Travelling up North

As we all know Glentoran will host Shelbourne in the first leg of the first round of the Champions league on the 13th of July.I am really looking forward to the game and have absolutely no reservations about going up to East Belfast but i have encountered a few Shels fans who have.

Now i can understand why some people might not want to bring their kids but I was surprised by the amount of adults who have reservations.I just want to ask the fans of other EL clubs,if it were your club,would a tie in East Belfast on the 13th of July make you think twice about going.I don't mean stop you going completely but just make you contemplate it again.

Thank you in advance for your response

would definatley travel up my self, dont think i would bring the kids tho. There is no reason why this cant pass off peacfully if its policed right.

I wouldn't go near Belfast on the 12th out of choice. 13th not much better. Leave the car in the city centre, or even better Sprucefield, near Lisburn and get a taxi/bus to the ground. I wouldn't be awful keen on going in a supporters bus either.

Get in, get the hell out and have a pint when you get to the Carrickdale on the border.

Ordinarily I wouldn't be bothered about it as the reception of the Longford fans showed, but unfortunately tensions are high at this time of the year and the Oval is where it is.

BTW Glens fans are a very very decent bunch. You should be well received inside the ground.

Oh wait, its Shels were talking about. In that case tell Ollie to bring a big f3ck off tricolour and a green wig, the locals will love that zany brand of humour.....

PS Cork fan. You can police inside the ground no problem and I wouldn't expect there'll be any trouble there anyway. Its outside thats the problem. They've been trying to police it for 40 years and haven't worked it out yet.

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Oh wait, its Shels were talking about. In that case tell Ollie to bring a big f3ck off tricolour and a green wig, the locals will love that zany brand of humour.....

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Yeah i like what your implying here :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by D2 Red

Yeah i like what your implying here :rolleyes:

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I tell you, there's no flies on you, are there?

Aw, I'm only joking!








Kind of.

Or get Olliebourne to wear one of those sniper at work t shirts :D

So few shels fans will travel i;d be surprised if any trouble makers could even find them anyway. :eek:

Theres a city fan on this forum who knows Glens people so he may give better advise. Hes told me has worn city jersey in East Belfast with no worries.

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Originally Posted by pete

Theres a city fan on this forum who knows Glens people so he may give better advise. Hes told me has worn city jersey in East Belfast with no worries.

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But who in their right mind would take on the might of the Rebel Army(tm)?

I`ll say it again, its nothing to do with the Glens, you`ll be well received in the Oval.

The fact remains though, the marching season is a poisonous time to be in Norn Ireland.

Id probably go aye, but as ORA says wouldn't be keen on going on a supporters bus.

I suggest you take Ollie to Drumcree, wrap him in a big tricolour and let the orange men beat the sh!t out of him.

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Originally Posted by pete

So few shels fans will travel i;d be surprised if any trouble makers could even find them anyway. :eek:

Theres a city fan on this forum who knows Glens people so he may give better advise. Hes told me has worn city jersey in East Belfast with no worries.

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I have a (Cork) City jersey from 1991 I'm looking to offload.

It's gonna go on eBay, so any interested dudes, drop me a PM.

I would seriously think about traveling to a game like this on the 13th of July..a lot of angry people around still...that b loody country.. :eek:

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Originally Posted by D2 Red

...would a tie in East Belfast on the 13th of July make you think twice about going...

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Oh holy fcuk yeah. You know there's actually a reason for the exudus of Catholics from the six counties at this time of year! It's nothing against the Glens or their fans (at all), but there will definately be some dikheads looking for "fenian blood".

I know its a European away trip, but if you fancy it that badly, I'd advise you to buy a Longford strip and go to Wales.

As I am moving that week, I will go by foot, probably less risky and definitely less time-wasting than going back towards the border first to catch a bus. I doubt if a bus is a good idea, that's like putting a big Shelbourne shield on your forehead, the ones going by car or foot may be more anonymous and escape from troublemakers' attention ?

I was at the Oval (outside of marching dates) and apart from the very bad state of houses in the area, I noticed nothing wrong. But must say I felt more comfortable in the Linfield area, there's no youngsters just hanging around on the streets like near the Oval.

Just a (maybe stupid) idea: if they all fear that the risk for troubles is that high ; why not switcing the dates and have Shels playing home first ? By the time of the return leg in Belfast there'd be nothing to fear...

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Originally Posted by Gerrit

Just a (maybe stupid) idea: if they all fear that the risk for troubles is that high ; why not switcing the dates and have Shels playing home first ? By the time of the return leg in Belfast there'd be nothing to fear...

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I think that was suggested but Shels didn't want to give up the advantage of having the second leg at home, which is fair enough.
If I was a Shels fan living in Dublin I would definitely go but would suss out the safest way to go about it.

You'd wonder about the safety of Supporters buses with ROI registrations. I think I saw on the Shels website that tickets for the match will only be distributed on official buses, which rules out people making their own way.

