I was reminded over the weekend as to why I stopped going to soccer matches .
Local FA Cup derby between Villa & West Brom which included ripping seats out and throwing them down onto other fans . A pitch invasion 2 mins from the end .
Very , very intimidating behaviour on the streets ,(unreported) Fans hiding their scarves etc to avoid confrontation . The only sport where this occurs .
Now the strange with this is , if a team from London , Manchester , Geordyland ,whatever , in general they travel down , play the game , beat the Villa, and go away again . All is well. Normality reigns.
But in this area there are four teams within 4 - 5 miles of each other and Wolverhampton slightly further.
The animosity between their supporters is , in some cases , beyond belief . It seems that a football fan understands the concept that coming from Liverpool you may support them or Everton but if you live next door & support Villa not Birmingham ...you are the enemy !!! . Theres a lad in hospital from the Wolves match , hit by a flying seat.
Villa fans hate Blues
West Brom fans hate Villa & vice versa.
Wolves hate West Brom & vice versa. but don't mind Blues or Villa so much .
West Brom also hate Blues.
Blues hate Villa
Everyone likes Walsall .
Walsall I suspect don't like Wolves .
Wolves not bothered.
A Blues fan I worked with would not pass Villa Park but would make a detour.
Point I'm raising is ........ they carry this hatred with them to the grave .
Not all can tarred with same brush I know ,,,a load of Villa & West Brom fans arrived on the same bus without trouble .
Local FA Cup derby between Villa & West Brom which included ripping seats out and throwing them down onto other fans . A pitch invasion 2 mins from the end .
Very , very intimidating behaviour on the streets ,(unreported) Fans hiding their scarves etc to avoid confrontation . The only sport where this occurs .
Now the strange with this is , if a team from London , Manchester , Geordyland ,whatever , in general they travel down , play the game , beat the Villa, and go away again . All is well. Normality reigns.
But in this area there are four teams within 4 - 5 miles of each other and Wolverhampton slightly further.
The animosity between their supporters is , in some cases , beyond belief . It seems that a football fan understands the concept that coming from Liverpool you may support them or Everton but if you live next door & support Villa not Birmingham ...you are the enemy !!! . Theres a lad in hospital from the Wolves match , hit by a flying seat.
Villa fans hate Blues
West Brom fans hate Villa & vice versa.
Wolves hate West Brom & vice versa. but don't mind Blues or Villa so much .
West Brom also hate Blues.
Blues hate Villa
Everyone likes Walsall .
Walsall I suspect don't like Wolves .
Wolves not bothered.
A Blues fan I worked with would not pass Villa Park but would make a detour.
Point I'm raising is ........ they carry this hatred with them to the grave .
Not all can tarred with same brush I know ,,,a load of Villa & West Brom fans arrived on the same bus without trouble .
