Arriving to games late

[Hendo]

On the flip side of leaving games early, have you ever arrived to a game late, just as Reading (or the oppo) are scoring? Other scintillating anecdotes accepted.

My uncle always goes on about a game in 93-94 season, Swansea away, coach broke down in the Bristol area, arrived to the game late and walked into the stadium just as Hartenberger equalised.

[handbags_harris]

A few times arrived late but not all that often. Usually when I do arrive something considerable happens not long after I arrive.

Recall getting to the Valley in around 3.05pm in Sep 96 just in time to see Carl Leaburn be slipped in to smash past Mihailov for the only goal of the game. A couple of years later I arrived at Craven Cottage late in Feb 99 just in time to see Grant Brebner smash home the opener. We went on to be comprehensively outplayed and lost to Kevin Keegan's outfit 3-1. Later on I've arrived at Bramall Lane on Valentine's Day 2006, got my first view of the pitch as Bruce Dyer scored his only goal for Sheff Utd. I also arrived late to our home match against Sheff Utd last month and missed the calamitous defending at 0-0. Two minutes after arriving Billy Sharp scored the opener.

Also arrived late at Derby in Dec 2010 just in time for them to smack the post in the 4th minute (did well to get there at all that day tbf). But we won the match thanks to Longy's double, happy days

[Pepe the Horseman]

Ashton G8 again for me. Arrived 20 mins late in 2000, and we were already 2-0 down. Went on to lose 4-0.

[Green]

Ashton G8 again for me. Arrived 20 mins late in 2000, and we were already 2-0 down. Went on to lose 4-0.

Problems with the trains was it Pepe? Or the notorious match day traffic?

[Pepe the Horseman]

Ashton G8 again for me. Arrived 20 mins late in 2000, and we were already 2-0 down. Went on to lose 4-0.

Problems with the trains was it Pepe? Or the notorious match day traffic?

Can't remember tbh my love.

I think I also missed the first two goals when we beat Oldham 5-0 at the Madejski, during the petrol crisis.

[Sutekh]

Be trying to arrive late and leave early for a lot of home games recently. Don't seem to miss very much by doing that.

I shall be back to arriving early on Friday to time exactly how long it is before the reality that nothing's changed sets in. Hopefully I'll still be timing that at the end of the Ipswich game.

[paultheroyal]

On the flip side of leaving games early, have you ever arrived to a game late, just as Reading (or the oppo) are scoring? Other scintillating anecdotes accepted.

My uncle always goes on about a game in 93-94 season, Swansea away, coach broke down in the Bristol area, arrived to the game late and walked into the stadium just as Hartenberger equalised.

I was at said game. Didnt know about the bus scenario but that must of been late because I think we equalised in the dying seconds. Rememeber the goal well from a ridiculously tight angle.

It was a stormy night played Friday evening - I got over the Severn Bridge before it was closed due to high winds etc. There were literally about 40 Reading fans in there. Remember the good ole inflatable sheep going round but also remember a lot of Reading fans changing their tops on leaving ground as they did not want to be identified after giving it the big one throughout the game.

[Brum Royal]

Conversely we got held up in traffic coming down from Brum for this one, arrived at our seats 20 minutes into the game. Pleasantly surprised to hear it was still 0-0 when we got in, then got to watch the carnage.

Also another one where got stuck in traffic and got in to the car park to hear the first two goals go in the Bradford FA Cup game as we were making our way round to the East stand.

Arsenal away at Highbury in 05-06, got held up in traffic on the M40, was going through the turnstiles just as Arsenal scored their opener.

[Rusty royal]

went to a Chelsea game in 71, train was late so got to stamford bridge 15 min late, Chelsea had just scored their fourth goal saw another 9 scored

chelsea v jeunesse hautcharage 13:0

[CountryRoyal]

I arrive late quite a lot, even if it’s only by a few seconds/couple of minutes. I’m not one of these people that get to the ground really early and in their seats with like 45 minutes before kick off. Don’t see the point.

Away at Norwich last year I was walking to the stadium when they scored their first, in hindsight I should have turned around and gone home there and then.

[tidus_mi2]

Only game I recall arriving late for was the Newcastle game last season, traffic was oxf*rd abysmal.

[Royality creeps In]

Evening game at Villa a few years back as stuck on M6.
Missed opening goal scored by Shane Long, I think.
IIRC we lost 2-1

[leon]

A couple of years later I arrived at Craven Cottage late in Feb 99 just in time to see Grant Brebner smash home the opener. We went on to be comprehensively outplayed and lost to Kevin Keegan's outfit 3-1.

I was so pissed that night I thought Sean Evers had scored.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Missed the first ten minutes of Grimsby v Reading back in ‘87.

Went to Grimsby, they play in Cleethorpes

Stayed over in Skegness on the way home, got thrown out of its only nightclub for nearly setting fire to it

[leon]

Missed the first ten minutes of Grimsby v Reading back in ‘87.

Went to Grimsby, they play in Cleethorpes

Stayed over in Skegness on the way home, got thrown out of its only nightclub for nearly setting fire to it

We’re you demonstrating the “Aldershot flamethrower”?

[AthleticoSpizz]

“ Dance of the flaming arseholes?“

Something similar

[double d]

Think we played wolves about 10 years ago (or Sheff United... one of the pcunty teams so maybe Cardiff or QPR?) and we scored in about 1 minute. I got there after 90 seconds. Literally nothing else happened all game.

[Zip]

Arrived late for home game v Newcastle under McDermott. I’m guessing circa April 2010 when Gunnarsson took a nasty knock. I think we lost 2-1 and I didn’t miss anything of note.

[arthurfondrelli]

Arrived late to Burton away last season and missed Mendes' goal. Also arrived late to 'Boro at home under Steve Clarke, and missed Danny Williams' opener.

[trueroyal1871]

Arrived late to a few games over the years but the one that really sticks out was Villa away in 2006. Stuck in horrendous traffic all the way to Birmingham, missed Doyle's opener early into the game and arrived just as Sonko got harshly sent off and Angel scored the penalty. Barry scored in the second half and it absolutely pissed down on the way back to the car and we all spent the 2.5 hour journey back home soaked to the bone. We played incredibly well with 10 men and I reckon if Sonko hadn't been sent off we would have won that.