[Archived] Dingles Away travel advice

[Hasta]

Im sure they could relent on the restrictions but still look after the official coaches. Its a high profile game. They can put some special measures in place. They just dont need to go as far as they have. Im sure its not a case of all or nothing.

[longsiders1882]

I think many feel the same, it is the enforced nature.

If they said, look we are offering official coach travel, leaves early, gets you there early and returns a little time after the final whistle but you have a large escort there and back and consequently your safety is more assured and we recommend everybody uses them - but if you don't want to you are free to make your own way I don't think any of us would moan at all. Even the kind of g8 protest barriers wouldn't be such an issue etc etc

[Gav]

The Preston game earlier in the week was a much bigger risk in terms of disorder simply because hooliganism in Preston has had a resurgence in recent years.

I drove up Manchester rd at 5pm and saw 2 coach loads of police arriving in the town, there to police a football fixture. Can anyone tell me whats the difference between the two fixtures, the PNE one and ours, because I can guarantee PNE had double or even treble the amount of idiots wanting to cause trouble with the locals than we would have.

Its just an excuse in my opinion to enforce coach travel, and one that is putting hundreds of people off attending what should be a fantastic occasion. Took my son last season to his first derby game, so I had to go by coach, but won’t be going again unless its under my own steam.

I have no problem with the club offering 'Safe' transport for people that want it, but you should be allowed the choice. £120 for 3 tickets, to be treated like a criminal for 8hrs, only football fans are exposed to this sort of behaviour and return the week after for more of the same

[AggyBlue]

£120 for three tickets plus the hassle.

This will be the first Burnley fixture I intend to miss in nigh on fifty years.

[roverzee]

The thing is, when we played this fixture in December 2000 after an 18 year gap, nobody gave a sh!t about enforced coach travel, police tactics, price of tickets etc - in fact match tickets AND associated coach tickets were going on the black market. Everyone wanted one, everyone wanted to be there.

It was almost the same with the cup games in 2005 because the novelty hadn't worn off and everyone wanted more of those magical atmospheres from 5 years earlier.

I don't recall too many complaints about the arrangements back then, or even about the TA soldiers on the bridges over the M65 keeping the coaches safe. (At least that element has been relaxed since those days). Everyone wanted to be there - tickets were like gold dust.

But in those four matches, and the four matches since, there has always been aggression between the fans at every single game. The odd smashed coach window, a few gangs of chanting, gesticulating nutters on the coach routes, the posturing in both grounds. More sinister (and impossible to police properly) there has been serious trouble on Derby Day AWAY from the actual matches on all 8 occasions. That's every single fixture since the December 2000 reunion.

So whilst most of us (both clubs fans) are well capable of getting ourselves to and from the away grounds without any bother, you can see why the police say no, and why the clubs agree. There's a significant minority who will go to any lengths to cause bother on Derby Day, and from the police point of view it's best to ringfence the actual match.

If these games this season were the first for 18 years, it would be like it was in 2000/2001 - everyone would want a ticket, including for a coach to the game. We've been there, done that, the police have seen enough evidence on all 8 occasions not to relax the rules, the game is on TV, (just as they all were in 2000/01/05) - net result, neither club will sell out their away allocations. Move on.

[darrenrover]

Wouldn't it be great if Burnley and Rovers fans sat side by side during the game, took the pi55 out of each other, had the banter, heated debates,treated each other with respect and shook hands at the end of the game and moved on.

If that were the case the draconian measures would be unnecessary and the game much more fun

[Gav]

The thing is, when we played this fixture in December 2000 after an 18 year gap, nobody gave a sh!t about enforced coach travel, police tactics, price of tickets etc - in fact match tickets AND associated coach tickets were going on the black market. Everyone wanted one, everyone wanted to be there.

It was almost the same with the cup games in 2005 because the novelty hadn't worn off and everyone wanted more of those magical atmospheres from 5 years earlier.

