I've seen my last match at the Lane ......

[happyhippy]

......... but not for the reasons you'll probably automatically think.

We weren't exactly wonderful today, though if our disallowed goal early on had stood, it could have been a lot different, but that's life, and we go home to lick our wounds (unless they come from falling down a drain, or being attacked by a bread bin - my post-Wolves fun).

I can live with bad performances. I can live with us generally being crap, I can live with spawny goals against us. I can live with poor referees, and I can live with defeats. Jesus(TM), my first match was just over thirty years ago, and throughout that time, you can hardly say I've been glory hunting.

I can live with the pigs gloating, which they have done for most of my lifetime. I can live with the inevitable disappointments after the oh so few glimmers of light. I even started to live with the stupid amounts of money which are casually bandied around, even at United's level in the game.

But do you know what I simply can't live with anymore? I'll tell you.

The complete and utter wankers who infect our stands.

Those who see fit to ignore the names "Danny Webber" and "Kyle Naughton", preferring the 'loveable' epithets of "Halfbake", and the like. Those who believe it's remarkably amusing to announce that there is a "rac-c-c-coooooooon" on the pitch when, well, you don't need a lot of imagination to work it out, do you?

Those who find deep hilarity in chants about Chris Morgan involving the incredibly useful lines, "Intensive care? We don't care.", usually followed by an exhortation for Morgs to "knock 'im out".

Those who sort out football arguments on the Kop by throwing the dissentor down five rows of seats, before marauding over them to kick the living daylights out him. Six on to one earlier at the top of Gangway A during the second half. Not to mention that there were kids (two of whom were mine) around. Ironically, we'd been put there after we'd asked to be moved because of the behaviour and general verbal diarrhoea which was polluting our ears in our normal seats.

Those whose grasp of the rules seems to be at the same extent as my grasp of Lingala. These have been growing ever since we started to look like we were going to get promoted, and then rocketed when we actually did go up. Unfortunately, these morons remain still.

Now, I don't like the way that football has become sanitised over the last decade or so, but I just can't be doing with these wankers. It's not even that they're just kids who don't know any better. Some of the blokes who so bravely waded in to beat up one bloke were easily in their forties and fifties.

I really don't need the aggro. I want to go to a match to have a laugh; not to be a crush barrier. It's bad enough that the players can find ways to ruin my weekends, without these arseholes doing it, win, lose or draw.

I'm off to Dronny for the rest of the season to watch Sheffield FC. I know I've said I'd do it before, but Mick Rooker now has my season ticket, and my youngest's (she's only four, so it's pointless her having one if I'm not going), and I don't want them back. I went there last Saturday for the match v Lincoln United (abandoned at half time, leading 1-0), and had a right laugh. Even the walk back in dense fog was a giggle, if a touch cold!

When I compare and contrast the two, there is only one winner for me.

 

[Foxy]

Sad to hear, but not entirely surprising.

It's easy to say, but don't let the arses drive you away though! They'll not stick through it thick and thin, certainly not if some of them are the arses I've become increasingly annoyed at the last couple of years.

There was a time when acts like throwing bottles at your own and picking fights with each other was rare, sadly its on the increase.

I hate the sanitation of football, but some of the acts you mention are far beyond unacceptable and should be dealt with. I hope, as I suspect he will have, that Mick gained some information from you and will be taking steps to deal with said people.

 

[Linz]

Very sad to hear HH and I hope you let your feelings be known to the club as racists and thugs deserve to be banned for life. They aren't big and they certainly aren't clever and those around them shouldn't have to put up with it.

Hope your young 'uns are alright too.

 

[SRBlade]

But do you know what I simply can't live with anymore? I'll tell you.

The complete and utter wankers who infect our stands.

Those who see fit to ignore the names "Danny Webber" and "Kyle Naughton", preferring the 'loveable' epithets of "Halfbake", and the like. Those who believe it's remarkably amusing to announce that there is a "rac-c-c-coooooooon" on the pitch when, well, you don't need a lot of imagination to work it out, do you?

