rooney Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 I chose the Chapel end at t Mary's because I always sat in the Milton Road end at the Dell and it is easy to park/ get away for my 90 mile return car journey each fortnight. I am not keen to be near the away fans as some of the language is just too ripe for my 2young grandsons who are ST Holders with me. The same could be said of the Northam, so I do not wish to be moved over to there either. I do take the point about the wall of noise and I am probably a Nimby. Leave things as they are, a selfish view perhaps but that is the way it is for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 27 January, 2010 Author Share Posted 27 January, 2010 loving the idea of swipe cards, sounds kinda 'oyster' card ish and will hopefully half the queueing time.. and thank God they are addressing the beer/drinks and food situation, no wonder no1 socialises at St Marys before the game, it's would be like standing around drinking p1ss water in a morgue.. understand peoples confusions about moving the away fans, but like how nicola is trying to arrange it so we have a 'kop' end... Having our own 'Kop end' was exactly how it was worded actually. Forgot to mention -They were also talking about some sort of loyalty card sytem as well if swipe cards are adopted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brmbrm Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Pompey fans in block 42? Will they disinfect the seating afterwards or is there no disinfecant strong enough, so the seats will be replaced? Nice they are interested in the fans. nice the beer and concourses might improve (and at least that the problem is noted), but not sure about moving away fans for the reasons above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
once_bitterne Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Has the idea of moving the away fans section been approved by the Police? Last time this was mooted they shot down any chances of this as they said the current location was by far the easiest\safest way of getting away fans into and away from the stadium. I would doubt the Police will allow this proposed move to take place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brussels Saint Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Even from these few replies already posted, its pretty clear there is not one similar fan "view" on this. Whatever is done, is going to upset a pretty large part of the fanbase. In your view then, if you were NC, what would you do? I don't mean regarding the exact seating arrangments, but just to come to a decision? Do you base it on a poll, business rationale, gut feeling etc. More importantly, if NC does consult fans (which he seems to be doing) and chooses an option which you dont like, how would you react? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The King Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Put the away fans in the Kingsland near the Northam. Problem solved. Makes sense, as above!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Makes sense, as above!! Why does it when most people exit and go over the bridge? Are you willing to walk all the way around to get across the Northam Road?? The away fans will have to be kept in the ground until everyone has gone and that won't happen. Also the away fans will have to walk past all the Northam crowd to get to the coaches....good idea that! The problem with the plan as I see it is away fans collecting tickets from the ticket office before the match and its quite a queue at times then have to get to the other end of the stadium past all saints fans a recipe for trouble IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Absolutely agree with hypo. Put the away fans in blocks 36-39. Make the boundary between 39 and 40 perminent (i.e. easier to police). Whenever the away fan area needs to be adjusted to accomodate more, expand it into blocks 35 and 34. Change the walling beneath 34-36 to allow different sections to be used in different ways. This would keep the Northam as a 'kop'; keeps the away fans in a corner; keeps the away fans away from the corporates (and sky lenses). All they then need to work out is how to safely get the away fans into/out of the corner.... (extra footbridge?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 I would guess that the Chapel/Kingsland corner is also viable due to its separate concourse, which isn't the case in other parts of the stadium. For example the Northam/Kingsland corner doesn't have enough turnstiles, concourse space to be used for away fans. You would have to always give up about 6 blocks to away fans, which is just stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Absolutely agree with hypo. Put the away fans in blocks 36-39. Make the boundary between 39 and 40 perminent (i.e. easier to police). Whenever the away fan area needs to be adjusted to accomodate more, expand it into blocks 35 and 34. Change the walling beneath 34-36 to allow different sections to be used in different ways. This would keep the Northam as a 'kop'; keeps the away fans in a corner; keeps the away fans away from the corporates (and sky lenses). All they then need to work out is how to safely get the away fans into/out of the corner.... (extra footbridge?) This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Absolutely agree with hypo. Put the away fans in blocks 36-39. Make the boundary between 39 and 40 perminent (i.e. easier to police). Whenever the away fan area needs to be adjusted to accomodate more, expand it into blocks 35 and 34. Change the walling beneath 34-36 to allow different sections to be used in different ways. This would keep the Northam as a 'kop'; keeps the away fans in a corner; keeps the away fans away from the corporates (and sky lenses). All they then need to work out is how to safely get the away fans into/out of the corner.... (extra footbridge?) not sure that would work because isnt the concorse shared