Leicester City Clappers

[ultrafox]

I can't help thinking that the Clappers were partly a factor in us winning the Premier League.

 

One the one hand it raised the roof when we needed it most (and most neutral commentators agreed the King Power atmosphere was electric), and on the otherhand and it distracted  the opposition who probably couldn't think straight and thought  "what the ***k is all that noise about?!....what's going on??"

 

Just a theory.

 

[AKCJ]

5 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Fair enough, when I was in the East stand it was deathly quiet when we went 1 down, but that was years ago when we were generally shite  

Yeah like I say, now when we concede everyone has a good old clap and the crowd gets going again.

[crisp packet]

Don't use mine never have but voted yes...

 

It does make the atmosphere better! In the ground, sound awful on television/stream.

[Voll Blau]

32 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I've said it before, as have countless others that don't sit in parts of the ground where singing is commonplace, and I'll say it countless more times as well - the clappers get people making noise that wouldn't normally. They also make it louder in a quiet section which, in my experience, gets more people singing and shouting than normally would in a quiet section also.

 

You ignore or doubt this testimony every single time myself, AKCJ, or anyone else with a season ticket in non-singing sections explains it to you and you push on with your own sheltered narrative based on life with your friends who like to stand and sing.

 

It's just not a reflection of reality at all.

And you always take offence at my specific posts on this subject? Clearly some people agree with me, though obviously not a majority judging by the poll.

 

I'm not doubting what either of you say for a second (never have either as far as I can recall), I'm fully able to see what other parts of the ground are doing from where I am and remember what they were doing before clappers were brought in. As I alluded to in my previous post though, I'd like to think we're at a stage now at the new ground where people have the confidence to clap and maybe sing along now again*. If that's BECAUSE the clappers have given them that confidence, then I'll be delighted - but while they remain there is no incentive for them to do so.

 

You seem to be discounting the testimony of those in singing areas by the way. The clappers DO stunt songs, put them out of time, drown out the singing - that's just what the "chhhhhchchhh" timbre of the 'instrument' does compared to a standard hand clap.

 

That's the reality of it for me.

 

*If and when they feel like it, I might add - the same way clappers are used infrequently. I'm not asking anyone to be a "superfan" or whatever choice and ridiculous term takes your fancy.

[Corky]

They were introduced when the team needed a lift at the bottom of the league and it worked. I would keep them for the Family Stand as it will encourage the youngsters to get involved but we don't need a new set for every match. Let people bring one of the many they've already got, the club must be spending a little fortune and there's no need to.

[Finnegan]

34 minutes ago, Voll Blau said:

And you always take offence at my specific posts on this subject? Clearly some people agree with me, though obviously not a majority judging by the poll.

 

I'm not doubting what either of you say for a second (never have either as far as I can recall), I'm fully able to see what other parts of the ground are doing from where I am and remember what they were doing before clappers were brought in. As I alluded to in my previous post though, I'd like to think we're at a stage now at the new ground where people have the confidence to clap and maybe sing along now again*. If that's BECAUSE the clappers have given them that confidence, then I'll be delighted - but while they remain there is no incentive for them to do so.

 

You seem to be discounting the testimony of those in singing areas by the way. The clappers DO stunt songs, put them out of time, drown out the singing - that's just what the "chhhhhchchhh" timbre of the 'instrument' does compared to a standard hand clap.

 

That's the reality of it for me.

 

*If and when they feel like it, I might add - the same way clappers are used infrequently. I'm not asking anyone to be a "superfan" or whatever choice and ridiculous term takes your fancy.

 

I take offence out of some slight paranoia to be honest, I see you (rightly or wrongly - I could be completely miles off) as someone that probably has a reasonable voice inside UFS and, even if I'm wrong, someone that probably shares a lot of their views.

 

Given UFS seem to be cultivating a reasonably good relationship with the club, I'd absolutely hate for them to be putting forward a view to the club that the clappers should go based on the wishes of a small minority that sit in "singing" blocks.

