The over 40s ...

[Vacamion]

 

[Daggers]

I haven’t seen any piss in the stands, but I have seen a lot of shit on the pitch. 

[ThorpeAstleyFox]

My first game was in 1987 (1-0 win versus Charlton) and I've been to more games than I've missed since then and been a season ticket holder since the move to Filbert Way.

 

I started watching us from the terrace at the front of the Family Stand (pre-Carling Stans) and, watching Tommy Wright marauding down the wing, I found my first footballing hero. I wasn't from a footballing family (my Dad took me to my first game, but I was on my own from then on) but, from the age of around 12, I could afford to go with other kids from my estate (Beaumont Leys) as tickets were £2.50, and I could afford that from my paper round money. As I became older, I moved over to the Kop, and eventually settled in the 'crazy corner' next to the away fans.

 

The club have made a lot of decisions down the years which have made the atmosphere more sterile, or 'family friendly' as they prefer to call it. Goal music; clappers; t-shirt cannons; etc. have all contributed to this. When we moved to Filbert Way, I purchased a season ticket in SK2, which, in the club's literature, was branded as 'the new Kop'. I know that we often joke about swapping over the Kop and the Faily Stand, but the decision to position 'the new Kop' away from the away fans seriously impacted on the atmosphere when we moved.

 

The single biggest issue, in my opinion, is that watching live football is no longer for the working class. There is no way now that a teenager could afford to follow LCFC just using their paper round money. When we sold our soul at the birth of the Premier League football lost both its roots and identity. The game is now awash with money, the majority of which does not come from match-going supporters. Supporters now are simply customers to be exploited - and the more money you have, the more they can extort from you.

 

I would much prefer for the money to dissappear and we go back to watching the likes of Paul Fitzpatrick and when Neville Southall was considered an athlete. I'd happily accept not being 'the best league in the World' if we could get our footballing identity back. Unfortunately, I am now a dinosaur and there is no way to put the genie back in the bottle.

 

Sorry for the rant. As you were.

[l444ry]

You only need watch some of the retro “Big Match” progs on satellite TV to see what’s missing these days. Game has moved on unfortunately.

[fox_up_north]

I think the kind of experience you want is unlikely to return to top flight football, particularly in a "new" stadium. 

 

The prohibitive cost, the requirement for memberships and waiting lists. It may come back in the championship or lower leagues but, then, you've got empty stands to contend with. 

 

A quick look at promoted Sheffield Weds (who we'll play next season!!) Hillsborough holds around 34,000. Average attendance last few years has been around 25k. 

 

Football is just different now, certainly at the top level. I doubt it's going back the way it was. 

[SK3Blue]

First game was January 1981 against WBA at Filbert Street, we had some great players in Lynex, Lineker, Wallington and Peake. Looking back the games were so much faster, almost frenzied pace at times. Players would take on their opponent rather than pass it sideways.

 

The atmosphere around the Hamilton and Pleat era was pretty toxic, but through the Little and O Neill years the players helped connect the fans back to the club. Taylor did his best to ruin it again of course.

 

I don't care so much these days, I find the champions league really dull, the world cups just don't stick in the memory like they did. As for the current 'matchday experience' they've basically turned all areas of the stadium into family zones/stands. Football was always a way of letting off steam after a hard week at work, but I believe it's just become an extension of work these days. 

 

We work around TV and are dictated to with silly kick off times. Our club treats us like cattle, ID checks, controlled celebrations to the most ridiculous noise, the rasp of the cardboard clapper because people have forgot they have a voice to sing with. 

And opinions, well they are like ar$eholes, we all have one, but it depends where you sit as to if you can voice it. As I said, an extension of work, being controlled.

 

I do fear for Football, I think the European Super league will eventually happen as the games gone mad, this summer transfer window coming up will be ridiculous too with teams paying way over the top.

 

The constant greed of some of these clubs and players is the cause of the disconnect for me,  and then you have fans clapping players who earn in 3 days what the average fan earns in a year! 

 

P.S I've never seen p1ss streaming into the stands, but I did see someone have a p1ss into someone's big coat pocket away at Port Vale once. 

 

Edited 31 May 2023 by SK3Blue

[TAFFYFOX1]

First game was 1992 v Bristol City. I really don’t get why having a new stadium mean that the atmosphere of yesteryear can’t be replicated. You only have to look at what the Welsh FA have done down here in Wales. I remember watching the national team play in the Millennium Stadium (capacity of 75000) infront of just over 5k. It was horrific. The Welsh FA marketed the TOGETHER STRONGER project and we are now selling out the Cardiff City Stadium against the like s of Latvia and Armenia. The RED WALL is as strong as ever and the atmosphere is excellent most of the time. This has come from the WFA listening and working with fans, unfortunately something that seems hard work at Leicester. We even stopped playing the anthem and just let the fans belt it out.

A clever bit of marketing and working together will be the only option.

Obviously a successful team helps out and I’m hoping a successful season in the championship may strengthen that link between supporters and club.