Fratton's atmosphere

It's obvious that over the last couple of years, our famous atmosphere has gone right down. In fairness there has been a fair few reasons why; administration, relegation, almost losing our club twice, having 6 owners in 2 years and the biggest one, seeing our directors refuse to pay charities which made me so sick. Many people say that the soul has been sucked right out of the club. But WE were the soul of the club. We are the only people who can bring it back. Stability seems to have finally came after 2 years of wondering if our club had been shut down overnight. So now its time to get Fratton rocking like it used to every game, no matter who the opposition and score. My first game was that night against Stockport and it left a lasting impression. To see us sing about 4 songs all game last season was horrible. One of the members on true blue army forum, Belfast pompey is trying to get a sort of ultras group going which I'm all for, which is why I'm spreading this around to get more people interested. If I had the time and one more person with me, I would stand at the bottom of the Fratton end trying to get everyone singing, much like the ultras of Europe. I've witnerssed the Marsielle and Rapid Bucharest ultras live so I know this works. Unfortunatly with college, work and me getting a motorbike soon, I can't get to every away game. I get to about 6 a season and nearly all the home games. Another problem is the drums and bell. I think they can come in handy but whenever 1 person tries to start a new song, the drums are to loud to here him. I thought of having 1 person with a megaphone starting of the chants. I've got a few song ideas in my head which we can use. If anyone got any constructive ideas or knows anyone whocan organise something like this then thats great, becasue we need to save our atmosphere before it goes forever.

P.S ignore st godders and SA1NTS, but Beddytare and Ducky are welcome. I like you 2. I think that together we can destroy the myth that northerners are more passionate than us about their club.

 

I agree totally the atmosphere has not been the same in recent years and like you said probably for good reasons. However I think there is also another reason, i have a season ticket in the Fratton End and have watched in the last few years as more families have moved into the stand. Don't get me wrong i am not against families coming to football as when i first started watching pompey and was younger i would go with my dad. However we have the south stand and even the north stand which can accommodate them. The families that i sit around hardly make a noise all game, maybe the occasional clap. Sometimes they will even look at you funny when you start singing loudly. The Fratton End is now popular with everyone because of its reputation as being the best stand, but the people who are sitting there just because of this are ruining the atmosphere, if they are not willing to sing and show a bit of passion then they should sit elsewhere. We also need more original songs, humming to the tune of 'The animals went in two by two' isn't good enough.

This is why i love going to away games, such a better atmosphere, our away support is second to none but our home support is poor, we have got to stop living on our reputation as one of the best fans in the country and actually prove it.

 

Things have been on the wane for a while now. That's only to be expected with the fall of of crowds and fortunes since the heady days of the Premier League. The only thing that will bring back what you crave is a bit of success.
There's been a lot of empty seats lately. Funnily enough, I reckon it's due to the grounds restricted capacity. When things were going great, you struggled to get a ticket if you did'nt have a season ticket.This means that there is little chance of pulling in 'occasional' fans for the bigger games that would boost numbers above the 30,000 mark that used to be the case back in the days of terracing- but that's another story. Many of these fans would make up the numbers when times were harsher or success was more difficult to come by.
Many fans lost interest or just could'nt afford to go and once you've missed a few games it's an easy habit to fall into. Has there been much incentive lately to come back to the park and give it a try if you have been giving it a miss? I'll let you answer that one.
To the club's credit, they've made obtaining a ticket a lot easier and I think I'm right in saying you can now pay on the day, so there is no excuse for us anymore. When you see what sort of response a new ground and a little success has brought down the road, you have to give credit where its due when you see how many deluded souls they get thru the turnstiles now.

 

The roof on the milton end helps the noise from the away fans echo back into the ground instead of up in the air.

