St Mary's Stadium

[Fan The Flames]

7 minutes ago, OldNick said:

How many games do we kick off at 12? The design of the ground and where the away fans were situated was always a nonsense. Rupert didnt understand how important the home fans are. 

 

You can see why the away fans were put there, it made managing them a lot easier.

[lambtiss]

Brilliant move for me. About time something was done to give us a proper home end again. I'm sure it has cost us points in the past. 

[Kenilworthy]

1 minute ago, Fan The Flames said:

You can see why the away fans were put there, it made managing them a lot easier.

Exactly. At the time the ground was being designed the Police made the positioning of the away fans there a deal breaker (according to Andrew Cowan).

[Saint_clark]

20 minutes ago, Saint_John said:

I hope they have thought this through.

 

From the information it appears they are going to move the away fans to Blocks 20—27  Family Blocks

https://www.tothe92.co.uk/groundguide/southampton.html

 

What are they going to do for Cup Games ?

If they give over more of the Chapel (17-19) to away fans then there is an ISSUE with the DISABLED SEATING in that the people in those seats CANNOT SEE if supporters in the lower part of 17-19 stand up. (There is using at least one or two calls per game for Saints supporters to SIT DOWN when there is a chance etc.at that end).

 

The only solution would be to give over part of the Kingsland say Blocks 28-30, but then there is an issue accessing the CONCOURSE, because of the Groundsman entrance.

 

I will NOT be moving to the new Northam Stand because I DO NOT like watching Football looking directly into the Sun (12:00 kick off in winter and the  game is UNWATCHABLE).     

Part of the changes to the ground might include putting concourse segregation in the kingsland similar to what is in the Northam. 

As for the sun...buy a baseball cap.

[Wurzel]

1 hour ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Amen to that. This is precisely why i bought my seat in the Northam....which i've had since day 1. I wanted to be next to the away fans for the atmosphere.

Can you explain that to the rest of us in more detail? 

You're in "the Northam". How does being next to the away fans create atmosphere? Apart from the 2 or 3 rows nearest you no-one can see you so you're hardly creating any atmosphere between you. Sit somewhere else in the ground and you'll see that away fans "banter" - apart from those 2 or 3 rows nearest you - is always aimed towards the Itchen North because they can hear them, see them and actually know they are there. 

Do you feel like you intimidate them into silence by goading them across a divide of barriers, nets and stewards? Believe me, again except for a few seats nearest you,  you have no effect whatsoever

Try one game sat in the Chapel blocks 16/17 area. Directly facing the away end. You'll realise how much noise the away fans actually make because they are facing you and the sound is projected directly towards you. Where you sit you never really get the full effect of the away noise because you're facing the same way.With most away followings it's louder then "the Northam" ever gets mainly because they  are all congregated in the same place. Now imagine having that noise doubled in our favour because everyone making it is stood together facing the same way. (think JPT semi v MK Dons)

And finally wouldn't "the atmoshphere" that you so enjoy be better if it was aimed at encouraging the team and totally ignoring the away fans?

[RedArmy]

33 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Police would never agree to that unfortunately. 

Everyone keeps saying this but it makes no sense. 
 

In the away end there will be a % that came by coach (easy access to Britannia road currently) a % that came by train and will either head to the railway bridge through the northam car park or go the long way round, and a % that came by car and will head in various directions. 
 

Move the away end to the kingsland north and now the train goers have easy access to the bridge and the coach goers either have to cross the car park or go the long way round. 
 

What’s the difference? 

[Patrick Bateman]

1 hour ago, franniesTache said:

90mins of a bunch of kids singing about the skates at 100 miles an hour sounds like hell on earth to me. Got bugger all to do with being close to the away fans it's more that a large chunk of our fans are like the inbetweeners pissed on dark fruits.

