Leaving Liverpool

[Stranded]

There is no weak reason for leaving early because frankly you don't have to have a reason.

Far more than usual may have left a tad early on Saturday because the game was an early evening kick off, it was 7pm when the match finished so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that many had other plans that meant they had to get away asap - a problem that would be lessened at 3pm kick offs.

the point was "why?"

I'm sure people at various times do have reasons for needing to leave, but there were far more leavers than usual on Saturday. I'd guess at the final whistle the place was between 1/4 and a 1/3 empty. That is very unusual.

If somebody out there likes to leave 10 minutes early to beat the traffic then that's their perogative. It doesn't make them a "bad fan" or anything, but unless those 10 minutes will make a dramatic difference to their evening you have to ask if the benefit outweighs the potential loss of missing a goal. Did those who left early at the Wigan game, for example, think it was worthwhile?

Personally I have left early from games. I once left a world cup match 10 minutes early because I had to catch an earlier train. I missed two goals and was damn annoyed about it, but the alternative meant getting back to my hotel at 5am rather than before midnight.

5.15pm kick offs on a Saturday are very unusual (we've had what 2/3 of them). A number of people who therefore would not normally have to leave a bit early would have done together with those who usually do.

[Rawlie19]

I've only ever left one game early, and that was Arsenal this season. It was 5 minutes from the end I'd had enough. It was a Monday night, I'd been up since 4.30am, worked 12 hours, then sat through that, had to walk 5 minutes to my car, drive back to Newbury and then get up at 4.30am again for another 12 hours at work (not to mention all the snide comments from the Arse fans at work). So I exercised my right to leave early. It meant that when I got to my car I was able to just cruise out of the car park and onto the M4 with no problem and was home within 20 minutes. Yes, I missed our consolation goal, but to be honest if I'd been guaranteed a goal from us I would have still left. And I didn't block anyone's view as I sit right next to the aisle one row in front of a vomitry. So oxf*rd what if I left early? It is no business of yours to be honest. I can understand the gripe from people who's view is blocked when people leave their seat and stand in the aisles to watch the last few minutes though. My view has been blocked just by people walking past to get a hot dog or have a piss for many goals this season. It's almost a guarantee that when some old todger walks slowly back down to his seat that we are going to score.

[AF1]

I've only ever left one game early, and that was Arsenal this season. It was 5 minutes from the end I'd had enough. It was a Monday night, I'd been up since 4.30am, worked 12 hours, then sat through that, had to walk 5 minutes to my car, drive back to Newbury and then get up at 4.30am again for another 12 hours at work (not to mention all the snide comments from the Arse fans at work). So I exercised my right to leave early. It meant that when I got to my car I was able to just cruise out of the car park and onto the M4 with no problem and was home within 20 minutes. Yes, I missed our consolation goal, but to be honest if I'd been guaranteed a goal from us I would have still left. And I didn't block anyone's view as I sit right next to the aisle one row in front of a vomitry. So oxf*rd what if I left early? It is no business of yours to be honest. I can understand the gripe from people who's view is blocked when people leave their seat and stand in the aisles to watch the last few minutes though. My view has been blocked just by people walking past to get a hot dog or have a piss for many goals this season. It's almost a guarantee that when some old todger walks slowly back down to his seat that we are going to score.

Plastic.

[SWLR]

Missing option:

To break into Stevie G's house before he gets back

[Rawlie19]

I've only ever left one game early, and that was Arsenal this season. It was 5 minutes from the end I'd had enough. It was a Monday night, I'd been up since 4.30am, worked 12 hours, then sat through that, had to walk 5 minutes to my car, drive back to Newbury and then get up at 4.30am again for another 12 hours at work (not to mention all the snide comments from the Arse fans at work). So I exercised my right to leave early. It meant that when I got to my car I was able to just cruise out of the car park and onto the M4 with no problem and was home within 20 minutes. Yes, I missed our consolation goal, but to be honest if I'd been guaranteed a goal from us I would have still left. And I didn't block anyone's view as I sit right next to the aisle one row in front of a vomitry. So oxf*rd what if I left early? It is no business of yours to be honest. I can understand the gripe from people who's view is blocked when people leave their seat and stand in the aisles to watch the last few minutes though. My view has been blocked just by people walking past to get a hot dog or have a piss for many goals this season. It's almost a guarantee that when some old todger walks slowly back down to his seat that we are going to score.

Plastic.

For that game, yup. I was tired frustrated angry plastic that night.

[Huntley & Palmer]

I've left early to ensure a space on the first bus so I can get back into town and into the pub ASAP before. So there you go

[Whore Jackie]

It's not rocket science.

99% of people leave early to get out of the stadium quicker, avoid the traffic or the long bus queue. I never drive, but don't the car park barriers shut on the final whistle?

Perhaps if Reading Buses could ensure there was more than 4 or 5 buses waiting at the Town Centre stop opposite B&Q, then more people would stay to the end. If you miss the first batch of buses you face a bloody cold wait, sometimes over 30 minutes, until the next batch arrive. You'd think after 10 years, they'd have managed to get this sorted.