Those who find deep hilarity in chants about Chris Morgan involving the incredibly useful lines, "Intensive care? We don't care.", usually followed by an exhortation for Morgs to "knock 'im out".

Those who sort out football arguments on the Kop by throwing the dissentor down five rows of seats, before marauding over them to kick the living daylights out him. Six on to one earlier at the top of Gangway A during the second half. Not to mention that there were kids (two of whom were mine) around. Ironically, we'd been put there after we'd asked to be moved because of the behaviour and general verbal diarrhoea which was polluting our ears in our normal seats.

Those whose grasp of the rules seems to be at the same extent as my grasp of Lingala. These have been growing ever since we started to look like we were going to get promoted, and then rocketed when we actually did go up. Unfortunately, these morons remain still.

Now, I don't like the way that football has become sanitised over the last decade or so, but I just can't be doing with these wankers. It's not even that they're just kids who don't know any better. Some of the blokes who so bravely waded in to beat up one bloke were easily in their forties and fifties.

I really don't need the aggro. I want to go to a match to have a laugh; not to be a crush barrier. It's bad enough that the players can find ways to ruin my weekends, without these arseholes doing it, win, lose or draw.

I'm off to Dronny for the rest of the season to watch Sheffield FC. I know I've said I'd do it before, but Mick Rooker now has my season ticket, and my youngest's (she's only four, so it's pointless her having one if I'm not going), and I don't want them back. I went there last Saturday for the match v Lincoln United (abandoned at half time, leading 1-0), and had a right laugh. Even the walk back in dense fog was a giggle, if a touch cold!

When I compare and contrast the two, there is only one winner for me.

I, too, am not surprised. When we played Plymouth a gorup of young vermin who have been brought up with no sense of morals decided it would be hilarious to lob 2 bottles of coke down the kop.

These are the same people, i reckon, who decide to get on players backs after they misplace a pass or anything.

I agree on a whole though, some United fans are just foulmouthed filth.

You should shift seats to sit in the middle of gangway G, everyone seems to be happy go lucky family types. Of which like to have a laugh and above all else want United and the players to succeed.

So don't let these tosser deter you away from what i imagine you have been doing for x amount of years.

 

[silverfox]

I totally respect your decision and reasons for it HH.

I find the "black and white" mentality these days so destructive.

If you say anything positive these days you are labelled a "happy clapper" and you are not a "real fan" unless you take your shoes off.

Football is a game between 2 teams of 11 players and you don't win every one. In fact you lose quite a few!!!!! Long may that continue or why would we bother????????

Everyone has a view and should do but to end up fighting your own fans in front of kids is out of order.

Football is frustrating.....if you can't cope don't come! (Don't mean you HH)

 

[happyhippy]

I forgot about lobbing stuff on our own fans. There was a bit of that going on too. How clever of them.

Foxy, Mick and I go back a long way; we know each other very well, but he was busy, and I was too furious to have a proper conversation. In fact, but for a slight logistical problem about ten years ago (I was skint), I'd have gone with him to Paris to see Iron Maiden!

I'll be emailing Andy Daykin when the dust has settled a bit more. I'm still too angry to write a truly cogent email about today's events, but the thing is, as I've said before, it's not a one off.

This feels like I'm walking out on my wife of thirty years, as that's the passion that we all have for our team.

Young'uns are fine cheers, Linz. I got bundled over as I was trying to shield them, and sufclucy got a very sore leg, but she assures me that she's fine now.

SunderlandBlade, our season ticket seats were (do you know how weird it is to use the past tense?) on row ZZ bang in the middle of the F and G entrances, and it's round there where all the verbals were, and have been for the last few seasons.

SF, I completely agree about the "black and white" mentality. It really does my tree in. It's not even as if it can be dressed up as playing Devil's Advocate, is it?

I'll always follow United, but I just can't bear to be there anymore.

 

[matth]

I totally respect your decision and reasons for it HH.

I find the "black and white" mentality these days so destructive.

