February 14 2011

Crystal Palace

Jamesey was disappointed that our improving form met a brick wall at Coventry.

It may well be wildly optimistic to hope for a win when you've only notched up three away points on one occasion this season.

But after lifting ourselves from the bottom of the league with some creditable showings, I don't think I was alone in sensing that if ever there was going to be a turnround this could be it. Sadly this was not the case, and we left the Ricoh Arena with no points after a 2-1 defeat.

Opinions differed widely on our performance against the Sky Blues and reading reports and listening to the views of eye-witnesses, we didn't seem to put up much of a show.

Our co-chairman, Steve Parish, said on our own forum that we were unlucky to concede but weren't creating enough although team spirit was first-class. He also thought that it was a game we would have lost 3-0 three months ago which, I suppose, can be seen as a form of optimism.

Another interesting issue arose from the Coventry game and is one that I have given a lot of thought to in the past couple of seasons.

When I first found myself with the time and income to be able to travel to non-London away games I eagerly grasped the opportunity.

Although I was never a dedicated away enthusiast I did go up north to quite a few games and always did it the easy way, staying in a hotel overnight after the match. It was a great opportunity to visit legendary football stadia and to sample many of the delicious local ales of different regions.

In the past few years, ill health has gradually dampened my enthusiasm for travelling very far in this country or abroad. But I have to admit I have found the "away experience" less than appealing in any case.

Everyone has a different view on the best way to watch football and, of course, at Selhurst, you have a choice. If you are young, vociferous and like standing up there is the Holmesdale and part of the Arthur Wait.

You also have the family area for young children and many areas in the Main Stand are ideal for older people like myself, who want to watch the match, sitting down and without doing too much singing.

There's something for everyone and we can all do our own thing without getting in each others' way and that is ideal as far as I am concerned.

Of course, away games are different because we are all hemmed in together and I found myself getting fed up with having to stand to see the game. I also found the levels of abuse and obscene language growing in volume and intensity and now I read of flares inside the ground and violent incidents occurring outside the grounds in recent Palace away games.

I found myself not enjoying away trips any more and have almost ceased to travel now because the majority seem to enjoy the match experience in a way that is foreign to me. I don't really hold anything against the average away fan and if the majority choose to behave in a certain manner, I am only too happy to let them get on with it and stay clear.

I am tempted to buy a seat for the QPR game next month but on my last visit to Loftus Road I was surrounded by the biggest collection of gibbering psychopaths and screaming basket cases I have ever encountered.

I admit that was untypical but I think I will make do with Palace Player for that one...

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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