I made the mistake of leaving early once, we were playing Middlesbrough, I think it was around 2003 (unless someone wants to correct me!), we were 2-0 up with 5 minutes to go and I was already late for somewhere I had to be. So we left...final score 2-2! I swore never to leave early again!
I don't leave early normally The stadium exits are poor - far better examples elsewhere in europe and getting out the city by car is hopeless thanks to the awful traffic routes I guess that is why some leave early but we seem to have more than a minority doing it
Ah, the FireDrill thread! Only time I can remember leaving early was last year. Left about 15 minutes into the second half, ran full pelt to the train station, train to London Waterloo, tube to central London, quick change into suit and arrive at my wife's company Christmas do with 15 minutes to spare. She was so impressed that I still wanted to go to the match, rather than spend the morning shopping with her. Otherwise, no. It's only acceptable to avoid shoe shopping with my wife. I don't know what those behind me thought and I don't care. It's not possible to know why people are leaving, but I do appreciate if they wait until there is a break in play before doing so. The other thing is......... (Oh, he's gone)
We were given tickets for Cinderella on Ice a few years back. It was terrible. I would have been happy if it finished at the intermission but we didn't even leave early for this. I did fidget an awful lot though in the second half whilst I was vainly hoping it would improve. We discovered that ice skating is not our thing
Oh my goodness, you've just reminded me of something I'd hoped to forget. Way back in my late teens I went to the cinema with a mate [The Classic, Above Bar, no less] to watch a great adaptation of H G Wells Island of Dr Moreau. So the film started and after about 20 minutes I leaned over the my friend and whispered, this isn't very good. He whispered back, I know but I'm told it gets really good. Well we waited for the entire film to get better and it never did. In fact it probably got slightly worse. The next day he went into work and walked up to the mate who advised him to see the film, got the first word out about it and the bloke burst into screams of laughter.
When I first started going I was always an hour or more early. Consequently, by the time of the game, I had a good position but stone cold tootsies. When I got bigger I left until much later. These days with seats it's not a problem.
Templar, if you're not already streaming the games, have you thought about getting Saints Player? The Solent commentary, for all Saints games can be heard live, then a couple of days after each game, you get extended highlights. Might be worth a consideration.
Was it 1pm or 1:30pm that the turnstiles opened? I'd be there with my wooden box ready to get a good spot, just in front a barrier. Then it would be sarnies and flask out to try and keep warm.
I think it might have been as early as 1pm, but really it must have been 1.30pm. I'm not sure I could have stood 2 hours of standing around re-reading my programme. Mind you, if someone knows it was 1pm I'll bow to their better memory. It's no wonder I know all the songs word for word from the tannoy, there was precious little else to do. So you were one of the organised ones, with your box, sarnies and flask. I managed the sandwiches, but not the flask or box.