If you say anything positive these days you are labelled a "happy clapper" and you are not a "real fan" unless you take your shoes off.

Football is a game between 2 teams of 11 players and you don't win every one. In fact you lose quite a few!!!!! Long may that continue or why would we bother????????

Everyone has a view and should do but to end up fighting your own fans in front of kids is out of order.

Football is frustrating.....if you can't cope don't come! (Don't mean you HH)

Whilst I respect your opinion, there is an irony in the fact that you say you hate the 'black and white mentality' and then say that you're either labeled as a happy clapper if you get behind the team or not a real fan if you don't take your shoes off.

As ever, it's the minority of fans who spoil it for everyone. The behaviours mentioned in this thread are not the behaviours of most of the fans. As many of you know, I can be a mardy bugger and can be outspoken in my own criticism of the team at times, but I never accuse other people of not being fans or deny them their right to an opinion.

Racism is never acceptable, and there are people who go too far in their loud criticism at the matches, but most fans at the match are just normal people like us, not monsters who get noticed the most.

 

[silverfox]

Whilst I respect your opinion, there is an irony in the fact that you say you hate the 'black and white mentality' and then say that you're either labeled as a happy clapper if you get behind the team or not a real fan if you don't take your shoes off.

I think you misunderstand me.

And to be honest I can't be arsed to explain!

 

[matth]

Oh right, cheers.

 

[keenzy]

......... but not for the reasons you'll probably automatically think.

We weren't exactly wonderful today, though if our disallowed goal early on had stood, it could have been a lot different, but that's life, and we go home to lick our wounds (unless they come from falling down a drain, or being attacked by a bread bin - my post-Wolves fun).

I can live with bad performances. I can live with us generally being crap, I can live with spawny goals against us. I can live with poor referees, and I can live with defeats. Jesus(TM), my first match was just over thirty years ago, and throughout that time, you can hardly say I've been glory hunting.

I can live with the pigs gloating, which they have done for most of my lifetime. I can live with the inevitable disappointments after the oh so few glimmers of light. I even started to live with the stupid amounts of money which are casually bandied around, even at United's level in the game.

But do you know what I simply can't live with anymore? I'll tell you.

The complete and utter wankers who infect our stands.

Those who see fit to ignore the names "Danny Webber" and "Kyle Naughton", preferring the 'loveable' epithets of "Halfbake", and the like. Those who believe it's remarkably amusing to announce that there is a "rac-c-c-coooooooon" on the pitch when, well, you don't need a lot of imagination to work it out, do you?

Those who find deep hilarity in chants about Chris Morgan involving the incredibly useful lines, "Intensive care? We don't care.", usually followed by an exhortation for Morgs to "knock 'im out".

Those who sort out football arguments on the Kop by throwing the dissentor down five rows of seats, before marauding over them to kick the living daylights out him. Six on to one earlier at the top of Gangway A during the second half. Not to mention that there were kids (two of whom were mine) around. Ironically, we'd been put there after we'd asked to be moved because of the behaviour and general verbal diarrhoea which was polluting our ears in our normal seats.

Those whose grasp of the rules seems to be at the same extent as my grasp of Lingala. These have been growing ever since we started to look like we were going to get promoted, and then rocketed when we actually did go up. Unfortunately, these morons remain still.

Now, I don't like the way that football has become sanitised over the last decade or so, but I just can't be doing with these wankers. It's not even that they're just kids who don't know any better. Some of the blokes who so bravely waded in to beat up one bloke were easily in their forties and fifties.

I really don't need the aggro. I want to go to a match to have a laugh; not to be a crush barrier. It's bad enough that the players can find ways to ruin my weekends, without these arseholes doing it, win, lose or draw.

I'm off to Dronny for the rest of the season to watch Sheffield FC. I know I've said I'd do it before, but Mick Rooker now has my season ticket, and my youngest's (she's only four, so it's pointless her having one if I'm not going), and I don't want them back. I went there last Saturday for the match v Lincoln United (abandoned at half time, leading 1-0), and had a right laugh. Even the walk back in dense fog was a giggle, if a touch cold!

