Torquay United Fans Forum

Launceston Gull wrote: ↑09 Apr 2019, 15:37 I understand why pitch invasions happen but my view is save it till the end of game. Running onto the field when we scored our equaliser did us no favours. Woking at that stage were rocking and we may well have been able to go on and win the game, there was time; remember Woking still very nearly pinched it in the dying seconds. The delay may have cost us focus and momentum and could possibly have cost us dearly.

Yorkieandy wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 14:22 This is something i've been advocating for a while now. IMO there needs to be specific sections at home and away games for fans who want a more 'vibrant' experience at games and fans who are this way inclined can take in flags, drums, controlled pyro or whatever.

The issue we have at lots of grounds nowadays is that fans all want different things when they go to a game. I think we all agree that a group of lads bouncing up and down with flags and smoke bombs stood around young kids and elderly people, or just people who don't appreciate being exposed to this sort of fanaticism isn't going to end well.

If there was a specific section for example at the end of a stand specifically for all this stuff where likeminded fans can go and create an awesome atmosphere whilst at the same time not impacting of those who want a quieter atmosphere then that would be the way forward for me. The issue we have nowadays is that everyone is mingled together and everyone has a different way of supporting their team and that creates problems.

In many ways it's embarrassing how a game (soccer) considered minor a few years ago in the States is now showing us how things should be done. They are spot on with these 'pyro' areas and spot on about the way fans can interact and drink alcohol etc.

I'm not against bringing pyro into grounds and all that stuff so long as it's in specific areas that everyone knows about and it's regulated. At the moment we have the scenario of a few scrotes just letting off the odd flare or smoke bomb around others who have no choice but to be exposed to this simply by the fact they are unwitting sat / stood near to them. This is the main problem IMO and not so much that smoke bombs / flares etc are being brought into grounds.

If you want a quiet, more cerebral day at the footy then stay well away from the pyro end and then nobody can have any complaints because everyone knows which area they prefer to be in and where they stand.

I definitely think it's something worth campaigning for.

wivelgull wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 14:39 Running onto the pitch is, for Torquay United, a fairly recent phenomenon. The first time I observed this behaviour was at the 'great escape' game (TUFC vs Crewe Alexandra) in May 1987. Before that it was unknown. The Codgery will back me up on this; certainly there was no pitch incursion at the 1965 Spurs game or during the 1965-6 promotion season. Even at the height of the glory days no-one ran onto the pitch (or, if they did, it was an individual rather than a group moment). The influence of television, of course, is the determining factor here.

Southampton Gull wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 12:26 I have to say that spending most of my weekends doing security at different sporting events around the country and trying to stop smoke bombs and flares etc getting in, it was a strange feeling to be stood on the terraces observing the smoke with the noise etc with a sense of pride in the following of my football club. I can see both sides of the argument and I guess its left me with a question as to which side I agree with. It was pretty impressive to be a part of it all.

Yorkieandy wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 12:55 Good post. Some reasoned points there and it's hard to disagree.

My only comment would be that by invading the pitch they are committing a criminal act and whilst it's not like robbing a bank it's still a law and that needs to be respected regardless of mitigation. If we all got let off when breaking laws when getting a bit too carried away then there wouldn't be much point in having any laws.

Therefore i feel a small fine would be probably the most appropriate thing in this case. Just my opinion though and i appreciate all your points.

United62 wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 12:30 Here we go again... the York City fan telling us all how to behave. It was a crucial goal at a very crucial time. The fans went wild (I certainly did!), some (a small minority of the 1400 there) spilled over on to the pitch to celebrate with the players. It was a bit of fun (yes, which could have got out of hand, but didn't) and the corner area was soon cleared once the celebrations had died down.

Mountains and molehills.

You'd have thought it was Millwall v West Ham after the game though what with drones hovering, police keeping the HOME fans in (you couldn't make it up!) whilst they herded everyone past the waiting buses ... and if you weren't getting on one you had to squeeze past plod who thought that it would be a good idea to virtually block your exit.

Woking fans were, quite rightly, furious at the decision to keep THEM in whilst the Yellow Army headed for coaches, cars, trains, etc.

Wokingham Gull wrote: ↑08 Apr 2019, 12:18 Totally agree with TheElk. This was not the Stone Island Army making trouble. This was true fans getting well and truly immersed in the excitement of a last minute equaliser at the very end of a match against our nearest rivals.

I was right there at the corner, and even I thought about jumping on the pitch in the heat of it. The only thing that stopped me was more about getting my old inflexible body over the barrier and back again!!

I bet there are some on this forum who jumped on the pitch, no harm done, and if some of you moaners were right in the heart of it, when the players ran towards us, and the Woking Steward opened the gate in the corner, you too may even have got excited enough to get carried away and join those on the pitch, once in your life.