By Russ Abbott?

Am I right in saying Arsenal Al's flags have been banned?
Am I right in saying that the drummers have to stand on the 20mtr line (rather than half way line)?
It certainly looked that way the other week as stewards harassed the drummers into standing further towards the south east corner from their original 40m line spot.

I Know in the Challenge Cup semi, the Wigan drummer in the South stand at the HJ was made to move to the 20m line near the West stand, something to do with the microphones in the stand being in the middle.

the atmosphere is crap because the two drums are out of sync, no one bothers anymore to join unless they are next to the drum and no one will sing as it cringeworthy when everyone stops half way through the god damn chant!

How about The Lair ?

But atmosphere isn't just about singing or drumming. Great atmospheres can also come with the fans just encouraging the team at every opportunity. The roar of the crowd from tackles, runs or breaks; or booing and whistling the opposition every time they are in possession. This noise usually means songs break out as well.

Probably the best atmosphere I've ever been in was Man United v Barcelona in 1984. I was only 9 but can remember it like it was yesterday. We were two nil down from the first leg and Barcelona had Maradona and Schuster bossing their midfield so it was an uphill task before the game had even started. There were songs sung that night but probably not as much variety has you'll hear nowadays. But the noise and buzz was unbelievable. 57,000 fans willing the team on at every opportunity and it never seem to die down for a second. If you don't know the game, United got two goals and soon after Stapleton got the third and it was the loudest roar I've ever heard and seemed to go on for ages.

I don't think we are as passionate about our teams as we'd like to make out. Not just Warrington but Rugby League (and to a certain extent football). Standing in the South Stand, I can't even remember the last time I was moved from my place after a try. Compare that with the Widnes game in 89 when you ended up on a different part of the Fletcher Street every time we scored.

Brilliant post. 100% Spot on.

Has anyone contacted the club about this sort of thing before? If so what have they said?

All this music blaring out is a very bad habit that sport has got into. It is the epitome of cheese! Drums are crap, they drown out and stop spontaneous atmospheres; but this blaring music at every opportunity is just as bad.

It has to stop for me. Let the fans create the atmosphere on our own!

People on this site have been wire fans longer than me and would
D surely have more sway in terms of contacting the club regarding the volume of the PA.
Are the club aware of this forum or do they even care?

On a side note, Latchford Bob, I was at that game and my dad drove the Barca team coach. Got me a signed ball with Maradona, Boniek etc all signed on it.
Great night.

I (along with a few others I believe) contacted the club before the Leeds play off game last year after Simon Moran was quoted as saying, “We need to make the place a cauldron for this match”, “A place where the atmosphere is intimidating for the opposition and a boost for our own players” and “It is time for people to vote with their feet and really get behind the team.

The reply was a we take onboard your suggestions but it was unlikely they would get rid of pre match/try music. To their credit though and to my surprise the music was turned down around half an hour before the match and the atmosphere was allowed to build accordingly.

The levels before the match are ridiculous, made worse by the fact that you have no choice to walk past some speakers when you enter the South Stand.

Unless people contact the club in big numbers, I can't see anything changing. I think there a lot of fans who don't even know what a good atmosphere is and are quite happy to dance along to The Black Eyed Peas/Take That/Duran Duran before the match and Tom Hark when we score.



That is superb. Boniek was at Juve who we played in the Semi Final. He was some player along with Platini, Rossi, Gentile, Cabrini and Tardelli. European Champions a year later.

Great post. It's like a morgue compared to the Fletch nowadays.

Was a few years back, I was only 14. Dont even know what happened to the ball.
I was in the stretty. At that time I used to go on the railings at the front. My dad was called in at short notice but I never knew. He was trying to contact me as he got 2 tickets for the main stand and access to the players lounge. I had already left to go to the game so didnt find out till I got home.
Absolutely gutted. I could have met them all.
Damn pre mobile phone days.

I have just emailed the club to complain about the volume and how it is killing any pre match atmosphere.