How can we improve the atmosphere at St Mary's?

[SKD]

Just saw an article in the Mail where Steven Davis has urged Southampton fans to create a "hostile atmosphere". Which lets be honest, isn't going to happen.

 

'It's great if you can create that hostile atmosphere. It gives the home team such a backing as well, and really pushes them on,' he said.

 

'Not only when you're winning or when you're hanging on to the result but whenever you're trying to get that energy from the crowd. You need that.'

 

Which got me thinking. It's been getting worse for a couple of years now and last year was probably the worst I've ever seen it (other than a couple of games - off the top of my head Inter at home?).

 

I do in part put this down to the change of fanbase (more tourists) in recent years and lack of entertaining football, however I guess the question is how can we improve it? I'm all for creating your own atmosphere, but it seems with our fanbase, who generally are only willing to sing 1 or 2 songs, are unable to do so.

 

Drum? - Not my personal preference, but there's no denying it does help improve the atmosphere if used correctly.

A band? - Similar to the above. Works well at England games.

Song Sheets for new songs? - I think these would help - IIRC, some where handed out for SRL chant

An 'Ultra' section? - For me this is just a no go, however it does work well at Palace and Huddersfield. Could we have a section of tightly packed fans who have flags / scarfs and create the atmosphere (maybe bottom of Northam or Itchen North) without having cringey black tshirts or think they are from Eastern Europe?

 

Is it just that as a club / country we are too friendly? I have to say, having traveled a bit across Europe both for both club and national games, I do enjoy the hostility of games in Europe. It's something that we just haven't really been able to recreate in the UK.

 

Any other suggestions?

[ericb]

Wrote this somewhere else but if you want to improve the atmosphere these are things that need to change,

 

Bring in safe standing

Reduce ticket prices (especially for 16-30 year olds)

Have a large portion of unallocated "seating/standing" behind each goal so groups of mates can stand together.

Make a selection of tickets available as walk up only, to encourage people to turn up early and get the atmosphere going.

Reduce the over aggressive stewarding that happens in most grounds.

Make certain area's "adult" only (when we first moved to St Mary's the Northam was adult only and that definitely made a difference).

 

 

And then the last one that is the key to this all, legislate in a way that makes the league fair again, because the complete lack of competition is what's killed the game.

[Disco Stu]

Wrote this somewhere else but if you want to improve the atmosphere these are things that need to change,

 

Bring in safe standing

Reduce ticket prices (especially for 16-30 year olds)

Have a large portion of unallocated "seating/standing" behind each goal so groups of mates can stand together.

Make a selection of tickets available as walk up only, to encourage people to turn up early and get the atmosphere going.

Reduce the over aggressive stewarding that happens in most grounds.

Make certain area's "adult" only (when we first moved to St Mary's the Northam was adult only and that definitely made a difference).

 

This is the key to unlocking your other points. Until this is sorted, younger, more enthusiastic fans can't afford to go

[trousers]

Free beer

[Saint Garrett]

Getting rid of clappers.

[Daft Kerplunk]

Wrote this somewhere else but if you want to improve the atmosphere these are things that need to change,

 

Bring in safe standing

Reduce ticket prices (especially for 16-30 year olds)

Have a large portion of unallocated "seating/standing" behind each goal so groups of mates can stand together.

Make a selection of tickets available as walk up only, to encourage people to turn up early and get the atmosphere going.

Reduce the over aggressive stewarding that happens in most grounds.

Make certain area's "adult" only (when we first moved to St Mary's the Northam was adult only and that definitely made a difference).

 

 

You sir have hit the nail squarely on the head with the above points, apart from maybe the adult only section - teens should surely be allowed. But it would be a very ballsy club to try these things without graphs, focus groups, data to show it would work first, especially as people who work in football, particularly those at the top never came remotely near football as it once was.

[nta786]

Free beer

 

winner

[Saint_clark]

Club should offer to trial safe standing immediately. We probably can't do it in the Northam - people get moved from there for cup games - so do it in the Kingsland/Northam corner instead.

[Pamplemousse]

Wrote this somewhere else but if you want to improve the atmosphere these are things that need to change,

 

Bring in safe standing

Reduce ticket prices (especially for 16-30 year olds)

Have a large portion of unallocated "seating/standing" behind each goal so groups of mates can stand together.

