What’s with the trend of …. (10 Viewers)

[Sick Boy]

What if you are old? Or infirm? Can't stand for any long periods because of bad legs etc.

Surely if you have a seat that is allocated to you and you wish to sit in that seat, you should be able to sit in that seat and not have your view blocked.

So glad I stopped going to away matches a few years ago, if that's what it's like now.

It's a very selfish attitude I would say

Even 20 years ago it was essentially sit where you like, it was probably easier then though because we only used to take around 800 away usually.

 

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[Otis]

Even 20 years ago it was essentially sit where you like, it was probably easier then though because we only used to take around 800 away usually.

Yeah, much, much easier, when there's loads and loads of free seats and hardly anyone there isn't it.

 

[Deity]

My only tip for those wishing to avoid this is try to choose seats furthest away from the opposition fans. The empty heads normally want to ignore the match and hurl abuse at the opposition fans so if you avoid that area it’s normally a good start.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Ipswich away - last game before the pandemic, where we played our final L1 game. some right numpties just clogging up the aisles. I was on the last seat by the aisle, and spent most of the game leant at an angle, trying to stop some pushing into an already full row. Just about managed to do it without it turning nasty. Wasn't necessarily youngsters either - at least one bloke, woman and adult son within the group. (Nearly) spoilt the game!

 

[torchomatic]

My only tip for those wishing to avoid this is try to choose seats furthest away from the opposition fans. The empty heads normally want to ignore the match and hurl abuse at the opposition fans so if you avoid that area it’s normally a good start.

This sums up the attitude of Cam and those like him perfectly, "But unless you have a genuine reason to want a specific seat I think you should just get on with it and find another space if someone has taken yours".

They basically couldn't give a fuck about anyone but themselves. I would think a "genuine reason" to sit in a specific seat is that it is the seat you paid for and the one on your ticket. Wankers.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

This sums up the attitude of Cam and those like him perfectly, "But unless you have a genuine reason to want a specific seat I think you should just get on with it and find another space if someone has taken yours".

They basically couldn't give a fuck about anyone but themselves. I would think a "genuine reason" to sit in a specific seat is that is the seat you paid for and the one on your ticket. Wankers.

A couple of games last season I saw people basically planting their children in some seats and then going ‘what, you’re going to move a kid?’ when the correct seat holder arrives. Puts the children in a really awkward situation but because it works they’ll keep doing it.

 

[TomRad85]

Don't understand how it's a discussion. Sit in the seat that's printed on your ticket you fucking savages.

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[TomRad85]

Should add obviously if there's empty seats everywhere knock yourself out, but if its jam packed and you've just decided to go where you want, you're a bellend.

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[Terry_dactyl]

Don't understand how it's a discussion. Sit in the seat that's printed on your ticket you fucking savages.

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Correct.

I mean, it’s almost like there should be a section in grounds where people can stand, where there are no seats, and a bit of a free for all, and section of seating.
Itd never work.

 

[rob9872]

For those arguing they can't stand together with their mates due to points, you can. It's simple, do it at the edges, I doubt most mind moving to a better seat, the issue is that big groups of coked up dickheads are not only wanting to be together, but in the best seats in the middle behind the goal, so it's a bollocks excuse. We have points so we buy early and can often be with lots of the same people who we see every game because they do similar. Most times I let it go, sometimes I want our seats and if I or anyone else's asks you to move, then you should, it's not that difficult and no need to be a c**t. If your group don't like it then all move.

However, most of this could be avoided and be on a first come first served basis, by clubs simply making all away tickets unreserved seating. Then as you arrive if you get in the ground early all good, if you want a last pint 5 minutes before kick off, you might end up on the peripherals.

 

[Mr Panda]

By all means sit in a seat that's obviously vacant, but it's always got on my nerves when groups will sit together at the expense of other fans - there's a selfishness to it and it can be at the expense of someone else. There's people who might not have the confidence to challenge a group and then has to do the same to someone else.

 

[ccfcricoh]

home games - no excuse to not sit in the seat you've bought

away games - sit where you like...but as soon as someone turns up and asks to sit in the seat it says on their ticket, you move

should be straight forward, but unfortunately alcohol and drugs get in the way and people get angry over a piece of plastic for an hour and half and have a sense of entitlement

 

[SBAndy]

On the rare occasions I’ve not had seats next to others in the group I’ll wait until 5 mins after kick off and if there’s an empty seat near/next to them I’ll move to it.