When I compare and contrast the two, there is only one winner for me.

Shame to hear HH.

They are tits around and started coming to more and more games and just spoilt it.

Thing is though... would you be better in the family stand where there will be less off the swearing and fighting? shooting yourself in the foot abit isn't it when there is a designated area.

Just a thought and i hope that you do come back!

 

[rachyblade]

The back of the Kop this season has been bad, I've not seen it like it is now up there ever and i've always sat there.

The stewards were round our gangway as gazza said in another post and all they got was abuse then they went and came back at half time. Didnt see the point of them being there in the first place.

Does anyone sit in the old G&H? Just wondered what the atmosphere was like there.

 

[jodman]

Does anyone sit in the old G&H? Just wondered what the atmosphere was like there.

I sit on the westfield health corner and the 'atmosphere' on the south stand is currently non-existent; that includes the G and H block and i can say from experience that this has been the case for the last couple of seasons (since we were relegated).

The lane has fallen into the trap of becoming another nice stadium where the home fans don't sing unless the team are doing well; meaning the away fans / teams feel no pressure when they come here.

 

[rachyblade]

They sing at the back of the kop tho, thats why I like it up there.

 

[jodman]

I used to sit on the kop, about 8 years ago and the atmosphere was fanatstic. When i first moved away from the kop you could still hear the constant din that they created and it always made me proud.

For the last 2 seasons i have heard them less and less and this season they seem to have fallen into the malaise and i am yet to hear them really roar in any kind of consiostent basis.

 

[Bladesman]

Sad to hear that HH.

As for throwing things someone throw something down at one of our fans in the Family Stand aswell.

Some of our fans are complete dickheads to be honest. They are normally the idiots tha cant get the players names right when they are hurling out abuse towards them.

 

[S64 Blade]

They sing at the back of the kop tho, thats why I like it up there.

I think even that has stopped this year though too I sit (well stand) at the back of the Kop and the atmosphere has got worse!

 

[ls17blade]

my 2p-th.....

When I started Sheffield Poly in 1989 I also started to go to the home matches as I lived in Edmund Road.
After going to a few matches I was absolutely hooked. At half term I when home and got back in touch with my mates who support other teams, and guess what the reaction was when hearing I was a blade?
"Sheff united; they are notorious for turning on their own"

I didn't see much evidence of this IN the stands, but there always seemed to be an undecurrent against the team.

I don't think this stuff is new, maybe it's more noticeable as we've gotten older and have siblings exposed to it - it doesn't mean it's acceptable and I don't think I would like my kids to experience it either.

Do what's right for you mate.

 

[shorehamview]

I'd say that you are right HH.

If you don't want the hassle and the grief from the tossers who like to abuse and fight then you are doing the right thing. Letting the club know and voting with your feet are about the only things you can do. If a fair few people do as you are doing then perhaps the club will manage to get decent stewards in and chuck out and ban the dickheads who like to fight, throw stuff and dish out racist abuse.

It's a shame that you won't be watching the Blades anymore, but perfectly understandable, especially when you have your kids with you.
Enjoy Sheffield F.C.

 

[bricktop]

I'm sorry to read what ypu have just written mate but i agree in part with what you have said and in part i also disagree.

What i do agree with is the fact there is some idiots now at the back of the kop who seem hell bent on causing trouble and acting like anti-social braindead idiots but they was not always there and even though we have bigger crowds and it is generally busy up there is comparision to what it used to be like when there just a handful of us rattling about up there. I remember (and you probably will as well) having a massive row up there a few seasons back about Neil Warnock during the Millwall match on the last home of the season when we had thrown away all our chances of the play offs. At the end of the day it was just me and him and others trying to calm us down and as soon as it was over that was it, it was forgotten about and i now have a laugh and a joke with him whenever i see him. If that had happened yesterday it would have had completely different results as the chimps at the back of the kop would have all piled in and joined in all the fun and we would have been looking at a right old rumpus taking place up there.

