Folk behind prodding you...

[Ricky]

You see, I don't mind sitting down. But when there's a penalty or a big chance you have to stand up. Especially like on Saturday everyone stands up once the penalty is given. Because it was an older gentleman I didn't want to be a dick. After seeing the suggestions here I know what I can do. Offering to swap is a good idea tbf and then if they don't want to, they can eff off as far as I'm concerned. I don't mind sitting far back but I really do love the seats on the south stand in the centre and about half way up. You really do get a good view but unfortunately there are the older folk who just don't remember what it was like to be young and expect you to conform to their way. In fact, at the derby the guy behind me when I told him I couldn't see after him telling me to sit down because he couldn't see, told me to tell the guy in front of me to sit down. Just ludicrous. I'm not saying he's any less of a fan than me but why should he be able to see if I sit down and then I have to suffer because the row in front of me is standing. In the end I had to resort to a pitiful half sitting half standing swaying movement to see the penalty which probably made me look like an absolute plonker just because of the old fella behind me. I usually go to the games on my own (apart from Saturday being with the other half) so it's usually awkward if I say something then also as I have no idea if the people around me see me as a "stranger" because I might be sat where they know everyone because they're all season ticket holders.

I don't know if you've seen the BLUT vocal support area idea but it sounds like it might interest you (see link under this post). You'd still have an excellent view but there'll be enough space to not have to sit down. We'll be there for the Burton game. The club are supporting it.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Tricky this. Got a half dozen middle aged blokes in front of us in the family stand every week with no kids. Not sure how that happens. They stand up at the drop of a pin, there's rarely anyone standing in front of them to prompt it.

They're basically pissed and so largely unaware that they are blocking others. If my dad is with us he can't get up to see above their constant bobbing due to his aged knees.

It's never really been a problem in other parts of the ground, people get up just not every 5 Seconds - but am going to move seats next season, maybe in front of them.

 

[Wybourn Blade]

I don't know if you've seen the BLUT vocal support area idea but it sounds like it might interest you (see link under this post). You'd still have an excellent view but there'll be enough space to not have to sit down. We'll be there for the Burton game. The club are supporting it.

I have been watching that with a curious eye for the past few months. Will definitely check it out for that game

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

As a BOB (Boring Old Bastard - thanks for that Ricky ), I must say there are some right miseries and moaning minnies on this thread (and I am not referring to the original post, which raises a genuine problem). When there are thousands of people in a single location, with a variety of different needs, there has to be give-and-take, co-operation, common sense, etc. We can't just say 'This is what I want and sod the rest of you'. We are where we are with all-seater stadia (I support the safe-standing area proposals, but we haven't got them), and on the Kop, for example, the gradient is not suitable for everyone to stand: kids, people less than say 5' 6" tall simply can't see, and they have as much right as the rest of us to be there. I sit on the Kop (filling a seat at yesterday's match that deprived one of our fanatical and noisy regulars a place when there were only about 4000 empty seats around me), I make plenty of noise, I stand up for the moments of attacking excitement along with everyone else, and if there are youngsters behind we try to arrange it so they are not behind the tallest of us, I will try not to stand to my full height, and only stand up if I can't see. The Kop is far from ideal, but it is the place where many of us like to be for atmosphere, goalmouth action, etc., and I much prefer it to anywhere else in the ground. Is it too much to ask, being as we are all meant to be Blades and claim to be delighted with the new-found unity at the cub, for us to try to co-operate, and make the ground, with all its imperfections, as good a place as possible for us all to get behind the team and enjoy the football?

