La Remontada, Agüero and 1966: football fans on leaving games early

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

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

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

Spirits were cautiously high among the Manchester United fans in the away end at Anfield after a half-decent first half.