| Quandary 12:34 - Nov 6 with 9484 views | kingsburyR |
Afternoon All,
I have somewhat of a dilemma.
I have mentioned on here a few times that regardless of the dirge QPR serve up at home my 10 year football mad daughter still loves heading down to HQ to watch the games.
She has now dropped the bombshell....."Dad, can you take me to an away match please? Is the singing better? Will I be able to see if everyone is standing up?"
I already manage her football team on a Saturday morning. Do I now have to trapse around the country if the bug bites.........which I think it will???
All advice welcomed! |  |
| Dont know why we bother. .... but we do! |
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| Quandary on 12:43 - Nov 6 with 7298 views | Rs_Holy |
its a good problem to have Kingsbury!...
Holy Junior has announced this season he is no longer interested in attending QPR games :( |  | | |
| Quandary on 12:45 - Nov 6 with 7299 views | ChrisNW6 |
Most definitely yes!!
But to ease you in, it's wise to pick out 3 or 4 doable away games at the start of the season. Keep them within a decent radius and hopefully Sky don't spoil your plans. |  | | |
| Quandary on 12:53 - Nov 6 with 7257 views | ngbqpr |
From experience with my 3 - definitely yes.
I'd start with a short-ish journey one tho (that way the two of you can still do your am game)...and make more of the day than just the game (eg grub of her choice before or after, visit something else local to the ground if time permits), pre-plan car journey listening etc - so it's not all about the result |  |
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| Quandary on 12:59 - Nov 6 with 7213 views | nix |
| Quandary on 12:53 - Nov 6 by ngbqpr |
From experience with my 3 - definitely yes.
I'd start with a short-ish journey one tho (that way the two of you can still do your am game)...and make more of the day than just the game (eg grub of her choice before or after, visit something else local to the ground if time permits), pre-plan car journey listening etc - so it's not all about the result |
Exactly this. I'm 61 and we all still have to have a nice lunch just in case it all goes Pete Tong.
I love going to away games and there are quite a few kids normally in the away end. Mostly the atmosphere is better and more singing etc. And if we actually win, or even score, it's bedlam. Sometimes the games further away are better if you can face the journey and stay overnight in a Premier Inn or similar because you see a bit of the country and the away end is a little less packed so you can usually find a spot nearish the front so you can see pretty well. |  | | |
| Quandary on 13:45 - Nov 6 with 7041 views | bellomatic |
You are a lucky man! Grab this opportunity with both hands.
I can't explain it (and I wouldn't have predicted it) but travelling the country to an away match with my kids is one of my favourite things ever (even when we lose). With kids there is a brilliant sense of adventure, a heightened sense of travelling into opposition territory.
Birmingham and Blackburn last year. Bristol two years ago. By conventional measures, crappy forgettable away losses. In my memory, magnificent days out that will live forever! | | | |
| Quandary on 13:50 - Nov 6 with 7021 views | kingsburyR |
I'm looking at the Norwich game as a starting point.
I haven't been away in years. Is it sit where you want or are seats allocated on purchase? | |
| Dont know why we bother. .... but we do! |
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| Quandary on 13:51 - Nov 6 with 7013 views | terryb |
It's on a Friday night so you probably wouldn't want your daughter out that late, but away to Ipswich is during the Chtistmas school holidays & is 70 minutes from Liverpool Street. Also, less than a ten minute walk from the station to the ground.
The only "reasonably" close away game in the near future (apart from Millwall on Boxing Day) is Norwich. Bus replacement between Billericay & Witham though.
If you would be driving, both places can be a nightmare to get away from, depending on where you've managed to park. Last time we played at Ipswich, it took my friends nearly an hour to get from my house to the A12 (one mile away)!
Good luck to you & your daughter. | | | |
| Quandary on 13:52 - Nov 6 with 7014 views | StevenageRanger |
There is always something a little different with away games.
Never ventured too far with my 2 kids but done lots of the 2-2.5 hour away games a fair few times (Birmingham, Watford, Luton, West Brom, Reading, Coventry, Norwich. Leicester, Villa, Southampton etc..)
As others have said, grab some food, get there nice and early and make a day of it.
I have never gone further than that when in Championship but did do both Manchesters when in Prem!! | | | |
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| Quandary on 14:25 - Nov 6 with 6894 views | OldPedro |
| Quandary on 13:50 - Nov 6 by kingsburyR |
I'm looking at the Norwich game as a starting point.
I haven't been away in years. Is it sit where you want or are seats allocated on purchase? |
You do get an allocated seat with away tickets but generally people tend to sit where they want, so those that want to stand and sing head towards the back and those who want to sit, go further forward.
Occasionally, you might get someone asking you to move as they want to sit in their allocated seat but there is usually plenty of room to move around anyway as it's rare that we sell out completely. |  |
| Extra mature cheddar......a simple cheese for a simple man |
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| Quandary on 14:44 - Nov 6 with 6821 views | daveB |
We couldn't get to our seats on Saturday as so many people stood on the stairs so had to find a few spare seats, quite why in 2023 they can't have a system which allows you to pick your seat is beyond me.
