Question Have you ever, and the use of smoke bombs.

[LennySUFC]

I've said it before and I know it couldn't happen but the perfect place to host tbv is the south lower. The roof is low so therefor a greater noise.
The away end is up the opposite end so you don't get the mouthy kids giving hand gestures to the away supporters and so focus more on backing the team.
The atmosphere would spread via the East and west were as when in the W block it has to almost complete a horseshoe shape to get everyone in the home ends involved (hope this makes sense)

i know it wouldn't happen but I really do believe that would be the solution!

 

[Shrimpson]

Wasn't there yesterday but have taken my nine year old to a fair few away games now and will continue to do so. However I don't like the thought of flares etc being let off due to the obvious dangers to my son. I have a right to watch games with my son without these dangers.

it seems the younger members of our support seem to be in favour of letting off flares. just wondered if they would have the same opinions about them in future years when they are taking their own children to games?

 

[Bkdside]

Proud to be Southend?

Well, I was on the 10.02 Southern Trains service from Victoria and that didn’t make me too proud to be Southend. Coach 2, already virtually full, was invaded at Horsham by some 20 juveniles, including one or two kitmen carrying holdalls so large that I naively thought they were planning an overnight stay. These minstrels spent the next hour regaling the innocent with a virtually uninterrupted top-of-the-tuneless-voice performance of chants, selected apparently on the basis of the frequency of expletives. There being no drum, the roof and sides of the coach were used for percussion. The reason this troupe arrived in our coach only at Horsham was that they’d managed to miss the clear signage at Victoria, and so they got in the rear half of the train, which was actually going to Bognor Regis. For the next hour they failed to notice the rolling LED display high up in their coach near their drum skin. They were also so involved in the chanting that not one of the 20 heard the loop announcement which was played and replayed at all 7 stations between Victoria and Horsham, advising passengers to be sure they were in the correct half of the train. When the train got to the dividing point of Horsham just one of the 20 came to their rescue in the nick of time, and so Providence ordained that they ended up in coach 2. If you say out the words “enjoy” and “endure” you’ll notice they’re actually quite close in sound; I’ll leave you to decide whether the following hour was enjoyed or endured by the innocent bystanders who’d set out for a pleasant day’s shopping in Portsmouth. In what was probably a futile effort to salvage pride I felt I had to warn the passengers opposite me of the finishing time of the match, so that they could plan the rest of their day accordingly. As we approached Fratton the noise did subside a little, as the more compos mentis were beginning to be concerned that they shouldn’t miss their stop. It was then that I heard one say to another that he didn’t feel like another lager just now, as he’d had 11 (as opposed to his friend’s 10). So I ended up knowing what was in those holdalls.
What goes on in the stadium is one thing, but whatever you think of how fans behave in the stand, there are collaterals that come with being beered up and having a laugh.
And at that point you have to ask whether we can all manage to be proud to be Southend.

Your issue is people having a sing and a beer on the way to the ground. Sounds to me like those chaps had a much better than day than you.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I am sure the Portsmouth police report will mean we will all suffer for the next few games with restricted movement and more officious searching and security.
Steveboro might not be so welcoming.:sad:

 

[OldBlueLady]

I don't like standing at away matches, as you get older this becomes more difficult. Therefore I wouldn't be happy if someone blocked my view. This is easily remedied though by clubs not enforcing a strict allocated ticket policy for away games. Keep a section back for those who do all the standing and singing and don't sell them, that way, when they arrive they can go to that section and leave the rest of us to sit and enjoy our match!

I totally disagree with the flares for reasons others have already outlined, and I can't believe someone is telling Ricey to "take a risk"! :nope:

 

[Agent Lomas]

The reason the flares got into the ground was because the stewards asked you if you had anything. All you had to do was say "no".

They searched the majority of people to be fair, but my dad's mate was asked: "Have you got anything?", to which he honestly replied "No" and was let in.

I'm guessing this is the case with the people who had flares/ticker tape (which they said over the tannoy was prohibited)

I can only assume though!

 

[mrsblue]

Drums and flares have no reason to be anywhere near any football stadium IMHO .

Few seasons ago we sat in the West then noticed just to our left was a chap holding one large drum,fair enough a few bangs here and there is ok but constant thumping for the entire game ensured we would never sit there again.

 

[Taunton_Shrimper]

Few Decent Pics from saturday here, including a couple of the smoke.....

http://www.pompeypress.co.uk/p628485473

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

I am sure the Portsmouth police report will mean we will all suffer for the next few games with restricted movement and more officious searching and security.
Steveboro might not be so welcoming.:sad:

This is a good point, whatever you think about flares as fun or danger the are banned and if we are marked down as a club that need policing that is what we get. The stewards were friendly and no bag searches etc but as soon as we are marked down you end up having the 'am I really not allowed a bottle top' arguments when trying to get into a ground.

How much Discussing would we be doing if they had scored when Bentley's goalmouth was full of smoke?

 

[KAB]

I am actually dumbfounded by the sit down, no flare debate. In Europe this adds to the atmosphere, as anyone who watches games abroad will tell you. I've never heard of an injury nor has my breathing ever been effected by smoke bombs and I've been asthmatic all my long life, its all so controlling with the naysayers clearly indicating that no one else can act responsibly or that you can have a jolly good time by sitting down and singing com by ya. If you want to sit down at an away game or not have your afternoon spoiled by such dangers, get a ticket in the main home stand where you will be able to watch the festivities in safety. It's no wonder football atmosphere is so bloody boring in this country when compared to the rest of Europe, South America etc.

