Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: WSBBA_Ben on February 15, 2010, 09:55:59 am
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The topic of a ‘Singing Section’ at the Keepmoat Stadium has rumbled on for the last 4 years. The honeymoon/teething period of a football stadium is generally 4 to 5 years, people get the feel of the place and by this point, generally realise where they want to sit. Saturday was another game which showed the overwhelming evidence that there are maybe a hardcore 1500 fans which want to get involved in singing at the match, but because of the set seating arrangements, it’s not as easy to all gravitate together, which obviously happened in the Pop Stand at Old Belle Vue.
We have taken it upon ourselves to begin a campaign to introduce a ‘Singing Section’ in the West Stand at the KMS. The WSBBA have decided to come together as a group (not enough members yet to equate an organisation) who have an aim to challenge the club to bring the spirit of Belle Vue back. We feel a singing section in the West Stand makes a lot of sense; the banter with the away fans (especially the teams who travel well) is brilliant and adds to the occasion.
Taking it forward.
We don’t want this to be your typical ‘fluffy’ Rovers attempt to create a fun section, they tried that with the South Stand and that has become a very clinical and has, in recent seasons died off somewhat. I sometimes go to see the Ice Hockey (lets be fair, it gets boring watching Newcastle on Sky & BBC1 every Saturday at 5:20) and the Steelers have created a singing section coined ‘Rock the block’, it has worked and for an hour every week them folk in that area have a bloody good dance about and sing song, it looks fun, I’d pay £20 for a bit of that. Other clubs like WBA have a singing section, possibly no more than 2500 fans, but if you travel away with the Rovers, you’ll know that 1000 voices can fill a stadium, not a problem.
But this goes further than singing; it’s about identity and reigniting what it is to be a Doncaster Rovers fan, being proud of your town and your team. We would like your support if you agree or suggestions on how we can take this to the club as a group.
Cheers, Ben (WSBBA)
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i like to sit opposit you lot in the east stand and you are right you could do with a few more voices,it frustrates me when we play at home cos its like sat in a grave yard where i sit (right next to the away fans ) and all you can hear is them singing, what makes it worse is i very rarely miss an away game and i really enjoy the singing and banter there ,its getting so i would rather go away then come to the keepmoat as the atmosphere is shite
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thornerover wrote:
its getting so i would rather go away then come to the keepmoat as the atmosphere is shite
I agree mate; I'd have an away season ticket if I could; You buzz for away games because you know you'll have a good crack, win or lose. Why can't home games be like this....! This is why we're trying to do this, hopefully a fan such as yourself might gravitate to the West in time and join the revolution.
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I sat with you lot for the Wednesday game. There doesn't seem to be many spare seats, especially now as most of that corner is used for segregation purposes, trying to stop any banter with the away supporters.
Maybe the club should earmark the last one or two blocks of seats for anyone wanting to join the WSBA.
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There aee a lot more seats in the east stand towards the way fans then the west. If a lot of people want to do it then the east stand would be a better option imo.
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MrFrost wrote:
I sat with you lot for the Wednesday game. There doesn't seem to be many spare seats, especially now as most of that corner is used for segregation purposes, trying to stop any banter with the away supporters.
Maybe the club should earmark the last one or two blocks of seats for anyone wanting to join the WSBA.
This is something we will address with the club. The atmosphere has suffered since that segrigation, we will ask that the segrigation is taken back further, freeing up several hundred seats, I feel this was a cost cutting measure too, the away fans rarely take a support which troubles the North Stand. If we drum up enough support for this, I doubt John Ryan will turn down such a request as it freshens up the club a bit again and gives supporters something to shout about (pardon the pun).
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As with everything these days, we are also on Facebook.
Search: Doncaster Rovers fans for a Singing Section.
Viva la revolution.
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Yes It is essential that this movement is done quickly to ensure that it is a sucess, any stalling would ultimately crush the idea rather than helping the cause.