 

[Ricky]

As a BOB (Boring Old Bastard - thanks for that Ricky ), I must say there are some right miseries and moaning minnies on this thread (and I am not referring to the original post, which raises a genuine problem). When there are thousands of people in a single location, with a variety of different needs, there has to be give-and-take, co-operation, common sense, etc. We can't just say 'This is what I want and sod the rest of you'. We are where we are with all-seater stadia (I support the safe-standing area proposals, but we haven't got them), and on the Kop, for example, the gradient is not suitable for everyone to stand: kids, people less than say 5' 6" tall simply can't see, and they have as much right as the rest of us to be there. I sit on the Kop (filling a seat at yesterday's match that deprived one of our fanatical and noisy regulars a place when there were only about 4000 empty seats around me), I make plenty of noise, I stand up for the moments of attacking excitement along with everyone else, and if there are youngsters behind we try to arrange it so they are not behind the tallest of us, I will try not to stand to my full height, and only stand up if I can't see. The Kop is far from ideal, but it is the place where many of us like to be for atmosphere, goalmouth action, etc., and I much prefer it to anywhere else in the ground. Is it too much to ask, being as we are all meant to be Blades and claim to be delighted with the new-found unity at the cub, for us to try to co-operate, and make the ground, with all its imperfections, as good a place as possible for us all to get behind the team and enjoy the football?

To be fair you sound like you're far from a classic BOB.

You're right, everyone should try and co-operate, and it should work both ways - not just the standers accommodating the sitters. Unfortunately though all the talk of 'unity' is just that. In reality there's not much of it among the fans.

 

[Gavlar]

Swap seats with the prodder, he can then prod the next person in front of him and so on and so on till he's prodding Wilder.

Good POINT well made.

 

[prince albert]

See if you can get a seat on the back row?

this sunderland fan had a seat on the back row, it is a concrete wall behind him.

 

[Foxy]

Tricky this. Got a half dozen middle aged blokes in front of us in the family stand every week with no kids. Not sure how that happens. They stand up at the drop of a pin, there's rarely anyone standing in front of them to prompt it.

It's not always been the Family stand throughout, also, those who moved in when the stand was built have aged a little, if they've been renewing ever since... They won't have been 'removed'.

Most on our block have been there for a loong time. There aren't many kids left.

 

[Ricky]

this sunderland had a seat on the back row, it is a concrete wall behind him.
View attachment 36377

Shocking.

 

[SB_90]

I dont think ive ever sat down for a penalty at all in over 20years now just instintive for me. So i found that strange

But i thought for a bit if you are near the front of stand even at away game & standing up for whole game then i can see their problem as it is a bit selfish as your take away the vast majority of people in the stands choice to stand or sit & standing should be towards the back or ive thought making the whole kop safe standing would be great & solves a few problems

But for odd time at the exciting times i dont see a problem & they should just learn tolerance

 

[vorpal blade]

OK, safe-standing ..... what the eff is it?

In the Kop at Liverpool, Matthew Harding Stand to name but 2; all the supporters therein stand all game. Isn't it safe? if it's not safe why aren't the Police and the stewards getting everyone to sit down?

Safe-standing appears to be a tip-up seat with a crush bar in-front of it ..... why is the seat there? (I know its compulsorarily all seated in European and International games) but given that the Shrewsbury aren't likely to host any such matches and nor are we for that matter, why is the seat there at all?

Its like the vestigial limbs of a slowworm or a man's nipples. But unlike evolution, we know there is no point having them before we've got them.

 

[Small Mendonca]

Makes you wonder how all this sit down crew used to go on when football stadiums were mostly terracing. Did they just not bother going?

 

[Ricky]

The common sense solution would be to keep things as they are now but simply designate certain seated areas as standing areas. Just as they are anyway in reality, as is evidenced up and down the country every week.
Or are we pretending standing in seated areas is dangerous?

Another advantage to that would be that you can extend or reduce to size of the standing areas at the drop of a hat.

