I’ve been to three Arsenal/Spurs derbies. The last one, around 2007 at the Emirates, was lame as ****. The game was good but the atmosphere was sterile.
I'll never forget the smell everytime I went into the Baytree that's for sure!...... The Painted Wagon lads were singing "we're on our way" long before the Mackems were. It's actually the theme from Paint Your Wagon and the words were slightly adjusted to Painted Wagon. I can remember singing it in on many away trips back in the 80s...
A few years ago now I went to a Crystal Palace versus QPR match I think it was. (Our game was called off just as we got into Waterloo) A lot of the away fans were just standing across from the turnstiles throwing stones or whatever at us. As the police gave chase to that group, another came along and did the same. Then they started throwing coins (I kept them of course to help pay for the entrance fee)The stand we went into was right next to the away supporters. When inside there was a group who continued to throw coins at us and the players. (Not to mention the ref) We left the game just after half time as it was as boring as you can imagine and 0-0. Mind you I had kept the 32 coins I had picked up. About 12.5 pence in todays money I recall!! It was chaos, the police that day really earned their corn. Not long after one of the smaller clubs I think it might have been Millwall had to play a couple of home games to an empty stadium if memory serves. Must admit that seemed to start quietening things down gradually. Obviously one of the most scary I'd attended and wished I hadn't bothered!!
I want them to go up, just imagine if by some miracle that they get promoted next season and us, Brighton and B'mouth manage to not go down! Kenny Jackett is taking the edge off of my hatred for them!
It would please me to see all the south coast teams in the Premier League. Shame that clubs like Exeter and Plymouth can't get there. It's a step too far in the present day. When Brighton were promoted, Gary Neville produced some outpouring on the upswing of football in the far South and the massive dowturn amongst clubs in general in the far North. He said that the best players simply wouldn't live that far north of London. I think that's an oversimplification, but I can see what he means. Sunderland?
They should be kept at arm's length for as long as possible but I fear the return of games accompanied by riot police and dogs is not far away.
Jake Hesketh scored Burton's second goal in a 2-2 draw at Fratton tonight....good lad, I bet he got a proper "scumming" though... Edit..oh bum, HR beat me to it on another thread..
Just watched the Hesketh goal - very good goal. Time for a recall perhaps? As funny as it would be to see the promotion campaign fall apart (and Sunderland are pressing) but poppy look like their going up to me in a skatey kind of way. as each week passes a championship clash looks more and more plausable!