Watching a match from behind the goal

Last night made me think about the advantages I now enjoy of watching a match from the half way line, at Oakwell I mean. My ESL lower seat gives me a cracking view of the whole match and, of course, we are pretty close to the action there.

I am a very rare away day traveller, the last one being Rochdale in the promotion season. We were luckily given one side of the ground for that game so the view was pretty good. Last night was NOT good, for a few reasons. Before I go on I realise that plenty on here are happy Ponte Enders and like watching the Reds from there, or behind the goal at an away ground. I don't and here's why.

We were told to occupy our numbered seat and, to save any arguments that I'm sure erupted all over the stand the nearer to kick off we got, I duly occupied my seat at about 7.30 when there were not many in. I was dismayed to find it was down by the left hand corner flag, looking at the pitch from our stand, and about nine rows back. There was a great big swathe of grass before you got to the pitch so even the near goal was further away than I would like. As for the other end - well, having left my telescope at home, it was hard to pick up on all the good action during that first half.

I like to enjoy the whole game, not just bits of it when it comes down to the end where I am sitting, and for this main reason I don't like away games. Even worse, I didn't like the fact that they crammed us all into one half of that lower tier when the home fans were liberally scattered around the other three sides. If we had at least had the whole of our "end" there would have been some scope to spread out a bit. I know some like the feeling of being crammed in together, but I don't. To be honest it's a bit like that for home games where I sit but, as I said, at least I have a great view of the pitch. One more point on the cramming in bit - as many others have mentioned the concourse was jammed with people with all that entails these days. I'm not paranoid about being near people but I bet a lot were last night. It was shocking planning on Bolton's part to subject us to such cramped conditions when the crowd was less than 8,000 in a large stadium.

When it came to that penalty shoot out I could barely see what was going on. I've never watched one from behind two large lines of players before and being so low in the stand it was impossible to see over their heads. I know it's done on the toss of a coin but it would have been better for us at our end, but that wasn't to be. Funny thing was that as the clock ticked down to the inevitable 90 minutes 0-0 situation I thought about who our five takers would be and decided on Benson, Williams, Helik, Kane and Cole as the five most likely. I really thought we would have a chance with that five but we just fell one short. Anybody can miss a penalty but it does infuriate me when players don't put their boots through it. Power usually scores. Side footers rarely do.

Anyway, irrespective of the result that might be my last awayday for some time. I might change my mind, but, right now, I'm only interested in Oakwell matches.

 

Too many allowed to stand last nite which causes others to stand to see the game....gimme mi seat in East Upper anytime

 

Luckily there wasn’t too much standing where I was until the pens. Then we all stood up hoping to see over the heads of the players to the far distant penalty area….

 

I was sat in the East Stand Lower for the play off semi and wasn't keen at all. My old season ticket was East Stand Upper which was far better, but now I'm very happy with my view from the back row in the Ponty

 

We were sat lowdown in the north stand for the semi. Grateful to be there but the view was poor. From the premier season for a few years we sat halfway up ponte end centre of goal. Not a bad view, but been in east upper for knocking on 20yrs around the halfway line. We've been right on the back row now for 6 or 7 seasons. It's a great view no one behind us, though Janie complains she can't see the players faces! Wouldn't change now good people around us aswell, fingers crossed everyone's back on Saturday.
Also, went to the burton game away promotion season. Squashed in against back wall with a poor view.

 

We all have our preferences. I like to be close to the pitch but not too low. Row M is ok for me, just to the Ponte side of half way.

 

I was the same for the play offs Thrappo, only a few rows back. Was chuffed to be there of course but wouldn’t like it regularly. I’m 3rd row from back of Ponte, pretty central, me and the boy love it there.

Although we do occasionally venture to the east upper for cup games. That is certainly a great view in terms of seeing more tactically, what runs are being made etc. But week in, week out, has to be the Ponte!

 

Ponty fans self regulate. People stand in certain areas and it’s essentially accepted by other fans who move and accept it. One reason why I don’t see a rush for safe standing. Happens already.

 

I can assure you it’s not accepted at all by many .it’s forced upon us .

 

Love my view from the back of the Ponty. We are next to the back row and so often stand during the game. We know those behind us stand anyway. Designated (safe standing) areas would be a lot better in my opinion.

 

I've always preferred a side on view since I started watching football - I don't think you can see the depth perception properly behind the goal and so get excited that a through ball which is hit 20 yards too hard is a good pass, etc. I remember going to the old Wembley to watch an England game and we were put low behind the goal - you couldn't actually see the nearside goal line because of the advertising barriers - absolute joke.

 

I love being in the Ponty End. The people who sit near me are a great bunch. It's always been the Ponty End which generates the atmosphere in the stadium, where it leads the other stands follow, never the other way round.
Also, if sitting in the East and West Stands gives a better understanding and view with passages of play, why do people who sit there post utter rubbish on here?*






*Only joking!

 

I think a side on view high up is probably best. I sat in the East Stand Lower about 8 or 9 rows back for the Swansea play off game and didn't like it at all.
Still choose to sit in the Ponty end down to the people I sit with and also I like there to be a bit of atmosphere.

 

Couldn't agree more. Used to have the perfect view in ESL but the Ponty has all the atmosphere!

 

I've always preferred being at an end about half way up but not directly behind the goal. Enough elevation to see the length of the pitch.

I've never liked being low at any sports venue and I quite like not having to turn my head to the side being down the side of a ground either.

Hugely subjective and individual thing.

 

I sit east upper, back row, in line with ponty end edge of centre circle. Great view, but yes bit lacking in atmosphere. Used to be great in the old brewery, even if view wasn't as good.

 

When I started regularly going to Oakwell, me and my dad used to stand in the corner between Ponty and West stand near the front. Always liked the view from there. Since all seating came in I've been in the Ponty for the vast majority of the time, occasionally in the east or west stands and once on the north (when it opened, Port Vale, the last game of 1999 I think). The Ponty will do for me.....

 

I’m East stand upper almost exactly on the half way but like an away day behind the goal for the change. Agree Ponte is better for atmosphere but I like to see the whole game and my eye sight is crap