with the rest of the kingsland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Just give the fans back the Itchen North and then no one has to move. It was fine as it was IMO. The away fans will be moved to the other end and it's going to annoy a hell of a lot of people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnailOB Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Not wishing to be too negative but - we start off by saying fans will be consulted, sell the idea of a 'kop' etc.. BUT as soon as itchen/northam corner mentioned from people as suggestions, the stock response seems to be 'never happen - corporates'. Is this the same 'corporates' that are empty ? Will the club listen to fans (as indicated) or prioritise the current non-existent corporates ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 not sure that would work because isnt the concorse shared with the rest of the kingsland? Hense why I was suggesting altering the walls beneath the concourse to allow different sections to be closed off.. i.e. altered to fit the number of away fans. [Oh by the way, I'd be equally happy to reverse the suggestion, and use blocks 22-26 for the permanent away section; make the boundary between 21 & 22 more easy to police (permanent), and expand into 27 & 28 as required...] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 not sure that would work because isnt the concorse shared with the rest of the kingsland? Surely the concourse could be divided? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 The Northam/Kingsland concourse isn't suitable and can't be divided. Simples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rut Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Like others I think the it would be cheaper and easier for all involved if they just opened up the Itchen North to Saints fans again. This WILL improve the atmosphere. Guaranteed. The Northam is loud because it is next to the away fans. People sit over in the Chapel/Kingsland corner because they want to be away from all the banter etc. Why change things? Seems a bit mad to me. If they are worried about the corporates being near to 'rude songs' etc then somehow I don't think too many of them are worried/shocked by that. I bet they enjoy the banter between the fans more than the game sometimes. It's not as if they are sat in their box scared for their lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 27 January, 2010 Author Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Could I just add at this point that it was made clear that this thread will be looked at by the powers that be at St Marys. If you want to have your say or put any ideas forward they will be read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 The Northam/Kingsland concourse isn't suitable and can't be divided. Simples. Why ever not? Surely it's just bricks and mortar... and a few heavy duty metal doors... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Not wishing to be too negative but - we start off by saying fans will be consulted, sell the idea of a 'kop' etc.. BUT as soon as itchen/northam corner mentioned from people as suggestions, the stock response seems to be 'never happen - corporates'. Is this the same 'corporates' that are empty ? Will the club listen to fans (as indicated) or prioritise the current non-existent corporates ? no but the plans they make now will need to be future proof so when we get back to prem the corporates wont be empty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Why ever not? Surely it's just bricks and mortar... and a few heavy duty metal doors... The concourse down that corner is totally different. The steps up to 39/38/37 are all in one corner. There are no catering facilities in that corner (and possibly no toilets). So the WHOLE 6 blocks would have to be given to away fans every time, even if they brought 212 fans. Total lunacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 27 January, 2010 Author Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Not wishing to be too negative but - we start off by saying fans will be consulted, sell the idea of a 'kop' etc.. BUT as soon as itchen/northam corner mentioned from people as suggestions, the stock response seems to be 'never happen - corporates'. Is this the same 'corporates' that are empty ? Will the club listen to fans (as indicated) or prioritise the current non-existent corporates ? They will fill again in the long term as we *hopefully* progress back towards the Premiership. Don't forget that these plans are very much for the long term future and not just the next season or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Not wishing to be too negative but - we start off by saying fans will be consulted, sell the idea of a 'kop' etc.. BUT as soon as itchen/northam corner mentioned from people as suggestions, the stock response seems to be 'never happen - corporates'. Is this the same 'corporates' that are empty ? Will the club listen to fans (as indicated) or prioritise the current non-existent corporates ? They are empty at the moment but the club will be looking to aggressively market them for next season and seasons hence. If/when we return to the Premier League and the recession has ended, local and even national firms will be falling over themselves to hire the boxes once again. They will not however, be so keen if they overhang the away fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brmbrm Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 ........All they then need to work out is how to safely get the away fans into/out of the corner.... (extra footbridge?) A lot of problems would go away if the away fans were kept back for a short while after the game - it happens elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Octopus Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Could I just add at this point that it was made clear that this thread will be looked at by the powers that be at St Marys. If you want