As I say though are there that many fans who want to regularly sing and contribute to the atmosphere? I don't think there are, a good chunk of the Northam now don't even sing regularly! Currently in terms of regular singers we have (approximately): - 2-2.5k in the Northam/Kings land north - 500-1k in the Itchen North - Couple of hundred max in the chapel Where are these additional 2-3k people who want to sing regularly coming from? I just don't see it. And that's without accounting for those who will choose to be near away fans which will be in the hundreds I imagine. Credit to the club for trying something and it's definitely worthwhile trying but I'm skeptical that it'll make a huge difference.
I disagree massively with your first sentence. There are definitely a sizeable number who love being near the away fans and won't want to give that up.
Thing is, it's much easier to sing when everyone else around you is. I've discovered that at away games. I'd be very much open to moving to the Northam.
There’s probably a lot of people that want to sing, but because the other ends are so quiet they don’t wanna be the only ones. And the Northam/Itchen don’t generate enough noise across the ground to really create an atmosphere that gets people involved. Our fans are quite reactive, and maybe this move will cause some to get involved more as it’s welcoming the support officially.
Most stands that are known as the loud area where all chanting is done are not by the away ends. Look at the Kopp, Stretford, spurs new ground, or even in dortmund - they're all one end opposite the away fans.
But like I say half the Northam doesn't join in with most songs now and they're in the so called loud area. What's going to make these people suddenly start joining in with more people there? I suspect it'll end up with the back end of the stand singing regularly and the front half only occasionally. Thinking of front and back if only the back half will be safe standing does that mean the club will enforce sitting in the bottom half? As that won't help if so
We're very different fanbases to those clubs though so that doesn't strike me as hugely relevant and doesn't mean that some won't want to be near away fans. Leeds main home end is the opposite end to the away fans but there are still a sizeable number of singers behind the other goal next to the away end.
For me our atmospheres will always be hit and miss while we have a limited song book and inability of the majority to keep a rhythm when clapping.
Something's just occurred to me. I may be wrong about this but I believe if you want to introduce safe standing it has to be available for both home and away fans. So that might influence where the away fans are relocated to.
Yeah that's very possible I agree but would likely only be temporary. If it started to tail off then that would only hasten a migration of fans towards the away end. A key thing for me is whether they plan to enforce sitting in non safe standing areas.
It could be that you do get some atmosphere around the away end, presumably in the chapel by sounds of it, as well as the Northam. Having 2 opposite ends of the ground with atmosphere is probably a good thing too. I don't really see how this can be a bad move - it's not like we are risking ruining the incredible and intimidating St Marys atmosphere
I've not said it can be a bad move I'm just not convinced it'll make a huge difference. Definitely worth trying though as I said earlier. Like I say a lot depends on how they plan to enforce sitting outside of safe standing areas imo. I'm curious to see where the family stand ends up if it is indeed Chapel/Kingsland corner where away fans move to. Presumably you don't want family stand next to the away end or in a position where they'll need to move seats for cup games. Presumably the police and local SAG have already been consulted on this.
Yeah, not guaranteed to work by any means and requires vocal supporters to club together and coordinate. Hopefully we see a positive change.
Why would people want to still be near the away fans? Surely you only go by them if you want to spend more time doing ****er gestures and 'hold me back! hold me back!' theatrics while you pretend you're going to climb over the segregation netting for a scrap?
Sadly we've got a sizeable minority who literally do want to do that. You've been to away games recently right?
More I think about it the question of making supporters sit in non standing areas will make or break this. If half the northam have to be sat down then that's not gonna be a positive for the atmosphere.
Just had a read on Saintsweb and someone has pointed out this might lead to an 'ultras' style section evolving. God I ****ing hope not.
