Our sick game.

[demon_dog]

I am staying down in Oxford on business, the hotel is alongside the Kassam stadium.

Tonight saw a game between Oxford Utd currently 1st in the Blue Sq. Prem. and Luton town currently 3rd.

Being at a loose end with naff all on the telly I decided to attend the match as a neutral spectator.

Walking over to the ground about 15 mins prior to the match I found police everywhere, several on horseback, with the police helicopter hovering overhead.

There had been several incidents between rival fans, walking around the ground to where my seating area was I found myself in an area where the home and away fans are alongside each other (as per the Walkers). Having specifically requested a good seat for the game this did not go down well. I duly gave a steward a piece of my mind as to what I thought of the ticket office.

He duly found me somewhere decent to see the game.

Waiting to go in through the turnstile I saw quite alot of home fans giving it some at the opposition, the police on horseback and others were doing all they could to keep the fans seperated.

Oxford took an early lead during the game, then shortly scored another.

This prompted the nutters to kick off big time.

Being naive I thought that with this only being a Blue Square game there may be a couple of thousand there.

Whoah, how wrong could I have been, attendance was approx 10,500.

It simply goes to show that no matter what level of football, each club has it's share of nutters.

During the game a guy in front of me did not bother watching the match for long periods, he simply kept watching the opposition fans.

What a waste of a match ticket! £17

The match itself was quite entertaining, Oxford going 2 up in the first 15 mins, both teams played a passing game, Luton seemed the better team for nearly all of the first half, second half was more evenly matched.

Lutons downfall was there inability to put a decent final ball into the box.

Fortunately I managed to avoid the trouble, although I saw plenty.

It just shows that no matter what some people may say, football hooliganism is still rife within the game.

[Head Honcho]

I am staying down in Oxford on business, the hotel is alongside the Kassam stadium.

Tonight saw a game between Oxford Utd currently 1st in the Blue Sq. Prem. and Luton town currently 3rd.

Being at a loose end with naff all on the telly I decided to attend the match as a neutral spectator.

Walking over to the ground about 15 mins prior to the match I found police everywhere, several on horseback, with the police helicopter hovering overhead.

There had been several incidents between rival fans, walking around the ground to where my seating area was I found myself in an area where the home and away fans are alongside each other (as per the Walkers). Having specifically requested a good seat for the game this did not go down well. I duly gave a steward a piece of my mind as to what I thought of the ticket office.

He duly found me somewhere decent to see the game.

Waiting to go in through the turnstile I saw quite alot of home fans giving it some at the opposition, the police on horseback and others were doing all they could to keep the fans seperated.

Oxford took an early lead during the game, then shortly scored another.

This prompted the nutters to kick off big time.

Being naive I thought that with this only being a Blue Square game there may be a couple of thousand there.

Whoah, how wrong could I have been, attendance was approx 10,500.

It simply goes to show that no matter what level of football, each club has it's share of nutters.

During the game a guy in front of me did not bother watching the match for long periods, he simply kept watching the opposition fans.

What a waste of a match ticket! £17

The match itself was quite entertaining, Oxford going 2 up in the first 15 mins, both teams played a passing game, Luton seemed the better team for nearly all of the first half, second half was more evenly matched.

Lutons downfall was there inability to put a decent final ball into the box.

Fortunately I managed to avoid the trouble, although I saw plenty.

It just shows that no matter what some people may say, football hooliganism is still rife within the game.

Doesn't help that the ground is within spitting distance of one of the worst estates in the Thames Valley.

[ozleicester]

But, were there any actual incidents? It sounds like there was an atmosphere of agro..but did anything happen?

[davieG]

£17 to watch that level of football as well

[C-man]

£17 to watch that level of football as well

Over 10,000 were prepared to pay though.

[Fosse Boy]

Stuff like that was bound to happen. Oxford's a fairly local game for Luton and they're two big clubs to be playing at that level. There's bound to be some needle.

The only thing I really find damning about your story is the fact that they were charging £17 a pop.

[davieG]

Over 10,000 were prepared to pay though.

But how many were paying to watch the footy and how many just for a chance of some aggro?

[Fosse Boy]

Apparently Kettering town centre was jammed packed with police when Luton played there the other week.

[Shrenchel]

Oh be quiet you tart.

[purpleronnie]

I am staying down in Oxford on business, the hotel is alongside the Kassam stadium.

Tonight saw a game between Oxford Utd currently 1st in the Blue Sq. Prem. and Luton town currently 3rd.

Being at a loose end with naff all on the telly I decided to attend the match as a neutral spectator.

