[Football] Tonights England game at the Amex

[southstandandy]

Sad to see so many empty seats throughout and an attendance well below capacity when it’s been impossible to get tickets. I’d have liked to have been there but will be there next Wednesday, at least.

Was a great game to watch.

My neighbours went with a group of 8 others and got stuck at Brighton station - apparently didn't arrive until after half time. Apparently loads of problems with the trains last night so that might explain so many empty seats.

 

[Hamilton]

My neighbours went with a group of 8 others and got stuck at Brighton station - apparently didn't arrive until after half time. Apparently loads of problems with the trains last night so that might explain so many empty seats.

We won’t get more big games if Southern Fail can’t be made to make this work. It really can’t be that hard.


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[amexer]

My neighbours went with a group of 8 others and got stuck at Brighton station - apparently didn't arrive until after half time. Apparently loads of problems with the trains last night so that might explain so many empty seats.

Was it number of people , queuing for tickets or lack of trains

 

[Hotchilidog]

Was it number of people , queuing for tickets or lack of trains

I think it was lack of trains, rumours of a broken down train at London Road. Trains were a predictable shambles last night, thank f**k I no longer commute and I only have to deal with that company on an intermittent basis.

Anyway enough of that, the game was bloody brilliant. England were a joy to watch, the transitional play was superb. The attitude of the team was excellent throughout, physical in the challenge and unrelenting in maintaining their dominance. Good technical play combined with a strong competitive spirit, it was an absolute pleasure to watch.

 

[Jam The Man]

Was showing as sold out last week. Presumably tightly capped (fewer busses?).

Not sure, but actually there seemed to be more buses.

 

[Black Rod]

Was it number of people , queuing for tickets or lack of trains

Coming away from the Amex, it appeared to be a lack of trains. We hung around for a beer afterwards, leaving the concourse at 10.30pm. Normally, that gets you straight on train. The queue was still back towards the club shop.

One woman said that UEFA had decided not to pay Southern to put extra trains on and the Club did not feel it was their responsibility to cover the cost. Not sure how true that is, but if so it makes you appreciate why transport is included in the cost of a season ticket. Without the extra trains, it is a total nightmare.

 

[DavidRyder]

I have to say that I absolutely loved last night. First women's game of any sort, and England played so well. The atmosphere was so unlike our usual games here, and it was a real joy to see all the kids having so much fun. There was a girl, prob about 9, in front of me who after the third went in, turned and mouthed '3-0!' to her friend - the amazement/happiness on her face almost brought a tear to my aged eye!

I am really excited about next Wednesday now - but whereas last night I went to just enjoy it, Wednesday I'll be feeling the nerves - come on England!

Amazing last 3 games at the Amex!

 

[jackalbion]

Was it number of people , queuing for tickets or lack of trains

There was a broken down train at Brighton, that was split in half, and had to run at as 3 carriages. I think the problem was that most of the attendance was people who haven't often used the Amex, so turned up half an hour before KO to get the train, and unlike BHAFC home games, everyone left the stadium at once with no one staying behind for a drink. The Queue for the Lewes side was also very short.

 

[boik]

My neighbours went with a group of 8 others and got stuck at Brighton station - apparently didn't arrive until after half time. Apparently loads of problems with the trains last night so that might explain so many empty seats.

Getting there was OK, although it seemed that the queue at Brighton station was less squashed up than for an Albion match so it looked longer but was OK. Coming home was a disaster. Stayed to watch the celebrations. Got in the train queue around 22:20. First train was 22:50, didn't get on that, or the 22:55. Managed to squeeze onto the 23:13. Got to Brighton and the 23:37 bedford train was cancelled so we had to catch the 00:04 train. Our 8 year old didn't get to bed until 00:30. Not great on a school night.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Getting there was OK, although it seemed that the queue at Brighton station was less squashed up than for an Albion match so it looked longer but was OK. Coming home was a disaster. Stayed to watch the celebrations. Got in the train queue around 22:20. First train was 22:50, didn't get on that, or the 22:55. Managed to squeeze onto the 23:13. Got to Brighton and the 23:37 bedford train was cancelled so we had to catch the 00:04 train. Our 8 year old didn't get to bed until 00:30. Not great on a school night.

Clare McDonnell, co-host on the BBC 5Live Drive programme just opened this afternoon's broadcast by saying what a great time she had at the Amex last night, before concluding with, "I was talking to lots of people in the queue for the trains afterwards. How long does it take? Hours!"

Not great PR....but then to be fair it is a complete shambles and 100% puts me off going to games.

 

[amexer]

Interesting how a game like that is organised.. Was it same food and drink available as we have Was hospitality same. Assume was same staff.. As P & R was a paid for service did EFA organise.

 

[jackalbion]

Clare McDonnell, co-host on the BBC 5Live Drive programme just opened this afternoon's broadcast by saying what a great time she had at the Amex last night, before concluding with, "I was talking to lots of people in the queue for the trains afterwards. How long does it take? Hours!"

