Atmosphere

[Laker]

This was posted on the Cambridge message board: https://www.the92.net/stats/overall/atmosphere#.WThJ-sh4XCR

Fratton Park were top in League 2 last season now but since Pompey and Plymouth have buggered off, it leaves Blundell Park as number 1 in our division with the Abbey Stadium second and Meadow Lane third. Accrington bottom. I've not read how they calculated it, mind.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Blundell isn't really that good for an atmosphere unless it's nearly full.

 

[shoddycollins]

I think it's just based on the ratings given by visitors to the ground.

I refuse to believe that the atmosphere at Stevenage is better than the atmosphere at Arsenal. Also MK Dons are clearly some distance adrift at the bottom simply because fans don't like the club, objectively the atmosphere's probably not that bad, and how in holy hell is the atmosphere at Blackpool better than the atmosphere at Northampton?

By the way, if you rank them by overall rating then Luton are 92nd!

Also how Brighton come top of the pie rating mystifies me. There's no such thing as a pie south of Warrington, just something that southerners and midlanders think is a pie, but isn't.

I took a little look at some of the individiual ratings, they often add which match they saw and there does seem to be a little truth in saying that when the away team won, their fans gave the stadium a better rating.

 

[GTFCfish]

Whilst I have known some incredibly good atmospheres at Blundell Park (Fulham 98 play off and West Brom season after spring to mind), when things are not going well it can be awful.
The Braintree home play off 1st leg defeat was toxic, some of the shit people were shouting at the players and at Hurst left me feeling embarrassed to be a Town fan that night.

 

[Maple Hatter]

To be fair the atmosphere for games at KR isn't what it used to be. Far too much expectation and little patience from the fans not helped by poor away support for most league 2 clubs. Our fans can generate a loud and hostile big match atmosphere. The recent Blackpool play off semi was proof of that. I think home atmospheres at most clubs isn't what it used to be at least compared to the old terrace culture of days gone by.
Not surprisingly our low overall rank is due to the grounds location. See the thread about relocation. Our pies aren't that great either. Obviously an important ingredient to the match day experience?!
Don't think any of our fans would take the survey too seriously. Most enjoy the match day experience. Its just the results and inconsistent performances that are disappointing.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah the "atmosphere" at Kenilworth Road just isn't what it used to be, not sure its entirely due to "expectation" though, just from watching us play away it does seem to me that fans in general are a lot more willing to get on at players than previously but thats purely anecdotal. I also think there has been marked improvement in that area since the bad old days of the first couple of seasons in the conference where people were on at the players before kick off seemingly, i mean at least a lot of people seem to sit in silence these days!!

Most games are just really, really quiet. The only thing that gets people going is perceived injustice from the ref it seems! When we get ahead of steam up, usualy deep into the second half, it does get better though. Just not a lot of singing going on these days and i think that may be just due to the changing nature of our support. Just seems to me that most of our supporters these days are not the type to partake in that sort of atmosphere creation. Not sure if I'm just getting old but there seems to be a lot more younger kids coming these days and just not a lot of people who you would think would partake in "terrace culture" or whatever you want to call it, most of the people who sit around me in the main stand for instance are just normal middle class boring types (and I include me in that it must be said!) who just the arent into that.

Don't think the splitting of the Oak Road End has particularly helped with any of that either as the few who did sing are now split over 2 stands.

 

[Impish]

Whilst I have known some incredibly good atmospheres at Blundell Park (Fulham 98 play off and West Brom season after spring to mind), when things are not going well it can be awful.
The Braintree home play off 1st leg defeat was toxic, some of the shit people were shouting at the players and at Hurst left me feeling embarrassed to be a Town fan that night.

Wow how do I bookmark this for future reference. I've been saying this about your fans for years, toxic. Must be awful as a player. Fair play for your honesty Fish, genuinely.

 

[cufc17]

I'm not surprised ours is so low, I'd say the main factor is our stadium size. We average around 5000, so there's something like 13000 empty seats/stand. Add in the fact most away followings are less than 200, and usually silent. There's been a couple of games where the atmosphere has got going, like Hartlepool and Exeter, but not too often.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Its not as if its a rare opinion; four years of playoff losses take their toll.

