Are We Capable?

[GarySTFC]

of creating a positive, vocal atmosphere at the clubhouse end anymore? I looked on at the noise of the home support on Tuesday with more than a hint of jealousy as large numbers got behind the team, albeit once they got back into the game.

 

Whilst I appreciate some of the voices have moved on and away, we used to have a decent support vocally, especially when the team needed it most in the game. Now we only get the odd chant with only a handful of voices.

 

So, what do we need to do to get more people joining in and getting that atmosphere back behind the goal to get us towards promotion?

[readingrebel]

of creating a positive, vocal atmosphere at the clubhouse end anymore? I looked on at the noise of the home support on Tuesday with more than a hint of jealousy as large numbers got behind the team, albeit once they got back into the game.

 

Whilst I appreciate some of the voices have moved on and away, we used to have a decent support vocally, especially when the team needed it most in the game. Now we only get the odd chant with only a handful of voices.

 

So, what do we need to do to get more people joining in and getting that atmosphere back behind the goal to get us towards promotion?

 

 

 

Might have to sink a few pints first Gary

[Matt]

Numbers. And people to start us off. It's sad, but people have gradually drifted away in the 9 years since we left Wexham Park.

[Mr Rebel]

definitely has been much much quieter the last year or so

 

shooting at the far end we dont even try and under the clubhouse cover its halfhearted at times

 

as said we really just dont have enough ballsy enough to get the chanting going. also our support seems to spread out round the ground/behind goals recently which doesnt help with numbers tightly packed together enough for the sound levels to rise

[HorshamRebel]

As said in the post above, one of the main problems we have in regards to noise is that, even though we have large attendances (for our level), the support is spread around the ground, and not in one place, so we never have the numbers to keep the chants going.

 

This Saturday, we really need to get behind the team to give them a lift, and it would be really nice to get a few photos with a packed shed end as well. So for those who don't usually stand behind the goal, why not give it a try this Saturday, and keep your throats warm by singing a few chants.

[Sue]

I think we can, it was a bit difficult on Tuesday evening as we were all spread out all over the place.

 

We need you and Graham back Gary.

[GarySTFC]

Not there this Saturday as making the annual pilgrimage to Anfield, but very keen to get a good atmosphere going under that covered terrace. If we can get another ten or fifteen joining in, I do think this can have a real positive effect on the team.

 

Will be more than happy to lead things off and get everyone going if the numbers are there and willing to join in.

[Ian]

I know you can arrange most things, Gary, but this one might be beyond you and that's the atmosphere is best under there when it's p*ssing with rain and everyone shelters under the cover. When it's full it's good but it's also true that we've lost some of the noisier fans over the years - Nigel, Graham, BFR, Jenny, Gary etc.

[Ian]

Just to add to this - why don't we do what HV did last Saturday and stay under the covered end throughout the game? That far end at SYCOB is rubbish both for viewing and for making any noise. A number of people stay at the covered end (I do sometimes) but why don't we all do it? Just a thought.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Problem is as stated above, out support is very spread out. Even under the covered end only the ones who stand by the tunnel end will get involved in the songs. There is also a lot of people (like me) who will join in the chanting once someone starts it, but not so many who will start them!

I still like changing ends at half time so not so keen on staying in the covered end for the whole game. A lesson for our new ground should be having two covered ends for this reason!

Can't be there Saturday as I am making a rare appearance as a Saints fan at Reading on Saturday evening, but i will be willing the team on from a distance and then I will be at the Leighton game the following week.

[HorshamRebel]

Sounds like a good idea Ian.

 

It would be good to get an atmosphere that was the same as at THAT Wimbledon match, when a few of us completely outsung over a thousand home fans for the whole 90 minutes

[Mr Rebel]

seems like the best 1st step to try and improve sound levels is to find a few willing to get it going in the first place.

