I thought the following article entitiled 'Ballot winner- thrilled to return' in the Daily Telegraph was poignant and close to how I feel. It is an interview with a Thelma Campbell who describes herself as 'over 65' and from Wokingham:
"I'm a local girl and I've been coming since the days of Leary, Lawrie and Townsend. I got all their autographs when I was a 10 year old girl! ...These days I live in Wokingham, but I'm a season ticket holder. I come on my own and meet up with all my friends. Walking through The Valley gates I still get the same thrill that I did when I was a girl and I've missed it horribly.
It's been really terrible not being able to come. I've watched games once or twice on the TV but it's just not the same. I got tonight's ticket online, one of the lucky ones who won the ballot. It means the world to me to be able to come back....More than anything, I hope we don't lose after everyone's turned up. My real worry is getting back. ...If I do catch the trains it'll be midnight before I'm home. If I don't I'll be sitting on Waterloo station all night"
Spot on girl!
I too travel to the Valley via Waterloo.
The "phased" exit meant that we booked a hotel at Waterloo just in case we missed the last train home which left an hour earlier than normal. It didn't cost much!
In the end we made it in time. I went home anyway to feed the cats but my wife stayed over and went straight into work the next day.
The early arrival times and exit strategy are more for show and may cause more spreading of the virus than they avoid. Maybe better to get people in and out quickly than have them hanging around the ground (and crowded stations) for hours.
There's a lot of dismal bleating about the cold. The conditions of attendance were well publicised in advance. It's not like the weather came as a surprise. The weather's not the club's or the team's fault. Our responsibility to keep ourselves warm ends with us. It's not like we've never been to games on cold nights before - the temperature wasn't even below freezing, nor was it windy. Effective thermal clothing is cheap and widely available. Too many vinegar pissing snowflakes.
Bore off.
People mentioning the cold are doing it in the context of the fact that they’ve been told they weren’t doing enough by Lee Bowyer’s standards. You know that, though.
Been watching the goals on tv this morning and quite a lot of clubs seem to be putting all the fans in one or max two stands
Reading for example looked like the stand was reasonably busy and a decent atmosphere even for them
Obviously have to play by the rules but if there was a way of putting say 750 in the north lower and 1250 in the west lower I wonder if that might make a difference, do we really need to open the east as well?
Been watching the goals on tv this morning and quite a lot of clubs seem to be putting all the fans in one or max two stands
Reading for example looked like the stand was reasonably busy and a decent atmosphere even for them
Obviously have to play by the rules but if there was a way of putting say 750 in the north lower and 1250 in the west lower I wonder if that might make a difference, do we really need to open the east as well?
If Luton can put 2000 in there 3 poxy stands, we should be able to get away with using 2 of ours.
What is the problem of using 3 stands ? Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
What is the problem of using 3 stands ? Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
The less you can get away with opening, the better the atmosphere will surely be.
What is the problem of using 3 stands ? Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
The less you can get away with opening, the better the atmosphere will surely be.
I'm not sure it would, as discussed previously i think it is the kind of supporters who are currently season ticket holders are from a demographic whom are less likely to make a noise, also the acoustics of the stands being used is not helping.
There's a lot of dismal bleating about the cold. The conditions of attendance were well publicised in advance. It's not like the weather came as a surprise. The weather's not the club's or the team's fault. Our responsibility to keep ourselves warm ends with us. It's not like we've never been to games on cold nights before - the temperature wasn't even below freezing, nor was it windy. Effective thermal clothing is cheap and widely available. Too many vinegar pissing snowflakes.
I think that’s the elephant in the room when it comes to these measures. Should the club be looking to maximise the atmosphere within the ground to the best possibility within restrictions which are imposed by the council. Yes, then changes should be made. No, then nothing needs doing.
Are there different rules in Norfolk? I’ve seen loads of fans without masks and little to no distancing. Delia was cheering them on, not the recipe for a safe environment.
Are there different rules in Norfolk? I’ve seen loads of fans without masks and little to no distancing. Delia was cheering them on, not the recipe for a safe environment.
Millwall made it optional as to whether fans had to wear face masks whilst in their seat.
What is the problem of using 3 stands ? Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
The less you can get away with opening, the better the atmosphere will surely be.
But surely this is offset against making things more comfortable for the fans? Social distancing etc.
The rules surrounding masks are that they are "strongly encouraged" while in their seats and mandatory in concourses, also singing is fine So, basically it's up to the individual it seems how much rules are interpreted, looks like they are passing the buck regarding masks, over to the club.
Thanks for the clarification. I think there should be consistency. That aside, we know how this virus is transmitted so to be close to people who are singing, shouting etc. seems silly to me. Whist it’s clearly not comfortable to wear masks for so long it’s safer for sure.
What is the problem of using 3 stands ? Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
The less you can get away with opening, the better the atmosphere will surely be.
But surely this is offset against making things more comfortable for the fans? Social distancing etc.
This is the clubs issue. They are looking to prove to the council that’s it is safe to increase the attendance with the strict measures in place. However, my feelings are that there is zero point looking to increase attendance if the current experience/ atmosphere is unenjoyable.
What is the problem of using 3 stands ? Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
The less you can get away with opening, the better the atmosphere will surely be.
And the greater the chances are of passing on Covid 19.
Comments
The "phased" exit meant that we booked a hotel at Waterloo just in case we missed the last train home which left an hour earlier than normal. It didn't cost much!
In the end we made it in time. I went home anyway to feed the cats but my wife stayed over and went straight into work the next day.
The early arrival times and exit strategy are more for show and may cause more spreading of the virus than they avoid. Maybe better to get people in and out quickly than have them hanging around the ground (and crowded stations) for hours.
I'm sure most of the booing was aimed at the officials.
Reading for example looked like the stand was reasonably busy and a decent atmosphere even for them
Obviously have to play by the rules but if there was a way of putting say 750 in the north lower and 1250 in the west lower I wonder if that might make a difference, do we really need to open the east as well?
Shrewsbury it appeared used 4 stands, if 3 stands enables safe social distancing why change it, people seem to be claiming tickets in all 3 stands at present, although very slowly.
Not advocating breaking the rules
seats and mandatory in concourses, also singing is fine
So, basically it's up to the individual it seems how much rules are interpreted, looks
like they are passing the buck regarding masks, over to the club.