First Meeting - The Minutes

[danlcfc4ever]

It's not orchestrated in the sense that no one or a group are involved in making it happen.

 

The original N block and Fosse boys had meetings with the club and got agreement for their existence on the basis that they didn't stand, inevitably they did and the stewards moved in and started ejecting fans and preventing them from going in those sections. This was done without warning or further discussions on the standing issues.

 

Hmmm.. I guess you could say they shouldn't have bothered having meetings with the club and drawing attention to themselves, and they shouldn't be standing in small numbers!

 

However I get the feeling Union FS is going to be more about working with the club than Fosse Boys which always smacked a little of wannabe ultras.

 

It's so painfully obvious safe standing needs to come back.

 

Standing = Singing. Singing = Atmosphere.

 

I'm not sure I can say I've ever experienced a real spine tingling atmosphere when sat down!  

[Dan]

I've still got a feeling there'll be some sort of conflict. I mean, do people think this trial area will remain seated against Charlton?

[cityfanlee23]

I've still got a feeling there'll be some sort of conflict. I mean, do people think this trial area will remain seated against Charlton?

 

 

I thought the same,

 

It's blatently obvious that people will stand, SIT DOWN IF YOU LOVE LEICESTER SIT DOWN.

 

The Idea is that the transparency and profesionallism between FS and the club, is that they see the intentions are in the right place.

Which they are 1000%

But the club will know that there will be standers...

 

 

To be completely honest, Me having an old fashioned opinion on standing, if people are not absolute morons about it, and stand safely, Celebrate goals like everyone does, but as long as nobody is trying to mosh in the stands I cannot see how it is really "Unsafe"

 

It's a bit like idiots driving in the rain... Act like an idiot, Have a crash,

Be sensible, Do not have a crash..

 

 

Act like a twat in the stands, probably slip and hurt yourself or someone else.

Be vocal and loud, but controlled.. No issue.

 

 

I think the fosse boys lacked that spark of sensibleness in their approach. It all seemed pretty erratic to me, but I didnt pay much attention to is. so shouldnt really comment to extensively.

[RobHawk]

Good read! i think its important everyone reads this in full! They talk about playing clever in regards to standing and this is vital! Until safe standing comes back its a case of not giving the club any ammo on the h&s front. Working with the club is the best way and the occasional game where fans have to box clever, will show that this group will work and be beneficial for both the club and the fans!

[davieG]

The Fosse Boys and N block both worked closely with the club, they even had an agreed document produced.

 

The problem is you get a group of like minded singers together and they'll want to stand as do many fans. It's not as if they were standing non-stop.

 

Once they're stood the organisers have very little chance of keeping them seated so the club then react and ejections start, people get angry and it all eventually falls apart.

 

But hey best of luck I really hope it's successful.

[Kitchandro]

Exactly the same feeling from me... too far from the away fans, however in the spirit of making a statement for one game I would do it.

 

In a sense I agree, and that will limit it's growth somewhat unfortunately.

 

On the other hand, I've always felt the 'Kop' is supposed to be called that for a reason. I'd rather have a loud, large standing contingent in the Kop than next to the away fans.

[Kitchandro]

I have to agree that the club will try and crush you as soon as they get the chance.

 

My advice is don't consult them on anything, you have to do things by yourself. It sounds a if you are trying to spread the standing group at the top of the Kop. This is a good idea, as if you try to create a completely separate one it will not last. The only option is to attach yourselves to a currently standing area, even if it is a small one, and try to expand it.

[Kitchandro]

I thought the same,

 

It's blatently obvious that people will stand, SIT DOWN IF YOU LOVE LEICESTER SIT DOWN.

 

The Idea is that the transparency and profesionallism between FS and the club, is that they see the intentions are in the right place.

Which they are 1000%

But the club will know that there will be standers...

 

 

To be completely honest, Me having an old fashioned opinion on standing, if people are not absolute morons about it, and stand safely, Celebrate goals like everyone does, but as long as nobody is trying to mosh in the stands I cannot see how it is really "Unsafe"

 

 

Moshing is all the fun in standing. Have you never gone mental when we've scored and ended up on a completely different row?

