Standing, a childs view

[Lord Duckhunter]

I don't get to go to too many away games as I have to work 2 Saturdays a month, and I try to arrange them around away games so I get to SMS as much as possible. However, having the day off yesterday took the nipper to Swindon.

 

Straight from the start he had a slight problem in that he couldn't see a bloody thing, even though he was stood up. After about 20 minutes I asked a Steward if we could move and we were moved to the open stand behind the goal. I was wondering what other peoples thoughts on this were?

 

When I was a nipper, it may sound a cliché but it's true, youngsters were moved down the front if they couldn't see. Is this the way we as supporters should act, should the people in the first few rows swap seats with the youngsters who view is impaired by people standing. Do you think that youngsters should not come to away games, until they are a certain height. Or do you think that people should seat down and let the youngsters see. Do you think it's down to our Club or the home Club to ensure that youngsters get to see the match form their seat. There was a bit of agrro with other groups arguing with each other, but most people around me were saying sorry but if they sat down they couldn't see either. My lad did not travel 2 hours to watch the back of someone's head (although perhaps that would have been as enjoyable).His trip to Wembley would also have meant a partial view, if we hadn't of swopped seats with other supporters.

 

For some reason this is an emotive subject and I realise I'm leaving myself open to "I'm a better supporter than you" nonsense. However, I couldn't give a shiny **** whether I sit down or stand up, but surely we need youngsters to be able to watch their team.It isn't an issue about the rights and wrongs of standing, but purely down to the fact he was too small to see anything. The view from the terraces was not as good as from seats, but it was made up with the atmosphere.You did have a choice and could go and sit in the stands, we have no choice now.

 

 

I'm off to drag my 46 year old body round the local rec now, but would be interested in reading peoples thoughts when I get back.

[BILLY]

Kind of agree with most of your points however I thought the side stand was sold out and only the area behind the goal was on sale yesterday? So it couldn't have been a last min idea to go the game yesterday? (I was there yesterday)

[Deppo]

What about midgets? should they be at the front as well? What about people who have forgotten their glasses? What about making it so when you buy a ticket, they meausre you and all the tall people have to go the back (like a school photo).

[dellish]

taking my to girls sat as a northern season tic holder ,will be asking for front row or near as .somtimes you need to plan

[saint lard]

When i was a nipper my dad built me a wooden stool and painted it in red and white stripes,the good old days of the family centre at the Dell.

[Kenilworthy]

This is the problem with all-seater stadiums that are anything but. It is an unfasionable view I know, however if everyone sits, everyone sees. I have no actual problem with people wanting to stand. It is extremely selfish though to do it at the expense of others who then can't see. I used to prrefer to stand on the terraces myself. But now I am taking my two boys with me to games all over the country it is a different matter. Yet the aggro you get from fellow Saints fans when you ask them not to block their view is unbelievable. Presumably they were never kids and will never be old.

 

The best solution is what they do at Sheffield Wednesday. You can sit where you like and the stewards direct people who want to sit to the front of the stand and thos who want to stand to the back, everyone's happy and can enjoy the game in the way they want. Unfortunately it is actually illegal for the stewards to do this since the law says that everyone must sit. Even better is Yeovil where you have a choice of standing behind the goal on proper terraces or stiing in the stand on one side.

[Made in Southampton]

When i was a nipper my dad built me a wooden stool and painted it in red and white stripes,the good old days of the family centre at the Dell.

 

Me to. Me and my mate would go down the front on our stools whilst my dad went and stood with the dockers. He'd come down at half time with hot chocolate on the late winters evening games. Good times.

[Deppo]

Me to. Me and my mate would go down the front on our stools whilst my dad went and stood with the dockers. He'd come down at half time with hot chocolate on the late winters evening games. Good times.

 

And they says todays kids are spoilt

[Saint Since '51]

This is the problem with all-seater stadiums that are anything but. It is an unfasionable view I know, however if everyone sits, everyone sees. I have no actual problem with people wanting to stand. It is extremely selfish though to do it at the expense of others who then can't see. I used to prrefer to stand on the terraces myself. But now I am taking my two boys with me to games all over the country it is a different matter. Yet the aggro you get from fellow Saints fans when you ask them not to block their view is unbelievable. Presumably they were never kids and will never be old.

 

The best solution is what they do at Sheffield Wednesday. You can sit where you like and the stewards direct people who want to sit to the front of the stand and thos who want to stand to the back, everyone's happy and can enjoy the game in the way they want. Unfortunately it is actually illegal for the stewards to do this since the law says that everyone must sit. Even better is Yeovil where you have a choice of standing behind the goal on proper terraces or stiing in the stand on one side.

 

 

'Nuff said.

[St Landrew]

Same here. As a nipper down The Dell, the adults ushered me to the front. Nowadays, as mentioned above, if everyone sits, everyone sees.