Take off the rook and let 'em get wet

 

Deluded souls! I love it. The thing is that many fans will stay away when they do not believe that those running the club deserve support. There was quite a bit of discussion on the old 606 during the dark days under Lowe, regarding whether it was right to boycott the matches as a protest. I was amongst those who felt that the team was the thing that suffered because of that, and hence the fans had even less to cheer. Once we had a good, nay almost fairytale change of ownership the whole mood changed.

I think you will find that the atmosphere will recover if you get a few more signings and make a good start to the campaign. With respect to the different areas, you can't blame the kids for any lack of singing as there are too few of them to matter. It's the grown-ups who make the noise, provided there are enough of them, and there is something worth cheering happening on the pitch.

Oh, and I don't suppose there will any problems when we come visit.

 

Success will always draw people but, like it or not, the modern football fan wants better than a draughty old ground like Fratton Park which is why the old girl needs a facelift, a nip-and-tuck and a whole tanker full of botox.

Then there is the problem of attracting the old fans back that were disenfranchised when things were going well and they either could not get hold of or afford tickets. As stated people's circumstances and habits change.

 

Just looking at the current news of stores closing, holiday firms folding and the general lack of spending money and I guess it is no surprise that football attendance also suffers. Who ever thought we would see the end of Woolworths?

In the present situation our attendances have held up reasonably well. If you are unemployed, having your pay cut or not getting overtime any more the cost of season tickets will seem enormous and I reckon things will get worse over the coming months.

Sorry to be downbeat but this could be the worst recession since the 30's.

 

Administration,relegation,nearly losing your club twice,6 owners(some invisible), not paying charities. But you won the cup, well worth it i think...

 

I would like to say some very rude things about your stadium, your fans and the atmosphere in Portsmouth but as I have turned over a new leaf and promised not to be beastly to you ever again I shall just think think those nasty rude thoughts instead and smile contentedly to myself.

 

Exactly tench breath, since putting a roof on the away end you have been outsung, the myth of Nottarf krap being a couldron of noise is up there with newcastle fans being the bestest and loudest on earth. Keep banging your drum der der der der der der der der der .............

 

My my - your education was definitely not wasted was it?

 

Oh dear, are the bell ringers starting to see through their own myth................

 

A few years ago I lived in a street of old Victorian terraced houses where parking was a nightmare and only on one side of the street, so we all parked up half on the pavement. One day the police came along and put a very polite notice on our car windows asking us to not park there. It was very effective - and for months everyone found somewhere else to park (10 minutes away). After a while though the very polite message started being forgot and we drifted back to parking in our own street.

St Godders - I predict your very polite new leaf will last as long and within 2-3 months, tops, you will be back to your natural habits!

 

Not at all Ducky - because we full well know that on our day, and as we showed when we were in the Prem, that we can be the best, most noisy, passionate fans in the land.

What this thread is highlighting is the fact that due to the failed regimes, anti board protests and the general mismanagement of the club, some fans have stopped going to the games.

The same thing would have happened at St Marys also I assume - when things are going well, the fans come in - when the bad times set in, and lets be honest, we have both seen the bad time, fans stay away.

It is far from a myth that we have a fantastic support. When was the last time a player of the opposing side came back out after the game wearing your shirt and applauds the home support? The AC Milan game is another example of the truly magical effect the Pompey fans have when in full voice.

These days are in the past though, we have now hopefully come through our bad patch and we can start building up to once again, be the best fans in the land.

 

So what your saying Mikey is you're the best fans in the land when doing well,but not so when times are tough.

As someone who remembers the 80's and 90's,I've always found your "best fans in the land" claim a bit of a myth.

 

The atmosphere in FP was lost last year - and to some degree the season before that - but I remember being at Villa Park and highbury in '92 and every paper, pundit and reporter being aghast with our support.

Support will always fall when teams are doing bad - no one can deny that - but as a whole, on our day, we can be the best, most vocal fans in the country.

Suppose we will have to wait until December to remind you eh Ducky ;-)

 

You were never the best fans in the land, neither were Newcastle, stop believing the myth.