Topic: Our fantastic away support

[gazzalfc]

Dont worry guys. I'll fall into the RAWK line.

nopyronoparty WOOOO!!!!!!!!

SMOKE!!!! FLARES!!!!!

Amazing atmosphere!!!!

[TheTeflonJohn]

At the end of the day away ends are not supposed to be some tranquil soccer AM haven.  I have some sympathy with the kid from yesterday, of course - but as Caligula says above - why are small children going to away games at all?  Ultimately our away ends should be absolutely fucking nuts, and that's down to the lads and lasses who stand in them, if it isn't your cup of tea, don't go, there are plenty of serene games at Anfield you can take your iPad to.

I think were looking at this wrongly with the suggestion of stopping kids going. I went everywhere with my old fella in the eighties.

Came out of Villa park and got legged (me old man running with me under his arm!). Got moved from the away section at Chelsea when the home fans invaded that section and it got a bit scarey. Came out of Portman Rd. and walked into a battle when a plant pot came flying through the air and twatted my old fella on the shoulder and we had to go the local hospital because he was in agony. Sat in the home stand at West Ham when Rush scored a hat trick and got accepted as a scouser because me old fella knew a few locals. I could go on with many more stories.

The fact is kids should be allowed to attend aways if the family and the kid themselves want to. These kids are the future of this club and no one had the fuckin right to suggest that kids should be fucked of so the adults can have a good time.

After all my nutty experiences as a kid following the Reds I wouldn`t have changed a thing and other kids now have that right to experience the more serene aspect of todays football.

Im all for these smoke bombs and flares as long as they are used in a controlled way. I think they help to bring a great atmosphere to what is half the time todays middle class,expecting to be entertained crowd, but only if used correctly.

A blue mate of mine took his kid to the Derby last week at Anfield in the away end. When the dickheads opened up their purple attempt at blue (!) they threw the cannister and it hit my mates kid on the back. He got a small burn on his back and had to go and see St. Johns to get it looked at. They went back to their seats but left minutes after returning because the lad was terrified (he`s only 6).

So like I say, all for them but in more controlled way. How we go about that I`ve no idea.

[KopiteWD]

Becci ‏@becc_one 14h
Just spoken to my dad, when one of the flares went off today, they had a kid rushed past them who needed oxygen to help him breathe...

Did they ask him as he was being rushed past what was wrong? Twitter isn't exactly the most reliable source and even if it was true, if you had kids you would move away from the lads setting the smoke bombs off after the first one.

Police forces across the country are being cut back and face having to deal with idiots who think letting off a smoke bomb and flare in a crowded space is a good thing.

Pay more tax then if you feel so strongly about it.

Fulhams Terms and conditions of entry (and published by The Football Association Premier League Limited.)

1. Notwithstanding possession of any ticket the Club, any police officer or authorised steward may refuse entry to (or eject from) the Ground any person:

1.2 whose presence within the Ground is, or could (in the Club's reasonable opinion), constitute a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person.

7. The following articles must not be brought within the Ground - knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, cans, poles and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety. Any person in possession of such items will be refused entry to the Ground.

Nobody has actually been injured from 2 minutes worth of smoke, I'm sure if they have it would been in some form of reliable news.

[INABITSKI]

Hasn't gone down well with the Fulham fans.

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=30364.0

Boring bastards

Friends of Fulham sounds like some weekly meeting of OAP's reminiscing about the war.

[El Lobo]

does a third hand report from twitter count as a fact these days? I imagine if anyone had actually been injured by a smoke bomb the press would be all over it like a rash.

I've got a ST at Leicester, and Sheffield Wednesday played there recently and thought it'd be a laugh and good for atmosphere to start chucking smoke bombs into the Leicester fans. And they got chucked back into the Wednesday fans. Probably 50 or 60 police came back into the stadium in full riot gear and about 6 people, including three kids, had to get taken out of the crowd for medical attention due to getting hit by these things. I know that for a fact, and I haven't seen one mention of it anywhere. I cant imagine that sort of thing is saved for one Championship match a season either.

Its all good for atmosphere until we go to Old Trafford and it gets out of hand, and then they come to Anfield and it gets further out of hand. You don't think it'd be in the press then, right? Dream on.

If its smoke balls they're chucking, as long as its not at anyone then it really isn't an issue because they're not that big or particularly dangerous. If its fireworks and explosives, which I assume it is due to the amount of time they smoke for, then you have to be simple not to realise how dangerous that is in a crowd.

[Mr_Morosoph]

Kids can also go deaf because of fans singing

or choke on massive methane overdose because someone had a lot of beans the night earlier

I am with you ! 

Kids could also get hurt by one of Downing's attempts at goal. Ban footballs.

[Fiasco]

Do people stop going to concerts then? Or firework displays? Or bonfires in November? I mean come on. They look fantastic, the atmosphere clearly goes up a notch as a result and everybody is singing, having a good time and enjoying a good away day.