If our support wasn't as down the drain as it is right now it would be more enticing, but honestly it's just a bit embarrassing to be associated with a lot of them right now

Edit to add:

Also I think this probably increases our chances of having some god awful "ultras", a c*nt with a drum and embarrassing banners. At which point the Chapel is going to look very attractive indeed

You miserable git 🤣

I've been with my son in the family corner for many matches this season, have enjoyed it a lot actually, a very different and pleasant experience being sober and away from the other end of the ground.  I actually took one of my son's friends to a match too and what I noticed is that they both like the fan zone, they both liked the band, they love the goal music and many other things I would've classified as 'noddy' in years gone by.

Granted that's a sample of 2x 9 year olds, BUT, that is the future customer base.  Personally, I actually like all the street stalls behind the Kingsland too, much better at that side of the ground now.

I'm all for a better home end for those that want to go there and the safe standing will be good too.  My only question is why can't the away fans be moved to blocks 1-4 in that corner?  Little change required for policing/coaches, family corner is still the opposite side as well, less changes required and the Northam is still next to the away fans for the melts wanting to do cut throat gestures and then run away after the match ends. 

[The Cat]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

i think you'll find this is down to Parsons. 

Who Rasmus appointed!

The new head of crowd safety and security may have had a fair bit of input on this too.

[EssEffCee]

8 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Everyone keeps saying this but it makes no sense. 
 

In the away end there will be a % that came by coach (easy access to Britannia road currently) a % that came by train and will either head to the railway bridge through the northam car park or go the long way round, and a % that came by car and will head in various directions. 
 

Move the away end to the kingsland north and now the train goers have easy access to the bridge and the coach goers either have to cross the car park or go the long way round. 
 

What’s the difference? 

What about high risk games where they want to police escort the train fans all in go and segregate the fans? Don't see how that would work in Kingsland North 

[igsey]

Happily surprised by this news, it's something we've all been asking for basically since SMS opened but I thought it would be too big a logistical challenge for too small a (tangible) reward for the club to spend money on. Concourses, segregated entrances, bars, toilets, entrances/turnstiles will all need to be rejigged, walls destroyed and built.

Personally no interest in standing at games but again, happily pleased to see a safe standing area being planned. 

Does safe standing mean we can squeeze more people in? Or do the rules that each person has to have a physical seat that they can just use optionally still apply?

[M271]

If the away supporters are moved to the current family area is there any reason that the family area couldn’t move to the opposite side of the Chapel to the Itchen corner.

[JRM]

7 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Who Rasmus appointed!

The new head of crowd safety and security may have had a fair bit of input on this too.

I suspect the driving force behind this is Russell Martin, he pictures himself taking the celebratory applause around the ground at final whistle before approaching the packed Northam Ultras all with their arms raised ready to join him in a whey whey wheeeeey 

[EssEffCee]

14 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

You miserable git 🤣

I've been with my son in the family corner for many matches this season, have enjoyed it a lot actually, a very different and pleasant experience being sober and away from the other end of the ground.  I actually took one of my son's friends to a match too and what I noticed is that they both like the fan zone, they both liked the band, they love the goal music and many other things I would've classified as 'noddy' in years gone by.

Granted that's a sample of 2x 9 year olds, BUT, that is the future customer base.  Personally, I actually like all the street stalls behind the Kingsland too, much better at that side of the ground now.

I'm all for a better home end for those that want to go there and the safe standing will be good too.  My only question is why can't the away fans be moved to blocks 1-4 in that corner?  Little change required for policing/coaches, family corner is still the opposite side as well, less changes required and the Northam is still next to the away fans for the melts wanting to do cut throat gestures and then run away after the match ends. 

1-4 won't work due to corporate boxes and for FA Cup games the allocation would stretch further down the Itchen and be close to the dugouts and director seats which they'd presumably like to avoid.

[Charlie Wayman]

Another management distraction from a poor January transfer window?

[LeBizzier69]

32 minutes ago, Wurzel said:

Can you explain that to the rest of us in more detail? 

You're in "the Northam". How does being next to the away fans create atmosphere? Apart from the 2 or 3 rows nearest you no-one can see you so you're hardly creating any atmosphere between you. Sit somewhere else in the ground and you'll see that away fans "banter" - apart from those 2 or 3 rows nearest you - is always aimed towards the Itchen North because they can hear them, see them and actually know they are there. 

