Worst matchday experience?

[Reading4eva]

For worst all round experience rather than worst performance (but incorporating a terrible performance) i'd go with Rochdale away circa 1980.

In those days we used to take two coaches at most to away games up north many of whom were women or pensioners, therefore, there were only a handful of young males that were considered legitimate targets by the rougher home fans. There was no segregation and we were spat at and intimidated by 10-20 Rochdale fans all game which we lost 4-1 in pissing rain. Followed by a life endangering unescorted walk back to the coach which was hit by a stone on the way out of town.

I do wonder how some of our younger gobby contingent would have got on in those days.

Sounds like a fascinating day out. Its amazing how far we've come, and how filthy some clubs were back then. Macclesfield hardly had any fans when we went there, but for most detestable I've seen, I would have to go for Wolves and Burnley. Anyone remember that 2002 game . We won 5-2 by my god were they a horrible little club, living in a horrible little town. Dont think it beats your Rochdale story though

[fruits]

Definately losing to Bolton in the Play off Final in 1995. Still cannot understand how we lost.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Away to Fulham in 98/99?

Was unavoidably working on a project in Lincoln that day, but left at 3pm to get to the game. Horrible traffic meant that I was always running late but not so late that it wasn't worth going for, and it looked like I'd get there just in time for kick-off.

Got to the Fulham area about 15 minutes before kick-off and then was completely grid-locked, and there was nowhere to park - in trying to find a parking space I went down a cul-de-sac and was down there by a lorry, that spent about half an hour trying to reverse back out onto the main road.

Actually got moving again and close to the ground just before half-time but with nowhere to park knocked it on the head and tried to get BBCRB on the way home. Got in range 15 minutes before the game ended.

[Reading4eva]

Definately losing to Bolton in the Play off Final in 1995. Still cannot understand how we lost.

I dont blame Archie Lovell for that loss. And sometimes I feel that was meant to be. Could we of Played Premier League football at Elm Park? Would we of quickly slipped into oblivion following relegation, quite possibly. Look at Bradford & Barnsley, both bigger clubs than we were back then, and both clubs which in Bradford's case still find themselves in a bad state and Barnsley's which they mildly diverted a catastraphropic fall (akin to Luton's but from a greater height)

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Definately losing to Bolton in the Play off Final in 1995. Still cannot understand how we lost.

I dont blame Archie Lovell for that loss. And sometimes I feel that was meant to be. Could we of Played Premier League football at Elm Park?

No. There was talk at the time of ground-sharing at Loftus Road if we got promotion which, IMHO, could well have killed us as a club.

[Norfolk Royal]

Had a very similar experience to Schards at Rochdale would have been late 70s, probably not same game as I don't remember us losing it. Think it was a season we went up.

Our little gaggle of around ten younger fans were spat at, had glass thrown at us, pushed around, kicked, for the entire first half with no cops around by around 30 or so Rochdale yobs in a cowshed type stand. Eventually a couple of cops arrived and arrested one of their main protagonists but that just made it worse as they carted him off and left the rest of us completely unprotected.

At half time the authorities there finally took pity on us and led us around the side of the pitch to the other end, it was snowing that day and the snow was piled up at the side of the pitch.

When we got to the 'sanctuary' of the other end it was little better. The Rochdale yobs eventually found us again and it all started up again. I remember spending a good 20 minutes trying to prevent two chavs who had cottoned onto me trying to steal my watch while simultaneously threatening a girl who was with me with dire consequences later, I won't even repeat that one.

It wasn't like that was rare in the 70s, pretty standard in fact, although I remember that day in particular for the incessant and in your face (like two inches away) abuse, threats, and low level violence, throughout the entire game.

Don't remember the score, don't think there was a moment when you weren't watching your back.

[Silver Fox]

Going down 0-3 to Wimbledon whenever that was. Terrible performance but the day was made so much worse by the fans around us celebrating Dons' 3rd as if they were budding Private Eye contributors, dripping with satire, when in fact they were pcunts

[Zammo]

Had to sprint out of the Manor Ground and Fratton Park a couple of times. No drama though (hid well). Was chased out of the Flying Scotsman by some Charlton boys a couple of years back. Could have got nasty. Actually, Swansea at Elm Park when they charged at the South Bank and climbed the floodlights was uncomfortable.

Other than that, being so drunk for Birmingham in the FA Cup Third Round and standing in the disabled enclosure as I couldn't make it up the stairs to my seat was not my finest moment. I faced the pitch for the entire game, but my eyes were totally glazed over. Cannot recall the game at all. Shambles.

