The Good Old Days - but would you want them back?

[dune]

I started going to games during the dieing days of the good old days when watching football was an affordable working class game, when the Milton Road was a terrace and when we were crammed in and the official capacities were regularly exceeded and not declared. Saints old record attendance was 31,044 but you can add several thousands to that as a guestimate of the real figure. I remember on one occassion I think it was crewe we were playing at the dell and it being a night match the board thought it'd be fine to make it pay on the gate - there must've been 17,000 plus in the 15,252 ground as all the aisles had to be used as standing space as all the seats were taken - those were the good old day's, but go back a generation or two and I often find their views completely different as people I know who went to games from the early 50's onwards have affection for their time, but often say they wouldn't want to see it how it was as in those days terraces were dangerous places and many a story has been recounted to me of how people were crushed by surges and you were crammed in little cattle - a disaster waiting to happen and Hillsborough was the worst in terms of scale, but it was just a what happened every week at every ground on a much smaller scale. Now the Milton Road stand was the most safely designed terrace in England at the time of the Taylor report which was completely condusive with Saints having always been at the forefront on new design - the east and west stands were the envy of many a club when first erected!

 

My ultimate conclusion to the question posed is that I would love the good old days back in terms of cost to us fans, and i'd like terraces such as the Milton Road back. It'll never happen but it's still nice to reminiss over how things used to be.

[lordswoodsaints]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

Money dominates and players are just not approachable anymore.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

[NorthamSteve]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

Money dominates and players are just not approachable anymore.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

 

It's possible that a few more years and a few successes could change that view for you. Clearly you watched a few fantastic Saints teams there achieving pretty much what we're trying to now, if we can, you might be more comfortable....

[toofarnorth]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

Money dominates and players are just not approachable anymore.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

 

Would help if St Marys was full. Great Atmosphere at all the sell-out games last season especially pompey. Would love that week in week out.

[Ian the Red]

Some interesting points.

 

Dune, with regard to cost I'd bet that if you build in inflation and take the price to get into The Dell in say 1970, todays price would be comparable. I first went to watch my team in around 1967, numerous reserve matches before. The 70's were fantastic, 27,000 cramed in for the Fulham match when Best and Marsh played, seeing Chivers play for Spurs on his first return to The Dell plus many many other fantastic matches and experiences is why I love this club. But we needed to move to bigger better ground and SMS is a fantastic stadium when there is 25k+, then the atmosphere is great, but with 18k it is not quite so good.

[Saint Billy]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

Money dominates and players are just not approachable anymore.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

 

Totally agree with that.

 

There is no comparison between the Dell and St Marys for atmosphere, I do really miss the old place.

 

I have been at St Marys sat in my seat and not even realised that the players are already out on the pitch.

 

But its the same with a lot of things now, I find everything so plastic and soulless, either its just plain ole getting old, or that is the way of things now.

Perhaps when our kids are our age they will be saying the same about St Mary's.

[Dr Who?]

I think it would be brilliant, it would never seem the same again. Milton terrace all packed beary being able to get your hands above you head to clap the team out. everything just seem more exciting then, and more routine now!

[Dog]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

 

Spot on.

[Dimond Geezer]

From my point of view the answer to your question is - I don't know.

 

Part of me longs for the youthful (for me anyway) days of crowd surges, great fun if your at the back, not so much if your at the front. I remember on some occasions, we would finish a match about 10metres away from where we started. Nowadays though, in the flush of middle age, with a dodgy back & shot knees, I don't think I could cope with that sort of excitement anymore, I would probably be sat on the bench seats under the West Stand. Two other reason why I wouldn't be stood on the terraces are family related: I've taken my kids since they were six years old at would be cr@pping myself if they got caught in a surge at that age, and my old man has started coming to matches, which is great, but he wouldn't be too keen in a crowd at the ripe old age of 70.

[Winnersaint]

I was locked out of the record attendance game. It was a League Cup tie v Man U. I was in the cue for the boys entrance and there were only about ten in front of me when we told the turnstiles had shut. Problem was my Dad was already in the ground, so I had to wait till the end. What about Mick Channons testimonial? Now the Dell really was a bit on the crowded side that evening.

