‘My grandfather left the 1966 World Cup final’
I have never left a game early, but my grandfather apparently left the 1966 World Cup final before West Germany equalised in the 89th minute to beat the traffic. That was unwise. I was four at the time and he died when I was still young, so I never had the chance to ask if it was true or was an apocryphal story. I have never left a game early. Dan
‘If you plan to wear heels, get seats’
Ireland were playing Australia at Lansdowne Road in August 2003. My girlfriend at the time complained so much about standing in heels that I eventually caved in and we left with about 15 minutes to go. I missed the winning goal, scored in the 80th minute to make it 2-1 to Ireland. If anyone is planning on wearing heels to the football, make sure you get seats and not terrace tickets. Paul
‘I thought it impossible Barça would score three’
Barcelona 6-1 PSG, La Remontada. When Edinson Cavani scored for PSG around the hour-mark, I decided to leave Camp Nou. I had travelled for a friend’s 50th birthday party in the nearby town of Palamos. He owns a pub there called The Currach and we’d had a three-day lock in. So the version of me that turned up at the match was hungover and in need of regular booze to keep going. Camp Nou was teetotal for Champions League games so, when Cavani scored, I thought it impossible that Barça would score three more goals, so I split.
When my taxi arrived back at my hotel and I couldn’t find anyone in the restaurant or bar, I knew something was up. Then an explosion of human noise from an adjoining room confirmed my fears. I found all the delirious staff and a TV screen declaring 6-1. Bugger! Still, I wasn’t particularly invested one way or the other and I did need that drink. Rod
‘I flat-out sprinted all the way home’
Spirits were cautiously high among the Manchester United fans in the away end at Anfield after a half-decent first half. Liverpool had scored just before the break but the general feeling was that we would get a chance or two in the second half if we kept it tight. We didn’t keep it tight. The last thing I saw was Mo Salah’s volley hitting the underside of the bar to make it 4-0 before I turned and flat-out sprinted all the way home.
It finished 7-0 to Liverpool and I do not regret leaving. In fact, I get a bit tired of being told to “dig in and support the team” during moments like these. At home, I don’t think I’d ever leave early but away – when fans have travelled further and have spent more money to get there – I think it’s fair to expect slightly higher standards from your team. If they’re giving up, I don’t think anyone can blame fans for giving up too – especially against your closest, fiercest rivals. You don’t always get to rely on eternal adulation, you have to earn it. I was livid with the team that day. Jay
‘I left at the behest of my mates’
Sheffield United were hosting Oxford United in the late-1970s and it was drifting to a dire 0-0. I left a few minutes before the end at the behest of my mates. Within 30 seconds of leaving we heard an almighty roar as the only goal of the game hit the back of the Oxford net. I have never left a game before the final whistle since. Andy
‘Hearing she had the best day softened the blow’
I took my daughter, who was five at the time, to watch Crystal Palace play Leicester. I think she loved the idea of supporting Palace more than the supporting. It was her first game after the pandemic (having done cup games and friendlies in the more sterile Family Stand) and I brought her to the Lower Holmesdale, with the Holmesdale Fanatics to our right. She sat in utter awe for the opening minutes, clapping and trying to join in. We started well and the atmosphere ramped up. It all suddenly became too much for a small girl, who had been sheltered due to a pandemic. Within 15 minutes she wanted to go. With my pleas for Palace to stop playing so well going ignored, the atmosphere continued.
We went to the concourse to calm her. A steward saw the situation and kindly took us to a disabled area, which was half empty and a fair bit quieter. A compromise of waiting until half-time was reached and, as we conceded twice, the noise died down and she began to enjoy herself more. But we agreed to leave at half-time, so I reluctantly trudged off to Norwood Junction, informing my wife: “Record the game please. I’m turning my phone off and will watch the second half as soon as I get home.”
