atmosphere BDTBL

[BarcaBlade]

I've noticed and thought the same, european, S-American fans are unbelievable. Could it be down to the fact that generally our support has a very diverse age range, male and women. On the continent they tend to be young men. I'm not saying we shouldnt let them in but with kids and elderly around i suppose there is a need to me more curtious...

It's nothing to do with the diversity of the support. It's to do with the fact that fans on the continent know they have a role to play and are happy to be choreographed. There will be the bloke who leads/coordinates the singing and people are prepared to follow. That doesn't fly in the UK as someone would just twat him or he'd face no end of people griping at him that "if they want me to sing, that tosser Hammond should be prepared to run. How much do we pay them..."

 

[WhiteHawk]

having to sing along to GBH as John Denver is faded and we are expected to pick up the baton - so much better when spontaneous, like when away.

I'm not saying I like it, but there's no way it's better when it's spontaneous cause by the time everyone is singing it, the song has nearly finished.

They played the intro for this and it's the best rendition of GCB we'll ever hear. (skip to 2.45)



Although I'd never, ever, ever want them to randomly start playing the intro to Annies Song actually during the match.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I blame climate change

 

[nicksufc]

There are so many reasons why, but it's pretty symptomatic of modern day football in Britain. It's sanitised, dull, everybody is seated, and it's been this way for so long that it has become the norm to turn up and sit down for 90 minutes without making much noise. Now, if you sing then you get funny looks. It's a weird thing to do and out of the ordinary.

The reason why away fans are louder, the reason why teams like Palace are so vocal, the reason why the atmosphere on the continent is 10x better is all the same - organisation. We have vocal supporters, but they're spread out around the ground and so nothing gets going and spreads. And when something is organised - like an Ultras type thing at Palace - it's often scoffed at by other fans who don't think we need anything like that to make some noise. Well, yes we do. It's exactly what all of these incredible supporters do abroad and it's pretty fucking obvious - grouping all of the most vocal fans in one section and leaving them to do their own thing. When a club announces a 'singing section' then it's also scoffed at. Why? Things are totally different nowadays to the 70s/80s and proper, organised singing areas are a necessity if you want a consistently good atmosphere at a ground (not just for big games).

A standing section would help in that more vocal supporters would naturally gravitate to that area, but it wouldn't automatically make things better. And it's rubbish to say that a few extra away fans means that the atmosphere in the ground would suddenly be much better; I don't remember the atmosphere being that much better a few years ago in the Championship. We're winning matches and outplaying teams, and people said the atmosphere would be better when that happened. Not true!

We need an organised singing area, the name of which does not matter one jot. I'm sorry to all of the traditionalists who will probably scoff at that idea again, but it would sure beat sitting in a library every week. Singing and creating an atmosphere is the most enjoyable part of the match for a lot of people after all!

 

[Deleted member 875]

Having spent 30 years on the kop, until i migrated to the South Stand at the start of last season, i used to sit, or more usually stand on the back of the kop. For a lengthy period of that time i would turn up after supping a skinful and quite often either myself or LS26BLADE would try and start up a song. I've not been on the kop for a while now, so i wouldn't know what it is like, but once one person would get a song going, quite often you would get quite a few joining in.

 

[S64 Blade]

I agree.

Despite not necessarily liking the idea of a singing section, I do think it would help. The modern game needs more organisation such as this to help create an atmosphere as it is just too sterile of an environment now.

I remember there was a brief trial a few years ago on the Kop for a singing section on gangway A and it seemed to work quite well. Yes, it was pretty much full of teenagers, but these are often the groups of people starting much of the singing.

 

[SUFCinks]

There are so many reasons why, but it's pretty symptomatic of modern day football in Britain. It's sanitised, dull, everybody is seated, and it's been this way for so long that it has become the norm to turn up and sit down for 90 minutes without making much noise. Now, if you sing then you get funny looks. It's a weird thing to do and out of the ordinary.