Make a selection of tickets available as walk up only, to encourage people to turn up early and get the atmosphere going.

Reduce the over aggressive stewarding that happens in most grounds.

Make certain area's "adult" only (when we first moved to St Mary's the Northam was adult only and that definitely made a difference).

 

 

And then the last one that is the key to this all, legislate in a way that makes the league fair again, because the complete lack of competition is what's killed the game.

 

Agree with all of this, especially making the Northam adult only.

 

I quite like the idea someone put earlier of having a drummer. I'd also suggest someone with a loudspeaker (works well in Europe) but this may not be everyone's cup of tea.

[Highfield Saint]

Just saw an article in the Mail where Steven Davis has urged Southampton fans to create a "hostile atmosphere". Which lets be honest, isn't going to happen.

 

 

Why not?? If you think you can you will...

[the saint in winchester]

It's true, St Mary's atmosphere is pretty quiet, not exactly a raucous home support atmosphere.

Let's get onto this.

[adrian lord]

Wrote this somewhere else but if you want to improve the atmosphere these are things that need to change,

 

Bring in safe standing

Reduce ticket prices (especially for 16-30 year olds)

Have a large portion of unallocated "seating/standing" behind each goal so groups of mates can stand together.

Make a selection of tickets available as walk up only, to encourage people to turn up early and get the atmosphere going.

Reduce the over aggressive stewarding that happens in most grounds.

Make certain area's "adult" only (when we first moved to St Mary's the Northam was adult only and that definitely made a difference).

 

 

And then the last one that is the key to this all, legislate in a way that makes the league fair again, because the complete lack of competition is what's killed the game.

 

 

That is the recipe.

 

We need packed stands of several thousand 15-25 year old guys from working class backgrounds who want to let off steam and discharge their natural aggression in a raucous but lawful manner at football. That means standing areas and affordable entrance on the gate.

[Beachcombers Windowsill]

I can recall Pardew speaking about St Mary's being too nice a place to come when he first arrived so it's definitely been an on/off issue for a while.

[The Cat]

Not sure where the OP is coming from when mentioning that the band works well at England games, I thought they were universally hated.

 

Otherwise, what Eric said.

[Nordic Saint]

We'll see once again what the real problem is on Saturday when our more vocal supporters, divided into 2 small groups, hidden away in the corners of the away end, will be drowned out by the united away fans, making it seen more like a home game for United than for Saints. Until we have a proper home end in the Chapel, where our most vocal fans are united in one large group, like they are at away games, we'll never have a great home atmosphere. I've heard fans who are regulars in the corners of the away end, say they like to go there to get their atmosphere from the away fans. That's a shocking indictment in their lack of self-belief that they can have a real home kop of their own and produce a hostile home atmosphere.

[Hamilton Saint]

A "good atmosphere" = being less friendly and more hostile?

 

Nah.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Free beer

 

Not the shiete they sell.

 

 

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[Saint_clark]

A "good atmosphere" = being less friendly and more hostile?

 

Nah.

 

Not in the sense of "we're going to murder all of your players". Just actually making a lot of noise when chanting and keeping it going, rather than it just petering out after two renditions.

The Wanyama chant away to Arnhem is a good example.

[Graffito]

We'll see once again what the real problem is on Saturday when our more vocal supporters, divided into 2 small groups, hidden away in the corners of the away end, will be drowned out by the united away fans, making it seen more like a home game for United than for Saints. Until we have a proper home end in the Chapel, where our most vocal fans are united in one large group, like they are at away games, we'll never have a great home atmosphere. I've heard fans who are regulars in the corners of the away end, say they like to go there to get their atmosphere from the away fans. That's a shocking indictment in their lack of self-belief that they can have a real home kop of their own and produce a hostile home atmosphere.

 

Two small groups hidden away in the corners? You're making it up as you go along. The atmosphere has diminished in recent seasons but that's just nonsense.

[davefoggy]

Stop allowing away fans in home section. I had 3 West Ham fans sat in front of me in the recent fixture and i dare say there will be plenty of United fans able to get seats all around St Marys on Saturday.

Oh, and replenishing the paper towels in the gents. Having to watch the first 10 mins of each half with wet hands annoys me and makes me grumpy

[Saint-Fred]

Wrote this somewhere else but if you want to improve the atmosphere these are things that need to change,

 

Bring in safe standing

Reduce ticket prices (especially for 16-30 year olds)

Have a large portion of unallocated "seating/standing" behind each goal so groups of mates can stand together.