Only incident I’ve ever been involved in was Brighton away in the FA Cup - there were 6 of us all with tickets together and 2 blokes were in them. Asked them to move, they said no, words exchanged and one of them said “if I wasn’t with my boy I’d smack you”. Then they moved and no one got smacked.

It’s daft though, in the era of selling out away you just sit where your ticket is.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

FFS. Are you for real? “If you’re short…”. Why should short people be shoved at the front? Where does it end? Who else do you think we should put down the front?

Reminds me of when Mrs WM and I went to see Noel Gallagher at Pompey Guildhall earlier in the year. She's shorter than me.

We get to the gig and a couple of songs in we find a good vantage point where we've got a good view of the main man and the stage. These two fellas, must both be over 6ft, then walk next to us, take a good look at us and then f&*king stand in front of us?! I was like 'are you f*&king kidding me?!'.

They had the right to stand where the wanted but no manners - they could've stood behind us so we could still see.

Slightly different to matches - you get your seat number, you sit in that seat. It's not hard.

I'm hoping to take my boy to his first match before Xmas. The logical one is Pompey away just before Xmas but I won't be taking him to an away game for a few years for all the reasons mentioned on this thread.

I just don't get some people and their need to be stupid/rude.

 

[Williescar]

Maybe it should be unreserved seating at away games.That way the coked up morons who are more interested in goading and swearing at the opposition supporters than the game could be together and the real fans who get behind the team could avoid them therefore making away days a more comfortable experience

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Then sit in your allocated seat. Worst thing at away games is people standing in gangways in multiple numbers or turning up at 5 minutes to kick off wandering around trying to find a seat.

It always is a free-for-all at away games. People not being able to buy with friends outside of points bands is possibly exacerbating the issue because you’ll have big groups people going to matches together but dotted over the place.

Watford and Stoke away I’ve been consigned to the stairwell. It’s only been Bristol away I’ve managed to sit in my allocated seat!

 

[Marty]

I've been going to the away games since the early 90s and always remember it being a free for all, we generally try to find our seats though, but not too bothered if someone is already there, we just take the closest available.

Had a bunch of wankers in the row in front at Bristol City last year, during the minutes silence they were muttering 'up the ra', bunch of mutant looking plastic paddy bunch of cunts.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Reminds me of when Mrs WM and I went to see Noel Gallagher at Pompey Guildhall earlier in the year. She's shorter than me.

We get to the gig and a couple of songs in we find a good vantage point where we've got a good view of the main man and the stage. These two fellas, must both be over 6ft, then walk next to us, take a good look at us and then f&*king stand in front of us?! I was like 'are you f*&king kidding me?!'.

They had the right to stand where the wanted but no manners - they could've stood behind us so we could still see.

Slightly different to matches - you get your seat number, you sit in that seat. It's not hard.

I'm hoping to take my boy to his first match before Xmas. The logical one is Pompey away just before Xmas but I won't be taking him to an away game for a few years for all the reasons mentioned on this thread.

I just don't get some people and their need to be stupid/rude.

Have you ever actually tried to politely ask someone to move slightly or even swap seats /vantage point?

I’m quite tall and try to mindful if I’m in people’s way but unfortunately, there’s no eyes in the back of my head to always notice if I’m in the way.

 

[David O'Day]

All this talk of "coked up" people does make me laugh, having been to away games it's most people who who just stand where there's a space. It's been like this ever since away ends started to be all seater. You only notice it now as we sell out.

 

[MusicDating]

…how many away matches have you been to?

You never get a choice of seat. You just get allocated one. And unless you link accounts and buy multiple tickets in one transaction it’s impossible to get seats next to each other. It’s understandable why people move around.

Yer, that's not strictly true. If you hit the 'Search again' option, it'll present you with another available seat. For Southampton away last season I kept clicking that until It offered a seat near the back on the end of the aisle and I try this for all away games.

So yes, I'd very much like my boy and I to have the view that I've bought and no it isn't our 'first away day hahaha' if I ask someone to move.

 

[skybluecam]

This sums up the attitude of Cam and those like him perfectly, "But unless you have a genuine reason to want a specific seat I think you should just get on with it and find another space if someone has taken yours".

They basically couldn't give a fuck about anyone but themselves. I would think a "genuine reason" to sit in a specific seat is that it is the seat you paid for and the one on your ticket. Wankers.

That's hardly a genuine reason it it though.

Quite ironic people keep calling me names over this.

I've made my point and I don't think it's unreasonable. There are several good reasons why people are unable to buy tickets together but will want to stand together. Of course, if I was in someone else's seat and they ask I would move. But I would never bother if it was me, I'd just find another seat, and I think you should be prepared for that kind of thing to happen if you are travelling away.

