Atmosphere

[dubai_phil]

Here's a radical idea.

 

We have the same thread every few weeks during the season, so the discussions don't change anything.

 

Yet there are as has been noted lots of fans who feel almost embarrassed to sing in the Chapel & Kingsland, and the Yoof in the Northam don't have the intellect to manage more than one song.

 

So all it needs is 30 or so songsmiths to park themselves in the Chapel/Kingsland as close to the corner as they can get and let rip. The Dell for many years was all Milton, but gradually spread, it took only about 10 or 15 to get Under West Stand going and the same then applied to the Archers.

 

Staying in the comfort zone ain't working, sure the away fans help but if you want to get the GROUND going then manipulate the passives up the Chapel end, hell, they might even join in!

[hamster]

Right, we desperately need to get our sh!t organised!

 

Sing our songs properly: It makes me angry that Spurs sing OWTSGMI much better than the team it belongs to!

 

 

“re-engage with the fans and the local community”

 

Building atmosphere:

 

The current pre-match routine

 

Half time:.....

 

I think that this group deserve an outing just because of their history with the club: http://cosab.org.uk/about-us/

 

 

A coiuple of points squiggledan.

 

Firstly an excellent first post. Certainly well thought out, and i have to agree that in some sections of the ground it is very hard to get vocal. You can actually be made to feel unwelcome and it is frowned upon if someone gets bit animated and really lets rip.

 

Re OWTSGMI, no-one, spurs included sings it like saints do, FACT. I would go as far as to say that whenever another set of fans try to adopt it, I take it as a backhanded compliment. It is our song and is only sung correctly when it includes the word 'Saints'.

 

The bit in your post that really get's me though is the bit about 'community' and 'history'. I would weep a tear if they asked The Albion Band to do ALL pre-match and HT entertainment. My old man was in The Albion, and it makes my heart flutter every time I hear their name mentioned. If Markus is serious about giving this great club back to the people of Southamptom, then he really must get in touch:

http://cosab.org.uk/contact/

 

They'd do alovley slow OWTSGMI for you, and some.

 

Maybe a bit harder for some to pallette, but the Royal Marines are still one of the best brass bands in The World and I would also like to see them down at St Mary's. Probably a bit more expensive though.

Edited 9 August, 2009 by hamster

[Calvin]

I am sure all the songs will start kickin' in to place soon.

It's only the first game of the season afterall.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Here's a radical idea.

 

We have the same thread every few weeks during the season, so the discussions don't change anything.

 

Yet there are as has been noted lots of fans who feel almost embarrassed to sing in the Chapel & Kingsland, and the Yoof in the Northam don't have the intellect to manage more than one song.

 

So all it needs is 30 or so songsmiths to park themselves in the Chapel/Kingsland as close to the corner as they can get and let rip. The Dell for many years was all Milton, but gradually spread, it took only about 10 or 15 to get Under West Stand going and the same then applied to the Archers.

 

Staying in the comfort zone ain't working, sure the away fans help but if you want to get the GROUND going then manipulate the passives up the Chapel end, hell, they might even join in!

 

I object to your "up the Chapel End" comment .

[lordswoodsaints]

For most of yesterdays game there was a good atmosphere, lots of noise form the Northam and Itchen North, until Millwall leveled, and then nothing. The atmosphere from the Saints areas was as flat as a witches tit.

Fridays Echo had a bit from AP saying when he used to visit SMS he never found the atmosphere intimidating. Nobody ever said that about visiting the Dell.

Much of the reason for that we can't do anything about ie the architecture of the stadium and distance from the pitch. But we can continue to get behind the team when we concede goals.

NB. It would also help if the puddings that sit near the opposition dug out actually made some noise and made it a little less welcoming.

 

We have been so battered by dissapointment over the last few years that the atmosphere is pretty sh1t most of the time.

 

This coupled with we havnt really got any decent songs......other teams have a decent signature chant that is usually intimidating.....we havnt and we need one.

[Iowsaintsfan]

I went with an Arsenal fan on Saturday (his 1st trip to SMS) he couldnt believe the noise from the Northam and said he wished it was more like that at Arsenal

[St. Jason]

Write to the club and tell them you'll pay the extra stewarding and policing costs of having blocks 1-3 fully open - they'll be delighted with the kind offer.

 

 

Do agree with that - rather than let the majority disperse, they inadvertently create a much bigger potential flashpoint by the entrance to the North car park.