I think the first step is to agree where it should be situated, preferably the area of segregation between the North and West stand, or east if that is what is preferred. It would then be simple to just ask the club/Keepmoat to allow this area of segregation to be used. If the club gives us the go ahead, it would beneficial to ask to allow it to be ticket only and therefore unreserved seating would be the best option, the problem would then occur of season ticket holders freely moving to the singing section from other parts of the crowd and ultimately over crowding.
Although I do not think it would be a problem for a season ticket holder to contact the Keepmoat in advance to be given tickets for all games in the singing section so that there actual season ticket seat can be sold to other people. This allows the Keepmoat to stop overcrowding in advance.
The problem is if the Keepmoat/Rovers deny our request, we must then re-think of the situation and come to a solution, one that needs to be thought of before the next course of action can be taken.
I do anticipate this movement of the Rovers fans as I would love to be part of the 'group' that helps our atmosphere move forward.
RTID
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i have always been a south stand man but i am definitely willing to move if it helps create a beter atmosphere at the moat as someone stated before i dont go to moat much anymore due to the lack of atmosphere and prefer the away days as it is more fun and you are always going to have a good sing and banter, i am for this i every way because the keepmoat is quickly turning into a library on matchdays the more we can do to stop that the better lets just hope we get the backing from the club aswell
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Not trying to be negative but isn't encouraging people to move from the SS where the majority of the noise comes from going to split the support further?
This could end up having the opposite effect to the one intended.
It makes more sense to me at the moment to get as many people as possible who want to sing in the same place, and at the moment that is the SS.
Also, as the club has already encouraged a movement in the SS (there is a section on the OS), it would make it easier to take ideas to the club about improving it.
Worth bearing in mind also that a SS ticket is cheaper than the West or East.
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the problem with that is there are a lot of \"non singers\" in the SS already who probably wont want to move their season tickets next year, taking up space for somebody who would contribute to the atmosphere.
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Snods Shinpad wrote:
Worth bearing in mind also that a SS ticket is cheaper than the West or East.
Well the section we are talking about are catagory B, and season tickets have ruined our atmosphere due to those who are not willing to move from the south stand, so this new section must have to be ticket only, and also unreserved seating, this gives no fan an advantage on who wants to sit where as it is a first come first serve basis.
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correct me if im wrong but the idea of unreserved seating is almost a non-starter due to policing/crowd control policies?
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If this section is situated in the west stand in the segregation, the keepmoat know how many seats they are there, so making in unreserved, they just sell that amount of tickets then close the issue, and the people only allowed to sit in that section must have a ticket. Problem solved.
The keepmoat can make the excuse that you must be sat in your seat so if you need finding we can do, then why on earth are announcemnets made for (insert name here) to find the nearest steward
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Superspy wrote:
the problem with that is there are a lot of \"non singers\" in the SS already who probably wont want to move their season tickets next year, taking up space for somebody who would contribute to the atmosphere.
This is correct, in the WSB section we already have a strong hold of around 200, with several others who get involved in the banter too. The seating next to us is not been used, that two blocks of fans would make a hell of a lot of noise.
Unreserved seating would be great but it's a good point that it might not be viable, but the culture of a singing section would induce a lot of standing anyway, so even if you're on Row H, you can still have a good old sing song.
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how did that mid 1970's chart hitting somg go......
.....'if the boys want to sing you better let them'......
horse on i say
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I said earlier that this is something that who are all interested need to agree on, especially all the details like 'where' 'ticket only or season tickets' 'unreserved or normal' etc.,
we need to come to a formal agreement on all situations rather than argue on what we don't want.
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right, who are the forum admins/mods so i can give them my idea from the other day of a singing section on the forum itself?
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And what do you propose to do with season ticket holders already in your proposed singing section, some may have had their seats since the First game at the Keepmoat, you can`t just disregard them
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Filo wrote:
And what do you propose to do with season ticket holders already in your proposed singing section, some may have had their seats since the First game at the Keepmoat, you can`t just disregard them
We plan to move it to the segregation part that no one sits in, only the odd steward over there may feel like he is being forced out
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Mr Croft wrote:
We plan to move it to the segregation part that no one sits in, only the odd steward over there may feel like he is being forced out
Funny t**t!
