|
|
 |
|
|
Being an Away Supporter at a Football Match by Todd Melancon
|
|
|
Being an Away Supporter at a Football Match |
|
|
|
|
|
Fashion & Cosmetics
|
|
Perhaps you happen to be sick of giving money to a chairman you hate, but nevertheless choose to visit games. Possibly you are among the committed couple of who will willingly get up at 5am to travel the length of your country to see your team get hammered 6-1 and then not get household till gone midnight on a regular basis. Possibly you've noticed that the away fans at your ground always look to be singing louder, jumping about a lot more, and just usually obtaining far more fun. The factors for it are plentiful, but there comes a time in almost each and every football fan's life that they choose 'I want to go to an away game.'
Step 1: Choosing your matchThe initial factor any prospective travelling football fan requirements to accomplish is perform out where it is that they will be travelling to. When doing this, a variety of points need to be taken into account.
The Opposition - This really is particularly important for all those not used to going to away games. Frequent sense dictates that for the first game, you should not stray as well far from house; the closer the opposition ground will be the superior. Frequent sense is, within this case, wrong. The closest away ground to you'll quite likely be home to your fiercest neighborhood rivals1, and this indicates a prospective enhance within the 'hooligan element' plus a assured boost in police presence, both of which will be discussed under. This signifies you might want to choose a match exactly where you are going to preferably be travelling outdoors your property county, but not so far that you are going to require to take two lots of sandwiches.
The Cost - When shopping for tickets to a football match, prices are commonly split into 'categories', which means the better, more popular, or extra local the opposition the pricier the ticket. This suggests it can cost you additional to see Manchester United pay a visit to your home ground than it would to find out Rochdale. When travelling as an away fan this takes place inside a slightly diverse manner. Probabilities are it's going to cost you far more to become a Manchester United fan than a Rochdale fan, no matter your opinion from the relative merits with the property team.
The Date - As a rule of thumb, it's substantially a lot easier to attend a match played on a Saturday than in midweek. This is simply because trains do not run quite regularly right after 10pm, and most midweek matches will see you arriving back in the station later than that. Saturdays may possibly mean it's important to stand as the train you catch is filled with persons carrying shopping and modest children, but this really is typically superior than an hour stop-over at a cold, dark train station exactly where you will not be capable of get a cup of coffee.
Tv - Matches on television serve two purposes. Firstly they modify kick-off instances which means it's important to leave earlier or get house later simply because 3pm has magically come to be 12 noon or five:45pm. Secondly, they mean that you could save oneself the problems of travelling all that technique to stand inside the cold and watch your group shed by watching it within a comfy armchair.
Step Two: Purchasing your ticketThere are two methods to get hold of a ticket to get a football match. These can widely be thought of to be the 'right' way and also the 'wrong' way. The very first way is usually to go about it exactly the same way you go about finding tickets to a residence game. Telephone or pay a visit to your team's ticket office, commonly situated on the very same bit of land because the stadium whose group it services, or use your club's official web-site. The second way is to acquire from a ticket tout. This course of action is extensively regarded to be the 'wrong' way since it will leave you substantially out of pocket as your ticket will not price you something like the figure printed on it and will almost certainly leave you surrounded by property fans, home fans who will treat you appearing uninvited in their section of your ground insulting their group in a great deal the identical methods as they would treat you appearing uninvited in their front space insulting their family photographs. Expect stern disapproval as a matter obviously. In the event you uncover your self in this unenviable position you'll at the least get to indulge any spy fantasies you have. Attempt not to be noticed by everyone by covering up any club shirts or badges you've got and do not leap about if your group score. What ever you do, never stand on your seat, whirl your scarf about your head and sing your club's anthem. That would just be stupid.
Step Three: PreparationTravelling to an away game requires a specific amount of preparation. In the incredibly least you'll need three points:
A match ticket - In the event you travel with out a single then you definitely will pretty probably have to stop by a ticket tout. As we've got just discussed, going to a ticket tout will not be an incredibly excellent thought. When you can not cross this off your pre-match checklist then you may possibly as well go back to bed.
Transportation - Unless you get an official coach, which can take the fun out of travelling to an away game as it's comparable to a college bus, you'll find usually two methods of having to an away game; by vehicle or public transport. A automobile permits you to stay clear of several with the risks of travelling to away matches, lets you park close to the ground, and suggests you can escape swiftly soon after the game. Public transport, alternatively, offers only two benefits. Firstly, you are going to most likely locate oneself travelling using a quantity of like-minded individuals allowing you to debate the concerns of the day including 'who ought to play at left back?' as well as the ever common 'why do we get up at 5am to go all this way?' Secondly, it lets you drink beer. Unsurprisingly, public transport has often been a additional popular solution for Saturday afternoon games. A thing to take into account when selecting your mode of transport is where the stadium you're travelling to is located in relation to train stations and city centres. Older grounds have a tendency to be inside walking distance of central train stations but can have definitely woeful parking facilities, whereas newer stadia for example Bolton's Reebok Stadium are positioned out of town surrounded by vast car or truck parks and motorways. Before you commit to any course of action, it's finest to verify.
Cash - Dollars enables you to pay for safe parking should you drive, will buy you a ride inside a taxi or perhaps a bus to obtain you in the train station for the ground for those who don't drive, and can guarantee a steady flow of refreshing beverages and tasty snacks. Do not be tempted to take a lot of cash though. Not merely is there a possibility you are able to leave your wallet on the other side on the nation, your hard-earned cash may well wind up in the hands of a vendor of tacky souvenirs outdoors the stadium.