 

Kind of thought we already paid for the policing of the stadium via our tickets!!!!!

 

As I've said many a time, the away section will hardly ever sell out in this league so the club could simply close the section directly next to the Itchen North and block 1 of Itchen north. This would give you the segregation the club wants, also opening up more seats for HOME fans thus (hopefully) creating a better atmosphere and greater vocal support for the home team!

[SaintDonkey]

Back to the OP I have to agree that the atmosphere was good until Millwall equalised. Arguments about who sings where and whether we need more songs are immaterial to the fact that as soon as Millwall scored we stopped singing. From that point on where I was sat in the Kingsland south all I could hear was Millwall.

 

I'm not saying we're crap fans, I just think we've been collectively shellshocked by the last couple of seasons. The moment that goal went in (in fact possibly from the moment we conceded the penalty) it was as if we all thought to ourselves 'here we go again' and were just waiting for Millwall to score again and again.

 

Pardew said that the team had forgotten how to win matches, I think the crowd has as well.

[dubai_phil]

I object to your "up the Chapel End" comment .

 

lol what with that and David in Sweden wanting a Big Man up Front...

 

[eelpie]

I've just watched the BBC's League 1 Review, and could not help noticing that St Mary's was the only stadium with empty seats behind the goalmouth. It really is important that Itchen North wing is re-opened imo. The atmosphere gendered is worth points. Points equals income which would pay for the relative cost of stewarding this section.

 

I reckon it is worth beginning a campaign to re-open the Itchen North wing.

 

Closing Itchen North wing is the club's first own-goal of the season.

[SaintDonkey]

I've just watched the BBC's League 1 Review, and could not help noticing that St Mary's was the only stadium with empty seats behind the goalmouth. It really is important that Itchen North wing is re-opened imo. The atmosphere gendered is worth points. Points equals income which would pay for the relative cost of stewarding this section.

 

I reckon it is worth beginning a campaign to re-open the Itchen North wing.

 

Closing Itchen North wing is the club's first own-goal of the season.

 

Ummm since when were the wings behind the goal mouth? Surely opening the wings would mean fewer people behind the goals not more?

 

I'm all for reopening the wings but your logic seems a touch flawed.

[Lets B Avenue]

the itechen corner was not that good..only those who really sit there think it is as it is "not the northam"..

 

when all the singers sat in the northam it was quite impressive...

 

oh, signing "we're the northam/we're the itchen" is quite ghey

 

No wonder it was quiet, if you were signing. Shouldn't you have been in the corner of the screen?

[disintegration87]

Thought the millwall fans came across as a really pleasant group of chaps. Somebody should have however pointed out that if they want to watch the football they should look at the pitch rather than slapping their chests and goading the northam for 90 minutes. Other than that, thought they seemed like a really lovely bunch.

[eelpie]

Ummm since when were the wings behind the goal mouth? Surely opening the wings would mean fewer people behind the goals not more?

 

I'm all for reopening the wings but your logic seems a touch flawed.

 

Of course the wings are not behind the goal mouth and I did not say they were. But the empty red seats in the Itchen North wing were clearly visible on the BBC's video, which contrasted poorly with packed crowds around the goals and wings in other (smaller) clubs grounds. You know very well that fans on this site have been clamouring for more seats available for Saints supporters closer to the visitors, as close to the goals as possible. There has never been a shortage of takers for this. What it would mean is that there would be fewer fans dispersed around the ground. It would be good to have fans behind the goal again, but the club is always going to maintain a barrier either side of the visitors. The width of these could be reduced imho.

 

Pardew has said he never felt he was bringing his former clubs to an intimidating atmosphere at St Mary's This has to change.

[st alex]

i think quite often people want to get involved but are too embaressed/shy to sing, so clap along to songs (in kingsland/chapel), especially owts, which can ruin it, songs with less clapping would be welcome. we used to sing 'come on you reds' all the time a few years ago, but never hear it now, not the one sung during corners, the one that goes a bit faster.

[SaintDonkey]

Of course the wings are not behind the goal mouth and I did not say they were. But the empty red seats in the Itchen North wing were clearly visible on the BBC's video, which contrasted poorly with packed crowds around the goals and wings in other (smaller) clubs grounds.

 

You're right to say smaller...