Walking over to the ground about 15 mins prior to the match I found police everywhere, several on horseback, with the police helicopter hovering overhead.

There had been several incidents between rival fans, walking around the ground to where my seating area was I found myself in an area where the home and away fans are alongside each other (as per the Walkers). Having specifically requested a good seat for the game this did not go down well. I duly gave a steward a piece of my mind as to what I thought of the ticket office.

He duly found me somewhere decent to see the game.

Waiting to go in through the turnstile I saw quite alot of home fans giving it some at the opposition, the police on horseback and others were doing all they could to keep the fans seperated.

Oxford took an early lead during the game, then shortly scored another.

This prompted the nutters to kick off big time.

Being naive I thought that with this only being a Blue Square game there may be a couple of thousand there.

Whoah, how wrong could I have been, attendance was approx 10,500.

It simply goes to show that no matter what level of football, each club has it's share of nutters.

During the game a guy in front of me did not bother watching the match for long periods, he simply kept watching the opposition fans.

What a waste of a match ticket! £17

The match itself was quite entertaining, Oxford going 2 up in the first 15 mins, both teams played a passing game, Luton seemed the better team for nearly all of the first half, second half was more evenly matched.

Lutons downfall was there inability to put a decent final ball into the box.

Fortunately I managed to avoid the trouble, although I saw plenty.

It just shows that no matter what some people may say, football hooliganism is still rife within the game.

Yes, trouble at west ham v millwall and a little bit of trouble at the biggest non league fixture of the season, yep you're right its rife, get a grip.

Some people really do lead sheltered lives.

[Tommeh]

The only relevant point about your post is the ticket prices, £17 is ridiculous for that level. But Oxford need to pay their new ground off and can get away with it. Incredible attendance that.

People go to football for different reasons, sounds like a decent atmsophere to me. If you think what you described as seeing as hooliganism then please God help this country.

Luton get big Old Bill presence everywhere, they'e pretty much to the blue square what Leeds are to Leaue 1.

[purpleronnie]

The only relevant point about your post is the ticket prices, £17 is ridiculous for that level. But Oxford need to pay their new ground off and can get away with it. Incredible attendance that.

People go to football for different reasons, sounds like a decent atmsophere to me. If you think what you described as seeing as hooliganism then please God help this country.

Luton get big Old Bill presence everywhere, they'e pretty much to the blue square what Leeds are to Leaue 1.

Exactly but its a typical response these days, just completely OTT. Just look at the arrests record compared to attendances, we have the safest stadiums in the world, yes there is trouble outside the grounds occassionaly but to say its rife is just plain stupid.

This always happens though, one incident and people question if hooliganism is coming back? or is it getting worse? The answer to both of those questions is NO.

[Bert]

Stuff like that was bound to happen. Oxford's a fairly local game for Luton and they're two big clubs to be playing at that level. There's bound to be some needle.

The only thing I really find damning about your story is the fact that they were charging £17 a pop.

Well, not really. At least 65 miles I'd say.

[Unit]

I got to a few oxford games as they're my dad's team, so I suppose my second. Wicked atmosphere at some of their away games with a lot of travelling support considering the level of football, this happens everywhere though

[Edmund]

I blame Sky. Apparently the Oxford fans were taunting Luton fans with a chant of "You're to poor for sky HD".

[Fosse Boy]

Well, not really. At least 65 miles I'd say.

Only 44 as it turns out. Still, South Midlands geography never was my strong point.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

That game was the biggest in terms of the clubs involved. Glad to see both clubs doing well but like you say there is no place for this behaviour in football. And £17 is a bit steep.

[demon_dog]

Firstly I have not led a sheltered life, I recall the aggro back in the seventies and eighties, that was far worse than any at this game.

I did unfortunately see to what in my opinion was completely uncalled for mindless violence.

Those of you who say," so what, it happens, get a life." need to realise that the game was being brought to it's knees years ago by this sort of behaviour.

I go to football because I enjoy it as a sport, not to see mindless idiots behaving in such a manner.

It would appear from conversations with people on the night that Luton have a reputation for this sort of behaviour.

I fully agree that £17 for the game on the night was rather expensive, however it was a last minute decision due to boredom, having been stuck in a hotel for 3 nights.

[Sods]

Oxford fans are mad, living locally their is still a fair share of nutters that attend their fixtures.

Oxford are going up, the biggest game of the season will be against Luton or Oxford. Always was going to be a high attendance it is close as nothing is close round here! Oxford will always turn out in numbers fair play to both sides!