[Toomer]

I used to love it stood on The Milton, the songs we sung were origional and funny (not very PC by todays standards) with all due due respect to those who sit/stand in the Northam they make a good noise but it is very repetative. IMO one of the problems being in a seated area is not the best way to get a good song going time to bring in safe standing behind the goals.

[Cricketphilly]

Modern sports grounds are souless entities and you could be in any one of a hundred. For this reason i've never taken to St Marys. I concede that looking back at days and nights at the Dell coincide with my childhood in the seventies and I can get misty eyed reminiscing about the old place, games with my Father like Mick Channon's testimonial. Footballers back then were my heroes, Ossie, KK, Steve Williams et al, now I have no love or empathy for any of them. Alas, I fear, i'm ageing!

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

Money dominates and players are just not approachable anymore.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

 

This is spot on. The Dell was the Dell; St Marys is a souless plastic place with 50% less of the atmosphere of the Dell with 50% more people. Alan Hansen always said he hated the Dell the most as a player. No wonder we took so long to win at St. Marys.

[rallyboy]

any of you been back to the site of the Dell recently?

 

I went the other week as I was nearby and realised that it was my first time there since the Arsenal game.

It was great walking through the archway, down what would have been the Milton terrace and onto the pitch, looking left and right remembering the stands.

Worth a trip if you haven't been, and the impression of hundreds of football boots on the concrete around the grassed area is a really clever touch.

 

I enjoyed the experience, it wasn't sad, just nostalgic in a good way, there can't be many housing estates that hold such great memories - go have a walk down memory lane.

 

This is in contrast to the first time I went past the old Goldstone ground and saw Dixons and SofaWorld - there's something vulgar about desecrating a sports ground for cheap toasters and buy now pay in 2014 furnishings.

[Charlie2008]

While I commend these sentiments - I too used to stand on the Archers terrace, then the Milton - we surely have to work with what we've got.

 

Tha Northam is a great atmosphere, when you're in it, as are many other parts of the stadium. We just need to fill in the gaps and we will have a fortress once more.

 

The Dell is flats - shame but true - move on in unity!

 

COYR

[Saint Fan CaM]

I only knew The Dell in the early 70's from going to reserve team matches because that's all I could afford. Wind on umpteen years and being able to afford to go to SMS was when the team was probably just starting the decline. So for me I think I would have to say I am enjoying this period in Saints history immensely because we are on the rise - the struggle back to the top - and that is really exciting having seen the previous decline. I have a great ST seat and I've not enjoyed going to footie more than now, especially when I get to go with my Sons. I'm going to be a Grandad in November for the first time and as it's a boy I am extremely excited about the prospect of taking him along to SMS too!

 

I suppose it's all about perspective.

[jonesyboyo]

Anyone got any more pics of terracing from The Dell? Here's one I found

[RedAndWhite91]

I was too young to appreciate the Dell really, was 9/10 when we moved to St. Mary's, so for me, that's where most my Saints memories are. I envy you all who got to stand on the Milton watching all those class players. I think I used to sit in the East stand when I occasionally went with my Dad. I had a tour for one of my birthdays, I'm pleased I do have some memories of the Dell.

[Charlie2008]

Anyone got any more pics of terracing from The Dell? Here's one I found

 

Wow that takes me right back to the 70s.

 

I used to stand at the front of that first chocolate box with my mate while my Dad stood at the bottom of the steps.

 

Happy Days!

[Stubby]

Oh the waves of nostalgia! I loved that old ground. I have so many memories.

It was at its best before they put seating under the stands.

But there's no way we could compete if we were still there.

 

For me, it's a pity the stands at St Mary's are so far from the action. Part of the Dell's atmosphere was the way we were almost on top of the pitch.

[latter day saint]

some great pics here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiloran/tags/thedell/

[bender]

I remember paying £2.50 childs fee to get in in the late 80's, even though I was 16.

 

Used to love standing at the back of the Milton. Whenever we scored used to surge all over the place, probably fall over and end up nowhere near I started.

 

F*cking great days.