 

Attendances in League 1

 

Brighton 0 - 1 Walsall - 6504

Bristol Rovers 1 - 2 Leyton Orient -7745

Carlisle 1 - 3 Brentford - 6367

Charlton 3 - 2 Wycombe - 16552

Gillingham 5 - 0 Swindon - 6852

Leeds United 2 - 1 Exeter - 27681

MK Dons 0 - 0 Hartlepool - 8965

Norwich 1 - 7 Colchester - 25217

Oldham 0 - 0 Stockport - 6918

Southampton 1 - 1 Millwall - 20103

Southend 2 - 2 Huddersfield - 8059

Yeovil 2 - 0 Tranmere - 4349

 

We had the third highest attendance in the league on Saturday. There're maybe a few thousand stayed away because it was on telly but balance that with the 'first match of new season optimism' effect and I reckon if we have a good season then 20000 average attendence will be a a very good result over the season. And yet still you're complaining the ground

 

Unless you're trying to argue that there are thousands of people boycotting because the wings are closed then opening them will just spread that 20k more thinly around the stadium. How that would create an more intimadatory atomosphere is beyond me.

 

The real problem is that we just don't sing enough when things are going badly. Opening the wings is just a side issue that people find it easier to argue about than addressing the real issues.

[squiggly_dan]

thought the atmosphere was good as usual in the Northam & was nicely surprised by the amount of noise coming from the Kingsland :cool:

nearly fainted though when i saw a few brave souls standing up in the Chapel & try to get things going there. good work fella's=D>

only disapointment was we only had one "disco!" & that it was a bit of a weak effort. would be great if we could get the whole Northam bouncing about to it .

 

To my mind, all Saints songs should either support the team, insult the away team/fans, or occasionally make our hatred of Poopey known. We're the (insert stand) over here and the disco is the equivalent of people talking about their weekend during the game - it is like people have become disinterested, illustrated by the amount of people looking at each other and the other stands while these songs are being sung.

 

What should happen is that people watch the pitch for 90 minutes and encourage the team!

 

So all it needs is 30 or so songsmiths to park themselves in the Chapel/Kingsland as close to the corner as they can get and let rip. The Dell for many years was all Milton, but gradually spread, it took only about 10 or 15 to get Under West Stand going and the same then applied to the Archers.

 

Staying in the comfort zone ain't working, sure the away fans help but if you want to get the GROUND going then manipulate the passives up the Chapel end, hell, they might even join in!

 

I'm glad you agree! As proven by latter day saint above, those near to the Northam are happy with the noise around them, so don't think there is a problem. In equal measure, those near to the Chapel think that politely clapping along is acceptable at a football match.

 

If the Chapel/Kingsland corner is closed all season, it should give us a good oppertunity to gather a group who want to sing - the "do you go to games on your own" thread proves there are a lot of non-season ticket holders who don't have to sit with friends/family and could easily re-locate.

 

The only obstacle would be the stewards, but I think they are only concerned with trouble with away fans, and people standing where it would affect other fans (neither are applicable). We have nearly two weeks to get something sorted, so who is interested?

 

i think quite often people want to get involved but are too embaressed/shy to sing, so clap along to songs (in kingsland/chapel), especially owts, which can ruin it, songs with less clapping would be welcome. we used to sing 'come on you reds' all the time a few years ago, but never hear it now, not the one sung during corners, the one that goes a bit faster.

 

I am one of those embarrassed to sing on my own, as I realise how stupid people sound doing this! A bit of organisation would mean more people could get involved - I am not necessarily suggesting orchestration, but it is effective!

 

The auld lang syne version of "come on you reds" was a good filler, and as mentioned earlier, we need to have more of these when it goes a bit flat such as "red and white barmy army", "Alan Pardew's red army", and the ole, ole song ending in "the saints" rather than the "**** off" version usually heard.

[RonManager]

I still think that the best song immediately after conceding is the simple 'machine gun' style

 

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACKATTACKATTACK

 

It takes advantage of the anger being felt at that moment and feels great when the whole ground joins in!!! It also shuts up the away support.

[Chez]

I moved from Itchen North to Kingland North for this season and I thought the atmosphere was fantastic. To be honest it was as loud as Northam.

 

I notice that we are not seling the four or five back rows of the Itchen North now. Why is that?

[Gravesend Saint]

I always attend with the whole family so have always sat in the family enclosure (around block 27). For the Ajax game we were in block 13. As others have said, it seems that anyone in this area that wants to get things going is pretty much on their own - I know I feel isolated.

