Leaving before the fat lady sings

The Dutch fans at Wembley on Wednesday night were singing Monty Python's "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" in perfect English. With about fifteen minutes to go in the game, Holland winning 2-0, the exodus began, as though a fire drill had been sounded in the lower tier. The game sprang to life further, with three goals in the final few minutes, and hopefully the cheer of the equaliser would have just reached the throngs queuing for the Jubilee Line (they'd hear about Robben's winner over their corn flakes).

The people at the ground had paid an awful lot of money for tickets, most of them hiding in the kiosks at half time, probably spending a total of sixty minutes watching the ninety. With football being the flash cultural thing to do, is it being replicated at theatres before the villain is unmasked?

I'm looking at three games that would have punished the early leaver, who would have missed the twist in the tale, and really don't deserve to say "I was there". (I recognise these games were fairly important so not many would have left early, but it's more to celebrate late winners...)

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2, May 1989

Up for grabs now

The Liverpool teams of the 1980s were some of the finest sides the country has seen, sweeping almost all before them. The 1988-89 season was arguably the one that ended the dynasty however, with the tragedy at Hillsborough casting a huge shadow over the club, causing this game to be delayed to the end of May after the FA Cup final, unheard of in those days..

Arsenal had been leading the table for most of the season, but had a late wobble and came into the game needing to win by two goals. Despite Alan Smith scoring early in the second half, Liverpool kept them at bay and just as the clock was about to hit ninety, Steve McMahon pointed one finger to signal how long was left. Perhaps it was a signal to the fans to beat the crowd, knowing that they could carry on with their Friday nights. They'd seen enough titles presented, they could skip another.

Of course Arsenal went up the other end, Michael Thomas scoring the famous winner, and the Gunners won the league on goals scored. Liverpool won the title the following season, but they never fully recovered. Probably best for those Liverpool fans who did leave early.

Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1 - May 1999

 Argh why did I try to get the last train?

The first European Cup final to feature an English team in fourteen years, and one of the most dramatic. United had already clinched another league and cup double, their third in six seasons, but this was the big one. Played at the Nou Camp, Bayern took an early lead only to lose it via the two late goals from Sheringam and Solskjaer. The defining moment of that game was Samuel Kuffour in tears and beating the turf, annoyed that Munich would have to wait a whole two years to win the trophy again.

Games played at neutral venues are often a bit of a tough one - a fan of the team behind on ninety minutes may well think they need to leave before the trophy is handed over, and a chance to get onto the Barcelona metro before thousands of happy Germans would have been tempting. But it's Man United. We all know they love a late winner. While there's no indication that any of the famous "Fergie Time" came into play, they've got form for it, see their win over Sheffield Wednesday in 1993.

At least they didn't make too much fuss about winning the treble.

Carlisle 2 Plymouth Argyle 1 - May 1999

In emergency, break Glass

Jimmy Glass was one of those journeyman players who played for several clubs around the lower divisions, and was probably pretty content with his life. In 1999, while at Swindon, he ended up being loaned to Carlisle as an emergency goalkeeper. Carlisle were on the verge of relegation out of the Football League, and needed to win on the final day at home to Plymouth. In one of those moments that would be unbelieveable in a movie, deep into injury time, and the scores at 1-1... Well, I don't really need to say much else.

Despite the goal that relegated Scarborough instead, he retired from the game a couple of years later. It didn't stop him writing a book (obviously), becoming a taxi driver (according to Wikipedia), and achieving a lifelong ambition to feature in a light hearted blog about football moments.

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There are several reasons to leave football matches early. Being dicked 4-0 at home in the first half (unless you're playing Arsenal), wife going into labour, being arrested. But if you pay the best part of a grand for a season ticket, then leave ten minutes early to 'beat the crowd', you really can't complain if you missed anything.

Like most other things, there is a chant for those who leave early. "Is there a fire drill" isn't a question from those hard of hearing. They're taking the piss out of YOU.