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[Albion] AEK Athens FC vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***







Colonel Mustard

Well-known member
Jun 18, 2023
2,240
100 to 50 to 20 to a bloke in a suit who appeared angry 🤣
In Bay 47, lower level, there were a lot of very angry AEK fans trying to get through the screens. Maybe 100-150? Hard to say as I don’t know how many were serious and how many hangers-on. I’ll look at the video I shot and post something more tomorrow. Important note — there were quite a few idiotic Brighton fans too who didn’t help matters.
 






Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
7,228




Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,888
West west west Sussex
In an Alfred Hitchcock inspired Wine Bar round the corner from the Pantheon, talking bollox with Jnr, while being surprised every time they serve us another beer, after 1am.

Happy dayz.
It's 01:52 and I think we're stuck in a blinking competition.
We're showing no sign of leaving.
They're showing no sign of kicking us out.
 


Beanstalk

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2017
3,052
London
How was the atmosphere amongst our fans? Could hear the BHA faithful a fair bit when it went quiet in the home end
The atmosphere throughout was great, but the atmosphere at full time was the greatest I’ve ever experienced as an Albion fan. Some noise that, matched by some genuinely wonderful celebrations with the players. Brings a (tear gas induced) tear to your eye!
 


Beanstalk

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2017
3,052
London
BBC News - Brighton & Hove Albion fans’ European joy cut short by tear gas
It didn’t ruin it, but it was crap tbh. Never had a tear gas experience and wouldn’t recommend it.

Also quite concerning seeing someone knocked down by a full water bottle chucked from the AEK side connecting square on the head. Poor old boy (literally) didn’t know what hit him.

All that aside, what an experience - even the busses worked after the game!
 






Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,719
Faversham








Willie

Member
Sep 3, 2023
33
100% drifted in from the outside. Was one of the Block 8 Albion fans who hung around after FT for a bit before trying to leave.

Could see outside in a gap from midway up the concourse that riot police were having bottles etc chucked at them by the Ultras in an area near the away end. Heard massive bangs let off then next thing we knew the Tear Gas affects hit us.

Legged it back out into the stands to get away from where the gas was. After that could see it had wafted into the away end by the reactions from everyone. My group all managed to make it into the away end after that and safely out on the buses. Hope everyone else reading this from Block 8 also got back okay.
We were in block 8, along with approximately 30/40 others. It was an incredible, if slightly intimidating atmosphere. It would have been fine but there were a few idiotic/naive/p1ssed/unempathetic Brighton fans you obliviously cheered and chanted much to the increasing anger from the many AEK fans. I really can't understand why you would take such time and effort and spend so much money to attend such a momentous and memorable match just to turn up so intoxicated that you had no idea what you were doing. One (Brighton) lady who sat near us could easily have ended up in hospital when she stumbled down the steps, but luckily she saved herself so she could spend the majority of the match checking out Facebook/Instagram...... Honestly!

We had a chat to a very friendly AEK fan after the game and exited the stadium 5 minutes after the whistle, put our heads down and left the immediate area to get an Uber.


On an aside, Fatboy was rocking, haven't jumped about so much in years (many years) and great to see Mr Bloom joining in the celebrations, I doff my hat to you sir, time to liquidate assets for January I'm afraid.

Fantastic experience, Athens surpassed any expectations.
 






trueblue

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
11,027
Hove
In Bay 47, lower level, there were a lot of very angry AEK fans trying to get through the screens. Maybe 100-150? Hard to say as I don’t know how many were serious and how many hangers-on. I’ll look at the video I shot and post something more tomorrow. Important note — there were quite a few idiotic Brighton fans too who didn’t help matters.
Glad you mentioned that too. You’ve got stewards trying to calm things down and probably a dozen idiots giving it back and thinking they’re heroes. Very lucky the police turned the other cheek. If they come in to get them, as arguably they should, the whole dynamic can turn and get very ugly for everyone. We’ve seen it happen to other clubs enough times. When there are thousands of people clamouring for these tickets, I’ve got no tolerance for anyone whose instinct is to try to cause or encourage trouble. Won’t be a popular view here but there are at least 3 who don’t deserve to go in future. Let someone else. Overall, thought our fans’ reaction was bloody magnificent.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
56,054
Burgess Hill
Stewarding on their side of the barriers in the upper tier was way too lax - could have stopped the handful of idiots (on both sides) giving it the biggun (from the safety of a big thick screen obviously) simply by clearing their lot out, but they took far too long, allowed them to lean round and try to throw a few punches and lob a few bottles. Went on for ages. As @trueblue says we’ll have a handful more banned I suspect but in the main compared to their lot we were angels. The tear gas was unfortunate - it was fired at their fans just outside the ground (according to a copper I spoke to), we just got the fumes after a few minutes as they blew back through the home concourse and into the stadium bowl (could clearly see the smoke coming out of the stairwell at the far end of the ground). My cunning plan to have a hotel within walking distance failed miserably post-match - had to get the shuttle bus into the city due the ongoing riot outside (well organised but took a very long route) and then a metro back out to the hotel :lol:

Had enough games where we’ve played well and not won, so getting one where we won but played mostly poorly - I’ll take that. Great couple days, wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

IMG_6466.jpeg
 
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Driver8

On the road...
NSC Patron
Jul 31, 2005
16,291
North Wales
Yep, copper told me it was just outside but blew back in. Heard about 6 in total.
I was in the lower tier concourse when it went off and the air was thick with it. I can still taste it this morning. I can’t believe that just blew in from outside, they must have fired it in the concourse somewhere.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
56,054
Burgess Hill
I was in the lower tier concourse when it went off and the air was thick with it. I can still taste it this morning. I can’t believe that just blew in from outside, they must have fired it in the concourse somewhere.
I thought the same - wonder whether the first couple were inside (copper in our stand may have been guessing). The riot police were about to go down the stairwell but after the first couple of bangs they moved away from it, and a couple of staff came up the stairs into the stand covering their faces…….the later ones were def outside, heard them when we were going down the stairs to the buses.
 


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