I have visited about 50 or so of the other clubs at away games. Found some decent sorts out there. I found the Bristol Rovers fans quite amicable, Yeovil too. Hartlepool was a decent experience, the Ipswich and Oxford fans when we met them at Wembley seemed good guys too. There are few more I enjoyed and felt safe and welcome...... what about you guys.
I’ll second Ipswich and oxford. The Preston fans have always been ok, and I’ve never had any issues at Crewe (didn’t go this weekend, I’m talking about years ago).
Most fans at most grounds are decent folk, its just the minority who act like bells and cause problems. As well as Ipswich and Oxford fans I have always found Sunderland fans to be a decent bunch in general too.
Ended up in a tube carriage full of Ipswich fans plus me before the play-off final. They sang their songs, I sang back at them on my own, and no harm was done when they could have given me a proper fvcking kicking. West Brom seem alright. Not as violent as their neighbours at Vermingham City or Vulvahampton. I don't feel unsafe in the environs of the Hawthorns but I'm always watching my back at the other two places. I met some nice Charlton fans on a train, but perhaps they were only nice because they'd just spanked six goals past us in our own stadium. Brighton's fanbase has been through the wringer, and they seem happy to help out when another club is suffering. Offline, Sunderland fans are great. They're a big club, but I've never felt that threatening undercurrent I have when I go to, say, Leicester. Altrincham are a lovely club, too. Players, fans, the people serving refreshments. Result aside, it was a great day out.
Believe it or not I’ve had great experience with Leeds fans drinking in the city prior to the game every time I go! They are Always game for a good chat about football. I’ve had a few issues with derby fans but maybe wrong place at the wrong time. Also Peterborough fans as well but they seem bitter towards us for some reason hmmmm.....
Millwall fans invited me, my missus and two grandchildren for a beer after play off final at Wembley. I asked for a pint and got a pitcher. Missus asked for a glass of Prosecco and got a bottle, with bottomless coke for the kids. Who’d have thought??
Brighton, Fulham, Ipswich, Oxford, Notts County, Blackpool, Fleetwood Burton Albion all decent fans who I've had good chats with. Sheff Utd, Rotherham, Birmingham, Millwall, Cardiff, Coventry had not so friendly experiences.
Vast majority of last season to be honest. Highlights for just all round decent fans I met though were Accrington, Oxford and Wycombe. Had a very good drink with a few MK dons fans in the cup game we had a few year back too. Still don’t like the club mind, but nothing against the fans.
West Brom and Stoke fans always seem very genuine and knowledgeable. Worst experiences at away games (except for the Birmingham play-off horror show) have to be Grimsby and Norwich. Norwich - completely unexpected as it's such a lovely city, but outside the ground they've been proper nobs on a few occasions. Including more than a few very mouthy teenage scrotes.
Always enjoy trips to Walsall, Blackburn and Preston. Fleetwood and Blackpool too come to think about it. Usual nasties - Birmingham, Bell End Road and Swillsborough
Another vote for Accrington. The whole setup was bang on when we went last season. Burton Albion also in the good guys list.
I live in Swadlincote (5 miles from Burton). When I went to the Pirelli a few years back (League 1 game 0-0), I went with a mate, not a football fan but a local so we stood in the stand opposite the main stand rather than with the away fans behind the goal, and I was abused by several of the local intelligentsia once they realised I was not one of them....
MK Dons, Bristol City, Sunderland, Everton, Southampton all had good experiences with, Grimsby, Mansfield, Huddersfield, Derby all had idiots.
All good bar Birmingham and Southend away. Birmingham I think one of my mates asked for it. He did vanker sign to one of the Birmingham fans and the fan singled him out and followed him into the pub. My mate **** it and hid behind the table. I had to calm things down by talking the Birmingham fan down and bollocking my mate. Southend away I was chased all the way from the ground back to the Cornucopia pub on the front. Not a nice experience at all. Especially since the door was locked and all the locals in the pub were laughing their ballax off at me. I was just lucky that the landlord ran the guest house I was staying in too, realised it was me and let me in. The rest of our party was dropped off by the police in a riot van. They had taken one for the team so to speak and were rescued near the ground by police.
Tranmere, Stoke,Oxford and Burton fans have all impressed me the most. Din’t share everyones love for Ipswich we got caught in a scuffle after Wembley in the coach park. Pigs, Blunts,Leeds and Scunny horrible.
Back in the day, Halifax & York fans seemed decent enough. On the odd occasions we played Scarborough (League Cup & preseason friendlies) they were the same, too.