[Green]

A large group of young thugs (well, prolly four or five of them) took exception to me and m8 walking back to the station in Wigan once. There was a bit of shoving, a bit of shouting "Come on then!", was just about to turn nasty when the popo turned up.

Not much of a story but it's the best I've got.

[Negative_Jeff]

This is easy, a complete no brainer. Norwich (H) Jan 2006. The first time I have wondered what I was doing actually doing there.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I got a ticket for the 2006 UEFA Cup Final.

I was outside the stadium, and got nicked by the police for having a slash behind a bush across the road, near the railway line. I ended up being taken off to the cells, only getting out in time to see the last 20 minutes. I saw three goals in that time, but it didn't really make it ok. If I'd had my passport on me I could have just paid a 40 euro fine on the spot. As it was it cost me 100 euro in fines instead.

They actually had a tv set up across from the cells, so people could watch the match, but in some ways, that made it worse.

[Hertfordshire Royal]

This is easy, a complete no brainer. Norwich (H) Jan 2006. The first time I have wondered what I was doing actually doing there.

Didnt we win that 4-0?

[Reading4eva]

A large group of young thugs (well, prolly four or five of them) took exception to me and m8 walking back to the station in Wigan once. There was a bit of shoving, a bit of shouting "Come on then!", was just about to turn nasty when the popo turned up.

Not much of a story but it's the best I've got.

Was this when they went up in 2005, as I had a nutter there walking back to their mini metro thing (mini metro's for mini town and mini club) keep asking me if I was a Southern Poof. Thankfully I had a girl with me that match who was a hardened Ellesmere Port Scouser who kept butting in to tell them where to go, before singing some provocative songs at the rest of the Wigan fans.

Not with her no more, but understand she still supports Reading

[Green]

Nope 2001 in the play off semi final first leg.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Late 80s, away at Newport County, standing on sparsely populated away terrace. 5 minutes to go, and 4 or 5 plods come and stand right in front of me and bro. I mean RIGHT in front - on next step - so all we can see is helmet. They could have stood almost anywhere without getting in anyone's way. Clearly done deliberately. So I then take 3 steps to the right, down 2 steps and left 3 steps, and can feel plod's breath on my neck. One plod then steps down one and begins to move to the right so that I am pushed out of the way. I then spend the last 5 minutes watching the game and behaving "normally" with plod's shoulder still against mine, whilst SEETHING. Not a word was spoken by plods or me. Luckily we didn't score!

Queing for away terrace at Griffin Park, I am frisked and asked to get keys out of my pocket. Attached to my keyring is - my God! - a pen knife with 1" blade. What do they think I'm gonna do with it? Confiscated, but returned to me after the game. I was amazed at how many others were queing to retrieve everyday objects.

Queing at MadStad for friendly against Palace last month, I have a bottle of water which has a plastic top. A similar bottle and top to that which I have taken to the Mad Stad for some years. That top, though - a potentially deadly implement, apparently. Confiscated. Although I can't help notice how many other bottles complete with lids are on show during the game.

Walking back to the car, away to Tranmere, got kicked by a kiddie of about 10. Decided not to beat the shit out of him, he probably gets enough of that at home.

Away at Bournemouth, mid-90s. Got back to car to find I was COMPLETELY blocked in - couldn't move more that 12" forward or back. Had to wait best part of an hour for one of the cars to move and decided to bite my tongue when the driver of the car in front turned out to be elderly and doddery.

[Reading4eva]

Nope 2001 in the play off semi final first leg.

I didnt go to that one unfortunately... hopefully it made it all the more satisfying when we beat them 2-1 after the 89th minute

[Green]

Nope 2001 in the play off semi final first leg.

I didnt go to that one unfortunately... hopefully it made it all the more satisfying when we beat them 2-1 after the 89th minute

One of my fondest memories of being a Reading fan tbf.

[Zammo]

Oh......Wrexham away, first game of the new season, the new Tommy Burns era, loads of new signings etc.... Got beat 3-0, could have been 10-0. Long journey back. Bristol Rovers away a week later, lost 4-1. Great matchday experiences

[Negative_Jeff]

This is easy, a complete no brainer. Norwich (H) Jan 2006. The first time I have wondered what I was doing actually doing there.

Didnt we win that 4-0?

Yes that`s right. Were you there?

[Tony Le Mesmer]

This is easy, a complete no brainer. Norwich (H) Jan 2006. The first time I have wondered what I was doing actually doing there.

BRING IT ON! ?