The reason why away fans are louder, the reason why teams like Palace are so vocal, the reason why the atmosphere on the continent is 10x better is all the same - organisation. We have vocal supporters, but they're spread out around the ground and so nothing gets going and spreads. And when something is organised - like an Ultras type thing at Palace - it's often scoffed at by other fans who don't think we need anything like that to make some noise. Well, yes we do. It's exactly what all of these incredible supporters do abroad and it's pretty fucking obvious - grouping all of the most vocal fans in one section and leaving them to do their own thing. When a club announces a 'singing section' then it's also scoffed at. Why? Things are totally different nowadays to the 70s/80s and proper, organised singing areas are a necessity if you want a consistently good atmosphere at a ground (not just for big games).

A standing section would help in that more vocal supporters would naturally gravitate to that area, but it wouldn't automatically make things better. And it's rubbish to say that a few extra away fans means that the atmosphere in the ground would suddenly be much better; I don't remember the atmosphere being that much better a few years ago in the Championship. We're winning matches and outplaying teams, and people said the atmosphere would be better when that happened. Not true!

We need an organised singing area, the name of which does not matter one jot. I'm sorry to all of the traditionalists who will probably scoff at that idea again, but it would sure beat sitting in a library every week. Singing and creating an atmosphere is the most enjoyable part of the match for a lot of people after all!

Good post mate, agree 100%. When i go to the football the atmosphere is so important for me that it can easily paper over a loss.

Having a good time and enjoying the day is the best part of it. Sitting in silence is not enjoyable, id rather watch it on the tele or not go at all.

How do we get the club to register/consider these ideas? I would love to see them implimented on the Kop

 

[alcoblade]

There are so many reasons why, but it's pretty symptomatic of modern day football in Britain. It's sanitised, dull, everybody is seated, and it's been this way for so long that it has become the norm to turn up and sit down for 90 minutes without making much noise. Now, if you sing then you get funny looks. It's a weird thing to do and out of the ordinary.

The reason why away fans are louder, the reason why teams like Palace are so vocal, the reason why the atmosphere on the continent is 10x better is all the same - organisation. We have vocal supporters, but they're spread out around the ground and so nothing gets going and spreads. And when something is organised - like an Ultras type thing at Palace - it's often scoffed at by other fans who don't think we need anything like that to make some noise. Well, yes we do. It's exactly what all of these incredible supporters do abroad and it's pretty fucking obvious - grouping all of the most vocal fans in one section and leaving them to do their own thing. When a club announces a 'singing section' then it's also scoffed at. Why? Things are totally different nowadays to the 70s/80s and proper, organised singing areas are a necessity if you want a consistently good atmosphere at a ground (not just for big games).

A standing section would help in that more vocal supporters would naturally gravitate to that area, but it wouldn't automatically make things better. And it's rubbish to say that a few extra away fans means that the atmosphere in the ground would suddenly be much better; I don't remember the atmosphere being that much better a few years ago in the Championship. We're winning matches and outplaying teams, and people said the atmosphere would be better when that happened. Not true!

We need an organised singing area, the name of which does not matter one jot. I'm sorry to all of the traditionalists who will probably scoff at that idea again, but it would sure beat sitting in a library every week. Singing and creating an atmosphere is the most enjoyable part of the match for a lot of people after all!

Traditionalists, like me, are desperate for a traditional atmosphere. If it takes a singing section, then so be it.

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

I was sat on Dortmund's kop last Saturday. Back on ours yesterday. Appreciate all the differences with regards to success stories, but the difference was ridiculous. The standing up for GCB at the start - like its ritual, doesn't really go with sitting silent (other than moaning, being negative about pretty much anything [usually the referee giving a foul against us]) for the entire game/until we score.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

To be fair, I do remember in the 'olden days' by which I mean the 70's and 80's it could be a little quiet at which point chants of 'sing up Shoreham, sing up Shoreham' generally resulted in a period of enthusiastic singing. But dare I say, the demographics were different in those days. More of a working man's affordable, less sanitised game with real characters, fag smoking gamblers.....and that was just the players!!