A valid question!
Personally i think the segregation area will be a no go, as someone earlier mentioned, if all the singers got together in the southstand, theres plenty of available seats then the fact that the noise will be comming from that area might just encourage the people around to join in
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Filo wrote:
And what do you propose to do with season ticket holders already in your proposed singing section, some may have had their seats since the First game at the Keepmoat, you can`t just disregard them
Indeed, people will not be disregarded; although, we were when the KMS moved us from our seats across to where we are currently housed. The hardcore WSBBA lads at the top already own their seats, we will suggest that the 400 odd seats next to us be freed up too. This is a no brainer, watching football at the KMS is always good, but trying to support the team is dire, this will sort things out in a big way.
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Filo wrote:
Mr Croft wrote:
We plan to move it to the segregation part that no one sits in, only the odd steward over there may feel like he is being forced out
Funny t**t!
A valid question!
Personally i think the segregation area will be a no go, as someone earlier mentioned, if all the singers got together in the southstand, theres plenty of available seats then the fact that the noise will be comming from that area might just encourage the people around to join in
Well, we're going to try and run with this, I feel you're been pretty negative towards this Filo; we're realistic and I think if we sit down with the club, it'll make sense. Mr. Croft is right, there are stewards to police an area which isn't been used. The South Stand isn't an option, you cannot create an amosphere which will intimated travelling players and fans from the other end of the stadium.
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Filo wrote:
Mr Croft wrote:
We plan to move it to the segregation part that no one sits in, only the odd steward over there may feel like he is being forced out
Funny t**t!
A valid question!
Personally i think the segregation area will be a no go, as someone earlier mentioned, if all the singers got together in the southstand, theres plenty of available seats then the fact that the noise will be comming from that area might just encourage the people around to join in
Yes it is a valid and i wasnt trying to be funny, but the first comment made about this was to use the segregation in the west stand, if this happens then your question is already answered. If we use the south stand then we are to going to have to agree something, maybe this maybe a factor on why we cant use the south stand, these all need addressing, and I was answering your question before not trying to dismiss your comment as something that we should ignore like my comments are treated most of the time.
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WSBBA_Ben wrote:
I feel you're been pretty negative towards this Filo;
Pretty negative eh?
Who the fcuk do you think helped organize the Democratic Poll on this forum which the \"Impossable Dream\" won, and do you lot sing it to try and get the atmosphere going, do you hold your scarves aloft? Do you fcuk! so don`t preach to me about being negative!
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Filo wrote:
WSBBA_Ben wrote:
I feel you're been pretty negative towards this Filo;
Pretty negative eh?
Who the fcuk do you think helped organize the Democratic Poll on this forum which the \"Impossable Dream\" won, and do you lot sing it to try and get the atmosphere going, do you hold your scarves aloft? Do you fcuk! so don`t preach to me about being negative!
I actually nominated the song on behalf of my video and I do sing along to it as I helped the idea, please do not include me as 'you lot' as I feel as gutted as anyone about the impossible dream :(
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Filo wrote:
WSBBA_Ben wrote:
I feel you're been pretty negative towards this Filo;
Pretty negative eh?
Who the fcuk do you think helped organize the Democratic Poll on this forum which the \"Impossable Dream\" won, and do you lot sing it to try and get the atmosphere going, do you hold your scarves aloft? Do you fcuk! so don`t preach to me about being negative!
I wrote to the Fanzine and the words were published in it in 2008, we're not here to argue, I just thought calling another Rovers fan who made a valid point a 't**t' was harsh and negative. We're bang up for the impossible dream being the signature song, it ticks every box, they need to blast it out, get the wet weekend on the mic to build it up.
Anyway....back to the agenda; comments and suggestions please. Join the Pop Side revolution.
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The \"you lot\" was a collective reference. There`s many a game when you can here a pin drop, I don`t hear anyone or \"you lot\" trying to whip up an atmosphere. I`m all for getting some noise going, but some of you give up trying after 5 mins or so, you need to keep at it for the full 90 minutes!
