The 1881 were singing for 90 minutes, behind the goal. The idea was that a small block of 1881 singers would be there, and that the singing would spread throughout the 4000 strong singing section and beyond. It didn't work. Sadly the ticket sales didn't make clear where the singing section was so it was filled with people who didn't want to sing and although it was plastered all over twitter and facebook, not everyone uses those social media sites so still people slipped through the net. Therefore, when the 1881 people were desperately trying to get everyone to join in, those that didn't want to sing got the hump and there was even a fight between those that wanted and didn't want to sing! Watford fans can be such arses at times! Though the 1881 leaders are pretty down at the moment, they know it's still relatively early days and that support like Palace have got takes time and may not ever even happen, given our relatively small fan base. They will keep trying though, things are a bit more positive today.
There was a bit of a scuffle near us in 135 after palace scored their first goal. A young lad took exception to constant slagging off our own players by some 30/40 year olds behind. The men involved should have known better, obviously had too much alcohol. I'm afraid we have our share of moron supporters.
That might have been the incident near me. Behind me there was a group of about six or eight that kept slagging off the players, manager, tactics, etc. with a constant stream of expletives. Some of their comments aimed at Nyom and Aki were also racist. There is a minority like that and I really don't know why they bother. I'm interested in H's comments that the 1881 sung throughout. We were in 135 and we definitely wanted to sing. But we defiantly couldn't hear anything coming from the centre. I knew there would be people not wanting to stand or sing, how could there not be. But there has definitely been infinitely better atmospheres at other games this season, home and away, than there was at Wembley.
I was in 134, right in the middle of the 1881 group of 60 and directly behind the goal. I was next to Willy Worth who did his absolute utmost to get everyone singing through the whole game. Stood with little miss Hornette and a few friends we sang and clapped and did our very best, as did those around us, while a lot of them stood on chairs and tried to encourage those further afield to join in. To no avail sadly. If you look over social media, you will see people talking about a 'bloke in a pale blue tee shirt waving his arms about and trying to get everyone singing through the whole game'...that was Willy!
Bloother, you must have been very near me, my daughter looked after the young lad whilst I was trying to get these foul mouthed yobs to leave him alone, drink or drugs, no excuse for their behaviour. One of the idiots behind me went on for 10 minutes ranting about the 'terrible foul' that injured Capoue, although he even admitted he had not seen the incident. He must feel daft after seeing a replay of Capoue's accident unless he does not have much of a brain, he could not complete a sentence without 'F's and 'C's.
Bottom line is that Palace got that part of their ticketing policy spot on. Their black shirted mob were all together in one block - central and to the rear. I would contend that the 1881 were spread out across the five blocks. Should have been Fan +1 ticket policy and a block solely for those in the 1881: that way they'd all be together and they'd be able to get in singers who would make the noise but perhaps wouldn't have the criteria to get a ticket earlier. I know I had to wait for the second batch to go on sale so that we could all sit together, and then we didn't get where we really wanted to be - I guess no one did. There is no single thing to blame. It was still better than last time but the club still got it wrong... off and on the pitch.
I was in 136 and there were definitely people trying to sing, but there were periods of not much noise...a few times there seemed to be competing songs as well. I am not sure I really heard the 1881, but sure they were trying. Not sure how the ticketing could have been done better, unless like someone said a block was reserved exclusively for 1881 members plus one and then any no sales could be released back into general population
I wouldn't say that - I was in block 128, just level with the corner flag, and heard plenty of noise from Watford fans. Unfortunately, the Palace fans drowned them out on more than a few occasions - really loud at times. I don't think the finger of blame should be pointed at fans who don't sing. As far as I'm concerned, there are three types of fan - ones who sing non-stop, ones who don't sing at all and some who are occasional singers. I put myself in the third category - I do like to join in, but also like, and probably prefer, to concentrate on what's happening on the pitch. As to the reason for our comparative quietness - I think Hornet-Fez is spot on.
As someone who is quite happy to give my opinion in as loud a voice as I can muster to an official who is clearly useless at the proper time, I admire those who can sing for 90 minutes, but like BB it has to be a special moment for me to break out into a full baritone vocal. I listened to Jon Marks for some of the game while watching a stream, and believe me the yellow end came over loud and clear. As a sceptic originally when the 1881 was first mooted, I thought that the real atmosphere at the Vic was lost forever when they put seats over the old terraces. I was wrong, and happy to admit it. Roy Moore has done a great job to get some real life back into the ground, and he should get even more support, not unhelpful remarks which he has taken to heart.
I have always considered that Vicarage Road is one of the very few grounds whose atmosphere has been materially improved with new stands and seats. We may have thought, when singing in the old Rookery that we were making a hell of a noise but it did not seem to travel outside of the stand. In addition the wide open terraces at the Vic Rd end never generated much atmosphere apart from a few night matches when the noise seemed to be kept in the ground. The SEJ stand of course has also helped. The atmosphere at the few games I get to has been excellent compared to a couple of years ago never mind 25/30 years ago. It will only improve even more as the team matures.
I agree re the three types of fans. Generally I'm a 3, often deep-frowning, thinking. I'm enjoying the game in my own way. Sometimes I'm with ofh, informing officials of their parentage, other times singing songs new and old (always love a good old COYH ) and then back to the frowning. I frown when we're winning, I frown when we're losing. It's wot I do when I'm doing my finking fings in my 'ead.
