Source - MEN Envy. That’s what many diehard Manchester United fans felt on European travels this season. It wasn’t because of superior opponents, but the quality of the atmosphere in Lisbon, Amsterdam, Bilbao and Basle. They raised their game because United were visitors, they also made Old Trafford – and most English grounds – sound like a library. And to think that many continentals still describe their most atmospheric stadiums as being like ‘an English ground’. Old Trafford used to be brilliant, the atmosphere worn as a badge of honour by fans. Scientists once measured the noise from the Stretford End in the ’70s and compared it to a 747 at take off. The decline in noise levels has been slow and painful, the reasons numerous. Abolishing terracing didn’t help, but United fanzines were deriding the Stretford End for being quiet long before it was bulldozed in 1992. Price rises didn’t help either, while the type of fans attending Old Trafford as the team became more successful were not always inclined to be as vocal. Roy Keane had a point about the prawn sandwiches. And maybe some long-standing Reds stopped making the effort too because they knew that United would win most games - something that didn’t happen in the ’70s and ’80s. With terracing, you could stand where you wanted. If you wanted to sing your heart out then you went in the middle of the Stretford End, the end of the United Road or one of the Scoreboard Paddocks. With reserved seating, people take their places much later, mates are often separated and fans complain that they’ve been sitting next to tourists who don’t know the words to songs. One vocal element also stopped going to Old Trafford after the 2005 Glazers takeover. Some now create a din at FC United that is the envy of far bigger clubs. Others aren’t there because of rising prices. Although prices are still high, the increases are slowing or have stopped. But Old Trafford is not dead, far from it. It was bouncing for the 2008 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and superb as recently as a month ago when Liverpool came to lose another league match, but there are still issues which inhibit the atmosphere. The acoustics in the second tier of the Stretford End, where many vocal fans sit, are not ideal, nor is the distance from the pitch. There’s also area of executive seating in the Stretford End, while fans in other areas of the stadium who want to kick-start the atmosphere claim that they are not surrounded by like-minded souls. However, now there’s an opportunity for change. Subject to council approval and a trial against Aston Villa next month, away fans are being moved to tier three of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand. Not every United fan is in favour as away fans still contribute to the atmosphere, but the numbers of travelling supporters have declined season on season – Fulham bought a new low of 320 on Monday. United have thus decided that they would like home fans only at the East End of the stadium, the old Scoreboard End. After much consultation, a group of fans have approached the club with a view to dedicating an area of Old Trafford to like-minded fans who want to sing and support the team, to try and create a din akin to what we’ve heard on our travels this season. At a meeting with senior United officials on Monday, the club welcomed the idea and are willing to put aside the seats currently used by away fans. That could be 1,400, 1,900 or 2,500 seats where the view and acoustics are excellent. Fans who want to get behind the team can have those seats, mates can sit together and nobody will be moved from their seat because they are currently used by away fans. The area would initially be offered to existing season ticket holders – so that the same fans go every week. Sir Alex Ferguson likes the idea, as do fans who’ve heard the suggestion. “It’s a perfect opportunity to reinvigorate the atmosphere,” said Pete Boyle, who starts many of the OT songs. “Like-minded Reds can sing and generate a vibrant atmosphere like we see in Europe. Me and my mates are going to move to the new section and I urge all other season tickets holders who want to join us to come aboard. It’s time for fans to stop moaning, to stop being cynical and do something about the atmosphere. ”United are happy to let supporters take the lead on this idea. Happy, too, to let fans dress the area with the type of flags the Stretford End Flags group have organised and adorn the opposite end of the ground. The prices will be the same as in the Stretford End second tier - currently £37/38 and unlikely to increase next season – with a 50 per cent discount offered to fans aged 16-17. With decent stewards who are respected by the fans in their current sections and significant fan input, it can work. If you’re a current season ticket holder interested in the idea, email [email protected] so that numbers can be gauged. Nobody is pretending Old Trafford will be transformed into Boca Juniors’ brilliant *Bombonera for atmosphere overnight, but it’s a chance to make Old Trafford great again and for away fans to be envious of the new vibe in M16. Apologies for the very long post but what do you guys think? Even Fergie has given his approval for the plan. As long it improves the atmosphere, then i hope these proposals go through and are implemented
Id be in support of anything to improve the noise levels. Its about time something was done. The lack of standing is an oft-used excuse but it doesn't change the fact that smaller teams do a much better job and even our away support (like at Blackburn). An area of these types of fans would certainly help. Solve the problem no, but it might prevent the embarrassment of being able to hear a pin drop.