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More people in segregated area = more stewards/policing needed = more cost to club?
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WSBBA_Ben wrote:
I wrote to the Fanzine and the words were published in it in 2008
The Poll wasn`t run untill 2009 ;)
I`m sure Mr Croft wasn`t offended by being called a t**t!
We`re made of strong stuff in Stainy you know!
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Ben I admire you for coming here to try and make a difference and I will back you all the way to try and make this happen, but its become far too easy on this forum to try and make something and end up arguing instead.
Filo calling you negative is not calling any less of a fan, Ben just felt that you werent showing enough interest and trying to dismiss the subject at every possiblity, this may not be what you intended to imply, but all words can be read differently, as of my reply to which you called me a 'thick t**t' which I understand.
Its these kind of differences that have set us fans further apart in recent years, including the atmosphere at the keepmoat, its time for everyone to reach out and meet each other half way, make comments and try and solve this issue, whether we do sit down with the club and sort things out or the issue is closed as it we agree it cannot happen, as I for one are for making the keepmoat a better stadium for Doncaster Rovers and its following!
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It wont happen in the south stand, its too far away, it would be better in the west stand next to the away fans, the WSBBA sung for alot of the forest game and the banter with the away fans helped, the south stand did sing abit but it was very quiet and for an away fan easy to out sing.
And Filo you need to calm down and stop having ago, noone being out of order to you, yes you are admin but doesnt mean you can give out abuse!!!
West Stand the new Pop stand!!!
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I agree with this tbh.
The South Stand is full of families, oldies, kids, the thinkers, as well as singers/standers. All these are equally important to DRFC.
The problem is these are deep rooted in the SS from the initial movement of grounds and shouldn't have to move.
I feel personally we should have a singing/standing section in the NE Corner rather than the NW one. In the first half season here, I was in the East North B section and there was potential for a great atmosphere, but it was lacking lads, misters.
I feel atmospheres are generated in 3 ways:
1 Events on the pitch
2 Events off the pitch by a vociferous away crowd
3 Events off the pitch by a vociferous in the mood home section
The NE Corner will tick all three boxes. Looking at the away grounds they have far better atmospheres when the away lads are next to us. The away fans are nearest the East side, unless we are at capacity and thus they will get near the NW corner.
If we want to be near the away fans to create an atmosphere, then it has to be the NE Corner.
I'm not saying I will actually go there(though I might), but it seems logical that all the others should, and it will improve the whole stadium outlook from the home supporters. For example, the oldies, families, thinkers won't moan at the singers/standers and vice versa. Anybody who sits in the NE Corner will then have no gripes as they should know what they are going into.
Jobs a good un
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Filo wrote:
WSBBA_Ben wrote:
I wrote to the Fanzine and the words were published in it in 2008
The Poll wasn`t run untill 2009 ;)
I`m sure Mr Croft wasn`t offended by being called a t**t!
We`re made of strong stuff in Stainy you know!
Well you won't be the first or the last to call me a t**t, or other names that are aimed at me :P
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Mr Croft wrote:
as of my reply to which you called me a 'thick t**t' which I understand.
The term was funny t**t!
nowhere did I suggest that you were thick :P
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Filo wrote:
Mr Croft wrote:
as of my reply to which you called me a 'thick t**t' which I understand.
The term was funny t**t!
nowhere did I suggest that you were thick :P
my bad :P I am blind (H)
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CusworthRovers wrote:
I feel personally we should have a singing/standing section in the NE Corner rather than the NW one. In the first half season here, I was in the East North B section and there was potential for a great atmosphere, but it was lacking lads, misters.
So what you`re saying cussy is when you were in that area it was full of bum bandits? ;)
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Cusworth Rover makes a good point, though the problem we have there is; nowhere to hang the flags of which we would like another in honour of the Pop Stand and there isn't any scope to bang on the back wall, as it's boxes and I'm sure they wouldn't be too pleased at the prospect of us banging on the glass while they're tucking in to their drum sticks.