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Perhaps there should be an atmosphere building app on our phones, it seems to me that a high proportion of spectators are busy on their phones. I am always bemused that in the moment we score a goal some people have the presence of mind to start recording the rest of us enjoying our celebrations.

 

[metalblade]

Not just us the same is being said at grounds all around the country like it or not we are living in a world where political correctness rules, stand up and scream you fucking bastard referee after a bad decision and you will receive hundreds of disapproving looks from all around as you have upset little 4yr old Johny's father who can't now cope with this profanity yet five years earlier he was the one doing the screaming. Twats like Gary Sinclair have a lot to answer for too with there choreographed goal celebration music and the prompting at the start of each half.

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

I agree re: filming on phones, its like when we get a penalty, all the phones come out to film it, I'm just bothered about the bloody penalty and nervous about it ( at the moment especially , sorry Billy no offence ! )agree an area where people could get tickets when they are more up for singing would be great! It should always be part of a football match

Speaking of penalties , I know there has been a thread recently about who was the best penalty taker , but who would you say was the penalty taker you were most confident would score and looked forward to their penalty ? Mine would be beattie , loved his whole run up , turn etc and felt confident it was a goal before it was kicked !


Until he missed of course !!

 

[Sean Thornton]

We need a singing section on the kop, central, at the rear. The pockets of people who try to create an atmosphere are too spread out, and often cancel each other out.

It's like a fucking morgue at times, and it's such a shame given the football we're playing.

There was a singing section arranged at one point. Flopped because it was "organised" rather than instinctive, which is how Blades have always done it. Same wih ultras. We've always done it our own way rather than copy others. Granted the number of new sonGs now are pretty generic but maybe that's down to the fans who want new songs but come up with nothing. Or nothing remotely decent. The "we've got Biily Sharp" is an example of very little thought going into it.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Not just us the same is being said at grounds all around the country like it or not we are living in a world where political correctness rules, stand up and scream you fucking bastard referee after a bad decision and you will receive hundreds of disapproving looks from all around as you have upset little 4yr old Johny's father who can't now cope with this profanity yet five years earlier he was the one doing the screaming. Twats like Gary Sinclair have a lot to answer for too with there choreographed goal celebration music and the prompting at the start of each half.

Lol.

 

[alcoblade]

There was a singing section arranged at one point. Flopped because it was "organised" rather than instinctive, which is how Blades have always done it. Same wih ultras. We've always done it our own way rather than copy others. Granted the number of new sonGs now are pretty generic but maybe that's down to the fans who want new songs but come up with nothing. Or nothing remotely decent. The "we've got Biily Sharp" is an example of very little thought going into it.

It flopped because of the position, way off in a corner where nobody goes.

About 1,000 seats at the back of the kop, behind the goal, would sort it.

 

[Tyler Durden]

There was a singing section arranged at one point. Flopped because it was "organised" rather than instinctive, which is how Blades have always done it. Same wih ultras. We've always done it our own way rather than copy others. Granted the number of new sonGs now are pretty generic but maybe that's down to the fans who want new songs but come up with nothing. Or nothing remotely decent. The "we've got Biily Sharp" is an example of very little thought going into it.

It actually flopped because it wasn't very organised at all. The club to their credit were very accomodating to those who called for it to be allowed. I had a season ticket up there at the time coincidentally.

Then the "A Block" wankers were utterly half-arsed about it all, once they got what they wanted they suddenly weren't very into it. The singing section melted away into the rest of the crowd and that was it, just tossers playing with their phones and probably with each other.

