Didcot Saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Just what we're the Police doing yesterday what a total shambles. Took an hour just to go round back to where we started(car park just along from the King Alfred pub). The Police in their infinite wisdom closed all routes northbound just to try and get the coaches out which took an hour. Result. City centre gridlock for many. Why did'nt they hold the Skates in, let all the Saints traffic go, then close the road. NO. Lets **** everyone off who come to most home games for an hour, just to let those morons out quickly. Do you reckon Pompey Police would have done that for us? What a totally moronic decision, no wonder people have less respect for the Police nowadays.
saintmonkey1979 Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 I didn't think it was too bad yesterday tbh. I've been stuck in traffic for longer than that for alot of league matches over the past couple of years. There are plenty of other reasons for lack of respect for the OB than traffic decisions.
Legod Third Coming Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Just what we're the Police doing yesterday what a total shambles. Took an hour just to go round back to where we started(car park just along from the King Alfred pub). The Police in their infinite wisdom closed all routes northbound just to try and get the coaches out which took an hour. Result. City centre gridlock for many. Why did'nt they hold the Skates in, let all the Saints traffic go, then close the road. NO. Lets **** everyone off who come to most home games for an hour, just to let those morons out quickly. Do you reckon Pompey Police would have done that for us? What a totally moronic decision, no wonder people have less respect for the Police nowadays. Totally. Took me 90 minutes to get to West Quay from Terminus Terrace. It would take ten minutes to walk it!! What were they thinking when everyone heading out north to the City Centre was directed back to... er Saint Mary's!!!?? It was a bloody joke and so ill-thought through.
surrey1saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 This happens every time we get crowds approaching 30K .The old bill need to try and sort it out.
Whitey Grandad Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 I've been kept in for over an hour at other grounds, why is ours the only one where the away fans get preference?
rocknrollman no2 Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Agree with the first post.The police were totally over the top with the way they handled the Skate fans and how aggressive they were towards Saints fans,just trying to get home.My mate was threatened with arrest for meerly wanting to walk over the Northam railway bridge,despite there already being loads of home fans walking over there anyway.My son was nearly pushed over by a demented poicewoman on a horse who seemed to take great delight provoking innocent fans waiting by a bus top. All of this couldve been avoided if they had kept the away fans back for an hour,until we had all had a chance to get home.Then at least if any Saints fans were still waiting outside,they would know they were probably troublemakers.
krissyboy31 Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 This happens every time we get crowds approaching 30K .The old bill need to try and sort it out. They don't usually stop people going north on Kingsway across six-dials. We had to turn South and cut across to Queensway and out to Millbrook and onto the M271,
surrey1saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 They don't usually stop people going north on Kingsway across six-dials. We had to turn South and cut across to Queensway and out to Millbrook and onto the M271, I usually go straight along West Quay road and out onto the M271,didn't realise the OB had done that,that's crazy.!
Kenilworthy Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 I think it was a matter of luck in choosing the route away. We parked in the East Street car park and were away heading back up to the Midlands slightly faster than normal if anything. I did think at the time that traffic was lighter than usual on this route. I assume because so many people will still gridlocked in the City Centre. I do agree that traffic handling in general after football matches needs looking at, however I think on balance that Southampton is on a par with most. Easily the worst is Huddersfield - we were still trying to get away from the town at 6.30 after a game that drew a fraction of yesterday's crowd.
Saint Samuel Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 My usual 20 minute walk took over an hour yesterday due to police blocking off roads and telling us where we could and couldn't go.
niceandfriendly Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 I always avoid the city centre for parking, even for normal league games with 23k crowds. I park in St Deny's industrial estate and get away everytime with no traffic at all, and it was the same yesterday. Of course, nobody else should join us for the next game please - it's full
surrey1saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 My usual journey home takes 1 1/2 - 2 hours,yesterday was about 2 1/2 hours.