to have your say or put any ideas forward they will be read. Please leave the away fans where they are, open Itchen North to reinstate the atmosphere, Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miss_biscuits Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 So which blocks in the chapel/kingsland corner are they planning to use relocate the away fans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Could I just add at this point that it was made clear that this thread will be looked at by the powers that be at St Marys. If you want to have your say or put any ideas forward they will be read. If that is the case then I urge you Nicola to reconsider these plans. The away fans NEED to be close to the home fans because it creates the atmosphere. By all means change the current arrangement but please look at other ways to achieve what you are looking for. No one would complain if we could get one big Kop end next to the away fans. That is what I believe the majority would like if change was to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 some of us old boys chose that bit of the chapel to get away from our past and leave it up to the younger generations to make noise and wind up the oppenents fans. I will be chatting to Messers Jewitt, Wilson and Co,. on saturday as to how they feel about being right back in the mix. personally i will move my seat because i cannot stand for a whole game these days and , no matter what the idealists think the Chapel corner will attract those looking to cause grief with the away supporters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysaint Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Was anything said about the Exeter tickets and how many applications received, seems a little silly to have the closing date on the 1st and the game on the 6th as we have to book travel etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 So which blocks in the chapel/kingsland corner are they planning to use relocate the away fans? by question to because the corner section is not big enough on its own , so will the Kingsland be used or the Chapel for the overspill, seems strange to put away fans next to a family stand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 (edited) The concourse down that corner is totally different. The steps up to 39/38/37 are all in one corner. There are no catering facilities in that corner (and possibly no toilets). So the WHOLE 6 blocks would have to be given to away fans every time, even if they brought 212 fans. Total lunacy. There is the bottle bar to the left (as you come in) of the stairway to block 36 and on the gate side of the concourse a large foodbar that is always shut. The club could build a divide that runs from that stairway to the foodbar. The bottle bar then becomes a proper beer bar. Edited 27 January, 2010 by krissyboy31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
explorer saint Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Exactly. Why do they think the northam end became the noisiest one in the first place? Supporters went there when St Mary's opened *because* it was next to the away fans. Moving away fans will just move home fans too. If away fans are moved to the chapel/kingsland it will upset a lot of the ST holders in the Kingsland (and say what you like about the kingsland, I reckon it is where the majority of ST holders sit) Boring old farts like me, with a ST currently in Kingsland South, will not want to be next to the away fans, especially as seats around me will gradually fill up with younger, noisier fans who will want to stand throughout the game, blocking my view or forcing me to stand too etc. Eventual result -- Chapel/ Kingsland South become as the Northam and Itchen North are now. No net change, no solid end of home singing support, just a lot of loyal fans upset. Meanwhile the police control room/viewing point above the current away fans would need to be moved (HOW?) and the arrangements for away coaches changed. Where would they park? There's far less room near the kingsland than there is by the northam. Away fans will be further from the station, making it harder for the police to control and shepherd away any large stroppy groups if there is troub;le. I'm sorry. It sounds lke a really half-baked idea to me, with little understanding of how English football crowds work. K. Sorry disagree, majority of Saints fans have always wanted an end so to speak of which was theirs there arn't many clubs who have both sets of fans right next to each other. Would of thought that the Itchen/ Chapel corner would of been a better idea for the coaches though, but thank you Nicola for listening to the fans, something our last supremo would never of done. Ps I'm one of the boring ST farts in the Kingsland by the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 All that would be needed is for the Itchen North to be opened again. Atmosphere would be improved 10 fold. That much will be evident at the Pompey game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danish Saint Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 About putting the away fans in the Kingsland/Northam corner and the proximity to leaving Saints fans. Problem could be solved, by letting them out of the ground when home fans have left and stewards/police have created a corridor to their transport away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Mr Cortese, I think the only solutions that would satisfy a majority would be to either leave it as it is, or move the away fans to either the Itchen north or the Kingsland north. Whether or not this is possible I don't know. Moving the away fans to the other end of the ground is ultimately going to do more damage than improvement to the atmosphere, as it will further split the vocal fans between those who want to stay in the Northam and those that wish to remain next to away fans. It would also displace a number of other fans who do not like the idea of sitting next