Being only a young lad who has to travel to matches alone, prior to now I've only gone to home games. But with prices at Elland Road now ridiculous and our home form likewise, I fancied a change and wanted to experience te away days. So whats its like? Is the whole experience better than the home? Similar or different in what ways? Do we always sell our allocations and what are my chances of getting tickets? Is there any trouble? And finally on a sidenote how long does it take for the Memberships to actually arrive? Ordered mine 2 weeks ago and it still isn't here. Anyway thanks in advance MOT!
The experience is totally different. Probably better in every way. It's all about the feeling of invading someone else's city and trying to support our team better than the home fans, which we almost always manage. The songs and support are much more varied and louder than you get at ER where you only get the odd rendition of 'we are Leeds', 'MOT' and 'we all love Leeds' before everyone starts shouting at the players again. And more generally, I quite enjoy just seeing different places and what their cities, stadiums and people are like. We've sold out about 80% of our allocations this season, but they don't usually sell out till a few days before the game (this is mainly due to them changing the applications to game-by-game rather than it being done in five-game phases which meant the website was constantly down and people headlessly applied for every game they could). So as a member, as long as you apply within a few days of the ticket going on sale, you should be fine. We won't sell out Barnsley, Palace, Arsenal or Coventry until the very end of the applications period. I go by train since I can't be bothered paying to join a supporters' group (and it's illegal to drink on football coaches, but isn't on trains), but obviously if you're not near a major rail route, you might be best going with the West Mids or Shropshire Whites. Don't bother driving down yourself if you enjoy a drink or seven! Most away coaches have a pub stop en route to the ground to circumvent the no alcohol law (but to be honest, I've heard a few coaches flout that rule anyway). And as for violence, you won't get any trouble unless you really look for it and we're playing someone who cares about us. Mostly you just get the odd 12-year-old tosser in the next stand chucking a couple of plastic bottles before getting ejected. If you're worried about getting attacked, don't wear colours and keep yourself to yourself. Elland Road is one of the most dangerous places to come in English football, and how much violence do you really see there? (When we're not playing scum...) And my membership last season and ST this season took a while to arrive too. If you email the club, they can send you a replacement members' card for the game (looks like a business card with the fixture and your member number written on). I needed one when I lost my card for a while last season and it arrived within a day of me emailing them. Which games are you thinking of going to?
Thanks Leeds-18 I'm now a member of the West Mids Whites so travel is no problem. As many as possible to be honest, with the exception of Cardiff and Millwall. Middlesborough appeals to me, sort of a derby/rivalry and they're up there. Coventry, been told we'll receive 6200 tickets? Would be suprised if that sold out, but that'd be my first night match. My Dads mate has got a box at Reading and has been good enough to ask us to join him. Almost all of the March fixtures look tasty! Any recommendations to which games would be best?
The ones further away from Leeds tend to have the best atmospheres, so Bristol and Pompey should be good in Feb. Especially since they're in nice old grounds rather than half-filled bowls like the Keepmoat. We sold 6,000+ at Coventry last season, but since it's on a Tuesday this time round, I doubt we'll get more than 4k. We only sold 3k for Birmingham on a Tuesday so our turnout might be comparable to that. Definitely go to it though if it's just down the road. Nailed on win you'd have thought too. Tickets should be cheap as well (always look for the student/U21 offers when you're applying BTW, it'll save you a good tenner most times). Closer to now, Palace will be decent with a 4,000 seat allocation in a brilliant stand (even if you do have to venture through lovely South Norwood), Arsenal will be expensive but I'm sure there'll be some excitement along the way like there always is in these big games and Barnsley will be awful as we get mauled 5-2 again by those pesky Tykes. Hull will definitely sell out and Boro probably will. Local game for me so I'm looking forward to that one. That is one to keep your wits about you outside the ground judging by what people who went last season said. Like I say though, you'll be alright as long as you don't rile people up. Looked brilliant there last season when Becchio volleyed in that screamer and the 4,500 fans were going mental. Millwall will probably be decent too if it's a 15:00 kickoff. Few nobheads waving Turkey flags, sure, but the Police will have things well under control outside the ground.
Thanks for all the advice Leeds-18 Anyone I speak to at home matches about this says to about the London clubs?
Did you mean to type 'avoid the London clubs'? Nothing wrong with a day in the Big Smoke. It's expensive if you go to the wrong places to eat/drink, but it's usually a decent day for the footie. I've heard tales from the 80s where it got very hairy in London with all the fans meeting each other at the major train stations and bricking the **** out of each other but you won't get that in 2011, it's almost too safe really with the amount of coppers you see around the place. A fair amount of home fans don't go to aways any more and vice versa with away fans, so you'll always get different perspectives off people. I'm probably only going to 5-10 homes next season, can't be arsed with the prices or experience any more and it will decrease my contribution to Bates.
Yeah sorry my mistake... I'd love to go somewhere where we get a huge allocation and sell it out, how many are we taking to Barnsley? Hoping to get to Blackpool aswell, small ground but just fancy it Will definately apply for Palace and Middlesborough
Adam-if you travel on coach,Millwall is probably the safest away ground in the league.coaches are parked in a fenced compound which is part of the away end.You step off the coach walk a few yards to the turnstile's millwall fans not allowed any where near.Great day out.
We've been allocated 5,000 for Barnsley. Not sure if we'll sell them with people still feeling the Christmas pinch and after our recent performances... and our record against them, the omens aren't good for the game. Good away end though (biggest in the country) and reasonably priced concessions tickets. I reckon the Blackpool game will be the one everyone's looking forward to. Lots of people spending a long weekend there by the seaside and tickets will be in big demand. I imagine most of the regional supporters groups will be staying overnight, so that might be an issue for you. Impossible to get there and back by train and Darlo lads will probably be overnighting it so I won't bother with that one myself. To be honest though, even the away game people were least looking forward to this season (Donny) was quality, and you'll enjoy yourself no matter where you go as long as we don't get thrashed. Happy travelling!
