[Albion] Saturday - bad vibes in the family area

[Deleted member 37369]

What does the Family Stand actually mean? Is it a stand where parents go with kids (I've not sat anywhere near this stand before)??

If so, were the two Brighton 'fans' with family/kids I wonder? A great example they're giving them if they were!

I've seen away fans in home areas over the years that have been there purely to provoke a reaction... and got it!

But it sounds to me as though the Newcastle fans within this group were respectful - no colours, no goal celebration ... just a conversation overheard which outed them as Newcastle fans. If I was sat next to them, I'd have been up for a bit of friendly chat. They're not doing anyone any harm. I think you need to be a particular sort of 'person' to take offence so easily. The sort of person that on a Friday/Saturday night is out looking for an excuse to make trouble!

 

[Wozza]

What does the Family Stand actually mean?

We're still overlooking the fact that the OP was in E1H, which isn't the family section...

 

[Deleted member 37369]

We're still overlooking the fact that the OP was in E1H, which isn't the family section...

OK... as I said, I e not sat near that stand and I’d read comments about it being a family stand/section.

I still think you need to be a certain sort of person!


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[LamieRobertson]

We're still overlooking the fact that the OP was in E1H, which isn't the family section...

....and he's said he’d understand if it was in another part of the ground ...so he’s not that bothered after all then

Also we’ve only had his version of events from a completely new poster

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Sorry to hear this - sounds like you were around some idiots going OTT - but... E1H is a designated home area, not a mixed zone. As such, your party should have been more discrete imo.

Shame you had an unpleasant experience, but if you sit in a home-designated area I don't think you're going to get a lot of sympathy to be honest. Would have been a lot worse at some other grounds. Incidentally I took a Newcastle-supporting mate with me on Saturday - he did absolutely nothing to indicate that though.

As others have said, it is a designated home stand. Outside of the actual away end, the only place where away fans (without colours) are implicitly permitted at the Amex is in the corporate areas. And even then they are best off keeping fairly discreet - especially if there is a lot riding on the game.

No excuse for the idiots to behave towards you as they did though, particularly with kids involved. If your presence really bothered them, their choice was to either sit there simmering quietly, or to go off and report you to a steward, who may have ejected you if he saw fit. Harsh, but he'd have been within his rights.

The only time I can remember incognito away fans in the family stand next to us, was for the Arsenal game last year. Two youngish chaps sat in the seats immediately next to us, sat quietly causing no bother, but not reacting at all when Dunk scored after a few minutes, except to quietly shake their heads. Didn't bother me, but the big chap immediately in front of them had also twigged and was less keen. then Murray put us two up, and as everybody was jumping about, he turned around, enveloped both of them in a massive bear hug, and makes them jump up and down, screaming 'Yessssssss!' in their faces.

They actually took it all in good spirits, and it was all perfectly amenable.

Home end!

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There's a home section and away section for a reason.

Literally no sympathy for the OP at all. Bringing away fans into the home end, regardless of whether it is the family stand or not, is a thoroughly daft thing to do - especially given the context of the match and how important it was.

Which begs the question then, if you're a large group of friends who have members who support both teams, where exactly should you go in the Amex? Family stand would seem about right if lots of kids, where else would be more appropriate? Or is it just simply 'not allowed'? Rugby, cricket fans all mix, but football fans can't even manage it one small part of the ground

 

[Is it PotG?]

This myth about all other sports mixing nicely.

Went to Edgbaston for the T20 finals day. There were some sniffed up, cidered up Worcs fans p1ss1ng everone off and gagging for a fight.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Which begs the question then, if you're a large group of friends who have members who support both teams, where exactly should you go in the Amex? Family stand would seem about right if lots of kids, where else would be more appropriate? Or is it just simply 'not allowed'? Rugby, cricket fans all mix, but football fans can't even manage it one small part of the ground

It is ridiculous how literally people take this.

I'm pretty sure by 'away' fans the club mean replica shirt wearing, clearly travelling with the away support sitting in the home ends. A person not wearing colours, sat with a load of Albion supporting mates, should really be able to do so without some neanderthal overreacting.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Which begs the question then, if you're a large group of friends who have members who support both teams, where exactly should you go in the Amex? Family stand would seem about right if lots of kids, where else would be more appropriate? Or is it just simply 'not allowed'? Rugby, cricket fans all mix, but football fans can't even manage it one small part of the ground

The ground regulations say you can't.

The tribal nature of football supporting is a big part of its very appeal. People like to sit for 90 minutes surrounded by people united in the same cause, pantomime hating on another group of people, in a different colour shirt.

