Seen quite a few away fans up London road this season. Thought it was a nice change and was good to see fans mingle, but on Monday I was sat with my kids in the Cremorne and there a was a big group of Arsenal in there, all absolutely fine (except one.. who I'll come to). Queueing for a pint I was having a laugh with them, all of them decent lads.
I sat down to the right of the door (as you walk in) and one of the Arsenal lot (not one I was speaking to) was stood by the ladies toilet absolutely hammered, swinging back and forth, clearly had too much beer, and he was just constantly staring at me. I'm with my 2 young kids, clearly on a table by ourselves, and I only caught his eye as I glanced up a couple of times.
After that, every time I looked up he was clocking me. Staring straight at me with daggers like he was going to kick off. I was with my kids, 11 and 6, at a table on our own. He was seriously riling me up, to the point I had to leave.
Also walked past the coaches on the way to the ground, and some scrawny cockney idiot thought we were Arsenal (despite the kids being dressed in full SUFC kit) and announced "can't wait to fight these" to us (had I been by myself I'd have pointed out they were Arsenal, not Millwall).
Had a good chat with some Palace fans in the Beer Engine. Southampton fans were in the Cremorne and were sound, but I'm now starting to doubt the wisdom of going in these places (that I've drank in for many years) if they're letting away fans in after that Arsenal game. I'm big enough to walk away, especially when I'm with my kids, but if the drunk idiot had stared at the wrong person there would have been serious trouble.
I like a beer before a game, but not the extent I'd want my kids to be in a pub where it can potentially kick off.
