Early leavers

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:36 pm

We have all heard the complaints about people leaving early but what do we actually do about it? Last night I gave the early leavers the usual abuse, told them that they were a bunch of cnuts, match is 90mins, where the fcuk are you going etc but wondered am I alone in doing this? Wouldn't it be great if everyone started to boo or hiss everytime someone got up to leave. 55000 or so fans all showing their distain for these muppetts would surely deter many from the early up.

demzy · Post by **demzy** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:40 pm

To be honest i agree with you, something needs to be done. it sends out the wrong vibes to the team.

southampton gooner · Post by **southampton gooner** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:45 pm

For me there are 2 types of early leavers. Last night a few around me left with 5 mins to go and I don't know why.I know 1 family had a train to catch so I guess thats fair enough. But what I saw on Sat at manure is what realy pisses me off. As soon as the 2nd goal went in loads of people got up and left some shouting stuff like "I'm standing here watching this shyt" Now I left home about noon and got home just after 01.00 cos it's a long way from Southampton to Manchester but I never thought of walking out on my team. I'm not trying to make me out to be a hero but people who just give up on our players when the chips are down don't deserve to get tickets. They are the early leavers that we should be turning on.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:47 pm

Did you see how many empty seats there were at kick off? If its a 12.45pm kick off they are late,If its a 3pm kick off they are late,if its a 7.45pm kick off they are late. Do these muppets turn up for work late every day. What i would do is shut the turnstiles 5mins before kick off. Then see have many fans would turn up late

Block 18 row 2 · Post by **Block 18 row 2** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:52 pm

Isn't it mainly cos people stay in the pub til very late before kick off. that's what I've always thought.
I try to say something to early leavers but it usually only amounts to a pisstaking "Oi. You'll miss our goal." or something like that. The bloke next to me has left every game early but there's no way I'd ever say anything cos he's massive! My main beef is that you should applaud the team for their efforts at the end. The performances turned in by Big Phil and Flamini last night, how could you not stick around and clap them off?!

Post by **SPUDMASHER** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:34 pm

Tossers next to me last night turned up 10 minutes late, went 5 mins before half time and came back 5 mins after the restart and then left 10 minutes from the end. Thats 1/2 an hour of game missed. I had a dig about "don't mind those of us that want to see the game without your arses going past every five minutes" but they looked at me like they had no idea why I should be annoyed.

demzy · Post by **demzy** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:15 pm

there are true fans out there who deserve to go, and cant get tickets. instead we have these lot, who dont really give a sh*t.

Justin-the-Gooner · Post by **Justin-the-Gooner** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:29 pm

I agree, most people can only dream of a season ticket at Arsenal and these muppets funk off when there is a perfect chance of a winner.

TheOne2Smooth · Post by **TheOne2Smooth** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:31 pm

Lock the fucking doors till the end of the game!

Tomo · Post by **Tomo** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:29 pm

1 bloke turned up HALF AN HOUR in to the game last night. Everyone around me let him know what we thought of him, in particular one bloke who i thought was going to have a heart attack he was so angry

Sutch · Post by **Sutch** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:30 pm

Apart from the club level, which is nearly empty at most games, the east stand and west stand seem to leave early the most.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:50 pm

What is actually wrong with telling everyone in advance the turnstiles close 5mins before kick off and the gates wont open till the final whistle goes.Also stop selling food and drink 10 mins before kick off. The club has to start taking measures to stop late arrivals and early leavers. If you have a flight booked to take off at 3pm do you turn up at the airport at 3.10pm? Any season ticket holder who is always coming to the games late should have their tickets removed and given to a supporter who wants to see the WHOLE game

Red Gunner · Post by **Red Gunner** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:58 pm

donaldo wrote:What is actually wrong with telling everyone in advance the turnstiles close 5mins before kick off and the gates wont open till the final whistle goes.Also stop selling food and drink 10 mins before kick off. The club has to start taking measures to stop late arrivals and early leavers. If you have a flight booked to take off at 3pm do you turn up at the airport at 3.10pm? Any season ticket holder who is always coming to the games late should have their tickets removed and given to a supporter who wants to see the WHOLE game

That is a good idea, donaldo. We are going to get a reputation for becoming a club of early-leavers if it carry-ons like that. The problem is though, does the club really care about people coming early and late as long they make money.

Post by **QuartzGooner** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:07 pm

Gotta say that idea of locking gates cannot happen. The law says all gates must remain open. It's because of the Bradford fire, when the fans tried to escape they found that the turnstiles at the back of the stand were locked, and so died of smoke inhalation. There has to be an escape route.

I understand your frustrations, but can any of you honestly tell me you have never been late for a game?

Once I was stuck on a train at Caledonian Road for ages, ...someone had pulled the handle on train infront, so the whole train was late through no fault of their own.

I have also left half an hour into a game. I did not want to, I tried my best to argue against it with my boss whilst on my mobile in my seat, but had an emergency call and had to leave to sort out a nasty situation at work that I had no control over. Should I have got the sack? All very well saying I should put Arsenal first, but I have got a mortgage to pay.

stuart_is_a_gooner · Post by **stuart_is_a_gooner** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:15 pm

i myself also hate early leavers, it is the most annoying thing for any fan, me especially not being a season ticket holder. i have not seen a game at arsenal all year where the whole ground is full till the end, yesterday i was asked by my parents to catch the 9:30 train home which would have meant me pegging it out of the ground 10 minutes before full time. to which i replied with you are having me on????
I ignored them stayed till the end and was glad i did, if ade had scored i would have been even more glad. I do not beleive in leaving football early, these people who leave early im sure probly moan football tickets are too expensive. have you never heard the term get your money worth.
however i have a different opinion with late arrivals, a large majority of late arrivals are not fans who cannot be arsed but there is the possibility their train was late or they couldnt get to the ground earlier.
For me personally last night getting through the turnstiles was unbeleivable, no game this year i have been too has it taken 7-8 minutes to go through the turnstile. so in fairness the late comers may just be a large selection of people who have misstimed their stroll down from say the tollington, the pins or the triangle. it easily done. as long as these people do not leave early im not as bothered, under 10 minutes late is excusable but any more is a joke