 

[mrsblue]

I am actually dumbfounded by the sit down, no flare debate. In Europe this adds to the atmosphere, as anyone who watches games abroad will tell you. I've never heard of an injury nor has my breathing ever been effected by smoke bombs and I've been asthmatic all my long life, its all so controlling with the naysayers clearly indicating that no one else can act responsibly or that you can have a jolly good time by sitting down and singing com by ya. If you want to sit down at an away game or not have your afternoon spoiled by such dangers, get a ticket in the main home stand where you will be able to watch the festivities in safety. It's no wonder football atmosphere is so bloody boring in this country when compared to the rest of Europe, South America etc.

From an away following of 1200 how many had smoke bombs?

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I am actually dumbfounded by the sit down, no flare debate. In Europe this adds to the atmosphere, as anyone who watches games abroad will tell you. I've never heard of an injury nor has my breathing ever been effected by smoke bombs and I've been asthmatic all my long life, its all so controlling with the naysayers clearly indicating that no one else can act responsibly or that you can have a jolly good time by sitting down and singing com by ya. If you want to sit down at an away game or not have your afternoon spoiled by such dangers, get a ticket in the main home stand where you will be able to watch the festivities in safety. It's no wonder football atmosphere is so bloody boring in this country when compared to the rest of Europe, South America etc.

There is some point in your post which has fair & honest argument.
Have you been to many games in Europe?
I suggest you sample a Red Star Belgrade, Lazio or Napoli game or two, especially a derby and some safety concerns might want you to prefer some restrictions and safety (for all supporters) considerations.
I was with/at the Roma v M/boro european game at the Riverside a few years ago and local plod/stewards were relaxed - it was very quickly out of control, intimidating and a few "fans" made it nasty.
There is a fine line between what is acceptable and what is over the top.

 

[leeblue]

blimey...my dad was taking me round the country during the early 80s supporting the blues....crumbling terraces, regularly kicking off, racism, tons of sweary chanting, packed north bank matches with wild atmospheres and goal celebrations....Some people are just too ensconced in this sterilisation of the game that has happened since sky took over the game....passion...intense love....its why any football team in the world actually exists. I'm glad to see some of it returning.

 

[KAB]

There is some point in your post which has fair & honest argument.
Have you been to many games in Europe?
I suggest you sample a Red Star Belgrade, Lazio or Napoli game or two, especially a derby and some safety concerns might want you to prefer some restrictions and safety (for all supporters) considerations.
I was with/at the Roma v M/boro european game at the Riverside a few years ago and local plod/stewards were relaxed - it was very quickly out of control, intimidating and a few "fans" made it nasty.
There is a fine line between what is acceptable and what is over the top.

I've been going to matches in Italy for a long time and have seen plenty of problems but they are not as a result of having flares or standing. My point was not to disregard all restrictions, they exist in most grounds around the world, my point was to illustrate that restrictions can hamper emotion and put a real dampener on proceedings. I urge peeps to go on youtube and type in derby della lanterna, inizio. I was there and can report not one single injury, it was organised and controlled by the fans and such a spectacle I have never witnessed. I rest my case.

 

[Ricky Otto]

Roots hall is often very quite and u can only here the away fans. Yes it seems loud when there is 20 of u singing at the front how ever the sound doesn't travel and it usually stops very quickly. There is often no more than 10mins of.noise at home

I hear TBV fine from the south upper

 

[mrsblue]

I've been going to matches in Italy for a long time and have seen plenty of problems but they are not as a result of having flares or standing. My point was not to disregard all restrictions, they exist in most grounds around the world, my point was to illustrate that restrictions can hamper emotion and put a real dampener on proceedings. I urge peeps to go on youtube and type in derby della lanterna, inizio. I was there and can report not one single injury, it was organised and controlled by the fans and such a spectacle I have never witnessed. I rest my case.

I am amazed any individual believes they have the right to throw any missile let alone smoke canisters.Remember the linesman struck at Villa Park what exactly was the point in endangering somebody for fun or enhancement of a game.

Some on here admit to insulting our own players/manager at games and now we have people defending the actions of a tiny minority.

 

[Ricey]

blimey...my dad was taking me round the country during the early 80s supporting the blues....crumbling terraces, regularly kicking off, racism, tons of sweary chanting, packed north bank matches with wild atmospheres and goal celebrations....Some people are just too ensconced in this sterilisation of the game that has happened since sky took over the game....passion...intense love....its why any football team in the world actually exists. I'm glad to see some of it returning.

I've been going to matches in Italy for a long time and have seen plenty of problems but they are not as a result of having flares or standing. My point was not to disregard all restrictions, they exist in most grounds around the world, my point was to illustrate that restrictions can hamper emotion and put a real dampener on proceedings. I urge peeps to go on youtube and type in derby della lanterna, inizio. I was there and can report not one single injury, it was organised and controlled by the fans and such a spectacle I have never witnessed. I rest my case.

I was at the Southampton away match when we got relegated from the championship, there were no flares used and that atmosphere was second to none. I understand it was the last game of the season so fancy dress etc, but it was a great day and no flares/smoke were required to create a truly unforgettable atmosphere.

 

[leeblue]

I was at the Southampton away match when we got relegated from the championship, there were no flares used and that atmosphere was second to none. I understand it was the last game of the season so fancy dress etc, but it was a great day and no flares/smoke were required to create a truly unforgettable atmosphere.

Agree fully....flares etc not needed essentially but call me a bit childish etc but the odd thing like that is pretty cool. I do see both sides of the safety argument to be honest.

 

[ian_the_girth]

flares should be nowhere near a football ground.
smoke bombs / smoke grenades do you look great though, although I always prefer it when the wind is blowing them away from me - must be an age thing :smile:

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

I'm not massive on the smokes but to say they have no place at a football game is well OTT. It all adds to the atmosphere of the game IMO and the odd one here and there sometimes is great, Saturday being an example of that.