Well the club are saying its to be given a go so those who said they wouldn't come..i guess now they're loyalty will be tested, i hope they said what they did in jest or it could be an own goal from the club.

And Jools, i don't think when there is a brass band tooting and parping in a stadium it's not as easy as saying 'dont sit by it' as the noise will still be there.
I'm not a lover of bands and trumpets etc in sports grounds but i have agreed to liase with them at the request of the club so we will see what comes !!

Thanks for the feedback (positive and negative) everyone - As I've said before we don't want to p*** anyone off but also know that we wont be everyone's cup of tea.

The band are happy to liaise with the supporters and the club and will take all (reasonable) suggestions/requests on board.

Most importantly we are looking forward to helping you make a helluva noise at Leeds next week.

The fanzine is happy to help in any way if it is required!

I'm a doubter as already stated, but I'll certainly give it a go. The open approach that you've taken on here is a great start. Welcome aboard.

Really think the club are trying to make a concerted effort to improve atmosphere at home this year, and have been open to suggestions and appear to be trying to engage with the fans, which is very positive.

Plenty of alternative stands people could sit in.

but people might not want to have to move stands because someone decided they were sticking a band next to where they've sat for 20 years...hardly a fair suggestion but i can see both sides of the argument hence why i've agreed to speak with them.

Indeed they may not want to- but that's the suggestion re the singers also isn't it!
I've been to a few ice hockey games in the rugby off season in recent years- it's a similar family atmosphere in the stands to rugby. They all seem to have bands or drummers and it makes for a good atmosphere- my kids always ask to sit next to them as its "more fun".
I find it difficult to believe people will stop coming just because a band is playing-they would probably have found another reason to do so anyway.

The club cannot afford to lose fans whatever the reason, if say half a dozen people who pay £500 + a year in to the club where to leave citing the band as a reason i'm fairly sure the loss of £3,000 + would make the club think is it worth it. Especially since the band are not Giants fans and have been assembled for the sole purpose of parping and banging to the crowd by the club.

If it works out and the band help the atmosphere i'm all for it, what i don't want, and i've told the club, is a band that plays simply for their own pleasure, what they want, when they want but it sounds like that is not their intention at all and i am happy to give it a try for now.

This topic was brought up at HGSA's meeting with the board - all the pros and cons.

Hats off to the club for trying something different and trying to improve the atmosphere.

Also hats off to Daz who, despite being against the idea, volunteered to liaise with the band in order to give them some indication of what those fans in favour actually want. Please let Daz have your [sensible] suggestions.

As people have said, let's give it a go and review it after a few matches.

As long as the band don't play the same stuff the Leeds southstand band plays and stick to stuff relevant to our fans then I'm sure most people will accept them next week

just a quick one for 'bando', do you guys have a 'setlist' as such or are you pretty much versatile?
by that i mean if the fans sang a song would you guys be able to play along with the tune or would you have to learn it?

some bands just have certain tunes in their repertoire and play them constantly, i think thats what the worry is, that it'll be the same 5/6 tunes repeated ad nauseum.

Hi Meast,
The answer is a bit of both - If you guys are singing we should be able to join in (it might take a couple of attempts but we'll get there).
We also have a few staples which we can add to (or lose some of) and will happily take suggestions too. Things like Seven Nation Army, Great Escape, Pig Bag etc would, I guess, be part of the set list but you guys tell us what you want and we will get it sorted.
Cheers

i'm sure you know the 'tom hark' tune, there's a song most fans sing along to this when we play leeds

as for pigbag, i don't think we have a song to that tune,
would it be an idea to learn "can't help falling in love" as thats a pretty popular song amongst fartown fans.

Tom Hark we can most definitely do.
Cant Help Falling in Love we can sort something no probs.

Meast - join me in liasing with them and we can all work together, if anyone else wants to be involved in helping between the band and singers etc or have any ideas for songs/tunes...drop me a line !