Do you feel like you intimidate them into silence by goading them across a divide of barriers, nets and stewards? Believe me, again except for a few seats nearest you,  you have no effect whatsoever

Try one game sat in the Chapel blocks 16/17 area. Directly facing the away end. You'll realise how much noise the away fans actually make because they are facing you and the sound is projected directly towards you. Where you sit you never really get the full effect of the away noise because you're facing the same way.With most away followings it's louder then "the Northam" ever gets mainly because they  are all congregated in the same place. Now imagine having that noise doubled in our favour because everyone making it is stood together facing the same way. (think JPT semi v MK Dons)

And finally wouldn't "the atmoshphere" that you so enjoy be better if it was aimed at encouraging the team and totally ignoring the away fans?

I'm in the 2 or 3 rows nearest them, so i hope that answers your question. I just enjoy being near the away fans - i also like peanut butter marmite spread too on BUTTERED toast. Some things i just can't explain - so apologies to you and the hoards of others who you feel need your questions answered.

 

[manji]

35 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Who Rasmus appointed!

The new head of crowd safety and security may have had a fair bit of input on this too.

Well done Sports Republic 😎

[Bob60]

24 minutes ago, M271 said:

If the away supporters are moved to the current family area is there any reason that the family area couldn’t move to the opposite side of the Chapel to the Itchen corner.

A lot of the people there were originally where the family centre is now, we all got moved to the chapel itchen corner so I know quite a few would be pissed off too be moved again.

[Saint Matty 76]

As somebody with a season ticket in the Northam right next to the away fans, I love the idea but fear the obvious that a lot of people will want to move to stay next to them.

Good on the club for trying something. The atmosphere this season has been absolute shit in my opinion, despite good attendances and some great results.

I’ll stay where I’m at, despite enjoying the away section banter. The bigger appeal is a whole stand that actually sing and get up for a game.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, RedArmy said:

Move away fans to kingsland north. Problem solved. 

I suspect they would want to keep away fans away from the corporate boxes. 

[St Steve]

32 minutes ago, M271 said:

If the away supporters are moved to the current family area is there any reason that the family area couldn’t move to the opposite side of the Chapel to the Itchen corner.

I hope not I dont want to move 

[EssEffCee]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

I suspect they would want to keep away fans away from the corporate boxes. 

Corporate are all in Itchen aren't they?

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

As somebody with a season ticket in the Northam right next to the away fans, I love the idea but fear the obvious that a lot of people will want to move to stay next to them.

Good on the club for trying something. The atmosphere this season has been absolute shit in my opinion, despite good attendances and some great results.

I’ll stay where I’m at, despite enjoying the away section banter. The bigger appeal is a whole stand that actually sing and get up for a game.

I hope a lot of the fans share the same attitude as you. I'm sceptical though from what I've seen so far (albeit a small sample).

[Chez]

35 minutes ago, M271 said:

If the away supporters are moved to the current family area is there any reason that the family area couldn’t move to the opposite side of the Chapel to the Itchen corner.

makes sense, but they could go in any corner really.

[Chez]

45 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

What about high risk games where they want to police escort the train fans all in go and segregate the fans? Don't see how that would work in Kingsland North 

I was thinking the same. 

In general, most away fans walk down Britannia Road both for coaches and train travel rather than go over the footbridge. The percentage going over the bridge is going to increase. Whether that causes a problem, I'm not sure. 

[EssEffCee]

8 minutes ago, Chez said:

I was thinking the same. 

In general, most away fans walk down Britannia Road both for coaches and train travel rather than go over the footbridge. The percentage going over the bridge is going to increase. Whether that causes a problem, I'm not sure. 

I suspect they'd block off the footbridge side and make them go through the industrial estate. Don't see a suitable route to escort say 3k Pompey fans going that way though.