[Channon's Sideburns]

My first season ticket as a 5yr old - £10 and £1 per match on top.

 

I miss the old place - it was one of the reasons why we turned over the big boys - they HATED coming here.

[jonesyboyo]

http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/2441/29/

Here's an article regarding the 'chocolate boxes'. They were before my time, I only remember the family centre above the main terrace.

 

Regarding the above £2.50 to get into the Milton Rd - pretty sure it was still just £1.50 in 1989, and £3 for adults, I think 1989 was when I first started going regularly, aged 11

[15saints]

Boy this has taken me back. I loved the dell and started going regularly early 70s and got my first season ticket in 1978/79 season. I can remember swapping my season ticket for a family enclosure ticket in 1980/81 so that I could take my son every week, he was nearly six. I still retain two season tickets now, but he seldom comes as he lives away with his own family. When he became too old for the family centre we swapped for some brilliant seats just opposite the dug-out and nine rows back - this is important as we received the benefit of the roof when it rained. When he went to university I took my youngest daughter for three seasons, which was also very nice, but she also flew the coup. It was either get rid of my spare ticket or drag my partner kicking and screaming to our home games. She now loves football and to emphasise that point she went to the last game at the dell vs Arsenal on her own as I had complementary tickets for the cricket at Lords that day. She kept ringing me to let me know how we were geting on.

 

Now I am in the Kingsland with my partner, which is great, but not quite as memorable yet. The atmosphere could improve if the Northam allowed other parts of the ground to sing rather than either trying, and normally succeeding, to drown them out or joining in but speeding things up so everyone else just drops out.

[Channon's Sideburns]

Boy this has taken me back. I loved the dell and started going regularly early 70s and got my first season ticket in 1978/79 season. I can remember swapping my season ticket for a family enclosure ticket in 1980/81 so that I could take my son every week, he was nearly six. I still retain two season tickets now, but he seldom comes as he lives away with his own family. When he became too old for the family centre we swapped for some brilliant seats just opposite the dug-out and nine rows back - this is important as we received the benefit of the roof when it rained. When he went to university I took my youngest daughter for three seasons, which was also very nice, but she also flew the coup. It was either get rid of my spare ticket or drag my partner kicking and screaming to our home games. She now loves football and to emphasise that point she went to the last game at the dell vs Arsenal on her own as I had complementary tickets for the cricket at Lords that day. She kept ringing me to let me know how we were geting on.

 

Now I am in the Kingsland with my partner, which is great, but not quite as memorable yet. The atmosphere could improve if the Northam allowed other parts of the ground to sing rather than either trying, and normally succeeding, to drown them out or joining in but speeding things up so everyone else just drops out.

 

My only bugbear with *some* in the Northam is that if you don't 'stand up if you love the Saints' then it makes you less of a fan. That really gets my goat.

[sadoldgit]

I'd like to be able to pay at the gate again. If my match was cancelled or if I didn't have a game on a Saturday I used to jump into my Triumph Herald and head south, pak near the ground and get in no trouble. St Marys is an excellent stadium but as has been said, is sterile. The Dell was a abit of a dump but it was our dump and it staged some of the best players ever to pull on the red and white stripes. Happy days indeed, but sadly football has "progressed."

[alehouseboys]

Anyone got any more pics of terracing from The Dell? Here's one I found

 

In full swing...

 

 

...'appy days.

[Thedelldays]

I loved the dell... Stood/sat in every stand bar the Wilton rd (the old terrace above the Milton) just did not look safe all the way up there...

 

SMS is great and we needed to move... But such a shame the dell could not have been expanded to 30k

[Frank's cousin]

Uhm.. How much of this though is just the natural desire to recapture the lost days of youth? ;-) We always have a tendency to look back nostalgically and it tends to be through a rose tinted retrospectoscope!