The Amex is fairly welcoming of the group you describe, apart from allowing them to sit together for the 90 minutes. They can travel together on the train, or by car (there is no segregated AWAY fans park and ride, like at many clubs). They can have a beer together outside the ground (no home fans only beer tent, like at some grounds). They can go in Dick's Bar for a sit down drink together, if they are there early enough to get in. Then after 90 minutes of cheering on their respective teams, sat amongst their respective tribes, they can meet up again in any concourse bar and have another beer and discuss the game.

Doesn't sound SO terribly unwelcoming, tbh.

 

[Bold Seagull]

What does the Family Stand actually mean? Is it a stand where parents go with kids (I've not sat anywhere near this stand before)??

E1A, E1B, E1G and half of E1C are Family Stand. In order to purchase a ticket in this section, no more than 2 adults can purchase a ticket per U18 they attend with.

 

[Deleted member 37369]

It is ridiculous how literally people take this.

I'm pretty sure by 'away' fans the club mean replica shirt wearing, clearly travelling with the away support sitting in the home ends. A person not wearing colours, sat with a load of Albion supporting mates, should really be able to do so without some neanderthal overreacting.

Exactly!

And kind of related to that... I imagine there are a number of Albion fans that go on a regular basis, but for whatever reason have some sort of an allegiance to another team... maybe where they were born or family ties etc. On the occasions where the Albion fan's 'other' team is at The Amex - should that fan be banned from their normal stand and be told, "you need to get a ticket in the way end mate'!

 

[Brian Fantana]

Which begs the question then, if you're a large group of friends who have members who support both teams, where exactly should you go in the Amex? Family stand would seem about right if lots of kids, where else would be more appropriate? Or is it just simply 'not allowed'? Rugby, cricket fans all mix, but football fans can't even manage it one small part of the ground

Short answer: they shouldn’t be sitting together during the game. Perfectly free to socialise etc before and after around the ground.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Really ?

This notion of being mortally offended by being sat next to a supporter of the away team is utterly weird to me. What would happen if you met an "opposition fan" around a swimming pool in Mallorca ? In my experience you get along fine. But put them next to you in a stadium, and apparently you have to be ENEMIES.

Ridiculous.

Personally, a large part of the enjoyment I derive from coming to football is from the tribal nature of it. I’m more than happy to drink and chat with rival fans before and after the game.

 

[WilburySeagull]

We all know what the "rules" are and we also know they are broken every week both at the amex and by our fans at away matches. Are we really going to say children who support different teams cant sit together in 21st century? Even if you dont think its right it beggars belief that someone gets aggressive about it. Its not the 1970s and I was there then.

 

[theboybilly]

Short answer: they shouldn’t be sitting together during the game. Perfectly free to socialise etc before and after around the ground.

Just read that back to yourself and think just how wrong that sounds

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Short answer: they shouldn’t be sitting together during the game. Perfectly free to socialise etc before and after around the ground.

This. Sorry to hear that OP and his group had a bad experience. But the Amex is not Twickers and it's a bit naive to regard it as such, even in the Family Stand.

 

[Wozza]

This. Sorry to hear that OP and his group had a bad experience. But the Amex is not Twickers and it's a bit naive to regard it as such, even in the Family Stand.

Again, he wasn't in the Family Stand.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Again, he wasn't in the Family Stand.

So, without having to plough through 18 pages, what's with the thread title? What gives?

 

[Is it PotG?]

 

[Eeyore]

Not gone through the whole thread chap, but this bloke you got lumbered with sounds like an utter piece of filth, and I'm sorry you and your party had to put up with someone like that. We have no "beef" with Newcastle, and quite honestly if I found myself sat next to a fan of the opposition, whoever we were playing, then as long as he's not being a dick, I'd actually welcome the opportunity to have a chat about our respective teams and maybe learn something along the way. Its only bloody football after all.

You've got to be a real sad act to give grief to an oppo fan in the home end. I work with a Watford fan, and have arranged a ticket for him in the WSU whenever we play, and he does the same for me (and a couple of mates) when we play at VR. We don't wear colours, we are respectful, but we make no secret of being BHA - and whaddya know, the folk around us are absolutely fine with it and we have a good old chat during the game. Frankly, its absolutely PATHETIC that a grown man should show physical animosity towards someone else because of the team they support.

Its embarrasing. I really hope your daughter hasn't been completely put off by the experience. That is NOT the norm, it sounds like you were just terribly unlucky to be seated with an absolute cockjuggling thundercunt.

Agreed.

I wonder how many of those who think its okay to give someone grief have sat in home ends when Albion are on the road.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Again, he wasn't in the Family Stand.

So, without having to plough through 18 pages, what's with the thread title? What gives?

E1G is family area, adjacent is E1H where generally guests, sponsors, and general sale tickets are as the club don't really have any season ticket holders here.

I suspect because E1H is readily available and being next to E1G, and the whole of the East Lower is designated the 'Respect Stand', that the OP thought they were in the family area, which is perfectly understandable given this is where you will find many neutrals, families, and supporters who don't attend regularly.