Bit of a depressing post

[bobcarolgees]

Bit of a depressing post...but anyway;

My mate at work is a Liverpool season ticket holder and had 2 tickets for the derby at Everton last week in the Liverpool end. To cut a long story short his mate couldnt go at the last minute and despite their being tons of Liverpool supporters at my work nobody could go, so as we didnt have a game I decided to go with him, despite not following them, rather than having him stitched up.We got picked up at Elmbridge court at about quarter to 8 Saturday morning by a double decker coach, must have been 25-30 Glos based Liverpool fans getting on. It then picked up around 10 people in Cheltenham, the majority of the coach got on at Bristol. Before people start claiming glory hunters, a few of the Bristol lot appeared to be exiled scousers (none of the Glos lot were though)

Anyway I was suprised as a good proportion of the lot that got on at Elmbridge I recognised from city games and I got speaking to a few of them. A lot of them were regulars in the "better days" i.e 94 through to 98 and still go to the odd big game such as the trophy run a few years back and unfortunately the Shortwood FA Cup game but all had the same opinion-which was "theres no point watching Gloucester as they'll always let you down"-"they'll never do anything"-"they always blow it" etc.

It was sickening to hear-especially as this lot would prefer travelling for 7 hours and paying £60 for the privledge to watch a team where the vast majority of them were not from but can we really blame them...? Looking back at it I was pretty annoyed at the comments but now I've had time to reflect, personally I'm thinking it's probably true :frown:

Sorry to inflict such negativity on the board!!! I hope the lads batter Chippenham on Saturday to dispel this theory!!

[DRAKEY]

Wouldn't have expected anything else tbh imo :exit:

[Clifty]

indeed.

I follow liverpool and have done since i remember. Certainly before i watched City. I have probably been to Anfield about 10 times (including the semi-final against Barcelona in the Uefa Cup-what a night that was!). Apart from the European nights, i have no interest in going all the way to Liverpool. I found that the premiership games lacked atmosphere (compared to European games), and would much rather watch city!

[Neil]

They get a sense of occasion at those games though don't they, sadly we can't seem to offer that. The same can be said of the Rugby in Gloucester, you can go into town for a few pints and then follow the crowds down Worcester Street to the ground.

And that Paul geezer who runs that coach has been doing it for years and he makes a fortune off of those saps, erm, people that go. A mate who I used to work with was probably on there, he goes up all the time.

[bobcarolgees]

I have to add, my mate told me that for the man united game the week before they had 2 double decker coaches, one which was pretty much full with people just getting on at Elmbridge so you can guess the amount.

As for the guy your on about Neil- I'm presuming you mean Rich M? No he wasnt on in it but a lot of his mates were.

One of the reasons I think Glos rugby get the crowds they do is because its an "in" thing for people to do, its not really about the rugby more about the occasion and the socialising. You can meet up with your mates, have a beer, go to another pub in the centre have another pint, go to the match, then have a pint afterwards and a chippy for the walk home.

It's an integral part that is missing from our games now that we play so many miles away.

[Neil]

As for the guy your on about Neil- I'm presuming you mean Rich M? No he wasnt on in it but a lot of his mates were.Nah not Rich, Andy Beaton, he always used to go, mid 40's (acts 21!) greyish tight curly hair. I've got a photo of him that I took a few years ago, he's like a rabbit in the headlights :biggrin:

As for the occasion, those days are over. Wherever we play in future we're not going to be able to do that. I bet the RFC wouldn' swap all the free parking in the City for the number of watering holes that they can offer their fans on the way to the game. Well, except those saddo's that get their spot in the Shed two hours before kick off!

[Dr Wart Hoover]

in my '70's days in Stafford, I watched Rangers who were the top non-league team at the time, Wolves (in the top flight), but the TV was swamped with Liverpool in Europe - so I learnt to appreciate the Liverpool-Europe atmosphere - which was typified again when they won the Champions League recently... I still believe that there is nothing like it - Chelski ManU, Arsenal do not generate the same passion - even now, i would rather watch Liverpool in europe than any other game on TV. All of the players & management are different, but the Emlyn Hughes - 13 players - Shankley - Cop spirit still does it for me.

[Kingo]

As mentioned before I am also a Liverpool fan and it is hard for me to say this but it was interesting that Bob said that "Gloucester City always let you down" Although Liverpool have won the Champions Leauge, FA Cups in the last few years, they haven't one the leauge for nearly 20 years - haven't Liverpool let their fans down?

[bobcarolgees]

I was quoting somebody else on the letting down comment-it wasnt me who said it.

As for the scousers letting down their fans, if you call numerous domestic cup wins, a european cup win and final and several 3rd and 4th place finishes in the highest league in England letting them down then I hate to think what our lot are like!

[Kingo]

Sorry Bob, I have just re read what I put down and I didn't mean what I said!
I can (just) remember the glory years at Anfield when winning the title was almost expected and it is that Liverpool haven't done it for many years was what i was trying to say.

As you say, the those cups etc would be the envy of many a team. Gloucester City achieve as much as it can and I think the envy of many a team at this standard.

Dedicated Exec Comittee
Thriving Supporters Trust
Home Fans that sing
Away fans that actually go away
Fantastic Youth Set Up

all we need is a ground and a rich sugar daddy, but how many teams would like the 2nd option?

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

I still believe that there is nothing like it - Chelski ManU, Arsenal do not generate the same passion - even now, i would rather watch Liverpool in europe than any other game on TV. All of the players & management are different, but the Emlyn Hughes - 13 players - Shankley - Cop spirit still does it for me.

What a load of grollox