Okay, so you have tickets to one of the biggest games of the season, your friends are coming, and you couldn’t be more excited.
It sounds like perfection, doesn’t it? Well, there is one thing you’ll want to pay a little extra attention to: You don’t want to just sit there and do stuff you could be doing at home during halftime.
Everyone will be pulling out their phones and checking the scores from other games, taking selfies, and even having a quick spin on some of the latest casino games.
While these are all quick and easy ways to pass the time, surely there’s a few more entertaining things you could be going?
After all, it isn’t every day you get to have some free time inside one of the capital’s grandest venues!
If you’re someone who wants to get back to the grassroots of the game and get a feel for what it was like in the days before Sky, take a look at the new safe standing zones and ask the supporters what they think of them.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with your fellow fans is the best way to enjoy a game, which is why the campaign to bring it back has been fought with such energy for so long.
The crowd disturbances of the 70s and 80s really are a thing of the distant past in Premier League grounds so there’s really nothing to worry about.
You only have to look north to the Stretford End where fans have been ‘unofficially’ standing during games for more than a decade to see what an atmosphere it creates.
Go on over and ask the season ticket holders what they think and then think about switching places next time.
On your way over there you might also want to try the in-house draft lager in the bar and then ask them what shops you can buy it in.
It’s a great way to get a feel for the place and to really connect with the history of your favourite ground.
By taking the time to have a sip of the local tipple, you can really get in the mood for the second half; whether you’re ahead, chasing the lead, or trying to knick the first goal and see what happens.
It’s also a great way to get talking to other supporters so you can share stories of your journeys, favourite players, and what the manager needs to do second half.
If you’re feeling generous as you stretch your legs you’ll also want to find the match day charity donation helpers and ask them how you can get involved during the next game.
Lending a hand like this is a great to become part of the furniture around the place in record time, all while doing your bit to help those less fortunate.
It’ll also help you justify all the time you want to spend at the ground if you have a partner who isn’t quite as gripped by the glorious moments of the beautiful game as you are!
Now that you’ve done all of that, you might actually want to reach for your phone for the final couples of minutes before the players come back out.
The congestion outside the ground can feel like treacle if you lose, which is why having a plan for a poor performance is really important.
Double check the extra London Underground services so you don’t fall foul of works and delays in case you don’t want to be holed up with the away fans as they taunt you about a famous come-from-behind victory that none of the papers saw coming.
You can then plan your escape so you beat the rush by making a move the moment the whistle blows, or you can decide that no matter how quick you are the Tube is going to slow you down so you’ll stay in the ground to clap off your heroes.
The choice is very much yours, so why not pick a couple of bits from the ideas above and make the next halftime one to truly remember.
Enjoy!
Photo by Mitch Rosen on Unsplash