Sounds like a good idea Alan and hope it gets the nod of approval. I personally sit in the second tier Sir Alex stand (for the past 4 seasons) and whenever my son and I join in with the singing, we are looked at, by most who surround us, as though we are off another planet. In fact the vast majority of " fans " that occupy the seats in our vicinity are usually "day trippers", with bulging bags from the Mega Store and continually standing to take photos of one another. I have sat and stood in most parts of Old Trafford over the past almost 50 years but nothing will come near to the sheer adrenalin rush of being in the Stretford End during the sixties and seventies and unfortunately those days will never be repeated for various reasons. The average die hard United fan has been priced out of going to Old Trafford and whilst seating has addressed the " safety" issues it has not helped in stemming the decline in vocal support. Of course the away fans at Old Trafford always seem to be more vocal than United fans because they are a bunch of lads ( not a sexist remark ) who have travelled to support their team. It is just the same at United away games where most of the time the support by our fans is fantastic. If you could just bottle up that away support and place it in a section of Old Trafford it may go some way to solving the problem of our sometimes sterile atmosphere. In the meantime my son and I will continue to be as vocal as we can and ignore, as we do,the mystified looks of the "corporates" and one off visitors around us!
Good post I agree that Old Trafford on match days is now full of "corporates", day trippers and tourists. Hope you and your son keep on making as much noise as possible as you are there to support the team and not in a theatre to watch a play. Were you at the Blackburn game on Monday? I was and the United fans were great, spurring the team on non stop for the whole game.
This coincides with the 80's thread a bit, where I had a junior LMTB in the Stretford end and it was superb. I just loved going down and we'd sit in our place on the right side for an hour and a half before kick off as the crowd arrived around us before being swept around the place in big crowds. There were half the crowd and way more than twice the noise of today's crowd. As an adult I had my ticket in the old K stand behind the goal, opposite the Stretford and also a superb atmoshphere through the 90's into the 00's. Since I've had a load of kids I don't go too often but when I do it is remarkable how **** the atmosphere can be. Not always obviously but most of the time. I try to go to europe night games if I can as there are more locals and less tourists. Away days are ALWAYS immense though. What can you do? It's knackered to be honest. A standing area might help as you'd hope the tourist fans wouldn't go in there but beyond that not sure. My next game is Swansea at home, last game and hopefully we'll be champions so it should be a good crowd. Oh, and by the way. The ones who are tourists or sit at home 200 miles away wearing their shirts at home or in the pub without ever trying to visit the game ARE plastic glory hunters. There, I said it. **** em.
I have attended a couple this season and the latest being the Blackburn away game. What about you, when was the last time you attended a game?
Gave this a bump after reading a story on the new singing section at OT. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...s-of-dead-manchester-united-fans-7654633.html
Been to OT a fair bit and the atmosphere is good. Also been to united away games in the united end and the away fans are very loud.
This is after the return United leg and I have seen much better atmosphere's at the Cathedral than this...the guy talking the clip is a laugh. This place rocks. https://twitter.com/iberre70/statuses/195533989400948738
It is the supporters who make the atmosphere..EOS. Too many at OT come in coaches from Ireland and aircraft from the far east and only once a year. Thats the problem with having "global support"...no continuity and that isn't gonna change once the club is floated on the Asian market. Shame for the real fans.
Working class fans can hardly afford to go to OT let alone go on foreign trips to watch United.It aint just a "plastic" problem its a class problem.
Just do what Chelsea do and give out plastic flags before each game! Guaranteed to create an atmosphere
You mean like you did in the 80s for European Cup games. Could not believe how many dippers took their runners-up flags home after Wembley in their plastic bags. Guess they are on eBay now
