It's just the modern ethos. Everybody thinks they are busy. Everybody thinks their time is soooo precious. Everybody must drive and park as close as possible. I remember when we used to go to the Dell (only a couple of times a year) we used to drive in from Winchester (where my family are from and who we would be staying with) and park a mile or 2 away, then walk the rest. Then we would take a casual walk back to the car discussing the game and such like. By the time we got there (20-30 minutes) the traffic would be gone. These days it's much different. Everybody drives everywhere and the roads are full on Saturday whether there is football or not. Oh how I would love for people to just enjoy time rather than buzz about and fill their lives with banal banter on fb and the like I remember I went to a Lincoln game 20 years or so ago with a friend who didn't go very often (boring I know) and I was a season ticket holder at the time. Lincoln were 4-0 down with 5 minutes to go and he suggested we leave to beat the rush (gates were around 5-6k at the time and Sincil bank was at the time similar to the Dell to get out of.) I replied 'I'm not leaving, Lincoln might get a consolation goal'.......They got 3 goals in that last 5 minutes+stoppage time and nearly drew the match to boot
I have a flatulence and a bladder problem so I have to get up a couple of times in each half to go to the lavatory and every time I get up my flatulence starts. Therefore as I brush by everyone they shout obscenities at me and I fart back. There are a couple of young lads though who not only shout obscenities they also kick me. Next season I am going to get a seat at the end of a row.
I don't suffer from the flatulence problem, decent diet I guess, but as I have got older the need for a number one is often a pressing concern, so I worked out a couple of years ago to get the end seat! I still refuse to leave before the final whistle blows, I have paid my money and I want to get my moneys worth every penny of it.
I was sat in Block 1 Itchen so I had a great time waving cheerio to the Livepool supporters. Though the Liverpool supporters sat right in front of me (!) stayed until the end. They must have loved me singing 'Liverpool....you win **** all' Tip for not needing a pee during the game is too only drink shorts pre-game.
Well, I always leave about 1 minute from the end of added time. It probably saves me about 15 to 30 minutes getting home. I don't park close, about 2.5 miles away at my mother-in-law's. And, yes, my time is precious. I'm getting older, anytime is precious. If you are the sort of person who is happy sitting in a traffic jam sobeit, but I do object to the fact that you all seem to consider yourselves superior just because you stay to the end. When Saints were first in Division One (1966) I used to arrive at the Dell by 11.00 am (gates didn't open till 1.00 pm) and I was never the first one there. back then you had to buy a ticket on the day. In my teenage years, I used to hitch hike to away games, I've survived numerous fracas in Portsmouth, I've been kicked out of pubs for being too noisy, I went to Millwall, on my own wearing my colours and didn't stand with the Saints supporters (ok, that was dumb and luckily we got stuffed), now I like to leave early and beat the traffic. And I object when people make like I'm not a true supporter. Same as those people who bang on about those people who don't sing all game not being true supporters. We all do it in our own way. We all support the same club.
So if a physically or mentally disabled person wants to go but has to leave early because of the large groups of people leaving they shouldn't go?. I agree about the people that leave early just for the sake of it but how can we tell which are which?.
Trains back to Cardiff leave Southampton Central at 10 past so I would have to leave 5 minutes early or face sitting on a cold station platform for an hour. But I still stay until the very end and clap the players off the pitch - a mentality I have my Nana to thank for!
Bit of an empty point BD. There will always be genuine exceptions. This doesn't account for what sometimes has been a mass exodus, 5-10 minutes before the final whistle.
Not really a empty point, what I was getting at is we can't judge any one as we don't know why they are leaving early. Yes granted some just leave early for the sake of it but we don't know which ones they are do we?.
I get pushed and jostled and shoved as I leave the ground in the crush but I could not leave early ever.
Why does everyone apparently live in the opposite direction to me? It's a slalom getting through the crowd.
Which is why I made the suggestion earlier, which was, don't go at all if you intend to leave early, and stay in the pub if you prefer beer to football. I mean, is it really that precious to most people who leave early to gain that extra few minutes..? The tactic I used to use, if I wanted to get out of the stadium swiftly, was to head for the exits as soon as the final whistle went. No hesitation, now jawing, just finding the quickest way out. If I went with friends, we'd all do the same and meet up outside at a usual place and then head where ever, doing our talking as we went. If I went on my own I was out of there in a heart beat. I actually think some people like to get to their cars to switch on the radio so that they can hear how all the other teams are doing/did.
People who leave early are dickheads. But the biggest dickheads are those that leave early, only to then stand there in front of you blocking your view because something interesting could be about to develop on the pitch. You decided you were going to leave early, so **** off and do it. Don't spoil it for the rest who have stayed to the end just because for a split second you think something might be about to happen. Was there for the City game and the amount of people leaving around 85 mins was shocking. Arseholes the lot of 'em.
