SAINTS FANS FUME OVER SMOKE BAN

Mar 15 2007 Paisley Daily Express

NERVY St Mirren fans who are desperate to ease the tension of their team’s fight against relegation have had half-time fag breaks stubbed out.

The Love Street club has banned supporters from leaving the Main Stand during the mid-match interval to enjoy a cigarette.

Until recently, fans watching the Saints battle for SPL survival had been allowed to pop outside for a quick smoke, but the Buddies say that has now stopped after cops ruled that anyone who leaves the stadium shouldn’t be allowed back in.

St Mirren’s commercial manager Campbell Kennedy revealed one fan has already fallen foul of the rule and missed the second half of last month’s clash against Dundee United.

“The police have told us not to allow anyone outside the stadium at half-time for health and safety reasons,” said Mr Campbell. “If we were letting 50 people out for a smoke at half-time, it would be hard to ensure that only 50 came back in.

“If they go out, they don’t get back in.”

Fans in most areas of the Love Street stadium are prevented from lighting up following the introduction of a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces by the Scottish Executive last year.

Supporters sitting in the North Stand – which is not fully enclosed – are allowed to smoke but the ban covers the entire Main Stand.

Love Street regular Andrew Stewart hit out at the club after claiming hospitality guests were allowed to sneak outside for a half-time cigarette by stewards, while other fans were refused permission.

The 44-year-old smoker, who has followed the Buddies since he was a child, was left fuming after stewards prevented him from popping outside to light up during the interval of Saints’ most recent home match, which ended in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Kilmarnock.

Mr Stewart, who hails from Johnstone and works as an engineer, said: “It is pure discrimination to allow corporate guests to go outside for a cigarette while ordinary fans are refused permission.

“I was in the Main Stand for the Kilmarnock match and, after watching such a poor first half performance, I was in real need of a cigarette.

“On previous occasions, I have been allowed to pop out for a fag but, this time, I was told that if I left, I wouldn’t get back in.

“That’s fair enough if it’s the same rule for everyone, but I knew a guy in the hospitality boxes and he was allowed out for a cigarette.

“Most of these guys are there at someone else’s expense and some of them aren’t even real St Mirren fans.

“If club bosses are saying everyone is banned from heading outside then they should get someone down at half-time for the next home game because that’s not what I saw.”

However, Mr Campbell stressed that all fans in the Main Stand are prevented from going outside for a cigarette at half-time.

He said: “It’s the same for fans in the hospitality section and the enclosure. They are not treated any differently.”