From a saints lad in the home end...

[Reggie Dunlop]

There was some seats to the right side, and they were not available to buy, they were there for segregation and a sterile and

contamination free zone.

 

There was however more seats in the same corner of the ground but on the blue few side apart from when the neanderthals

managed to drag themselves away from there sisters tits to grunt at the saints fans, was quite funny them waving there

deformed hands at us one hand had no thumb and the other hand had just one finger - is that the tic-tac odds on Redknapp

avoiding a fine or sentence.

 

The day was topped off by the visit to zoo on the way out, where the snarling neanderthals tried communicating in a language

That I have never come across or anybody that I spoke to - bless them if they put an advertisement on at Christmas maybe we could raise a few sheckles to help educate them - so if you can help please give generously!!

[adrian lord]

Remember the Archer's Road fenced cages in the 80s? Saints cage right next to the away section's cage. No seats, no picnics, no stripey wigs. Just sheer intensity.

 

In the 70s the same but no fences or cages.

 

By 2030 it will be like an episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

[Chez]

Even if someone had moved from another part of the ground there would still be the same amount of empty seats.

I think perhaps a child is required for the family section, and there was skates wanting to go but couldn't, ergo his South stand ticket would have been sold. Who cares, he got to the game and paying the £30 was a price we all had to pay.

[Whitey Grandad]

pleased tell me you set fire to it? Actually you say "used to", did you divorce her? Sounds like grounds to me - must come to games but annoys you when she does. "Take the house and the kids my son".

We're still married. I was trying to convert her and after about 15 away trips she actually began to get into watching the football. It didn't last though. At Leeds she very nearly punched a copper who was sticking a video camera up our noses, not bad for a 55-year old.

[dune]

Yes so have I, but a saints skate games is not just any away game is it.

 

Does it really matter?

[Chez]

took mine for the first time to Leicester this season (we went on to visit friends afterwards so I had no choice) and she got trambled on when we scored. Thankfully she won't be coming back.

[Whitey Grandad]

took mine for the first time to Leicester this season (we went on to visit friends afterwards so I had no choice) and she got trambled on when we scored. Thankfully she won't be coming back.

Is she still there??? Lying under seats 326 to 398?

[Orange]

The first fan the BBC showed was wearing a jesters hat. I kid you not. Made me laugh.

Why does all football coverage insist on making football fan out to be utter mongs..

[Chez]

Is she still there??? Lying under seats 326 to 398?

no, but she's still moaning about it. Makes me smile when she does though as that short term pain has created long term enjoyment for me. I call it ABM (Advanced Bird Management)

[dune]

Why does all football coverage insist on making football fan out to be utter mongs..

 

Because the majority are.

[Chez]

Why does all football coverage insist on making football fan out to be utter mongs..

if the, ahem, hat fits. Jester hats FFS.

[Cestrian Saint]

What are you talking about? Will somebody please lock this thread, it's pathetic.

[dune]

What are you talking about? Will somebody please lock this thread, it's pathetic.

 

If you read the thread a lot of people agree with the OP.

[Chez]

What are you talking about? Will somebody please lock this thread, it's pathetic.

what a contribution, Should I check the other 344 beauties?

[Jack]

I'll get slaughtered for this, but support-wise, I thought we **** poor for a derby. However, those who weren't there, who the f*ck are you to criticise the fans that were there today? Hypocrites.

 

Yes, the skates are absolute mongs, had **** songs, but they were loud as **** and we struggled to match them. The atmosphere, especially when we were 1-0 up, was awful.

 

People that are saying to give Guly a break - were any of you at the game? He was the difference today, if we'd had a player up top with lambo, who had any sort of decent first touch, a bit of work rate, and some passion, we'd have won the game today. He was dreadful. Shocking first touch, wasn't up for it, completely bottled it.

[Hemel Saint]

Not really. We had empty seats at either end of our stand so it made no difference and if you believe this was for segregation you'll believe anything. Of course this is what will be said though, but the fact they didn't release allocation numbers was IMO deliberate to cover this. SFC want the bubble as it's a money spinner, Burrows wants the bubble too. They ain't gona admit to not selling out now are they.

