Hands up if you left early.

[Fred]

You don't watch a whole TV show and then turn it off with minutes to go 'cos you've seen it before and therefore know what happens, you don't go to a Cinema and watch a film for the second time and leave before the end ('cos you know what happens).

So why go to a football match, not just any football match (m&s reference alert!), and leave before the end when you don't know the final outcome, and possible ultimate glory is still in reach?

Unbelievably stupid!!!

I live in Shakespeare Drive and there were people leaving the semi final before the end of normal time!!!

I learn't the lesson many years ago: Friday night 09 / 12 / 77 - Newport County at home

Not just 2 - 0 down with 14 minutes to go, but 2 - 0 down with 14 minutes to go and playing complete 'tosh'.

Final whistle 4 - 2 (Gerry Fell(2), Tony Hadley, Derrick Parker).

I was still there at the end, many had left.


Always, always, always KEEP THE FAITH

I remember it well.

 

[Kris]

In a weird way after the sheer elation of the 123rd minute equaliser, it actually took the pressure off the penalty shoot out a little bit. It became almost like a bonus, a second chance if you like, and I wouldn't have been that gutted had we lost the shootout.

Had we lost on penalties after a 0-0 I would have been absolutely distraught, but I think had we lost on penalties after that equaliser I would have been alright with it.

Though I must admit I am reasonably happy we didn't lose the shootout :smile:

Exactly the same for me. I haven't celebrated a goal like that for god knows how long and because my head seemed to take an age to absorb the fact that we really had scored and the game was over, there wasn't enough time before the penalties to actually get nervous about them, which felt utterly surreal. Winning the shoot-out was amazing but I think you're right; the rush I felt after the goal would have softened the blow at least a little had we lost.

 

[Jai]

A couple of things. I met a family outside the toilets just after final whistle who had left early, and still didn't realise we had scored lol

also saw on Twitter a guy who due to work commitments had to leave on 113 mins he heard the roar on Wembley way. The family no sympathy, this guy shed loads

Think that's my mate, he was with us but his shift started at 9pm in central London. He didn't feel he could be late as he's only been in the job for a month. Very bittersweet moment, especially trying to follow the penalties on the tube!

 

[maninasuitcase]

The first thing I instilled into my sons head when he started to come to football with me... NEVER leave until the final whistle!

I hate watching games with people that don't go to matches regularly who seem to think if you haven't scored in the first 10 minutes there is something wrong. Games last 90 minutes plus added time these days, or in this case 122 minutes. As dear old Cloughie once said, it only takes a second to score a goal.

That said, when we passed that free kick to the ref I'd thought we'd blown it but you weren't getting me out of Wembley until the final whistle.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

I will not leave early as I will always applaud the team off. In a final its even more important to show your appreciation for getting there even if you are feeling gutted.
Each to their own but my god, football is a funny old game.

 

[Pubey]

As a few people have mentioned, it is important to remember that some people have work commitments, travel arrangements etc which mean that they might need to leave early, or not stay for all of extra time.

However with 5 mins to go I was pretty shocked at how many people were leaving at that moment. It just seems unfathomable, and a half full Wembley isn't really that difficult to get away from.

 

[SonicShrimper]

Radio went off when they scored (Five Live's **** for lower leagues anyway, they're so Premier**** biased), but my BBC Sport app dinged when we equalised. Left it a while before realising it must be in pens and got back on in time for the last few rounds.

God, I ****ing hate shootouts. And the freezer's never gonna forgive me for beating the **** out of it after they scored. Surprised I didn't shatter my hands really.

 

[TrueBlue]

I could never leave early at Wembley however 99% of our support must have thought that we were dead and buried

 

[daveydiamond]

We left Varsity in the 121st minute - when Piggot's header went wide. Not to get home early, but just couldn't face the disappointment. Thought we heard a cheer in the High Street, legged it in to O'Neill's - where everyone was going loopy. Stayed and saw pens - and vowed to never lose the faith again!!

 

[Beefy]

Were the pubs in Southend rammed?

 

[daveydiamond]

Not rammed, but very busy for a Saturday afternoon. Could see quite a few non SUFC fans who got caught up in the moment, and were almost as excited!

 

[monkwell]

I left dead on 120 mins to catch a bus back to Cardiff. Heard the roar - thought it was the final whistle to a policeman told me otherwise. I sprinted back in and just snaked through the gates Indiana Jones style as they were trying to keep us out. Missed my bus and it cost me £60 extra to get home but well worth it.

 

[Big_Nath]

I left dead on 120 mins to catch a bus back to Cardiff. Heard the roar - thought it was the final whistle to a policeman told me otherwise. I sprinted back in and just snaked through the gates Indiana Jones style as they were trying to keep us out. Missed my bus and it cost me £60 extra to get home but well worth it.

Should have put a request out on the Zone. Surely there must have been someone else travelling back to Cardiff...:whistling:

 

[KrustyTheKray]

Yeah, my kids needed the toilet and to be honest we never looked like scoring lol. Rushed out from the loo's back to our seats. Was funny seeing some bins go flying in the concourse though :-)

 

[Tampa Blue]

The players should play to the final whistle (like Southend did today) so the fans should stay to the final whistle as well. Those that left must be gutted.

Serves them right - no excuse for leaving early win or lose - the players and Management deserved to be applauded after the match whatever the outcome imho, unless it was an over-riding reason such as work or family issues.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

I left dead on 120 mins to catch a bus back to Cardiff. Heard the roar - thought it was the final whistle to a policeman told me otherwise. I sprinted back in and just snaked through the gates Indiana Jones style as they were trying to keep us out. Missed my bus and it cost me £60 extra to get home but well worth it.

Did many people manage to get back in the ground or did stewards stop people?

 

[Ricey]

I had actually put my coat on and spent five minutes coming to terms with defeat, when.........................

Same here coat was on programme in hand and angled ready to leave on the whistle. My mate who was sitting in club Wembley level phoned me when piggy scored and said 'who scored?' I thought he meant player not team. Turns out he had left and wasn't allowed back in because the escalators for the entry only go one way up or down. He was on the M11 by the time we had won! What a muppet!!

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I could never leave early at Wembley however 99% of our support must have thought that we were dead and buried

I had just sent my other half a text saying we'd lost and i was totally gutted, when 5 secs later we scored!. Cue for frantic phone call, she could'nt hear a word i was saying because of the noise, but she got the gist!.
And if anyone asks why she was'nt there, Ironing & housework stop for no woman!!.
Mind you, when i got in at 12.45 am, supper was burnt!.

 

[The Eternal Optimist]

I thought we were going to win 2-1

...... but I settle for the shoot out win. Get in you blue boys!

 

[Lord Football]

First rule of football... never leave early (unless 0-3 down at home to Colchester, who are in the process of relegating you)/

I've been doing this thing for over 40 years, and I have never been involved in a celebration anything close to Saturday. Absolutely immense and left me a complete wreck.

'Appy days...