 

[silver blade]

First post here, been a lurker for a while but anyway. What do you do when you get folk prodding you from behind telling you to sit down? As an ex-season ticket holder I've only had this problem since buying the individual tickets on the south stand. Although for this season I've enjoyed mostly sitting on redbrik upper as the view is really great. I've had this happen to me twice this season and it has annoyed me so much. First time was at the derby and I sat on the south stand. A lot of people were stood up from the beginning including the ones in front of me as the atmosphere was electric. I was happy standing up. I get a prod from the back to sit down, so I respectfully do. People in front don't so I just get back up. I thought sod it. But this Saturday's cup match against Preson was the time it took the biscuit. Again, on the south stand. We get a penalty and obviously you bloody stand up to watch it. I again get a prod in the back saying they can't see. I sit down, now I can't bleeding see. Both times it has come from gentleman who are getting on in years, I'd say in their late 50's early 60's. I don't like to cause a fuss and try to be respectful but this time I just commented back and said "I can't fucking see now either". Have you guys come across this a lot or is it just a tendency of folk that sit on the south stand? With hindsight I said to the other half I wish I'd have sat down and waited til Sharpy took the spot and just stood up. What are you supposed to do?Join them in not seeing it or be a prick to the guy in front and tell him you can't see either? I'm probably blowing this way out of proportion but I try and be respectful to people but the next time this happens I'm going to have to just ignore it and stand up when I want.

You wouldn't like it if you paid for a cinema ticket & you couldn't see the film because some big plonka in front decided to jump & down, just as bad as traveling to London on the train & having to stand all the way, they should bring back cattle pens behind the goal for people who want to stand, next time I'm going to slip a mince & onion pie onto your seat & pushed your arse down onto it.

 

[Wybourn Blade]

View attachment 36378 You wouldn't like it if you paid for a cinema ticket & you couldn't see the film because some big plonka in front decided to jump & down, just as bad as traveling to London on the train & having to stand all the way, they should bring back cattle pens behind the goal for people who want to stand, next time I'm going to slip a mince & onion pie onto your seat & pushed your arse down onto it.

Haha You were probably the bloke behind me yesterday! I can hear the voice so clearly!

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Makes you wonder how all this sit down crew used to go on when football stadiums were mostly terracing. Did they just not bother going?

You were free to go anywhere. There was the big divide half-way up the Kop, behind which there was an unobstructed view. You got there early if you were small, you paid extra to sit in the stand if standing for 90 Minutes was a problem. If it was a big crowd, you could go to one side where there was more space. If you got next to a knobhead, you could move 20 yards. There was freedom to move around, which was good; but then the idiots started abusing that freedom, so fences were put up to pen people in, which (in an over-simplified history) got us to the present situation.

 

[Rodley]

I tend to see it as South Stand has always been seated so you should sit down. The kop is a bit more of a free for all and you just have to be prepared to go with the majority. We really need to get safe standing introduced though so people get the choice.

Need to get it in ASAP. More gray hair than in Gangway B of the Kop than a Julio Ingesias concert.

Get them youngsters standing and singing. If I’m bevvied up I’ll be in there with them.

 

[Foxy]

Makes you wonder how all this sit down crew used to go on when football stadiums were mostly terracing. Did they just not bother going?

I think in a number of cases, they might have been a little younger and more able then

 

[northsomersetblade]

The old gent in front of me in the south stand yesterday kept pushing his head back against my groin. Very disconcerting

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

The old gent in front of me in the south stand yesterday kept pushing his head back against my groin. Very disconcerting

You should paid him an extra £10 and he might have taken his false teeth out for you...

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Prodding is wrong.

Expecting someone to sit down when those in front of them are stood up is wrong.

I wouldn’t respond positively to either.

But also I wouldnt be stood up if there was no need to.

 

[blades95]

It is called the South Stand after all

 

[bladesince64]

When the Kop was all terracing and everybody was stood up all through the match it was great because you could move around and chat to different mates and if you got next to some dickhead you just moved elsewhere. The other thing was everybody used to sit down on the steps at half time!
Can anyone else remember this?

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

It is called the South Stand after all

Which reminds of a section in the T'Wikker rag mag (do they still do that?) that was devoted to misquoted sayings etc.

