Podcasts The Dub

Media Geezer said:
www.bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio Oxford - The Dub: An Oxford United podcast, The Dub - Post WBA

We discuss Oxford Utd's defeat at WBA and the implications in the battle to stay up.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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Interesting comments from George regarding taking young kids to the games. I've been taking my six year old to away games since the first day of last season, when he was four. He's absolutely fine with the crowds, the singing, standing on a seat so he can see.

The only thing that scares him is the anger. On Saturday one of our fans a few seats down, who looked like he was in his forties, started bawling at the ref with extreme fury, swearing at the top of his voice every few seconds. My boy was cuddling up to me and saying he was scared and I can understand why.

This chap was being so ridiculous that the guy directly behind him started parodying him by screaming "ref! ref!" whenever anyone touched the ball. To be fair this shut the original shouter up for the rest of the game. Which begs the question: as he's clearly able to keep a lid on it, then why doesn't he?

I should add that I shout at the players, ref, etc. at certain points, pretty much every fan in that away end must have got frustrated at some point. It's the almost continuous vitriol I don't understand.
 
Lost Marbles said:
Interesting comments from George regarding taking young kids to the games. I've been taking my six year old to away games since the first day of last season, when he was four. He's absolutely fine with the crowds, the singing, standing on a seat so he can see.

The only thing that scares him is the anger. On Saturday one of our fans a few seats down, who looked like he was in his forties, started bawling at the ref with extreme fury, swearing at the top of his voice every few seconds. My boy was cuddling up to me and saying he was scared and I can understand why.

This chap was being so ridiculous that the guy directly behind him started parodying him by screaming "ref! ref!" whenever anyone touched the ball. To be fair this shut the original shouter up for the rest of the game. Which begs the question: as he's clearly able to keep a lid on it, then why doesn't he?

I should add that I shout at the players, ref, etc. at certain points, pretty much every fan in that away end must have got frustrated at some point. It's the almost continuous vitriol I don't understand.
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I would have thought that in home games it would be fine taking younger fans?
I sit in the SSL and generally it is a pretty decent area for kids. I suspect that this would be the case in the SSU and the family stand?

It can be more difficult at away games. George was talking about behaviour before games. Is he referring to the drinking culture? Drugs?
 
Foley said:
I would have thought that in home games it would be fine taking younger fans?
I sit in the SSL and generally it is a pretty decent area for kids. I suspect that this would be the case in the SSU and the family stand?

It can be more difficult at away games. George was talking about behaviour before games. Is he referring to the drinking culture? Drugs?
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It's fine taking kids to away games as well in my opinion, we had a great day out together apart from the result. I was just backing up George's point about angry fans. I disagree that he shouldn't take his little girl in three year's time, especially if he picks an away game that isn't a sell out at a relatively friendly club.

From around 24 minutes George is talking about some fans venting during the game, not pre-match. He then wonders if this is getting worse because of some fan's pre-match routines - and yes, he definitely is referring to crates of low quality cider on the train at 9am followed by frequent trips to toilet cubicles.

I would compare the issue I'm talking about to road rage: most people, when they get cut up by another vehicle, will sigh, tut, swear to themselves under their breath. Maybe an exclamation: "for fucks sake." It's the ones who roll the window down and start shouting obscenities at the other driver, or get out to remonstrate with them that are comparable to what I heard from our supporter on Saturday.
 
I’ve been vocal in my support of parents taking their young kids to games. I’ve got two daughters, now both well into primary school, both of whom attended their first games in the first couple of months of their life and continued to do so regularly ever since.

Both are now Oxford fans (despite having been born & living in Reading). My eldest is particularly obsessed at this point - constantly twisting my arm to take her to more games, and some of the best times I’ve had as a father are random chats on long road trips to places like Carlisle! As a working dad opportunities to bond with your child, to share good times and bad, to engage in a shared love, to travel around the country etc are so hard to come by. Following our team home and away is a brilliant way to do that in my family.

I agree away games take a little more managing (particularly as it’s 2025, we visit almost exclusively all seater stadia and yet being able to select your own seat is beyond the realms of technology/inter-club collaboration apparently). But it makes me INCREDIBLY sad if a prominent fan like George Elek, with a young child, had an experience that made him feel less comfortable bringing his little one in the future (and using a public forum whereby potentially putting off even more). I will continue to urge parents to do it (sensibly) as and when they feel comfortable. Use their own initiative to sit where they would feel safe/appropriate, use your own parental guidelines around the language your kid might hear (rather than expecting a packed stand full of football fans to forego uttering a single swear word) etc. And I hope in future GE does get the joy of bringing his kid to games, sharing his passion with his child and helping to create the next generation of OUFC fans. Live football is like nothing else…
 
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McXal said:
I’ve been vocal in my support of parents taking their young kids to games. I’ve got two daughters, now both well into primary school, both of whom attended their first games in the first couple of months of their life and continued to do so regularly ever since.

Both are now Oxford fans (despite having been born & living in Reading). My eldest is particularly obsessed at this point - constantly twisting my arm to take her to more games, and some of the best times I’ve had as a father are random chats on long road trips to places like Carlisle! As a working dad opportunities to bond with your child, to share good times and bad, to engage in a shared love, to travel around the country etc are so hard to come by. Following our team home and away is a brilliant way to do that in my family.