The part is disagree with is the statement that you are never going again. I'm disappointed that you have chosen to discontinue your association with Sheffield United over the behaviour of a few brian dead chimps. If you let them force you away from the lane, then it will be letting them and anti-social behaviour win and it is wrong and i'm disappointed that you will no attend the Lane. The other options would have been having a word with the club and moving seats, or moving seats for a few games whilst the idiots are slowly but surely weeded out by the club.

 

[Samantha]

HH,

If only this forum still had it's "post of the week" nominations, for that would surely be it - for the wrong reasons though.

I really do hope that you are able to let the club know your feelings, not just Andy Deaykin, but to the head of security/stewarding, and if possible, to Blackwell himself. You can't keep feelings like that held back - they need to know. They're probably aware of it, but will be damned to do something about it unless us, the fans, start complaining.

I had similar problems to those that you had mentioned at Barnsley away this season (08/11/08), and I was disgusted they were "Blades", they were like me. They were like a pack of animals who'd be together tightly for months on end and there was one meal for them to all fight for - in a media gantry at the back of the stand (go back through my previous posts if you want extra detail). Did the stewards care? No. Did the coppers care? No.

Along with everyone else, HH, I too am sad to see more Blades leave the club, plus the potential future (your children). It is a shame you could not simply ask for a transfer to another area of the ground (preferably without having to pay any extra ) but it is your decision, and I respect the reasons for you doing so.

I am sad to say that I think that is almost "normal" across football grounds in the country now, from Premiership to Northern Counties - full of "brain dead chimps" (I like that phrase).

I hope you will enjoy Sheffield FC... bet it's quicker and cheaper to get a pie there too!!!

 

[Tinoblade]

They sing at the back of the kop tho, thats why I like it up there.

Dont know which kop you've been sitting in

I very rarely here it anymore, maybe a few times after we score but thats it

 

[TonyAgana]

Sorry to hear it HH but there's plenty of other areas in the ground where you and your kids won't be exposed to it. Sounds to me a bit like going to a bonfire, standing with your face in the flames and then going home because it's too hot.

 

[Deleted member 1486]

I've been an occasional reader of this forum for a bit but never really felt like posting until I read this thread. It's spooky but I've recently had almost exactly the same experience.

The Kop has always been my first choice when buying tickets, for the best part of 20 years . I've occasionaly sat elsewhere when I've been given free tickets, sat with friends or on the odd occasion when they've only opened part of the ground but apart from that the back of the Kop has always been my first choice. There's always been something special about the atmosphere there.

That was... until the recent Southampton game. Five lads stood directly behind me (all mid to late teens) ruined the experience of the game and I've now sacked the idea of sitting in that part of the ground, maybe forever but certainly for the foreseeable future.

The one who was "sat" directly behind me (just off gangway B) spent the entire match jumping up and down and bouncing into the back of my chair/my head/me/my kids and shouting racist abuse at the (white!) referee. I'm not just talking about shouts of "you black ...." (which I also find unaccaptable), but rather the real hate filled nasty sort of racist abuse. Quite clearly they'd (all) gone overboard on the wine gums but the stuff that was getting shouted was the worst and most sustained racist shouting I've ever heard at a Blades game. All in earshot of the stewards (who did nothing). Also in earshot of fans who weren't white.

I have to be honest and say that, had I not had my (young) children with me I'd probably have lamped the lad behind me. I know two wrongs don't make a right and please don't think I'm the sort of person who goes around acting agressively to people, but I haven't felt so wound up as I did that night in a long time. As it was I just asked them to tone it down a bit as my kids were there, to which I got the reply "don't fucking bring them then". Charming.

Since then we've moved around the stands a little but seem to have settled on the Westfield corner for Wolves/Burnley. Amazing view, the kids don't have to stand on the back of the chairs to see over the person infront, hardly any queues for the toilets/drinks and (so far) no dickheads.

And erm, there are even some unique chants. In Chinese! (anyone not on that corner ...you had to be there on Saturday. Funny would be an understatement!).

