Most away games this season. I read on twitter that come the last day to get your application for tickets in, we'll have played 10 away games already (haven't bothered to work out if this is 100% accurate though). I wouldn't be surprised if it's as high as 7 or 8 away games out of those 10 that you'll need to have attended to stand a chance.
Seems only fair to let those who go to away matches have first dibs. Also they have a proven record of behaving themselves.
So now, rather than a five minute walk to the game I have a fifteen minute walk to Fratton station, 50 minute train journey, 25 minute walk to the ground and a 40 minute coach trip back to Goldsmith ave. Been to the last two away games at FP and would love to see us actually win there. I cant justify the expense of a trip like that. I'll be watching down the pub.
Thats what derbies are all about, a bit of argy bargy outside the ground between fans....if it's policed well so fans are kept apart then a bit of shouting and singing outside the ground is all good. Coaches in will simply ruin this.
Why should it take the police to deal with it though, and ensure everything is kept peaceful? It's the behaviour of the fans involved that's the issue. There is no justification for 'argy bargy outside the ground'. Police are hardly cheap as well.
It would be great if it could be like a trip to any other away ground, but I remember watching a sizeable number of our "fans" trying to push their way through the police lines to get at the Pompey supporters last time at St Marys. One of the most depressing things I have ever witnessed. After a disappointing result I still had pride in the team, not so much in behaviour outside. They could have led to sanctions against the club. I am afraid there are just too many nutters on both sides.
I wouldn't call them nutters, wannbe hooligans and thats what Saints have alot of.....seen at Portsmouth game, man utd and millwall....are fans give it large when behind police but rarely do much else
Absolutely gutted - i'll have been to 7 away games by the time I submit the form and will have already purchased Doncaster away by the time I submit and now they throw this into the mix. I got home fine in 2004, all be it nearly 3 hours after the game had finished compared to my 5 min walk beforehand! I always travel to away games by car - don't ask me why, just always have and always will, but does anyone know if they will provide parking at the Bursledon pickup? For what it's worth I don't think that it will be 7 or 8 away games purchased to get a ticket as there are many fans who travel to away games who aren't st holders and vice versa, many st holders that don't travel - i expect it to be more like 4 or 5 will get you in.... thoughts?
I think it's very sensible and the right thing to do. I went to Brighton away last season on the train and we had to change at Fratton. Pompey had played Swansea at home and it wasn't a pleasant experience! The platform was pretty empty then all of a sudden a load of Pompey fans appeared - nasty bunch! The only thing I'll be annoyed about is if they reduce our ticket allocation. It looks like they can accommodate 2000 away fans and I can't see any reason why we can't have all of them. I know it's 40-odd coaches but we took 100 to Wembley!
I think I will saddle up and leave Gosport for the day, maybe head to Southampton and watch in a pub. Probably not the best idea to go out round here.
Was going to go to this as should meet the away games criteria; not sure now though. Would have driven in - it's only 10 mins or so from Fareham. Not too surprised at this plan after the events in Jan last year which I was witness to....depressing and a throwback to the 70's which I remember well This is going to invoke a bit of a seige mentality which will not really add to the matchday experience IMO. Not surprised at the £12 cost - they have to find some way to recoup the cost of hiring 40-odd coaches. Will be interesting to see where they park them....the policing costs are going to be steep but I suppose they'll save some with no gauntlet running to Fratton station COYS
No such thing as a saints friendly pub in the city. I live on Devonshire all of the pubs around here will be busy with Pompey fans. I'm not sure I could not celebrate if we scored which could spell trouble. There are loads of Pompey fans who appreciate football properly but there are a few who are just xenophobic. It's a very insular place. I've watched saints games in the pub here before but never a derby as I've been at the game. Don't think I'll chance it. I'll catch the train over to park gate and watch the game with friends in the Pub.
I live in Milton and only 3 of our neighbours (been there nearly 5 years now) know i'm a Saints fan, the ones either side and the Pompey mad guy opposite worked it out based on the fact that; I tend to be leaving the city whenever they have a home game, I tend to be leaving the city whenever they are away but i'm leaving too late to watch them, and I know too much about their team to not be interested in local football. So he outright asked me one afternoon! He promised he wouldn't tell the idiot in our road who flew a 657 flag in 2008 for the cup final. The only time I watched Saints in the pub was against Fulham a few years ago in the Festing and I lasted 45 mins in the pub and decided i'd better not stay!
Crikey - it certainly says something about those who are moaning. This is and always will be a "high risk" match. If you can't be put out for one game and had life made a little awkwared in the name of safety and common sense then ou are not a decent fan. Well done the club for doing it this way. I for one was sickened by the scenes at St Mary's last season and in the Premier league clashes too. It's time the decent folk were protected from being caught up in the mindless idiocy. If you want to push your chest out and pretend to be a man, arrange to mee them on a cold wednesday evening on an isolated beach and beat the crap out of each other. Because of the behaviour of a few, this Season ticket holder will not be taking up his or his son's seat at the game at St Mary's, let alone Fratton Park. I won't put my child at risk.
Im not a season ticket holder so i've got as much chance of going to the match as becoming the next prime minister but it is the right thing to do. Inevitably some idiotic Saints fans will think they will get past the police and it will cause it all to kick off
I can't see any season ticket holder doing anything to risk the rest of the season, no matter what. My only concern is bricks and coach windows, so I hope there is a large cordon around the ground to help. It certainly seems very well planned so i'm sure the Police will have it under control
This is why the decision has been made. Reduces the chance of troublemakers getting tickets. We have more to lose than Pompey if the FA get involved. If we get three points, I don't care if it's played behind closed doors. Keep going as we are and we won't have this problem next year...the world will have returned to its correct position.
