Any Australians been to an English Premier League match?

moomba

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#26
All my comments in this thread are based on experience of attending matches, both pre and post terracing (My first experience was standing in the Kippax for the Manchester Derby at Maine Rd in 1993, my last was last Sunday at CoMS against Boro). They are also backed up by plenty of what I hear over the internet and otherwise, as well as listening to a heap of matches at ridiculous times of the morning over the years.

There is also a slight possibility that my thoughts are influenced by City's current run of form. ;)

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Falchoon

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#27
I went and saw Blackburn v Charlton this year.

The old man took me to a few Bolton games in around 1977-78 but I would guess they were in division 2. Apparently I saw them play Leeds at Elland Rd though.
 
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Originally posted by bacon buster
yes, but the atmosphere sounded better than any other game i've watched on TV. the commentator himself said the stadium was 'shaking'.
Still its nothing like an Old Firm derby at Ibrox. The best crowd I've heard was Rangers vs Celtic at Celtic Park in April 1999 when a 3-0 Rangers win that wrapped up the league title. The best part of the match was just before Rangers scored their 2nd goal. We had a free kick in the corner, but the Celtic support didn't like it, so the next 5 minutes went down in history as the day Celtic's fans shamed the game in Scotland.

2 Celtic fans charged onto the ground to try to attack Hugh Dallas and as they were been taken away, Dallas was stuck by a coin thrown by a Celtic fans, cutting him open. So while you see blood pouring from his face, a few more Celtic fans charged onto the ground. Anyway after the brake in play Rangers take the free kick. From that free kick, Rangers are awarded a dogey penalty - cue more Celtic fans entering the field of play to discuss things with Hugh.

For that 10 minutes the noise coming from Celtic Park was defening. You had on one hand Celtic fan baying for blood and on the other Rangers fans celebrating the league title win.
 

Voice of Reason

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#29
Originally posted by robbieando
Still its nothing like an Old Firm derby at Ibrox. The best crowd I've heard was Rangers vs Celtic at Celtic Park in April 1999 when a 3-0 Rangers win that wrapped up the league title. The best part of the match was just before Rangers scored their 2nd goal. We had a free kick in the corner, but the Celtic support didn't like it, so the next 5 minutes went down in history as the day Celtic's fans shamed the game in Scotland.

2 Celtic fans charged onto the ground to try to attack Hugh Dallas and as they were been taken away, Dallas was stuck by a coin thrown by a Celtic fans, cutting him open. So while you see blood pouring from his face, a few more Celtic fans charged onto the ground. Anyway after the brake in play Rangers take the free kick. From that free kick, Rangers are awarded a dogey penalty - cue more Celtic fans entering the field of play to discuss things with Hugh.

For that 10 minutes the noise coming from Celtic Park was defening. You had on one hand Celtic fan baying for blood and on the other Rangers fans celebrating the league title win.
I've only been to one Old firm, but it was a ripper - Scottish FA Cup, I think 4th round, at Celtic Park. Rangers were favourites, had Terry Butcher playing then, but Celtic won 1-0 - huge atmosphere. Not a fan of the "ooh ahh, up the RA" chant though.
 
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#30
Only been too 2 top division games both in the old first division back in the 80's. When Pompey were in the 1st div last time (1987) I went to Fratton to see 'em play Notts Forest (woulda been more games but me Dad had no money).
The other game was at Highbury, Arsenal vs Millwall with my football coach who was a staunch Lions fan.
 

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#32
Best atmospheric matches I've been to.

1) Great Britain vs Australia 2nd Rugby League test match Old Trafford November 1 1994. The "Briiiiitain Briiitain" chanting was so loud it gave you a headache. As the Aussies run riot the Poms shut up for the most part.

2) Sampdoria vs Genoa (3-2) November 20 1994 Probably my best sporting moment. Standing amongst the Samp Ultras next to a guy hurling fireworks at Tacconi the Genoa goalkeeper. Non-stop singing. Even the grandmas up in stand bouncing up and down when the chant of "If you don't jump your not a Dorian" (translated) got going. At least 40 giant flags over 3 metres tall. And the Genoa "grifoni" hurling everything they could find onto the pitch after the match-sealing goal, including the odd flare or 10. I couldn't sleep all all that night, reliving the songs I'd learnt.

3) Hamburger SV- FC Bayern. Epic match, twisting and turning, with Bayern winning the title with a 94 minute indirect free-kick from Patrick Anderson. Both sets of supporters creating a racket all day. I had seats but like nearly everyone stood all match.

4) Australia-Argentina before the match. Myself and two mates from Melbourne just started the "Aussie !!!" chant from behind the goals in Bay 23. Everyone in the ground joined in. The look on Jason Polak's and John Markovski's face as they heard it all will live with me forever. "Falklands, Falklands 82, Argentina, where were you?"

In AFL the best atmosphere I've seen at a match would be

-Sydney-Brisbane final this year. 71000 all joining in when I got the !! !!! !!!! SYDNEY" chant going. EVERYBODY! The roar when Luke Ablett put his 3rd quarter goal through was deafening. Had we gotten close in the last quarter it would have lifted further. Alas, with Brisbane tearing away, a gloom hit the ground.

