Summer's Over

[AlexS]

Hate the ****s. I usually plan my travel around them. Some of the stuff that happens on trains populated by football fans is utterly unbelievable. I've been on a train where the guard has had to lock a party of them in a carriage to themselves because they would not leave a group of young women alone, while throwing seat cushions around etc etc.

The unfortunate thing being BTP response often seems to be to herd them on to the trains to get them out of the way!

Why the **** do I pay out the nose for a ticket to have a bunch of arses screeching and shouting like 2 year olds, and then setting off like bloodhounds at the slightest sight of an opposing team's colours.

I'm a football fan myself and it's an utter disgrace, some bizarre excuse for otherwise apparently respectable older blokes in many cases to become utter arseholes.

I won't say I'm an angel and have never been drunk in public but I know for a fact I'm never aggressive to passers by and if I'm going to do something silly, it will either be making an idiot of myself by quietly falling asleep and missing my stop or having to pay a quick visit to a trap to correct an alcohol/judgement misbalance.

 

[222meridianfan]

On the journey back, there were several similar groups of tanked up burlies throughout the train, again "talking" about football. After Grantham, there was an announcement that violence or threatening railway staff would result in the BTP being called; after Retford there was an announcement that "catering had been suspended". QUOTE]

Was this the 19:50 departure from London KX because if it was i was on it and the groups were in the same coach as me.

 

[Invincibles]

Yes it is a problem and they are not really that interested in football. There are some far-right Leeds "fans" who are a disgrace to the species, so it does not surprise me sadly. I hope the family were upgraded to FC.

What confuses me is that there is talk above about Leeds United supporters on a train from London on Saturday, they played Derby at Elland Road and, as the opening post states, the only mention of Leeds United was on the Ilkley train later that night.

Doncaster were playing at my side, PNE and so would not have been near that train (Hull would have been a possibility but they were at home as well) This then leaves only smaller sides, Scunthorpe were at Watford so that is a possible.

I do not know which supporters these were but it does seem to me at least that there is a lot of stereotyping and pinning of blame.

There were a lot of police at Preston station on Saturday but many different teams passed through and as far as I could tell everything went very smoothly.

There are real problems with football supporters on trains, I have experienced it too often, but it also can be true of other groups who travel together. Saturday nights are bad anyway with drinkers etc. Dry trains might be an idea but as others have said it is what happens off the train that is the issue so all the dry train does is ensure that there is problems of enforcement.

Football specials might be an answer, but they would have to be timed to allow time in the town being visited or people will simply get the normal train as "the day out" is a major part of following your team away to places where defeat is inevitable.

Last season we had a brilliant trip back from Plymouth meeting up with other supporters who had been at Exeter and Bristol, we did share some cans but were very quiet and certainly did not do anything which would really inconvenience any other passengers (i know no one likes to see groups with beer so I can not say there was no inconvenience caused)

A wider look at alcohol is needed but starting with football fans seems very narrow minded.

 

[Ivo]

There was a friendly between Bath City and Cardiff City which I attended (first ever friendly; first ever lonesome attendance) which had some crowd issues in the stadium (mainly laughing about the World Cup; the Cardiff fans singing "Germany! Germany!" and the Bath fans singing "Where were you in South Africa?"), but outside there were some Bristol City fans making a mess of the area around the stadium - including Oldfield Park station. It still gets mentioned in the Bath Chronicle, a month down the line. The problem here is that Twerton Park is easy for Bristol City fans to get to, and they don't like Cardiff...

 

[Oswyntail]

@Invincibles
I think you might get lynched for forgetting that Barnsley were playing QPR on Saturday - I would guess that Doncaster station might be a suitable railhead for them. And they too lost heavily.
@222meridianfan
Yes, it was the 19:50 from Kings Cross. Just an ugly atmosphere throughout the train, don't you think?
I honestly cannot see an answer to this that does not penalise the travelling majority. And, sadly, it does seem to centre round football.

 

[Bishopstone]

Perhaps the clubs could be made to provide (and pay for) some of their stewards to travel on the trains to assist the staff?

