The Trafalgar Square Weekender once a seasoners

[Thurston]

The mags away scenario you make is ridiculous to be honest. They are 12 miles away and most don't drink in Newcastle due to open hostility (and vice versa of course).

There was no animosity towards Pompey fans from Sunderland supporters at all.

Not really, it's actually a reasonable example of fans drinking closer to home, and revelling in the atmosphere prior to a big game. Especially in recent years given the way those games have been policed, there's not necessarilly any reason fans couldn't go through there prior to the game. It's actually becoming more and more a case of fans just choosing not to do so. And does drinking in local pubs and then going straight to the ground make it a more 'boring' awayday? Most people probably wouldn't say so.

And there was also certainly a bit of 'animosity,' especially after the game yesterday between small groups fighting outside.

 

[Keith S30S]

Not really, it's actually a reasonable example of fans drinking closer to home, and revelling in the atmosphere prior to a big game. Especially in recent years given the way those games have been policed, there's not necessarilly any reason fans couldn't go through there prior to the game. It's actually becoming more and more a case of fans just choosing not to do so. And does drinking in local pubs and then going straight to the ground make it a more 'boring' awayday? Most people probably wouldn't say so.

And there was also certainly a bit of 'animosity,' especially after the game yesterday between small groups fighting outside.

There was little or no animosity from Sunderland fans. There is no recent history or reason for there to be any.

Pompey fans seemed to have drawn a few Sunderland fans into the odd scrap from what I'm reading.