Are our younger fans out of control?

[cpwigan]

I think the great change and this makes it difficult for all ages is that disagreement and violence is more likely to result in life threatening injury as combatants wield weapons. Like the previous posters, the early 80's were my teenage years and hooliganism was rife. Nowadays, I would say hooliganism does not exist anywhere near the extent it did then. Anti social behaviour is more common place.

In many respects. The youngsters attending RL or any sports fixtures tend to be the better members of that age group.

What has happened is that society has lost the collective will to challenge anti social behaviour. This leaves those that do at risk themselves. We far too readily turn the over cheek, do not get involved, stay out of it. PC prevails.

[pedro]

Agree with that CP.

Least these guys are at the rugby and not on some street corner or trashing estates (friday night at least)

Not much trouble at all inside grounds apart from major events when stains fans fight with anything with a heart beat. Its outside when fans are mixed with the bafoons of local estates.

Im not saying nothing happens at the ground but they are quite isolated incidents which is expected with 17000 people mingling with each other and alcohol flowing

[thegimble]

Its not an uncommon in our society today. Youngsters are in general less scared of any real consequnces for their actions and so therefore think they can get away with anything. Problem is more often than not they do.

Its not the fault of any club if they have idiots that supports them. Though clubs can ban people you try and spot a person whos been banned i a crowd of 10k.

Whilst i agree football hooliganism seems less, problem is that they generally gather now in areas away from grounds and have a fight rather than in stadiums.

[jinkin jimmy]

Its not an uncommon in our society today. Youngsters are in general less scared of any real consequnces for their actions and so therefore think they can get away with anything. Problem is more often than not they do.

Its not the fault of any club if they have idiots that supports them. Though clubs can ban people you try and spot a person whos been banned i a crowd of 10k.

Whilst i agree football hooliganism seems less, problem is that they generally gather now in areas away from grounds and have a fight rather than in stadiums.

Is this that much of a problem? It's much worse when bystanders are attacked

[warrior till i die]

I think its the mental state that some of these people have who cause trouble. I am, like the majority of the fans at all teams, up for a bit of banter with each other but as far as I am concerned this is where it ends. We all go to watch our team play, we dont go to fight with the opposition fans. After all if any of the fans wanted to pick a fight im sure in todays society all they would need to do is walk to the end of the street and they will probably end up in a fight.
Nearly every single fan who follows rugby follows it because it is a family game and they follow it because of the banter and the good time which they have at the games. Without a doubt a few incidents recently have been completely unacceptable and should be stamped out but I have seen incidents at Saints, Wire, Hull, Leeds and a few more clubs which have involved a adult presance. I think wigan warriors can count themselves as lucky as we probably have the best behaved supporters in the league as previously stated I would much rather see lads singing in the ground than fighting in the streets which thankfully 99% of our younger fans do!

[jinkin jimmy]

I think its the mental state that some of these people have who cause trouble. I am, like the majority of the fans at all teams, up for a bit of banter with each other but as far as I am concerned this is where it ends. We all go to watch our team play, we dont go to fight with the opposition fans. After all if any of the fans wanted to pick a fight im sure in todays society all they would need to do is walk to the end of the street and they will probably end up in a fight.
Nearly every single fan who follows rugby follows it because it is a family game and they follow it because of the banter and the good time which they have at the games. Without a doubt a few incidents recently have been completely unacceptable and should be stamped out but I have seen incidents at Saints, Wire, Hull, Leeds and a few more clubs which have involved a adult presance. I think wigan warriors can count themselves as lucky as we probably have the best behaved supporters in the league as previously stated I would much rather see lads singing in the ground than fighting in the streets which thankfully 99% of our younger fans do!

The singing of the Wigan fans is indeed totally acceptable. Did you hear the filth from Wire on TV? It was as clear as day and does a great disservice to our sport. Those singing in that way are just as big a problem as the people fighting outside the ground in terms of the damage that they do to our sport.

[Dubs]

I agree that the bottling incident is disgraceful, but Wire singing anti-Wigan songs and gesticulating is not a new phenomenon. If you are genuinely offended by a group of fans giving the fingers and shouting abuse from another stand, then perhaps you should look at following bowls instead.

As I said in another post, away days at Wire now are nothing compared to 15-20 years ago. I've had to run out of Wilderspool on occasions, behind the back of Snookers Club being pelted with coins, bottles, bricks etc from the idiots coming out of the "Zoo" end before the final whistle. You literally had to leave 10 minutes before the end to avoid bother and even then there would be a "welcoming committee" on the bridge near the ground. And this was when I was a kid.

I also think it's a bit off pointing the finger solely at our kids of today - adults can be just as bad.

[kris_roy]

Yes shawx that incident was true, i saw his face as he came round the corner... Pathetic.

I Cant see why its being aimed at "YOUNGSTERS"... I do agree that the "Hooliganism" Is comming back in rugby, but the thing is that most of the trouble on saturday was cause by a grown man, not a group of youngsters. I thought the young fans were a credit walking back to the station what i saw... Everyone Walking back just taking the stick and staying out of trouble, but if someone hits you then you hit them back. Most of the trouble is caused by Men who need to get a job and grow up a bit. The young fans are the future of the game.

remember the incident just outside ground at the first chippy ,bear were the police had to get involved to calm a certain wigan fan down, not in thier teenage years but around the 30's not everything hostile is down to youngsters, most of it is down to alcohol as this only fuels it and like you say bear the main cause of trouble is down to the chavs who turn up for something to do on a friday after getting pissed on the canal or nearby

[ancientnloyal]

The only memorable thing I remember form Wilderspool was the pie and peas, lovely!

There are several types of youth/supporter who go to matches:

With parents - like myself and to which cpwigan mentioned with Binder jr. My parents took me everywhere with them with my sister so I was brought up to support Wigan in a 'certain' way. Yes they swore at the ref/players but never at opposing fans they had no reason to. If anyone sees me at matches I am very quiet because I support the team as I have been brought up.

With Friends - Probably at secondary school as a social thing on fridays (south stand) and also fans (Pie Army) who go everywhere as a group. This isnt a problem. It starts getting a problem when some may get a bit giddy or unsure about the effects of alcohol (only teenagerss still no matter what people say) some cant drink as much as others at young ages and it may spill out a bit to outsiders being uncomfortable or threatened. I know of no instance where another fan has been physically/mentally hurt from these supporter yout groups... except...

young Yobs - who go to home matches and throw coins (Castleford match) etc and causing fights/mayhem in generally the south. Only go to matches because its something to do/ friends go along/ look for trouble/ pull. This is a minority but also happens with people aged 21+

Social networks - rlfans/here/other. I dont think this website is a problem though. Groups of adults drinking a bit too much. Ive seen people cause trouble at matches in the past, knowing they are known to eachother via, eg, rlfans. Group together online, create rules etc.. and if other people have an anti-opinion trouble starts. Only 5% of the time during a season though

Idiots - Hull 'fans' (warrington v hull) causing trouble no interest at all in rugby league

[Dubs]

The trouble at Wire v Hull was pre-arranged I believe. Hull City Psychos (the football club's firm) had a big involvement in that, so nothing to do with regular rugby league fans, but it's worrying that they used our sport as a platform for their violence. Wire have a history of trouble. Back in the 80's they had an "association" with Man Utd's Red Army hooligans, both clubs were recognised as "fighting" clubs and it seems to have lingered around.

I'll just add as a footnote, an interesting read for anyone who's interested... "The Family Game - The Untold Story Of Hooliganism In Rugby League".