I agree away games take a little more managing (particularly as it’s 2025, we visit almost exclusively all seater stadia and yet being able to select your own seat is beyond the realms of technology/inter-club collaboration apparently). But it makes me INCREDIBLY sad if a prominent fan like George Elek, with a young child, had an experience that made him feel less comfortable bringing his little one in the future (and using a public forum whereby potentially putting off even more). I will continue to urge parents to do it (sensibly) as and when they feel comfortable. Use their own initiative to sit where they would feel safe/appropriate, use your own parental guidelines around the language your kid might here (rather than expecting a packed stand full of football fans to forego uttering a single swear word) etc. And I hope in future GE does get the joy of bringing his kid to games, sharing his passion with his child and helping to create the next generation of OUFC fans. Live football is like nothing else…
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Love this post, although I must admit I'm a bit bemused by starting quite so early! Had a newborn behind us at Stoke in the safe standing and thought the practicalities of taking a baby must be very difficult indeed. Lots of clubs now don't allow under 2's at all, although Stoke and Derby did.

I think George is being a bit silly: he lives in London and could easily choose a game to take his children to on the train that wouldn't clash with rowdy fans. Or make a weekend of it somewhere. A lot of clubs without any rivalry have super friendly fans - Sunderland being my pick of the bigger clubs. Sheffield Wednesday having the most helpful stewards I've come across. You also get treated so much better - never been refused entry with a water bottle for instance when going with my kid.
 
Foley said:
I would have thought that in home games it would be fine taking younger fans?
I sit in the SSL and generally it is a pretty decent area for kids. I suspect that this would be the case in the SSU and the family stand?

It can be more difficult at away games. George was talking about behaviour before games. Is he referring to the drinking culture? Drugs?
Click to expand...
I took it to mean the cocaine issue that a small minority of fans have. Very sad to hear that both Robyn and George feel the way they do.

I’ve always felt that there are parts of any ground that I’d avoid with kids (and actually just avoid it for myself as I find it annoying and depressing). Like you I’m in the SSL (next to the players tunnel) and a nicer bunch of people you’d find it hard to meet. One day though I will win the lottery and move to the SSU where I hear the seats are covered in gold and their is toilet paper in the toilets
 
McXal said:
I’ve been vocal in my support of parents taking their young kids to games. I’ve got two daughters, now both well into primary school, both of whom attended their first games in the first couple of months of their life and continued to do so regularly ever since.

Both are now Oxford fans (despite having been born & living in Reading). My eldest is particularly obsessed at this point - constantly twisting my arm to take her to more games, and some of the best times I’ve had as a father are random chats on long road trips to places like Carlisle! As a working dad opportunities to bond with your child, to share good times and bad, to engage in a shared love, to travel around the country etc are so hard to come by. Following our team home and away is a brilliant way to do that in my family.

I agree away games take a little more managing (particularly as it’s 2025, we visit almost exclusively all seater stadia and yet being able to select your own seat is beyond the realms of technology/inter-club collaboration apparently). But it makes me INCREDIBLY sad if a prominent fan like George Elek, with a young child, had an experience that made him feel less comfortable bringing his little one in the future (and using a public forum whereby potentially putting off even more). I will continue to urge parents to do it (sensibly) as and when they feel comfortable. Use their own initiative to sit where they would feel safe/appropriate, use your own parental guidelines around the language your kid might here (rather than expecting a packed stand full of football fans to forego uttering a single swear word) etc. And I hope in future GE does get the joy of bringing his kid to games, sharing his passion with his child and helping to create the next generation of OUFC fans. Live football is like nothing else…
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Contender for post of the season.
 
On the kids at away games thing, it's a real problem if fans insist on standing throughout the game. At West Brom, my son and I were sat quite near the front, and also far to the side, and yet we're forced to stand, meaning my son could barely see at times.
 
Jster said:
On the kids at away games thing, it's a real problem if fans insist on standing throughout the game. At West Brom, my son and I were sat quite near the front, and also far to the side, and yet we're forced to stand, meaning my son could barely see at times.
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To be fair, it's not unusual in the Championship/PL to see ALL away fans stood up in sold-out games. I quite like it, and my kids were always happy to stand on a seat to see over others (they're taller now). I do feel sorry for those with mobility issues though. It's why all-seater stadia are so rubbish. Just provide a standing area and let people who want to stand go there. You could also get away from twats on a terrace (and be near mates without annoying others). Hopefully we'll come full circle before too long. The safe standing areas at Stoke and Derby among others are a start at least...
 
Media Geezer said:
www.bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio Oxford - The Dub: An Oxford United podcast, The Dub - W against Watford

Oxford United get a much needed win as Championship season goes into in final 8 matches
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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George and Jerome are beginning to wind me up with there ongoing negativity( not to be confused with passages of reality)
Today’s intros by George was all about what the other teams around us had done .
Jerome was “ surprised “ by our fans attending a sell out match and there lack of doom.
 
TheDukeOfBanburyshire said:
To be fair, I thought Jerome was bang on about the atmosphere on Saturday.

There was more of an edge to it, where it's been very flat since the early part of the season.

We can make a big difference in the remaining home games this season, and, as Jerome suggested, make it horrible for the away teams.
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Definite edge to the atmosphere (in a good way). That last five minutes was pretty special.
 
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