Our massive away end..

What a curse it is. If you have a look on most clubs forums when listing there favourite away grounds we're always at the top or as near as dam it, all "love going to Barnsley that big away end'. Comments..
I can understand why John Dennis built it, Championship football in his mind 2-3 k away fans every game, local derby's 'bring as many as you like, we'll take your money'. Laughing all the way too the bank.

But it literally turns every home game into hard work.. Away fans are always very vocal including ourselves anyway, with a 'we're here and we're going to be letting you know kinda attitude..
But we don't half lose our home advantage.. As soon as we go one down.. it's a 'here we are again' moment.. away end bouncing.

We really ort to do an Oxford.. (no way we will it takes good money)..knock it down and build a carpark on it and sit 200 away fans in a corner. Funny how they went up this year with 8k fans...It must be a real boost for any away team at Oakwell, the first thing they see and hear is their own fans..
I know we're covering old ground here but with our home form as it is clubs must think we're a pushover.

We are not helping ourselves at all.. Duff saw that and got the away allocation reduced..not saying this is the reason totally for our poor home form.. but it definitely doesn't help..

But the money it generates on match days will boost the coffers no doubt, but long term a rethink is needed.. From a Oakwell the away fans friend and the ground that keeps giving...to being Oakwell the fortress.



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Some of our biggest victories over the years have been in front of a packed out away end. I still think the issue at Oakwell is that the atmosphere over the years from the home end has dwindled. I don't think being one of the bigger fishes in league 1 helps, as I think there's an expectation which isn't there when we're the plucky underdog in the Championship. Some of my favourite memories from Oakwell over the years have often included when there's been a big away following; the atmosphere that day where we drew 2-2 vs Newcastle in around 2010 is one that will stay with me forever. The game wasn't magnificent, but the roof almost came off Oakwell when Bobby Hassell equalised late on.

 

Our issue isn't the away end. It's the derelict west stand.

 

In 2018-19 we were unbeaten at home for the entire season. Many of our best performances at home over the years have come in front of a packed away end.

 

Away end isnt the issue. Weve had it for years and years now. Home form was only an issue last season - and im not counting this season after a whole one game.

 

I always thought the ball had to get past 10 outfield players, 1 goalie and over the white goal line to be a goal. Don't blame the stand.

 

The size of the North Stand came from circumstance.
Originally the plans were to build a mirror stand of the Ponty.While engineers were digging out for the footings they had to go far deeper than expected because of the lay of the land.When reaching the optimum depth they realize the stand could be made bigger without any further disturbances to the ground.It was then decided to increase the size by another 2k.

 

Better atmosphere from the away end too, I sit pretty much bang on the half way line in the east and can hear 250 away fans louder than the ponty.

 

Yeah the West stand has got to go, rather than just be updated etc. It needs flattening, and replacing with something new.
Although the memories of how it used to be, will live forever of course.

 

It has to go but I hope wat ever its replaced with we can run out from there before kick off and have to walk back down after match no matter how we've played cos there's no hiding, play well feel it, play sh...t,feel it again I'm afraid.might sound horrible but at least can feel fans.good or bad,

 

Yeah the players entering from, and exiting back to the West stand.
With fans right next to them and cheering wildly or shouting abuse, at the players and/or officials.

 

As others have alluded to, many of our best wins and nights have been with sold out away ends - a few hammerings of Leeds immediately spring to mind.

I think if we're looking for excuses like this for where we are now, we're not looking in the right places...

 

"The fantastic Barnsley away end" Got a honourable mention in Chris Wilder's presser today..
The gift that keeps on giving to the opposition.
We reap what we sow..

 

Actually it makes me rather proud to think we have facilities that other clubs and supporters acknowledge and respect.

 

Be more like a home end tomorrow.

 

I'm not sure that Oxford is a great example to justify knocking a stand down...they had 11 wins at home and 11 wins away, amassing 40 pts at home and 37 away.

 

Should we have given em 1000 . And throw an estimated share of £40k (that's me guessing btw) down the pan cos our lot don't want to come to the game. And it's an irrelevant game apparently. So prepared to lose. What a great business person you'd make.

Duff did it in a semi final. How many times did he do it in the league.

Btw. Mate went to Whitby v Macclesfield last saturday (7th tier) £17 for the Macs Fans.
(Its not just us that charge high prices)
I agree we ought to open up the north stand to our fans when its practical. This isn't practical and financially imo would be foolish.
How many clubs restrict numbers based on your principal. The revenue that someone like leeds (and us at one time) bring to clubs is valuable.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jlpt8z

Wilder speaks about us from the 15 minute mark and speaks well.

 

Battered Leeds twice in front of a full away end. It's up to our players to quieten the away fans sadly the current crop ain't up to the job at the moment. Stop looking for excuses for poor performances / results that absolves the people responsible of that responsibility. Board, recruitment team, head coach, players take your pick. A few thousand excitable away fans, no I'm not buying that one.