Crowd Behaviour

[PuB]

Following on from several incidents the EFL have released a statement, mostly because of a specific chant being aimed at certain players including Akinfenwa yesterday which was mentioned in the match thread.

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[kieran_vale]

If it’s the chant I’m thinking of it’s becoming quite common place - when we went to Orient a week ago it was being sung just with Michael O’Neill’s name inserted.

Just generally though yes there’s certain lines you should never cross like racism and homophobia etc but am a little perturbed by the idea of anyone who is “behaving offensively” being dealt with by police and clubs. What may be deemed offensive to one person is not to another and are we ultimately going to end in a situation where you can’t make any chant at opposition players or fans even in a derby for example?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Definitely noticed this season there is a much greater under current of aggression, nastiness and as they in that statement “anti social behaviour” at games. I’ve been put off going away because of it as just don’t need the agg or particularly want to be associated with those who seem to be partaking in this sort of stuff. Maybe I’m just getting old now though.

Honestly not just a football issue, think we’ve got big big societal issues bubbling away under the surface right now, definitely a certain section of society who have just totally lost confidence in it and are acting out I think.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Definitely been more trouble at games since lockdown. Rotherham fans were being dickish yesterday for no particular reason. Something got thrown at the linesman’s head, Rotherham captain had to speak to fans and linesman was “subbed”.

 

[Davidimp]

I use the train to get into Lincoln and the amount of teenage / early 20s in groups has increased during travelling to our place.
All had a bit too much to drink and think they're men.
A load from Burton yesterday jeez! While waiting for the train one lad spent the entire time thumping the perspex adverts on the platform wall and started on the train windows when it arrived.
Zero police about yesterday unlike the Cambridge game when there were loads.
My daughter who's a similar age wasn't impressed by her male peers.

 

[SVH]

Too many beers and lines for the kids and they turn into even bigger muppets.

 

[Millerbri]

Definitely been more trouble at games since lockdown. Rotherham fans were being dickish yesterday for no particular reason. Something got thrown at the linesman’s head, Rotherham captain had to speak to fans and linesman was “subbed”.

I didn't go yesterday but it's a sad fact that we are currently plagued by bad behaviour from pissed/drugged up youths but more worryingly 30 - 40 year olds who appear unable or unwilling to control their thuggish nature.

There was trouble between them and proper Rotherham fans at both Accrington and Fleetwood.
They need identifying and banning, they spoil the day out for everyone else and wouldn't be missed.

That's twice the club has had to apologise to home clubs in the past month, it needs sorting out quick.

 

[SF_]

I reckon sniff is playing a part in all this, never known it to be so rife, turns 10 stone Seth into Usyk for an afternoon.

 

[Bartonyellow]

It is getting worse. If our fans are playing up in Lincoln you know society is screwed as normally it’s retired men with tartan rugs in the back window of Honda jazz’s that follow us away.
We had a small lunatic fringe in the championship though in fairness, they came out for the big games - then disappeared again.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Ive not heard of anything involving our fans this season, then again ive not done any away games and this forum is my only source for news. We still seem to be attracting families and there is still a lot of female fans attending.

At home games, have to say just Charlton and Cambridge there was a larger than normal police presence. Im sure that will change with Wednesday and Sunderland coming up in March.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

I use the train to get into Lincoln and the amount of teenage / early 20s in groups has increased during travelling to our place.
All had a bit too much to drink and think they're men.
A load from Burton yesterday jeez! While waiting for the train one lad spent the entire time thumping the perspex adverts on the platform wall and started on the train windows when it arrived.
Zero police about yesterday unlike the Cambridge game when there were loads.
My daughter who's a similar age wasn't impressed by her male peers.

Just had a chat with a mate about this, i live near Sleaford and your rise up the leagues coninciding with a lot more “Southern” people moving into the county - a lot who’s had homes bought for them to get them away - will be a factor.

SF_ is spot on too Drug taking is rife unlike before in society.

 

[Davidimp]

Just had a chat with a mate about this, i live near Sleaford and your rise up the leagues coninciding with a lot more “Southern” people moving into the county - a lot who’s had homes bought for them to get them away - will be a factor.

SF_ is spot on too Drug taking is rife unlike before in society.

I'm on about visiting fans not our own but we definitely have a 'risk ' element

Drugs are definitely a part of it, mind they have been for years, remember going to Chesterfield 20 odd years ago and some of our fans snorting coke in the pub before the game, loads of trouble that day.

 

[SF_]

I'm on about visiting fans not our own but we definitely have a 'risk ' element

Drugs are definitely rude, mind they have been for years, remember going to Chesterfield 20 odd years ago and some of our fans snorting coke in the pub before the game, loads of trouble that day.

Feel like its much more readily available to teens these days though, not really a rich man's drug anymore, they can all just chip in.

 

[PuB]

Not sure drugs are the specific problem personally, maybe something more societal as alluded to above.

If you have those at the top doing whatever the fuck they want regardless of rules or laws, then why shouldn’t the rest of society feel the same way.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Can only speak from a Southend viewpoint but I actually think it's been getting worse since around 2017-18. There was a noticeable rise around then in the people I call 'The Children' following the club, the late teens, early 20 something pissed up types, usually wearing all black and not actually watching the football but preferring to goad opposition fans.
Haven't noticed less police at our games but then I think we've always had quite a large section of dickheads following us so the police make sure they're about.