 

I suppose I think that if I can convince you they have value, there's hope for the wider UFS movement but we end up having exactly the same discussion every time they're brought up.

 

I should stress that I do not use my clapper, I never have, I don't like the things, I don't like the sound they make, I don't like that they're tacky as balls, I don't like that they're a necessity in the ground and I don't like how Americanized they make the atmosphere feel. As someone that attends games on a carer's ticket, looking after alternatively either my disabled father (he'd hate that description!) or a service user with a severe learning disability, I hate even more that they're frequently thrown. I think they're a bit of a health and safety risk and it's only a matter of time before some poor bastard loses an eye to one of the things and I hate that that makes me sound like an absolute melt.

 

But, shit, they ****ing work. I moaned about them constantly when we first had them but I've seen how they can transform my block and I hate to say it but I'm now in favour, especially when I go to some of the absolutely turgid away days in this country (Everton, Liverpool, Stoke, Southampton) and I see how dire a ground can be in 2017.

 

I've been in stadiums without clappers where there's been a great atmosphere throughout, singing constantly, it's great. Qualifiers for Wales in a full Millennium Stadium against Italy, England and Russia - some of the most intense atmospheres of my life, atmosphere you could literally feel on your face it was unbelievable. Obviously I'd prefer that to our clappers. But give me our clappers over the morgue we had before them any day.

[HoustonFox]

For someone that doesn't get to go to games in person any more, I can say they add a lot of atmosphere for the TV viewing and seem to get the team fired up. The players seem to get more pumped as they can tell the fans are getting into it, and I also expected they now have positive memories with the noise. 

 

FWIW - if you don't like them, please grab me one and stick in the post for me. Hopefully when I come over at Chrimbo, I can get a ticket and get one if still doing them. Not been home in 2.5 yrs so getting excited already at the thought of a game in person again. Especially as not had ST since Filbert St 

[LCFC FOX]

1 hour ago, Fox92 said:

Our ground is silent as fvck. Prior to the clappers, the best atmosphere I recall was when the ground was first opened. Between 2004 and 2008 it was shit. The seasons with clappers it has improved. Even Neville said our ground was "rocking" once and that's because of the clappers, not because 5000 people decide to use their hands instead.

 

I don't like clappers but I cannot deny they get people involved and if that's what it takes then so be it. Who gives a fvck if an opposition fan thinks we're "tinpot". I don't get why it bothers people so much, it's probably the same people that moan when people leave a game early.

 

[C-man]

I think the positives of their impact are pretty overstated. We had some terrible atmospheres last year with them - worse than we ever had in the PL before their introduction. 

 

There are a lot of factors that affect the atmosphere more substantially than clappers whichever way you look at it: kick off times, the opposition, the importance of the game, recent results, number and quality of away fans and most importantly (sadly imo as I would like us to support to our max whatever the performance is like) how the team are playing. 

 

Ultimately it comes down to how much each and every fan can be arsed to support their team whether they use clappers or their hands.

 

I'd like to get rid of them for many reasons and encourage people to use their hands and more optimistically  learn and sing our songs but then again I am a deluded traditionalist. 

[Kitchandro]

The worst thing about the clappers has been their effect on away games. People are so reliant on them that when they don't have them at away grounds they can't be arsed to get involved, even more than before (and there has always been a disappointing section of our support who have a lazy attitude).

 

Don't underestimate the psychological effect of these things. Fans in England stood all around the ground until seating was introduced more and more over the years, and now standing seems alien to a high percentage of supporters. Similarly, people are being indoctrinated to expect the club to make the atmosphere for them, when it should be the other way around.

 

How embarrassingly corporate the clubs looks with it's sterile clappers to go with a template stadium and non-traditional kit. In the short term it did help the atmosphere but we began down a slippery slope with that decision. We are not teaching young fans, or fans who perhaps aren't in tune with the history of football culture, that they have to do the work if they want an atmosphere. How long will it be before people are too lazy to even use the clappers? I suspect that is already the case somewhat.