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North stand = Away stand/Rosso end
East Stand = Family stand/Main stand
South stand = Town end
West stand = Pop Stand!!!!!!!!!!!
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WSBBA_Joe wrote:
And Filo you need to calm down and stop having ago, noone being out of order to you, yes you are admin but doesnt mean you can give out abuse!!!
If you think that was abuse, you`re on the wrong forum matey, this forum is getting a bit sterile, with it`s political correctness
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WSBBA_Joe wrote:
North stand = Away stand/Rosso end
East Stand = Family stand/Main stand
South stand = Town end
West stand = Pop Stand!!!!!!!!!!!
Right! I`m not being negative, i think you`ve got a point, but one thing sticks out for me. It`s obvious you are a West Stander, but you expect everyone one to move to where you are, when anyone suggests a different area you dismiss it, it seems to me that you are not prepared to move
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WSBBA_Ben wrote:
Cusworth Rover makes a good point, though the problem we have there is; nowhere to hang the flags of which we would like another in honour of the Pop Stand and there isn't any scope to bang on the back wall, as it's boxes and I'm sure they wouldn't be too pleased at the prospect of us banging on the glass while they're tucking in to their drum sticks.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTNP3Yx4f-Q&feature=related [/video]
;)
*edit. Haha. Beat me to it Filo.
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WSSBA Ben
The NE corner has no boxes, they stop so far down.
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cant some one put a vote on and see what it turns up and we will see where most fans would prefer to sit and the take it from there
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Like i said earlier in this threrad and now cussy has brought it up the NE part of the ground would be the best. It has more seats then the NW due to the disabled section half way up the West stand and also has less ST holders which would make it easier to admistrate and happen. I used to have my ST towards the NE corner before switching to the SS so i know what it's like over there and If the West standers are wanting people to move then they should be expected too themselves if there is a better option.
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thornerover94 wrote:
cant some one put a vote on and see what it turns up and we will see where most fans would prefer to sit and the take it from there
There`s no point, no one takes any notice of a Poll on here
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I think it would be easier to give all these possibilities to the club, and yes rigo the south stand was thje best its been, but it was also the best its gonna get, and some people want more, the stadium does have potential, but given its lay out, the noise from the south stand doesnt carry as far as that from the south given that the south stand needs a north wind to help make it louder.
but giving the choice to the club would probably be the best as they would do the crossing out of all possibilities rather than us fans having a go at it for free, lets give them who work the OS to finally do a job they get paid for and help the fans.
:)
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do the west stand sing? you see about 20 fans, hands in the air,but no noise!
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Ben, I love the idea you've come up with.
The best atmosphere I've experienced so far came at Accrington of all places. They're terrific and honestly don't shut up for 90 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQRo7vTdBUQ&feature=related
Forza Stanley Ultras!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Inv49Ghr8&NR=1
now thats an atmosphere :woohoo:
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jmt wrote:
do the west stand sing? you see about 20 fans, hands in the air,but no noise!
And as I've said from day one, the away fans (and those in West Stand B) can't hear the south stand either, hence the complete lack of atmosphere.
I'm glad to see Ben and other have finally taken up the baton and decided to do something positive. I sit in West 'B' and there are games where I do get involved, others I don't. It's also good to see that those who do it every game have laid off the \"shit support\" slanging to our fellow fans which helped against Forest.
As has been pointed out there's going to have to be a compromise from everyone, including not only the fans moving/displaced but also the club and KMS who have done little but are quick to complain about the small attendances. Well here's some people with a good idea which is bound to encourage others to attend due to a decent match experience. I can't imagine that if I was a kid again that attending the Keepmoat would have lit my fire in the way that Belle Vue or Stamford Bridge (where I watched my first ever live game of football) did.
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I've been reading through all the posts due to my internet being down all day :( i haven't been able to comment, i am a massive supporter and advocate for a singing section at the KM and i think its a great idea. Now what about if the club are willing we propose we use one game this season in a certain part of the ground to test this out? i.e. if you have a season ticket in another aprt of the ground you can swap it for a single ticket for the \"singing section\" for the proposed game? hence people will not have to uproot their season tickets for an entire season on the premise it might be good.