 

[Bartonyellow]

I think there is a general degradation of society in general - I see it in peoples driving. The behaviour out in the shops and online. Everyone is polarised on opinions and it’s permeated into peoples attitudes making those more angry and confrontational. Part of this is football. And you are seeing some of this siege mentality.
Part of it also is drugs. It’s rife everywhere.

 

[SF_]

Not sure drugs are the specific problem personally, maybe something more societal as alluded to above.

If you have those at the top doing whatever the fuck they want regardless of rules or laws, then why shouldn’t the rest of society feel the same way.

Can only go from a PNE perspective, and the annoying little shits at away games are usually always coked up.

 

[PuB]

Can only go from a PNE perspective, and the annoying little shits at away games are usually always coked up.

Not doubting that at all, just pondering why it might be happening more.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not sure drugs are the specific problem personally, maybe something more societal as alluded to above.

If you have those at the top doing whatever the fuck they want regardless of rules or laws, then why shouldn’t the rest of society feel the same way.

Totally agree with this. People doing drugs at games, acting in an “anti social manner” or whatever are the symptom, the illness being the continued, de-basing and erosion of public trust of those people and institutions of power, and the polarisation of society that is resulting from that. Perfectly encapsulated in the recent party gate shenanigans but can think of numerous examples. It’s not the act itself which are often ridiculous in detail but the example it sets. Basically as you say - If those in power act with impunity why can’t everyone else.

Probably not the right place to have that discussion though!

 

[Davidimp]

Can only speak from a Southend viewpoint but I actually think it's been getting worse since around 2017-18. There was a noticeable rise around then in the people I call 'The Children' following the club, the late teens, early 20 something pissed up types, usually wearing all black and not actually watching the football but preferring to goad opposition fans.
Haven't noticed less police at our games but then I think we've always had quite a large section of dickheads following us so the police make sure they're about.

They're the ones Kim!
And every team seems to have them too!
God knows we have!
Always travel by train so they can drink.

 

[thewwfc]

Wycombe has traditionally not had an issue with Danny Dyer wannabes, we usually rank at, or near, the bottom of the table in terms of football arrests.

But even at our gaff, people have reported an increase in people acting up and behaving like arseholes.

There was even two examples at our game v Oxford the other day: 1) some guy (who apparently wasn't even a Wycombe fan) doing a lone pitch invasion, running up to the Oxford fans and making wanker gestures, only to get heroically dragged away by the stewards. Well big man, how about we left you with the Oxford fans instead to learn a lesson.

2) an OUFC player left the pitch (there's one side where it's easy to do that as there isn't a fence) to get the ball back, only to get a shove in the back from some older bloke sitting in the Wycombe end. The player wasn't winding anyone up or whatever, literally just picked the ball up.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Most of these pricks when it comes down to it would not say boo to a goose. Like this idiot when Scunthorpe score who gives it the big un then steps back..

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We’ve got our fair share, they even turn on their own supporters who might not agree with them, had a run in with a few at a Chesterfield game and had to show them the error of their ways, it appears to have got worse since then

 

[WhiteRussian]

I always thought our fans wouldn't say boo to goose and the club was really family orientaded. I don't like it that we have been publicly rebuked but I'm sure there are some of our fans who will revell in it.

Sadly I don't expect this will be the last incident.

 

[Ninety Per Cent]

Most of these pricks when it comes down to it would not say boo to a goose. Like this idiot when Scunthorpe score who gives it the big un then steps back..

There was a Channel 5 series where they featured that game. Scunny fans coming in by train, some Grimsby Youths taunting them from the No.1 pub and a Copper just twats them out of the way

 

[GTFCfish]

Most of these pricks when it comes down to it would not say boo to a goose. Like this idiot when Scunthorpe score who gives it the big un then steps back..

Sorry I’d had a few but I’ve learned my lesson now.

 

[Caer]

It's at least somewhat comforting to know it isn't just at us that things have been noticeably deteriorating.

Think the Bolton game was as bad as I've seen it - granted I had a ticket in with the 'point at opposition fans all game' crew but there must have been 10 Sunderland fans in that section being taken away, fire alarm going off in the concourse, police rushing about. Adding to Rotherham away a couple of months ago it's been a season that a portion of our fans have really worked themselves. I have a feeling Wigan away later this month will be a similar story especially if we get twatted as is another trend.

It's not even just at away games either, there's a thread every other week on our forum about some sort of incident at the SoL.

 

[dannylad01]

I'd also go along with the worsening trend following Shrewsbury. The last 2 home games have been big away followings in Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton, buts it's probably been the first time since the move to the ground in 2007 that I've felt on edge walking out. There was an incident after the Cheltenham game before Christmas too.

Mainly teenagers/young adults as has been said above feeling brave from a distance, but enough for greater police presences at games.

 

[Meadow]

Mainly down to alcohol I think. I'm no angel, I drink way more than is good for me but I drink at home and don't inflict it on others.

 

[Indian Dan]

But alcohol has always been a factor for the vast majority of fans going to a game - especially away fans. It isn’t just football, though. Virtually all anti social behaviour is fuelled by drink/drugs. A Friday/Saturday night out in town has always had an undercurrent of violence in most places.

I think the pandemic has also been a factor - it’s the only thing that is a common denominator for all clubs/fans - especially as it seems a lot of clubs are noticing an upsurge in ‘trouble’.