 

Now that the whole of the Chapel end is being used for families I can't see things improving.

 

There seems a massive reluctance to get involved at that end of the ground and those that do - as others have already said - get the "what do you think you're doing" look.

 

I definitely agree that we need a few "singers" in other areas of the ground which may encourage some of those who want to sing to join in - safety in numbers .

 

Didn't they plant singers throughout the crowd during the Rugby 6 Nations to try to get people going?

 

But, still, it amazes me how many supporters just treat the match like a quiet afternoon out and don't go with the intention of getting involved. The FA may be running the "enjoy the match" campaign to stop people swearing etc. in family areas but that doesn't mean you can't get behind the team and have the odd shout at the ref otherwise what are we teaching our kids about supporting your team?

 

If the "sit on their hands crowd" joined in with the songs and got the atmosphere going then we can all have a much more enjoyable time even if we lose - the sense of occasion and community should return now that we are united behind the new leadership rather than being a fanbase divided like the last few years.

[londonsaint1604]

I moved from Itchen North to Kingland North for this season and I thought the atmosphere was fantastic. To be honest it was as loud as Northam.

 

I notice that we are not seling the four or five back rows of the Itchen North now. Why is that?

 

Supposedly something to do with the corporate boxes at the back of the stand although they were all empty on saturday from what I could see.

[Chez]

Supposedly something to do with the corporate boxes at the back of the stand although they were all empty on saturday from what I could see.

 

I suppose if people in the back row stand up then this can effect the view for the box behind. I was back row there last season though and I don't recall a single incident where box holders got annoyed by people standing up in front of them. To be honest there were very few games that the boxes were ever taken up.

[londonsaint1604]

I suppose if people in the back row stand up then this can effect the view for the box behind. I was back row there last season though and I don't recall a single incident where box holders got annoyed by people standing up in front of them. To be honest there were very few games that the boxes were ever taken up.

 

Exactly it doesn't make any sense to me. Someone posted on here last week that it has something to do with trouble at the Doncaster game last season, but that sounds unlikely as well considering there have been plenty of games since then with the back rows still open.

[Bucks Saint]

I suppose if people in the back row stand up then this can effect the view for the box behind. I was back row there last season though and I don't recall a single incident where box holders got annoyed by people standing up in front of them. To be honest there were very few games that the boxes were ever taken up.

 

I was in the Kingsland North as normal, but not in my normal seat. I ended up in the back row, near the corner. The atmosphere was as good as I can remember for at least a couple of seasons. Ok, so the banging by the yoof on the panels can annoy some, but it adds to the noise and helps to lead the singing so I am fine with it.

 

What soured it (apart from the Millwall goal of course) was the stewards insisting that about 10 of us in the back row sit down. We were helping to create an atmosphere FFS. We were not blocking the view of anyone, obviously. And as usual the stewards ignored us pointing out the 800 Millwall, standing up throughout the match like all visiting fans do.

 

Anyway I thought it was much better on Saturday and it can only improve if we get the results. Cheers

[Griffo]

I was in the Kingsland North as normal, but not in my normal seat. I ended up in the back row, near the corner. The atmosphere was as good as I can remember for at least a couple of seasons. Ok, so the banging by the yoof on the panels can annoy some, but it adds to the noise and helps to lead the singing so I am fine with it.

 

What soured it (apart from the Millwall goal of course) was the stewards insisting that about 10 of us in the back row sit down. We were helping to create an atmosphere FFS. We were not blocking the view of anyone, obviously. And as usual the stewards ignored us pointing out the 800 Millwall, standing up throughout the match like all visiting fans do.

 

Anyway I thought it was much better on Saturday and it can only improve if we get the results. Cheers

 

Must have been very near me then.. Did you see me, about 3/4 rows from the back, standing on the egde of the row? In a grey jacket?

 

I pretty much had the stewards sitting next to me all game, every time I stood up, they told me to sit down again.. They buggered off for the second half though.

[red&white56]

Must have been very near me then.. Did you see me, about 3/4 rows from the back, standing on the egde of the row? In a grey jacket?

 

I pretty much had the stewards sitting next to me all game, every time I stood up, they told me to sit down again.. They buggered off for the second half though.

 

I think every time the stewards get the Kinglsand to sit down we should break into a chorus of "stand up if you love the Saints!". That'll thwart their efforts!

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]