Make a selection of tickets available as walk up only, to encourage people to turn up early and get the atmosphere going.

Reduce the over aggressive stewarding that happens in most grounds.

Make certain area's "adult" only (when we first moved to St Mary's the Northam was adult only and that definitely made a difference).

 

 

And then the last one that is the key to this all, legislate in a way that makes the league fair again, because the complete lack of competition is what's killed the game.

 

Can t agree with much of that..other grounds get a decent atmosphere going without any of that.

 

We need more songs to sing and then people to join in...

[DuncanRG]

Some find drums annoying but they would stop the Northam from sending every song into hyperspeed after two renditions, which I honestly think is a major factor. We get decent numbers joining in the chants but it dissipates so quickly because no one can keep time.

[LVSaint]

Slash the price of beer and double the outlets in the concourse. (More toilets too). Install breathalyzers at turnstyles on entry. Anyone not over the limit can be funneled directly to the bar.

[djharvey]

Said this a few times before. Expand the Northam by 3k, don't add another tier just extend the existing by about 20 rows, nothing fancy. Be surprised if it cost much more than £15 million.

This would add reasonable capacity and help dilute the effect of the away support, especially if you also add a few of the other suggestions, trial rail seats in corner, adults only etc.

Another tier on the kingsland would just get full of the silent type. Nobody seems to want to move to the chapel and moving away supporters is near impossible.

[Dusic]

I don't think that is what Saints, or many other PL clubs really want though to be honest, at least not as a majority of the matchgoing fanbase.

 

They want families with children who will spend money in the club shop, generate social media interactions, and won't cause trouble at games.

 

Most of what ericb suggested makes sense but little of it will actually happen, as we all know.

 

The best short term measure is the team playing better football, some new players emerging such as Lemina, and the team having something to play for or aim for - the atmosphere is always better then.

[SaveloyMush]

Stop allowing away fans in home section. I had 3 West Ham fans sat in front of me in the recent fixture and i dare say there will be plenty of United fans able to get seats all around St Marys on Saturday.

Oh, and replenishing the paper towels in the gents. Having to watch the first 10 mins of each half with wet hands annoys me and makes me grumpy

 

Don't p!ss on your hands!

[Saint_clark]

Some find drums annoying but they would stop the Northam from sending every song into hyperspeed after two renditions, which I honestly think is a major factor. We get decent numbers joining in the chants but it dissipates so quickly because no one can keep time.

 

Actually the majority can keep time, it's just when the dinlos way behind me in block 42 join in that it goes to pot. When chants start down the front, or in the Kingsland, or over in the Itchen they keep the right pace.

[LGTL]

Ban women and kids

[bazza]

You make the Northam the focal point t for noise:

Home fans only in that stand. (Away fans down the side.)

Have one drum at that end. It makes a massive difference to generating noise.

Eventually introduce safe standing.

[Cabrone]

Double the northam capacity by extending it back, lower ticket prices to £10 for 18 and under, leave 5k seats available to buy a week before the game, put the away fans in the kingsland\chapel corner.

[doddisalegend]

Allow flares, smoke bombs and flags*..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* actually watching the game may be a problem.

[sandwichsaint]

That is the recipe.

 

We need packed stands of several thousand 15-25 year old guys from working class backgrounds who want to let off steam and discharge their natural aggression in a raucous but lawful manner at football. That means standing areas and affordable entrance on the gate.

 

Think you'll find internet porn, social media,, recreational drugs and Zero Hours Contracts have eaten quite heavily into that demographic. Back in the day these people had Saturday afternoons off, a few quid in their pockets, and not much else to do. Nowadays the yoof are likely to be either working, sleeping or ****ing about on their mobile phones. Believe it or not the things we found attractive in the 70's don't quite hold the same appeal nowadays.

[Shroppie]

You make the Northam the focal point t for noise:

Home fans only in that stand. (Away fans down the side.)

Have one drum at that end. It makes a massive difference to generating noise.

Eventually introduce safe standing.

This is sound thinking.

 

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[northam soul]

Ban women and kids

 

 

Finally some sense

[Dangermouth]

A "good atmosphere" = being less friendly and more hostile?

 

Nah.

 

Yup. Cause N American sports spectacles are sterile.

