Question The North Bank and your thoughts?

[JD]

I thought it was ok in the NB today. View wasn’t as bad as I remember from the last time I sat in there (game where Assombalonga and Tomlin were up front?) Atmosphere was slightly subdued but then its very early days.
I can see this improving if people stick with it.
In time I think the standers and singers will form their patch (just like block W) have in the west, but crucially this group will need to expand in numbers to really make it special.

 

[Ricey]

I was in there today and it’s not for me, just not the greatest viewing experience. I like the elevated unrestricted view in the South Upper.

Can see the appeal for the acoustics because even with a small amount of people creating an atmosphere it sounds loud.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Sitting in the North Bank today bought back memories of the old days. My seat wasn't actually far off from where I used to stand, leant up against a crush barrier behind the goal. Waiting for a ball to come into the stand while Sammy or Royce warmed up pre match.
Throwing the ball around the stand, every so often smashing a light.
The feeling of that surge when we scored, the jumping about.
Anyway, as a one off it was an experience but I love my seat in the South Upper, the view is great and I enjoy the chat and banter of the people/friends who sit around me.
I did think the atmosphere was good though today

 

[shrimperjon]

I was in there for the first time in 35+ years. We were stood towards the back just in front of the drum. We spent the entire game stood up but a majority sat down which immediately dampens the atmosphere. But for those of us who stood all game and sang it was decent. However friends in the ES said they could hardly hear us and said we were out sung by the Southport fans, interesting as we couldn’t hear them from where we were. For me it’s quite simple. Dan and the drum need to go in Block NB with the rest of the w block. Make it a designated standing/singing area. Then moving forward make it all terrace again or a safe standing area. But all in all I quite enjoyed the experience and although I will revert back to my normal seat in the ES I would be interested to see what the plan is moving forward

 

[Fitz]

Not for me…first time in there today in what must be 25 years. Steps seem a lot shallower then the West and much prefer to watch football from the side of the pitch. There is a reason the cameras are on the side, you loose too much perspective watching behind the goal, save that for away games. It just did not feel right to me and feels like nostalgia from the old North Bank days. As a seated stand, for me only the South Lower offers a worse viewing experience at Roots Hall, very cramped. Also don’t like a half and half home and away stand.

The interesting thing is whether it will split the fan base between North and West and therefore the atmospheres, as per the last home game.

 

[sufc4life21]

I was in there today and it’s not for me, just not the greatest viewing experience. I like the elevated unrestricted view in the South Upper.

Can see the appeal for the acoustics because even with a small amount of people creating an atmosphere it sounds loud.

Sitting in the upper tier, don't you feel bit detached from the game as such? Maybe bit of silly question but when I've previously sat in the upper tier of stand it doesn't feel the same interms of feeling part of the actual game itself ie the atmosphere, I do agree you do have better view of the actual game itself. I guess you prefer the view of the actual football match compared to being in atmospheric part of the ground.

 

[Ricey]

Sitting in the upper tier, don't you feel bit detached from the game as such? Maybe bit of silly question but when I've previously sat in the upper tier of stand it doesn't feel the same interms of feeling part of the actual game itself ie the atmosphere, I do agree you do have better view of the actual game itself. I guess you prefer the view of the actual football match compared to being in atmospheric part of the ground.

It can be flat up there, but I would choose a better viewing experience over the generic crap songs being sung on repeat or a drum being bashed in my ear.

I have always felt that having a ‘singing’ section makes every other part of the ground have a flat atmosphere. Why can’t this group be split into smaller groups and dotted around the stands to create an atmosphere across stands.

I do understand the logic of having the singing section in the hope that it should ripple round. The acoustics are much better in the North than the part of the West they are currently in.

I only learnt today what some of the chants are that I have never been able to work out from the South Upper.

Personally I think you will always struggle to recreate an away style atmosphere at home. Nothing against those who want to be in a section where they stand up, sing and create that atmosphere but I am happy with my great view and will join in with the chants if they get to us.