 

Clappers are certainly not something any reputable big club would want to associate themselves with something like this. I don't believe they help the atmosphere significantly anymore, it was coincidental that they were introduced regularly when the sheer will of everyone in the ground was inspiring the team to stay up, Union FS was starting to get a foothold in the stadium (a section of the ground that doesn't stop singing when there's a lull in proceedings and clappers become irrelevant), and the team was about to embark on it's greatest run of form ever over the next year. Clappers were only part of the reason for an imrpoved noise level.

 

Remember when they were used in the Championship? 2 games against Watford (one in the play-offs) and one against Sheffield Wednesday at home. These were all crunch games yet the noise levels were inconsistent at best.

 

I think as a club we need to move on and become more reliant on our own voices, because like it or not, it is a rather emarrassing image to have, and in the long term will not sustain a vocal and passionate following, it will actually harm the chances of that. We need to actually be a noisy set of fans at heart, not just create the illusion of that. That takes commitment and belief and singing, not folded up bits of cardboard.

 

 

[Dan]

6 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

The worst thing about the clappers has been their effect on away games. People are so reliant on them that when they don't have them at away grounds they can't be arsed to get involved, even more than before (and there has always been a disappointing section of our support who have a lazy attitude).

 

Don't underestimate the psychological effect of these things. Fans in England stood all around the ground until seating was introduced more and more over the years, and now standing seems alien to a high percentage of supporters. Similarly, people are being indoctrinated to expect the club to make the atmosphere for them, when it should be the other way around.

 

How embarrassingly corporate the clubs looks with it's sterile clappers to go with a template stadium and non-traditional kit. In the short term it did help the atmosphere but we began down a slippery slope with that decision. We are not teaching young fans, or fans who perhaps aren't in tune with the history of football culture, that they have to do the work if they want an atmosphere. How long will it be before people are too lazy to even use the clappers? I suspect that is already the case somewhat.

 

Clappers are certainly not something any reputable big club would want to associate themselves with something like this. I don't believe they help the atmosphere significantly anymore, it was coincidental that they were introduced regularly when the sheer will of everyone in the ground was inspiring the team to stay up, Union FS was starting to get a foothold in the stadium (a section of the ground that doesn't stop singing when there's a lull in proceedings and clappers become irrelevant), and the team was about to embark on it's greatest run of form ever over the next year. Clappers were only part of the reason for an imrpoved noise level.

 

Remember when they were used in the Championship? 2 games against Watford (one in the play-offs) and one against Sheffield Wednesday at home. These were all crunch games yet the noise levels were inconsistent at best.

 

I think as a club we need to move on and become more reliant on our own voices, because like it or not, it is a rather emarrassing image to have, and in the long term will not sustain a vocal and passionate following, it will actually harm the chances of that. We need to actually be a noisy set of fans at heart, not just create the illusion of that. That takes commitment and belief and singing, not folded up bits of cardboard.

 

 

I've thought that myself.

 

Whole post is spot on actually. Nicely put.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

17 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

The worst thing about the clappers has been their effect on away games. People are so reliant on them that when they don't have them at away grounds they can't be arsed to get involved, even more than before (and there has always been a disappointing section of our support who have a lazy attitude).

 

Don't underestimate the psychological effect of these things. Fans in England stood all around the ground until seating was introduced more and more over the years, and now standing seems alien to a high percentage of supporters. Similarly, people are being indoctrinated to expect the club to make the atmosphere for them, when it should be the other way around.

 

How embarrassingly corporate the clubs looks with it's sterile clappers to go with a template stadium and non-traditional kit. In the short term it did help the atmosphere but we began down a slippery slope with that decision. We are not teaching young fans, or fans who perhaps aren't in tune with the history of football culture, that they have to do the work if they want an atmosphere. How long will it be before people are too lazy to even use the clappers? I suspect that is already the case somewhat.

 

Clappers are certainly not something any reputable big club would want to associate themselves with something like this. I don't believe they help the atmosphere significantly anymore, it was coincidental that they were introduced regularly when the sheer will of everyone in the ground was inspiring the team to stay up, Union FS was starting to get a foothold in the stadium (a section of the ground that doesn't stop singing when there's a lull in proceedings and clappers become irrelevant), and the team was about to embark on it's greatest run of form ever over the next year. Clappers were only part of the reason for an imrpoved noise level.