[Dangermouth]

Think you'll find internet porn, social media,, recreational drugs and Zero Hours Contracts have eaten quite heavily into that demographic. Back in the day these people had Saturday afternoons off, a few quid in their pockets, and not much else to do. Nowadays the yoof are likely to be either working, sleeping or ****ing about on their mobile phones. Believe it or not the things we found attractive in the 70's don't quite hold the same appeal nowadays.

 

Dunno. For the working class it still would appeal. That's those who work not those who say they do and get someone else to do it, btw.

[scotty]

How about having a complete prat in fancy dress ringing a bell?

[Dalek2003]

You need a 'kop' of home fans in one place, at one end, behind the goal and even better make it a terrace. Bring back classic red and white scarfes ! Oh, and scoring and winning helps over 0-0.

[ericb]

Think you'll find internet porn, social media,, recreational drugs and Zero Hours Contracts have eaten quite heavily into that demographic. Back in the day these people had Saturday afternoons off, a few quid in their pockets, and not much else to do. Nowadays the yoof are likely to be either working, sleeping or ****ing about on their mobile phones. Believe it or not the things we found attractive in the 70's don't quite hold the same appeal nowadays.

 

Internet porn and social media aside that sounds pretty similar to my upbringing yet I still went week in week out. The recreational drugs, working, sleeping and f*cking just happened around it.

 

As for drums and ultras!? Nah f*ck that, why not just get back a proper support by letting in the people that actually make it.

 

 

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[saintquin]

Not singing at 100mph so you don't run out of breath to quickly would help.

Also I find the load music when the teams come out kill any atmosphere there may have been!

[Hamilton Saint]

Yup. Cause N American sports spectacles are sterile.

 

Ah, yes, the non sequitur/ad hominem gambit.

 

[suewhistle]

Slash the price of beer and double the outlets in the concourse. (More toilets too). Install breathalyzers at turnstyles on entry. Anyone not over the limit can be funneled directly to the bar.

 

I've always needed a beer or two before a game but risking being forced to drink their stuff would ensure I arrived rolling. Now if they could put a barrel of something decent on stillage I might be interested in having a drink inside St. Mary's for the first time ever.. I definitely get noisier after a few.

[Patrick Bateman]

I've always needed a beer or two before a game but risking being forced to drink their stuff would ensure I arrived rolling. Now if they could put a barrel of something decent on stillage I might be interested in having a drink inside St. Mary's for the first time ever.. I definitely get noisier after a few.

 

I always drink the rubbish bottles in the ground, either cider or wine. The "beer" is simply abysmal. Serve some decent stuff, get the ground a bit more f**ked up on it and get some atmosphere.

[ashnats]

knitting.

 

the clacking of needles would be terrifying if everyone did it, and it doesn't require people to do anything extrovert. plus, by the end of the season, we could have a giant scarf.

 

or, just humming, for minutes on end, followed by a sharp "saints" every few minutes, then back to the humming again.

 

or, if we really want to scare the **** out of the opposition, we could just screech eerily:

 

[Pilchards]

How about having a complete prat in fancy dress ringing a bell?

 

I've done that.

[Toadhall Saint]

No ****ing drums!

[Hamilton Saint]

No ****ing drums!

 

Agreed!

[View From The Top]

Drums? Ultras? FFS.

[Dusic]

As for drums and ultras!? Nah f*ck that, why not just get back a proper support by letting in the people that actually make it.

 

The club, and all other clubs, want to attract fans who can and will spend money.

 

You can post what you like on an internet fans forum but it is 2017 not 1977.

[Lord Duckhunter]

It's only going to get worse.

 

Why on earth would the club want to reduce ticket prices for anyone, let alone the nippers. Why would they want to do anything that costs money to increase the atmosphere. Why would they want more working class lads in that couldn't afford it without concessions & don't have any spare money to waste, except to lash it up elsewhere. They're perfectly happy with more middle class, richer , older,tourist type fan. More cash to spend at our outlets, less police & stewarding costs and more importantly we're pretty much full most weeks. I doubt there's many that refuse to go anymore because of the lack of atmosphere, but plenty of middle class joes that'll stop going if we turn the clock back. There's as much chance of 1970's 80's & 90's atmosphere coming back as there is of watching Chopper Harris or Tommy Smith type tackles. It's gone, watching football is a different event now.

 

 

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