Andy Burnham's proposal to allow alcohol in football stands could significantly change the matchday experience, according to a visit to a top-flight rugby match. The Mirror attended a Harlequins game at the Stoop, where drinking in seats has always been permitted, to test how the atmosphere compares.
Constant disruptions in the stands
Just over 20 minutes into the opening match of the new rugby season, a third groan came from the row in front. The cause was not the action on the pitch, where Harlequins and Bath produced an eye-catching first half, nor the referee. Instead, a group of fans stood up again for a beer run.
Unlike football supporters, rugby fans have always been able to drink in view of the pitch. It is part of the ritual, but the constant rising creates frustrations. One fan in the row needed to navigate past 20 people watching a game they had paid £65 to see, while carrying a £7.50 pint.
The reality of beer runs
After the third disturbance died down, the reality dawned. Two fans who skulked off would soon be back with a lot of beer. Clutching two full pints each, they returned, and the row rose again. With overflowing pints, it took them double the time to carefully dodge dropping their ale. Within five minutes, another man in the row needed to make a dash.
The potential lifting of restrictions at football has benefits. For lower league clubs especially, it could bring in a much-needed additional six figures of income every season. It could also end the frantic two-hour pre-match consumption of pints, allowing supporters to space out their drinking.
Rugby's different environment
Rugby does not really do matchday unease, being far detached from the tribal nature of football. Home and away fans mingle and share a joke. Even after a brutal defeat, it is handshakes all round at full-time, not aggression.
Martin Waghorne, who watches both Harlequins and Premier League side Brentford, is not sure football is ready for the change. "It's not only the fact that more alcohol will be consumed, but how it changes the match-going experience," he said. "There are a lot of positives as well. It will make going to the game more of a social thing and will encourage more people to attend, especially in Non-League football and in the lower leagues. Clubs need the money, too."
"But I'm not sure football fans understand how disrupting it is once the game starts and if they're ready to accept it. It's not just getting the beer and bringing it back, but it's the extra trips to the toilet. At rugby most people just get used to it as it's all we have known. Football fans who want to watch the game and don't want to have to be getting up and down every few minutes could be in for a shock if the ban is eventually removed," he added.
When things turned awkward on Friday night, the thought wandered to how football fans five-pints deep would have resolved such a situation. Bath ran out comfortable 33-17 winners over Harlequins.
