boyracerr

I (Ben) will be there with my Dad, look forward to a couple of beers after!

I'll be down shortly

Yes, I'll be away for a couple of weeks but would be interested in playing after that.

Works for me. No doubt the splitters will be along shortly to suggest the Rose and Crown at the end of their street.

For MK Dons it was The Angel near Old St, was quite good as we basically had the upstairs to ourselves (and it is a proper old style pub)

why does everybody on this board think everything is done with an ulterior motive?

Because we're very disappointed and it's easier if we blame conspiracy by the opposing club?

I've been hearing rumours of men in dark suits hanging round the pitch covers all night with water pistols and icepacks...

Just came across this... hopefully he'll be able to use his 'distinctive' celebration tomorrow:

You can get your ticket money back...

But neither train nor hotel - £130 quid gone between the two of us. Maybe these things happen, but if Chesterfield are playing shenanigans to bring in new players this is disgraceful.

Confirmed by the club. Bugger.

It's not as if many people will be setting off before 2pm though, is it?

1 pm for me (from London to get the cheapo train). We had planned to sit in the pub at Kings Cross waiting for confirmation, was half looking forward to it! Fingers crossed all this is because the pitch is perfect and a tropical front has hit Derbyshire.

Even poorer for those of who booked trains from London that can't be changed. Get out the hairdryers!

I need to find out if I can arrange it with work, but being underemployed should be possible. Looking at getting the train and staying over in the Travellodge - would mean Tues afternoon and Weds morning off.

I've started a thread in the OASIS forum for those who might be interested. Currently looking at getting the train up and staying over, work permitting.

Any interest in an OASIS trip to Chesterfield?

If you go to games, you have to accept that people will stand and swear.....you have to accept that some people enjoy watching football in a different way than you. I'm not saying you have to put up with nastiness and disgraceful behaviour,, but you really can't expect the finest of behaviour. My dad took me from an early age, and to be honest, it was the atmposphere that got me hooked. Apart from the times i sat on the advertising boards to watch the game, all i saw for 90 mins was the back of people's heads. I enjoyed the noise and the banter and that is why i still go. My nephew enjoys the atmosphere (although under the roof on fri he said the noise hurt his ears) and he gets a bit bored without it.

Exactly! As a kid going to the football, the atmosphere, the noise and the 'banter' of the adults was what made it exciting and a superior experience to watching a game on telly. As an adult, for many of us getting a little bit tipsy and having a sing song is part of the day out. Sometimes this can involve swearing, and short of making everybody adopt leeslover style banter ('Keeper! I respect you as a man but your ball-handling skills are suspect') football is always going to be like this.

There always needs to be politeness and respect, but the tone of some of the comments leans a little too much towards the puritan side. As said previously, the solution must be to keep the family areas that some clubs have (and perhaps allocate one for away fans) and let people choose what kind of experience they want to have.

You are of course right... but it does illustrate that more could be done by clubs in allowing people to choose seating blocks and especially to look again at safe standing.

I was sat in a block where people were seated most of the time and the people around me barely made any noise. Now, don't get me wrong - that is their absolute right and everybody who bought a ticket has an equal right to be there. As Mark says, I am a polite chap and so sat down other than in those out-of-your-seat moments.

However, for those who do want to stand and sing the whole game, surely something could be done to keep them happy too? I always look forward to Brentford away every season because I know that we will be on a terrace and there will be a great atmosphere during the game - it makes a difference, and there is plenty of room to keep accomodate everyone.

Still got no e-mail back from the club. Will ring up first thing tomorrow.

Thanks, hopefully they well tell us one way or the other. I think they only go on open sale on the 29th, if I remember correctly?

I'd be in.

Bloody FA... have to fly back from holiday a day early! Girlfriend surprisingly understanding, will get to see her first latics match instead of lying on the beach.

Looking forward to this one, as it's ended up being my first away-day of the season. Many Christmas beverages ot be had. Also going to struggle to make that many for the next couple of years as I'm going on secondment to Brussels in January...

 

One main memory from last time is the incongruously poncey 'Italian' steward who got some attention from the Latics fans

So much so that he complained to his boss, who promptly moved him to the home end.

Steward: "The Latics fans are calling me a greasy :censored:"

Boss: "You are a greasy :censored:. Go and steward the family stand".

Looking forward to it (and only ten minutes from my house!)

Id love a copy of that lol

Me too whose mate was he?

Does anyone know who it was that took a picture of a few of us with Paul Dickov after the game?

It's all a bit hazy, but I seem to remember it was that Slovakian chap.

At what point and to where did you manage to escape from that Soho basement?

I pride myself on the balance and reason in my heckling. I think I was getting to him telling him to tuck his shirt in, he kept sorting his socks out but obviously couldn't do anything with his shirt as he didn't want to give me the satisfaction As it happens he was impeccable throughout, it was a pleasure being able to throw random commentary to a proper pro like that.

Big Fin. I really don't think you should steal my thunder. I do believe I can claim credit for this one in a (relatively) sober moment of inspiration ;)

As an eyewitness, I don't remember there being any sober moments at all after we left The Griffin.

Just reading his autobiography and I remembered this thread. Page 241:

"During my second home League game [in charge at Ipswich] the cry went up, 'Big fat Joe's barmy army.' It's stuck and I take it as a term of endearment!"

That seems pretty conclusive...

Ah yes I have good memories from last season... a certain OASIS singing 'You shot Phil' throughtout the game and spending hours in the pub afterwards singing 'Andy Ritchie's magic'. Looking forward to it!