 

[Big Bird]

Ours has slowly gotten worse since Di Canio left. Nowadays in the Town End you mainly here what people are doing with their Saturday evenings and how work's going.

 

[Indian Dan]

It doesn't help that the view from the Town End is mega shite. Stand behind the goal and you're viewing the game through the goal netting - be fine for a bee with its compound eye. The Arkells is essentially God's waiting room which leaves the DRS which is a great view. I take it there are still a few dinosaurs in L2 with away standing on a bit of shitty concrete, still piss-stained from days gone by.

 

[GTFCfish]

I take it there are still a few dinosaurs in L2 with away standing on a bit of shitty concrete, still piss-stained from days gone by.

They're my favourite sort of away games.
All seater stadiums may well look nice but you can't beat standing on a terrace singing and bouncing around to create a terrific atmosphere.
There aren't too many things I miss about non league but standing at away games is definitely one of them.

 

[Youpies]

Wow how do I bookmark this for future reference. I've been saying this about your fans for years, toxic. Must be awful as a player. Fair play for your honesty Fish, genuinely.

Sense of reality here... All clubs have this. Crawley and Rushden away sticks in my mind for when our fans turned on the players in a particularly nasty way

 

[mtfc26]

Not surprised we are way down there ours has got better since Evans came in and the games have been a bit more exciting. As cringeworthy as it is the "singing section" has helped as well.

Before that like others have said about their respective grounds at times you could here a pin drop.

Again usually masses of empty seats and yet some of our fans want the derelict stand developing.

County is always a good atmosphere but how much of that is the ease of getting to it, almost no limit on away fans and the abundance of pubs I don't know.

 

[oakroader]

Who needs atmosphere.....

 

[Imp in Branston]

Ours last season was mainly electric. Obviously doing well, especially at home and getting healthy regular attendances really helped. The 617 group who are the noisy ones in the big stand really generate an atmosphere. Probably the noisiest in 40+ years of going to SB. Don't see any reason why we won't be one of the best for noise next season.

 

[Luke Imp]

Sense of reality here... All clubs have this. Crawley and Rushden away sticks in my mind for when our fans turned on the players in a particularly nasty way

Ours was Dagenham in Peter Jackson's final league game (has Darlington in the JPT on the Tuesday night, which we lost and he left after that).

I've never seen a group of fans so angry towards a manager and a couple of players (Rene Howe being one).

 

[Agombar stool]

It doesn't help that the view from the Town End is mega shite. Stand behind the goal and you're viewing the game through the goal netting - be fine for a bee with its compound eye. The Arkells is essentially God's waiting room which leaves the DRS which is a great view. I take it there are still a few dinosaurs in L2 with away standing on a bit of shitty concrete, still piss-stained from days gone by.

I sit in the DRS at the top, the view is great but the atmosphere is 'tepid'

During the DiCanio era the atmosphere was electric but like the football has recently been totally dull.

The Play-off semi at home to Sheffield United was pretty special atmosphere wise.

 

[Son of Cod]

Blundell Park is good when it gets going, but other than the Pontoon it rarely does. It takes a lot to get the Main Stand out of their seats! If we're the best in the division then you lot must be crap. I would say take this with a pinch of salt, but I can't possibly with Scunthorpe on 91st.

 

[Greenacres]

I sit in our main stand and the atmosphere varies. It is generally good when we are winning but even last season when you would expect most people to be happy with the team a permanent fixture in the play-off places there were still people shouting abuse at the players. I know that you pay your money and take your choice but surely it doesn't take the brains of an archbishop to work out that players react better to positive encouragement rather than abuse. To be fair more people seemed to get involved in creating a decent atmosphere as the play-offs approached but I worry what it might be like next season if we struggle to get going or look like being relegated.

 

[SVH]

We raised the roof in some games last season. I would ask any Barnet, Accrington and Plymouth fans their thoughts on our home crowd cranking up the volume.

Barnet - 1-0 down and then 2-1 up with either goal 30 seconds of each other. That raised the roof.
Plymouth - 2-2 last game of season 15/16. Great atmosphere that day.
Accrington - 1-0 down, win 2-1 and Will Norris saved 2 pens.

