I don't think they do People don't have to leave five minutes early in reality, they choose to. If there's a 15 minute delay, for a floodlight failure, all those people don't leave with 20 minutes to go. I think it's from when they were young drivers and had to 'get in front' of the traffic ... ... I honestly think some see 'beating the traffic' as a victory and getting one over on people they've 'left behind'. I can imagine them sitting, in their armchair, with a nice cup of tea, watching shyte telly and thinking 'I bet some of those idiots still haven't got home' chortle chortle chortle.
As said by others, you've raised very good points and I would probably agree with you on them, however, if there's a group of lads on a minibus buzzing after a result like the ones we've had lately, you're not in a hurry to get home (at least I wouldn't be!) but if you're driving or getting a train home, I suppose there's a reason for leaving early. I know, I've stopped back until the final whistle with the grandson with him whinging that we're winning 3-0 so the games over why are we staying, then trying to quickly get to train station to see if we can catch the train home can be a bit of a pain in the backside and leaving that little bit earlier to make sure you get the right train would be worth it - I say this from experience as we rushed to the station and jumped on a train to Middlesbrough only to find that it didn't stop in Hartlepool but Thornaby!
I noticed that the police blocked off some of the entries onto the roundabout on the A1231 to get the traffic away and it was brilliant to get out onto the A19 rather than the stop start you usually get
fair point regarding the clock watching and just realized how much I do it and its a pain,especially when there is only a goal in it.
Could be that some just attend out of necessity or old habits and want to get there as close to kick off and away sharp too. I only say this because on the odd occasion I have to drive and get there late there’s thousands of people walking into the stadium still. I’m guessing if you’re turning up 5 minutes before kick off you probably aren’t hanging around after! Personally I really don’t like taking the car, especially if we aren’t having a quick pint before the match - for said reasons above. I enjoy going to the match and want to make a day of it, I don’t enjoy going out on “nights out” anymore and the match fills that void. Nothing better than jumping in the bath on a Saturday morning with a cold can, having a look at the days football and knocking a few bets up beforehand but I bet loads of fans who do the opposite think I’m a right weirdo for doing that!
I'm usually there for the final whistle, but if I've got reason to be away early I'll leave when needed. It's not the be all and end all.
I don't care what they do unless they stand in front of me while inching towards the exits ... ... just f*ck off and beat the traffic, treat yourself.
It’s not ‘Sunderland til I die’ … … it’s ‘Sunderland til I want to shuffle along blocking people’s view and killing the atmosphere’. I know this will annoy some people but I bet this won’t happen at QPR on Saturday … … is that because those going are better supporters and know the effect it would have on our players?
Don't get it. When I'm up north I travel from Shields, never left early. Don't mind getting back for just about 5.45/6. Plenty time to get ready and go out for a beer. Weird behaviour. Yes I know there will be a few exceptions, but not the numbers leaving early.
On occasion my old man took me in through the gates to catch the last 5 minutes of a match. Saved buying a ticket, cheapskate
If we're losing 4-0 with five minutes to go there's no chance of making a noise and encouraging the team to pull things back and get a result. If we're losing 2-1 and pushing, with minutes to go, the crowd is important imo ... ... I guess it depends on whether you think the support makes a difference, the players say it does. If you believe your support is totally irrelevant there's no point in going, you may as well just get a bigger telly. If it's genuinely so important that you really must leave early you shouldn't risk going anyway ... you wouldn't want to die of thirst from missing your 6 o'clock cup of tea.
For the most part, yes. I’ve been going to games for nearly 40 years (first one was Man Utd at RP in Dec 84) and I’ve left 3 games early: 0-3 v Villa when Coleman was manager. Left at HT in disgust 0-6 v Bolton in Johnson’s last game. 1-5 v Stoke. Sheer frustration at the ****e in front of me other than that, stayed to the end (sometimes the bitter end) in every other game regardless of the score. Seen some amazing moments like the Leeds equaliser, many late winners under Keane and Neil. Heartbreak like the Benteke winner when Moyes was in charge or the disallowed goal v Burton. It’s part of being a supporter rather than a fan I guess. No queue of traffic will stop me applauding those lads off the pitch, especially this season. Seems as though every one of the early leavers has a deeply personal and intricate reason for justifying why they leave early. Convenient.
I can understand people being annoyed if people are needed to stand whilst people shuffle past. I am next to the end so try not to disturb people . Fortunately no one seems to leave before me but it is annoying when people are late at the start of the match and at half time but can understand it may be due to slow service or queuing at the toilets.
Beer in the stands would be great but you just know you would come home drenched in booze every week for one reason or another. There's far too many scroats around who think they are funny or hard by throwing a pint in the air or in the direction of an opposing player. It's simply a waste of a good drink in my opinion. I've been to games in Italy and been able to sit there drinking beer with no issues but in England we seem to have this scroaty culture around throwing beer.
