I was wondering if opposition fans are allowed to buy tickets in the hospitality section of St Mary's? I take it that they are allowed to, or do fans just buy the tickets without mentioning who they support. Anyway they need to sort it out because whenever I'm at a game and there are opposition fans in the Itchen stand like today against Swindon (Pompey game and others) there is always a fight. I know in a ideal world these grown men in their 40's!! should not be brawling but I think it is gonna happen and we can't stop it. I saw a family a mum, dad and their two children having to leave the game because they were obviously scared for the safety of their children. People are leaving early because of these people, I don't condone violence but can't they do it outside and let the rest of us enjoy the game. Saints need to be stricter on who they allow in.
They were provoking the home fans when they equalized so deserved a smack - something a Saints fan obliged with. The club should really do something about it as during high profile games with high intensity , fights are going to kick off.
I was in the Itchen north, and all I could see was a man holding onto one of the concourse bars refusing to leave, there was about 4/5 other stewards and i presume his family trying to pull him off and pleading with him to go (well, it looked like it from where I was sat) , but I couldn't see it properly so if I got anything wrong sorry !
To be honest we can do without that kind of behaviour in a football ground. We don't deserve having opposition fans in amongst the home fans that is why we have an away section. It is as much for their own safety as ours. If you are going to have corporate boxes or hospitality areas With opposing fans in them then they should be well policed to prevent that sort of thing. However sympathetic you are to the fan that went up and "slapped" him no matter what the provocation, It should not happen at a football match. Violence is violence which ever way you look at it, and should not be condoned under any circumstances. It is something we do not want at St Mary's. I hope the club bans the individual for life including the perpetrator. I may seem a bit harsh on the guy but it is the only way of getting people to think that that kind of behaviour is just not wanted or going to be tolerated.
I agree ... Seen quite a few scraps during the games this season at St Mary's. There is no excuse for it, these people are not fans they are hooligan and don't deserve to step into St Mary's and should be banned. Poor family having to leave early seeing that is embarrassing for SFC Away hospitality should be near away fans with sufficient safety stewards. Poor planning from SFC I'm sure something will change as it was in eye view of Corp Box... NC wouldn't have been pleased
It's our Club's fault for allowing opposition fans into hospitality, as it's mixed with our fans who'll inevitably get wound up by idiotic fans like Swindon's today.
Saw it from the Northam after a friend pointed in out to me. Were they over reacting by sending about 20 stewards racing up the stands?
Sounds lie exaggeration to me. Sitting in the Chapel I saw 3 man get escorted out by police from the Swindon fans section. And saw one man leave with 2 stewards in the Itchen, the side closest to the away fans. Noticed no other incidents during the match. Unfortunately as no one else has mentioned it and based on DTLW's history from previous 606 (no offence) I'm afraid I'm not 100% convinced.... Soz mate
I saw something kicking off, but was more interested in the football so watched that instead. Seems crazy allowing away fans into the Itchen though, regardless of whether they are corporate or otherwise and is asking for trouble/
Well I saw stewards racing up into the stands and there was a big bunch of orange stewards in the middle of the stand grappling with someone.
From where I was sitting in the Chapel.......all we could see were the flying fists just before the Stewards got involved. To be honest I didn't bother looking over any more just focused on the game, and to explaining to my Grandson that that rarely happened as he was quite disturbed by it. It did catch my eye when a family seemed to being escorted out. I have no Idea what their involvement was if any. Either way it was disgraceful behavior.
Something else that may be of interest to the club.......We had a couple of noisy guys behind us in chapel.....Although they seemed harmless enough.....it took me a while to realise that they were Swindon fans!! My older Grandson said there were 4. Did anyone else see any Swindon fans amid the Home fans? Apart from those in hospitality that is?
Away Fans allocation was probably sold out - as it looked packed ...so they probably travelled down with the intention to grab any seat!
I saw quite a few gaps towards the bottom of the away fan section. Maybe they did just grab a seat, as long as they didn't cause trouble its all-right.
Oh I quite agree......It is unusual is all and surprising. I have no idea why they were sitting there they did seem a little tanked up. Apart from being a bit boisterous and noisy they were not any trouble really. I just mentioned it as it was unusual.