 

For me, it’s not stadia that create atmosphere but the people in it. Sure there are structural issues re sound and closeness to the pitch, but anyone who was at SMS for the home 4-3 against Norwich in the prem relegation season will KNOW it’s possible to create an amazing atmosphere at SMS - it’s just not that common anymore. For me this is more to do with the finance in football, which has changed the culture - the player power, frequent transfers, and in particular agents who encourage more moves - the association fans had with their club was enhanced because of a closer bond to the team - clubs could compete on an equal level if they got it right, whereas now without finance, you can’t win consistently and if you have a lucky break with a talented bunch of youth, they don’t stay and help build success they feck off the moment someone offering more cash comes calling - its symptomatic of the modern culture - no one wants to work hard anymore to achieve greatness, just short cuts to fame and fortune and no real affinity to their club.

 

So for me, I am not so much worried about the Stadium, but would want a return to a more stable transfer time, wage levels that meant clubs like Saints, if attractive enough could get the European footballer of the year within its wage structure, the coups of old and the excitement that could generate - sadly that will never return simply because greed has over taken 'real' success in terms of what players and their agents want and expect.

[100%Red&White]

I loved the dell... Stood/sat in every stand bar the Wilton rd (the old terrace above the Milton) just did not look safe all the way up there...

 

SMS is great and we needed to move... But such a shame the dell could not have been expanded to 30k

 

Never heard it called that before!

 

And even if the Dell had been able to expand to 30k it would soon have become too small and calls would still have followed for a new bigger stadium. Although the Dell only held 15k, mostly season ticket holders, we had many thousands more members and a long waiting list for STs. The club knew, with a bit of success, 32k was the minimum, proved correct when plans were being mooted to expand SMS a couple of years after moving in.

 

The Dell could be great for atmosphere (a bit like St Mary's) but it could also be, well, a bit like St Mary's at it's worse. I'm sure we've all got great memories of it but I can remember plenty of times stood there wishing the place would wake up. In later years at the Dell the only stand making near constant noise was the Archers, the difference between St Mary’s and the Dell was that when the rest of the ground decided to join in it quickly wrapped around the old place, at SMS, unless it’s a big game, it's dies out before the noise travels to other parts of the stadium.

 

There were at best 1200 singing at any one time in the Archers, there's probably getting on for 3 x that in the (half of the) Northam/Kingsland corner vocally, the only reason it could be worse is as a result of different acoustics in a larger stadium.

[lordswoodsaints]

any of you been back to the site of the Dell recently?

 

I went the other week as I was nearby and realised that it was my first time there since the Arsenal game.

It was great walking through the archway, down what would have been the Milton terrace and onto the pitch, looking left and right remembering the stands.

Worth a trip if you haven't been, and the impression of hundreds of football boots on the concrete around the grassed area is a really clever touch.

 

I enjoyed the experience, it wasn't sad, just nostalgic in a good way, there can't be many housing estates that hold such great memories - go have a walk down memory lane.

 

This is in contrast to the first time I went past the old Goldstone ground and saw Dixons and SofaWorld - there's something vulgar about desecrating a sports ground for cheap toasters and buy now pay in 2014 furnishings.

 

I drive up archers road a few times a week and I have to admit that seeing those flats where the dell was really p!sses me off.

When I was a kid I used to look up at the flats that overlooked the dell and dream of owning the top floor so I could watch the games from the balcony.

When I drive up Milton or archers road with the kids I always make a point of telling them about it.....not that they're interested :-)

 

Loving the nostalgia on this thread....makes a change from the rest of the crap going on.

Edited 10 September, 2010 by lordswoodsaints

[Toomer]

In full swing...

 

 

...'appy days.

I used to stand between the S in Toomers and the first S in sports at the start of the game and would be anyones guess where I would end up by full time.

Edited 10 September, 2010 by Toomer

[Isabel Healey]

And I used to stand in the 2nd Chocolate Box, next to the one you mention.

 

Great days, but perhaps the memory gives us all "rose tinted" views. I remember most of my time there being middle, to late 60s, and we invariably lost more than we won !!

I used to stand between the S in Toomers and the first S in sports at the start of the game and would be anyones guess where I would end up by full time.

[Toomer]

And I used to stand in the 2nd Chocolate Box, next to the one you mention.

 

Great days, but perhaps the memory gives us all "rose tinted" views. I remember most of my time there being middle, to late 60s, and we invariably lost more than we won !!