 

[chiefdave]

There are several good reasons why people are unable to buy tickets together but will want to stand together.

Why does this apply to football but not any other event?

I have a group of people I go to gigs with, the group is larger than the usual limit for buying tickets in one transaction so we buy our own tickets and end up sat in different parts of the venue. We meet up pre-gig and post-gig.

It wouldn't even cross my mind to go into the gig, all sit together and tell other people to sit anywhere they can find a seat but for some reason we have a group of people who think this is perfectly reasonable behaviour when it comes to football.

Is it because when some people started going to away games there was little interest so it really made no difference if you sat where you like? Very different now with pretty much every game sold out. Does the number of posts on this thread from people saying they are stopping going to games because of this behaviour not make anyone reconsider?

 

[skybluecam]

Why does this apply to football but not any other event?

I have a group of people I go to gigs with, the group is larger than the usual limit for buying tickets in one transaction so we buy our own tickets and end up sat in different parts of the venue. We meet up pre-gig and post-gig.

It wouldn't even cross my mind to go into the gig, all sit together and tell other people to sit anywhere they can find a seat but for some reason we have a group of people who think this is perfectly reasonable behaviour when it comes to football.

Is it because when some people started going to away games there was little interest so it really made no difference if you sat where you like? Very different now with pretty much every game sold out. Does the number of posts on this thread from people saying they are stopping going to games because of this behaviour not make anyone reconsider?

Because football isn't just any other event.

The problem for most people on this thread seems to be more related to alcohol/drug abuse and antisocial behaviour rather than not sitting in their allocated seat.

 

[Ccfc_Addy]

I always want to sit in my own seat, mainly because I go with a supporters group and we get our seats together.

I tend to get to my seat half an hour before the match, and ime the tanked up "I sit where I want" brigade tend to wait until the last minute so it's not usually a problem.

It did feel to me like there'd been a massive culture shift between the Blackburn away in May and the Stoke away last month. It was okay until half-time, at which point it just became utter bedlam. I went for a pint and came back to find a couple of guys had decided they wanted my seat and were having a fracas with my friends who were telling them they couldn't have it.

I don't think anything will ever stop me from going to away games, but I do think it's getting worse and I don't see how it can be made better.

 

[wingy]

I always want to sit in my own seat, mainly because I go with a supporters group and we get our seats together.

I tend to get to my seat half an hour before the match, and ime the tanked up "I sit where I want" brigade tend to wait until the last minute so it's not usually a problem.

It did feel to me like there'd been a massive culture shift between the Blackburn away in May and the Stoke away last month. It was okay until half-time, at which point it just became utter bedlam. I went for a pint and came back to find a couple of guys had decided they wanted my seat and were having a fracas with my friends who were telling them they couldn't have it.

I don't think anything will ever stop me from going to away games, but I do think it's getting worse and I don't see how it can be made better.

Regulation probably m the
, monitors?

 

[skybluecam]

I always want to sit in my own seat, mainly because I go with a supporters group and we get our seats together.

I tend to get to my seat half an hour before the match, and ime the tanked up "I sit where I want" brigade tend to wait until the last minute so it's not usually a problem.

It did feel to me like there'd been a massive culture shift between the Blackburn away in May and the Stoke away last month. It was okay until half-time, at which point it just became utter bedlam. I went for a pint and came back to find a couple of guys had decided they wanted my seat and were having a fracas with my friends who were telling them they couldn't have it.

I don't think anything will ever stop me from going to away games, but I do think it's getting worse and I don't see how it can be made better.

It seems that tackling the drinking and drug use would go a long way

 

[Tommo1993]

This sums up the attitude of Cam and those like him perfectly, "But unless you have a genuine reason to want a specific seat I think you should just get on with it and find another space if someone has taken yours".

They basically couldn't give a fuck about anyone but themselves. I would think a "genuine reason" to sit in a specific seat is that it is the seat you paid for and the one on your ticket. Wankers.

It makes me laugh. “But unless you have a genuine reason to want a specific seat”

Yet they’re the chavs standing there wrongly in the first place demanding that specific seat! Probably just to hold hands with their little friends.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

Have you ever actually tried to politely ask someone to move slightly or even swap seats /vantage point?

I’m quite tall and try to mindful if I’m in people’s way but unfortunately, there’s no eyes in the back of my head to always notice if I’m in the way.

They looked straight at me and my wife before standing in front of us - they knew exactly what they were doing and didn't need eyes in the back of their heads!

