Quote: GIANT DAZ "Durham - I sit amongst 'newcomers' who have stated they hate the music and drum banging, so i dont think its correct to just put everyone in a bracket.
The rugby is my only weekly social activity and i spend a lot of money for this so i want to enjoy myself. At the moment home games are not enjoyable - for me - because of the reasons i've given, i much prefer away games where we can enjoy ourselves more, the atmosphere is generally loads better among the travelling fans.
I spend a lot of money following this club and the way i see it if i dont think i am getting value for it i will voice my reasons. some people might want to try and recreate 90's Odsal but i dont, i want to be able to get songs going and chant players names etc like we used to be able to.'"
The atmosphere at away games and the singing is better because the singers congregate together.
There has been no real atmosphere at the galpharm / jogn Smiths for years because it is so big, the singers are all spread out etc.
If the singers were singing i would agree with you about not having music BUT there is only a few die hards that sing and because we are all spread out others dont join in. Was it you or your bro who said that out of the group of 20 who used to sing at the back of the stands only 2 or 3 attend now. Many of your singing partners seem to have gone.
If you want atmosphere then the fans have to make it. If the fans cannot the club have to do something.
I would rather not have the music and have loads of people singing. But if people are not singing i would rather have music than sit in a morgue.
DESIGNATING 3 BLOCKS OF 50 SEATS for singers to congregate may be a start. I dont know if it would work but it is worth trying. 1 in the centre to the back of your stand and one each on either side of the Riverside stand. There are so few season tickets it would not be difficult for the club to do it without causing much upset to people. I would sing all game if others joined in but all that happens is me and Tansy start a song, sing 4 lines others join in and then feel isolated so give up. If we were all sat together you do not feel as isolated and would feel more comfortable singing
But every time i suggest it people like you come on and say it wont work, i dont want to move seats , come and join us at the back of the stand etc etc.
You cannot have it both ways.
If you want atmosphere get people together to do it. That means the CLUB being proactive in promoting it