If we can get one game to get all the singers together and see how it goes from there? just an idea.
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I'm all for it. As for West or South, it makes no odds, we can have both. There's plenty of people in all areas of the ground up for it, why not have one in the west and one lot in the South and get them bouncing off each other.
Everyone remembers the Pop side at Belle Vue but the Main Stand made more noise when they sung up aswell. It was brilliant when both sang to each other.
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I've added a poll.
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Don't know if anyone as said it as I haven't trawled through the entire thread, but surely the singing section should be in a cheaper area? So then nobody is priced out, and people who already have a Cat B or C seat don't have to pay more just to be able to sing.
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WSBBA_Ben wrote:
Filo wrote:
Mr Croft wrote:
We plan to move it to the segregation part that no one sits in, only the odd steward over there may feel like he is being forced out
Funny t**t!
A valid question!
Personally i think the segregation area will be a no go, as someone earlier mentioned, if all the singers got together in the southstand, theres plenty of available seats then the fact that the noise will be comming from that area might just encourage the people around to join in
Well, we're going to try and run with this, I feel you're been pretty negative towards this Filo; we're realistic and I think if we sit down with the club, it'll make sense. Mr. Croft is right, there are stewards to police an area which isn't been used. The South Stand isn't an option, you cannot create an amosphere which will intimated travelling players and fans from the other end of the stadium.
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Why.?? Virtually every teams singing section/intimidaing support comes from the home end behind the goal eg Liverpool, Owls, Blades, Leeds etc etc etc.
When I see the away end full and the oppo fans in full voice it is awesome, why cant the ss be the same
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DMnumber4 wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Inv49Ghr8&NR=1
now thats an atmosphere :woohoo:
Now *this* is an atmosphere, or somewhere up in the atmosphere :woohoo:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p170mCnL0mM[/video]
Can we have a burn yourself alive section too?
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no brainer - you have your kop..south stand
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Bristol Red Rover wrote:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p170mCnL0mM[/video]
Can we have a burn yourself alive section too?
You just know that somewhere in the middle of all that, there is some bloke from Donny tugging on the back of someones shirt.
\"Ere mate, sit bloody down. I can't see a bloody thing\"
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jmt wrote:
do the west stand sing? you see about 20 fans, hands in the air,but no noise!
Yep we do, we are the only ones the away fans hear and the only ones who sing for 90mins not just when we score!! We are all lads who used to be in the middle of the Pop Stand!! Which is why we want to bring that back!
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West north or east north. Got to be near the away fans for it to work.
The south stand is just full of kids and families.
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WSBBA_Joe wrote:
jmt wrote:
do the west stand sing? you see about 20 fans, hands in the air,but no noise!
Yep we do, we are the only ones the away fans hear and the only ones who sing for 90mins not just when we score!! We are all lads who used to be in the middle of the Pop Stand!! Which is why we want to bring that back!
This is correct, if we had a few more voices we'd get a real atmosphere going, don't hide in the South Stand, come and join the revolution.
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WSBBA_Ben wrote:
WSBBA_Joe wrote:
jmt wrote:
do the west stand sing? you see about 20 fans, hands in the air,but no noise!
Yep we do, we are the only ones the away fans hear and the only ones who sing for 90mins not just when we score!! We are all lads who used to be in the middle of the Pop Stand!! Which is why we want to bring that back!
This is correct, if we had a few more voices we'd get a real atmosphere going, don't hide in the South Stand, come and join the revolution.
So you don't get a real atmosphere going then, like you claimed earlier?
I sit in the South Stand, and I rarely hear a peep out of the West stand.
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We sing throughout, the South can't hear us, but nor can we here the South. We have created an identity with the flags and the away fans always have plenty of banter with us. It doesn't matter if we're a goal down or 3 up, we still sing.
I'm not saying we're any better than the South, but we have a vast majority of the former Pop Stand (half way line) lads, that's what we're brining back.