[Football] Which other teams supporters have you sat with?

[Taybha]

Cambridge (all 3 sections) Swindon, Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Southend, Lincoln. Notts County, Walsall, Newcastle Derby, West Ham last season by far the largest contingent of Brighton fans in the home ends I can recall ever seeing.

 

[Sorrel]

Was in the Longstand at Turfmoor with the Burnley fans in 1975 to see them play Liverpool and in 1976 to see them play Blackburn. Very feisty encounters off the pitch , can't remember the games that much. I was told not to say anything because they (the rest of the crowd) hated Southerners even more than Blackburn.

Once I've realised the accent could be a problem. When I was in Sheffield United's end when they played Palace in January 1991 (Palace won) and the home crowd was getting pissed off with Londoners I thought I'd better keep my mouth shut. It wouldn't have been very nice to have hassle because they thought I might be a Palace fan.

 

[The Birdman]

Spurs Arsenal Palace Norwich Chelsea West Ham Watford Ipswich Bury Swindon Southampton Liecester Celtic
Cambridge Portsmouth Man City

 

[Two Professors]

Most threatening seeming Anderlecht,friendliest Upper Trent at Forest (and I was wearing my Skint shirt!)

 

[drew]

Was a neutral with the Millwall at the Old Den against Tottenham and Villa in the late 80s.

Also, sat with West Ham fans for a Brighton game. We were in lower tier seats. Had a 7 or 8 year old boy nears calling players effing 'c's. His dad was looking on proudly!!!

Was in the Ipswich family stand on the last day of the season when they got promoted but we spoke to stewards and they escorted us across the pitch to the throng of Albion on the terrace behind the goal.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I sit with a bunch of Brighton fans each week....

 

[origigull]

I went to see Portsmouth vs Man Utd in 1975 with a girlfriend's brother who supported Utd. He insisted I wear a Utd scarf and I felt unclean and had to have a good wash after handing it back when we got back to Brighton. QPR vs Newcastle with a mate about 1978 and Wimbledon vs Leeds in the cup at selhurst. I remember there were loads of BHA supporters going up on the train that night, not sure which team they were meant to be supporting, if any. And a few with BHA away.

 

[oldboyroy]

Gillingham and west ham many years ago recently at Leicester wolves and stoke

 

[Wardy's twin]

Once I've realised the accent could be a problem. When I was in Sheffield United's end when they played Palace in January 1991 (Palace won) and the home crowd was getting pissed off with Londoners I thought I'd better keep my mouth shut. It wouldn't have been very nice to have hassle because they thought I might be a Palace fan.

Had a similar experience when I borrowed my mates football scarf when we went out for a drink in one of the small Lancashire towns that was a feeder for Blackburn supporters. It was blue and white stripes and it was same day Blackburn played Chelsea at eward and there was some pretty strong stuff had been going on. Kept very quite after a few locals were making the wrong connection.

 

[Lurchy]

The only time I've watched the Albion whilst sitting with the opposition fans was at Notts Forest and it involved us conceding 3 goals in the second half. It's not an experience I plan to relive.

I do make a habit of trying to see a football match when on holiday and so have sat amongst fans of: Internazionale, Napoli, Atletico, Hertha Berlin (twice), Porto, Monaco, FK Austria Wien and PFC Levski Sofia.

Ajax are high up on my list to do and I also want to make it across to Argentina and see a game over there at some point. Mostly likely for a River Plate or Boca Juniors game.

 

[Bodian]

Barrow quite frequently.
Brechin a couple of times.
In with the Liverpool fans at Selhurst in the 90s, but also in the Stretford End at Old Trafford at a United / Liverpool game - which was really weird, as towards the end the atmosphere was so great that even I was willing United on to an equaliser, and I can't stand them. Sad to see how sterile OT has become now.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I have been in many home ends watching Albion over the years. But, aside from this, non-Albion, I have watched Hertha BSC, Union Berlin, a number of Arsenal games and numerous West Ham games in the home end. I watched Russia v England in Moscow from the Russian end. I watched Germany England from the German end a few years back as well.

 

[atfc village]

I’m a Real Madrid fanatic, but have stood/sat with Albion fans.

Back to reality, I went to a West Ham home game with a supporter in about 1992. Plus Alloa, Albion Rovers, Airdrieonians matches with their fans on many visits to Scotland years ago.

Stood with Airdrie on many occasions ,the original Diamonds were my Scottish team and most of them were crackers.

 

[Boys 9d]

Stood with many supporters of other Clubs at the Goldstone in the era before fans were segregated.