We drew 2-2. I don’t think any fan wants to miss a comeback but my daughter telling me “I’ve had the best day, Daddy,” as we waited for a train softened the blow slightly. As we watched on the sofa and it got back to 2-1 being asked … “Shall we put CBeebies on now?” less so. Fortunately, she still loves the idea of supporting and going to Palace. Though we are a bit more wary of where we sit these days. Tom
‘We all had a good laugh at them’
The couple that sat next to me at Manchester City games left early when we won the title in 2012 against QPR. They normally left at around 84 minutes to get to the pub, but they left at 78 minutes that day. We all had a good laugh at them once the euphoria of the Sergio Agüero goal started to dissipate. Tom
‘Soaking and freezing, we went for pint’
I left midway through Southampton’s 9-0 defeat at home to Leicester. Soaking wet and freezing, we went for an early half-time pint at 4-0 down. While queueing, the fifth goal went in. Loads of us just headed for the exit and then the pub. At first the steward wouldn’t let us out of the ground. I’d never left a game early before, but I had never been so wet and cold, and being 5-0 down with 10 men at half-time is surely beyond anyone’s reasonable endurance. Fletch
‘Seeing the guys who had left was pure joy’
I didn’t leave early on that wonderful day at St James Park in 2011, when Newcastle came from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 with Arsenal. My three brothers, girlfriend and best friend thought we had paid our money so we’d stay – no matter how big the drubbing. Walking into the town centre after the match, seeing the guys who had left at half-time for a spot of shopping, head in hands at missing the best comeback: such joy. Sunil
‘People make bets on what minute I leave’
I left every game early – as soon as I knew the result would not change. Spurs would either win or not. I hate sitting in traffic. I only regret leaving one game early: we were 4-2 down to Arsenal with a few minutes to go and I left. We drew 4-4. People would make bets on what minute I’d leave. The record is 34 minutes. Jeremy
‘I sat on the coach and sulked until the game ended’
In the late-1960s and early-1970s, I followed Liverpool home and away. I left early during their league game at Derby on 1 November 1969, shortly after the fourth goal was scored (we lost 4-0). I just couldn’t stand and watch my team being humiliated any more.
Back then the gates to grounds used to be opened three quarters into the game and people could leave – or get in for free. The gates weren’t open yet so I had to climb over them to get out. I sat on the coach and sulked until the game ended. I subsequently had a full-on argument with my then girlfriend because she didn’t share my anguish and shame at the humiliating defeat. John
‘I was probably at risk of hypothermia’
It was the day after my eighth birthday, Gianfranco Zola had absolutely put Villa to the sword and it was freezing cold. I asked to leave when he made it 2-0 in the 70th minute. My dad made us stay until about five minutes from the end, saying I’d be upset if Villa came back to draw and I missed it.
They did not come back and I do not regret leaving in the slightest as I was probably at risk of hypothermia. I don’t advocate for leaving games early now that I am a grown-up, but I think when there are mitigating circumstances (day after eighth birthday, freezing cold, clearly going to lose the game) then it’s understandable. Ian
‘It was just one of those days’
I left an FA Cup fourth-round tie at half-time because Spurs were losing 4-0 to Fulham. Spurs were down to 10 men (Michael Dawson having been sent off), and four goals behind at the break. The pub and a curry seemed like a better option and, frankly, a comeback didn’t seem on the cards. A midfield containing Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart was being dominated by Steve Sidwell and Danny Murphy; it was just one of those days, which Spurs have at increasingly regular intervals.
I don’t regret leaving. The game ended 4-0 and the second half was almost as forgettable for Spurs as the first (I caught most of it in the pub). It was the right call and I’d do it again if I had the chance. Patrick
‘I introduced the three-goal rule’
Notts County were away at Rotherham in March 2014. I left in the 26th minute when Notts went 3-0 down. We were terrible at the time and I introduced the three-goal rule. It was usually applied at some point in the second half, but this was the earliest.
We went four down two minutes later and other friends left. A few of us grabbed a cab and by half-time we were in the Sheffield station tap pub, where a steady stream of Notts fans arrived through the rest of the afternoon. The Rotherham steward wouldn’t open the exit when we left, so I lit a cigarette to force him to allow me outside. Neil
‘Soul-destroying didn’t begin to describe it’
I left Scarborough v Scunthorpe in 1999 after a dismal first-half performance that nearly destroyed my will to live. We were 2-0 down and I was queuing for my half-time pie when the game kicked off. I heard a cheer from the away end as Scunthorpe scored their third goal. The pie went un-purchased as I hightailed it out of the McCain Stadium.
I was less than five minutes into the half so I beat my previous record of leaving after 55 minutes against Barnet back in 1991. Soul-destroying didn’t begin to describe it. Do I regret it? Not in the slightest. Would I do it again? Most definitely. Chris
‘We got a speeding fine on the way home’
Bolton v Ipswich, 2002. We were 4-0 down after 40 minutes. It was a bitter blow – and a long trip home so we got up and left. Oh, and we got a speeding fine on the way home too. I don’t regret it at all. Sometimes you need to protect yourself from all that hurt. Emma
