The Rolling Football Thread: Season 2025/26

[DuncinToffee]

"Football is a game of mistakes. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins."

That's a really worthwhile initiative by Arsenal; I hope other clubs are also doing something like that or will look into doing so now. I will never forget that incredible mental health video Norwich City made a couple of years ago - I hope those they hoped to reach found it as impactful.

I never take a bag to the football but those who do will have them checked before they enter the stadium forecourt. Then a pat down at the turnstiles, except for kids who get the wand thing waved over them. Women never get patted down by men but men do get patted down by women stewards.

Sometimes get asked to take hat off!

@Brefugee i found the Germany/Denmark match at the Dortmund stadium to be the most checked ever - I lost my chewing gum because they thought I might throw the pot (was my fault)

Wembley for concerts (not done football) is also very strict not even allowed a water bottle

I take a small bag sometimes (the uniqlo type) as I don't always have enough pockets for phone, keys, gloves whatever else, we get a bag check on a table outside the turnstiles, Championship. Don't get patted down.

Just a bag check in League 2. Police sniffer dogs at the turnstiles very occasionally.

I understand that several other clubs are following suit (which I mentioned in the hidden post!).

I think it's a great initiative.

And on the game - That's why we love Martinelli!

I blame Arteta for this one. If we'd started with the lineout we ended the match with (well, apart from Mosquera), I think there's a much better chance we'd have got the 3 points. His starting lineups have been overly conservative this season.

@ThisCharmingMum @Brefugee
Yesterday was a bit more than usual.
All the men had their ankles checked as well as a full, thorough pat down, they don't normally go that far 😂
They also introduced a new thing with scanning the tickets where you have to tap the screen to activate a camera and then scan your ticket.
We are the turnstiles next to the away fans though, I don't think the rest of the stadium was as much.
Bags are always checked and if they're too big, they get turned away. I remember a lad last year wasn't allowed in as his bag was too big. He had medication apparently and just got told he should have bought it in a smaller bag.
You can take in bottles but no lids.
We've never had dogs.

I agree with Roy Keane he seems to be about not losing these games rather than going out and winning them - they had 2 days more rest than city from the last match the approach surprised me

they need to take the momentum from the equaliser into the Newcastle match but if they don’t it could be more points dropped

on a separate Arteta note DS was playing the new EA fc 26 today and looking through managers and I always thought Arteta was tall (don’t know why) and was surprised he is only 5ft9!

This is class from West Ham supporters

West Ham fans were going to have a black balloons (signifying the death of their club) protest against Sullivan & Brady at the Everton game next Monday, but have called it off because EFC are honouring Bradley Lowery, his parents & Jermaine Defoe at the game, launching a cancer charity initiative.

So now Madueke is injured.

That's more than one a game so far this season!

Now if only we could do that in the league! Wonderful display of goal scoring

Oh FFS, Hugo Ekitike, you bloody great daft wazzock! Surely there won't be a more stupid booking (stupidity on the part of the player not the ref) in the whole bloody country this whole season. WTF was he thinking?!

i would prefer that any protests don't include balloons though - they are environmentally awful. Having said that, it would look great.

I think he had talked to Will Still (who managed him at Reims) and joked he was going to score the winning goal and take his shirt off so he could give it to him.

and then promptly forgot he had been booked!

Always asked to remove the hat when its raining. Or I am having a bad hair day. Otherwise they don't bother 😂

I am subscribed to the Red News fanzine, and generally pick up before the game to save them postage. I always enjoy reading it. I also sometimes pick up United we Stand. Also good!

I think fanzines have a place in football. Offer the chance to get different views but also come together against the execs!

Awful news today about the Chichester City player (former Arsenal) who has died after sustaining an injury in a match. RIP Billy Vigar.

I’m in Sussex so it’s been on the local radio news since it was announced he was in a coma. Just horrific, his poor family.

Such sad news

Yes, I'm not too far away and follow a few general football fan pages so it's been all over my FB for the last few days. Just horrendous.

Horrible news. We have a solid wall not that far from the side of the pitch at Gayfield and it’s honestly something I worry about when you see players battling for the ball near it. It’s probably one of those very unlikely to happen things but sadly this time it did. Not far off the age of my eldest too. :(

So so sad and I fervently hope this mandates change because I have seen a number of people post about their clubs and dangerous pitch side areas-hoardings, advertising etc. Just terribly sad.

Awful news. Maybe it will be a catalyst for change. But IME nothing will happen.

Putting this here and hoping everyone will sign and share-
would be amazing if something good could come of this tragedy-

https://www.change.org/p/vigar-s-law-ban-brick-walls-around-football-pitches?recruiter=65819690&recruited_by_id=5f02d6b0-9a8b-441a-9e32-1b1cdefacf05&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_promote_or_share&utm_term=5abbd86db50b434884d2f45d84a69164&utm_medium=mobileNativeShare

How did the ground pass a Health and Safety inspection?

A 10 year old could tell you that it is dangerous to have a concrete wall near to a football pitch.

An avoidable tragedy. So so sad.