Once you have secured these 3 things, you could desire to consider ancillary provisions: a bottle opener2 will let you access any drinks you take with you with out ruining your teeth; a pack of cards or perhaps a private stereo to assist long journeys pass extra promptly; plus a mobile phone to enable you to let your non-travelling mates know how significantly entertaining you happen to be getting. In the event you pick to drive, a map or directions for your destination as well as a thermos flask of something to keep you awake may possibly properly be needed.
As soon as you happen to be completely prepared, it is time for you to set off.
Step Four: Know the risksEverything in life carries an element of danger, and going to a football match is no exception. As such, it is best to be ready for any possible pitfalls that you may perhaps stumble across on your journey. The two principal potential dangers facing a travelling football fan are opposition fans and also the police force.
Opposition Fans - Fans is often split into two groups. Group A consists of the vast majority of fans you happen to be ever most likely to bump into and are decent, law-abiding human beings just like you who like to although away these lazy afternoons watching sporting events with like-minded people. It cannot be overstated that the overwhelming majority of football supporters will kindly direct you to the nearest public residence, provide a heartily biased prediction for that day's match and act like normal, civilised human beings. Group B, nevertheless, really should be avoided at all charges as this tiny percentage in the population are sociopaths. Identified for the media as 'hooligans' and 'scum' and referred to by the rest with the footballing community by several different unrepeatable and unprintable names, these evolutionary throwbacks derive entertainment from hitting men and women. A quick search online will enable you to find out who the local hooligan 'firm' are3 and the way to spot them. A handy rule of thumb is that if they are wearing a replica shirt, they'll belong to group A, whereas if they're dressed as a cross involving a paramilitary thug in addition to a model for Stone Island or Burberry they may effectively belong to group B.
The Police - The only problem with all the police force is that they from time to time assume that all football fans fall neatly into the 'violent sociopath' category, in particular ones that travel to a various aspect on the nation on a match day. This is as a result of the dark periods of the 1970s and 1980s when significant numbers of football fans would run amok, fighting, performing large amounts of harm, and occasionally killing each and every other. This no longer takes place in English football, in portion on account of the hardline stance the police take with football fans. This involves stopping and looking fans at train stations, closing down pubs around the stadium4 and sometimes herding fans about the city in 'police escorts'. This stance can, nevertheless, be a source of good irritation to the travelling supporter as the following anecdote illustrates:
I bear in mind travelling to Bramall Lane to determine Leeds United playing Sheffield United inside a league match. Prior to the game we had been directed from the train station to a nearby pub, which was rather pleasant although we weren't allowed to leave. 15 minutes before kick-off we were all instructed to leave the pub, and flanked by 40 or so police officers along with a handful of police horses and vans we were marched for the stadium. Soon after the game we had been taken back towards the pub for 15 minutes or so then marched back for the station. On the other hand, rather than being permitted to go straight towards the platform we had been all herded into a big storage room. We waited in there with nowhere to sit and no toilet facilities for half an hour till we were moved onto a train back to Leeds. Sometimes you'll have to negotiate a baffling series of directions intended to maintain you away from property fans, other occasions you'll be permitted to freely mingle. In either case you ought to head to the turnstile your ticket corresponds to and enter the ground. You'll want to now be absolutely free to watch the match inside a loud, unruly and commonly excitable style. Then right after the final whistle goes, it is time for you to go residence.
Step 5: Going homeWell possibly it's not time for you to go straight away, as some grounds will request that travelling fans remain inside the stadium for up to half an hour to permit house fans to disperse. Other grounds don't just request this; a line of stewards and police will likely be deployed by the exits to make positive you remain inside. Immediately after you will be permitted out, all that remains is always to head property. This really is possibly probably the most very simple process of the day for those who drive to games, so extended as they will keep in mind where they are parked. For those using public transport, the dangers present just before a match are nonetheless a concern, as is finding your way back for the train station simply because taxis are scarce outside stadia and buses attract big queues. If the station is within walking distance there will typically be signposts directing you towards them, whereas if it isn't, you are going to almost certainly need to join among these queues.
When you do get to the train station devoid of a hitch, you nevertheless may not be dwelling and dry. If, for what ever reason, you live inside a various city to the team you help then predictably you might not choose to get the exact same train as the majority of the team's fans. Unfortunately, the police may well have guidelines to put each and every away fan onto a certain train, so to avoid an unplanned trip for your house ground you could desire to take proof of your address towards the game with you.
After you will be property, you will in all probability want to put your feet up, possess a cup of tea and watch the football highlights from other matches but rest assured inside a handful of days your thoughts will wander and you are going to be arranging your subsequent away match adventure. There are 92 clubs within the English football league5 in any given year, and every of them features a stadium so you will find lots of prospective trips within your future!
1Although it is actually well worth remembering that your team's fiercest rivals may not be local. One example is Manchester United and Leeds United are separated by 40 miles, a small mountain variety as well as a history of often violent antipathy.2Preferably a flat 1 with no sharp edges which can be in no way misconstrued as a weapon.3They like to refer to themselves with gang names including 'The Red Army', 'The Headhunters' and 'The Service Crew'.4Those which remain open, at the same time as the pub closest for the ground may possibly well be 'Home Fans Only'. Don't kick up a fuss and threaten to create to your MP; it is just the way it truly is.5And the Premier League, which though being the best division of the English football league is administered separately.We offer the best burberry bag for you with high quality and fine workmanship.Visit our burberry online shop! Happy shopping!
Related Articles -
Bags, Online, Shop,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
DONNIE LEWIS
I'm an avid consumer of a smoothie a day living, herbs, vitamins and daily dose of exercise. I'm 60...more
|
|
|
|
|
SUSAN FRIESEN
Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, ...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Steve Bye is currently a fiction writer, who published his first novel, ‘Looking Forward Through the...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEVE BURGESS
Steve Burgess is a freelance technology writer, a practicing computer forensics specialist as the pr...more
|
|
|
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