-Sydney-Hawthorn final 1996. Far louder in crowd than the Essendon final 2 weeks later. The "SYYYYYYDDDNNNNEY" chant was SCG folklore by that stage. Epic finish, with everyone running on the field, including one crazy bloke with a beard dressed as Santa. :p

JF
 

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#38
Originally posted by JF_Bay_22_SCG

4) Australia-Argentina before the match. Myself and two mates from Melbourne just started the "Aussie !!!" chant from behind the goals in Bay 23. Everyone in the ground joined in. The look on Jason Polak's and John Markovski's face as they heard it all will live with me forever. "Falklands, Falklands 82, Argentina, where were you?"

Hehe that one's made my day-'Falklands Falklands 82...':D

It's good that outsiders can get involved in it I still remember seeing footage of the 82 world cup in Spain where loads of Spaniards were chanting pro Argie songs about the 'Maldivas' & looked pretty happy as the police systematically hit every England fan leaving from a certain turnstyle over the head with a truncheon on the grounds that even if they hadn't misbehaved they were bound to at some point later in the day.
 

Ray Nolan

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#39
Not been to any in the Premiership but I've been to Birmingham City matches when we were in the 1st Division.
 

Darealrath

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#40
Arsenal v Newcastle, Highbury, around Easter '98 - the double winning season.

Anelka 2, Vieria 1 and i think Barton got a late one for united.

Very unhappy at the time that Wright was injured and Bergkamp suspended though :(

It was brilliant, and the atmosphere was great + you feel so close to the players at Highbury. A good AFL match has just as much atmosphere though.

Was awful funny when Wreh scored a disallowed goal but didn't realise, and kept celebrating right in front of me while everyone just walked back to position, the look on his face when he realised...:D The crowd spent half the time giving **** to Shearer, which was a good laugh too (he had got away with a handball so everyone was calling him a cheat).
 

The Hitman

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#41
I will be spending 2006 in Europe, so I'm sure I'll indulge in the soccer a lot, hopefully including the World Cup.

The Hitman
 

JF_Bay_22_SCG

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#43
Originally posted by moomba

To be honest loudspeakers, flares and 10 minute songs don't really appeal that much too me. Give me the roar of the crowd every time Shaun Wright-Phillips gets the ball and pushes forward and the rest doesn't matter so much. IMO too much emphasis is placed on creating atmosphere (usually articificial), and less on letting the match and the sport create it's own atmosphere.

Moomba
Yes and no mate,
Yes a good pulsating match generally gets the crowd going. But a bouyant loud crowd often helps bring about a better more intense match. Why are derbies so special, between of the intense atmosphere created by two sets of matches competing against each other.

Sadly Rupert Murdoch had big block-flags and the like banned in England. Heaven only knows why. Newcastle United used to brandish this huge thing that was nearly as big as a grandstand. I'm hapy to say that big flags and overall general colour seem to be making a re-appearance in the Liverpool cop these days as well.

AFL crowds tend to be louder when the game is faster/better etc. But in other countries it is the passion of the fans than makes the spectacle. A good game, like the 3-2 I saw when Samp played Genoa, turns it into a near-orgasmic experience. (Actually better, as the adrenalin rush of a great game lasts in me for hours....)

JF
 

moomba

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#44
Originally posted by JF_Bay_22_SCG
Yes and no mate,
Yes a good pulsating match generally gets the crowd going. But a bouyant loud crowd often helps bring about a better more intense match. Why are derbies so special, between of the intense atmosphere created by two sets of matches competing against each other.
I agree that a good crowd adds to the spectacle of the match, but I do think there is a danger of a match becoming a side issue to the performance of the crowd.

For me, drums, horns, flares and loud speakers add very little, and to be honest probably p1ss me off more than anything. Listen to the constant pounding of drums for 90 minutes will give me more of a headache than anything alcohol induced. Good interaction between the fans is great, and the right songs/chants at the right time are great. For me that's all icing on the cake, the best atmosphere at any game is how the crowd reacts to something that is happening on the pitch.

Moomba
 
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#45
My first ever match was a Division 1 game at Brammall Lane - Sheffield United v Oldham (5-1).

Went to about 10 games all up. Loved midweek games at night - it was freezing.

#1 Highlight - getting to see Liverpool play at home and seeing the Stadium empty before the crowds came.

#2 Highlight - seeing Michael Owen's first hat-trick in a 3-3 draw v Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Thing that sticks in my mind is that the ticket price is different depending on who your team plays. I wonder how that would go down with AFL supporters. (Oh to play the Pies it's gonna cost ya 20 bucks, but next week it's the Dogs, so it's only five bucks.)
 

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#46
The games I attended while I lived over there:

2001 FA Cup 5th Round: Arsenal v Blackburn United (3-0)

2001/2002 Arsenal v Derby County (1-0)

2002 FA Cup Arsenal v Gillingham (5-2)

2002 League Cup Chelsea v Spurs

2001/2002 Chelsea v Leeds

2002/2003 Chelsea v Man United (2-2)

2001/2002 Hibernian v Aberdeen (2-0)

A few Barnet games in the conference.

Also, went to numerous Saracens and London Irish games in rugby and a few London Broncos games as well.
 
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