So, you are the one ruining my enjoyment of the game by blocking my view. You should be banned from the ground Not for me nowadays but I'm definitely in favour of it. It was great "back in the day", not that I ever saw the whole pitch as the steps weren't really deep enough.
In which case you must be one of the buggers standing somewhere behind me slating Guly/Fox/Wanyama/Gastón off. That touches on something I do like these days, which is getting to know the people around me. The people behind me even bring along a doughnut for Vin Jr. Saves me having to spedn yet more on the little parasite... Vin
I remember being on the terraces in Milton Road end and no, I disagree. I remember being pushed, shoved, losing my Dad, missing lots and lots of the action. Your second comment is bizarre Black; being at the game is nothing like watching it on the telly. You feel a part of it. You can taste and smell the game; you hear the noises, you hear the singing, you can lose yourself in the game, whether the atmosphere is great or not. I am beginning to wonder if the terrace kings from back then were really interested in the football or not; you could hardly see much of it anyway. I whole heartedly agree that the atmosphere is not as good as terrace stadium, but it is still capable of having a good atmosphere and most importantly (and I can't stress this strongly enough) I can watch the match; that is after all what I pay to do.
Just announced on BBC Points West that Bristol City are installing rail seats (the safe standing kind) as a trial. Apparently City are the first club in the country to try them.
Seats have brought in more women and children...now some may prefer that women are excluded, but it is a fact that women prefer to be sat down, not shoved and not be peed on by some drunk. It meant that I could bring my son without fear...important for a single mother. As I said before, if safe I have no problem with a designated area (as long as that doesn't give a green light to standing in neighbouring areas).
In my experience the Northam sells out faster than any other part of the ground even though people alreaqdy know they will be standing. Would that change? I don't know but I'd bet against it. Apart from the biggest games this season there have been empty seats all over. If they were filling all the time, I'd be concerned but they aren't, so it looks to me like the fact that people are standing in the Northam isn't causing a problem. Recognising that fact isn't going to make it worse. Vin
I like standing at away games, I don't like taking all the skin off my shins on the seat in front when we score like I did at Fulham. At St Mary's I think I have it just about right in the Kingsland North, I am about 2 blocks from where everyone starts standing. Most people in the block I am in sing, help create the atmosphere and stand up when things get exciting, but you sit down for the majority of the game.
I buy tickets deliberately located in an area where I (we) can stand for the entire game...I hate having to sit I 100% support the return of standing areas for those of us who wish to stand
Agree on the Rail seating. It's a massive step up on the old terraces with allocated places and everyone not being cramped in like Sardines. It sounds safer than people standing in seated areas. Would be pleased if Saints changed the Northam end to the rail seating, but feel the majority of stadiums should remain as all seater. The majority should be allowed to view the match without obstruction if they so choose.
I should also be clear that if standing were reintroduced there should be a forceful implementation of the ban on standing in seating areas. I can see why people would be annoyed if that were happening. The double standards would have stopped and they could actually enforce inthe whole ground. I do recall being at a cup game in the Northam a couple of years ago when the stewards had obviously been told to get people sitting. They worked their way up the tiers putting up with abuse, then when they were about halfway up a chorus of "Stand up if you love the Saints" started, everyone stood up and the stewards all sloped off with a resigned look on their faces. Vin
I am not particularly tall and neither is my lad. I have been to enough gigs where I end up seeing sod all, having paid good money. I have no issue with others having the choice, but to change the stadium would cost money and then some of you cheeky blighters expect to get cheaper tickets on top? Yeah, right
I like to sit.. years ago I liked to stand.. Yes there should be designated areas, then the issue of people standing up in front of me would disappear.. The problem NOW is that if I go to an away game I have to stand if I want to see anything and it really p*ss*s me off...
It is great to sit down but sometimes I want to stand if the atmosphere picks up and the game is exciting, but I can't in the Itchen North because everyone else is boring 'apart from a few'.