 

I graduated to that part of The Milton cica 1970 at the age of 16 after standing on the edge in my early teens.

[St_Guido]

Totally agree with that.

 

There is no comparison between the Dell and St Marys for atmosphere, I do really miss the old place.

 

I have been at St Marys sat in my seat and not even realised that the players are already out on the pitch.

 

But its the same with a lot of things now, I find everything so plastic and soulless, either its just plain ole getting old, or that is the way of things now.

Perhaps when our kids are our age they will be saying the same about St Mary's.

 

Must be age as I'm with both of you on this. My interest in football has been steadily waning for a few years - not because of Saints fortunes, but because of the whole money thing. Its tough to identify with players these days, especially in the top divisions.

[Toomer]

Must be age as I'm with both of you on this. My interest in football has been steadily waning for a few years - not because of Saints fortunes, but because of the whole money thing. Its tough to identify with players these days, especially in the top divisions.

 

I know there are one or two around the same age as me that post on here and did the same as me, during the school holidays we used to play football in the car park at The Dell. The players of that time when they came and went from the ground used to sign our pictures in our scrap books as long as we stood in line quietly. Some times if we were lucky we would be allowed into the ground under the West Stand to watch the players train.

[70's Mike]

my mind would love to go back to those days but body could not cope

the great thing about terraces was whilst you could always stand with your regular mates other lads from your area who did not regularly go to games could stand with you when the big games game along.

[stthrobber]

If somebody said you could have the dell back and enjoy the sort of atmosphere that I loved as a kid in the 70's/80's I would rip their arms off.

St marys is too sterile for me,the atmosphere is crap,it could be my age but the buzz has gone from football.

Money dominates and players are just not approachable anymore.

I wish we never moved I don't feel at home like I used to.

 

This is exactly the feeling I get these days. I remember being sat in the Chapel one year, first match of the season against Birmingham City and wondering what I was doing there. I never get that same buzz that I used to get when we played at The Dell.

 

I remember us playing Fulham in 1977 when Marsh and Best played for them and the place was packed. We were crammed under the West Stand p!ssed as farts and watching those two w@nkers get sent off. Staggering back to the bus stop by the old Merchant Navy hotel and catching the 14 back to the Bitterne Park to get even more p!ssed.

 

In those days it was more than likely that the players would be equally as drunk as us

 

I've heard it said that it is the crowd that makes the atmosphere, yet there have been very few occasions since we moved that I can recall an atmosphere as electric as the last match at the Dell, the 3:3 against Liverpool when Marian scored the equaliser, Franny's goal against Leicester. I would try to recall some 70's matches, but to be honest, I was too drunk to remember much about them

[Toomer]

Then there was that goal against Liverpool that Channon scored how many pases was it, beating Man U 6-3, going back even further 9 against Wolves.

[st alex]

Yahoo maps is a little dated and their stalite image shows both the dell and st marys, the best of both worlds.

http://uk.maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=s&lat=50.909515&lon=-1.404125&zoom=16

 

Some stuff at St Marys does annoy me, some bloke was sat in my seat last match, which didn't bother me too much as there were few spares further along, but I found it annoying that he didn't stand up to let me past instead just shuffled back in my seat and didn't even stand when the players came out. There was nothing wrong with his legs because he used them to walk away fine later on, but people who insist on sitting during goals and when the team coming really annoy me. Sorry for drifting off topic slightly. This was in kingsland north btw, it would be nice to have standing areas still, maybe if two or three stands had lowers tiers of standing areas.

[spyinthesky]

As a young kid we used to live in Milton Rd before moving out to the suburbs.

 

Have regularly stood/sat in every part of the ground apart from the Archers.

 

In one game v Liverpool (1st home game in the 2nd Div after getting promotion) the boys entrance fee was put up 50% from 1/- to 1/6d. Quite a few of us boys only had the shilling so there was a lot of kerfuffle at the turnstiles. Fortunately my Dad was a Steward and was able to get me in for a bob. Think of the stick the management would have got today if suddenly entrance fees went up by that amount without warning

 

I vividly remember the 3 goal fight back in the Nottm Forest Cup game in 1963 and the Anderlecht European game in 1977. Stood in the lower Milton Chocolate Box for both games.

