Regulars to our space on the forum might recall how I am mystified by those who leave a game early and how I am desperate to find the answer.
Last night a considerable number left on 87 minutes. The game was in the balance. There might have been extra time. There might have been penalties. At the very least it was surely worth staying to applaud the team after a tremendous effort, a win and the entertainment that had been provided.
Beat the traffic? A crowd of 2,500 and a town with a population of 60,000. It can't be that.
Elderly and / or infirm? Everyone who leaves early looks able bodied and besides, filing out of the ground is always very orderly (2,500 attendance). So not that.
Going to work? Always the same early departures whether it be a midweek game, a Saturday 3pm game or a Sunday 1pm game. Not that either.
I have wondered what it must be like to get in to your car having left early to find out that you missed something. Maybe 2 goals in added time made for a 4-3 win or something like that. Or history was made when 8 players were sent off in added time. What do you do? Shrug your shoulders and just accept that you missed it. That would drive me nuts if I had missed something.
I shall confess to leaving a Brewers game early on one occasion. It was on 5th April 2013. It was at Vale Park. I left on 56 minutes when Vale went 5-0 up. Beating the traffic and alleviating the pain I felt at the time were behind my decision to make an early exit. Applauding the players off was not a consideration. It felt strange being outside the ground whilst the game was still going on. (I was a little bit disappointed to hear on the radio later that we had lost 7-1 in the end and I had missed the goal that we scored).
So, if you leave early or you know someone who does please enlighten me. Failing that I will simply have to ask someone leaving early.
'Is there a fire drill?'
posted on 13/8/14
Yes i agree totally with your comments Otep ,some people must have wonderful social lives to leave a game so delicately poised . I have to smile sometimes when people get up from their seats to beat the rush at the tea bar at half time and miss the only goal of the game ! . People are funny but its their loss ,maybe they gamble on nothing happening ,which you can never say in football .Great result and QPR at home in round two .
posted on 14/8/14
Yes, this always puzzles me, Otep. Whatever the score I could never leave early.
posted on 14/8/14
QPR at the Pirell Stadium cant wait , what a start to the season ! , could it go better by saturday night when we are top of the league ? ,im sure Gary is calming things down and reminding the lads Dagenham scored six against Brentford the other night so they have to have total respect ,but its a game we aught to win on paper .
posted on 14/8/14
I wonder if the folk also leave 5 minutes before the end of a film at the cinema aswell then read who the murderer was in the paper later.
posted on 14/8/14
I've never understood people leaving a game early and I can't remember ever doing so in over 50 years watching.
Great draw against QPR, a good reward for Tuesday's performance. I wish you well and hope it's a great night for you.
My team beat them 2-0 at Loftus Road in the Capital One last season, so it's quite easy.
posted on 14/8/14
sorry to all I left 5mins before the end had to go and pick up the wife who had gone to the bingo (a rare treat )
did not want her to stand around in the dark waiting for me would not have been able to stay for extra time or penalties its a round trip of 25 miles for us to come on match days we are in our 70 tys been an albion fan since day one another chap said he had to catch a bus please don't be to hard on us
posted on 14/8/14
Fair comment Mr Tommatt. I would do exactly the same. I wouldn't let my partner stand around in the dark either.
That's what we are trying to establish - the reasons for having to or wanting to leave early. Like I said, it has always mystfied me.
I reckon it must be one of these reasons;
a) Appointments that must be kept.
b) Work to get to.
c) Last bus / train.
d) Simply just to get out before everyone else.
Another oddity is on occasions you will find fans at away games who wander about by the bar in the depths of the stand and don't actually watch much of the match itself.