That's quite a good idea.

It's not just football fans, to be fair. Sadly, there are quite large numbers of people - from chavs to suited business folk - who have no idea how to behave respectably in public. I hate having to overhear conversations where the 'f' and 'c' words appear in every sentence.

 

[43167]

Heres afew examples of what ive seen of the years involving football fans.

Milton Keynes on a Euston-Wolves service in 2002: train was delayed awaiting for police after some West Brom fans racially abused a black guy & then got abusive towards a couple who were defending him. Thames Valley Police arrived & this occasion most were arrested.

Leeds Station in 1999: Leeds v Tottenham trouble at the station after the game mainly caused by Leeds Fans looking for a fight.

Leeds Fans on Leeds-Kings Cross train after game v a london side, Spurs again I think. Abused anyone who didnt support Leeds & then went looking for a fight.

Crewe station Dec 2001: Liverpool fans on way back from Chelsea got abusive with staff after their train failed in the station & were delayed by an hour. BTP on board but chose to do sod all.

Why should we have put up with these idiots for 9 months every year. If football got scrapped I wouldnt complain.

 

[Greenback]

That's quite a good idea.

It's not just football fans, to be fair. Sadly, there are quite large numbers of people - from chavs to suited business folk - who have no idea how to behave respectably in public. I hate having to overhear conversations where the 'f' and 'c' words appear in every sentence.

You are correct! There are masses of chavs and scumbags travelling around the system and making other travellers lives unpleasant, and they are not all football supporters!

I have seen very well behaved football fans returning home after matches and with a few drinks inside them. The sad fact is that when people do get together in a group they seem to lose any sense of having a volume control, as witnessed by the many stag and hen groups I've seen heading off to an airport for the weekend. They also seem oblivious to how their actions affect others, and I must confess to having been part of a drunken group returning from Ireland on a few occasions. There is no harm in us, but I;m sure we cna seem very loud and aggressive to people not in a similar state.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

With Blackpool making the prem this year, getting to london on a Sat avooiding the blackpool fans could be particularly tough - 'pool fans have a rep for being a bit out of hand at times. I always get on a Preston, change at Crewe for London (the Anglo-Glasgow trrains are loaded already). VT advised Blackpool fans to travel via Piccadilly when they reached the Play-Off Final at Wembley, but they will have 4 matches in the West Midlands, 7 in London, and 2 in the North east, as well as derbies v. Blackburn and bolton, as well as trips to Merseyside and Manc twice. And that doesn't include cups - lucky me avoiding aall this
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You are correct! There are masses of chavs and scumbags travelling around the system and making other travellers lives unpleasant, and they are not all football supporters!

I have seen very well behaved football fans returning home after matches and with a few drinks inside them. The sad fact is that when people do get together in a group they seem to lose any sense of having a volume control, as witnessed by the many stag and hen groups I've seen heading off to an airport for the weekend. They also seem oblivious to how their actions affect others, and I must confess to having been part of a drunken group returning from Ireland on a few occasions. There is no harm in us, but I;m sure we cna seem very loud and aggressive to people not in a similar state.

On the second to last Nottm-Grantham train on Tuesday, calling at bottesford, there was a bunch of chavs messing about on the platform, the guard released the doors, they took about 10 seconds to get to the doors after all their messing about. by this time the guard had closed the doors, and the chavs clearly made their intention to get onboard, and the gurad re-released the doors. they then got on, sat a few seats away from me, and played God only knows what on their phones out loud, probs audiable in the next coach. Their actions ruin the journey for anyonew already paying the high fares, looking for peace, or a relaxing journey back home. Horrible
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Heres afew examples of what ive seen of the years involving football fans.

Milton Keynes on a Euston-Wolves service in 2002: train was delayed awaiting for police after some West Brom fans racially abused a black guy & then got abusive towards a couple who were defending him. Thames Valley Police arrived & this occasion most were arrested.

Leeds Station in 1999: Leeds v Tottenham trouble at the station after the game mainly caused by Leeds Fans looking for a fight.