I don't recall too many complaints about the arrangements back then, or even about the TA soldiers on the bridges over the M65 keeping the coaches safe. (At least that element has been relaxed since those days). Everyone wanted to be there - tickets were like gold dust.

But in those four matches, and the four matches since, there has always been aggression between the fans at every single game. The odd smashed coach window, a few gangs of chanting, gesticulating nutters on the coach routes, the posturing in both grounds. More sinister (and impossible to police properly) there has been serious trouble on Derby Day AWAY from the actual matches on all 8 occasions. That's every single fixture since the December 2000 reunion.

So whilst most of us (both clubs fans) are well capable of getting ourselves to and from the away grounds without any bother, you can see why the police say no, and why the clubs agree. There's a significant minority who will go to any lengths to cause bother on Derby Day, and from the police point of view it's best to ringfence the actual match.

If these games this season were the first for 18 years, it would be like it was in 2000/2001 - everyone would want a ticket, including for a coach to the game. We've been there, done that, the police have seen enough evidence on all 8 occasions not to relax the rules, the game is on TV, (just as they all were in 2000/01/05) - net result, neither club will sell out their away allocations. Move on.

Nobody cared about the game in 2000 because restrictions hadn't been put in place, you could travel independently if you wanted too, and I still maintain that ticket sales went slowly mainly because of restrictions imposed on sales, and we never actually sold out, but I know people disagree with that. The police asked the club to take tickets off sale in the week leading up to the game, with some still available, and the club obliged.

2005, tickets like gold dust? just not true and if you'd been around here at that time you'd have heard the same arguments being put across about the travel arrangements as they are today.

As for disorder AWAY from the games on all 8 occasions, not sure about that, even the latest trouble at the station pub was handbags and allowed to happen by the police to gain convictions, not 1 punch was thrown yet people went to jail, some who have never even been to Ewood before! Wrong place wrong time.

My opinion won't change on this, you should be given the choice, simple as that. Footballs in the entertainment business, its not entertaining sitting on stationary coaches for 2hrs, being treated like a criminal and paying for the privilege.

[tomphil]

Can't remember about the travel in 2000 but the tickets only ever went on sale to season tckt holders via postal application, i still have the letter somewhere. We had around 10/11k season ticket holders then and we sold 3,200 out of the 3,600 allocated. I had a few mates at the time non st's who were desperate to go but had no chance. I think there was a little mob on the train coralled by the police that day. Don't know if they got in or were escorted back to BBurn.

[Claytons Left Boot]

Wouldn't it be great if Burnley and Rovers fans sat side by side during the game, took the pi55 out of each other, had the banter, heated debates,treated each other with respect and shook hands at the end of the game and moved on.

If that were the case the draconian measures would be unnecessary and the game much more fun

Went to the Challenge Cup Final last Saturday. Walked across from our hotel to check the menu at a restaurant and was greeted by a Hull FC fan who shook my hand and wished me all the best for the game the following day. We started talking rugby league, sat and joined them, bought each other drinks and had a great couple of hours on the Guinness.

We were in another pub in Harrow on the Saturday. Full of Wigan & Hull fans as well as other RL fans from other clubs. Everyone chatting and getting on fine, just how it should be.

There is the odd bit of trouble at RL but I've never witnessed any and in comparison to football, it is miniscule. Wigan/Saints is the equivalent of Rovers/Burnley. I could go to Langtree Park (which I have done), wear my Wigan top, sing Wigan songs and walk back to the town centre with Saints fans and there would be no hint of trouble. There'd be banter, you'd have a laugh, but you'd act like adults and behave accordingly.

I didn't go to Turf Moor last season and have no intention of going there ever again. I was on holiday for the FA Cup game at their place in 2005 and other than those two games I had never missed a derby match since I saw my first in 1970. I just can't be arsed any more.

There are a good few reasons why I've fallen out of love with football. Being in the company of posturing, gloating, violent, pea brained hooligans is high on the list. I won't bore you with the others.