I really don't see why they should be stopped and furthermore, I think it's pathetic that individuals could and probably will be held to account for trying to have a good time.

[PAC-MAN]

end of the day, its not going to stop, so deal with it or stop going

[El Lobo]

Do people stop going to concerts then? Or firework displays? Or bonfires in November? I mean come on. They look fantastic, the atmosphere clearly goes up a notch as a result and everybody is singing, having a good time and enjoying a good away day.

I really don't see why they should be stopped and furthermore, I think it's pathetic that individuals could and probably will be held to account for trying to have a good time.

You don't get big bastard smoke grenades chucked into the crowd at any of those things.

Its just got to be sensible, surely. I don't for a second think it should be stopped, just logically find a way that minimalizes any risk. People shouldn't have to move from their seats if they don't want a face full of smoke for a couple of minutes.

I think it'd look pretty spectacular if every fan had a flare gun and were firing them exactly twenty meters to their right at exactly the same time, every thirty seconds. But its a football match, its not an event where you pay money to see expensive pyrotechnics.

[GBF]

end of the day, its not going to stop, so deal with it or stop going

dream on

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2272010/Chelsea-supporters-banned-10-years-smoke-bomb.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2315162/Liverpool-warn-fans-expect-bans-set-smoke-bombs.html

[Johnny Foreigner]

Its just got to be sensible, surely. I don't for a second think it should be stopped, just logically find a way that minimalizes any risk. People shouldn't have to move from their seats if they don't want a face full of smoke for a couple of minutes.

On a away game, people shoulnd't have a seat.. If anyone wants to sit comfortably and quiet - home end it is..

Same with the home games; I would consider bringing my 60-year old mum to the kop these days; I wouldn't bring her to the curvasud or any other of the likes. Won't be any changes to the atmosphere - until enough people asking themselves the question; is this the stand for me ?

[Yorkykopite]

It looks great but I wouldn't want to be burned by one of the fuckers.

[Frank.]

Some wet flannels on ere.

[S]

Setting fire to anything inside a football ground isn't safe.

Really hope we don't see flares in any of our future games. Firstly because their continued usage could feasibly come back to hurt the club. Secondly because we don't need them. I don't see how they create an atmosphere. Maybe abroad, where they have always been part of the footballing culture. At Liverpool, our atmosphere is surely created by our collection of songs and banners. Those take time to create, and represent an acknowledgement of history and tradition. Anyone can buy a flare.

[Redman0151]

Why is it assumed kids are all terrified of the things?

I probably woulda loved smoke bombs even more when I was 10 years old

[Frank.]

Why is it assumed kids are all terrified of the things?

I probably woulda loved smoke bombs even more when I was 10 years old

The majority probably aren't. I'd guess those who post this view are the ones who haven't experienced these at an away game. Everyone loves them.

[CraigDS]

I like them - but you can just tell it's going to end in tears one way or the other at some point. Be it massively reduced allocations, a lot of banning orders handed out, or (hopefully not this one) someone getting badly hurt and the club getting hunted down in the media.

[DougLFC94]

Ok here are some facts

Becci ‏@becc_one 14h
Just spoken to my dad, when one of the flares went off today, they had a kid rushed past them who needed oxygen to help him breathe...

That isn't a fact.

Our away ticket allocation for Sunderland and Man U away have been cut for the last 4 seasons.

Neither is that to an extent.

[Caligula_10]

Setting fire to anything inside a football ground isn't safe.

Really hope we don't see flares in any of our future games. Firstly because their continued usage could feasibly come back to hurt the club. Secondly because we don't need them. I don't see how they create an atmosphere. Maybe abroad, where they have always been part of the footballing culture. At Liverpool, our atmosphere is surely created by our collection of songs and banners. Those take time to create, and represent an acknowledgement of history and tradition. Anyone can buy a flare.

Don't think I've seen flares used at a match in England before. They are a bit more dangerous as you need to keep hold of it once lit (for your safety and others) and you want to be sure that you are among mates that can protect you and that you can "hide" afterwards. With smoke bombs, you can just drop them. Harder to identify the hero behind it

[Frank.]

They have been cut. However Man Utd cut our allocation in retaliation to us cutting theres an Sunderland cut our allocation because they were forced to by their police force due to our persistant standing which they've done with Everton, City, United, Newcastle and more.

[El Lobo]

Considering what anniversary it was this weekend, I don't think its being a wet flannel to suggest a more sensible way of generating an atmosphere without lighting things in a football stadium....

[INABITSKI]

Our fantastic away support

Soon to be no different to the dull, boring, sat in your seat support surrounded by cameras flashing all game.

The whole experience of going the game and enjoying yourself is dying.

[Hij]

The whole experience of going the game and enjoying yourself is dying.

lol because flares we haven't been lighting in years gone by may not be allowed to be lit any longer. Melodramatic much?

[Fiasco]

You don't get big bastard smoke grenades chucked into the crowd at any of those things.