Leeds Fans on Leeds-Kings Cross train after game v a london side, Spurs again I think. Abused anyone who didnt support Leeds & then went looking for a fight.

Crewe station Dec 2001: Liverpool fans on way back from Chelsea got abusive with staff after their train failed in the station & were delayed by an hour. BTP on board but chose to do sod all.

Why should we have put up with these idiots for 9 months every year. If football got scrapped I wouldnt complain.

As a football fan, who uses the train to get where ever PEACEFULLY, would like to apologise to anyone affected. these people aren't football fans - they are yobs, thugs.

 

[Greenback]

I get very annoyed when people play loud music on trains! Or put their feet on the seats. If they do both I go purple. If football fans were drinking, acting aggressive, playing loud music and putting their feet on the seats, I think I'd have to get off, probably on a stretcher...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There was a friendly between Bath City and Cardiff City which I attended (first ever friendly; first ever lonesome attendance) which had some crowd issues in the stadium (mainly laughing about the World Cup; the Cardiff fans singing "Germany! Germany!" and the Bath fans singing "Where were you in South Africa?"), but outside there were some Bristol City fans making a mess of the area around the stadium - including Oldfield Park station. It still gets mentioned in the Bath Chronicle, a month down the line. The problem here is that Twerton Park is easy for Bristol City fans to get to, and they don't like Cardiff...

Cardiff fans too are particularly bad
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I get very annoyed when people play loud music on trains! Or put their feet on the seats. If they do both I go purple. If football fans were drinking, acting aggressive, playing loud music and putting their feet on the seats, I think I'd have to get off, probably on a stretcher...

If you put feet on seats, you should pay the fare for the seat, similarly with luggage! On a crowded GRA-Skeggy train last week, a singlle 158 could cope with the passenger numbers, just not the volume of luggage. Suitcases were piled up in front of the drivers door (I would have told the TM, apart from he wasn't around). Simply, if there would have been an emergency, or he had to get ou to examine the line etc, he wouldn't have. Stupid. People with bags small enoough didn't actually put them above them on the overhead racks, and prams (which can fit under seats0 occupied the luggage racks. But mind you the chavs onboard where probs too thick to realise 1. They were endangering the driver's (potential life) and 2. when you put bags in front of doors no one can get on. or off.

People who get on before peopple alight also reallly gets to me as well.

 

[Invincibles]

That was an oversight forgetting Barnsley wasn't it

They probably would have gone via Doncaster because Barnsley - Sheffield - London is not the quickest of routes if the connections do not work.

This weekend I will be at Swansea, hopefully not too much of an issue in that one (they are the worst group I have encountered but once they are confident you are leaving Wales they seem happy) and I will get to experience the joy of FGW first class because it was only £8.50 single to Bristol Parkway

With the Premiership starting up the football season really is back into full force. Hopefully nothing to report this week but last week it seems there was trouble on a Birmingham bound voyager between Forest and Burnley fans.

I am glad though that people do recognise that you get trouble from all sorts of groups and not just football supporters. I always see it as almost a natural tribal instinct, just that now what we identify as "us" is a lot less explicable than it would have been when we lived in caves. I have certainly witnessed enough arguments about which town people are from this week that were nothing to do with football.

 

[Greenback]

The Swansea football savages reserve their worst behaviour for Cardiff games. I used to live near the Liberty Stadium and it was usually pretty quiet unless Cardiff were visiting, or one occasion Millwall!

Have you been to Swansea's ground before? You can get a new FTR bus outside the station or it's a 25 minute walk. Anyway, enjoy your FC FGW HST experience!

 

[Invincibles]

Thanks Greenback, hopefully will.

I have been to the Liberty twice, last Feb we got a 1300 Saturday game because Wales were playing rugby against England later that day and the first time was a Tuesday night in January when we lost 4-1 in driving rain. The vetch was more interesting, there we got chased down the street with stones after watching Preston lose a 1-0 lead in the dying minutes to go out of the FA Cup 2-1.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I'm a very keen football fan, i do nothing like this. Nothing you can do they will always do it........

