maltaseagull
Well-known member
I don't go very often and only join in with "Al- bi- on and Sea- gulls as I know the words to them
It's time to reintroduce this word back into the football lexicon: spectators.
In previous eras, football supporters didn't have a problem with being known as 'spectators.' It wasn't an insult. Nor did they seem to get neurotic because no one has sung a song for the previous ten minutes.
It's only in modern times with so much money at stake in the game (and higher levels of vanity) that supporters have got rather big for their boots and imagine themselves as the '12th man' who can influence whole games. It's through this that we've got all this navel having about there was an 'atmosphere' or not, or which stand was the noisiest. Before, it was all about watching and enjoying the game itself.
Well, before you paid on the gate, and stood where you wanted to. On any given game all those wanting to sing could move together freely and easily, those that didn't could sit in the stand, or stand some where else. Everyone was happy and enjoyed the game as you say, and if you wanted to sing, you knew exactly where to go. Allocated seating and all seater stadiums changed all that.
Players definitely respond to the crowd though. They can feel the tension, or rise to the support they're getting.
Well, before you paid on the gate, and stood where you wanted to. On any given game all those wanting to sing could move together freely and easily, those that didn't could sit in the stand, or stand some where else. Everyone was happy and enjoyed the game as you say, and if you wanted to sing, you knew exactly where to go. Allocated seating and all seater stadiums changed all that.
Players definitely respond to the crowd though. They can feel the tension, or rise to the support they're getting.
See what you did there. very good.There are grounds however to suggest that a vociferous home crowd does have an effect on the decisions made by officials benefiting the supported team.
Research tends to support this but not necessarily in the way you might think. Vocal crowd support can in fact raise stress levels in players and make them more aware of the crowd thus reducing their performance levels.
There are grounds however to suggest that a vociferous home crowd does have an effect on the decisions made by officials benefiting the supported team.
Because at home games I'm in 1901 and hardly anyone does. My neighbour and I sing GOSBTS, Albiooooon and I sing some of the player-specific songs, but the peer pressure not to sing is really pretty high.
At away games, I tend to stand somewhere close to the guys who start nearly all the songs and sing along merrily. However, I have a horrible, high squeaky voice while singing (which is odd since I have an averagely deep male speaking voice) and I get embarrassed. It doesn't stop me singing, but I do tend to sing more quietly than I would if my singing voice were more manly.
- Because singing makes no discernible difference to the outcome of a match.
- Because it's best to give the players some peace and quiet to help them concentrate on the matter in hand
- Because many of our songs are anti-Palace rather pro-Albion.
- Because 'go left' is an uninspiring dirge of a song
- Because I'm not very good at singing.
- Because I didn't pay this money to join a choir.
- Because I paid to get in - that's me showing support, rather than letting people know which stand I'm sitting in
- Because I am not drinking alcohol while watching the match
- Because I'm busy watching the match.
Oh, and...
- Because Brighton play an uninspiring, patient game that doesn't inspire often a rush of adrenalin that is conducive to singing
Tell me, why do you go again?
Tell me, why do you go again?