Atmosphere's at grounds

[fredheim_holm]

BBC link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7168641.stm)

Quite an interesting read. I know we aren't a premiership club but it most definately applies to us still.

A few key quotes that caught my eye:


"But there isn't one significant part of the ground where the atmosphere starts, which used to happen in the old days, when people would congregate."


"Behind the North Stand we used to have the away fans, 3-4,000 behind the goal and it was difficult, because you used to hear them more than the Villa fans.

"Now they have made the whole of the North Stand Villa-fans only and they have moved the away fans to a corner of the old Doug Ellis Stand.

"Having fans behind both goals now has improved the atmosphere at Villa Park a hell of a lot." It would be good if we could get back into the North Stand, as the acoustics are seamlingly a lot better and we could make a part of it the blue voice section? Obviously not feasible this year but possible for the next couple before we hopefully more to FF? Maybe I'm asking too much, but who knows..


"It may seem a bit last ditch, but someone has now brought a drum to the games. Most people hate them but, really, it does generate atmosphere."With thanks to the blue voice for the game on new years day, the drum really got it going, well done jcrcr and the other drummer (sorry I don't know who it was).


"We have a fantastic supporters' group called RedAction, who are leading the drive to improve the atmosphere and it's getting better with every match."Long may the blue voice continue.

[mattytheshrimper]

i really think that not being able to stand up at games is a huge problem with regards to getting an atmosphere going. i wanted to try out the west (tbv section) for the replay of the oxford game and even though it may not have sounded the loudest but the lads in there all got the singing going. we stood up for the first 10-15 mins then the stewards got us to sit down, singing as good as stopped then. 2nd half everyone jus ignored the stewards and and we got the 15 mins great escape chant going.

also don't understand why away fans are aloud to stand up without getting bothered by stewards.

lastly i don't get why we don't stand up at away games, no one telling us to sit down but we just do. very strange considering most away fans stand up all game.

[Smiffy]

Yes, we would all love to stand up at games, and there is no doubt that having this option helps improve the atmosphere..

But, rules are rules, if we dont sit down the club will be fined and possibly worse, such as closure of part of the ground. (Mansfield for example, although this wasnt for fans standing)

Until there is a change in the law, which hopefully wont be too far away, we just have to bite our tongue and adhere to it, as much as we hate to do so.

Fingers crossed the FA and such like see sense and allow standing once again.

[mattytheshrimper]

i understand its a rule but how many other clubs stand at their home games. you always see all the leeds fans standing the whole game. man u fans do, etc etc etc.

[Smiffy]

I know mate, two words...

Big Clubs

[hamburgshrimper]

am pleased that standing is finally getting the space it so thoroughly deserves. The prospect of getting home fans getting the North Bank back would be a real step in the right direction (towards improving the overall atmosphere), however, we'd really need to stand in order for the difference to be properly felt. I don't think one can simply use big club syndrome as an excuse for not standing. If enough of us did it, I'm sure stewards wouldn't be as over-zealous in getting us to sit down as we'd actually be a force to be reckoned with. Think we should campaign for an all out return to (safe/limited) terracing at Roots Hall/FF as it would actually be allowed as long as we are in league one. Just hanker after the days when standing at Southend was the norm and not the exception, absolutely no comparison really. Any of you at Ninian Park last year?

[Roots Hall Flare]

Surely we should make the most of being able to stand when we're away at wherever.
Hopefully we can start producing an atmosphere that can be compared to that at Roots Hall at the Daggers game every week, home and away.
Starting this weekend with Yeovil and the week after away at Hartlepool.

Come on Southend!

[Interpol Shrimper]

I'd love to see a challenge put up to the legality of restoring a former terrace back to it's former glory by removing the seats.

Who has actually set this rule? Government, The Football Licensing Authority, the local council with safety certificates etc?

It would be an interesting challenge to undertake especially if we sold it as a short-term move after getting the go-ahead for FF!

[J]

I'd love to see a challenge put up to the legality of restoring a former terrace back to it's former glory by removing the seats.

Who has actually set this rule? Government, The Football Licensing Authority, the local council with safety certificates etc?

It would be an interesting challenge to undertake especially if we sold it as a short-term move after getting the go-ahead for FF!

Absolutely spot on post! and a fantastic idea!

[Interpol Shrimper]

Absolutely spot on post! and a fantastic idea!

If other team's (Fulham for example when they first made the Premiership) were allowed dispensation for standing on the promise of a new stadium, I'd say there's half a precedent there in terms of it being allowed. If we've already got this planning lawyer who specialises in sports grounds on board why not get him to look into it?

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

I know mate, two words...

Big Clubs

Spot on....The big clubs never get challenged not even by there own stewards

[J]

I'd love to see a challenge put up to the legality of restoring a former terrace back to it's former glory by removing the seats.

Who has actually set this rule? Government, The Football Licensing Authority, the local council with safety certificates etc?

It would be an interesting challenge to undertake especially if we sold it as a short-term move after getting the go-ahead for FF!

Exactly, and i think the club were looking at the possibility of this from a meeting we had a couple months back... it would be fantastic, if we could have half the north bank terraced!!

[Interpol Shrimper]

Exactly, and i think the club were looking at the possibility of this from a meeting we had a couple months back... it would be fantastic, if we could have half the north bank terraced!!

Why should the fact there's a so-called rule or law saying "once a stadium is all-seater it cannot be declassified to having a mix of terracing & seats" not be challenged!

Surely it would be a worthwhile experiment for the whole of English football. With modern CCTV inside grounds, I can't see a well stewarded terrace causing potential for mayhem & trouble!

[Stand Up Sit Down]

But, rules are rules, if we dont sit down the club will be fined and possibly worse, such as closure of part of the ground. (Mansfield for example, although this wasnt for fans standing)


1. Clubs categorically do not get fined if stewards are unable to make supporters sit down.

2. While some clubs, at the behest of local authorities, will reduce the number of away fans if they're know for persistent standing the oft used threat of partial closure has yet to be carried out.

If a local authority wants to close a part of a ground then they have to prove in Court that the closure is in proportion to the risk posed by standing. To date, no court case has been heard... draw your own conclusions as to why!