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please can I have some advice.

I have been invited to go with my friend and her husband to see Aston Villa play Ipswich at Villa Park. I am an Ipswich fan, he is a villa fan. It will mean sitting on my hands in the Villa end.

But, you know me. I have a phobia of drunk people and I am a bit concerned never having gone to a football match before whether I will be able to hack it.

How scary are football matches, especially big stadiums like Villa Park? Am I likely to be panicking about drunken fans?

I would love to go, but dare I?

Shell, drunken fans are largely a thing of the past. Big games, such as Villa v Ipswich, are now well patrolled by experienced stewards. However, if you do go and are with Villa fans do not show your Ipswich colours, and if the Tractor Boys score, or even win, just do an inward "Yessssssssssssss"... with a blank look on your face.

You'll be fine. xxx

My husband has a season ticket and has never said anything about troubles in the crowd. I'm sure it will be alright.

My grandaughter travels from Basingstoke to Selhurst Park to watch her team Crystal Palace
play all their home matches.
She goes on her own but sometimes meets her Dad there.
Her husband does`nt go with her as he is a Saints fan.
She will probably go tonight to watch their replay against Bolton in the cup.

Honestly Shell, you've got nothing to worry about. I've been taking Joe to Old Trafford since he was a little 'un and I wouldn't have done had I had any concerns about drunken fans spoiling it or causing trouble.

Obviously there are bars within the stands but once you're in the seats there's no alcohol allowed and, as Frank said, the stewards do a very good job of keeping an eye on what's going on to ensure the safety of everyone.

Football has, unfairly, held onto it's bad reputation IMO. We go and have a laugh with people sat near us, there's never any hassle.

Thank you all and yes Frank, I shall wear my blue and white socks and pants, and that will be all. Well not all obviously just all in blue and white

I shall sit on my hands

Its not so much trouble I am worried about just drunk people that might be ill. Thats my phobia and it rules my life sadly

Shame we cant find a child and sit in the family stands.

I think I will bite the bullet and face my fear and do it anyway as they say

If someone was in enough of a state that they were going to be ill, I honestly can't see them getting past the stewards Shell.

Well I attend football and rugby matches every week (sometimes twice a week ) and I can't remember the last time I saw anyone drunk at a game. I tend to go to lower league fixtures where stewarding isn't so rigorous (or is even non-existent) but there's invariably a clubhouse for beer. Never seen any trouble caused by drink. Boisterousness, occasionally (especially Vice-President's lunches at rugby clubs ); drunk, no.

Villa Park is a big stadium and I doubt it'll be anything like a sell-out for Ipswich, so there will be a bit of an atmosphere, but it shouldn't be "overwhelming".

I'd echo WM's excellent advice not to wear Ipswich colours or to react to Ipswich goals. Be prepared for uncomfortable seats with little legroom , and extremely overpriced food! I would suggest you don't take a bag, but Jo might be able to clarify what is or isn't acceptable at "big games" ....

How are you getting to the stadium - car or train? If it's by car, be prepared for a bit of a walk to Villa Park and / or long delays getting away from the ground. If it's by train, it's around a 10 minute walk from Aston station.

I imagine if you're going with a Villa-supporting friend, you'll probably be in the Holte End, behind the goal but closest to the station. The odd occasions I've been, I used to go into the Doug Ellis Stand, down the touchline - that was a "quieter" area.

Enjoy your match - and do let us all know how you get on!

i went to a Liverpool v Forest game (Forest supporter) with my son (a Red),obviously sat among Pool fans and i got a few strange looks when Pool scored and i did'nt react,but no bother,in fact i could'nt believe the amount of abuse voiced at Pool by their fans sat around us

this was in the days of Ian Rush,so i'm going back a bit

also once went there again to watch Pool v Leeds and all fans were let out at the same time after the game which i thought a bit dodgy given Leeds rep,but again no bother

To answer Ossie, I don't know if it's the same at Villa but United say no bags, this is only since the Paris attacks as they slow up entry into the ground because they have to be checked. I always take a small one though because we use the train so I need somewhere to put train tickets, my purse, our swipe cards to get into the stadium, phone, Joe's glasses...I did actually email when the ban first came in and had a reply saying that a small bag would be fine.

We can take in bottles of water providing the bottle and liquid are clear and are without a lid, so that means we avoid paying £3 for a bottle once inside!