Match Atmosphere

[Wallsendmag]

There's 2 massive issues regarding the atmosphere. The stadium, and the people in it!

 

The people in it are getting older and more miserable. For many they go out of habit as much as anything else. Gets them out the house. They sit there, arms folded, tutting at every misplaced pass and it all seems like a bit of a chore for them. We've all seen it. That's all 4 stands as well BTW not just the East Stand which might have been the case 30 years ago.

 

Secondly the design of the ground is absolutely hopeless for creating noise. The design is all wrong. The sloping down design of the Gallowgate roof keeps the noise trapped inside of it so if you're in the Leazes you can't really hear it and if you're in the Gallowgate you can't hear those in the Leazes because the noise just escapes from the place.

 

I already mentioned that I left the West Ham match 5 mins early and from my seat in the Gallowgate Upper I couldn't see, or hear the West Ham fans at all. Walking down past the Labour Club whilst the match was still going on the West Ham fans sounded very loud because all noise they were making was going straight over the East Stand and Gallowgate roofs.

 

My opinion is that it's too far gone now at SJP. For 90 odd% of the 31k or so ST holders who make up the majority of our crowd, they aren't interested in creating an atmosphere. We all seen that at the League Cup Final. If you can't get yourself up for that you aren't getting yourself up for a run of the mill match v Leicester.

 

A new stadium I suppose could at least create a blank canvass where they could try and group like minded people together but at SJP it is what it is unfortunately.

 

As people have rightly said, it's not something that the club really care less about, and none of the fans groups seem interested in pushing it either.

[Keegans Export]

4 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

A new stadium I suppose could at least create a blank canvass where they could try and group like minded people together but at SJP it is what it is unfortunately.

 

 

That is absolutely 100% the solution. I reckon you could split the match-going fans into three groups;

 

1. Going to sing/chant/make noise regardless, start songs/chants etc

2. Would probably get involved with songs/chants if enough people around them were doing it too

3. Aren't going to be vocal either way

 

The issue is that group #1 are too widely dispersed, so group #2 don't get going.

 

Perhaps I should be ashamed to admit it but I'm in that second group. I don't have a ST so I've sat all over the place and while I'll always get involved if a chant is going, I'm not going to start it off on my own. I'd guess there are quite a few in the same boat. 

[LFEE]

1 hour ago, Wallsendmag said:

There's 2 massive issues regarding the atmosphere. The stadium, and the people in it!

 

The people in it are getting older and more miserable. For many they go out of habit as much as anything else. Gets them out the house. They sit there, arms folded, tutting at every misplaced pass and it all seems like a bit of a chore for them. We've all seen it. That's all 4 stands as well BTW not just the East Stand which might have been the case 30 years ago.

 

Secondly the design of the ground is absolutely hopeless for creating noise. The design is all wrong. The sloping down design of the Gallowgate roof keeps the noise trapped inside of it so if you're in the Leazes you can't really hear it and if you're in the Gallowgate you can't hear those in the Leazes because the noise just escapes from the place.

 

I already mentioned that I left the West Ham match 5 mins early and from my seat in the Gallowgate Upper I couldn't see, or hear the West Ham fans at all. Walking down past the Labour Club whilst the match was still going on the West Ham fans sounded very loud because all noise they were making was going straight over the East Stand and Gallowgate roofs.

 

My opinion is that it's too far gone now at SJP. For 90 odd% of the 31k or so ST holders who make up the majority of our crowd, they aren't interested in creating an atmosphere. We all seen that at the League Cup Final. If you can't get yourself up for that you aren't getting yourself up for a run of the mill match v Leicester.

 

A new stadium I suppose could at least create a blank canvass where they could try and group like minded people together but at SJP it is what it is unfortunately.

 

As people have rightly said, it's not something that the club really care less about, and none of the fans groups seem interested in pushing it either.

Disagree with your second and last paragraphs. The modern day/young fans aren’t very vocal I feel. That and the bigger numbers of families and women. Definitely wouldn’t pin it on old people although I agree it won’t help.

 

I think it will be something that will come up. Especially if/when new ground is announced. Have you asked any of these fan groups to say something? They are just a conduit to their members or those that bother to contact them. 
 

I can happily bring it up at next NUST meeting but not sure when it is as usually only once a year.

[bobbydazzla]

1 hour ago, Keegans Export said:

 

That is absolutely 100% the solution. I reckon you could split the match-going fans into three groups;

 

1. Going to sing/chant/make noise regardless, start songs/chants etc

2. Would probably get involved with songs/chants if enough people around them were doing it too

3. Aren't going to be vocal either way

 

The issue is that group #1 are too widely dispersed, so group #2 don't get going.

 

Perhaps I should be ashamed to admit it but I'm in that second group. I don't have a ST so I've sat all over the place and while I'll always get involved if a chant is going, I'm not going to start it off on my own. I'd guess there are quite a few in the same boat. 

 

Absolutely no shame in saying you're group 2 

 

Anyone on a membership ticket rocking up to an unfamiliar seat / section, probably on their own and trying to start chants has got to have a massive pair of cajones and zero social anxieties

 

 

[bobbydazzla]

Obviously what happens on the pitch influences everything, but the basic recipe for a loud involved crowd is:

 

A)Standing up

B)Like minded people together

C)Groups of friends together

D)The familiarity that builds when like minded people and groups of friends go in the same section every week 

 

It's not rocket science

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 17:53 by bobbydazzla

[NUFC91]

11 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Disagree with your second and last paragraphs. The modern day/young fans aren’t very vocal I feel. That and the bigger numbers of families and women. Definitely wouldn’t pin it on old people although I agree it won’t help.

