‘I love tribal invasion of away days’

In last weeks blog I lorded the dedication of our stalwart away fans who made the journey up to Yorkshire last weekend to see our side pick up three points against Huddersfield, something that we have seen all too rarely so far this season.

I take my hat off to those fortuitous souls, fortuitous as we won. Commiserations go, and of course hats off, to those who attended what must have been an all round much more disappointing display away at Derby on Tuesday night as well. Anyone who traveled from Bristol to both games would have clocked up around 750-odd miles.

750 miles, plus who knows how many hours travel, and at what cost, in order to see your side, more often than not this season, lose. What makes someone follow their side up and down and across the country in such a fashion? Its fair to say that many would liken such behaviour to lunacy.

I myself tend to go to two or three away games a season, sometimes a few more. The pilgrimage that many make on a more regular basis is on my mind as I have just purchased tickets for our trip to Reading that will welcome in my New Year on January 2, 2016.

My trip is a short one, just a quick trip up the M4. Most of my away games are short trips nowadays, Swindon and Coventry last season, or perhaps visiting friends around the country. Having said that, there is something alluring and noble about travelling half way across the country to follow your team.

I have, of course, on occasion, found myself waiting at a platform at Temple Meads, the wrong side of 9am on a Saturday morning, with the distinctive scent of Natch in the air. Myself and my fellow fans have boarded the carriage in a boisterous but jovial mood consequently unsettling a string of middle aged weekend commuters in the process.

Hours later descending on mass in Leeds, or Sheffield or Newcastle or similar. And, I have to confess, I too love this sense of tribal invasion. In the kindest and most non confrontational way you could imagine.

And at these times, one can really grasp that tribal identity that one can obtain from following a football team. You and your (cider) army, visiting another territory in order to make your mark upon it (flags, graffiti, stickers), and do battle with (the match) the local team hoping to triumphantly return to your home city.

This is something that all football fans can share. It’s not a closed club. Anyone can join. You just have to be slightly deluded, have a decent amount of time and money on your hands. Oh, and to be slightly delusional. And on that tip. I am convinced we will be picking up three points at home this weekend to Q.P.R.