Its up to the clubs to have all this checked out and advise supporters accordingly.

Having to do what the officials say. I'll (if I can get off work) be on a bus, I'd be a bit afraid of a petrol bomb coming through the window, but I'll still go! :)

Maybe they'll close some of the roads close to the stadium to allow the buses through? This should, afterall, be VERY well policed! (Or so I would hope).

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Originally Posted by paudie

You'd wonder about the safety of Supporters buses with ROI registrations. I think I saw on the Shels website that tickets for the match will only be distributed on official buses, which rules out people making their own way.

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You could get Ulster Bus to transport shels fans? I've heard Dublin $eltic Supporters club use them to transport them thru NI for the ferry.

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Originally Posted by paudie

I think that was suggested but Shels didn't want to give up the advantage of having the second leg at home, which is fair enough.

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You'd think it's an advantage, wouldn't you? Mind you, that's what AC Allianssi thought last season in the UEFA Cup, and we certainly spoilt their party! :D

I'd definitely go anyway. I'd have resverations, but i would go

I'd have no problem or reservations going up north during the marching season to watch the drogs play.

I honestly can't see any problems occurring when you guys come up. One thing I know for sure, though, is that you will get an extremely warm welcome and friendly faces at the Oval. Really looking forward to (hopefully) meeting some of you on the 13th. Do any of you have plans to stay overnight, or are you all buggering off back home after the game? Would be nice to have a chat over a pint or three in the Park Avenue post-match.

We're going to get a PSNI escort too

Shelbourne fans will only be allowed in if they're on the official buses (tickets actually handed out on the buses only), so no pre-match drinks anyways! I'd imagine most will get the buses home again afterwards (I will be anyways, work @ 9AM :()

I can't see to much of a problem for Shels fans.The Glens fans are great so they'll not bother you.The housing estate you go through is a bit scary but from my experience things should be fine.We got escorted to the ground from near the motorway.We parked beside H&W shipyard and walked the 5 mins to the ground.The PSNI were everywhere and there wasn't a sinner on the street.I'm sure Glens are working really hard with the PSNI to ensure it passes off without a hitch so i'd go.I know the tension will be high compared to when we went up but like i said i'm sure the clubs and PSNI realise this and are doing their best to prevent any trouble.

It's probably a bit different in a Derry supporters case but I would be wary of travelling to Belfawst at all in the Summer. 12th might be the main date but it is a marching "season".

To be honest, I think this whole "trouble" thing is being blown out of proportion somewhat. I can understand Shels fans being wary of potential trouble and being concerned for their safety, but I think it's been hyped up a little too much. Leave the tricolours at home and you should be fine. Like I said, you'll receive a warm reception from us at the Oval.

I have no doubt that every glen man will welcome Shels but as shown by incidents at the Brandywell it is outside the ground that is a gray area. Pity that the general publics apathy to local football stops when politics is invovled :mad: . Any trouble would be a huge blow to any idea of an All-Ireland league.

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

I wouldn't go near Belfast on the 12th out of choice. 13th not much better. Leave the car in the city centre, or even better Sprucefield, near Lisburn and get a taxi/bus to the ground. I wouldn't be awful keen on going in a supporters bus either.

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Jesus, take it easy, it's not that bad. I live 100m from Windsor Park and I'm not going anywhere.
Wouldn't be bothered at all by it. The Oval itself is grand, ye can wear a Derry top in there, and people keep asking when we're coming back to the IL(aye, right then :rolleyes: ). Glens fans are grand though, usually.
Park wherever's handiest, there'll be RUC everywhere anyway.
As for buses, you'll be escorted.
Wouldn't bother with the pint around the ground, if ye need to kill some time, head to the city centre.

I'm planning on going to the match meself. So Shels fans can't buy tickets at the ground? Will have to try and blag my way into the Shels section so. Worked for the Longford game.

Wouldn't worry about security, the place will be swarmed with peelers, inside and out. Just avoid the pubs.

Having been up there, I'd have no problems going back, marching season or not. As Wiseguy said, the buses will be escorted to the H&W yard (I heard they're tearing most of the yard down to create a new town centre, leaving one of the big yellow arc-type structures in place). There was a massive PSNI presence, at least eight paddywagans.

The away fans enter via a different entrance, through a caged tunnel. We got a great welcome. It was a pity that more didn't travel, but the mid-week element, plus the hype, put too many off. It was actually annoying that there was no interaction between the fans.

For the return leg, a heap of the Glens fans stayed on in Longford and went on a session in one of the local pubs, drinking till the wee hours, singing songs.

As Forza said, the trouble element is hyped up. Don't think you'll be able to bring the tricolours in - we were certainly warned about it from the Setanta cup organisers. You'll be annoyed if you don't go, especially if you get a result - we almost did!