our growing reputation as the hooligan capital of the north

We have sadly a minority of morons who go the matches to cause trouble be it with opposition fans or the police or most bizarrely of all with some of their fellow reds fans and sadly their numbers are often swollen with idiots who after having a smell of alcohol think it's a good idea to join in. I wonder if some of these lovely gentlemen are ex members of some of nearest and more notorious neighbours crews who can no longer achieve there Saturday afternoon scraps due to police activity at the usual haunts so are swelling the ranks of our home grown fools because the problem is certainly worsening and it will end up costing the club.

 

We were referred to as Millwall of the north by one of the police officers on Saturday .

 

I know we've had our problems but are we any worse than other clubs up and down the country? I can't remember any major incidents inside a ground before yesterday where the police didn't exactly cover themselves in glory did they? Port vale away last year was another day when heavy handed policing provoked far more tension than was necessary. I'm not defending anybody who goes to cause trouble and acts like a buffoon but I think in these two instances where things have got out of the hand the local police forces should be having a look at themselves as should a small minority of our followers....

 

Great that is, if the Idiots from Millwall get a wiff of that then we know what will happen at Oakwell when we play them.

 

We aren't. The only real trouble last season was at Port Vale and that was the only incident of the sort I can remember since I started going to games a decade ago. We do have a minority of morons but then so do most clubs. Ours are just getting more exposure recently because of this one incident at Port Vale, meaning any kerfuffles/incidents that would be shrugged off are now being scrutinized by the police/fans/club, and an increased police presence at games. This in turn acts as an incentive rather than a deterrent for our minority of brain donors, thus resulting in more arrests.

 

There is a minority of scum tarnishing the name of the club but eradicating them is more easier said than done.

I would be willing to video these idiots in order to get them banned but having said that I don't want my head caving in trying to incriminate them.!

 

Another policing bill higher than the away fans revenue I think.

 

I said the same to my dad on the train home on Saturday.... A massive police presence is only egging these morons on!!!

 

Everytime I have seen millwall at barnsley they have brought about 200 fans cant see out happening.

 

Referring to us as the 'Millwall of the North' just adds to the hyperbole surrounding the club. We are not the hooligan capital of the North. We're a club who has always had a contingent who drink a lot at games and unfortunately last season were involved in three incidents that got blew out of proportion due to the rarity of such situations. After that every little non-event of an incident got scrutinised and added to our rap sheet. No trouble all day yesterday until the police got heavy handed. Of course the reaction was over the top by many who relished the chance to have a barny but to suggest we go everywhere to cause trouble is wrong. We need to attempt to dilute this situation and get everyone supporting the team (like the first half yesterday) rather than making out we are the number one hooligan club.

 

I remember hassle last season at Chesterfield and Sheff United both outside of the ground as well as Port Vale, also outside the ground

 

I took my daughter to bramall lane got agro from blunts and I was just with my daughter and we left early to avoid it. Chesterfield saw handbags nowt much to justify yesterday. Didnt go port vale. Yesturday the aggro started when we went 3-1 down and your average fan who had seen enough wanted to go was unable to leave or even go to toilets. We do have idiots who need banning but we are no worse then mosg other clubs. Preston and sheff united came to oakwell last season and behaved worse then I have seen us behave.

 

Well said.

 

Very rarely any trouble at Oakwell, our club is no different to any other Northern Club.

 

Is that what the police stats say? What we think and what the police and rest of the league think are two very different things.

 

This. Always this.

There is no justification, no need to compare to other clubs, no nothing. If you act like an idiot, you're an idiot.

Having been to plenty of games in the 80s where these idiots thrived, I've been locked in god know how many times when there's been about 150 of us. At no stage did I criticise the police or the way things were handled. I was just depressed that it was the norm and to be expected at away games.

Unless you all make a point of distancing yourselves from those who do create issues, even when you think there may be justification, then the situation will get worse.

The police may have got it wrong, but what if they'd let everyone out early after specifically saying they wouldn't and an incident had occurred 100 yards away with innocent members of the public being caught up in it?

 

100% agree. You may not be a Barnsley fan, but you speak more sense than some of the supposed barnsley fans on here.

 

Our minority would **** themselves if proper misters come calling. What gets me, is that people know these idiots that like to be aggressive at away games. Report them, get them out of the club, so the decent supporters a can go to watch away games again.

 

What's a proper mister?