Police at Reading Station last night....

[RoyalBlue]

One hopes both STAR and RFC (as well as the local media) will demand answers from TVP as to their reasoning behind this.

Would suggest that the local MPs are also asked to get involved. What a ludicrous operation and complete waste of money when senior police offices are whinging about budgets and manpower being cut.

[leicsRoyal]

It seemed like that between the two Police forces they had made their minds up that something was going to happen somewhere long before the game itself.

We went to the King Alfred pub in Southampton which is normally an away pub only to find a sign outside saying 'Home Fans Only'
As it was early enough in the day we popped in for a drink anyway and got talking to the landlord who informed us that Hampshire Police had insisted that the pub was changed to a home fans pub for this match as they were expecting trouble before the game.

[Rex]

Speaking to the senior steward before kick off he'd apparently been busy dealing with trouble makers. At no point did i see any trouble either walking to the stadium or afterwards.

[TFF]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... _mcdermott

For our fans the win at Southampton was terrific, they will have had such a good night and they would have been out in town, as they should be.

Perhaps someone could have passed the message on.

[Gunny Fishcake]

What's the welcome going to be like after the Brum game ? Many many will go by train and be back in town around 6ish looking for a big celebration all being well

[Woodcote Royal]

As ever, TVP are a complete joke. Good luck to STAR and others in showing them up for the idiots that they are.

[westongeezer]

Well this smacks of another hunt for WMDs in the prevbial sense, with the Old bill using football suppoters as a political wedge to gain more funding, give it a week and the Fire crews will have us doing real fire drills to enable more funding there to, and from the reports from Southampton regarding lovcal pubs the old bill are trying to generate trouble from nothing, from here its only going to become worse.

[Tinrib]

Maybe the TVP are getting in early for the (hopefully) forthcoming Prem season..?

[Rex]

The issue should be a non event. Doorman check your driving licence if you want to drink in town after a match. I've even been checked for my ST IF there was a blanket ban on anyone going into town after a match then this would prove an interesting precedent. Why would / should it take the onus away from the doorman. Drinking in town after a match there are cattle wagons parked up, Police stood opposite pubs/clubs with little or nothing to do and not a sign of trouble that is football related.

IF the Police are targeting specific supporters then do so, but this again should only be connected to current history on the day and not historical. It seems there is no logic in targeting the Reading supporters travelling back from a match when the same should really apply or be more applicable to a mix of home /away supporters mixing in town.

Should we get promoted in the next week then is there going to be a ban on supporters going into town and how is this going to be managed.

[Norfolk Royal]

This whole thing is pathetic and smacks of persecution by the police.

[Dai Brainbocs]

What a ludicrous operation and complete waste of money when senior police offices are whinging about budgets and manpower being cut.

It's a loss-leader for the police. The idea is to accustom the public to thinking that sort of policing is essential, then charge clubs for it even if it's miles away from grounds and add a bit on top to help cover budget cuts in other areas.

[Mr Angry]

In this day and age, this sort of policing is completely unjustifiable - it was an utter waste of valuable resources as well as a complete PR disaster for the TVP; whichever senior officer authorised this operation should firstly, be publically identified, and secondly, should be disciplined.

[jonboy29red]

god forbid we dont`t get a situation like what`s on going at Gillingham over there upcoming game against swindon were we could have a game played behind closed doors because of police infomation

[66DD]

The issue should be a non event. Doorman check your driving licence if you want to drink in town after a match.

Sorry to be a bit dense, but why do they do that?

[Big Foot]

The issue should be a non event. Doorman check your driving licence if you want to drink in town after a match.

Sorry to be a bit dense, but why do they do that?

To identify if you're a Reading fan or an away fan.

[Compo's Hat]

Nice of the police to be so well organised that they packed us on to a three carriage train like sardines

[The Cap]

For me, that was the best away game that I've been to for ages, if ever. Bill Oddie song in concourse before game and at half time. Police stood to one side watching it all go on. Boys having the crack in a safe environment.

Absolutely amazed to read this thread. Stayed down So'ton for the weekend, so didn't experience any heavy handed policing. Saw a bunch of nuns going down the high street on Saturday night, singing blue army, and it suddenly occurred to me that we really do have Big G on our side in the quest for promotion

Came back yesterday with a smile on the 'boat race' the size of the Thames. Sweet. Bring on the Forest

[RFCUK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ2lseUdf4Q&feature=related

I'll just put this here and let the discussion continue

[leon]

football fans - mostly humourless cowardly twats

[Snowball]

My ex-brother in law (actually a Saints fan and a bit of a thug)

Had he been that one RFC kid would have been giving it large
and inviting the opposition onto his platform


Had I been that one lonely RFC fan, I'd've melted at the very least