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, The Cat said:

Who Rasmus appointed!

The new head of crowd safety and security may have had a fair bit of input on this too.

it doesn't work that that Cat. You've been around long enough to know this.

[Wurzel]

48 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

I'm in the 2 or 3 rows nearest them, so i hope that answers your question. I just enjoy being near the away fans - i also like peanut butter marmite spread too on BUTTERED toast. Some things i just can't explain - so apologies to you and the hoards of others who you feel need your questions answered.

 

My post was really aimed at the ", want to be near the away fans" in general, you were just the unfortunate one I quoted. 

But here's a dilemma for you. Away fans moved to the opposite end.  Peanut butter marmite spread on buttered toast is to be made available only from kiosks in the new Northam.  What then? 🤣

[Chez]

29 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

I suspect they'd block off the footbridge side and make them go through the industrial estate. Don't see a suitable route to escort say 3k Pompey fans going that way though.

The will probably just keep the skates in the ground for a few hours...

[LeBizzier69]

9 minutes ago, Wurzel said:

My post was really aimed at the ", want to be near the away fans" in general, you were just the unfortunate one I quoted. 

But here's a dilemma for you. Away fans moved to the opposite end.  Peanut butter marmite spread on buttered toast is to be made available only from kiosks in the new Northam.  What then? 🤣

I get that totally - i bought that seat when i was just past my mid 20s and being near the away fans was really appealing as i'd not sampled it before. I guess i quite like the gloating highs, and being gloated at lows that go with being near them.

Not sure i'd trust the catering employees even with a couple of slices of normal toast let alone the adding of both butter and marmite peanut butter so i'd happily move away!

Being honest, i'm not sure i'd move anyway as i like the view etc where i am - and i'd like to think that it could work. I'm just a bit concerned that the end could become a library unless there's a decent group and concerted effort to make it a special home end.

[Nordic Saint]

The new setup will be the same that they have at most of the stadiums in the world with the best atmospheres: noisiest home fans behind the goal at one end; away fans in a corner at the other. The Italian and South American stadiums are like that, although a few have the away fans high up in an upper tier like Newcastle do..

[Appy]

What sort of weirdo has a seat just to be next to away fans? 

[Give it to Ron]

I don’t get all this bollox about away fans and coaches every away game I have done in last 2 seasons have parked ‘miles’ away from ground ! QPR you walked past main home pub!

[iansums]

You're not going to please everyone and some people who end up having to move will have a moan but I think the majority of fans would welcome this. It's always been a gripe of mine that we've never really had a 'Saints end' to the ground. It would be interesting to see if the vocal parts of the Itchen and Chapel (Block 15) would move to the Northam. I've recently been stting in Kingsland North and it would be great to see a full and noisy Northan.

[Sunglasses Ron]

I'm so pleased to see this.

Never agreed with the "we can't do it" talk as where there's a will there's a way and all that.

Great job Saints!

[warsash saint]

3 hours ago, macca155 said:

In contrast Wolves and Villa with a decent side section for away fans gives a good feel to the game.

 

I have to say Wolves is one of the worst away experiences - the away fans are so thinly strung out the length of pitch it is near impossible to create any atmosphere.

[Ken Tone]

A lot of long-term season ticket holders will be really upset about having to move seats. Many of us have been sitting near the same group of other fans for years. Putting away fans in the current family stand will mean those fans that like to sit near away fans will move into the Kingsland and the Chapel, and completely change the nature of those areas, as well as disrupting the family stand itself. 

St Mary's *was* set up for a whole home end  .....The Chapel... but fans chose to go to the Northam to be by the away fans.

[LuckyNumber7]

This is great news and long overdue! Kudos to Sport Republic for listening to fans and actually taking action.

I'm in the Kingsland North corner and to be honest the Northam has been utter crap for a long time now. More interested in what the away fans are doing and hardly even sing anymore. Itchen North have shown them up this season. It's no use having little pockets of the more vocal fans spread over different parts of the ground, to make a decent atmosphere you need it more concentrated.