 

[Greenback]

Thanks Greenback, hopefully will.

I have been to the Liberty twice, last Feb we got a 1300 Saturday game because Wales were playing rugby against England later that day and the first time was a Tuesday night in January when we lost 4-1 in driving rain. The vetch was more interesting, there we got chased down the street with stones after watching Preston lose a 1-0 lead in the dying minutes to go out of the FA Cup 2-1.

Many, many years ago outside the Vetch, someone had made sure there was a handy building site with lots of stones and rocks for the yobs to throw at opposition fans. Fortunately, the flats were eventually completed!

Mention preston and most older fans will remember the game that put Swansea into the old First Division in 1981, or the FA cup semi final defeat to Liverpool in 1964 if they are really old!

Back on topic, the BTP at Swansea station seem to be pretty good at dealing with the football and crowds, so the trains should be OK at least.

 

[43167]

With Blackpool making the prem this year, getting to london on a Sat avooiding the blackpool fans could be particularly tough - 'pool fans have a rep for being a bit out of hand at times. I always get on a Preston, change at Crewe for London (the Anglo-Glasgow trrains are loaded already). VT advised Blackpool fans to travel via Piccadilly when they reached the Play-Off Final at Wembley, but they will have 4 matches in the West Midlands, 7 in London, and 2 in the North east, as well as derbies v. Blackburn and bolton, as well as trips to Merseyside and Manc twice. And that doesn't include cups - lucky me avoiding aall this
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


On the second to last Nottm-Grantham train on Tuesday, calling at bottesford, there was a bunch of chavs messing about on the platform, the guard released the doors, they took about 10 seconds to get to the doors after all their messing about. by this time the guard had closed the doors, and the chavs clearly made their intention to get onboard, and the gurad re-released the doors. they then got on, sat a few seats away from me, and played God only knows what on their phones out loud, probs audiable in the next coach. Their actions ruin the journey for anyonew already paying the high fares, looking for peace, or a relaxing journey back home. Horrible
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


As a football fan, who uses the train to get where ever PEACEFULLY, would like to apologise to anyone affected. these people aren't football fans - they are yobs, thugs.

I accept its not all. Ive seen many examples of real fans behaving well. In GNER valenta days, a favorite move of mine was to pick up the 1455 Aberdeen-Kings Cross from Edinburgh, Berwick or Newcastle, that train well used by real fans returning home from a Hearts/Hibs game in Edinburgh & Newcastle/Sunderland game in the northeast. Never seen any trouble on there. In my 1st post, I forgot about the good, sorry.

Should also point out, in a week on saturday its Rugby Leagues big day out at Wembley for the Cup Final between Leeds & Warrington. The game will see supporters of all clubs big & small attending the game. Trouble will be very minimal, if any at all.

 

[Greenback]

There's rarely any fighting or aggression with rugby fans, but I do sometimes wonder what non rugby supporters make of it all!

When Wales are playing at home, the trains are usually wedged as a lot of people just go to Cardiff for the day even if they don;t have tickets for the match itself. I've been on the 0829 train from Llanelli on a Saturday and been very lucky to get a seat amongst the red shirted people drinking their cans! By the time the game has finished and the fans are on their way home, I imagine their behaviour would be rather boisterous, and high spirited to say the least!

 

[Ivo]

Have you been to Swansea's ground before? You can get a new FTR bus outside the station or it's a 25 minute walk.

Those are niiiiiiiiiiiice. Why does Swansea have to be in Wales?! I can't use my bus pass! Also, a random fact about the ftr service: In Leeds, it is route 4. In Swansea, it is route 4. In York, it is route 4. Go figure.

 

[Greenback]

I didn't know that! In Swansea the ftr's took over the existing route 4, which for many years has run to Morriston Hospital. The new buses are much quicker!

 

[Invincibles]

Well got out alive, but then we did get beat 4-0

 

[Greenback]

Well got out alive, but then we did get beat 4-0

That would probably have put the idiots in a better mood than if it had gone the other way!