Anyone walking past the Fernhurst today, bring your cameras. You'll get a few shots of the best ever chimps tea party. Either that or an insight into the evolution of man in weekly installments, starting today under the heading of neanderthals.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

If the outcome of the restrictions results in no fan of either Rovers or Burnley being seriously injured then so be it.

An element on both sides can't be trusted so Que Serra Serra.

[Fife Rover]

Went to the Challenge Cup Final last Saturday. Walked across from our hotel to check the menu at a restaurant and was greeted by a Hull FC fan who shook my hand and wished me all the best for the game the following day. We started talking rugby league, sat and joined them, bought each other drinks and had a great couple of hours on the Guinness.

We were in another pub in Harrow on the Saturday. Full of Wigan & Hull fans as well as other RL fans from other clubs. Everyone chatting and getting on fine, just how it should be.

There is the odd bit of trouble at RL but I've never witnessed any and in comparison to football, it is miniscule. Wigan/Saints is the equivalent of Rovers/Burnley. I could go to Langtree Park (which I have done), wear my Wigan top, sing Wigan songs and walk back to the town centre with Saints fans and there would be no hint of trouble. There'd be banter, you'd have a laugh, but you'd act like adults and behave accordingly.

I didn't go to Turf Moor last season and have no intention of going there ever again. I was on holiday for the FA Cup game at their place in 2005 and other than those two games I had never missed a derby match since I saw my first in 1970. I just can't be arsed any more.

There are a good few reasons why I've fallen out of love with football. Being in the company of posturing, gloating, violent, pea brained hooligans is high on the list. I won't bore you with the others.

Anyone walking past the Fernhurst today, bring your cameras. You'll get a few shots of the best ever chimps tea party. Either that or an insight into the evolution of man in weekly installments, starting today under the heading of neanderthals.

Very sad.....but very true CLB. Sign of the times.

[McClarky]

After today's results in should be a cracking game. I'm tipping us to win 3 zip.

[tomphil]

Todays result and performance should help the ticket sales a bit hopefully.

[Tom]

I remember in 2000 at the Ewood game Burnley fans thought they were being smart and expected a police escort from Blackburn station so they decided to get one step ahead of the police and get off the train at rishton. They were met by police and marched in a line from rishton all the way I believe.

Seeing a long line of angry and frustrated dingles walking up the main road in rishton flanked by police was quite entertaining it must be said

[SamDingle]

We went to the pub and walked down t'Turf with a rovers fan in in our group in 2000, no one cared. For 98% of fans it's at best a pantomime, at worst an opportunity to dress up as a 'lad' for the day.

The police need to sort out the 2% and leave the rest of us alone. They manage it well enough in Manchester, Liverpool and London.

A real shame now with recent results actually making it a worthwhile game in its own right.

[Gav]

We went to the pub and walked down t'Turf with a rovers fan in in our group in 2000, no one cared. For 98% of fans it's at best a pantomime, at worst an opportunity to dress up as a 'lad' for the day.

The police need to sort out the 2% and leave the rest of us alone. They manage it well enough in Manchester, Liverpool and London.

A real shame now with recent results actually making it a worthwhile game in its own right.

You're a ****. but I agree with you

[tomphil]

We went to the pub and walked down t'Turf with a rovers fan in in our group in 2000, no one cared. For 98% of fans it's at best a pantomime, at worst an opportunity to dress up as a 'lad' for the day.

The police need to sort out the 2% and leave the rest of us alone. They manage it well enough in Manchester, Liverpool and London.

A real shame now with recent results actually making it a worthwhile game in its own right.

This is true. After yesterdays teams results and performances if the game was next week and no restrictions what a corker and atmosphere it would be, just what this fixture is about FOOTBALL and bragging rights. Instead it's two weeks of folk looking at the hassle, ticket prices and tv and wondering whether to bother. Hopefully it won't be a damp squid and normal service will resume i.e a good crowd and er...34 years etc etc