[LCFC FOX]

Why does it have to be next to the away fans? Most teams apart from Forest, Derby, Leeds and Sheff Weds bring a tiny following anyway. 

[Dan]

Why does it have to be next to the away fans? Most teams apart from Forest, Derby, Leeds and Sheff Weds bring a tiny following anyway. 

 

I've said this elsewhere but surely a Kop with I don't know, 3,000 vocal together in one block, would surely be enough to 'banter' the away fans with.

 

Singing at 700 Barnsley fans really doesn't appeal to me.

[Poakey]

I've said this elsewhere but surely a Kop with I don't know, 3,000 vocal together in one block, would surely be enough to 'banter' the away fans with.

 

Singing at 700 Barnsley fans really doesn't appeal to me.

Cant speak for Leeds as i missed that one but i think the away fans this year have been dire, as in vocally and numbers.(exept for Man City)

[Kitchandro]

Cant speak for Leeds as i missed that one but i think the away fans this year have been dire, as in vocally and numbers.(exept for Man City)

 

And that reminds me of another thing, when we actually see a loud away following we don't exactly try to out sing them. When Leeds come we just shut up and take it.

[Monsell1976]

Only thing about sk1 idea that I dislike is that is too far away from the away fans, I do think it's a massive shame that L, K and N can't be expanded to make an intimidating atmosphere either side of the away fans

That's the biggest battle, the clubs don't want intimidating, they want nice, and family friendly.

And as said before somewhere that they want the kids near the shop, to get them to spend in there, don't think it would make a difference if the kids were move along, but they won't expand n for that reason.

[Dan]

Cant speak for Leeds as i missed that one but i think the away fans this year have been dire, as in vocally and numbers.(exept for Man City)

 

Leeds are still the best but even they've gone downhill for me.

 

Derby in the cup were quality.

 

Forest were OK but nowhere near worth the rimming they got on here after.

 

Other than that they've all been shit. We're definitely one of the best in this league but I still think we're capable of far better.

[Guest Bilo]

Leeds are still the best but even they've gone downhill for me.

 

Derby in the cup were quality.

 

Forest were OK but nowhere near worth the rimming they got on here after.

 

Other than that they've all been shit. We're definitely one of the best in this league but I still think we're capable of far better.

 

I personally think we're among the best in the division when on form.

 

Bolton and Huddersfield are the last two away games of the season, if we're still in the same position then, those two will live long in the memory.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

It was all going well until I read that you intend for this singing section to be in SK1...

 

So you already have a large area of fans standing and singing (L1 and K) and these are exactly the kind of people that you wish to attract to your cause, yet you pick somewhere at the other end of the stadium to them. What will happen is that some people in L/K who like the sound of this will move to try and support you but the only effect that will have is diluting L/K and making the singers more spread across the whole of the stadium... which is exactly what you cite as the problem in the first place!

 

Your best approach to this is to build on what already exists. Any splinter group or pockets that begin to grow will be crushed by the club whereas L and K has become too big for them to do anything with other than manage sensibly as they currently do. Keep your meetings going, try and engage with those already in L/K, get interested people in other areas to join the masses in L/K already in order to influence them atmosphere-wise and, finally, don't involve the club with what your doing until you're established in L/K and they can see that you're trying to improve what's already being managed there and not starting something new that they don't want (there's nothing to stop 20 or 30 like-minded people individually buying tickets in the same area of the ground).

[Dan]

I personally think we're among the best in the division when on form.

 

Bolton and Huddersfield are the last two away games of the season, if we're still in the same position then, those two will live long in the memory.

 

Absolutely. Just a case of actually hitting that form. Yesterday was as flat as a pancake but to be honest it was bound to happen on New Years.

 

We've been a lot better this year than last year. I'd love to know what it is that makes us almost fluctuate in standard from season to season. It was bizarrely shit last season.

 

I still don't get why Bolton is midweek. You've got QPR at home on the Saturday and then Bolton at home on Easter Monday - would it not have made sense to move QPR at home forward to Friday rather than send us to Bolton on a midweek rather than a 3pm?

 

Agreed though. Two very big away ends.

[Dan]

It was all going well until I read that you intend for this singing section to be in SK1...