 

[Class 33]

I hate it when I get on a train and its packed with noisy football or rugby fans. I once remember getting on a train from Bristol Parkway-Cardiff on a Saturday a few years back. Got to the platform and thought what a hell of a lot of people on the platform. Got on the train and it was very over crowded and noisy. And I had to make do with standing in the vestibule area all the way there. Not a pleasant journey atall. Turns out it was the Rugby World Cup Final that day. I had no idea atall. But if I'd have known I wouldn't have bothered going!

Is there a website which lists when all the upcoming major rugby and football matches take place, and where they take place? So I can plan my journeys to avoid those days/times.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

I hate it when I get on a train and its packed with noisy football or rugby fans. I once remember getting on a train from Bristol Parkway-Cardiff on a Saturday a few years back. Got to the platform and thought what a hell of a lot of people on the platform. Got on the train and it was very over crowded and noisy. And I had to make do with standing in the vestibule area all the way there. Not a pleasant journey atall. Turns out it was the Rugby World Cup Final that day. I had no idea atall. But if I'd have known I wouldn't have bothered going!

Is there a website which lists when all the upcoming major rugby and football matches take place, and where they take place? So I can plan my journeys to avoid those days/times.

You could try

bbc.co.uk/sport

 

[Class 33]

You could try

bbc.co.uk/sport

Thanks. But allthough it's a little useful, it's not as easy and helpful as it could be(for people who want the info to AVOID those matches anyway!). You have to click through Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, etc to see when all the matches are on. But then it doesn't actually tell you where the matches will be played. For instance Saturday 9th October there is a Brentford v Oldham match, but is the match being played in Brentford or Oldham?

Would be good if there some website that simply listed all the upcoming Saturdays and Sundays, and where matches are being played and at what times.

I'm planning to go somewhere by train next month(undecided where yet). But I shall have to do some research and planning so that I can make sure I DEFINITELY avoid being on trains with loads of football or rugby fans either on their way to a match or coming back from a match!

Anyone got any other suggestions of which websites to use?

 

[Invincibles]

I do not want to point out the obvious but

Brentford v Oldham

is played at Brentford

And if you go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fixtures/default.stm you will find all the kick off times for all of the games in the UK in the next 7 days.

Preston v Norwich, 15:00

will be where I am on Saturday

 

[ainsworth74]

For instance Saturday 9th October there is a Brentford v Oldham match, but is the match being played in Brentford or Oldham?

General convention is the club name that is first is the location that the match is being played so in your example, it would be Brentford.

 

[Class 33]

General convention is the club name that is first is the location that the match is being played so in your example, it would be Brentford.

Ah ok cheers. That makes it a lot easier for me to plan a trip now then.

 

[tempests1]

When working as a Guard with SWT we used to have the 23:30 service from Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour the stock was 8 x CIG, on a Friday and Saturday night it would be full of drunk 17 & 18 year olds who had been drinking all night in the local bars at Guildford. More often than not on the approach into the station the driver would have to make an emergency brake application as the little darlings would be running around in the four foot. Trying to depart the station was a nightmare with all the doors on the catch and people constantly opening the doors after I have given two bells to the driver. On board the train you would have a death wish if you wished to pop through with a Sportis and do ticket checks. One of my fellow Guards bravely stood up to a drunk ticketless 'passenger' and was stabbed in the arm for his trouble! The same guard was running the last train from Guildford to Portsmouth. The journey was uneventful until arrival at Bedhampton where there was a drunk lad saying good bye to his Girlfriend. She was looking out of the window. The guard gave the Right Away to the driver, as the Up Platform is on a curve there is a short period of time where you cannot see the whole train. The Guard looked back in horror and saw the lad hanging onto the droplight window of the Slam Door the lad sort of slipped and his legs were stuck between the side of the train and the platform both legs were ripped off they could not be surgically reattached. The Guard stopped the train. The problem is in this country a lot of people can't moderately drink. Over in Europe they dont tend to have these problems maybe it is due to them not having an issue with drinking, the children can have say one glass of wine with their dinner from quite an early age so there is no mystery I think we could learn a lot.