I see you are in the matchday programme for the Liverpool game. In future, when interviewed or in any way exposed to the media, please bear in mind the BBS Media Agent and her fees. Thank you ;) Seriously, nice piece.

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

Answers

Be warned Mac. If you let Dougal represent you, it will e downhill from here (mind, maybe not a long way to go - yet!)

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

there's supposed to be 2 pieces ??

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

It'll keep the kids away form the fire anyway!! Old joke requests anyone????

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001

MacB, I hadn't read it in detail by then but I think you are quoted elsewhere in the programme as well. Which would normally be double fess for me, I might add. By the way, I'm dead impressed at the programmes this season: lots of stuff in them.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

For those of you unwilling/unable to afford to pay for aporogramme, knowing Dougal gets a cut here is the said article for free ...........

Raise the roof ?

The atmosphere at the match was far better in the past. We all know that, it goes with other memories of warmer summers, deeper snow and pints tasting better.

Going to the match as a teenager, squeezed into the old Leazes End shed, you had to join in the singing and clapping and swaying. The noise began at ten past two with rhythmic clapping and everything built up to the players coming out. Seated fans rarely said a word !

As the ground was demolished/developed the singers had to move, this meant to ‘the scoreboard’ and then to ‘the corner’. This was still the days of terracing and that meant you could stand where you wanted, group together with your singing mates, or not if you didn’t want to. All-seater grounds with near 100% season ticket holders means no mobility of fans, and little opportunity for younger (louder) fans to get in.

I sit in the Family Enclosure and I can see over the roof of the Gallowgate End, but also means I cannot see, or hear 90% of the fans in there. I can see the ones at the front bouncing and clapping but there is no noise to be heard. Presumably it’s the same the other way around, and they can’t hear the high pitched noise from our bit !! There’s nothing we can do about this, a roof is a roof. Last season of course there was the added problem that the football was at best poor and often appalling.

This season there have been three huge performances from the crowd, creating an excellent atmosphere. The derby game is always loud, ManU was special and the England game great. In all of these the whole ground joined in. How do we make sure this continues ?

One of the key factors in the good old days was that the noise was led by the boisterous younger fans. As a long term aim we have to persuade the club to encourage more younger fans into the ground. This is something the FLC sees as a big priority but not something that can be fixed quickly.

Fans have to be encouraged in to the ground earlier, and then entertain them and get them going. This doesn’t mean a brass band or anything horrendous like that it means many things to many people. The Family Enclosure has a dozen tellys in it and there is stacks of room for everyone to watch Grandstand/Racing/Sky Sport whatever. The area is always full. For many pre-match means a pint (or two). The club and their brewery sponsors should be working to make the ground the place to be, not The Strawberry or Rosies.

The pre-match build up over the PA is very important, two things need fixed. The first is the PA itself which in many parts of the ground sounds like it has been piped up straight from the Central. The second is the content of what’s being transmitted. At the England game the pre-match guy raised the crowd superbly. It is easy to get this wrong but he showed it can be done. The two bits of music played as the players come out, the Carmina Burana Old Spice thing and Local Hero do nothing more than tell you the players are on their way and do nothing to lift the crowd.

During the 1990s one of the proudest things about going to the match was when the huge flags were unfurled and passed over everyone’s heads. A magnificent sight. The club banned these from the ground on safety reasons. The England game though seemed to produce hundreds of flags. Maybe we should look to return the ground to one where flags are all around.

At Old Trafford they are in the process of trying to do something about the poor noise levels by creating a singing section. At the moment they are aiming for a section of 6,000 with nobody being forced to move, but with a consensus between club and fans they believe they can do it.

What do you think would help most – more kids through cheaper tickets, better PA, better warm up, singing sections, flags or just beating Man U 4-3 every week ?

Please let us know so we can take this forward to the club. You can write to us at FLC C/o Newcastle United, or email us at flc1892@hotmail.com

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

I noticed a vending machine at the ground on Wednesday night while I was standing in the already large queue at the bar 5 mins b4 half time. I was so impressed that I bought a bottle of still Lucazade lateron. If we could get them to put tins of beer in it would be a massive success.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Perhaps you could get them to switch the bloody music off 10 minutes before KO and let the fans build up the atmosphere themselves. I really believe piped and loud muzak prevents the build-up of the atmosphere.

The very late arrival of fans at the ground these days also inhibits the build-up of atmosphere, and causes aggravation immediately after the KO as the usual cast of latecomers arrive and disturb everyone else - and then again 10 mminutes later when they need to go for a jimmy riddle! As you suggest Macbeth, the target should be for SJP to yet again be THE place to congregate pre-match, which is how it was in the 60's and 70's.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Offering a decent selection of food and drink at prices no higher than you'd pay in nearby pubs is a must if people are to go to the ground rather than pubs, fast food joints, etc.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Taking up Clarky`s point re late arrival, this was commented upon by the radio 5 crew on Sunday, actual words -:" Ten minutes to kick off and the ground was empty , now its nearly full, must have emptied the Strawberry.!!. In the auld days I was also guilty of arriving bang on time, I could not resist the physical challenge to reach my (note my) 5th barrier up lhs Gallowgate goal accompanied by the ritual chants of "Hey man" , Hoo Man " , the early birds came then to claim a spot in front of a barrier, safety conscious types. Its hard now to create atmosphere, time of games etc, I always found that when playing/watching under lights the actual game did appear to be faster and the spectacle was much better. Radical thought I know and I am not convinced but it may be that games played on Friday nights say may generate support, leaves Sat free for family, other interests , and releases a lot of minor football players and officials plus supporters of their local teams free to watch their professional team, real genuine lovers of the game. Obviously a lot of logistical problems involved , pub darts teams would have to switch their night, it has possibilities. Imagine the scene, finish for the week-end, early doors Friday, nice crisp evening at SJP,and wallop/ there is only one place to be, gan shopping morra pet , match the neet

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

I've often said that I'd prefer to use the bars at St James' pre game , but at £1.50 for a coke for the kids and crap TV's /sound system , I think I'll continue just to come 20 mins before the game for a single drink.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Actually Buff, i'd prefer to have my weekends free. Friday night, wednesday night, indeed any night would suit me down to the TEE.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Well rik , suggest you just DRIVE on , keep it STRAIGHT , APPROACH Mac and dont let him PUTT you off , CHIP away and you may get Saturday`s free for ? , BTW Give Swift a HOLA.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Rik if weekends are a HANDICAP, i suggest you LOB your ticket on the forum someone will SLICE your arm off, and you can DRAW on your experience and PUSH on with your own entertainment.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Well that`s it then , Just have to MARK Mac`s CARD, give him a STARTER for ten, no need to LIE, PREFER to tell the truth, All that FRESH AIR, soon clears away the BOGIES, even play with your family, take your PAR along, (DRAW on his nous), get the issue FLAGGED , take things CADDY.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001