Anyway would recommend taking the kid to away games, atmosphere is usually good and it's a good day out with your kid(s) |  | | |
| Quandary on 14:50 - Nov 6 with 6798 views | CiderwithRsie |
| Quandary on 12:53 - Nov 6 by ngbqpr |
From experience with my 3 - definitely yes.
I'd start with a short-ish journey one tho (that way the two of you can still do your am game)...and make more of the day than just the game (eg grub of her choice before or after, visit something else local to the ground if time permits), pre-plan car journey listening etc - so it's not all about the result |
Excellent advice.
Making a bit of a trip of it can really work; it's a great chance to see other parts of the country, and not just the usual obvious holiday choices of seaside or countryside. Most football towns have at least something worth seeing as well as the actual football. (OK, maybe not Luton or Stoke now I think of it, but even Luton's only half an hour or so from Woburn or Bletchley Park.) | | | |
| Quandary on 14:51 - Nov 6 with 6794 views | londonscottish |
| Quandary on 13:50 - Nov 6 by kingsburyR |
I'm looking at the Norwich game as a starting point.
I haven't been away in years. Is it sit where you want or are seats allocated on purchase? |
Away games are worth it although I rarely go past the Midlands myself. Any more that than and the drive/train ride becomes more of a challenge.
Norwich is easy enough as are any of the Brum games. As (was) Derby, Posh etc
Do it, you'll all enjoy it. |  |
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| Quandary on 14:52 - Nov 6 with 6792 views | daveB |
| Quandary on 14:50 - Nov 6 by CiderwithRsie |
Excellent advice.
Making a bit of a trip of it can really work; it's a great chance to see other parts of the country, and not just the usual obvious holiday choices of seaside or countryside. Most football towns have at least something worth seeing as well as the actual football. (OK, maybe not Luton or Stoke now I think of it, but even Luton's only half an hour or so from Woburn or Bletchley Park.) |
Even Stoke has Alton Towers down the road | | | |
| Quandary on 15:10 - Nov 6 with 6728 views | Esox_Lucius |
When I was younger it was the away days that kept me hooked during the bad seasons. The long journeys were usually with the LSA but mostly it was me with my brothers in the car. We used to arrive as early as we could so we could do a bit of sightseeing of whichever town/ city we were in. My brother got a very nasty look when referring to the confessional boxes in Norwich cathedral as the dressing rooms.
I stopped going about 5 years ago when my step daughter died and it wasn't fair to leave my wife at home on her own, especially as she doesn't drive, but in nearly 60 years I have managed to visit around 85+ grounds plus a dozen or so non league grounds around the London area following Yeading FC.
TL/DR a rocking Loftus Road is still the best experience but away days are something all fans should experience to cement the relationship with the club. |  |
| The grass is always greener. |
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| Quandary on 16:07 - Nov 6 with 6623 views | kernowhoop |
This all sounds wholesome and trouble-free.
Previous comments on attending away matches have focused on fans being blind drunk or high on coke.
Is it no longer like that? | | | |
| Quandary on 18:00 - Nov 6 with 6464 views | essextaxiboy |
| Quandary on 16:07 - Nov 6 by kernowhoop |
This all sounds wholesome and trouble-free.
Previous comments on attending away matches have focused on fans being blind drunk or high on coke.
Is it no longer like that? |
In my very limited recent experience , yes it is .
My last out of London away game was Peterborough and it was fcking horrible . Little groups of yoof surrounding home fans having a quiet pint in a pub garden in their face goading them . Loads of people taking coke on the concourse and in the toilets , demanding that you agreed with them that the team were shit before they would let you have a piss in peace . Train home was like a cattle truck , I spent the journey rammed into a luggage rack while bottles of wine and wraps of coke were passed around and over me . I was wearing a mask as my Mum was in the middle of chemo, started to get intimidated by a group who made me the topic of conversation .
I used to go away on my own in the 70s when it could be very violent , but never felt as uncomfortable as I did at Peterborough. Maybe i am less confident these days .
It will be a while before I attend an away game outside London where i can pick my own pre match route and a nice pub .
I know that the demographic changes for say a Tues night in Huddersfield , respect to those who can invest the time and money to do that . They deserve their loyalty points . |  | | |
| Quandary on 18:14 - Nov 6 with 6427 views | Watford_Ranger |
| Quandary on 16:07 - Nov 6 by kernowhoop |
This all sounds wholesome and trouble-free.
Previous comments on attending away matches have focused on fans being blind drunk or high on coke.
Is it no longer like that? |
Extremely rarely. Yeah there’s been the odd game the yoof come out for but it’s all very pleasant mostly. Millwall on Boxing Day will be one for the yooof I imagine. Norwich is a nice one to start with- lots of mixing between fans before the game and not intimidating at all plus we’ll take quite a few. | | | |
| Quandary on 18:34 - Nov 6 with 6371 views | stowmarketrange |
| Quandary on 16:07 - Nov 6 by kernowhoop |
This all sounds wholesome and trouble-free.
Previous comments on attending away matches have focused on fans being blind drunk or high on coke.