 

I think it will be something that will come up. Especially if/when new ground is announced. Have you asked any of these fan groups to say something? They are just a conduit to their members or those that bother to contact them. 
 

I can happily bring it up at next NUST meeting but not sure when it is as usually only once a year.

 

Needs bringing up mate so you might as well, the point to make is the safe standing was a trial so as it has been a success why can't we get another safe standing section in the leazes  and)orr expand current one. Let's be honest even if we move stadium it will be years.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

12 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

Obviously what happens on the pitch influences everything, but the basic recipe for a loud involved crowd is:

 

A)Standing up

B)Like minded people together

C)Groups of friends together

D)The familiarity that builds when like minded people and groups of friends go in the same section every week 

 

It's not rocket science

 

 

 

 

Personally I want to sing but I don’t want to stand up all game. Maybe I would just sit in the section next to the ultras

[bobbydazzla]

3 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Personally I want to sing but I don’t want to stand up all game. Maybe I would just sit in the section next to the ultras

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Sometimes just need to sit back and engage the tactical analysis brain. I didn’t develop this expertise by accident. 

[bobbydazzla]

You can actually do more tactical analysis when standing up because you’re at a higher vantage point and will get a better view of the tactics to analyse 

 

It also means someone can kick you in the goolies if they hear you mention xG 

 

 

Edited Monday at 18:13 by bobbydazzla

[LordJake]

40 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Disagree with your second and last paragraphs. The modern day/young fans aren’t very vocal I feel. That and the bigger numbers of families and women. Definitely wouldn’t pin it on old people although I agree it won’t help.

 

Went to the Arsenal game with my mates two lads as he was working. 18 and 13, virtually mute for 90 minutes 

[Wallsendmag]

42 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Disagree with your second and last paragraphs. The modern day/young fans aren’t very vocal I feel. That and the bigger numbers of families and women. Definitely wouldn’t pin it on old people although I agree it won’t help.

 

I think it will be something that will come up. Especially if/when new ground is announced. Have you asked any of these fan groups to say something? They are just a conduit to their members or those that bother to contact them. 
 

I can happily bring it up at next NUST meeting but not sure when it is as usually only once a year.

 

Generally speaking younger people are more excitable than older people though. I'm 46 and I'd be first to admit I'm not as shouty and as animated at the match as when I was 26. 

 

Atmospheres at UK football grounds were built be young teenage and 20 something lads all congregating behind a goal and being daft and noisy, not 40odd/50odd/60odd year old blokes like what mainly populate the Gallowgate these days. They would have moved along to the sides by then.

 

It's no coincidence that as the average of the Premier League supporter has increased, the atmosphere has decreased. In the lower bowl at SJP I'll guarantee that the lowest average age of supporter is in the Strawberry Corner which is also the loudest section.

 

There's obviously other things at play now. A lot of people who would create the noise, young and old, have simply been priced out. Obviously a lot more families there these days as well which genuinely isn't conducive to a raucous atmosphere. Family enclosures are notoriously poor for atmosphere and generally speaking parents aren't going radge in front of their kids and same goes for kids in front of their parents, and we happen to have the biggest family section in the Country.

[jack j]

I've Just came to the conclusion times have changed and even most the younguns don't wanna sing thesedays  there's plenty in the corner who barely contribute. Mobile phones have a lot to answer for I think. More time spent checking other scores/bets/ fantasy football etc etc

[Wallsendmag]

26 minutes ago, jack j said:

I've Just came to the conclusion times have changed and even most the younguns don't wanna sing thesedays  there's plenty in the corner who barely contribute. Mobile phones have a lot to answer for I think. More time spent checking other scores/bets/ fantasy football etc etc

 

Still baffles me how so many people get an Internet signal at SJP. I've never been able to get one. Not that it particularly bothers me.

[Lush Vlad]

4 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

Still baffles me how so many people get an Internet signal at SJP. I've never been able to get one. Not that it particularly bothers me.

It’s the same at most grounds/big events. Fuck knows what people are checking. I can’t even send a whatsapp or text. Never mind check other scores. 

[Whitley mag]

Still think it’s salvageable with a new stadium but needs Wor Flags and NUST to push it, the club don’t seem to like NUSC so they’re out the loop.

 

The likes of Eales and Silverstone need to realise the match day experience is shit and even the tourists must think what’s the fuss about.

 

The club are happy with the flag waving spectacle to push the image, be interested to know if Wor Flags as a group have concerns that it’s not really having the desired impact in terms of vocal backing.

 

Our hard core support was decimated during the Ashley years, but things can change if the right environment is created.

 

Would have been more hopeful with Staveley still there for things like this, I do worry if this ex Arsenal Director gets the gig, we’ll be even more corporate and detached from local fans.

 

What compounds the lack of real supporter input further is the staff still in place from the Ashley era, who seem to have been brainwashed that the fans are cunts and the takeover hasn’t changed their outlook.