 

So you already have a large area of fans standing and singing (L1 and K) and these are exactly the kind of people that you wish to attract to your cause, yet you pick somewhere at the other end of the stadium to them. What will happen is that some people in L/K who like the sound of this will move to try and support you but the only effect that will have is diluting L/K and making the singers more spread across the whole of the stadium... which is exactly what you cite as the problem in the first place!

 

Your best approach to this is to build on what already exists. Any splinter group or pockets that begin to grow will be crushed by the club whereas L and K has become too big for them to do anything with other than manage sensibly as they currently do. Keep your meetings going, try and engage with those already in L/K, get interested people in other areas to join the masses in L/K already in order to influence them atmosphere-wise and, finally, don't involve the club with what your doing until you're established in L/K and they can see that you're trying to improve what's already being managed there and not starting something new that they don't want (there's nothing to stop 20 or 30 like-minded people individually buying tickets in the same area of the ground).

 

We thought this and there's actually not a single block that's ideal.

 

My argument for SK1 is that it's cheaper & emptier, and has more potential as a result. L1 has about hit it's peak for me and it's going downhill - how do you expect it to grow when you're hitting some of the most expensive seats in the ground if you go up that stand any further?

 

There's not a single block that ticks every box but I personally believe in the long-term, SK1 is the block that ticks the most. Appreciate that probably won't be a popular opinion.

[Bert]

Absolutely. Just a case of actually hitting that form. Yesterday was as flat as a pancake but to be honest it was bound to happen on New Years.

We've been a lot better this year than last year. I'd love to know what it is that makes us almost fluctuate in standard from season to season. It was bizarrely shit last season.

I still don't get why Bolton is midweek. You've got QPR at home on the Saturday and then Bolton at home on Easter Monday - would it not have made sense to move QPR at home forward to Friday rather than send us to Bolton on a midweek rather than a 3pm?

Agreed though. Two very big away ends.

Don't see the problem with it not being on Easter

Monday. Gives us an extra day when some teams won't have as they'll played Saturday-Monday.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

We thought this and there's actually not a single block that's ideal.

 

My argument for SK1 is that it's cheaper & emptier, and has more potential as a result. L1 has about hit it's peak for me and it's going downhill - how do you expect it to grow when you're hitting some of the most expensive seats in the ground if you go up that stand any further?

 

There's not a single block that ticks every box but I personally believe in the long-term, SK1 is the block that ticks the most. Appreciate that probably won't be a popular opinion.

 

Ok, so if the most vocal area in the ground has hit its peak and is going downhill why not give it a lift with an injection of more people who want to sing?

 

The problem we have at the minute is the spreading out of people and the choice of SK1 only increases that problem. A certain number of the people you want with you are going to want to stand (L/K) or are going to be want to be near or next to the away fans... L/K is the only area in the stadium that can reasonably cater for this.

 

How do I expect it to grow?

 

That may be problematic but these two areas are certainly not at capacity. I've been in L1 for about 6 seasons now and when I first moved there on Row Z we were just about the first row standing. Over the years that has changed and we're probably about the third or fourth row now (i.e. standing from W) so there has been progress, albeit slow.

 

Instead of moving along we need to move down the stand. Ideally the bottom half of L1 would move out and L1 would be a standing block from the front row but the only way I can see that happening is with a designated safe-standing area. In an ideal world those of you who want to improve the atmosphere but aren't in L/K would buy tickets in the lower halves of L/K and have the determination to say no when the old biddies who sit there with their blankets and flasks because it's the cheapest part of the East Stand tell you to sit down. Unreserved seating in L1 would solve a lot of problems but again I won't hold my breath on that one!

[Greatness_Since_1884]

On the atmosphere, I think it's more a problem with English Football in general rather than Leicester City.

The fan culture has gone. A lot of the younger generations will never have experienced standing and singing for 90 minutes so you can't expect it from them. There has been a conscious move by both legislators and clubs to encourage a more 'family friendly' atmosphere.

Firstly to get try and stop the myth of supporters being hooligans (it is after all trying to expand to new countries who haven't seen English football, just heard the myths so to speak) and that it's more profitable for clubs to get families through the door (they're more likely to 'make a day of it' and buy programmes, merchandise etc.).