It's a good idea in principle and it's transformed the atmosphere at previously dead hovels like Crystal Palace. I'd fully support any drive to have something like that at the Lane, but as of yet, nobody has been serious about doing it properly.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The problem with football in this country in general is that it's become overly polished and full of bullshit post-Taylor Report, Sky-era propaganda.
The football match is supposed to be a place for emotion and passion in all forms, as long as that passion is confined to singing, colour and atmosphere. Now it's being rammed down peoples throats that certain things can't be sung or said because the naughty swear words might hurt little Timothys ears. Even your flags have to be "fire safety approved" for fucks sake.
An entire stand on John Street is off limits to me because I don't have kids and my Dads dead.
The stand opposite, which once rivalled the Kop for noise and atmosphere has become largely gentrified, The Bramall Lane end is inaccessible to home fans despite the fact that the away team usually only brings 500 at the most.
And the Kop? We once had a top class, highly original identity on there. Over time it's become the centrepoint for little scally wankers singing "Shoreham Boys" over and over again, or whatever generic shite they ripped off Twitter or Facebook. Probably the same mega hard twats who vandalise concourses at away games.

These are the things that hold it all back. But it can be improved slightly by getting out of this division.

I remember suicides over flame resistant flags it was that big a deal.

No decent new songs? That's because no one is coming up with them. New generations have done it for years, now it's not happening. Nothing to do with swearing in front of little Timmy. Lack of imagination and let's be honest, even the likes of The Gershwin Brothers, Leiber Stoller and Holland Dozier Holland didn't give it a lot of thought when there was a lot of Charlie around.

Anyone thinking we can replicate the Boca ultras for example is kidding themselves. The Rustbucket in the 3-1 double win being a complete one off, when the Blades were an awesome sight, Ian St John on Sky saying he'd never seen anything like it in this country.

It'd be like that Pug video, where it looked like the gang show with a few dodgy looking older blokes hanging around , presumably with ags of sweets.

You can't organise passion.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It flopped because of the position, way off in a corner where nobody goes.

About 1,000 seats at the back of the kop, behind the goal, would sort it.

Hardly got supported though. Lack of organisation and too many egos.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It actually flopped because it wasn't very organised at all. The club to their credit were very accomodating to those who called for it to be allowed. I had a season ticket up there at the time coincidentally.

Then the "A Block" wankers were utterly half-arsed about it all, once they got what they wanted they suddenly weren't very into it. The singing section melted away into the rest of the crowd and that was it, just tossers playing with their phones and probably with each other.

It's a good idea in principle and it's transformed the atmosphere at previously dead hovels like Crystal Palace. I'd fully support any drive to have something like that at the Lane, but as of yet, nobody has been serious about doing it properly.

Organised by a few egos. Pushing it onto people won't work here. Never has.

Maybe my age but I'd rather havexa 100% real atmosphere than a copy of Palaces ersatz one.
Palace ffs.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Organised by a few egos. Pushing it onto people won't work here. Never has.

Maybe my age but I'd rather havexa 100% real atmosphere than a copy of Palaces ersatz one.
Palace ffs.

Nothing gets pushed on anybody, it starts with a few people wanting to address the shit atmosphere and grows from there. That's how its worked at every club whose fans have adopted that approach, and those places are all the better for it.
We aren't a singularity in English football, it works if you make it work.

 

[JohnDenver]

I agree with much of what has already been said, but there are a couple more small factors. The Adkins era was so atrociously pedestrian that I think we have a hangover from that. Also, the football we've seen so far this season has been so one sided that we've had little sense of a battle to engage in. It's almost like we're slightly mesmerised watching a quality of football we've not seen for years, and it's just a matter of waiting for it to tell.

It's a real shame because the players deserve more vocal support for the effort and quality on show. That said, I've no doubt that when we play better teams with bigger followings in more combative matches, the place will get loud again.

 

[alcoblade]

Organised by a few egos. Pushing it onto people won't work here. Never has.

Maybe my age but I'd rather havexa 100% real atmosphere than a copy of Palaces ersatz one.
Palace ffs.

I've been hearing about how it doesn't need anything to create an atmosphere for a decade. All that's happened is that it has got worse,

The only thing I'm sure if is that doing nothing will perpetuate the library that the lane has become most of the time.