 

 

The sections to the bottom-right / bottom-left corner definitely were 'sterile areas' .

 

I walked in with a flag, a steward saw it and told me to put it across the seats in one of the two Sterile Areas (segregation areas) between the two sets of fans.

 

 

also... Our groups contact in the Ticket Office told us that ALL tickets allocated to SFC had been snapped up.

We did sell out.

 

 

.

[Orange]

The more i think of our support today, the more it f*cking me off.

[hypochondriac]

The more i think of our support today, the more it f*cking me off.

 

Oh do f*ck off.

[Mao Cap]

A real disappointment. Things got going occasionally, but in essence we had a roof this time and we were still f*cking CRAP.

 

The usual "too many old people and women" theory doesn't fly for me at all. The proportion of 15-50yo men there was more than enough to make a memorable atmosphere but far, far too few seemed interested. It's f*cking Pompey, guys? You know, the team you sing about hating so much every single game? Christ.

 

On the other hand, their fanbase is certainly not what it was either, in terms of singing or intimidation. Those laughable goons there today looked like shadows of the nasty bastards who were there in 04 and 05.

[whelk]

He may not be a skate, but he is most definitely a w*nker. What sort of bellend goes to their biggest rivals and sits in the home end? I bet he didn't even celebrate the saints goal.

 

I was in their stand in 1984. If we'd have celebrated the last minute winner i wouldn't be here today. what sort of bellend would expect a celebration? bet you loved your safe little bubble with your sandwiches and flask

[wagon 84]

Thoroughly disappointed with our support today.

Why is it people weren't getting behind the team for POMPEY?

We've been louder at Leyton Orient for f*cks sake.

Too many blanket and flask types.

 

This! plenty of times yesterday we would be singing our hearts out only to look around & see statue like corpes doing **** all!

[alehouseboys]

Well, that was disappointing. The players must be wondering what all the fuss was about. The least intimidating atmosphere from both sets of fans ever for a derby? 1.00pm kick-off, no booze and the bubble (for us) just helped kill it. They're just all 'happy clappy' these days, ours was poor, OK before the kick-off but then the majority appeared to just want to watch. No roar when attacking, even after we scored it was OK for a bit then faded. Best bit was "who the f*ck is laughing now?" which was gaining momentum and was getting to them...would have been great to have held out and had the whole stand doing that at the end. Roll on April.

[shurlock]

Why was the OP in the home end? If he tried and couldn't get a ticket, fair enough and I can understand. If he didn't try but rather couldn't be &rsed with all the restrictions and wanted to stick two fingers up and be the big man, then he's a tw*t pure and simple.

 

I've found myself in home ends before out of necessity and you need to be very careful which games you do it at and where in the ground you sit. My question is what did the OP do when the skates equalised? In some places, staying quiet is not an option; indeed anything less than going mental will get you rumbled.

[Ashley Grute]

Well I know I tried to sing my heart out for the team yesterday, so I can hold my head high- bloody sore throat this morning! Think part of the problem was we joined in with all of their songs instead of singing our own. when they sang play up Pompey, we sang f off Pompey. When they sang sha la la we sang our own version, they sing were coming for you but with a different second line and we joined in, so the songs all merged into one- I personally don't think our support was too bad- certainly don't think the skates were much if any better! Plus no beer for us!

[Barry the Badger]

I was disappointed with the atmosphere in our end. I normally tend to join in with songs rather than start them, but I kept trying to start them yesterday to get things going and couldn't believe people were just standing silently all around me, at Pompey away. It was ok at times, but Orient last season was much much better.

 

The bubble was designed to take the edge off the atmosphere and it was a complete success in that regard.

[dune]

You can blame the bubble / k/o time to an extent, but our away support has been poor for the last 3 or 4 seasons.

 

Numbers wise it's up, but in terms of noise i've never known it as bad.

 

Was the poor support yesterday really a shock to anyone who does aways?

[Jack]

You can blame the bubble / k/o time to an extent, but our away support has been poor for the last 3 or 4 seasons.

 

Numbers wise it's up, but in terms of noise i've never known it as bad.