Amazingstoke Saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Absolutely mind-numbing lack of co-ordination. Round and round in circles in ever-lengthening queues with plods not at all knowing what the consequences of their directions were. Crazy. A complete c*ck up
barney Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Totally agree with the 1st post,took me nearly 2 hours to get back to lordswood from lime street car park.Lost my rag after being redirected the 3rd time back into town by some plod who looked about 15 years old.Keep the away fans in let the traffic clear then let them out simples.At the worst hold the traffic until the away fans are past then let it go. Redirecting thousands of cars back towards the town centre is a recipe for chaos.
Thedelldays Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 what would you all have done instead..?
Legod Third Coming Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 what would you all have done instead..? 1. Set the lights away from the stadium in all directions to green. 2. Directed traffic away from the ground north and west. 3. Kept in away fans until the entire area had dissapated - max 1 hour needed. 4. Allow away fans then back to the station or away in buses. Sadly, anyone wanting to go East would have had to go out via the M271 (or waited for the Northam Road to open) but that's a modicum of inconvenience compared to being directed towards each other in the total chaos that left thousands of people sat in cars not far from away fans...
Tractor_Saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Think the traffic was fantastically done - quickest route out I've ever had. Stopped for a drink at Shamrock Quay after the game, 30 mins later we all jumped in the car and there were no queues what-so-ever. I think that the police may well have closed the road nearer the ground because of the trouble which meant that there was little traffic coming out of the Quays. Cheers!
instinct Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Got on the bus by Yates then had to wait almost an hour as the Pompey fans were crossing the road up to the station... they should have kept them in for an hour
Thedelldays Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..?
Scudamore Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 3. Kept in away fans until the entire area had dissapated - max 1 hour needed. that would have been interesting!
niceandfriendly Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..? The exact same thing happened to us at Fratton Park in 2005 and also at SMS with the skates when Crouch scored the last minute penalty. Why it didn't happen this time I'll never know.
Whitey Grandad Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..? It's happened to me twice at Fratton and once at Ninian Park.
Colinjb Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Question? What was the quickest way to get a mate back to Swaythling after the Skate game when you are parked up at College Street? Answer: Somehow!!!! The M271!!!!! Keep them locked in for an hour, let the traffic disperse and then walk them back to the train station, they won for gods sake! Open up the bar and just drain their wallets dry..... And then you won't need to co-ordinate 27k angry Saints who have the audacity to want to get home through their own city.
warsash saint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 If the old bill had kept the skates in for an hour, imagine the state they would have left the place:smt119
JackFrost Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..? sigh heavily and sit in me seat for an hour?? Its happened to me several times over the years, my personal record was in '97 or '98 at Highfield Road when it took 2 hrs 10 mins to set foot outside the stadium after the match
Thedelldays Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 sigh heavily and sit in me seat for an hour?? Its happened to me several times over the years, my personal record was in '97 or '98 at Highfield Road when it took 2 hrs 10 mins to set foot outside the stadium after the match people complain when a steward asks them to sit down these days
70's Mike Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..? we were at Fratton in relegation season
eurosaint Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 If the old bill had kept the skates in for an hour, imagine the state they would have left the place:smt119 It's gonna take weeks to get rid of the smell anyway !!
Whitey Grandad Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 It's gonna take weeks to get rid of the smell anyway !! "We can smell you over here" - great chant that.
Legod Third Coming Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..? At Fratton Park? Er not unexpected frankly. At Brentford or Millwall, I would have sued under the human rights act.
Legod Third Coming Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Question? What was the quickest way to get a mate back to Swaythling after the Skate game when you are parked up at College Street? Answer: Somehow!!!! The M271!!!!! Keep them locked in for an hour, let the traffic disperse and then walk them back to the train station, they won for gods sake! Open up the bar and just drain their wallets dry..... And then you won't need to co-ordinate 27k angry Saints who have the audacity to want to get home through their own city. Thank you Captain Sensible. When I run for government (and I will) the kind of lunacy we saw yesterday with traffic management will be outlawed.
