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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Football on TV in a pub...

87 replies

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 09:37

So yesterday for the 1st time in like 6 months I went to a pub to watch football. I don't have the money to pay for SKY/BT so most of this season I have just listened to radio commentaries.

Its about 3.30pm and check Sky football is on, it is: the Liverpool vs Crystal Palace game is the match, (which is important in the race for top-4) with news from all the others... ok that will do for me.... sit down, sorted.

First half I'm very animated - its quite obvious I wanted a Palace win (basically to help Leicester who are a small team and deserve to get into the European cup I think). It's obvious I'm following the game.

Anyway, as the second half is about to start I go to the loo and order another drink - which they bring to my table (corona rules). Look at telly and its now BT Sport: Leeds vs WBA with Leeds 2:0 up! This is a pretty meaningless game as Leeds are in the middle of the table and West brom have already been relegated.

I just took my drink to the bar, asked for my money back and left. The bar staff tried to get me to stay saying they would speak to the other people (e.g. the big guy in the W.B.A. top) they said "you are as much a customer as the others" - but I said no, forget it. To be fair, they probably didn't know the Leeds vs West Brom game was meaningless whilst on Sky things were still interesting. If I had stayed and the staff had put the Liverpool game back on.... well how awkward would that have been?

Are people finding other people are acting strange/selfish as we come out of the pandemic or has it always been the case?

I was really, really annoyed. AIBU?

OP posts:

ElizabethTudor · 24/05/2021 12:09

I’m surprised you asked for your drink to be refunded and that they agreed.

Tequilamockinbird · 24/05/2021 12:22

You asked for a refund for the drink? Really? Are you 14?

newnortherner111 · 24/05/2021 12:32

You might not be welcomed with open arms for the Villareal Europa League win on Wednesday- it's on BTs You Tube channel by the way.

Original poster

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 12:50

@newnortherner111

You might not be welcomed with open arms for the Villareal Europa League win on Wednesday- it's on BTs You Tube channel by the way.

Thank you, I didn’t know that and it’s probably what I will do.

Bit surprised at the flack I’ve received over this, but I suppose it’s good to get other opinions.

18 months ago I’m sure I’d have reacted differently, I’d have probably stuck up for myself and confronted the others to get my game back on. But as I said, it was my first time back in a pub for like half a year, I didn’t think the pandemic had effected me much, but perhaps it has, my self-confidence for example.

OP posts:

slashlover · 24/05/2021 12:56

There's no need to confront anyone. There's every chance they asked if anyone was watching you match while you were in the toilet, nobody answered so they switched over. You didn't speak to the staff or ask why it was turned over, your immediate reaction was to huff, get a refund for your drink and flouce leave even though they offered you help.

JemimaJoy · 24/05/2021 12:56

I literally cannot believe you took your drink back and asked for a refund. That's the most shocking part of the story by far to me!

JellyTumble · 24/05/2021 13:02

YABU. You were very rude to ask for your money back for the drink; they should have refused that.

They supply the venue, the drink, the tv that they even offered to change for you. You were the one throwing a wobbler and storming out.

When you say you were “quite animated”, does that translate to exceptionally loud and causing a nuisance for everyone else who isn’t obsessed with men running around a pitch?

Original poster

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 13:04

@JemimaJoy

I literally cannot believe you took your drink back and asked for a refund. That's the most shocking part of the story by far to me!

I was trying to make a point.

Anyway, if I dare show my face again in there (if I’m not barred) to apologise & maybe watch another game - as I mentioned in the op, I can’t afford Sky/BT, I will let everyone know how it goes.

Thanks to the one or two people who have shown me some empathy, by-the-way.

OP posts:

WaterfallsAtDusk · 24/05/2021 13:11

You didn't buy your drink on condition of them showing a particular match so I'm surprised you asked for your money back. If you do go back in, I'd offer then the money for the drink you received. Why should the pub lose that money?

I'm an avid football supporter by the way. As for Leicester being a small club, hardly.

WilyKitWilyKat · 24/05/2021 13:11

Was the pub in West Bromwich?

Original poster

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 13:12

@JellyTumble

YABU. You were very rude to ask for your money back for the drink; they should have refused that.

They supply the venue, the drink, the tv that they even offered to change for you. You were the one throwing a wobbler and storming out.

When you say you were “quite animated”, does that translate to exceptionally loud and causing a nuisance for everyone else who isn’t obsessed with men running around a pitch?

That is a fair point.

Perhaps my obvious ‘animated’ support for a London club in a northern town did rub some people up the wrong way. Basically, as a Manchester City fan I was desperately hoping Liverpool (last years champions) would face the embarrassment and financial penalty of not getting into the 2021-22 Champions League.

