Pitch invasions

[Benzino]

It’s not now become a tradition… a City pitch invasion has long been a tradition.

Bert Trautmann testimonial, 1964
League title win, 1968
European Cup Winners Cup final, 1970
Relegating United at Old Trafford, 1974
Relegation v Luton, 1983
Promotion v Charlton, 1985
Promotion v Bradford, 1989
FA Cup quarter final v Spurs, 1993
Last game of the Kippax v Chelsea, 1994
Play-off semi v Wigan, 1999
Second to last game v Birmingham, 2000
Blackburn away, 2000
Agüerooooo!, 2012
League title win, 2014
First home game after league title win, 2018
League title trophy presentation game, 2018
League title win, 2022
First home game after league title win and league title trophy presentation game, 2023

I’m sure there’ll be more I’ve missed and I’m sure they go back further than 1964, that’s just the earliest my Father can remember of them.

City released a documentary about our fans swarming to Blackburn and invading the Ewood pitch.

I didn’t go on the pitch yesterday but I wasn’t particularly arsed that people did. It lasted 11 minutes (I did keep an eye on the time of it), it’s not like it was a 45 minutes delay to the presentation.

Great post mate, a true City fan of old

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Why is everyone being so miserable. We used to pitch invade every single season on the last game. It was our way of letting the club know we are happy. I think it’s an incredible thing. No other club does it. Just us.

It’s not being miserable, it’s respecting the club’s wishes which are there due to the governing body’s rules, the law (whether you agree or disagree) and their duty to ensure the safety of employees, contractors and visitors (including supporters). By continuing to do it the club have to anticipate it will continue which means higher costs on match day in terms of numbers of stewards and police and potential fines, all of which ends up passed back to us in higher ticket prices.

But hey ho, go ahead, have your fun.

 

[Sheik Battle and Goal]

Why is everyone being so miserable. We used to pitch invade every single season on the last game. It was our way of letting the club know we are happy. I think it’s an incredible thing. No other club does it. Just us.

Have to remember that this is the players and officials place of work and they should be able work in a safe environment as would all employees

 

[Benzino]

I enjoyed reading that post, thanks for that. I mean it.

However, if you are invading the pitch because it is 'tradition', you've pretty much missed the point of a pitch invasion.

If you are invading it to take selfies, pictures of your kids on the pitch, vlogs on a stick, you've missed the point.

If you are invading the pitch to do a few staged shitty knee slides..

If you are invading the pitch to appear on TV..

If you are invading the pitch to try wreck the goal posts, to hold up a shitty banner, to take part in a look-alike contest, to protest ticket prices... you've missed the bloody point.


That's what yesterday's one was, all of the above. The only thing it wasnt, was a spontaneous outburst of joy and emotion. Which is pretty much the main damn point.

And it was obvious well ahead it was never going to be that, this year. It was anything from a piss poor failed attempt at recreating scenes from 2012, to a laughable embarrassment.

The rest, i.e arguing people are miserable, too woke, not working class enough, pitch invasions are good etc etc, is just deflection and a distraction.

Not one person here has said anything of merit about yesterday's one. The only positives noted are, it was fairly short and nobody got hurt. Wow, great!

I think you’re wrong. It was about pure emotion, as well as tradition. It’s our way of appreciating the club and it has been for years and years. Too many people were overjoyed at seeing City win another title and we might never win it again. I genuinely don’t understand why it’s offended some people and all I can think of, is must be purely down to ‘don’t break the rules’ mentality, ‘keep the establishment happy’.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

It’s the latest look at me moment for the social media generation

there was basically a queue in the family stand for people waiting to get on the pitch , no one trying to stop them , no one batting an eyelid

the club were broadcasting warnings pre match and again at half time

just stay off the pitch eh , you’ve made yourself and the club look a laughing stock

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I think you’re wrong. It was about pure emotion, as well as tradition. It’s our way of appreciating the club and it has been for years and years. Too many people were overjoyed at seeing City win another title and we might never win it again. I genuinely don’t understand why it’s offended some people and all I can think of, is must be purely down to ‘don’t break the rules’ mentality, ‘keep the establishment happy’.