It's now up to us fans to make this work. For those that are more obsessed with being next to the away fans than making noise, let them move. For the rest of us that actually want to create a proper supportive and intimidating home atmosphere, let's get behind this. I will almost certainly relocate to the safe standing area. It also means our home end is unaffected for cup games with large away followings which is great. As said above this is how all stadiums with a proper atmosphere are laid out, I'm actually really buzzing about this. 

Well done Saints.

[Toadhall Saint]

Northam do your thing

 

 

[Harry_SFC]

1 hour ago, warsash saint said:

I have to say Wolves is one of the worst away experiences - the away fans are so thinly strung out the length of pitch it is near impossible to create any atmosphere.

Isn't that what you'd want as the home side though? 

[ImproveOurAtmosphere]

1 hour ago, iansums said:

You're not going to please everyone and some people who end up having to move will have a moan but I think the majority of fans would welcome this. It's always been a gripe of mine that we've never really had a 'Saints end' to the ground. It would be interesting to see if the vocal parts of the Itchen and Chapel (Block 15) would move to the Northam. I've recently been stting in Kingsland North and it would be great to see a full and noisy Northan.

The club are looking at ways to bring all vocal fans together in the Northam and are looking at different pricing options. Hopefully that means some cheaper seats in the outer blocks of the Northam. If that's the case then block 15 support will move there as the cheaper seats were the sole reason for the 'Back of the Chapel' movement. 

[sfc4prem]

46 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Northam do your thing

 

 

Just need Artur Boruc on board to be the Northam ringleader 😂

[Convict Colony]

6 hours ago, Turkish said:

i was joking. It's pointless being next to the away fans. The best atmosphere would be created by 5,000 Saints fans all in one end giving it large. 

23 likes currently, whats your record at the moment ?

[Tommy Mulgrew]

St Jonny is hot on T’s heels at 20 and counting.

[macca155]

2 hours ago, warsash saint said:

I have to say Wolves is one of the worst away experiences - the away fans are so thinly strung out the length of pitch it is near impossible to create any atmosphere.

I don't remember it being like that but guess my memory could be failing me.

You can get an atmosphere going anywhere if your team wins. Sadly that was a rare event in the Prem.

[S-Clarke]

Long time coming, not sure why previous regimes have said this is so difficult to do - it has always seemed quite straight forward, Family zone in the Chapel - they already have a dedicated concourse and easy access back out away from the home fans via the industrial estate for the coaches etc. Not much needs to be done Chapel side to make this work. It's the only place logistically you could move them to though, so it was either the family block or keep it as it is.

Will need some work in the Northam though to great a stand-wide concourse - long overdue though, nice to see there is money for things like this and stadium improvements. 

[Bad Wolf]

Good to have a choice. Personally, I've never really seen the appeal of standing up during a game when I paid for a seat but each to their own.

[sfc4prem]

5 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Long time coming, not sure why previous regimes have said this is so difficult to do - it has always seemed quite straight forward, Family zone in the Chapel - they already have a dedicated concourse and easy access back out away from the home fans via the industrial estate for the coaches etc. Not much needs to be done Chapel side to make this work. It's the only place logistically you could move them to though, so it was either the family block or keep it as it is.

Will need some work in the Northam though to great a stand-wide concourse - long overdue though, nice to see there is money for things like this and stadium improvements. 

Love this idea. It will take a concerted effort from fans to actually sing, rather than look over their shoulder in a baffled manner when I try to start up a song.

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Bad Wolf said:

Good to have a choice. Personally, I've never really seen the appeal of standing up during a game when I paid for a seat but each to their own.

Good for the posture.

[aintforever]

It’s good to have a standing area but I can’t see moving the away fans making any difference to the atmosphere, it’s the same fans just moved around. Those that want to shout at the away fans will just move to wherever they are, those that want to just sit in silence with their flask of coffee will move to the Northam

[SaintNewForest]

Now Semmens & Steele are gone, perhaps we can stop being so welcoming and nice to the away fans.