Of course none of the staff or other patrons knew this & they probably just thought I was some ‘cockney’ who needed to be taken down a notch.

OP posts:

Original poster

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 13:13

@WilyKitWilyKat

Was the pub in West Bromwich?

No! It’s In Yorkshire.

OP posts:

slashlover · 24/05/2021 13:20

Of course none of the staff or other patrons knew this & they probably just thought I was some ‘cockney’ who needed to be taken down a notch.

By offering to sort if for you when you and even giving you a refund you probably weren't entitled to?

I was trying to make a point.

What point? That you should have the choice of TV channel?

JustLyra · 24/05/2021 13:21

Changing the game at half time is very poor form on the pub’s part. Especially with someone having obviously been watching the first half.

I’d have probably left my drink, but I would have been pissed off.

lurker101 · 24/05/2021 13:25

Try being a cricket fan - no matter how important the match is, it’s always switched over for the football 😂

Original poster

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 13:29

@slashlover

Of course none of the staff or other patrons knew this & they probably just thought I was some ‘cockney’ who needed to be taken down a notch.

By offering to sort if for you when you and even giving you a refund you probably weren't entitled to?

I was trying to make a point.

What point? That you should have the choice of TV channel?

To be fair, I went in at 3.30pm, I asked if Sky was on and I was told yes by other customers: the Liverpool game. I watched the first half and with the score at 1:0 it was still a very important match. As I said, just before the second-half, I went to the facilities and ordered another drink and when I got back the TV had been changed to a meaningless match where Leeds were already 2:0 ahead.

Perhaps I over-reacted, as I said it was my first time back in a pub, my first time in a social situation in fact, for some considerable time.

But it’s clear from the feedback I was being unreasonable, but so were other people too (who probably don’t frequent mn) or give ash*t.

OP posts:

cupsofcoffee · 24/05/2021 13:29

The pub behaved oddly, but I can't believe you made them refund your drink! That's cheeky as fuck.

slashlover · 24/05/2021 13:37

when I got back the TV had been changed to a meaningless match where Leeds were already 2:0 ahead.

Meaningless to you. Leeds is in Yorkshire, as was the pub you were in. Maybe they don't care about Leicester or top 4 or whatever and actually care about watching their team?

tattleandbagels · 24/05/2021 13:44

@Comefromaway

Usually pubs put on a noticeboard which games they are showing that day.

It's a bit unusual to change it at half time.

Exactly. I have no interest in football, but pretty sure any fan would be annoyed.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 24/05/2021 13:50

when I got back the TV had been changed to a meaningless match

If you're actually a football fan then you'd realise any match isn't "meaningless" if your team is playing. The man in the WBA shirt wanted to watch his team, you just wanted to watch football

Original poster

JennyBlake · 24/05/2021 13:50

@slashlover

when I got back the TV had been changed to a meaningless match where Leeds were already 2:0 ahead.

Meaningless to you. Leeds is in Yorkshire, as was the pub you were in. Maybe they don't care about Leicester or top 4 or whatever and actually care about watching their team?

I understand this (but I think the guy in the WBA top was more of an influence than the Yorkshire people by-the-way) but the point I’m making is this: even if I’d been a West Brom fan or indeed a Leeds supporter, yesterday the match to watch was the Sky one, because that was the game with something riding on it, not to mention at least one person was avidly following it (me) before a call of nature forced me to leave the TV momentarily.

Despite all the vitriol I’m getting, I’m still going to fight my corner! Although as I have said I will return to the place, apologise and maybe even buy a pint for six quid, not three because I do feel guilty about the drink thing, having read these responses.

OP posts:

ElizabethTudor · 24/05/2021 13:52

Yeah, might have helped to mention in your Op you were watching in Yorkshire. It makes more sense that that they changed to the Leeds match. It might not ‘mean’ anything, but of course Leeds fans might want to watch their last match of the season.

JellyTumble · 24/05/2021 13:54

yesterday the match to watch was the Sky one, because that was the game with something riding on it,

No, that’s just the match you wanted to watch.

It doesn’t matter whether or not there’s something riding on it. The match to watch is whatever a person wants to watch, whether it’s a big game or a small game. No game is meaningless to fans.

You didn’t even support either team

Sisisimone · 24/05/2021 13:55

So you were in Yorkshire, understandable then that the locals in the pub would want to watch Leeds.
Can't believe you took the corona back to the bar and got a refund. They're not going to be able to sell that bottle on are they. Why not drink your bottle and then leave. Cheeky fucker

Sisisimone · 24/05/2021 13:57

First half I'm very animated - its quite obvious I wanted a Palace win

Read: annoying fucker annoying every.single.person in the pub

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