[Albion] Stadium Observations

[Bry Nylon]

I spent time in the north back in the day, late 80s and very early 90s. There were cores of singers to the center of the stand but that was it.

Yes, there is a tendency for romanticism where the Goldstone north stand is concerned; a tendency to re-write history to make it out to be this seething mass of non-stop noise, which for much of time it simply wasn't. Especially after the north east corner was condemned and away supporters were housed further away.

For me, what made the old north stand special is what made terraces in general special; the fact that anyone could simply turn up and pay to get in and so you'd spend the time before kick-off speculating with you mates about how big the crowd was likely to be; the fact that that like-minded people could congregate together and so the singing and chanting seemed to suddenly erupt spontaneously, spread and then wither as quickly a it had started. The edgy thrill of feeling anonymous in a homogenous crowd and that never-too-far-away sense that 'anything' could happen, even though you knew it never would. It felt mildly dangerous yet completely safe, because in spite of the surges and the bundling, the barriers and the fences and the slight feeling of being in the midst of something uncontrolled, nothing bad could ever really happen, could it?

And then Hillsborough happened.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Imho it's not that the different groups in the North don't like each other, it's that they are collectively barely capable of coming up with anything new and catchy, they just trot out either the same old stuff (middle group), or some wanky European guff that doesn't catch on (NSK).

We've mustered about 6 good chants in the 13 years since the Amex opened. Pascal Gross, widely regarded as one of if not the best player we've ever had, still doesn't have a chant that the whole ground will sing.

It's that sort of think that makes for a crap atmosphere

 

[Commander]

Imho it's not that the different groups in the North don't like each other, it's that they are collectively barely capable of coming up with anything new and catchy, they just trot out either the same old stuff (middle group), or some wanky European guff that doesn't catch on (NSK).

We've mustered about 6 good chants in the 13 years since the Amex opened. Pascal Gross, widely regarded as one of if not the best player we've ever had, still doesn't have a chant that the whole ground will sing.

It's that sort of think that makes for a crap atmosphere

And every single song is just taken from someone else, with absolutely nothing original. Take the current 'We've got super Rob de Zerbi' song. It's good when it's loud and seems to be the most popular one at the moment. But not only is it nicked from somewhere else, we're about two years late with it, other clubs have been singing it for absolutely ages.

As with all this kind of stuff though, the solution is very simple, but in practice can't happen. Move the two singing groups into the middle of the North behind the goal, and move the non-singers to the wings. Problem solved. But won't work in practice because people would be up in arms about having to move.

 

[portlock seagull]

What bollocks specifically? I don't think there is anything you can actually pinpoint as being untrue about what I said. Please correct me.

Sorry can’t be bothered. It’s been done to death so if you’ve missed it in any one of the numerous threads over the decade or more then you’ve been blind to or even unwilling perhaps to accept peoples reasoning. I’m merely an observer, not a spokesperson. But it really has been done to death. Move on.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

No there isn't. They just can't hear each other because of the acoustics. A much as some people would like to continually take a pop at our support the acoustics really do play an important part in whether you can hear what is going on. Of course this can be overcome when events on the field bring everyone together, it's why the Albion chant (the most simple one) can get really loud as it is easier to make that one travel round the stadium.

I sit in the WSU and the atmosphere compared to many away venues is pretty good. No we are not Marseilles but we are not a library either.

I sit in the North Shelf and being elevated at the perfect height (1901 Lite) can hear equally the north as much as the away end. It’s also been more noticeable from my vantage point at least the increase in chants that have originated from WSU and the SW corner

 

[Mackenzie]

I sit in the North Shelf and being elevated at the perfect height (1901 Lite) can hear equally the north as much as the away end. It’s also been more noticeable from my vantage point at least the increase in chants that have originated from WSU and the SW corner

The SW corner is brilliant, it’s a shame we don’t have our ‘singing’ section there as it’s a lot easier to react off of the away fans when you’re right next to them.

 

[Washboard Didgets]

It seems for various reasons the train situation is not one that is likely to improve – I assume these issues are on weekdays when rolling stock is utilised with commuters at rush hour and this is less of a problem at weekends? So unless the government/train operators invest in new rolling stock we can't have longer trains?

Therefore the best alternative solution would be for the club to implement the excellent shuttle bus service to Brighton Old Steine on weeknight matches. The two recent matches with the shuttle buses (Brentford and Spurs?) were the best transport experience I've had. On both occasions I was back in Brighton within 30 minutes of the final whistle, with barely any queuing and a direct/non-stop journey into town.

In the Premier League the number of weeknight matches is minimal compared to Championship so wouldn't be too expensive.

 

[BN41Albion]

We've mustered about 6 good chants in the 13 years since the Amex opened. Pascal Gross, widely regarded as one of if not the best player we've ever had, still doesn't have a chant that the whole ground will sing.

It's that sort of think that makes for a crap atmosphere

That's rubbish - we have a very wide variety of songs imo compared to the average club

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

That's rubbish - we have a very wide variety of songs imo compared to the average club

How many get sun at The Amex? f*** all, a couple about De Zerbi, Dunk, Albiooooon, and maybe the odd blast of a Veltman or Lamptey song.

Beyond that, an utterly shit atmosphere

 

[BN41Albion]

How many get sun at The Amex? f*** all, a couple about De Zerbi, Dunk, Albiooooon, and maybe the odd blast of a Veltman or Lamptey song.

Beyond that, an utterly shit atmosphere

That's bullshit re songs sung.

And it's really not that bad at the Amex - could be better but it's far from the worst

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

That's bullshit re songs sung.

And it's really not that bad at the Amex - could be better but it's far from the worst

I didn't say it was the worst, just that we have bugger all songs that everyone joins in with.

 

[Machiavelli]

I didn't say it was the worst, just that we have bugger all songs that everyone joins in with.

So, we're utterly shit, but there's worse than that, then.

 

[Bry Nylon]

That's rubbish - we have a very wide variety of songs imo compared to the average club

If all of them go, “Alllll-biii-ooooooon, Alll-bii-ooooon,” then yes, I agree with you.

 

[Weststander]

If all of them go, “Alllll-biii-ooooooon, Alll-bii-ooooon,” then yes, I agree with you.

We have in fact got two songs, with

“Tony Bloom’s blue and white army”.