Miah Dennehy

FACT! Is good enough for me

This makes it true

Yes there were around 150/200 from Chester there and you're right, the problems started after the Chester goal. we were there with one of our suppliers who sponsor Banbury and he did mention that they had some problems this season, a stand got wrecked at Leamington apparently.

Banbury! While you were cheering me up losing to Lincoln last night, I was actually watching Banbury United v Chester with colleagues. What a bizarre night, it all kicked off after Chester scored a penalty, police reinforcements were called in, the bars closed and we managed to get kept behind after the game with the Chester fans, then it went off a bit outside with the police! There were even several renditions of the Harry Roberts song, which some of our older viewers may remember. It was all very 'handbags' and I know I shouldn't be laughing about it, but it was a very strange night!

We got a point at Alfreton though and you still havent covered all or losses to non league clubs in the FA Cup

I think you may have entirely missed the point of several of the last posts!

Neither really, then again, I'm not really sure I class anyone as a hero, we all have our flaws. There are times during his career when I've thought 'what a dick' particularly during his brief spell at Rangers, but looking back I can now see he jsnt isn't scared to say what he thinks, or maybe he just thinks it's good to wind the opposition up, who knows? The cigar in the eye incident, seems particularly abhorrent, but then I wasn't there so I can only guess at the precise details. I'm never going to condone violent acts, but I have known plenty of people who have committed them and while I would say I am far from being a violent person, I have done violent things in my life , is there anyone who hasn't? What I do know about Barton is that he has got Rovers playing some really entertaining football and it's enjoyable going to games again. I started watching football in an era when George Best was about the only player who made headlines for anything other than playing football, these days players are under the microscope pretty much 24/7. There is every chance that the players I saw under Don Megson and the ones City fans watched under Alan Dicks were as flawed as Joey Barton and every other controversial figure, the only difference is back then , we didn't hear about it.

I agree with everything you say. I would add that those who make the games laws should try and keep in mind why the laws are there, which is primarily to stop cheating. The Celtic player clearing wasn't cheating or trying to gain an advantage, yet the referees interpretation of the laws has seen him penalised and booked. There are those that will argue it is a penalty ( the pundits on Sportscene did) , but should refs be giving penalties for situations like that? I dont think they should.

I still find it odd that any football fan would want VAR, football is supposed to be fun FFS. It holds up the game, takes away any instant thrill of a goal and week after week comes up with decisions that people cant agree on! Anyone see the penalty awarded against Celtic yesterday btw? How the **** that's a penalty I will never know. **** VAR, I honestly think that if it comes in at Rovers level, that's me done with live football. Although I will probably go to a few games in our first season in the Premier League # we'recoming for you

Well that's the thing isn't it, I don't know the facts, only how they have been reported. Bearing in mind Stendel's testimony and injuries, do I think Barton had something to do with it? Yes , probably, but that doesn't mean I necessarily think Barton beat the bloke up and I do genuinely think that any reporting involving Barton would tend to paint him as the villain because that's an easy story to sell. In a very, very, very small way, I have had personal experience of creative reporting after the death of my daughter (this was a long time ago) and in this case it was trying to over egg the pathos, I guess in an attempt to make a sad story even sadder. My point being, that I think , often, a journalist will decide on the story they want to write and then try to make the facts fit that story. As it stands ,the facts are that Barton hasn't been found guilty and it should be left at that. People generally and many football fans in particular can be terribly hypocritical and will choose to highlight or ignore stories about their personal heroes and villains, Rovers fans and City fans and fans of every other football club, are no different in this respect.

It really is tragic. Unfortunately , human nature being what it is- and always has been- a little bit of mud will always stick if it's thrown often enough.

It was more of a comment on how stories get about tbh. People make up their mind , not based on actual evidence, but what they her and their interpretation of it. None of us really know what happened, or ever will.

Well if two of you heard it, it must be true

Aww shucks thanks. FWIW I seem to remember at the time we sold something like 25k for the Conference play off, whereas we did sell over 40k for the 2007 play off game against Shrewsbury. I seem to remember it being reported at the time that it was a record for one set of fans, the reason being we were allowed to have a larger allocation as Shrewsbury didn't take up the extra allocation that Wembley offers (or did at the time). I also vaguley remember the record being broken by Millwall who played a semi final there and took 50k? I feel I should also point out that at Exeter away this season we were only given around 1200 tickets and I had to get a ticket in the home end. I met up with a mate and his wife in the home end and I also spotted 3 others who I recognised as Rovers fans AND I know of 2 others who bought tickets in a different home section. If you take into account the good weather that day and just how ******* brilliant we are, it clearly suggests that Exeter should have given us an allocation of around 6000. The mugs.

