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Clive Woodward's damning 'world's biggest pub' Twickenham verdict
By Liam Heagney
Former England coach Clive Woodward had damningly described Twickenham as the world’s biggest pub, alleging there would be a riot at football if fans who drink behaved the way they do during matches at English Rugby HQ.
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The 2003 World Cup winner worked at last Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match versus Scotland and what he experienced during his pre-game walk from pitchside to the ITV studio disturbed him as did first-hand accounts from friends and family who were sitting in the stands during the game.
Woodward claimed he had noticed problems with fans drinking during the recent Autumn Nations Series but his hopes that some changes would be implemented in time for the Six Nations didn’t come to fruition. It has now left the ex-England head coach launching a stinging attack on the RFU and its policy of allowing fans to drink in the Twickenham stands during matches.
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Having played Scotland in round one last Saturday, England have two more home matches in this year’s Six Nations, this Sunday’s meeting with Italy and the March 11 rendezvous with France. Woodward wants steps to be taken to improve the spectator experience at Twickenham.
Writing in his latest Sportsmail column, he said: “Having experienced Twickenham’s drinking culture first-hand while working at England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland, it made me realise that the RFU have a big problem on their hands.
“They have to do something about the huge number of supporters who spend most of the match getting up and down to either go to the bar to buy more beers or to go to the toilet. Twickenham is turning into the world’s biggest pub and for many England fans, watching their team has now become a pretty unpleasant experience.”
Woodward was left fuming by what he saw pre-game last weekend. “Before kick-off on Saturday, I was down at pitch level to preview the match for ITV. As the teams ran out and the anthems were played, we made our way to the studio and walked through Twickenham. I was amazed to see thousands and thousands of supporters still queuing at the bar rather than sitting in their seats ready for kick-off.
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“My friends and family were at the match. They were surrounded by people who were more concerned with drinking than the rugby. They were up and down throughout the game. Each time they returned, they were carrying eight pints each.
“There was no trouble. These were decent, polite guys who apologised for causing a disturbance each time, but it was still incredibly annoying for my friends and family and they had beer spilt on them from behind.”
Woodward insisted he wasn’t arguing for a no-drinking policy to be implemented. He just wanted action to be taken to have it moderated before a serious incident takes place. “I regularly watch Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“Football is obviously a different experience to rugby because you can’t drink in the stands, but there would be a riot at Stamford Bridge if fans were up and down as they are at Twickenham. There is soon going to be trouble if action is not taken.”
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Not the same at football? The up and downs for hot dogs, burgers etc are exactly the same at Derby County!! you just get gallons of sticky Coke spilled on you instead of beer. Perhaps Clive has nicer seats at Stamford Bridge?
This is the problem with all seater stadiums (& no I don’t want to go back to terraces where if your back was wet it was probably something far worse).
I regularly work on the medical team at Twickenham and you do see a lot of movement throughout the match which I can imagine is irritating if you're trying to watch. I'm pretty sure there's a 4 pint per person limit at the bars so 8 pints each as Sir Clive says, may be a bit of an exaggeration?
Agree ticket prices are extortionate and price a lot of fans out and as long as the coffers are full do they care? Also anyone else fed up with Sir Clive constantly moaning and harping on about what is wrong with English rugby?
Alcohol producers advertise that you can't enjoy any experience without a drink. We've been to concerts and games where we've been up and down all the time while people drink pints then have to go to the toilet. The tickets aren't cheap and they miss half the concert or game. Pointless!
The disconnect between the true fan who watches Sale on a wet Friday night and the Henries who turn up at Twickers is obvious but those Eton Boys have the money so what is to be done
Maybe if real rugby fans were able to get tickets then that might not be the case! Its filled with institutions, companies, sponsors etc. Who have no interest in being there. Would love to experience being at Twickenham if there was an opportunity to be able to get tickets at an affordable and not hiked up price! Shame
Absolutely agree. The place is now full of 'Eventers'. Strangely many of those are Rugby Fans, but the trips to get the beers, then to the toilet then for the mates to do the same is very disruptive to those of us who want to watch the game. Don't get an aisle seat because they makes it even worse as you have in your eyeline the world and his dog going up and down. RFU PLEASE dedicate a stand where fans cannot go to their seats with drinks. If you do that I will be back. However, until then bye bye Twickenham - hello TV.
I couldn't agree more. I've been going on about this for years but the RFU couldn't care less as long as the people pay the ticket price. The Scots guy next to me missed two of Scotland's tries having paid £130 odd for his ticket. And who wants to pay those exorbitant prices anyway? I thought there was a recession on?