There seems to be a few posts on attendances

So here's mine. I had a season ticket for 5 years until i left for uni and since then i've been to a few games when i come back for a weekend and over christmas etc. Over this last christmas i went to the the Blackpool game and the Swansea game (couldn't make the leeds game cause of new year's eve plans ) and as well as the drop in people going, the main problem i found was that the Ponty seems to have lost its voice.

I know i saw two games that were obviously bad results and poor attendances, but even before we conceded goals the amount of crowd noise/chanting from when i used to be there week in week out has dropped massively. I believe in the whole '12th man' thing and that even though there has been low attendances, surely more crowd noise/chanting can raise the spirits of the players and get the rest of the crowd going to create more of an atmosphere??

 

the sad thing is the recession and the pricing policy has priced a lot of the raggy lads out.imo

 

I'd say the poor atmosphere

Is the result of poor attendances, not the cause.

I'm a season ticket holder (who can't get to many more games this season because of work), and I would still be if I was sat on my own with no noise whatsoever. Yes it's nice to have a bit of atmosphere, but for me, football is an addition which I feed by watching as much football as I can, preferably at Oakwell.

People are feeling the pinch which is fair enough, it's the people who don't go because they chose not to, rather than can't/can't afford to, which I don't understand. Some people refused to renew their season ticket this season because of the management duo we had appointed, surely it was the most logical choice? as Hillcroft have proven. I can't imagine life without Barnsley FC, and when I can, i'll follow.

 

I'd agree with that.

 

Oakwell has been quiter than a library for large parts of this season so far.

The Ponty End (our Kop) more often than not, sing in response to the away fans, rather than start up straight away.
Credit where its due though when its in full voice it sounds well. Me I sit in the East Stand so I've got an excuse lol.
As for the crowds, get used to it this is where we're at nowadays, unless we're pushing for promotion or playing rivals. I remember the demise in crowd numbers during the 80s, slightly different scenario I know, but the outcome was the same

 

Re: Oakwell has been quiter than a library for large parts of this season so far.

I totally understand why people aren't going because of ticket prices/the fact that people can't afford it- it's not their fault at all. I agree with archey- i'll always be a Barnsley fan no matter what. It's just a shame when people can afford to go but choose not to because of the managers or anything like that.

Just a shame that's all. I used to love being in the Ponty with a few thousand of us singing a long together, really makes you feel that you're all one and all there together.

 

Premiership season aside, it's been quiet for years. Most grounds are the same. With an increase in prices and the well-publicised and overinflated salaries in football across all divisions, there's an expectation - no matter how unrealistic - for teams to entertain and to win so they can be seen to earn their money and to make it wortwhile for the fans to turn up. The "fanatical" sing at all costs, never miss a game type of support is dying out. I doubt it will ever return.

 

Us 'panel beaters' (gordon owen 2012) try get it going in ponty and not just in response to away fans. Folk just need to join in. Extra, or at least one pint in the pub might help.

 

I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

Instead of yelping, "get behind 'em and make some noise", he could actually start off a new chant. At Braga the pitchside chap gets those behind the goal (equivalent to Ponty) to shout "Braaa-ga". If its crap he tells them and they have another go which is louder. Then he gets the equivalent of the East Stand to respond "Braa-ga" and gets a bit of a competition going as to who can shout it the loudest. Eventually he takes a back seat and lets the fans get on with it, but it sounds brilliant. He could encourage that at Oakwell by getting the Ponty to shout "Barn-sley" and then the East Stand to try and outdo them "Barns-ley", back to Ponty etc. A bit of participation works wonders.

 

Re: I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

It's a great idea. Whenever i watch videos on youtube of the european Ultras its crazy how different it is to over here. I bet its amazing being a part of it or watching it happen at a ground. Wish English fans could get something not even half as good as what the Ultras do

 

Re: I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

Don't forget the composition of The Ponty End has changed over the years. Less raggy lads and blokes that have had a skinful, more women and more kids. There's going to be less of an atmosphere just because of that. Back in the day it was nearly all blokes, all stood up and most of them with a few jars inside them. Different now, and quieter naturally.

 

Re: I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

Albatross seems to have chilled a bit these days too, he leaves it to the panelbeaters to drum up a tune.

 

Re: I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

just ann observation but these clubs don't seem to go overboard on the family orientation thingybob

 

Re: I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

Yeah i did think about that. Obviously places like that may not be ideal for children/families but i know that as a kid i would've loved it. Suppose we can have best of both worlds with families and the kind of things the ultras do

 

Re: I think the bloke at pitchside could do more

I didn't go yesterday, could have afforded to but didn't want to. Disillusioned at how the clubs being run lately.