 

Remember when they were used in the Championship? 2 games against Watford (one in the play-offs) and one against Sheffield Wednesday at home. These were all crunch games yet the noise levels were inconsistent at best.

 

I think as a club we need to move on and become more reliant on our own voices, because like it or not, it is a rather emarrassing image to have, and in the long term will not sustain a vocal and passionate following, it will actually harm the chances of that. We need to actually be a noisy set of fans at heart, not just create the illusion of that. That takes commitment and belief and singing, not folded up bits of cardboard.

 

 

Very hard to argue against any of that, nice post (Y) 

[Livid]

18 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

The worst thing about the clappers has been their effect on away games. People are so reliant on them that when they don't have them at away grounds they can't be arsed to get involved, even more than before (and there has always been a disappointing section of our support who have a lazy attitude).

 

Don't underestimate the psychological effect of these things. Fans in England stood all around the ground until seating was introduced more and more over the years, and now standing seems alien to a high percentage of supporters. Similarly, people are being indoctrinated to expect the club to make the atmosphere for them, when it should be the other way around.

 

How embarrassingly corporate the clubs looks with it's sterile clappers to go with a template stadium and non-traditional kit. In the short term it did help the atmosphere but we began down a slippery slope with that decision. We are not teaching young fans, or fans who perhaps aren't in tune with the history of football culture, that they have to do the work if they want an atmosphere. How long will it be before people are too lazy to even use the clappers? I suspect that is already the case somewhat.

 

Clappers are certainly not something any reputable big club would want to associate themselves with something like this. I don't believe they help the atmosphere significantly anymore, it was coincidental that they were introduced regularly when the sheer will of everyone in the ground was inspiring the team to stay up, Union FS was starting to get a foothold in the stadium (a section of the ground that doesn't stop singing when there's a lull in proceedings and clappers become irrelevant), and the team was about to embark on it's greatest run of form ever over the next year. Clappers were only part of the reason for an imrpoved noise level.

 

Remember when they were used in the Championship? 2 games against Watford (one in the play-offs) and one against Sheffield Wednesday at home. These were all crunch games yet the noise levels were inconsistent at best.

 

I think as a club we need to move on and become more reliant on our own voices, because like it or not, it is a rather emarrassing image to have, and in the long term will not sustain a vocal and passionate following, it will actually harm the chances of that. We need to actually be a noisy set of fans at heart, not just create the illusion of that. That takes commitment and belief and singing, not folded up bits of cardboard.

 

 

Hard to disagree with any of that.

[purpleronnie]

I've been to burton a few times now and just like last night its silent except when they play Chelsea dagger and people sing and clap along like trained seals.  Things like goal music/clappers does have a psychological effect over time.  There is however a certain laziness and reserved nature to English supporters that often creates quiet crowds. 

[Countesthorpe Fox 1884]

Sound bloody awful when watching the games back on tv, like some people have pointed out they can actually have a negative impact on some chants spreading. People are entitled to have one if they want but I feel the novelty has worn off for most of the week in week out fans. And as for some home games last year we had some awful atmospheres, Boro, West Ham, West Brom to mention a few.

[BenTheFox]

I accept that they create noise in areas of the ground where there would otherwise be no atmosphere, but the real downside is whenever a song gets going it just gets drowned out by clappers and it just fizzles out. Personally I'd rather they got rid, but fair enough if you think otherwise. I'd love to see what effect it would have if they were taken away for a game. 

[red5]

1. 1. Do you think The Leicester City Clap Banners have been a good thing for the club?

   • Yes
      
      180
   • No
      
      27

2. 2. Do you still want them on your seat for the next few seasons?

   • Yes
      
      114
   • No
      
      93

 

And the clappers win. 

[SheppyFox]

On 01/08/2017 at 13:25, Voll Blau said:

Rather have £19 off the price of my season ticket. Voices and hands are free.