Not great PR....but then to be fair it is a complete shambles and 100% puts me off going to games.

I ditched the train and walked down to the Ruby and got the 24 post game, but the queue was definitely longer than any Brighton game.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

We did. Blackpool’s goal was an own goal by Adam El-Abd.

I'm pretty certain it was a headed OG by Dean Hammond.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Just pop him on ignore then and job done? Personally, I enjoy reading [MENTION=38333]Swansman[/MENTION]'s perspectives. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don't; but I feel they come from a good place, are genuinely held and add rather than detract.

Well said. The incessant, nasty sniping, at a poster, who dares to be a little different, is ****ing tiresome, and I for one am going to stop ignoring it.

Stop being *****.

 

[Uter]

Coming away from the Amex, it appeared to be a lack of trains. We hung around for a beer afterwards, leaving the concourse at 10.30pm. Normally, that gets you straight on train. The queue was still back towards the club shop.

One woman said that UEFA had decided not to pay Southern to put extra trains on and the Club did not feel it was their responsibility to cover the cost. Not sure how true that is, but if so it makes you appreciate why transport is included in the cost of a season ticket. Without the extra trains, it is a total nightmare.

I was curious to see what "service" was being offered last night. There were 5 trains per hour timetabled. Tonight there are 3 per hour. So there were additional trains laid on compared to the usual post-Covid timetable. No idea if any were lengthened.

However it's worth pointing out the standard pre-Covid timetable was 6 trains per hour all day Monday to Saturday. So compared to that, last night's provision was actually worse than in 2019.

The current usual timetable is 50% of what was on offer in 2019, yet passenger numbers have recovered to around 85% of pre-Covid numbers (which were the highest since WW2) and rising. Blame the DfT for this miserable situation.

 

[jackalbion]

I was curious to see what "service" was being offered last night. There were 5 trains per hour timetabled. Tonight there are 3 per hour. So there were additional trains laid on compared to the usual post-Covid timetable. No idea if any were lengthened.

However it's worth pointing out the standard pre-Covid timetable was 6 trains per hour all day Monday to Saturday. So compared to that, last night's provision was actually worse than in 2019.

The current usual timetable is 50% of what was on offer in 2019, yet passenger numbers have recovered to around 85% of pre-Covid numbers (which were the highest since WW2) and rising. Blame the DfT for this miserable situation.

Also blame the DFT for failing to replace the god awful 313s first introduced in 1976 (which was the unit that failed and held everyone up 19:00, when they had to detach the front unit).

 

[Uter]

Also blame the DFT for failing to replace the god awful 313s first introduced in 1976 (which was the unit that failed and held everyone up 19:00, when they had to detach the front unit).

Not 100% sure, but the 313s are going by the end of the year as I understand. They are on their last legs. Might go some way to explaining the terrible east and west coastway timetables we are currently enduring. Not sure what they'll be replaced with.

 

[boik]

Interesting how a game like that is organised.. Was it same food and drink available as we have Was hospitality same. Assume was same staff.. As P & R was a paid for service did EFA organise.

No definitely different from the last Albion game I went to. Much more limited just heineken, only 3 types of pie, even fewer sweeties, but then I was in the South Stand as opposed to my normal perch in the North.

That being said, after getting over the initial feeling of "this is all a bit happy-clappy" I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bit like when you're a moody teenager at a wedding and then decide to dance to the naff tunes and you end up having a great time. Mrs B and the grandkids thoroughly enjoyed it. They joined in all the songs, jumped around like lunatics, loved the mexican waves and phone-lights and would go again tomorrow despite the crap Southern trains.

It's not the same as an Albion game, but you can be completely entertained if you put aside your prejudices. I'd be up for another one.

edit: the highlight was going to the gents at half time. Completely empty!!!!

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Interesting how a game like that is organised.. Was it same food and drink available as we have Was hospitality same. Assume was same staff.. As P & R was a paid for service did EFA organise.

Food was exactly the same, at least it was in the South Stand where I was sat, but drink was different, supplied by the official partners (sponsors) of UEFA. Only beer option was Heineken, there was also a cider available, no Harveys. Wine options were the same as a normal match day. Soft drinks options were all from the Pepsi range, shame we can't have that on a normal match day as I prefer it over Coca-Cola.

Overall despite the clackers I quite enjoyed last night, we got away promptly and because my son is disabled we were able to bypass the train queue so were back in Lewes very quickly. The queue for Brighton trains looked horrendous though.

The main reason for attending was to give my daughter a chance to see top class womens sport, she plays football, netball and cricket so the idea was to give her something to inspire her. Shes been a few of our PL games and is starting to get the bug but she said that was by far the best game she'd been to, so job done as far as I'm concerned. Looking forward to Wednesday night and the QF's but clackers can still **** off.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I'm pretty certain it was a headed OG by Dean Hammond.

I bow to your better memory.