[Rawlie19]

It's not rocket science.

99% of people leave early to get out of the stadium quicker, avoid the traffic or the long bus queue. I never drive, but don't the car park barriers shut on the final whistle?

Perhaps if Reading Buses could ensure there was more than 4 or 5 buses waiting at the Town Centre stop opposite B&Q, then more people would stay to the end. If you miss the first batch of buses you face a bloody cold wait, sometimes over 30 minutes, until the next batch arrive. You'd think after 10 years, they'd have managed to get this sorted.

10 years ago that was enough.

[Spirit of Elm Park]

You want honesty...

I personally can't be arsed to wait for 20 minutes until the hoards in row a-aa disperse before I can even think about getting into an Aisle. If I leave with 2 minutes of stoppage time remaining, I can get down the stand and be ready to leave. Therefore avoiding waiting around, and ensuring a swift exit to my car which is parked a mile away. Then off to the pub or whatever. I am sure that the team, for the 20 seconds of applause they give the fans before dissapearing into the tunnel, do not miss me or my applause. Surely they heard me during the game?

I pays my money, I does what the hell I like thanks.

[Rawlie19]

You want honesty...

I personally can't be arsed to wait for 20 minutes until the hoards in row a-aa disperse before I can even think about getting into an Aisle. If I leave with 2 minutes of stoppage time remaining, I can get down the stand and be ready to leave. Therefore avoiding waiting around, and ensuring a swift exit to my car which is parked a mile away. Then off to the pub or whatever. I am sure that the team, for the 20 seconds of applause they give the fans before dissapearing into the tunnel, do not miss me or my applause. Surely they heard me during the game?

I pays my money, I does what the hell I like thanks.

Except that by doing what you're doing you are likely making it very hard for someone else to see the game. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

[Hoop Blah]

I went to the cinema this afternoon and funnily enough not one person had to leave early. This is of course just a guess, but perhaps they all realised when the film would end and had planned accordingly?

Did you stay to watch the credits?

Or did you leave once you knew the end of the story?

[Jerry St Clair]

The problem with all-seater stadia is that it's bleeding obvious when people are leaving early because you can see the expanses of blue seating gradually appearing.

With terraces it was never as obvious. I remember people leaving Leyland DAF cup games at EP early when there were barely 1000 in attendance. Traffic wan't an excuse then - for some people it's just ingrained in their mindset.

[Gloria Gooner]

I've left early to ensure a space on the first bus so I can get back into town and into the pub ASAP before. So there you go

A particularly good move on Saturday, as it took 15 minutes just to get down the East Stand steps and out of the stadium, and a further half hour at least to get a bus (the queue went right back to the miniroundabout).

Great game though!

[Silver Fox]

We sit right next to a concourse entrance so can leave on the final whistle and still be in the pub before anyone else. I'd imagine if we were higher up a stand we'd have the first pint in shooters or the hotel and let the bus queue go down

[Gloria Gooner]

We sit right next to a concourse entrance so can leave on the final whistle and still be in the pub before anyone else. I'd imagine if we were higher up a stand we'd have the first pint in shooters or the hotel and let the bus queue go down

I think the bus queue problems were compounded by the fact that the hotel bar was shut to non-residents, so those who would normally do exactly that, were unable to do so.

[Riseley]

People who do not stay to watch the players perform their warm down should be bloody ashamed of themselves.

[Jerry St Clair]

A particularly good move on Saturday, as it took 15 minutes just to get down the East Stand steps

I know you're slight in stature, love, and the steps are steep. But, even so, that sounds excessive.

[Gloria Gooner]

A particularly good move on Saturday, as it took 15 minutes just to get down the East Stand steps

I know you're slight in stature, love, and the steps are steep. But, even so, that sounds excessive.

Oh, ho ho. No, there was something of a backlog to get down the stairs - I'll walk through to the other steps next time.

[Dirk Gently]

Glo, this is what you need - just climb out of the gap below the roof

[Man Friday]

When Reading beat Liverpool, a proper supporter will be there at the end ofthe match congratulating his/her team.

Not if they have other commitments that means they need to get away from the ground as quickly as possible.

As I said before, some people have more important things in their lives than football. Family for me comes first above everything else, and if that means I miss 3 or 4 minutes of injury time then so be it.

But taking your line then I can assume that:
1) A proper fan wouldn't go down to the concourse a few minutes before half time to get a beer
2) A proper fan wouldn't come back from the concourse a few minutes after the second half has started so that they could finish their beer
3) A proper fan wouldn't boo the team because they are drawing 0-0 at half time
4) A proper fan arrange a holiday during the football season
5) A proper fan would come to a match no matter how ill they are
6) A proper fan wouldn't single out certain players and shout criticism's at them just because they can
7) A proper fan would join in with every chant

In most cases I agree with you. I guess the yardstick is that, basically, a proper fan is anyone who is passionate about their club. So, booing when the team aren't trying is o.k. but leaving before the end of a match just to be be first in the queue to get out the car park or on the bus is not as it displays lack of interest/commitment/passion, etc.