[Albion] Should away fans be allowed to sit where they like at The Amex?

[Gazwag]

Pretty sure I've seen images of Blackburn lifting the trophy at Anfield...

That was a quarter of a century ago before the fireworks and confetti presentations

When and where else would they get it?

The following day/evening at their home ground with their fans in before the bus tour of the city

 

[Worthing exile]

Assuming we stay up and each match is a near sell out then any away fan in a home seat is preventing a home fan (even a casual) from buying it.

No the limit is set, so that is it.

 

[Brovion]

I voted 'no' which I admit is a bit hypocritical as I (probably along with most of you) have done it myself at away grounds.

However as has been mentioned there is a world of difference between sitting there quietly and not showing any visible support, and being an obvious interloper.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

No, it's an insane idea.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I've been in the opposition home end on many occasions, it's not difficult, just follow etiquette and you'll be fine. If there are City fans in the East Stand they'll be easily spotted as they will be the only ones there after 75 minutes.

I was going to make a comment like that, but you've saved me the bother We're East stand stay-till-the-enders, so they can keep us company.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I did on Saturday. Just before the hour mark on the W3I/W3H border, 2 stewards appeared and asked 2 guys to stand up and one to pull his jumper up - he had a Newcastle shirt on underneath. Despite their protestations that they'd come all the way from Dublin and weren't causing any trouble they were escorted out the building.

Some someone grassed them up. Nice. No one likes a grass.

 

[Mellotron]

Obviously not - especially when most of our games are near sell outs, meaning they are depriving a Brighton fan of going.

 

[Eeyore]

Not enough options in the poll.

The idea of a neutral/family area seems popular. Less so elsewhere.

 

[GT49er]

Home ends and away ends (or more usually the away far distant corner) fine - should be segregated. But it's high time more of the other sections of the ground (not all, by any means - people will still want home fans only areas) were available for fans of both teams. Because of where I have lived, I've probably watched at least as much Albion away as I have at home, and have usually been with the home fans - never in the home end, of course, but somewhere along the side of the pitch, preferably near the half way line, as that is my favourite place from which to view the match anyway..
You have to gauge the mood, to be sure, but only on a very few occasions have I not been able to chat to the home fans and exchange information and gossip about our teams, and part on perfectly cordial terms.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

I remember some Millwall getting in the chicken run, just being gobby upset the equilibrium. Well the equilibrium of complete onesidedness!

 

[Hazwaz]

When it is a friendly with nothing riding on the game fine,but when there are points at stake ,passions run high (especially when alcohol is consumed) .Ive seen more trouble on the train this year with rival supporters,had to separate a Brighton and West Ham supporter also trouble with Newcastle supporters.We don’t want this coming back into the stadium.

 

[TheJasperCo]

I'm sure I heard a few seasons ago that Liverpool and Everton fans mingled openly (in colours) during Merseyside derbies. I'm guessing this is down partly to a change in attitudes between their fans, although perhaps also Everton were never in contention for European Cup places, so they didn't have so much to play for.

That's just an anecdote I remember seeing from one local derby. In general though, I think common sense should prevail. But common sense is lacking these days, so who knows... I think there's a lot of sensible posts above that cover the conventions with straying into enemy territory.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Any one who thinks that having away fans in the home ends at the AMEX is ok is a happy clapper plastic and is NOT an Albion supporter

Is the correct answer.

Condoning it is very different from doing it and not getting caught.

 

[Weststander]

I'm sure I heard a few seasons ago that Liverpool and Everton fans mingled openly (in colours) during Merseyside derbies. I'm guessing this is down partly to a change in attitudes between their fans, although perhaps also Everton were never in contention for European Cup places, so they didn't have so much to play for.

That's just an anecdote I remmeber seeing from one local derby. In general though, I think common sense should prevail. But common sense is lacking these days, so who knows... I think there's a lot of sensible posts above that cover the conventions with straying into enemy territory.

Being in the same families, they stood/sat next to each other until quite recently. In old footage of goals scored, you always see very mixed reactions. Now unpleasant.

Now just at Anfield and Goodison, in footage of 70’s and 80’s games at stadia such as Maine Road, you always see away fans celebrating goals amongst the seated ManC fans.

 

[BN9 BHA]

So where are all these away fans prevalent in the home stands he's upset about then, you seen any in the West Upper?

This season against Fulham.
Two Fulham fans were escorted out of the WSU block I, they were not wearing colours but they were obviously loud enough for others around them to complain and call them out.

Against Liverpool there was a bit of an argument near me, not sure what exactly happened but 2 people not wearing colours were accused of being Liverpool fans. I'm sure they didn't get thrown out though.

 

[BN9 BHA]

We have all done it .

Have we?

 

[Grassman]

Have we?

Yep. Chelsea, Orient, Villa and Charlton for me... At Villa, (in the FA Cup game a few years back) in the section next to the away fans there were loads of us, and quite a few got slung out for being p*ssed.

 

[ferring seagull]

The short answer is no but if you are going to do it

- Keep your head down. Be prepared for stick if you are you outed and keep a lid on it if you score.
- Try to get a ticket in the most benign part of the crowd.
- Engage with those around you if your spidey sense tells you they are OK. At spurs in the cup a few years ago, they didn't mind our company.
- For BHAFC fans, accept that the stand you are sat in, in a northern grief hole may not have the same values as a town with a Green MP and a high proportion of gay and lesbian residents. I'm not condoning racist abuse or the like but it will be a bit different from the East stand upper.
- engage your brain. I wouldn't mind being sat next to a Man City fan if we are safe post Saturday. I will if we can go down and they are tanking us 3-0. Perhaps don't invite your Man city mate with the spare ST if the game means something next Sunday.

The last time I did it was Villa away for the Stockdale Imperial leather game. Sitting on my hands for Murray's pen was one of the hardest things I've ever done at the football. If we had of got a last minute winner I would have lost it and was planning on legging it out if we did thereafter.

There was an amusing tale, true or false, of Rangers v Celtic match at Ibrox where a Celtic fan somehow found himself in the Rangers end.
He realised his mistake and managed to keep shtum until the 90th minute when Celtic scored ( what proved to be ) the winning goal. He couldn't contain himself jumping up and down but quickly realised his mistake and headed for the exit with a baying group of Rangers after him. He ran all the way down to the Govan Ferry with the pursuing mob getting ever closer but as he got to the ferry it was about fifteen feet out, he took a flying leap and managed to grab the handrail. Turned around offering considerable abuse to his pursuers at which point the ferryhand said to him, " You're a brave man, this ferry is going in "

The location could be changed for anywhere !

 

[wigman]

I remember being in the home end at Villa on the last game of the season where if we won we would've been crowned champions.
The Villa fans hated us being in there and were pointing out our fans to the stewards who were ejecting them at will.
It was a nothing game to them but they still would not accommodate us.

 

[Taybha]

Yes I want to hug them all and become pen pals and then later on become Facebook friends so we can show each other photos of what we had for tea.