Is it no longer like that? |
Local away games tend to have more dicks than games further afield.Long distance midweek games tend to be quieter too. |  | | |
| Quandary on 20:30 - Nov 6 with 6213 views | PunteR |
Not sure what the dilemma is. Sounds a perfect situation to me.
Make the most of it mate before she wants to drag you to Ikea to buy bedroom furniture. |  |
| Occasional providers of half decent House music. |
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| Quandary on 22:41 - Nov 6 with 5995 views | Hayesender |
| Quandary on 18:00 - Nov 6 by essextaxiboy |
In my very limited recent experience , yes it is .
My last out of London away game was Peterborough and it was fcking horrible . Little groups of yoof surrounding home fans having a quiet pint in a pub garden in their face goading them . Loads of people taking coke on the concourse and in the toilets , demanding that you agreed with them that the team were shit before they would let you have a piss in peace . Train home was like a cattle truck , I spent the journey rammed into a luggage rack while bottles of wine and wraps of coke were passed around and over me . I was wearing a mask as my Mum was in the middle of chemo, started to get intimidated by a group who made me the topic of conversation .
I used to go away on my own in the 70s when it could be very violent , but never felt as uncomfortable as I did at Peterborough. Maybe i am less confident these days .
It will be a while before I attend an away game outside London where i can pick my own pre match route and a nice pub .
I know that the demographic changes for say a Tues night in Huddersfield , respect to those who can invest the time and money to do that . They deserve their loyalty points . |
That was a strange day that one, but thankfully it's not the norm. I got chatting to some Charton fans on the way home when one of our dicks decided to throw a can of beer in their direction. I found myself apologising to them about something I hadn't done, by someone I didn't know |  |
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| Quandary on 22:50 - Nov 6 with 5983 views | wombat |
| Quandary on 13:50 - Nov 6 by kingsburyR |
I'm looking at the Norwich game as a starting point.
I haven't been away in years. Is it sit where you want or are seats allocated on purchase? |
Wone be any spare seats for this one so it’s sat where ur supposed to at Norwich |  |
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| Quandary on 23:39 - Nov 6 with 5921 views | plasmahoop |
| Quandary on 14:50 - Nov 6 by CiderwithRsie |
Excellent advice.
Making a bit of a trip of it can really work; it's a great chance to see other parts of the country, and not just the usual obvious holiday choices of seaside or countryside. Most football towns have at least something worth seeing as well as the actual football. (OK, maybe not Luton or Stoke now I think of it, but even Luton's only half an hour or so from Woburn or Bletchley Park.) |
Even if the away place isnt the best, it's still (Assuming you make it back, which you should do on the balance of probability) an eye opener. I've always been an occasional away traveller, but it is one of the good things about football, that you go to places you wouldn't otherwise ever go to, like Burnley or hull. It's educational. | | | |
| Quandary on 07:21 - Nov 7 with 5740 views | Watford_Ranger |
| Quandary on 22:50 - Nov 6 by wombat |
Wone be any spare seats for this one so it’s sat where ur supposed to at Norwich |
I’m sure if he rang to order the tickets he could be sorted out or even just go nearer the front on the day and there’s always gaps as the yoof (and me) overfill the back rows.
Quite why in 2023 you can’t pick “near the front” or “near the back” online for away games I’m not sure. | | | |
| Quandary on 08:56 - Nov 7 with 5640 views | daveB |
| Quandary on 07:21 - Nov 7 by Watford_Ranger |
I’m sure if he rang to order the tickets he could be sorted out or even just go nearer the front on the day and there’s always gaps as the yoof (and me) overfill the back rows.
Quite why in 2023 you can’t pick “near the front” or “near the back” online for away games I’m not sure. |
It does seem ridiculous that you can't pick your seat, It's usually fine on the games where we don't sell out but when we do like Coventry and Norwich it's an absolute nightmare trying to find seats | | | |
| Quandary on 08:56 - Nov 7 with 5640 views | stowmarketrange |
| Quandary on 07:21 - Nov 7 by Watford_Ranger |
I’m sure if he rang to order the tickets he could be sorted out or even just go nearer the front on the day and there’s always gaps as the yoof (and me) overfill the back rows.
Quite why in 2023 you can’t pick “near the front” or “near the back” online for away games I’m not sure. |
It makes me wonder how bigger teams with totally full away ends cope with the problem?
If you 5k Man Utd or Arsenal fans at away games there must be more kids or older people than we get in our 1000-1500 average away crowds.
And how far up the stand does it become the norm to stand up for the whole game?Like you,I move straight to the back row of an away stand because I prefer to stand up for the 90 minutes rather than sit down,but you do get fans who insist on sitting in their designated seat,even if it’s towards the back where the majority want to stand up.
The box office should be able to adapt to personal tickets sales but it would be difficult to apply for online sales.
My daughter used to enjoy away games more than the home ones,especially the Everton 1-0 win in 2011,and she was only 9 1/2,but she discovered boys at 16 and fell by the wayside,so as an earlier poster said,enjoy it while you go,but don’t try to use the food bars or toilets at ht. [Post edited 7 Nov 2023 9:00]
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