You think it can only be down to those two things? Have you not been reading the thread?

 

[eastmanc]

There were a few of us blues having a go back

I was there that day with my Dad although I was only 9 at the time. Clearly remember United before the game invading the pitch and obviously at about 85 minutes.

 

[youngbob]

I'm all in favour of pitch invasions. Yesterday just felt a bit forced. Not against the pitch invasion that took place, just didn't think the atmosphere called for it.

 

[Benzino]

It’s not being miserable, it’s respecting the club’s wishes which are there due to the governing body’s rules, the law (whether you agree or disagree) and their duty to ensure the safety of employees, contractors and visitors (including supporters). By continuing to do it the club have to anticipate it will continue which means higher costs on match day in terms of numbers of stewards and police and potential fines, all of which ends up passed back to us in higher ticket prices.

But hey ho, go ahead, have your fun.

Mate, are you joking? Higher ticket prices because of a pitch invasion? This is not taxation. Cost of living has gone up 10% and ticket prices have risen less. They are not going to charge the fans a penny.

The club has to be seen to do something, but as they said on the ‘all or nothing’ documentary, if people want to go on the pitch, they’ll go on the pitch.

No one has ever been hurt. Apart from the Villa goalkeeper getting brushed and breaking his arm, only to have a miraclous instant recovery.

We could just stand there in pure silence clapping and eat prawn sandwiches for some people, moaning about everything.

It’s what CITY do, we’ve always done it, we always will. It’s the ultimate compliment for the efforts the team have put in.

 

[willipp]

Why is everyone being so miserable. We used to pitch invade every single season on the last game. It was our way of letting the club know we are happy. I think it’s an incredible thing. No other club does it. Just us.

Don’t think it’s being miserable really. Yesterday was all about the players and their achievements, but some people couldn’t help make it about themselves.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

What's it like to stand on grass? Looks amazing from the upper tiers. V jealous.

Did you manage to catch the eye of a knee slider ? Some top fellas, them.

 

[BlueRockape]

I was there that day with my Dad although I was only 9 at the time. Clearly remember United before the game invading the pitch and obviously at about 85 minutes.

I was 16 at the time.
Fuck I feel old

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Why is everyone being so miserable. We used to pitch invade every single season on the last game. It was our way of letting the club know we are happy. I think it’s an incredible thing. No other club does it. Just us.

Loads of other clubs do it, mate. And it's getting to the point where players get attacked (not fully attacked, I don't want to exaggerate it, but why take the fucking risk of a fine, a points deduction, or worse?).
I've already said that decades ago, literally, I went for a stroll on the Maine Rd pitch at an end-of-season game along with a few hundred others from the Kippax. No hassle with the few elderly stewards who were around. They knew we'd get back over the wall (to the Kippax) in about five minutes, which we duly did. There were no selfies; no mobile phones; no social media. Just a couple of hundred lads at the most who wanted to walk on the Maine Rd turf for a few minutes.
This has become something entirely other. I of course understood it for 2012 and, given the circumstances, I understood last year, although it went on too long before they cleared the pitch — we were getting well pissed off in the stands — and I don't at all identify with damaging the club's property (i.e. the goal at the South Stand end) as a way of celebrating that you're a supporter!
Let's just leave it out, eh, unless it really is a title-deciding final game of the season and settled in some extraordinary way.

 

[supercity88]

A pitch invasion should really reflect the game. It's an outpouring of emotion and if we needed to get a result yesterday I would understand it, but the fact we'd already won it meant it was more about doing it because we always do it, than for any real celebratory reason. Loads of people near me started queuing to go on and then did as soon as the whistle went and loads more went after that, to take a photo on the pitch basically.