 

i do think the fact most fans are sick of this level now doesn't help either. very very few games feel special enough in the slightest to get the passion going enough to chant throughout the game wholeheartedly. also the fact basically no team brings away fans for us to feed off of

[brighton_rebel]

Mr.Rebel you've hit the nail right on the head. Very few games feel special, that coupled with loads of our big gobs not coming anymore, no cover behind the far goal, no away fans to help get us worked up. Rugby would be a good game to start, but i don't know if i can get there in time, and to tell you the truth don't massively enjoy going to Beaconsfield.

It's much easier at away grounds, but on Tuesday we were all huddled freezing in a corner second half with not much to sing about!

I also don't remember in the pre conference days, when we were always doing well in the Isthmian and places like Dagenham still had grass banks behind the goals, very much singing either. If it's any consolation we are much noiser now!

[HP9]

Mr.Rebel you've hit the nail right on the head. Very few games feel special, that coupled with loads of our big gobs not coming anymore, no cover behind the far goal, no away fans to help get us worked up. Rugby would be a good game to start, but i don't know if i can get there in time, and to tell you the truth don't massively enjoy going to Beaconsfield.

It's much easier at away grounds, but on Tuesday we were all huddled freezing in a corner second half with not much to sing about!

I also don't remember in the pre conference days, when we were always doing well in the Isthmian and places like Dagenham still had grass banks behind the goals, very much singing either. If it's any consolation we are much noiser now!

No your not, it was much noisier then.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

We need people to join in, at the Cup game the only loud 'uns were myself and Gary, and i tried a couple of chants and it died so gave up.... We can make some noise but its a lot harder when so many are away! Sure Rugby will brign a good crowd and hopefully both sets of fans can make some noise!

 

PS- Sorry Warren (may be looking through rose tinted specs) but i agree with WCW, we were louder then.

[the optimist]

the trouble is alot of supporters like to stand on the sides of the pitch where they can assess the game as a whole and then if they use this to comment on the game it is not a one sided report with blinkers on rather than some reports you get on here .

if you had more covering at the ground the atmosphere would be better rather than just one side

remember wexham park

new ground architects take note

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Completely agree!!!

[Sir Rebel1965]

Not sure how easy it is to get the fans to make lots of noise when they have experienced the following at important games,

 

2010/11 League play offs beaten 4-1 by Hitchin

 

2009/10 League play off finals beaten 4-0 by Chesham

 

2011/12 FA Cup beaten 5-3 by Hanworth Villa

 

2010/11 FA Cup beaten 1-0 by Erith – had to have John Lawson play!

 

2011/12 Trophy beaten 3-0 by Gosport.

 

Watching these games where Slough got well and truly turned over was not something to cheer about.

 

Hanworth Villa fans have plenty to cheer about – they are on the up, have Slough stagnated at this level?

 

The fans need something positive to make noise for; unfortunately Steve Bateman fails to step up to the mark on the big occasions, having done all the hard work to get there.

 

The more I see of him, the more I see a good manager who can get teams into the top quarter of the league, but not one good enough for us to progress higher – how many attempts will it take to get out of this Mickey Mouse league?

 

Maybe Steve Bateman needs to learn to change things around better, or the Chairman needs to change around the management?

 

Without a major achievement in the bag soon, will the fans cheers start to disappear altogether?

[GarySTFC]

The fans need something positive to make noise for;

 

Absolute tosh. AFC Wimbledon away, getting beat 9-0. Didn't give us much to sing about, but we did.

 

I hate this argument about the players having to do something to get the fans to make some noise. We can create our own atmosphere and we needn't wait for the players to do something for us to make some noise.

 

As for the WP days, I can't recall the place ever rocking except in a game against Maidenhead which we won 1-0. The driving range end, and almost all of it, was in with the chanting. Very rarely, big games aside, do you see anywhere near that anymore.

[Ian]

Referring back to the Hitchin playoff game we also made loads of noise throughout that game despite knowing we were going to lose as early as the start of the second half. I do think there's some merit in the argument that this is a rubbish level and we need to get out of it.