Marky Mark wrote:For me it wasn't anything other than just really overly weird - it was almost trying to cause trouble kind of behaviour. For the whole second half there were loads of fans congregated on the walkway behind the net across the width of the 18 yard box, and the ones that were below where I was sat/stood (teenage sort of age) spent the whole half trying to wind the stewards up, every time I glanced down from the game there was someone videoing a steward or shouting at them or trying to goad them - they cannot have seen any of the game - a few times a senior steward was called over and they just got goaded too. Then there were the two guys - they looked older than me and I'm 50 - who spent a good 5-10 minutes pointing at each other, pushing each other and everyone around them and trying everything to not have a brawl whilst also not wanting to back down from a brawl - we were laughing at them just because they were so ridiculous, it was pure comedy - but also if you were near them I can see why it might have been a bit alarming. Alcohol induced or not, their brains wont have been used for much in their lives other than reminding them not to chew bricks. Then walking out after the game, right at the exit a whole bunch of lads came rolling past me fighting - there cant have been any away fans as the road was blocked and they were coming out the same way that I was, a good 10-12 police were on them straight away as it was right in front of them and I saw one get shoved up against a police van. Just bizarre behaviour.
Obviously as I was sat 10 yards from you I saw the same thing (though we don't always see the same game
). I think the one who first started the steward goading was the bloke in red, as the OP says, probably close to 30 years old. Then others joined in for literally no reason - the stewards were doing nothing, as you said, it was bizarre but nonetheless disgraceful behaviour that should not be condoned by any Stags fan. We must have got out just before you Mark because we didn't see the fighting but could tell it was about to kick off so made a hasty retreat to where we parked our car. It's shameful and unacceptable and we as a club would be far better off if this minority of trouble causers stayed at home. In fact, they spoil it for the other lads who do want to sing and enjoy the game, who then get tarred with the same brush or worse get peer pressured into joining in.