Those games stand out to me for a great noise on the day.

 

[Chris FGR]

We raised the roof in some games last season. I would ask any Barnet, Accrington and Plymouth fans their thoughts on our home crowd cranking up the volume.

Barnet - 1-0 down and then 2-1 up with either goal 30 seconds of each other. That raised the roof.
Plymouth - 2-2 last game of season 15/16. Great atmosphere that day.
Accrington - 1-0 down, win 2-1 and Will Norris saved 2 pens.

Those games stand out to me for a great noise on the day.

"Bounce, Bounce Amber Army"

 

[Big Bird]

I sit in the DRS at the top, the view is great but the atmosphere is 'tepid'

During the DiCanio era the atmosphere was electric but like the football has recently been totally dull.

The Play-off semi at home to Sheffield United was pretty special atmosphere wise.

Never felt like that at a game before. Complete rollercoaster. Was too tired to celebrate by full time.

Remember going 3-0 up, Karl Robinson was working for Sky and was gesturing that they might as well all go home. How wrong he was.

 

[Indian Dan]

I said to my missus at 3-0 and 5-1 up on aggregate that I don't trust this team and we can still fuck it up.

Pity some of our fans spoilt it by having a go at the Blades fans who were a sound bunch in the pub beforehand

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I think it's just based on the ratings given by visitors to the ground.

I refuse to believe that the atmosphere at Stevenage is better than the atmosphere at Arsenal. Also MK Dons are clearly some distance adrift at the bottom simply because fans don't like the club, objectively the atmosphere's probably not that bad, and how in holy hell is the atmosphere at Blackpool better than the atmosphere at Northampton?

By the way, if you rank them by overall rating then Luton are 92nd!

Also how Brighton come top of the pie rating mystifies me. There's no such thing as a pie south of Warrington, just something that southerners and midlanders think is a pie, but isn't.

I took a little look at some of the individiual ratings, they often add which match they saw and there does seem to be a little truth in saying that when the away team won, their fans gave the stadium a better rating.

Unfair to say South of Warrington considering we have Wright's Pies in Crewe and Stoke and they're wonderful. Unfortunately, beyond there the quality of pies are a disgrace...

In all seriousness though it just seems like someone's had fun with a random number generator, atmosphere at most grounds in England is sterile due to the changes the game has undergone in the last 30 years.

 

[Trapdoor]

The big bank terrace at SJP can be amazing sometimes. I don't like it when there's a big cup tie because lots of plastics turn up but when it's a big league match and there's 3000 proper fans going bonkers it is quality.

 

[shoddycollins]

The big bank terrace at SJP can be amazing sometimes. I don't like it when there's a big cup tie because lots of plastics turn up but when it's a big league match and there's 3000 proper fans going bonkers it is quality.

Same happens with us, and we probably have the largest capacity in this division to attract plastics, what with our large and underfilled stadium and our large catchment area full of people who don't normally attend but look out for our results. It's compounded that we usually underperform when we have a big home game, and just sort of roll over for Premier League opposition, when the plastics probably thought we were in with a chance.

 

[shoddycollins]

Unfair to say South of Warrington considering we have Wright's Pies in Crewe and Stoke and they're wonderful. Unfortunately, beyond there the quality of pies are a disgrace...

In all seriousness though it just seems like someone's had fun with a random number generator, atmosphere at most grounds in England is sterile due to the changes the game has undergone in the last 30 years.

Fair point, I once ordered a pie in Northampton and instead was served a bowl of meat soup with a large puff pastry crouton balanced on top.

 

[Greenacres]

Brighton and Hove Albion have a contract with piglets pies http://www.pigletspantry.co.uk/ which look excellent, not difficult to see how they beat off the challenge of teams who think it acceptable to serve up a Pukka and think they are doing the fans a favour.

 

[shoddycollins]

Brighton and Hove Albion have a contract with piglets pies http://www.pigletspantry.co.uk/ which look excellent, not difficult to see how they beat off the challenge of teams who think it acceptable to serve up a Pukka and think they are doing the fans a favour.

HERESY! I'm reporting you to Dale Vince.