 

[m20gull]

Apart from Albion away games:

Swindon, West Ham, Colchester, Düsseldorf, Bristol Rovers, Wigan with friends/family.
Enfield in the FA cup at White Hart Lane v Barnsley, and at Torquay
Portsmouth, Wimbledon (at Selhurst against Portsmouth)
Bristol City and Hereford when on holiday in Wales
Preston (at Wolves) and Southend (at Palace) when Brighton games have been postponed
Woking when Clive Walker played for them
England at both Wembleys

 

[Juan Albion]

Watford away. I was late thanks to ridiculously slow tube trains. As I ran into the ground a steward saw me and ushered me into the main stand free of charge. I guess he didn't notice my blue and white scarf. Some of the locals did but I really didn't care. That was the game with the David James howler that gifted us a 1-0 win.

 

[Guinness Boy]

The three that stand out for me are Oxford, Japan and Barca.

Ex Brother-in-law is an Oxford fan and used to steward there. We were up at their place in Northamptonshire for New Year one year and Oxford were at home to Wycombe on New Year's Day. The two of us drove over with my niece who was about 9 at the time and got seats in the main stand. It was a dreadful game (0-0) and the rain piled in from the open end overlooking the lovely suburb of Blackbird Leys (made famous about 20 years ago for an absolute epidemic of drag races between stolen cars). Despite only being a short hop along the M40 Wycombe brought about 500 fans and there was more atmosphere on Mars. At half time I got a pint. The grizzled old boy in front of me turned round and mouthed "typical ****ing Oxford" as he collected his pie. I already knew what he meant.

Son is a massive Barca fan and we went out there last year to see them play Lavante. Again it was chucking down on game day, though luckily the Nou Camp has four sides. We'd got the tickets in the UK well in advance off their website which meant they were in the covered grandstand, though right on the end in line with the goal. The blokes in the row in front arrived on about 15 minutes and left on about 70 but otherwise our bit was full and mainly locals. Not sure if they appreciated my son's attempts at Barca songs or not but I think it's better that watching the entire game through an iPhone. Barca won 3-0 and Messi and Iniesta were a pleasure to watch, easily the two best players I've seen in the flesh.

The weirdest one was undubtedly going to see a double header in the Saitama Stadium when I lived in Japan in 2003. First up was South Korea v Hong Kong which was fairly sparely attended before Japan played and beat China. A lot more people in for that though most of the atmosphere was behind the goal where the Korean "ultras" made way for the Japanese. Where I was sitting most people were concentrating on the excellent Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) and cold beer they served at the back of the stand. That's certainly where my attention was. Here's my vantage point and some Korean ultras. It was in the days before smart phones and I was quite drunk. This is the only picture I took

 

[Knocky's Nose]

Valley Parade (Bradford City) when I was a little kid as my mate and his Dad went a lot. Watched Bradford play Liverpool in a cup match and Ray Clemence got so bored and disinterested he started having a bit of banter with us behind the goal. Bit him on the arse though as Bradford nicked a goal and won 1-0. Concentrate, Ray.

Old Trafford. Saw the 'Fledglings' lots. Great atmosphere back then. Haven't been for many years now, but apparently it's not like it was.

Boleyn Ground (The 'Ammers') mid 90's. A good friend and his Dad were STH's and his Dad couldn't make it - and I thought 'why not'. I was told all kinds of horror stories, but it was just a bit of a shithole with some pretty neanderthal fans. I couldn't believe how close to the pitch we were.

Sparta Prague. Stag do, and I organised for us to see the footie. Asked for 10 Tickets and the lady was like "£40 please" (GBP equivalent). I said "No, sorry - I want TEN" and held all my fingers and thumbs up. She said, "yes - correct". SO cheap!! I remember the home fans all singing to each other, then clapping each other from two stands. It was like the North all singing a song, the West clapping them, then the West singing a song, then the North clapping them, and so on. It was a bit weird.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Went to Portsmouth v Bolton with my dad as the women went shopping, no pressure so quite enjoyable. Also watch my local team regularly Carmarthen (it's in Wales) they don't have segregation ie home ends and you can get people from Rhyl standing close to you The plus is you can take your dog in and have change from a tenner, including program.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Let’s be honest, being with home fans when you are not THE opposition is not too difficult. Have done this at Highbury and at Selhurst many years ago, Arsenal second club, bad fan I know, but Albion fan since early 70’s, favouring Arsenal occasionally only came later with a desire to see BIG games.

Only time as an opposition fan was at White Hart Lane, 5th Round FA Cup some years back. On my own, main stand right near directors box, reasonably blotto to to be honest. Twenty minutes from the end and I could hold back no longer.....Albion, Albion, Albion etc etc, arms out wide standing up. A few shocked faces at first around me, then security started to gather, somehow got away with it. Lucky to be honest, could have gone proper tits up.