It was just after their new cantilever stand had been built (all we had was the few seats in the upper JSS) and the misquote was

"United we stand, Wednesday we sit down "

 

[dingledog]

Wow, there are some right ageist people on this thread. With age comes wisdom, and clearly some of you have not been lucky enough to gain that wisdom yet. Remember good manners cost nothing and being polite isn’t a sign of weakness. This applies equally to young and old, maybe we should all be more tolerant and more understanding of each other and we might just end up enjoying our visit to the Lane more.

 

[Blade56]

I'm sure it's been said, but just in case......






SIDARNNNNNNN

 

[bromtom]

The common sense solution would be to keep things as they are now but simply designate certain seated areas as standing areas. Just as they are anyway in reality, as is evidenced up and down the country every week.
Or are we pretending standing in seated areas is dangerous?

Another advantage to that would be that you can extend or reduce to size of the standing areas at the drop of a hat.

Or, and I know season tickets would make it next to impossible so it's moot, have a "bad knees" area designated and maybe a casual area.

Excuse my ramble but here goes.

I can really see where some people are coming from, I often go with my Dad who is 69 this year, he'd never prod someone but he can't go up and down anymore like whackamole, he stands up for excitement like everyone else but if he can see he'll remain seated for a lot of the game because he's knees are absolutely shagged (family trait, I'm fucked in that department too I imagine, all of my aunties and uncles on both sides have had knee replacements).

The problem is getting people in the right place to make the atmosphere better.

I'm on the back row of the South Stand Kop end with shouty old blokes© of the type who call the referee a blind bastard every decision and would do even if John Fleck attacked the opposition with a machete, they do stand up though for a lot of the game. I love the shouty old blokes btw, they're nice and they obviously care.

From what I can see, in front of me are a lot of families without young children that can't get into JS or know one of the shouty old blokes and so sit nearby. The other people around me are young couples who sit quietly, who only stand for goals, and student types. Once you get to around the middle of my block you start getting more support that would maybe make a bit of noise, and people that have been sat there for years, sort of 40 ish, come from the pub, like a side view, who might be more inclined to stand/be vocal. If you swapped this around a bit so that shouty old blokes and the vocal middle weren't separated as much it might be more fun and atmospheric.

Nothing really gets going where I am. Even GCB is a bit weak, the Hull game is one of the only times I can remember it getting noisy properly where I sit, and Chesterfield last season, it was amazing. Usually though someone will set off a United clap clap clap and we'll get though 2 rounds and it'll die because we've all lost faith in it haha

John Street needs to be completely reworked for me, have bits of it for families, because good seats go to waste too often. Have the edges for families but with a higher age threshold or something, make it a stipulation that you should try to keep your language as clean as you can or you'll be getting a letter from the club. Not that the John Street is all glitter and kittens anyway, I remember sitting there in the 90s as a child and everyone was effing and jeffing.

As for the Kop, just needs to work together. And maybe they could give group discounts to under 25s or something, or just any group to get bevved up new blood in consistantly.

I like what you're doing in the BLUT too and I really hope it keeps building.

Maybe it's just a wider problem though, some people just aren't that way out, don't like shouting or feel uncomfortable with expressing themselves in public, dunno.

TL;DR I see both sides, everyone has paid and can do what they want and it'd be nice if everyone was happy.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Wow, there are some right ageist people on this thread. With age comes wisdom, and clearly some of you have not been lucky enough to gain that wisdom yet. Remember good manners cost nothing and being polite isn’t a sign of weakness. This applies equally to young and old, maybe we should all be more tolerant and more understanding of each other and we might just end up enjoying our visit to the Lane more.

Well I'm no spring chicken and I find the type of older people I referred to, that's not all older people, have no manners whatsoever. It's not a majority by any means but for me it's very reminiscent of the miserable old gets in the John Street Stand years ago. There are plenty of sixty somethings, including on here, who can actually enjoy themselves at a game without thinking the days been set up solely for them and everyone else must be a Teddy boy or juvenile delinquent.