For me football is about spending time with friends/family, enjoy the game and if there is a bit of chanting then great, but if not I won’t leave ****ed off because people sat down and didn’t sing.

 

[sufc4life21]

It can be flat up there, but I would choose a better viewing experience over the generic crap songs being sung on repeat or a drum being bashed in my ear.

I have always felt that having a ‘singing’ section makes every other part of the ground have a flat atmosphere. Why can’t this group be split into smaller groups and dotted around the stands to create an atmosphere across stands.

I do understand the logic of having the singing section in the hope that it should ripple round. The acoustics are much better in the North than the part of the West they are currently in.

I only learnt today what some of the chants are that I have never been able to work out from the South Upper.

Personally I think you will always struggle to recreate an away style atmosphere at home. Nothing against those who want to be in a section where they stand up, sing and create that atmosphere but I am happy with my great view and will join in with the chants if they get to us.

For me football is about spending time with friends/family, enjoy the game and if there is a bit of chanting then great, but if not I won’t leave ****ed off because people sat down and didn’t sing.

I respect your preference mate. Honestly I wasn't having a dig as such I was just asking the question interms of being in the upper tier of stand and just giving my previous experience of watching a game from that view point. I guess it all comes down to personal choice in how you want to watch football game. Personally I prefer a lower tier compared to the upper (not at Southend though) because I feel more closer to the action as such compared to sitting in the upper part where you get the best view in the house but I always felt bit detached from the game itself, maybe it's just weird feeling iv had at a football match.

Interms of having vocal fans dotted around the ground getting the fans going it wouldn't work. Majority of fans now days are quite happy just to go watch football match with friends and family with not much interest in singing songs, maybe they have point with the so called songs which lot clubs sing now days.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

I have always felt that having a ‘singing’ section makes every other part of the ground have a flat atmosphere. Why can’t this group be split into smaller groups and dotted around the stands to create an atmosphere across stands.

That's what it was like before the Blue Voice took over W block........ and the atmosphere was much worse than it is now.
Trouble is they outgrew W block it got too packed, this also put people off.
What we need is the Blue voice in X Block its much bigger, but apparently we can't have X Block open without reducing capacity in other parts of the ground.

The split North Bank doesn't work with away fans in there. It's great to have it back in use, but it's only use now is as an overspill for bigger games or like today cup games when all the ground is not open. Even then it didn't really work as I thought it would. As others have stated it needed all the standing singers to be in one block.

A new North stand I think is part of the consortium's plans but it needs to be a stand for home fans only and then the problem of where to put the away fans crops up again.

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

Having sat in the north bank today it does reaffirm my thoughts; I stand by my views that the north will only work if the entirety of it is recognised as a standing atmospheric stand. Those who want to sit there to be near the atmosphere without wanting to join in are obviously are entitled to do so, but in my opinion it defeats the whole purpose of what the north is about and what we want it to be - a standing wall of noise that is intimidating for opposition players.. if we can’t achieve that then I believe we either wait for a new north bank with safe standing or remain in the west stand.

 

[PIERS]

Anyone who stood in the north bank, when it was the 'north bank'. is now too old the be in the 'north bank'
we should all stick to the East stand . South upper, our bits of the west stand. Its should be set up for the Blue voice, the youth and those who still fancy a bit of it.. or have had a few beers .
Make it a terrace , make it non designated seating . make it home fans only.... and see if it takes off.

 

[PIERS]

oh and make it half price for tickets.

 

[Ricey]

I respect your preference mate. Honestly I wasn't having a dig as such I was just asking the question interms of being in the upper tier of stand and just giving my previous experience of watching a game from that view point. I guess it all comes down to personal choice in how you want to watch football game. Personally I prefer a lower tier compared to the upper (not at Southend though) because I feel more closer to the action as such compared to sitting in the upper part where you get the best view in the house but I always felt bit detached from the game itself, maybe it's just weird feeling iv had at a football match.

Interms of having vocal fans dotted around the ground getting the fans going it wouldn't work. Majority of fans now days are quite happy just to go watch football match with friends and family with not much interest in singing songs, maybe they have point with the so called songs which lot clubs sing now days.