to away fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Bob Posted 27 January, 2010 Author Share Posted 27 January, 2010 by question to because the corner section is not big enough on its own ' date=' so will the Kingsland be used or the Chapel for the overspill, seems strange to put away fans next to a family stand[/quote'] From what I understood it would be predominantly the Chapel end going into the corner. The family stand would be relocated as mentioned earlier in the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 The concourse down that corner is totally different. The steps up to 39/38/37 are all in one corner. There are no catering facilities in that corner (and possibly no toilets). So the WHOLE 6 blocks would have to be given to away fans every time, even if they brought 212 fans. Total lunacy. The corner has two staircases doesn't it? I thought there was one shared by 39, 38 & half of 37; and another shared by half of 35, 36 and half of 37... Don't forget that all of these sections are smaller than others in the ground - with 39 and 38 being possibly only half the capacity of other sections. If the concourse was re-designed correctly, you could move the flexible netting to pretty much any position. The smallest you could move this to would be to give the away fans a single staircase - by putting the netting in block 37 you could easily give the away fans only blocks 39 & 38. I don't know the capacity of blocks 38 & 39, but combined they can't hold many more than say 300 or 400 can they? I don't think building new catering or providing extra toilets are really show-stoppers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 From what I understood it would be predominantly the Chapel end going into the corner. The family stand would be relocated as mentioned earlier in the thread. So season ticket holders like myself, Toomer and co who sit in Block 20 will have to move? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 It's simple. Increase capacity to 45,000 and put the away supporters in one of the new upper tier bits above the current Northam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 It's simple. Increase capacity to 45,000 and put the away supporters in one of the new upper tier bits above the current Northam. What, so they can p!ss on us?! No chance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 What, so they can p!ss on us?! No chance! See, I've inadvertently solved the 'getting served beer quicker, which tastes like p!ss anyway' problem as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 See, I've inadvertently solved the 'getting served beer quicker, which tastes like p!ss anyway' problem as well. Fair point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 It's simple. Increase capacity to 45,000 and put the away supporters in one of the new upper tier bits above the current Northam. Surely if you increase the capacity you'd give them the upper and lower tiers of the same corner. They can then **** on each other... (or if they don't bring enough away fans, you simply only give them the lower tier? and move more of our fans above them?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Could backfire drastically and end up splitting the vocal support even more, as a lot of fans enjoy the banter between the two teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stsam Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Sorry Bobster, disagree with the relocation of the away fans. It isnt just the eyeballers that seek close proximity to the away fans. The atmosphere, banter, exchange of songs etc is so much better when you are closer to them, its the main choice I sit in Itchen North. Im not an eyeballer, I just enjoy the atmosphere. We also seem to be forgetting that we had a Kop (one end dedicated to saints fans, before the Family centre moved in) when we moved to St Marys, its called the Chapel. The noise and populous has diminished over the years. The noise in Itchen North has diminished due to closing of blocks 1,2,3. Please dont make further changes (apart from re-opening 1,2,3) as you risk alienating your most loyal supporters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggers Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 I think all that will happen is that the Itchen North will re-conviene as the Kingsland South! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Prsonally, I don't care where the away fans are - I like to concentrate of the football. For me, the biggest improvement to St. Mary's would be transforming the concources from cattle pens into something more like a pub. I'm sure this would pay for it's self as people would spend more time at the ground before the game. Either that or expending the "Dell Cafe" to something along the lines of the old social club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Must admit a slightly better solution would have been to move the away fans to the Northam end of the Kingsland, rather than the Chapel end, but it is deffo a step in the right direction. I imagine Northam end of the Itchen was not considered because we don't want away fans anywhere near the Corporates or the Directors It will also be good on TV not seeing any away supporters at the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 So we talking about a enforced major disruption for a great many fans and if talk of moving the disabled section is true expensive structural alterations as well - for what good purpose exactly ? If not the worst idea in the history of St Marys it must be in the top one I'd say . I vote no . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 27 January, 2010 Share Posted 27 January, 2010 Well it does say that they are open to suggestions on the matter, so if we all say that moving them to the Northam end of the Kingsland would be better then that'll probably end up happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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