Watching Albion from the opposition end

[Glawstergull]

Away end at the Withdean when we drew with Swindon to get promoted.Very Bizarre.

And tomorrow night in a Business lounge with my brother in law who supports Derby.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

I was standing in the Colchester end (well, side actually) with a couple of Colchester supporting friends a few years ago. I can't remember the date other than the Queen Mother passed away that afternoon as the pub after had a flag at half mast after the game. Bobby Zamorra was injured and didn't play and the BHA "One Man team" won 3-1 I recall. Not celebrating the BHA goals was bad enough but it was harder to pretend being a home fan by looking upset everytime we scored.

My boss is a big Derby County fan so he has got us tickets to watch the game tomorrow night in the home end.

Now I have watched hundreds of Brighton games over the last 20 years but this will be the first from the oppositions end and I must say I am very apprehensive. I just don't know how I will be able to control myself if (when!) we score and how I will react if they do?!

What are others experiences of watching with the opposition?

 

[Mackenzie]

I managed to watch the Hereford game in the away end.....now THAT was self control!!!!

 

[kalinski]

Millwall this year...went with my next door neighbour and family...sat on my hands throughout. Not a nice place to go, although my neighbour and his family are a great bunch

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

 

[catfish]

Went in with the home fans at Torquay in the late 90s. Got some mild abuse when we scored but it was in that nice West country accent so wasn't too bad.

 

[smudge]

In the old shelf at Spurs in '80 when Robbo scored our winner as I was on lash in the smoke for the weekend with a Spurs supporting mate from Potters Bar. I just couldn't hold back & caused a right surge as they came after me!

 

[smudge]

Or was it 79 when we won 1-0 at the Lane?

 

[Exiled in Indooroopilly]

Having mutual friends who support Stoke, a few seasons ago a group of us were in hospitality for an away game up at their place. Perhaps bravened by a lunchtime intake, a rousing rendition of Good old Sussex by the Sea was started halfway into the first half. Our accents had already raised a few eyebrows and there was nothing hospitable about the reaction from the Stoke fans! Punches appeared from nowehere, the stewards dived in and we were escorted away.........................to our own private box

On a slightly different note, many years ago when the pitches were plastic, I went to an Oldham away game. Think it might have been a cup game. Anyway, an enormous quantity of ale consumed and a late arrival onto the away end later, I yelled in delight as the mighty team in blue soon scored. Much to the surprise of the non cheering Albion fans around me who were naturally supporting the away team in their changed strip!!!

As a genial policeman outside the Hawthorns once said "football and beer just don't mix you know"!!!

 

[El Presidente]

Leeds away 1980/81. Lost 1-0 to a Peter Barnes screamer. Kept my mouth firmly shut in their Kop all match.

Northampton FA Cup 1987/88. Couldn't help myself when we scored the winner. Got a bit nawty as the locals were not impressed.

 

[dennis]

I managed to watch the Hereford game in the away end.....now THAT was self control!!!!

Myself and the wife's uncle sat through this game in the home seats. Really difficult to control yourself in a game with that much riding on it. Made easier when Robbie scored and half of the stand stood up cheering. It didn't seem to matter much after that as there was as many of us as there were of them.

After the game it was just a case of getting out of the ground and down to the away end and then everything was wonderful again.

Probably wouldn't do it again but when a game matters that much I would disguised myself as the bull that they waked round the pitch before the game if it meant getting in the ground.

 

[Austrian Gull]

Luton a few years ago under McGhee. Lost 3-0 - we were awful.

Strikeforce of Turienzo and McCammon IIRC.

McGhee said that losing didn't matter.

It was bloody freezing. An awful night.

 

[Leosayer]

Palace v Brighton 5 penalties match -went at the last minute with a palace mate. Having to politely applaud the goals was not pleasant but it was difficult not to smile as they missed all the pens!

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Close shave in the Aldershot end in the cup games a few years back.

4 of us in there near the dividing fence to the Albion fans, pleading with the stewards to let us through as we are Albion fans (Fairly pissed).They are not having it mate starts to sing 'Sussex by the Sea' flurry of punches from the packed home end come at us,fortunately steward opens gate and 3 of us get out and after a bit of persuasion with the nice Sussex Bobby he let's us in with the Albion. The mate left in there kept low profile and escaped any hassle.


My advice never go in the home end........... especially if you had a few, because you know there is every chance it will get messy.

 

[Dave the OAP]

After the carnage at home to Chelsea back in the 80's, a few of us took the decision to go in the shed for the return as it would have been the safest place in the ground.

I couldn't believe the amount of Brighton fans I recognised in there. Exceptionally good decision as it kicked off a couple of times in the away end.

 

[Medwayseagull]

Was in the Newcastle end for the promotion game in 1979. Didn't intend to but because we drove overnight and arrived early morning ended up getting friendly with some Geordie fans in a pub who persuaded us to stand with them. It was fine because they wanted us to win to ensure Sunderland didn't go up

 

[Withdean and I]

Recently at Watford with my Dad (69 yrs old) and he sung lots of the Albion songs along with our fans, not hugely quietly.
Same situation at Norwich away last time.
Worst was at West Ham about 6 yrs ago when we won 1-0 and we were sat in main home stand. I had given Dad the talk about how it is particularly bad for your personal well being to cheer as an away fan in the home end at West Ham. So of course when we scored he jumped up and punched the air exclaiming "yes" then quickly realising his mistake trying to cover his tracks with "oh I thought we had cleared it off the line" in a faux home fan way!!! It feels all wrong that it's me having to tell my Dad off!!! ))

 

[Return of the Rev]

millwall,chelsea,whu pompey,palace,swindon and cambridge gillingham

 

[Peter Grummit]

In the old shelf at Spurs in '80 when Robbo scored our winner as I was on lash in the smoke for the weekend with a Spurs supporting mate from Potters Bar. I just couldn't hold back & caused a right surge as they came after me!

It was 81, and you were brave going on the shelf. Robbo scored right in front of the away end and it was one of the more mental celebrations ever. We got mullered by a very good Spurs team - Hoddle, Crooks, Archibald - and scored with just about our only attack, happy daze!

PG

 

[strings]

I watched the Walsall match last season from the Walsall directors box, courtesy of a friend who is a sponsor or Walsall FC. I was worried about keeping quiet, until Gordon Greer came and sat in the seat behind me!

 

[Peter Grummit]

Went in the 'kop' at the Walkers a couple of years ago with a very good friend who is a Lecester fan (and had come in the away end a couple of years previously). Got away with wearing my TSLR pin badge, and it ended up 0-0 so didn't have any celebration issues either way.

PG