I didn’t see your question as a dig, was just answering it honestly.

I respect everyone’s choice whether it is to sit in whatever stand, wish to get a certain stand back etc. I sit in the South Upper because it works for me and I’ve tried every part of the ground and it remains my favourite.

I don’t know why but I remember when I first got my season ticket in 2000 in the South Upper, with lower attendances the atmosphere seemed much better. Maybe it’s because I was young and everything seemed more enhanced. But for me the atmosphere in the South Upper was much better then than it is now.

 

[Guybrush13]

I didn’t see your question as a dig, was just answering it honestly.

I respect everyone’s choice whether it is to sit in whatever stand, wish to get a certain stand back etc. I sit in the South Upper because it works for me and I’ve tried every part of the ground and it remains my favourite.

I don’t know why but I remember when I first got my season ticket in 2000 in the South Upper, with lower attendances the atmosphere seemed much better. Maybe it’s because I was young and everything seemed more enhanced. But for me the atmosphere in the South Upper was much better then than it is now.

I used to sit in South Upper throughout the 2000's and agree the atmosphere up was 10 times better than it is now. Used to love it up there but it got so dull and too silent that I had to move.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Anyone who stood in the north bank, when it was the 'north bank'. is now too old the be in the 'north bank'
we should all stick to the East stand . South upper, our bits of the west stand. Its should be set up for the Blue voice, the youth and those who still fancy a bit of it.. or have had a few beers .
Make it a terrace , make it non designated seating . make it home fans only.... and see if it takes off.

In your opinion.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Ideally, wouldn't we have some of W Block and the overspill of W in the North ? Plus some old timers that want to rekindle the good ole days and some newbies too ? The club have put a lot of effort into making it happen (because the fans wanted it). I think we need to use it, or we'll lose it,

 

[rigsby]

I was in the East but it was great to hear that roar for their first goal kick. For far to long it has been our keepers getting the the goal kick send off.

 

[RHB]

I was in the East but it was great to hear that roar for their first goal kick. For far to long it has been our keepers getting the the goal kick send off.

Not sure I subscribe to that theory Riggers. I've yet to see a keeper in front of the North Stand shank a clearance as a result of a 'You're **** arggggh' outburst, home or away. In fact I think they thrive on that sort of noise for goal kicks. Now, if they are rubbish keepers, or having a bad day, and mishandling the ball, that's another matter..........

 

[dusterman]

Not sure I subscribe to that theory Riggers. I've yet to see a keeper in front of the North Stand shank a clearance as a result of a 'You're **** arggggh' outburst, home or away. In fact I think they thrive on that sort of noise for goal kicks. Now, if they are rubbish keepers, or having a bad day, and mishandling the ball, that's another matter..........

Not there for when a bloke was shouting ‘Clayton, Clayton’ really annoyingly and persistently at Walsall and then he threw the ball straight to Barnard to slot in?

He had the last laugh when a pen was scored for them last minute and he turned and swore at us with a big smile on his face. He used to wiggle his bum at the away fans every time he took a goal kick too.

 

[Tommy2holes]

My honest opinion.

I have had a season card in the east. It lacks atmosphere and is far more civilised, but has a decent view and bars etc.

The south stand upper is a good view and I remember when it was first created and had food kiosk and someone playing the bongos. Was OK for a while and is now silent.

The west stand and W block is where I have been for a good few years now. Its where I chat with numerous people, and I like my seat etc. The view isn't the best and it can get over filled with youth but it feel like home. It even has the better burgers and the bar is better now too.

Having been in the north yesterday and closest to the away fans, I noticed how poor condition its actually in. Imho it probably needs tearing down and rebuilding as safe standing with facilities underneath. The leg room is non existent and the slope leading up to the toilets etc is very steep. It's not the place now that I walked onto for the first time in 1994 and looks very very tired.

I'll be staying put in the W block for now but would return if it was completely redeveloped.

It's going to be a massive job to redevelop roots Hall. It's been neglected for way too long and I look forward to seeing Cosu's plans.