 

[nicksufc]

There was a singing section arranged at one point. Flopped because it was "organised" rather than instinctive, which is how Blades have always done it. Same wih ultras. We've always done it our own way rather than copy others. Granted the number of new sonGs now are pretty generic but maybe that's down to the fans who want new songs but come up with nothing. Or nothing remotely decent. The "we've got Biily Sharp" is an example of very little thought going into it.

I could have predicted a response like this almost word for word. How long are you going to wait for this instinctive atmosphere to kick in? You're referencing a match from 13 bloody years ago as if that's evidence that our fans are brilliant. Would you rather sit in a library like Bramall Lane every week or something like this? And yes, Palace ffs. Full respect to them for doing something about it.

 

[nicksufc]

I agree with much of what has already been said, but there are a couple more small factors. The Adkins era was so atrociously pedestrian that I think we have a hangover from that. Also, the football we've seen so far this season has been so one sided that we've had little sense of a battle to engage in. It's almost like we're slightly mesmerised watching a quality of football we've not seen for years, and it's just a matter of waiting for it to tell.

It's a real shame because the players deserve more vocal support for the effort and quality on show. That said, I've no doubt that when we play better teams with bigger followings in more combative matches, the place will get loud again.

Come on, can you really believe these excuses yourself?

1. We're still sad from last season
2. We're too mesmerised by the football
3. The games are too one-sided
4. There aren't enough away fans

What's next - the weather hasn't been good enough? The point of supporters is supporting them and making noise no matter how we're playing or how many away fans there are or how sunny it is etc etc

 

[JohnDenver]

Come on, can you really believe these excuses yourself?

1. We're still sad from last season
2. We're too mesmerised by the football
3. The games are too one-sided
4. There aren't enough away fans

What do we need, the 100% perfect mix of everything to sing a few songs? The point of supporters is supporting them and making noise no matter how we're playing or how many away fans there are or how sunny it is etc etc

Small factors I said. The key ones have already been covered.

 

[Patient Bus]

For me football and therefore atmosphere changed more or less overnight with the introduction of all seater stadia. When I think back to eighties and early nineties packed into the kop you didn't feel exposed like you do sat down with loads of space round you, also if you were stood with quiet fans you could just move, now your just stuck with em.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I could have predicted a response like this almost word for word. How long are you going to wait for this instinctive atmosphere to kick in? You're referencing a match from 13 bloody years ago as if that's evidence that our fans are brilliant. Would you rather sit in a library like Bramall Lane every week or something like this? And yes, Palace ffs. Full respect to them for doing something about it.

You should've predicted it then instead of posting after the event. You may have missed it but it's been shit football since PL relegation despite a few promotion pushes. Dire times are bound to affect atmosphere and it won't come back overnight.

It's a poor copy of European and Sourh American fans that have been doing this for years. We've always done things differently. Now that's not happening so shall we just be the latest tribute support? There are a few pushing it I'll admit but nothing happens and there's always an excuse for it. The reality is, IMO, there's just not enough people at BL that interested in being some caricature of the real deal.

It's 23 years btw.

 

[Sean Thornton]

For me football and therefore atmosphere changed more or less overnight with the introduction of all seater stadia. When I think back to eighties and early nineties packed into the kop you didn't feel exposed like you do sat down with loads of space round you, also if you were stood with quiet fans you could just move, now your just stuck with em.

When the Kop became all seater the atmosphere was great. It didn't die overnight or even over one season. It's a fallacy. I'm sure the Kop became all seater in 1991 when we were in the top division and were for another three years. Sat at the back of the Kop myself there was plenty of atmosphere and no empty seats around that area which created the atmosphere.

 

[alcoblade]

When the Kop became all seater the atmosphere was great. It didn't die overnight or even over one season. It's a fallacy.

Not overnight, it's been getting worse for years. All seater stadia, with fixed seating plans were a definite major factor though.

Allowing a section, in the right place, to be unrestricted seating and encourage it to be the vocal section (it already is, just not focused) isn't any big deal, or some super plastic modem creation.