I decided not to post this before the match as emotions were running high as it was but for the Fev fans that feel there is no issue with their "supporters" or that it is not intimidating I would like to tell a short story through the eyes of a 9 year old girl and the effect Fev games have had on her with the sport we love.
2009 league game at home there was a man stood near the drummer (not wearing Fev colours though) looking really angry because his team had just gone behind so i smiled and said cheer up son. He tried to come round and hit me even though I had my child with me and luckily a fax fan saw what was happening and stopped him. My child was upset so we moved straight away and went in the seats when you could transfer.
2009 semi playoff - as a result my child asks for the only time that season if we could sit down for this game so that she "felt safe"
2010 - went away but she was teary throughout the game thinking something would happen especially when we changed ends
2010 final - had to convince my child to go to the final because it was Fev even though she goes home and away promising her there would be no trouble. We get evacuated as you know and she says why are the Fev fans acting like animals trying to get on the pitch to start trouble. She then hears that one of my friends has been punched after the game by a Fev fan who then just ran off (yes it was reported as part of the Dave Singer incident) and then sees Dave on the floor as we return and hears the news.
2011 home - she refuses to go to her first home game for 4 years without good reason only changing her mind when she hears that Fev fans are not allowed in our stand.
2011 away - says for the first time in 4 years she does not want to go to an away game and ask me also to not go as she fears for my safety which I agree to.
2011 semi - i agree not to go myself after she again pleads with me not to go as she fears for my safety so I agree and watch it on TV with her.
Just think this might put it in to perspective for some people on how this can effect the game we love.