Not from the north west corner. Away fans are now louder (and more visible on TV) than us when they're in the NE corner.
Like you say, it doesn't apply to all. Anyone one with a bob or two could always give a donation to one of TOM's good causes. Perhaps one of those causes could be getting some pensioners to the game, never mind getting them in. Not a criticism, Castro, as I took your drift, but there are wider social aspects to take into account and I think they are just as important as atmosphere and ticket prices.
I guess I must have missed it in all the years I stood there. Some were told off for other things, but getting someone to sit down near us would have been a none starter. I did once have an apologetic head steward asking me to not stand on the stairs, but no mention of me (or anyone else) not being able to stand in front of the seat. A steward once told a guy off for sitting. He was leant on the back of his seat. It was quite funny watching the guy twist the poor sod in knots asking him if he was ordering him to stand, as sitting was clearly not an option as everyone was stood.
I agree, it's Allam smoke and mirrors to impose another price rise and it has backfired, unless everyone just ends up saying **** it and paying for what they can get. Good these Allams, Chazz, aren't they?
Actually hes not Mr happy Everything hes said about the **** owners has come true much to my suprise Hes proved me wrong to what i once thought big time. Even if Mr Fez does go on abit.
I was making the point that there isn't a one fits all scenario. The assumption that someone of 21 years of age is not an adult and should pay less than a 25 year old is one. When we were younger you paid the adult price from 16. Of course things change. The majority were working then after leaving school, now a lot are lounging about in polytechnics running up debts to get degrees in subjects which will be of no use to,them in getting better jobs.
The only thing I can offer is that having lived among the Yo-Yo supporters of the north east for over two decades, it never fails to surprise me how many serious supporters walk away and how many return. During Bruce's time at Sunderland a very good friend was so disgusted by what he saw he stormed out of the game and threw his season pass from the Wearmouth Bridge [into the River Wear], about 10 games left to run. We laughed about it that night. A few weeks later his Mom, who worked in the ticket office, rang him to say his pass had been found on Seaham beach, it was reinstated and he has one today. As Filey says: life's great, enjoy every day.
A big part of the reason was that the singing was fragmented as there were blocks with non-singers in. As when we travel, noisier away fans tend to group together. Splitting the noisier fans and moving them even further apart made this worse.
Thanks, Filey, I appreciate that. Aye, I might go on a tad, but to be fair I get more than my fair share coming back at me. You never know, by the time we are playing in the Champions League, I will have convinced some of the best way to play wing-backs!
Hmm, there is some truth in what you say, but society has moulded our youth, not them. I believe in youth and I understand how society pulls them every which way, but the relatively small consideration it would take has to be a worthwhile investment from us all ( we support concessions in many ways). Don't broadbrush them, Castro, it defines you more than them.
I wasn't broad brushing them. Which was why I put a smiley on. Though what I said has a kernel of truth. There are some people wasting time, money and effort getting degrees innthingscwhivh will not benefit them at all. Been this way since my lad left school 20 years ago and the ridiculous notion everyone would benefit by years of further education. But this could stray into politics do better leave it there. Suffice to say my local supermarket has lot more workers with degrees nowadays than it used to do.
I did say virtually every section. Though there were some altercations regarding standing in that area when the KC first opened.
But that's not the same for everybody - as you say. Some seniors may rent their home and just have a state income which is less than what they used to earn. It would be a tragedy if somebody who had supported City for all their life couldn't still go when they retired.
At Boothferry Park I used to go in the South Stand and had a lot of fun and it was noisy. Eventually some of us thought we could make more noise if we went in Kempton due to the roof so we moved over to Kempton despite only just being able to see the far touchline and a few feet above it when you were stood at the back of Kempton. Scratching Sheds at Leeds and Shoreham Street at Sheffield United would make a fantastic noise - partly due to their roof. I accept the Kop at Sheffield Wednesday was amazing despite not having a roof but there the noise seemed to come from all over the ground. Some people seem to argue that the acoustics doesn't make any difference by citing grounds that don't have roofs still making a lot of noise. They would make even more noise with good acoustics. The atmosphere would be improved by allowing standing and then like minded people could congregate to sing and have fun without disturbing the people who wanted to keep away from them. When/if the ground capacity is increased they could consider acoustic. My guess is they wont care. I'm against the idea of trying to inconvenience away fans. Away fans should have a good view from behind the goal and not be stuck in the corners. Clubs should try to encourage as many away fans as possible to attend.
Some good discussion about this in the latest Australia Podcast - interesting to get the views of a few Aussies who aren't directly affected but still pretty dismayed with the outcome.
