I would be interested to know whether this issue has been brought to your attention or whether in fact it is a problem peculiar only to the Auld Triangle in St. Thomas' Road. For background I am a season ticket holder and have been attending home games for 30+ years, enjoying my pre-match Guinness at the Auld Triangle for 20+ of those and have never experienced any trouble at this pub.

This season the policing of the Auld Triangle has become increasingly heavy handed, with the police insistent that everyone be actually inside the pub. This culminated on the Saturday before the recent Bolton game with a very, shall I say, unusual atmosphere. If you are familiar with the Auld Triangle, it is on corner location situated in streets which are pretty much closed to traffic around match times. This has always resulted in a very convivial atmosphere inside / outside the pub. Now it appears no one is allowed to stand outside the pub whether drinking or not, deep down I got a sense that even the police thought the action they were taking was somewhat pointless.

Two schools of thought were the subject of discussion amongst those of us crammed inside the pub. Either the residents have created enough 'noise' to prompt action being taken, or more conspiratorial that AFC are in some way behind this and trying to force people to drink at the stadium pre-game.

Being a creature of habit I am to say the least annoyed and frustrated that my pre-match routine is being impacted and would just like to receive a proper explanation. The publican and staff at the Auld Triangle were at a loss to explain it. I think it also bizarre to almost create a situation which creates friction where seemingly there is no need.

Have you heard of this issue, are other pubs being impacted in a similar manner?

(Ed’s note. Over to you, matchday drinkers. Is this making people remain inside the pub a blanket policy? Email me at [email protected] if you have anything to say on this, including recommendations of pubs where things are more relaxed. I will chase up AISA to see if they have any news on this as I am aware they have periodic meetings with the police)