 

Was the poor support yesterday really a shock to anyone who does aways?

 

From my experience this season, Leicester was ok, Reading good, Brizzle poor, today - disappointing.

 

Yes there was no beer, but FFS, it's Portsmouth away and we're top of the championship. It should have been rocking.

[JackanorySFC]

Why was the OP in the home end? If he tried and couldn't get a ticket, fair enough and I can understand. If he didn't try but rather couldn't be &rsed with all the restrictions and wanted to stick two fingers up and be the big man, then he's a tw*t pure and simple.

My question is what did the OP do when the skates equalised? In some places, staying quiet is not an option; indeed anything less than going mental will get you rumbled.

 

Was in the home end as I'm not a ST holder and couldn't get a legit ticket. Tried hard to get one, asked friends and family and even pm'd a few on here I suspected of having spares offering over face value but got no joy.

 

When they scored I stood up and half heartedly clapped - the same as I did at Bournemouth when sat in their south stand next to whitey grandad.

 

No doubt some will think I should have whipped out a flare and starting wailing like a loon when lambert scored and stated sat down impassive when the skates equalised but hey ho- I was there and I dont regret it!

[OldNick]

Having a go at our fans because they are old and not 'lads' up for it is pathetic. Many of those 50-60 year olds were up for it when it really was tough to go to away games. Its ok now when you go to games and there are lots of police presence but go back to the 70's when the police had little experience of handling such things, and there was carnage.

If going to a match means you can goad the oppo fans behind a lines of coppers but not in a bubble is more exciting then good on you. if you really want it out with Pompey fans, get in your car and stand outside FP today and give them some.You wont, because you wont have the security of Police dogs etc.

The cameras panned around the ground and there was the same mix of fans in the Fratton end as there was in ours. Get over it.

[dune]

Having a go at our fans because they are old and not 'lads' up for it is pathetic. Many of those 50-60 year olds were up for it when it really was tough to go to away games. Its ok now when you go to games and there are lots of police presence but go back to the 70's when the police had little experience of handling such things, and there was carnage.

If going to a match means you can goad the oppo fans behind a lines of coppers but not in a bubble is more exciting then good on you. if you really want it out with Pompey fans, get in your car and stand outside FP today and give them some.You wont, because you wont have the security of Police dogs etc.

The cameras panned around the ground and there was the same mix of fans in the Fratton end as there was in ours. Get over it.

 

I can't speak for others, but i'm not talking about goading, i'm talking about vocally getting behind OUR TEAM. After we'd scored we were very loud when we sung "up the football league we go" but aside from that it was poor.

[100%Red&White]

It certainly lacked the edge of previous encounters, a fairly tame experience from start to finish. We were at the right side and having a bit with their “der-der, der-der, f’kin inbreds” but when I think what it was like in that corner in ’84, how times have changed. It at least banished bad memories of 2005 when ‘Redknapp’s bottlers’ failed to turn up, our players yesterday weren’t in the least bit intimidated, it just wasn’t that kind of atmosphere. More like an ordinary away game, our fans didn’t seem to be particularly fired up most of the time but no less than the skates when they come to SMS.

If you like your crowds a bit racous you do look around at some of our fans and despair. To think the skates like to think of themselves as “the bestest fans in the world™” it shows how deluded they really are, I look with envy at some of the crowds around Europe bouncing around making a real racket. All in all, a bit underwhelming, should have had 3 points (why didn’t Harding stick it out for a throw-in and Guly!) but an opportunity to conclude unfinished business next spring. Sha, la, la.

[Chez]

Personally after the goal it took me about 5 minutes to get my breath back, after that there were perhaps a few nerves which might have tapered the noise levels a little. Overall I didn't think it was as bad as people are making out. On the right side it was pretty much non stop singing and goading with their North Stand. To be honest the game was so low on quality and bereft of decent attacks there was little to get excited about.

[100%Red&White]

I think the skates have got themselves a new title now as well "Quietest fans in the world after we'd scored™".

 

Also hate to admit it, but the ‘bubble’ was very successful for the OB. No beer and a very sterile experience but did everything they wanted it to. Derbies will never be the same again. Have to make up for it at Brighton.