That and the new technology means fans are now more interested in Tweeting their own thoughts, checking in-play odds or their accumulators instead of singing.

The price we fans/customers are paying now, and also a more general rise in living standards over time, means many more expect a 'service' and for the entertainment to be given to them rather than making it themselves - managers are now even sacked for 'style of play' regardless of results, again because more owners investing higher sums of money expect a better 'service'

Perhaps even some fans find it hard to cheer on a group of people earning in a week what they might get in a year whereas before the players were largely homegrown lads you could identify with - they could've quite plausibly been working in the next factory to you had they not made it in professional football.

That's why there is perceived to be a better 'old-school' atmosphere in places like the Bundesliga or the non-Leagues because they haven't put revenue ahead of atmosphere. That is what has happened to elite football in this country and it'll be tough to reverse I'm afraid.

[Paulmot]

Just an observation.  The atmosphere has improved this season, the attendances have started rising, the team is going along very nicely. Humm let me think!! what is the way to create a better atmosphere without trying to create singing pockets. 1) The Team needs to be successful. 2) More People in the stadium.

 

We cannot make the 1st change happen (can we)? The second is linked to the 1st and also the pricing structure.  I have nothing against singing pockets but surely singing stadiums is better. In a previous post it was mentioned the first two years how good the atmosphere was. year 1 we went into administration and had a  full stadium, year 2 prem football and a full stadium. The league one season was improved as well . See the pattern

 

I sit at the very top of SK2 and usually I am found shouting and singing.

 

If we are doing well the attendances go up and the atmosphere improves.  We have had years of dross leading to disenchantment and lack of atmosphere.

 

I Luv it when the KP is absolutely rocking. 

 

Nigel Pearsons new and improved blue and white army

[AndWhat?]

Just an observation.  The atmosphere has improved this season, the attendances have started rising, the team is going along very nicely. Humm let me think!! what is the way to create a better atmosphere without trying to create singing pockets. 1) The Team needs to be successful. 2) More People in the stadium.

 

We cannot make the 1st change happen (can we)? The second is linked to the 1st and also the pricing structure.  I have nothing against singing pockets but surely singing stadiums is better. In a previous post it was mentioned the first two years how good the atmosphere was. year 1 we went into administration and had a  full stadium, year 2 prem football and a full stadium. The league one season was improved as well . See the pattern

 

I sit at the very top of SK2 and usually I am found shouting and singing.

 

If we are doing well the attendances go up and the atmosphere improves.  We have had years of dross leading to disenchantment and lack of atmosphere.

 

I Luv it when the KP is absolutely rocking. 

 

Nigel Pearsons new and improved blue and white army

 

 

So you think nothing should be done? and we should stick to the status quo?

 

I dont get this 'it's alright' attitude. I don't want our fans to just be alright, Just like the last paragraph in that minutes says, I want us to have the best fans in the country and I truly think Union FS and Filbo Spirit can instil that mentality into our fans. 

[Paulmot]

So you think nothing should be done? and we should stick to the status quo?

 

I dont get this 'it's alright' attitude. I don't want our fans to just be alright, Just like the last paragraph in that minutes says, I want us to have the best fans in the country and I truly think Union FS and Filbo Spirit can instil that mentality into our fans. 

Where did I say do nothing? The answer is there!! fill the stadium we can try to persuade the owners to change the pricing structure. Although to be fair they have kept season ticket prices pretty much the same along with the direct debit scheme and tried to fill the family stand. Pressure and dialogue can work to try to make it possible to find ways to ensure larger attendances. Ultimately success and Premiership football will achieve what u are all alluding to. Please note the ? after (can we). because we can try to back the team and show them we want them to do well. Or we can boo young players like DD when he is struggling and the throw our dummies out the pram because he cups his ears.  Well if those that give cannot take it back and see the fighting spirit, then they are just undermining the team and are small minded. 

[The Year Of The Fox]

So who are this UFS? Is it a branch of the FoxesTrust for example? If not who are the main people?

I wasn't at the meeting so from my perspective they're just anonymous people who are speaking to the club on behalf of me.