After the success of the crowd on Wednesday would it be a good idea to have a flags and scarves day, to try and help the atmosphere along a bit ?

I'm not suggesting a bloody great, noisy band, just the flags and scarves.

Any thoughts, I reckon the Liverpool game would be best

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Answers

Atmosphere provocation

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

I always thought that massive flag sweeping across the stadium was great. I reckon it'd be great...but would the club object to flag poles being potential weapons?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

The line from the club is that the flags are fine as long as they aren't a hazard of any sort.

The massive ones were originally deemed a fire risk as they were nylon, they were subsequently treated to make them fire proof, they were then deemed a problem if people couldn't get out from underneath them. They were dumped in Catalonia one very wet night 4 years ago.

The police may have a concern about the ability of sticks supporting flags to be a potential weapon. Their definition comes from the ability of a person to be happy to use something as a weapon. So for example a thermos with soup in it is fine to take into the ground as it's obvious you'd want to take it away again. A plastic bottle filled with Coke is a potential weapon as it's loss would only be 70p. I don't know where the financial cut off is :0)

Clearly it is not an absolute thing as the number of flags on Wednesday demonstrated. I am looking to get a hard definition from the police.

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

At he england game there were Flags with sticks, airhorns, rattles, drums and other instruments. All of which are Banned at St. James' pk.
If its good enough for England its good enough for NUFC I beleive we should be allowed to enhance the lets admit crappy atmosphere theres been over the last few seasons.

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Ken that's exactly what I'm trying to get going.

I feel the Liverpool game would be spot on as they are likely to join in and compete with any efforts we make.

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Sorry I haven't said. I have had a second hand agreement from the safety officer at the club that he has no concerns. Of course second hand is not quite enough but i'll know more next week.

Rik can you run off 10,000 flags, 2 foot square flags, and probably another 5,000 at a yard square ?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Two seasons ago , before i was hoyed out my good seat in the paddock, A young lad had an airhorn and was doing the da da da da da Geordies noise, the steward - A right hard faced old sow , told him hed be sent out if he blew it again. At the time a bloke near me had a long flag written on it was WHAT PRICE LOYALTY £1350. This was obviously about us being moved this was promptly ripped of hium by a steward - a Boro fan ive since found out, and ripped up.

Football is becoming a rich mans sport who doesnt want to have rowdy behavious , he just wants to sit and entertain his clients and have a cosy chat, in between goalmouth action.

I forsee that if it doesnt change in the next couple of yrs my season ticket will be chelsea prices and ill be watching Whitley bay or North Shields.

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Not keen on flags, they are potentially dangerous imo, and I can't see how they would improve the atmosphere in the ground.

At the last FAC semi at OT I was literally almost blinded by a large flag- pole supporting a large b&w flag that an even larger drunken oaf was waving around his head, wildy out-of-control. Of course, when I protested about the graze on my forehead, the imminent risk to my eyesight, and the fact that the bloody flag was totally obstructing my view, he immediately turned into an wild animal and threatened to "kick my f***ing head in".

So much for fan empathy - and he was one of ours!!

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

.... meant to add - I have always had a healthy dislike for those drum bands, like at Blackburn and Sheff Wed, that attempt to whip up fan "atmosphere" - it just wouldn't be right at SJP.

So, I was pretty mortified on Wednesday night when I found one of these bands, complete with bloody brass section, was only 20 yds behind me in the Gallowgate!

However, I have to say it was extremely effective in keeping the fans going long after the initial enthusiasm had died down, and even during the 2nd half when we were actually hanging onto a one goal lead. It was a bit of an eye-opener, and perhaps a sign for the future. Sacrilage?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Some bloke sent an email to me before the Sunderland game asking if we wanted to order any big flags

I'll try to dig out the message later if you want the details

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001

Clarky - there was also a huge number of flags without sticks (table cloths??) draped all over the super-structure. I thought it was very colourful and not very dangerous (unless you were trying to eat your dinner off them). However, not very practical compared with off-the-shelf things that could be bought.

I've seem quite a lo of flags for sale at other gounds but not at SJP. Is this due to the club's attitude in the past??

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2001