 

[happyhippy]

They sing at the back of the kop tho, thats why I like it up there.

That's my point Rachy. Ten years ago, albeit with smaller crowds, but the the place where I sit used to be riotous with noise, but not bile and racism.

Sad to hear that HH.

As for throwing things someone throw something down at one of our fans in the Family Stand aswell.

Some of our fans are complete dickheads to be honest. They are normally the idiots tha cant get the players names right when they are hurling out abuse towards them.

That may be a one off, as you've never said anything before, but it just goes to show that no matter where you go in what was my Perfect Palace, there are pricks. And I couldn't agree with you more about their ignorance of the team.

I'd say that you are right HH.

If you don't want the hassle and the grief from the tossers who like to abuse and fight then you are doing the right thing. Letting the club know and voting with your feet are about the only things you can do. If a fair few people do as you are doing then perhaps the club will manage to get decent stewards in and chuck out and ban the dickheads who like to fight, throw stuff and dish out racist abuse.

It's a shame that you won't be watching the Blades anymore, but perfectly understandable, especially when you have your kids with you.
Enjoy Sheffield F.C.

Thanks SV. I still wish that I could come along and watch United, and I'm certainly not someone who hasn't said naughty words, or got told off by stewards, or (unwillingly) seen the nastier side of away trips, but when it happens here, there and everywhere in our own ground, I don't feel I have much choice.

Ironically, I'd rather see United away, where most of these pricks won't be. Dronfield is a good laugh too.

I'm sorry to read what ypu have just written mate but i agree in part with what you have said and in part i also disagree.

What i do agree with is the fact there is some idiots now at the back of the kop who seem hell bent on causing trouble and acting like anti-social braindead idiots but they was not always there and even though we have bigger crowds and it is generally busy up there is comparision to what it used to be like when there just a handful of us rattling about up there. I remember (and you probably will as well) having a massive row up there a few seasons back about Neil Warnock during the Millwall match on the last home of the season when we had thrown away all our chances of the play offs. At the end of the day it was just me and him and others trying to calm us down and as soon as it was over that was it, it was forgotten about and i now have a laugh and a joke with him whenever i see him. If that had happened yesterday it would have had completely different results as the chimps at the back of the kop would have all piled in and joined in all the fun and we would have been looking at a right old rumpus taking place up there.

The part is disagree with is the statement that you are never going again. I'm disappointed that you have chosen to discontinue your association with Sheffield United over the behaviour of a few brian dead chimps. If you let them force you away from the lane, then it will be letting them and anti-social behaviour win and it is wrong and i'm disappointed that you will no attend the Lane. The other options would have been having a word with the club and moving seats, or moving seats for a few games whilst the idiots are slowly but surely weeded out by the club.

Brownie, Brownie, we've been together so many times over the last few years at the top of that gangway, and even after a certain fit of pique involving a smaller fan(!), we've never had a bad word between us.

Beers, yes!

I certainly remember the Millwall row (after Morgan had been put up front in a last act of heroism/get out of jail moment), but that wasn't anything like what is happening regularly now.

You also know the dynamic up there. It's now certainly not as it was a couple of years ago, and that is the same round the ground from what I hear.

Let's face it, Mr "Hoik" (he'll know what I'm on about) has shut up for a while, and the whole atmosphere has become darker.

Sorry to hear it HH but there's plenty of other areas in the ground where you and your kids won't be exposed to it. Sounds to me a bit like going to a bonfire, standing with your face in the flames and then going home because it's too hot.

I can see why you might think that TA, but it's not so much that we're stood too close to the flames, as the flames have reached the safety barriers.

Loughborough Dynamo on this weekend at home!

 

[Linz]

I've been an occasional reader of this forum for a bit but never really felt like posting until I read this thread. It's spooky but I've recently had almost exactly the same experience.

Welcome to the forum... and again, sorry to hear your experiences.