Its just got to be sensible, surely. I don't for a second think it should be stopped, just logically find a way that minimalizes any risk. People shouldn't have to move from their seats if they don't want a face full of smoke for a couple of minutes.

I think it'd look pretty spectacular if every fan had a flare gun and were firing them exactly twenty meters to their right at exactly the same time, every thirty seconds. But its a football match, its not an event where you pay money to see expensive pyrotechnics.

You must go and watch opera then! Seriously I've been in few concerts near the front and theres been smoke and pyro-type things bellowing everywhere.

[Hightown Phil]

Its all good for atmosphere until we go to Old Trafford and it gets out of hand, and then they come to Anfield and it gets further out of hand. You don't think it'd be in the press then, right? Dream on.

It happened at Old Trafford. No one was hurt in the resulting pyrotechnics.

[Redman0151]

lol because flares we haven't been lighting in years gone by may not be allowed to be lit any longer. Melodramatic much?

They've not been "allowed" at any time, they won't stop because a few people are offended for the children on RAWK.

The only way they'll end up getting stopped is if the lads doing it get bans

[Alan_X]

The problem here is that Fulham sell "neutrual" tickets that are located in the away end. You end up with loads of people in there who don't normally travel to away games and so many with kids.

Yesterday was probably a bit of a shock for them.

The neutral area is to the left of the Putney end as you face the stand (F&U on the picture). They wouldn't have been in amongst the area where the smoke bombs were being let off (H&A). 

[Frank.]

Considering what anniversary it was this weekend, I don't think its being a wet flannel to suggest a more sensible way of generating an atmosphere without lighting things in a football stadium....

These flares are made so they don't ignite things around them. How many flare related injuries have you seen around Europe within fans? (I don't mean in Russia where the bellends throw them at players.)

[S]

Considering what anniversary it was this weekend, I don't think its being a wet flannel to suggest a more sensible way of generating an atmosphere without lighting things in a football stadium....

Exactly this.

[Hij]

I'm bowing out now but the undertones of some of the posts here do make me laugh.

You're all boss as fuck.

[KopiteWD]

Pyrotechnics are banned across Europe, they still use them regularly without having to worry about getting a jail sentence. If they were such a menace mainland european countries would've cracked down.

[Frank.]

Exactly this.

Did a flare cause that fire? Or a smoke bomb?

[INABITSKI]

lol because flares we haven't been lighting in years gone by may not be allowed to be lit any longer. Melodramatic much?

LOL LMAO PML

Yes, because I base my whole opinion on the way football is going on this one single thread that happens to be talking about a few smoke bombs here and there.

I'm sure I really do not need to explain why the game in general is on it's arse or then again maybe I do? Think outside the box.

[El Lobo]

These flares are made so they don't ignite things around them. How many flare related injuries have you seen around Europe within fans? (I don't mean in Russia where the bellends throw them at players.)

Haven't a clue mate. Like I say, I've been to games and witnessed injuries myself which haven't been reported. But they could cause quite nasty injury, that's all I'm saying. That they haven't yet, or haven't been reported to, doesn't mean that they couldn't quite easily.

Only takes one slightly misplaced flare/smoke grenade or a set of opposition fans determined to outdo us or show us who's boss, and all of a sudden there's a massive issue. How can you not see that?

[Frank.]

Pyrotechnics are banned across Europe, they still use them regularly without having to worry about getting a jail sentence. If they were such a menace mainland european countries would've cracked down.

Exactly, UEFA are the only ones to crack down on them and that's because of the 'UEFA Family' who get tickets for the games and want a nice seat to watch the game quietly.

[Frank.]

Haven't a clue mate. Like I say, I've been to games and witnessed injuries myself which haven't been reported. But they could cause quite nasty injury, that's all I'm saying. That they haven't yet, or haven't been reported to, doesn't mean that they couldn't quite easily.

Only takes one slightly misplaced flare/smoke grenade or a set of opposition fans determined to outdo us or show us who's boss, and all of a sudden there's a massive issue. How can you not see that?

I can see peoples issues with flares more so, but the facts still speak for themselves in 0 related injuries reported around Europe from them at football games. However, smoke bombs are completely harmless and I really don't see the fuss about them.

[S]

Did a flare cause that fire? Or a smoke bomb?

No and that doesn't matter, the end result could still be the same. You're not allowed to bring them into stadiums for a reason. There's plenty of better ways to create an atmosphere that don't come with the risk of having negative consequences for the club.

[Redman0151]

No and that doesn't matter, the end result could still be the same. You're not allowed to bring them into stadiums for a reason. There's plenty of better ways to create an atmosphere that don't come with the risk of having negative consequences for the club.

How can these smoke bombs cause a fire similar to that in Bradford?

[AJL]

#NoPyroNoParty is still trending on Twitter

Some great pics on there of the smoke bombs as well. 

Blackpool
Northampton
Brentford

Even the............................ Glasgow Under 17s Cup Final 

[Crosby Nick]

Some wet flannels on ere.

Could do with some of them at the next away games. Just in case.