I didn't bother asking them - what's the point? They knew what they were doing and had made their decision. I couldn't be arsed for confrontation. We ended up finding some unreserved seating at the back of the ground floor which ultimately got us a better view.

It's just all about manners though and not being a prick.

 

[chiefdave]

Because football isn't just any other event.

Why should that be the case? I can't imagine any safety group or event planner going 'well its football so the rules don't apply. Just let them do what they want and cross your fingers there's no issues'.

 

[torchomatic]

That's hardly a genuine reason it it though.

Quite ironic people keep calling me names over this.

I've made my point and I don't think it's unreasonable. There are several good reasons why people are unable to buy tickets together but will want to stand together. Of course, if I was in someone else's seat and they ask I would move. But I would never bother if it was me, I'd just find another seat, and I think you should be prepared for that kind of thing to happen if you are travelling away.

There's no irony. If you're a c**t then you're a c**t. And, I have to say, you seem like a c**t who has total disregard for anyone else.

 

[skybluecam]

There's no irony. If you're a c**t then you're a c**t. And, I have to say, you seem like a c**t who has total disregard for anyone else.

Reasonable debate vs blindly calling anyone with a different opinion a c**t, wonder which is more productive.

 

[torchomatic]

Yer, that's not strictly true. If you hit the 'Search again' option, it'll present you with another available seat. For Southampton away last season I kept clicking that until It offered a seat near the back on the end of the aisle and I try this for all away games.

So yes, I'd very much like my boy and I to have the view that I've bought and no it isn't our 'first away day hahaha' if I ask someone to move.

Exactly. It's not difficult. Search again. I do it all the time. When we got Leeds tickets last week it kept giving me restricted view tickets. I just searched again five or six times until I got seats I was happy with. Not too near the front and not too near the back.

The other option which he has already dismissed for some reason is to all go into the same network. They'll be able to stand together then, and in their own seats. How radical.

 

[clint van damme]

My only tip for those wishing to avoid this is try to choose seats furthest away from the opposition fans. The empty heads normally want to ignore the match and hurl abuse at the opposition fans so if you avoid that area it’s normally a good start.

Our seats were in the middle blocks against Watford, police stopped us going up to them because it was packed, had to go and,sit nearer the away fans as there were empty seats there so not sure this is correct.
This isn't the first time, had similar situations at Stoke and Cardiff.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

There's easy solutions to these problems. If you're short/don't want to stand, go to the front, there's usually free spaces.

Standing and being flexible on seating is part of the away day experience. If you don't like it/can't deal with it, don't go.

I don’t see why the away day experience has to involve wandering about trying to find a seat just because someone else thinks it’s okay to sit/stand in yours. In the League2/League1 days it didn’t matter so much as we rarely sold out. I would ask a steward if it was sit anywhere or if we were expected to sit in the allocated seat. The answer varied from club to club. In those days those choosing to stand tended to go towards the back or the centre of the stand so those who preferred to sit could usually do so.
These choices aren’t there now as we sell out most away games. I think it’s a really selfish attitude to say if you don’t like it don’t go. I’m in my late 60’s now but fortunately still fit enough to stand for the 90 minutes. I do feel sorry for those older or frailer fans who now can’t see if they go as everyone, even those in the front seats, stand up. I’ve seen Pat Raybould ( the lady who runs the pre game activities for the junior Sky Blues) and friends having real difficulties watching games because of the insistence of those wanting to stand. You think that this is okay?

 

[skybluecam]

I don’t see why the away day experience has to involve wandering about trying to find a seat just because someone else thinks it’s okay to sit/stand in yours. In the League2/League1 days it didn’t matter so much as we rarely sold out. I would ask a steward if it was sit anywhere or if we were expected to sit in the allocated seat. The answer varied from club to club. In those days those choosing to stand tended to go towards the back or the centre of the stand so those who preferred to sit could usually do so.
These choices aren’t there now as we sell out most away games. I think it’s a really selfish attitude to say if you don’t like it don’t go. I’m in my late 60’s now but fortunately still fit enough to stand for the 90 minutes. I do feel sorry for those older or frailer fans who now can’t see if they go as everyone, even those in the front seats, stand up. I’ve seen Pat Raybould ( the lady who runs the pre game activities for the junior Sky Blues) and friends having real difficulties watching games because of the insistence of those wanting to stand. You think that this is okay?

Standing is a separate issue. What solution are you proposing? At any away game 80-90%+ of us will be standing, do you think everyone should sit? It's a hard one. But again, a separate issue from swapping seats.