Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:22 am  

madmuppet wrote:

There was a Leeds fan in the west stand who kept standing up giving all the wire fans abuse. A saints fan turned round told him shut up give him a clip round head and never heard him again. Where we were sat there was two fights during the game and one adter

He was near us, he was lucky not to be on the end of a bit of trouble. That saints fan sorted him and as for the lad he spent most of the game downstairs.

You will get it every year no stewards or police on the turnstyles so the morons are allowed in. I got the train from Yorkshire which are 2pm was rammed with Leeds fan who 80% where either already on the sauce or had been before getting on the train.

Still not sure why Leeds fans were buying tickets in the wire end when they have been in the old scoreboard end for the last x amount of years.

Apart from a couple of things in the ground I didnt see anything else outside or in central manchester. Was surprised at the amount of Catalan fans having a good weekend away.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:33 am  

Does some of the issue lie with the organisation of the competion, and ticketing distribution? There is no restriction as to who buys tickets in what area, with 'free' sales in the allocated ends through the RFL prior to the qualifying teams reaching the final.

Furthermore perhaps, mixed seating creates its own issues, as the opportunity to move away from any 'idiots' isn't usually an option, unlike with standing terraces.

Fortunately these are still isolated incidents, however there is no clear indication from the RFL that they are actively doing anything to discourage/prevent it from happening.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:55 am  

Sat in the West stand on Saturday (207, just behind the lads with the drums), no more than 20 seats from the block of Leeds fans sat slap bang in the middle of the supposedly 'Warrington' end; I can only assume they got their tickets from the RFL - if they travelled to HJ to deliberately buy tickets in that section then I can only guess at their 'intelligence'. We also had two complete balloons sat three seats away from us who decided to have a pop at each other whilst sat in the middle of many family groups - yeh, way to go lads ... did yourselves proud there, I don't think!

Water off a ducks back to myself, but clearly upset a lot of people. I had a quick word with a copper on the way out and said "I thought you had CCTV covering all parts of this ground?" His answer was simply "We have". Now, had any trouble occurred at a football match at OT (especially when ALL ticket purchasers, whether through the club or RFL can be quickly traced), those responsible would be identified and getting a knock on the door this morning. Has this happened? If not, why not? It's important to me as a fan of RL that the game, with the aid of the police, stamps on these morons quickly, and lets it be known that it wont be tolerated.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:09 am  

i was in 207, that leeds fan with the long hair was a prick.

Grand final or not, if you've got anything about you, you tailor your reactions and celebrations to your surroundings, i was sat within the wigan fans at widnes in 09, yes i celebrated and stuff when we scored,but i did it, then sat down, i never once turned around and wound anyone up, or whooped at all.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:18 am  

I was there as a neutral in the upper quadrant at the "warrington" end. I saw a few incidences that seem to be a recurring theme at the GF. It seems that it is always the drunken element and it really doesn't matter who they support - I have seen people in most clubs colours being ejected.

Around in me (I was in RFL allocated padded seats) and had to move because of one idiot who was obviously coming down from something as his support (of Wire) was bordering on Rabid. But in front there were two others (supporting Leeds) who continually goaded and gestured at the majority further up where the drummer was.

There seemed to be many small skirmishes where people had crossed words about the game or the refs decision - something that could and should be part of the banter we enjoy as fans of the sport.

I have to admit this felt different to Wembley and the Magic Weekend and was pleased I didn't have my children with me as I have in the past. The RFL need to sort this out and give the game back to the real fans and families who deserve to see their side play in what should be any clubs biggest game.

The GF has got progressively worse over the last few years - I have been at the last three, but it is always the same factor that causes trouble - alcohol and not the fans of any specific team.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:40 am  

As an armchair football fan, does this sort of stuff happen at FA cup finals and such like, or does the segregation of fans help?

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:43 am  

I would like to think that anyone who witnessed unsavoury events reports them to the RFL with supporting evidence, and ask them what they are going to do about this.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:05 pm  

I doubt if I would take my kids if (when?) We get there again.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:09 pm  

The first, and most obvious thing to do is move the KO time forward to 2pm. Sad but it will help.

Re: Disgraceful : Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:15 pm  

Wirefan wrote:

The first, and most obvious thing to do is move the KO time forward to 2pm. Sad but it will help.

Then move it to a better stadium, in better surroundings with more to do and far enough away to deter the casual drunken numpties from bothering - Millenium Stadium.