 

Only time ever I heard the choco box singing was in the Forest game

 

Both fantastic atmospheres as was the Mick Channon Testimonial which I watched from the back row of the Upper West Stand next to a handful of QPR fans who couldnt believe the vibes on the night.

 

If truth be told the atmosphere at the Dell was often wanting mainly because of the open ends.

 

This improved when the 'hardcore' moved to the terraces under the stands and again when the Archers was covered.

 

However I was often embarrased about the third world state of the stadium and it's limited capacity.

 

The move to St Mary's was a great leap forward and I still have to pinch myself when walking towards a modern 21st century ground (OK of limited architectural merit) when for many, many years I supported my team in very basic surroundings.

[1976_Child]

I want the good old days back, when the players would have a pint and smoke their pipe at half time with their foot resting on the ball, hand on hip and mustache twitching.

[Jeff Le Taxi]

I and most of my friends absolutely PINE for the old terraced days!

[CanadaSaint]

Part of me longs for the youthful (for me anyway) days of crowd surges, great fun if your at the back, not so much if your at the front. I remember on some occasions, we would finish a match about 10 metres away from where we started.

 

If we're really being nostalgic here, you ended up thirty feet away from where you started.

 

And the songs and chants I'll never forget:

 

More support - from the stands!

 

Scheme, Jim (Melia), scheme!

 

Give it to Ron, Give it to Ron, on e's 'ead, on e's ead!

 

Not to mention the horrendous smell of urine in the toilets.

 

But best of all the players were far more in touching distance - in many more ways than one. They lived on the same planet as us.

[70's Mike]

If we're really being nostalgic here, you ended up thirty feet away from where you started.

 

And the songs and chants I'll never forget:

 

More support - from the stands!

 

Scheme, Jim (Melia), scheme!

 

Give it to Ron, Give it to Ron, on e's 'ead, on e's ead!

 

Not to mention the horrendous smell of urine in the toilets.

 

But best of all the players were far more in touching distance - in many more ways than one. They lived on the same planet as us.

 

they lived in same road drunk in same pub, was how i got to know Peter Wells, just ordinary blokes

[Dalek2003]

Different stadium, different game, different era.

In terms of raw atmosphere...fantastic in the 70's and 80's.

Society has changed and fotbal has changed, the days of a pie, a pint and a fight have long gone. Supporters are much more family orientated and more women watch live football.

 

I would love to see the terraces come back, but I think H & S would now never allow it.

[Toomer]

Different stadium, different game, different era.

In terms of raw atmosphere...fantastic in the 70's and 80's.

Society has changed and fotbal has changed, the days of a pie, a pint and a fight have long gone. Supporters are much more family orientated and more women watch live football.

 

I would love to see the terraces come back, but I think H & S would now never allow it.

 

A pint in The Louis and a Plested pie before the game.

[Dalek2003]

A pint in The Louis and a Plested pie before the game.

 

Indee. I am sure that it is me getting misty eyed, but we appeared to get either more rain or more bitter winds in the old days.

 

One of my enduriong memories was standing in the ****ing rain against Brum. poss 79/80. The pitch was a mud bath but we won 1-0. Went home soaked, cold but happy as it was 2 points away from the relegation zone. Jeez, tears to my eyes !

[teamsaint]

THe Dell was fantastic on a good day..............but it could be a bit quiet on a bad day.The lack of a big covered end terrace didn't help when the place wasn't rocking.

As for terraces in general... good for atmosphere, absolutely terrible for watching a game, especially for us shorties !! Seen two thirds of more games than I care to remember at the Dell.... most notably the 4-o win over Leicester when I couldn't see the Archers goal at all....the one we scored all 4 in during the first half.

Don't really agree about SMS. LIke any stadium, great on a good day, quiet on a bad one...its the fans that make the atmosphere, not the buidings.

 

Some things I would like back in the game...

 

Proper reserve team footy.

Number boards for the half times.

One sub.

teams running out on seperately , so you can boo the opposition properly.