I don't think it's small time. A lot of people would probably think, if we don't do it, it means we don't appreciate it as much anymore. Neither is true. Could have been avoided yesterday but ultimately it was well managed, quick and without incident so all good.

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

So when the club gets fined (and hopefully thats all it will be), are those that went on the pitch going to fess up and chip in to crowd fund paying it? Nah thought not.

The very definition of selfish is what they are:

"(a person, action, or motive) lacking consideration for other people; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure"

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I don't think it's small time. A lot of people would probably think, if we don't do it, it means we don't appreciate it as much anymore. Neither is true. Could have been avoided yesterday but ultimately it was well managed, quick and without incident so all good.

Believe me, with the racket you lot were making in the stands (hats off, by the way), nobody could possibly conclude that any City fan is anything less than ecstatic at present.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Mate, are you joking? Higher ticket prices because of a pitch invasion? This is not taxation. Cost of living has gone up 10% and ticket prices have risen less. They are not going to charge the fans a penny.

The club has to be seen to do something, but as they said on the ‘all or nothing’ documentary, if people want to go on the pitch, they’ll go on the pitch.

No one has ever been hurt. Apart from the Villa goalkeeper getting brushed and breaking his arm, only to have a miraclous instant recovery.

We could just stand there in pure silence clapping and eat prawn sandwiches for some people, moaning about everything.

It’s what CITY do, we’ve always done it, we always will. It’s the ultimate compliment for the efforts the team have put in.

Lots of nonsense in your reply there. The costs have to go through the books and they get passed on to customers (that is, us) whether you can understand that or not. If you want to break the rules go ahead, I don't care, but there was a guy last year who did that and got a 3 year ban then regretted it afterwards. I just don't want to be hearing hundreds of people bleating about how hard they were done by while others snap up their season ticket for the friends and families. You won't be getting one back soon. As long as people understand the risks, mind you it looked mainly like tourists on the pitch yesterday.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Yesterday was gratuitous and somewhat entitled in my opinion (we CAN go on so we WILL go on). The atmosphere was relatively flat for a title presentation day, which I kind of understand given the pressure we have been under for months being lifted. Villa I understood, as it was a proper release of pressure and joy, yesterday was a bit small time “look at me” and completely unnecessary

 

[fulabeer]

There are two times an invasion could be justified and even then it would have to be the last match of the season.

1: Winning THAT match meant avoiding relegation/ Or getting promotion to the next league

2: Wining THAT match won the league

Yesterday was just pre planned by knobs/chavs who just wanted selfie's to post on facebook. It was all about them, not the club/players!

 

[Benzino]

Don’t think it’s being miserable really. Yesterday was all about the players and their achievements, but some people couldn’t help make it about

Loads of other clubs do it, mate. And it's getting to the point where players get attacked (not fully attacked, I don't want to exaggerate it, but why take the fucking risk of a fine, a points deduction, or worse?).
I've already said that decades ago, literally, I went for a stroll on the Maine Rd pitch at an end-of-season game along with a few hundred others from the Kippax. No hassle with the few elderly stewards who were around. They knew we'd get back over the wall (to the Kippax) in about five minutes, which we duly did. There were no selfies; no mobile phones; no social media. Just a couple of hundred lads at the most who wanted to walk on the Maine Rd turf for a few minutes.
This has become something entirely other. I of course understood it for 2012 and, given the circumstances, I understood last year, although it went on too long before they cleared the pitch — we were getting well pissed off in the stands — and I don't at all identify with damaging the club's property (i.e. the goal at the South Stand end) as a way of celebrating that you're a supporter!
Let's just leave it out, eh, unless it really is a title-deciding final game of the season and settled in some extraordinary way.

Yeah I know other clubs do, small clubs. I agree the crossbar thing though, wasn’t good. Happened once though. We’re being ridiculed in the media for the pitch invasion anyway. Called small time again, by every rival fan. Only a small club would celebrate winning a league so wildly it seems. I so dearly want to be considered a big club (said with pure sarcasm).