G Block incident

[Wilko]

kylie - yes you are right it was a polo shirt and I agree it was irresponsible. unfair and uncomfortable for all those sitting nearby too.

 

[sully]

I really think we should be able to act in a civilised way with other human beings.

Whilst it's a bit foolish, and I wouldn't wear an obviously Brighton shirt to Selhurst (I did at Upton Park last season), it really is about time all this stupidity stopped.

I work with fans of several other clubs, including Palace, and surprisingly, there all just like us - football fans. Even if this kid was a Palace supporter rather than Brighton as his dad claims, at least he came to Withdean today (Palace were at home, too) but he's going to have a very poor opinion of our neanderthal supporters now, isn't he?

 

[Wilko]

i agreee with what you are saying to a certain point sully. However even if he was a palace fan and came to watch brighton for the day is there any real need to don the club crest ??

It could be seen as insighting a reaction. When I lived in pompey I went to watch them several times a season but wearing my albion shirt might have been seen as taking the piss somewhat.

 

[Curious Orange]

How childish is it to have a go at a kid? Very. If it had been an adult I could understand, as they should be big enough to understand that wearing a Palace shirt at Withdean is none too bright. But having a go at a kid is not fair in this situation.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

To be fair Sully, it was one guy that had a go, and it started out as a bit of fun. He just made a quip along the lines of "What the bloody hell are you wearing?" It started to get a bit nastier when the lads Dad chimed in and offered the bloke outside.

Neanderthal is probably more appropriate for his own Dad rather than the guy that picked on him.

I too work with plenty of fans from other clubs, including Palace, and I agree that they're just like us, but I still think it was a silly idea to wear a Palace top in the home end at Withdean.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

How childish is it to have a go at a kid? Very. If it had been an adult I could understand, as they should be big enough to understand that wearing a Palace shirt at Withdean is none too bright. But having a go at a kid is not fair in this situation.

The lad didn't look 15 to me. He was at least 6 foot and pretty solid looking. It was only established he was a kid when his Dad piped up.

 

[Bromley shrimp]

Went to the Beam Back (from Withdean) game at Selhurst (0-0) last season against the advice of the Palace admin. as the only 2 Brighton supporters there that I saw. My son, who's 9, covered up his Albion shirt as best he could off his own bat, so I guess it would have been polite of that kid today to change beforehand or cover up.

 

[twickers]

Right so let me get this straight, are people here saying you're asking for it wearing the Crystal Palace shirt because others are going to have a go at, or you're asking for it wearing the shirt because you as individuals are going to have a go. I don't beleive any of you would because you're not that stupid and you come to watch football. If you are stupid enough to take the rivalry that far then think about it. As for the blathering about the Dad and he should have known better, I'm sure he won't make that mistake again - that's if he comes to another Brighton game. As a father I'm sure for a moment he did feel protective of his and am sure he feels he may have jeopardised his safety, though why it shouldn't be safe is beyond me.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

From my perspective I personally wouldn't have a go. I don't see the point to be honest, and as someone else pointed out there were a shitload of Real Madrid, Barca, and other tops in the ground too. I'm more interested in watching the game and encouraging the team.

But

There are also an element of idiots that go to games, people that do take the rivalry too far. I just think that it's incredibly stupid to wear the biggest rivals shirt in the home end, and that counts for any ground. Man City in the Stretford End, Everton in the Kop. It can only cause trouble, minor in this case but it could have flared up, and that's the last thing the club needs.

 

[Curious Orange]

I can remember when my Dad first started taking me to away games he was always very particular about me keeping my scarf hidden away under my coat - especially as we used to go in the home ends of many of the midlands clubs because he has a mate up there. It's just common sense really.

 

[Beach Hut]

I don't think anyone should sit in another fans area in other teams local rivals or away gear on show simple as that.

How many of us would expect to go to CPFC at Selhurst wearing anything connecting us to the Albion ?

 

[Football Genius aka FG]

agreed it was stupid too wear it but that doesnt excuse the abuse dished out

 

[Beach Hut]

doesnt

Spelling is going wrong again should be "doesn't"

Tut tut

 

[Caveman]

You've got to blame the parents!

 

[NMH]

Surely we are all adult enough not to hassle a 15 yr old child trying to become a professional footballer. Whilst I agree it isn't the cleverest thing to do I do think people should've let it lie.

I would have to say that this is an idealist point of view that perhaps should be, if football were to be an entertaining family spectator sport in the 21st Century. Sadly, the fact is that, although violence and hooliganism is frowned upon by most of us, this example stands to outline the crux of the matter, albeit not ending in actual violence apparently. Many of us would cry out "what stupidity to wear THAT in our crowd" but what if this kid and his dad got attacked for it? We cannot accept unreasonable behaviour only spawned from the wearing of a shirt - but a good-humoured embarrassment, and brief barracking of the accused would have been ok. The father should be expected to take it sitting down !

It was obviously not a great idea to wear that in a BHA home stand, but some 'grown-ups' lack judgement if they have to seriously or aggressively berate or lambast the wearer, imho .

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

I remember my dad taking me to the old valley to watch Charlton vs Middlesboro in the sixties. There was no segregation and there was friendly banter between the rival fans, and gales of laughter when my dad (a boro fan) started shouting "Never in a million years ref!" while going red in the face, much to my embarrassment. Of course I know that the world is a different place now, some things for the better, and some for the worse, and of course Brighton / Palace is a "special" kind of rivalry, but I think it's sad that serious abuse has to be thrown at this lad. If I had had a chance to get on the ladder of professional football then I would have taken that chance from whatever team offered it to me, but yes the dad should perhaps have had some foresight to take a change of shirt, because we don't live in the sixties anymore.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Err, let's take a step back at this one for a second? If the kid was 15, and had genuinely raced back from (presumably) an important match for his intended career to watch his team, what the f*** are we doing abusing him? If it was an adult it would be different, just plain stupid, but however much we all hate Palace lets not lose it totally.

 

[Lush]

Everyone always talks about dads encouraging kids to come to football but sometimes it's the other way round. Kid gets into football and dad agrees to take him to see his local team.

Understandably dad is proud of his kid's achievements and so sees nothing wrong with wearing the CPFC polo top. Kid is too young to really be aware of rivalry - you have to remember that it was last a big deal 10- 15 years ago - most young CPFC fans think that their rivals are Charlton or Millwall.

The sad thing is, they both came and paid money to support the Albion. (Palace were also at home don't forget, they could have gone there). They will have left thinking we are all a bunch of tossers.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

How many times do I need to say this?

IT WAS ONE BLOKE THAT HAD A DIG AT HIM! They will not have left thinking we're all a bunch of tossers.

THE LAD DID NOT LOOK 15! No one would have batted an eyelid if he'd walked into any pub in town an ordered a pint.

It started out with one bloke taking the piss, it only turned uncomfortable when the lad's Dad started offering the bloke outside for it.

 

[Albionite83]

1) He shouldn't have been allowed through the turnstiles wearing Palace colours. It's obviously a potential "public order" problem. What were the stewards doing? I wouldn't ever expect any of our fans to get into the home parts of Scumhurst wearing Albion colours (although they would need their head testing to try it anyway).

2) He was taking up a seat that could have been occupied by a genuine Albion fan, not someone who plays for our fiercest rivals.