They just moved the segregation towards the east stand for the larger allocations. The Police control room and cells are still in the South stand. They should have just left them where they were. Now there is Stokoes statue, the captains mural, the lattice work etc all in what was the away end. The North was supposed to be the home end when we moved to the SoL which is why the home dugout and changing rooms are on that side. There is also the proposed housing estate to consider on the sheepfolds, can't say I'd bee to chuffed with a few thousand away fans piling through the streets when my kids would be playing outside if I lived there. I'm in the SEC and it's inevitable I'll be moving whether they move the aways to that corner or the Roker. If they put them in the North stand then we have successfully swapped the stadium layout around!
All this is gearing up for a premier league return, I think (could be wrong) that EPL rules are to give away support a minimum of 3000 tickets unless the capacity is less than 30,000 then its 10% so we wouldnt have to give any more than 3,000
Aren't there different rules for cup competitions.? I seem to remember allocating most of South stand to opposition supporters. Hartlepool in the FA Cup comes to mind along with the Everton game Not going to please everyone no matter what decision is made
Which wouldn't please a lot of people in the South Stand if the SW corner is chosen to hold visiting supporters How many clubs do you know that give up their home end for visiting supporters? As I said a lot of thought is required before a decision is made Personally I would like to see the North stand become our home end, can I see this happening, not really It's a strange one for sure
It was almost 10K mate. Biggest away allocation ever at the SoL. Great atmosphere and Hartlepool gave us a good game… please log in to view this image
The North Stand was the home end, that's why the players run toward it when they come out as the dugouts and changing rooms are at that end. The atmosphere died when season ticket holders of the back 12 or so rows were kicked out to make room for the Black Cat Bar members.
The Fulwell End has always been the home end, as made obvious when they named the other end the Roker End, which was always the away end. Stupid bastards 'fixing' something that wasn't broken are to blame for the atmosphere being ruined and the trouble that housing the away fans in the Fulwell End above us has caused since
IIRC the front rows of the upper North Stand were originally allocated to the black cats bar. If the away supporters are moved then we can revert back to the previous arrangement. All up for discussion before final decision on where to place away supporters is made. Just hope that the club takes wide soundings on this point before the decision is made. As said previously not everyone is going to be happy just hope the right decision is made.
The logical thing would be to put them back where they should be in the South stand and move the singing to the main north stand and family bit to the north west. The 16yr old wannabe gangsters can then buy their tickets in the sout east corner and have as much banter with the aways as they want. Should be easy enough to take down all the lattice work and store the flags in the North stand. I still reckon the council will have a big say in this as the sheepfolds won't look like it does now in 3-5 years time. Plus the new footbridges coming over the river will mean loads of home fans coming that way.
Me being one, was cracking toward back of north stand, loads who usrd to go in the Fullwell end. I got moved for the BCB to relocate there, now in SWC, be pissed off if I get moved again!!
Aye, I was one of those at the back (ex Fulwell Ender) I moved to the South Stand, below the police boxes, personally I don't think it's a touch on the North Stand but lads are trying to improve it with the flags etc.
I'm sure the Black Cats Bar fans will be moved from the back of the Fulwell were they have destroyed all atmosphere back up top to the Premier North, hence creating room for the singing section of the Roker to return to the Fulwell. If this is acceptable to all concerned?
I would like to think so, but I can't see it, it's one of the perks they pay for. Straight out of the bar and into their padded seats.
Bloke at graft has had a season ticket since the SOL opened. They had an open day back in 1997 and you could buy season tickets in the function room. He said the big selling point for him getting is ticket in the North East corner (still there) was that the were told that they wanted the North stand and mainly the North East corner to be the home end. But the SW became the place to be because of the crack with the away fans. now it's just **** everywhere imo. Try and they may to make the South Stand the place to be, imo its never really taken off. I agree the away fans should be in the lower bowl for atmosphere, but out of camera shot as its looks shocking on telly. Bigger clubs can get away with having away fans in camera view became of the draw, but when we were playing Norwich on a Monday night, 73 people there in the away end I it looked rubbish. If the away fans are moving, somewhere in the West Stand would make sense.
It's a bit of a catch 22 situation - with a decent following, the end looks full and the atmosphere improved, but as you say - teams who bring a handful of fans means it's not a good look There are no easy answers here
Bang on. The club will be fully aware that whatever they decide, there’ll be a lot of supporters unhappy. I don’t know what is for the best tbh.
unless they could have just sorted a prevention to hoying stuff from the top...looks like they thought was viable & moving them was best option