[View From The Top]

Personally after the goal it took me about 5 minutes to get my breath back, after that there were perhaps a few nerves which might have tapered the noise levels a little. Overall I didn't think it was as bad as people are making out. On the right side it was pretty much non stop singing and goading with their North Stand. To be honest the game was so low on quality and bereft of decent attacks there was little to get excited about.

 

I'd concur with that. I was in block M and having the inbreds close by kept the noise level up where I was.

[Phil the Saint]

I was in block N and it was almost continuous singing from our lot throughout the game. I couldn't hear the Fratton End unless they combined with the rest of the ground to make some noise. It obviously depends where you were sat/stood in the ground but the Saints support seemed loud and very good to me and the home fans disappointing.

[shurlock]

Was in the home end as I'm not a ST holder and couldn't get a legit ticket. Tried hard to get one, asked friends and family and even pm'd a few on here I suspected of having spares offering over face value but got no joy.

 

When they scored I stood up and half heartedly clapped - the same as I did at Bournemouth when sat in their south stand next to whitey grandad.

 

No doubt some will think I should have whipped out a flare and starting wailing like a loon when lambert scored and stated sat down impassive when the skates equalised but hey ho- I was there and I dont regret it!

 

Fair enough - no question of not being there and watching it on TV. I would have done exactly the same. Purgatory enough having to clap a skate goal.

[Toomer]

Having a go at our fans because they are old and not 'lads' up for it is pathetic. Many of those 50-60 year olds were up for it when it really was tough to go to away games. Its ok now when you go to games and there are lots of police presence but go back to the 70's when the police had little experience of handling such things, and there was carnage.

If going to a match means you can goad the oppo fans behind a lines of coppers but not in a bubble is more exciting then good on you. if you really want it out with Pompey fans, get in your car and stand outside FP today and give them some.You wont, because you wont have the security of Police dogs etc.

The cameras panned around the ground and there was the same mix of fans in the Fratton end as there was in ours. Get over it.

I was in my late teens early 20s in the 70s how the hell we got away with it back then, the worst I can remember was we got off the tube at West Ham and getting petrol bombs thrown at us heaven forbid if we ever went back to those days and yesterday our group of 50 plus old gits sang louder than a lot of the youngsters around us.

Edited 19 December, 2011 by Toomer

[LGTL]

I'm still trying to workout when their support became so happy clappy? It was the least intimidating away game of the season, by some way. Neither of us were great, pretty similar to the match really.

[View From The Top]

I'm still trying to workout when their support became so happy clappy? It was the least intimidating away game of the season, by some way. Neither of us were great, pretty similar to the match really.

 

My 9yo said to me that it wasn't scary at all, which says a lot.

 

I was expecting vitriol and hatred and got nowt more that slit throat gestures from some slack jawed inbreds.

[Viking Warrior]

BBC seemed to focus on the saints fans re singing especially the La La La

 

Oh is that bugle permanently stuck to the bellends mouth .

[Barry the Badger]

I did have a few moments of frustration with one lad in our group not singing at all, the youngest of our lot. He's a nice guy and he enjoys the football and the pub but his Dad buys his season ticket for him and whilst he does support the Saints I just don't see any raw passion there. I think that's indicative of a lot of the younger 'lads' I see in the Northam and at away games now, they support Saints, but it doesn't really really matter to them.

[Golden Balls]

I was sat to the left where the smoke bombs went off. Brilliant atmosphere. I couldn't hear a peep from them and our lot sounded quality. I guess it all depends on where you sit. Watched it back on tv and it's clear there were no mics near us.

 

I didn't hear that bell once yet on tv can be heard constantly.

 

Liked their **** take of the Lallana arms. No doubt they'll adapt it for one of their players though.

 

"who the **** is laughing now" was brilliant and way above anything their wit could ever muster up.

[Orange]

You can blame the bubble / k/o time to an extent, but our away support has been poor for the last 3 or 4 seasons.

 

Numbers wise it's up, but in terms of noise i've never known it as bad.

 

Was the poor support yesterday really a shock to anyone who does aways?