Block 5 Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 I got stuck on foot with my mates, the OB wouldn't let us back towards the city for about 20 minutes. But it was worth the wait...... We stood at the side of the road as the poopey coaches drove past; at least 20 of them. It took ages for them all to drive past. Needless to say, we gave each and every one of them a 'friendly wave' as they went past. That alone was worth the price of my ticket.
Dogs Posted 14 February, 2010 Posted 14 February, 2010 Just what we're the Police doing yesterday what a total shambles. Took an hour just to go round back to where we started(car park just along from the King Alfred pub). The Police in their infinite wisdom closed all routes northbound just to try and get the coaches out which took an hour. Result. City centre gridlock for many. Why did'nt they hold the Skates in, let all the Saints traffic go, then close the road. NO. Lets **** everyone off who come to most home games for an hour, just to let those morons out quickly. Do you reckon Pompey Police would have done that for us? What a totally moronic decision, no wonder people have less respect for the Police nowadays. Totally agree,the public seem to be treated as cattle these days..no wonder there isnt any respect for those in authority anymore.
70's Mike Posted 15 February, 2010 Posted 15 February, 2010 Totally agree,the public seem to be treated as cattle these days..no wonder there isnt any respect for those in authority anymore. football supporters always have been strange thing is i have watched saints on 58 different grounds over 40 years and SMS is the only one where home fans are inconvienced , just lock away fans in for 30 mins like every where else. must be the ob overtime bill or something
yorkie Posted 15 February, 2010 Posted 15 February, 2010 Didn't think it was that bad considering I had a drive back to Yorkshire! Might have been something to do with going to The Alex for 90-mins after the game and then walking to Jansen Road to get my car. I was home in the usual 4-hours without any hold ups on any of the route. I do something similar after most games - leaving Southampton a good 1-1.5-hours after the final whistle. It doesn't seem to matter - I'd rather be having a relaxing post match drink (even if non-alcoholic) than sitting in traffic. It's a full day out - perhaps more fans should do this as there is really only one road out of the City - down The Avenue if you are heading North. Top day out apart from the result - but it won't matter after 1st March 2010 - RIP PFC!
The9 Posted 15 February, 2010 Posted 15 February, 2010 ask yourselves...what would your reaction be if you were kept in at an away ground for 1 hour..? IIRC we sang "you're supposed to be at home" and "shiiit ground no fans".
saintchris23 Posted 15 February, 2010 Posted 15 February, 2010 I left on 90 minutes at the Pompey game and it took 15 minutes to get back to Hedge End - Result. I left on 90 minutes at the MK Dons game and it took 1.5hrs to get back to Hedge End - go figure!
Block 5 Posted 15 February, 2010 Posted 15 February, 2010 I left on 90 minutes at the Pompey game and it took 15 minutes to get back to Hedge End - Result. I left on 90 minutes at the MK Dons game and it took 1.5hrs to get back to Hedge End - go figure! Plastic!
Rebel Posted 15 February, 2010 Posted 15 February, 2010 Play-off semi final at Derby they kept us in the stands whilst the Derby fans celebrated their victory by calling us out for a fight on the pitch - must have been 20 or 30 minsutes and then when we got back to the coaches they kept us waiting for another hour whilst they tried to find and identify the one saints fan who had thrown something at the Derby fans on the pitch and for some reason the Derbyshire Police didn't appreciate me asking why they were wasting their time looking for one Saints fan when they should have been busy arresting all those nice Derby fans who had stormed onto the pitch and then there were the roadworks on the A34 on the way home - it made it a very very long night! still the £10 I paid the coach driver to drive through a massive puddle and soak a load of Derby fans standing at the side of the road to wave us off was probably the best tenner I've ever spent and at least Derby and their fans got what they deserved in the premier league - the worst top flight record ever!
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