Getting behind the boys at Withdean - how?

[Stinky Kat]

Mark McGhee has asked us to come determined to get on our feet and get behind the team at withdean on saturday - impossible in my case.

Not easy! My son and I have season tickets in the back row of C block in the South stand. I got these tickets 4 years ago because I wanted my son to see the whole game and knew he would need to stand at certain points to see all of the beautiful game.

Howver, if I or my son or any back rowers stand up at any stage in the game, other than goal celebration, near miss, the normal things that get everybody up, our over zealous steward tells us to sit down - before anyone says it I know he is only carrying our football league orders. Sometimes my son stands so he can see what is happening when play is down the nature reserve end, as nobody sits behind him in my opinion thats not a problem. The steward thinks otherwise. In D block in the back row the supporters get away with standing throughout the game as they are not 12 years old and would probably let anybody who told them to sit down have a piece of their mind.

Back to the subject in hand, as said on NSC before it is difficult to get any kind of sustained atmosphere going at Withdean. Sound does not travel, proof is that I have never heard the screamer scream.

My friend has written to the club about a temporary roof for the poor souls in the south stand but it would be too expensive, no suprise there then, so how do we get a sustained atmosphere.

Perhaps free beer would get the lads in C block singing throughout the game and a more realistic policy on people, especially kids standing in games, especially at exciting times,after all I do pay £245 for him to attend and he does want to see AND SUPPORT HIS CLUB as the manager now requests

 

[Bigtomfu]

dont you just love beauracracy (probably cant spell it...)

is it the steward on the right or left as you look at the pitch?

 

[Brighton till i die]

bloody good point fella.

Withdean sucks!

 

[Stinky Kat]

dont you just love beauracracy (probably cant spell it...)

is it the steward on the right or left as you look at the pitch?

right hand side

 

[mrhairy]

Against Leeds I think this was the best home support ever. Even D Block were leading it. We can do it if we want to and I have three Seasons with 2 kids but if I remember most of us were standing towards the end.

 

[Bigtomfu]

right hand side

thought so- i'm in d block and used to occupy the back row where there were always three seats free on the very back row- my cousin, dad and i would want to sit together but only two of our tickets were. therefore we took it upon ourselves to sit there- worked fine for a two seasons and then some over zealous steward reported us to the safety officer for standing up, with noone behind i didnt see the problem either. we took it all the way to the club who decreed that this would contravene the articles relating to the use of the ground. therefore we were forced to moveand cannot sit together anymore unless we get lucky with tickets....

 

[b.w.2.]

Everyone on here just try their best to get chants going... I will from the North Stand...

 

[Curious Orange]

Perhaps free beer would get the lads in C block singing throughout the game and a more realistic policy on people, especially kids standing in games, especially at exciting times,after all I do pay £245 for him to attend and he does want to see AND SUPPORT HIS CLUB as the manager now requests

You are allowed to join in when I start up a "SEAGULLS!!" chant you know!!

 

[WATFORD O]

There is no point really. Best to stay quiet and watch your humilations mount..................

 

[smudge]

The last time I was at Orient, (few years ago now) there was quite an atmosphere......which we created.
They would just love to play us again. What was it that snooker promoter said, "License to print money when we play Brighton."
Well, I doubt if our paths will cross unless you get us in the cup.

Mind you Watford O, you would of liked one of the chants at West Ham, "You're worse than Orient." The ultimate insult,

 

[Ex-Staffs Gull]

What we need is volunteers in each block who will all join in with a chant, so if one starts one the other say 10 or fifteen also all join in. Thus creating a knock on effect to all the other blocks. It is rather like dominoes. Then as a few join in all around, others feel less self consious (I know it's a football match, but some do feel like that) and join in as well.

Perhaps a list of easy and agreed chants to join in on.

Albion, Albion
GOSBTS
Seagulls, Seagulls

etc.

 

[Curious Orange]

What we need is volunteers in each block who will all join in with a chant, so if one starts one the other say 10 or fifteen also all join in. Thus creating a knock on effect to all the other blocks. It is rather like dominoes. Then as a few join in all around, others feel less self consious (I know it's a football match, but some do feel like that) and join in as well.

Perhaps a list of easy and agreed chants to join in on.

Albion, Albion
GOSBTS
Seagulls, Seagulls

etc.

Like this doesn't already happen?

 

[Kev the Ape]

Have a big microphone?

 

[jezzer]

As the club now control the stewards, couldnt they tell them to stop acting like a bunch of overgown jobsworths and actually let people stand now and again to start singing etc? Surely not too much to ask. Withdean is awful for the logistics of fan participation, Singing supporters scattered around the whole south stand block, no roof so alot of the singing is just lost in the air, wanky stewards etc, but ultimately Mark Mcghee is right about the home support, it can be a lot better. Perhaps we should all make extra effort on saturday. Loads of Blue Balloons, streamers, fireworks in the nature reserve (if they dare), just something to get the place going. Cmon!

 

[Napper]

there used to be the drum in the singing section, can we not get this again ?

 

[b.w.2.]

I would recommend singing.
that is usually how we create an atmosphere at Reading games.

Well, Brighton fans created the atmos when I was there 1st game... and we were losing most of the game... I thought the home supporters were very poor that day...

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

would make a change to make some noise at withdean

 

[b.w.2.]

If we could just take the Brighton away support to Withdean... that would be awesome... yes, Withdean acoustics are bad, but there have been games when the place has really got going... it IS possible...

Let's get the chants going on Sat...

Let's join-in with anyone who starts a chant...

Sing up for the Albion!...

 

[eastlondonseagull]

We know how to create an atmos, cos we do it every game away from home.

At home, yes the ground is shite, but there's a different crowd, a different mentality. And it's bloody annoying.

Either we ban the people who sit there, silent (we can't do that, obviously) or all us who do sing just keep bloody doing it. I'm always pissing off the people around me in F block for shouting too much. Well, f*** them. Keep doing it anyway

 

[Ex-Staffs Gull]

Curious Orange, I know what your saying that this does happen, but it is sporadic. What I meant was organising within the blocks to try and encourage others.

Many seem to try a few, and then look at the people around them and give up. I am not local and only get to a handful of home games a year, but I do think it is time to address this in a more organised way rather than just hope. Rather than a signing section, there should be people who are willing to lead chanting in all areas of the ground.

At away games we are all sat around our friends usually, which makes it easier to chant.