 

I think we can be pretty good away from home. Northern games we are often sh*t (Burnley, Doncater) this year. But for games like Leicester we've been pretty good.

Our away support has always confused me.

[BILLY]

I'm surprised we sounded so poor on the TV, I don't stop singing throughout apart from when I nearly choked when the flare went off 2 feet in front of me! Hey it added to the atmosphere though. Just gutted we through it way at the end. The blue were silent for about 20 mins.

[warsash saint]

Watched a little on TV when I got back from the game yesterday ... did the BBC even have a mic down our end of the field ? Near non stop singing from where I was stood yet you hardly hear anything on TV!

[doddisalegend]

I'll get slaughtered for this, but support-wise, I thought we **** poor for a derby. However, those who weren't there, who the f*ck are you to criticise the fans that were there today? Hypocrites.

 

Yes, the skates are absolute mongs, had **** songs, but they were loud as **** and we struggled to match them. The atmosphere, especially when we were 1-0 up, was awful.

 

People that are saying to give Guly a break - were any of you at the game? He was the difference today, if we'd had a player up top with lambo, who had any sort of decent first touch, a bit of work rate, and some passion, we'd have won the game today. He was dreadful. Shocking first touch, wasn't up for it, completely bottled it.

 

I agree with the first bit -people have the right to act any (legal) way they like at a game. Having a go at people at the game from your front room is plainly stupid.

 

The second bit holds no water though it was a live TV match so people who weren't there still got to see Guly play in fact they probably got a better view than you did with extra replays for good measure. My own thoughts are Guly played like he does every week if he scored one of his two chances everyone would be calling him a hero he didn't so now he's the scapegoat.....

[Chez]

they purposely don't have mics near away fans as they are more likely to sing naughty songs. Waste of time as the skates' "We ****ing hate you..." was clearly audible.

[The9]

I'm with hypo. I went dehydrated today in order to not put a penny in their c*nt*ng pockets.

 

Refused to buy a programme, drink, food, etc. Always buy a programme at away matches, didn't.

[The9]

they purposely don't have mics near away fans as they are more likely to sing naughty songs. Waste of time as the skates' "We ****ing hate you..." was clearly audible.

 

Having watched the coverage again when I got in and been amazed that I didn't hear 90% of our songs on the box and 90% of their songs in the ground (or the bell), I noticed we were basically silent when we scored, and they actually faded down the Cortese song (which I hate, but sang as Fratton is the only appropriate place to sing it) half way through, immediately before the bit about him disliking Portsmouth FC somewhat.

 

"We fcking hate you" was not audible to me in the ground, and the Amarillo thing was only noticable due to the timing of the clapping.

 

We weren't all that loud for the first 20 minutes, but there was plenty later on, and none of it came across on tv until they went silent after we scored because then the mics in front of the home fans picked up our songs.

[The9]

I was disappointed with the atmosphere in our end. I normally tend to join in with songs rather than start them, but I kept trying to start them yesterday to get things going and couldn't believe people were just standing silently all around me, at Pompey away. It was ok at times, but Orient last season was much much better.

 

The bubble was designed to take the edge off the atmosphere and it was a complete success in that regard.

 

It worked to stop a bunch of people on either side from getting furious with aggressive posturing under the premise of wanting a fight rather than watching a match, but other than that the atmosphere wasn't that different. And to be honest, for 99% of matches that's fine. I do feel there was a slight edge missing, but if that's played off against the possibility of getting my head stoved in with a breeze block, and there's still a decent atmosphere, then that's alright by me. I was in Block N and started a few, which I don't usually, and I smashed up my knees celebrating with people in different rows, which isn't an everyday occurence either - there was still something special about it.

 

I have a bunch of videos from bus 9 with a load of singing, which begins exactly as the bus goes across the Eastern Road bridge onto the island. Everyone knew there was atmosphere and it was going to have to be made, but plenty were waiting until the opposition was in sight.

 

Oh, and of course I was stone cold sober - but then as I watched football for 25 years before I started drinking that's not really an issue for me, I don't need a drink to go mental at football.

Edited 19 December, 2011 by The9