I think the way we play will mean that we get a few hidings. I thought the game against Wednesday could easily have panned out the same way had they taken early chances, as it happened I was thinking we would pinch it near the end. That was never the case yesterday, poor defending meant the game was effectively over in the first half, although we were much better in the second half and had Sinclair's half chance gone in, well you really never do know with Rovers at the moment. A few of us were chatting on the coach on the way up and to a man we agreed we would rather see Rovers trying to play they do and accept that now and then we will get caught out , and believe me, at 3-0 down it looked like we were on for a VERY heavy defeat, than seeing us parking the bus and trying to grind out some kind of result. I won't get drawn into any kind of debate about Joey Barton as a man, but I think he is a very astute coach and , when given the right players, really can work wonders with a team. It is actually enjoyable watching us play at the moment.

Maybe if we had we wouldn't have got such a hiding!

You may have enjoyed being around Southey Park yesterday morning . Our double decker coach left there at 9, Just under an hour later , we had travelled around 100 yards the coach got jammed in a side street. A couple of us did think may be a sign of a bad day ahead!

I didn't realise HML was non competitive , it wasn't when I was involved. I just think taking away the league structure would-hopefully- take away the focus from winning games and make it more about learning how to play the game and enjoying it. I have lost count of the amount of times I have heard youth coaches talk about 'must win' games .

I haven't been involved in kids football for over a decade, the Respect campaign started while I was and frankly it means and achieves nothing. Parent and volunteers have to self police. They have to stop allowing bullying tactics of refs by parents and coaches. Shouting at a 14 year old ref-even if they have made a bad mistake- is not acceptable. If the ref ***** up, then suck it up, its kids football FFS and everyone is learning. As it stands, the only solution I can think of, and it would be hugely unpopular, would be to put an end to the leagues and make every game, in effect, a friendly. That would also stop the ridiculous practice of the stronger teams signing up the better players. Kids in Portishead shouldn't be playing for teams in Hanham IMO.

I can't swear to this, others on here maybe able to confirm my memories. I thought at least one City fan was extradited, or at least attempts were made to do so, I do know his name, though I'm not happy about putting it on here and he travelled to the game with one other very well known City fan at the time who I was quite friendly with. I think your wider point that football fans must take SOME responsibility for SOME tragedies over the years, but the insinuation that being born in a particular city and following a particular team gives you a propensity to behave in a particular IS sinister and dangerous.

There were plenty of supporters of other clubs at Heysel, including Bristol City. More and more the city of Liverpool seems to be considered 'fair game'. Sinister stuff.

No idea I'm afraid. He didn't set the world alight with us, I was chatting to a mate at Exeter who said to me, that his Hibs mate had said he was dog shite for them, about two minutes later Jasper went on a great run and sent a great cross over for a goal, so who knows it does seem that Barton brooks no dissent whatsoever and once someone shows any rebeliousness, he bombs them out and I can only assume that is what has happened here.

I saw some 12 year old Argyle fans shouting 'Come on then' on Filton Avenue and one of them threw a punch at someone. that was about the size of it.

I hate to sound like an old fart, but the Western league isn't what it was and I think much of that is the money that can get chucked around at that level. When I was younger, the league was of a standard that players could be taken from that level and relatively easily slip into the pro game. Off the top of my head , Rovers got Paul Randall, Gary Penrice, Nicky Tanner, Phil Purnell and Nigel Martyn from that-or similar- levels. Western League clubs were established at that level and there wasn't really too much movement among the pyramid (if it was even in place back then) In relatively recent times it has become possible for teams with ambition (and money) to shoot for the stars - I remember Bitton being a Bristol & District side and Forest Green Rovers being Western League (possibly even County League?). I used to be involved with AEK Boco, who as AEK Rangers were just a parks football side, but once the merger with the kids side (Boco) came about, there was an injection of cash and that added with the ambition of some dedicated people, the senior side are now Western league with a large clubhouse and floodlights. Now they, like most other clubs at that level, have a relatively high turnover of players as young lads chase the money , and who can blame them with the cost of rent and mortgages? As long as there is the money at this level, there will be more clubs like Yate, Bitton and Mangotsfield who soar too high and come crashing back down. Even happens at local rugby now.

Am I the only person who thinks 'safe standing' is an utter load of old bollocks? Old school, 'normal' terraces are perfectly safe as long as they are adequately maintained and you don't allow them to get over crowded.