I know people take the piss out of the South Stand, but for me going to home games, it's perfect. I sit with my 50 year old Uncle and my 72 year old Grandmother. We are surrounded by season ticket holders of the older persuasions and any disagreements of tactics and players are sorted out with some mild banter and the passing round of sweets. Many of the people I sit with have been there for as long as I have... going up for a decade. People don't fall out when you've been sitting together that long because you can guarantee they'll be there at the next home game.

It seems to be the transient sort of fan who causes issues. Perhaps membership cards with photos on are the next thing? Stewards can then take down names and numbers on the day and pass the information on to the ticket office. If the photo doesn't match the person handing it over... they get booted out and the ticket taken off them. We'd need stewards who were brave enough to do it though... SIA registered doormen perhaps... they like kicking miscreants down the stairs.

I hope anyone who has problems reports them to the club so they can take action. The last thing we need is the Kop becoming a no-go-zone for decent fans and young kids being scared off because of idiots.

 

[Lincoln Blade]

This is a very interesting thread for me because although I certainly do not think the racist remarks are acceptable and should not be used at any time I think that to turn away from your beloved club would be silly. I could certainly not let a few idiots stop me going to matches!
I am only 19 myself and I sit at the back of the KOP and have done for a number of years, but I would never join in any racist chants. It is certainly not just the younger people that are starting these insulting chants, if anything it is the older generations that are starting them and the teenagers conforming.
Please do not retort to this message implying that I am a silly little kid because although I am younger than most of you on here I am aware of what goes on around me at matches.
I sit at the back of the Kop because it is the best atmosphere in the ground whilst we are getting behind the team, but yes the atmosphere does appear to be waining so I am considering moving my seat for a better view but hopefully it will improve in coming matches...

Lincoln Blade

 

[Linz]

Please do not retort to this message implying that I am a silly little kid because although I am younger than most of you on here I am aware of what goes on around me at matches.

If you're 19, then you aren't younger than most of us on here and your views are very valid... without bringing age into it Idiocy hasn't got an age-range and it seems both "lads" and "blokes" are pointed at as trouble causers.

However, to accuse someone of being "silly" for not wanting to be around their supposed fellow fans who act in a manner which hurts their children is perhaps not helpful. I would say that idiots wouldn't stop me going to a match... but to see your child knocked over and you be helpless to do anything to stop it, wouldn't you perhaps think again?

I'm towards the younger end of the spectrum myself... and a little bad language and bravado is all part of the experience. But instead of us against them, them being the opposition, some lads seem to be spoiling for a fight with anyone and for any reason. A swift clip around the head might knock some sense into them, but the back of the Kop isn't the place to do it.

 

[Sensiblade]

The fighting isn't solely on the Kop, it happened on the South stand at the Wolves game when someone shouthing and gesturing at the team while leaving got atacked by someone else.
This is the sort of thing that should not be happening at any football match and falling out between our own fans is totally unproductive in every sense (except maybe those people getting banned from the ground so they can't do it while at a match again)

 

[Linz]

The thing is... whether you're vocally critical of the team or happily singing away... no one should attack you. Back in the day, if someone was being an arse, they'd be told they were being an arse and sit down and act all embarrassed like. Now it seems that it's a pre-cursor to a mass punch up.

We have a laugh where we are because the most vocally obnoxious people are behind us in the directors box and are usually opposition fans. Thankfully, the footballing Gods usually smile on us when the be-suited twats are at their most irritating... letting them have a goal to gloat before coming back and beating them. All it takes is a little smile and a wave and we never hear another peep.

No one should be hitting people because of what they say or believe....

 

[Samantha]

I know people take the piss out of the South Stand, but for me going to home games, it's perfect.

There's NOTHING wrong with the south stand. I sit, what..., 10-15 seats across from you? It's the perfect view. Alright, there's not much "singing", but quite honestly I go to the game to watch the football - not join a choir! Yeah it's ace to have a sing-song (especially at this time of year with Jingle Bells - hopefully!), but that's not what I pay my money for!

South stand centre is one of the best views in the ground, along with Bramall Lane Upper, and Westfield Corner