000 strangers may in reality be less painful than, for example a bawling out in front of a school assembly of 180 of your peers. Neither are justifiable IMO - but people don't complain about headteachers doing it.

At the risk of appearing even more heartless - I'd also suggest that the lad has already demonstrated some of his resiliance by not disolving into tears on the spot or by running off down the tunnel. The fact he was still there at the end of the game indicates he was handling the situation to a certain degree.

How much of your comment is a genuine concern for the lad's wellbeing - how much a rant at an opposing player who has pissed you off - and how much a sarcastic shot at my other post? For what its worth I have some track record in this area having had to support the friends and families of six teenage suicides in my career (rural young men are at the greatest risk of all in UK society) - but not knowing this lad I can't of course speak with any firm knowledge - just in general terms.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

How much of your comment is a genuine concern for the lad's wellbeing - how much a rant at an opposing player who has pissed you off - and how much a sarcastic shot at my other post? For what its worth I have some track record in this area having had to support the friends and families of six teenage suicides in my career (rural young men are at the greatest risk of all in UK society) - but not knowing this lad I can't of course speak with any firm knowledge - just in general terms.

I'll be honest, it was mostly a sarcastic attempt at pointing out that this was not a normal situation and should not be treated as such.
But what doesn't change is that you've got a guy who instead of being a professional towards a potential fellow professional, you've got a guy being a prick to a kid. A child. If this happened on the training ground with one the Oldham youths, would it just be another point in his healthy development, or would it be something different?
You know what, the more I think about it, the more I think that if that had happened to me as a kid, I probably wouldn't have wanted to do it any more.
Sorry to hear about your (lack of) work by the way. You got a plan?