The best away fans you've seen at Oakwell

Following all the Rangers talk, got me thinking about Oakwell.

Recently, I'd possibly say Newcastle off the top of my head

 

Pains me to say Man Utd in the Carling Cup.

Sunderland when they went up pretty good too.

 

Man United - Carling Cup by a country mile. As we know not the best behaved but neither were our own but there support was incredible.

 

They had bit of an unfair advantage having 15000 in the away end.

Can't agree with them as they were just louts.

North East teams always vocal

 

I suppose it depends

On what criteria is used to describe best. Big city clubs having a successful season tend to bring large, vocal followings. But it doesn't automatically follow it's exactly the same when the club is in the doldrums. The likes of Newcastle, Sunderland, Wolves & Sheffield United certainly fall into this category.
For me, I have more respect for fans of much smaller, provincial clubs (the Division they're in being totally irrelevant), whose team isn't doing too well, but they're still prepared to travel the length and breadth of the country to follow their side. There may only be a handful turning up at the away games, making little (if any) noise. But these fans, for me anyway, are the best. I suppose that'd mean the likes of Workington, Carlisle, Plymouth, Exeter, Hartlepool, Torquay fans who've turned up at Oakwell when their team is doing poorly, are who I'd say are the best.

 

Re: I suppose it depends

I remember Bristol Rovers in t'cup a few years back...Superb support.

 

In recent years, Newcastle and Sunderland take some beating. Birmingham a few years ago when they were near the top of the league at the end of the season, think it was our first season back in this division and we won 1-0, Hassell was sent off after full time iirc? They packed the away end and far west stand, and were noisy up to us scoring. Also Wolves a few years back when they were top of the league and needed a point for either promotion or to be champions, can't remember which. They had about 8,000 people just in the North Stand, or at least that's what it looked like.

 

Quantity does not necessarily mean quality. The best by a country mile that I have seen were Portsmouth when we beat them 6-0. They never stopped singing from start to finish despite getting a hammering, and even though the bell-ringer got on your nerves a bit after a while - he's as fanatical as they come. Can you imagine the reaction our fans would give the team if we were 6-0 down?

 

Yes - we tried to get out of the ground. Grimsby away..

 

Stockport County the season they were relegated (2004-5?) We were 3-0 up and they still wouldn't shut up banging that drum etc, they managed to claw back and snatch a draw, superb support.

 

Not the best away fans, but an eyebrow raiser was the F troop in the 80's

 

Re: I suppose it depends

What he said

 

Charlton?

 

My favourite away fans were West Brom in the promotion season. As I remember it we were nearing the run in and it was getting pretty obvious it was going to be us or Wolves that went up. They had nothing to play for and so were actually quite happy to see us win! Chants of "You're going up, you're going up..." and a conga line when they were 2-0 down. Magic.

 

Best I can remember our support when on the wrong end of a thumping. Very little criticism in the ranks.

 

There's been a few 7500 followings during promotion campaigns, of which Sunderland were the best I thought. Wolves acted like a set of idiots invading the pitch twice. For me, I agree about Stockport about 7 years ago, unbelievable backing, fun songs, congas, good numbers and all whilst supporting a team destined for the drop. Almost pleased for them when they clawed their way back. Other than them, Manchester United's away support was terrific as always, so different from the tourist trap that is Old Trafford. Poor behaviour on the concourse but vocally and visually terrific.

 

For ****'s sake...Terrifying young girls half to death...smashing up and robbing ...ripping out seats...pissing everywhere but the bogs they'd smashed up...

You Manure fans make me laugh!!!!

 

That's why I said they were VOCALLY terrific. That's why I mentioned the poor behaviour on the concourse. That's why I mentioned Stockport as the best for the whole package.

 

West Brom in 97. Sky TV game on Good Friday, think we won 2-0 and the Baggies fans were doing a conga round the away end singing "Cheer up Mark McGhee" and "Barnsley's going up, Wolves aren't"

 

Man Utd by a million miles