Haha you tightwad!

[davieG]

Since I've been going there have always been games when the atmosphere was shit, you can count on one hand the number of times the Main Stand contributed to it in a meaningful way.

Sure there  were periods when the fans where very vocal but this nearly always coincided with either success on the pitch or fighting to avoid relegation.

 

Whether the clappers have improved the atmosphere directly it's  hard to say because it coincided with both a battle to avoid relegation and some of the most exciting and successful games we'll ever see but I certainly see plenty of people around me in the East Stand using them that never made a squeak and only clapped in polite applause before.

 

If fans think we have a shit atmosphere at some games now compared to the past I think they're deluding themselves or glamourising the past and that  includes when most of the fans were standing.

[HighPeakFox]

On 01/08/2017 at 19:46, Kitchandro said:

The worst thing about the clappers has been their effect on away games. People are so reliant on them that when they don't have them at away grounds they can't be arsed to get involved, even more than before (and there has always been a disappointing section of our support who have a lazy attitude).

 

Don't underestimate the psychological effect of these things. Fans in England stood all around the ground until seating was introduced more and more over the years, and now standing seems alien to a high percentage of supporters. Similarly, people are being indoctrinated to expect the club to make the atmosphere for them, when it should be the other way around.

 

How embarrassingly corporate the clubs looks with it's sterile clappers to go with a template stadium and non-traditional kit. In the short term it did help the atmosphere but we began down a slippery slope with that decision. We are not teaching young fans, or fans who perhaps aren't in tune with the history of football culture, that they have to do the work if they want an atmosphere. How long will it be before people are too lazy to even use the clappers? I suspect that is already the case somewhat.

 

Clappers are certainly not something any reputable big club would want to associate themselves with something like this. I don't believe they help the atmosphere significantly anymore, it was coincidental that they were introduced regularly when the sheer will of everyone in the ground was inspiring the team to stay up, Union FS was starting to get a foothold in the stadium (a section of the ground that doesn't stop singing when there's a lull in proceedings and clappers become irrelevant), and the team was about to embark on it's greatest run of form ever over the next year. Clappers were only part of the reason for an imrpoved noise level.

 

Remember when they were used in the Championship? 2 games against Watford (one in the play-offs) and one against Sheffield Wednesday at home. These were all crunch games yet the noise levels were inconsistent at best.

 

I think as a club we need to move on and become more reliant on our own voices, because like it or not, it is a rather emarrassing image to have, and in the long term will not sustain a vocal and passionate following, it will actually harm the chances of that. We need to actually be a noisy set of fans at heart, not just create the illusion of that. That takes commitment and belief and singing, not folded up bits of cardboard.

 

 

I don't agree with it all, but that is extremely well argued all the same.

[UniFox21]

Won't be long before the FA ban these for some BS reason 

[BenTheFox]

2 minutes ago, UniFox21 said:

Won't be long before the FA ban these for some BS reason 

Hopefully

[Fox92]

We need to try and get everybody in sync first.

 

I sit bang in the middle of SK2 and often hear two (and sometimes three) different chants going on. UFS singing, other side of the Kop and L1 often end up singing different songs.

 

It'd be nice for just one song to be in sync. I know that's difficult with many small pockets of singing areas but I feel this is an issue too.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

43 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

We need to try and get everybody in sync first.

 

I sit bang in the middle of SK2 and often hear two (and sometimes three) different chants going on. UFS singing, other side of the Kop and L1 often end up singing different songs.

 

It'd be nice for just one song to be in sync. I know that's difficult with many small pockets of singing areas but I feel this is an issue too.

This is a separate issue really that would only be fixed by clearing out the Kop and all the singers going in there, and we all know that won't happen 

[BenTheFox]

It was mentioned in an earlier post that it's like the club is creating the atmosphere for you. I completely agree! I feel the same way when the club does a tifo. Atmosphere just means so much more when it's the fans taking the initiative. It's like buying a birthday present for yourself, it's just not the same.