And they are much more likely to barge past people not too good on there feet when leaving at full time.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Or, and I know season tickets would make it next to impossible so it's moot, have a "bad knees" area designated and maybe a casual area.

Excuse my ramble but here goes.

I can really see where some people are coming from, I often go with my Dad who is 69 this year, he'd never prod someone but he can't go up and down anymore like whackamole, he stands up for excitement like everyone else but if he can see he'll remain seated for a lot of the game because he's knees are absolutely shagged (family trait, I'm fucked in that department too I imagine, all of my aunties and uncles on both sides have had knee replacements).

The problem is getting people in the right place to make the atmosphere better.

I'm on the back row of the South Stand Kop end with shouty old blokes© of the type who call the referee a blind bastard every decision and would do even if John Fleck attacked the opposition with a machete, they do stand up though for a lot of the game. I love the shouty old blokes btw, they're nice and they obviously care.

From what I can see, in front of me are a lot of families without young children that can't get into JS or know one of the shouty old blokes and so sit nearby. The other people around me are young couples who sit quietly, who only stand for goals, and student types. Once you get to around the middle of my block you start getting more support that would maybe make a bit of noise, and people that have been sat there for years, sort of 40 ish, come from the pub, like a side view, who might be more inclined to stand/be vocal. If you swapped this around a bit so that shouty old blokes and the vocal middle weren't separated as much it might be more fun and atmospheric.

Nothing really gets going where I am. Even GCB is a bit weak, the Hull game is one of the only times I can remember it getting noisy properly where I sit, and Chesterfield last season, it was amazing. Usually though someone will set off a United clap clap clap and we'll get though 2 rounds and it'll die because we've all lost faith in it haha

John Street needs to be completely reworked for me, have bits of it for families, because good seats go to waste too often. Have the edges for families but with a higher age threshold or something, make it a stipulation that you should try to keep your language as clean as you can or you'll be getting a letter from the club. Not that the John Street is all glitter and kittens anyway, I remember sitting there in the 90s as a child and everyone was effing and jeffing.

As for the Kop, just needs to work together. And maybe they could give group discounts to under 25s or something, or just any group to get bevved up new blood in consistantly.

I like what you're doing in the BLUT too and I really hope it keeps building.

Maybe it's just a wider problem though, some people just aren't that way out, don't like shouting or feel uncomfortable with expressing themselves in public, dunno.

TL;DR I see both sides, everyone has paid and can do what they want and it'd be nice if everyone was happy.

Your John Street swearing comments made me think back to when we were in there. There were a couple of Blades from Conisbrough, brothers, who sat behind us. Always had a good drink and very vocal and funny. When we played QPR and Blackwell finally got sacked, they were very refreshed and one gave Paddy dogs abuse, bastard this, effing twat that, Judas, the works.
Sat around us on the row in front were parents of Junior Blades who had gone around the pitch. , Next to me was a tall elegant lady who was very unhappy at the language and mentioned it to her husband, clearly a wise man who, after looking Behind him tried to persuade her to "ignore it". Being a woman, that was never going to happen so she started tutting quite loudly, whereupon the sweary man leaned over me, put his arm around her and breathing beer fumes directly into her face apologised for his bad language. "I'm sorry if I've upset you with my swearing love but, Paddy Kenny's a right cunt".

 

[Sean Thornton]

Well I'm no spring chicken and I find the type of older people I referred to, that's not all older people, have no manners whatsoever. It's not a majority by any means but for me it's very reminiscent of the miserable old gets in the John Street Stand years ago. There are plenty of sixty somethings, including on here, who can actually enjoy themselves at a game without thinking the days been set up solely for them and everyone else must be a Teddy boy or juvenile delinquent.

And they are much more likely to barge past people not too good on there feet when leaving at full time.

' Their feet'