[Halo Stickman]

At risk of sounding like one of the four Yorkshire men in the famous Monty Python sketch, I remember ‘when I were a lad’ (I was actually 18 at the time!) I watched Forest v Saints in one of the early rounds of the 1977 FA Cup. The final score was 3 -3. Apparently, it was a brilliant game – it was certainly a brilliant atmosphere – but being only 5ft 5ins tall, stood in the midst of the packed terraces of Saints fans at the away end, I didn’t see a single goal. In fact, the only time I saw the pitch at all was when the swaying red and white army in front of me momentarily parted like the Red Sea long enough for me to glimpse Alan Ball running up and down the centre of the pitch for 10 seconds.

[Joensuu]

At least at St Mary's you can buy tickets in other areas of the stadium. At Wembley last year I was on the edge of the sitting/standing areas, you had children in the standing area who couldn't see a thing, and conversely two muppets standing in a section of fans who were sat... blocking loads of people's views.

 

I think standing's fine, so long as the person behind you agrees. If they can't see, then you should sit.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Kind of agree with most of your points however I thought the side stand was sold out and only the area behind the goal was on sale yesterday? So it couldn't have been a last min idea to go the game yesterday? (I was there yesterday)

 

The side stand was sold out and it wasn't a last minute thing. I got there early to get a seat down the front,but was told about 3 times to sit in the seat allocated.

 

Will proberly try and get a seat down the front when booking in future if at all possible. The dissapointing thing was some of the Saints fans attitude, which was basically tough ****. When I was a nipper people would go out of their way to ensure I could see.

 

I've no problem if people want to stand, provided everyone who wants to sit can see the game. I book in the Chapel, because I know the nipper will be able to see. Dont forget these nippers are the future supporters of the Club, they wont want to keep going to away games if they cant see much of the game.

[Lord Duckhunter]

The other thought I had was over the home clubs stewards and police. After I moved I could see the police going into the side stand, but not getting anywhere, in fact they were pretty useless. My opinion is the home club either turn a blind eye and let people sit/stand where they want, or if they're going to insist on allocated seats then enforce sitting.Otherwise you end up with the worst of both worlds.

[rick1976.4.38]

the only problem you will have with booking tickets for away games is that you cant choose where your ticket is,saints ticket office dont have a say,you get what your given when you book online or by phone

[Lord Duckhunter]

I knew online, because that's how I book. Didn't realise the same applied to phone line.

[View From The Top]

Corky and I have the same issue with our 8yos and they usually end up standing on their seats but often we just pop them down at the front where we can see them.

 

Never had an issue with people/stewards being OK with that.

[Lord Duckhunter]

That's what I'm going to do next time, speak to stewards and get him done front. As I say we dont get to too many away games due to work, but he does enjoy visiting different grounds.

[Bourno]

I went to Swindon with my 7yr old yesterday, we were on the back row with another row behind without seats. so he stood up there and still couldn't see. The police and stewards were given a mouthful by some of our supporters (they were only doing their job).

 

At Leeds last year the steward moved us to another area.

 

It would be nice to have a small allocated area for familes at away grounds so that we can all sit and be spared some of the filth that eminate from the mouths of some of our supporters. There really is no need to call people c**ts when you are stood right next to a child!!

[Denzil]

Children should be out sweeping chimmneys or grafting down the mines. There is no place for them at football.

[hamster]

Some areas were fine, most people checked behind themselves before standing and some even moved to leave a clear view for some less mobile at the match. One of two, sadly, stood THEIR ground and insisted 'i've paid for this seat, and I'll stand if I want to'. Chap near me was about 6'4" (and had a hat on ffs), his daughter (about 12 yo) spent the entire match on her gameboy thingy, I'd bet he would have had a slightly different attitude had she wanted to watch the game and had some selfish, inconsiderste 6'4" jerk (wearing a hat ffs) stood directly ion front of her.

Edited 12 September, 2010 by hamster

[hamster]

I did like the fact that they had a smoking area though.

[JRM]

The teams with the best vocal away followings all stand. Fact. Man utd, spurs, west ham, liverpool, leeds etc. Wish our support was more like theirs. Yesterday it was completely dead, no atmosphere

[dune]

The teams with the best vocal away followings all stand. Fact. Man utd, spurs, west ham, liverpool, leeds etc. Wish our support was more like theirs. Yesterday it was completely dead, no atmosphere

 

It was awful. I was sat behind the goal at the side nearest the entrance and tried singing but when no-one else joined in I gave up. Fair play to those in the side stand for making an effort though.

 

And I also think the Ticket Tax is the reason that whole allocation didn't get filled. I only went yesterday when I learnt tickets were on sale at the ground and there must be others that are put off going by this premium on the cost of tickets. Last season our away support was the best I have ever known it to be (including during our prem days) but with the ticket tax and the fact that the novelty is wearing thin/the new grounds are now done (and the little issue of us being sh1t), i'm sad to say our away support is now probably going to decline.

Edited 12 September, 2010 by dune

[saintchrissy]

I was sat directly behind the goal yesterday the view was rubbish if you sat or stood, other half moved across to spare seats on the left of the goal better view but could not see corner flags. Two small lads changed their seats to get better view but could see, for people standing me included, have advised my lad to stand on seat, however spotted two speare seats in front row and told them to just go and sit there - noone moved them and they got a good view of the game.

On away games you pay your money and you take your chancesas to as to where you sit and who you are sat next too. I have not had too much trouble and often swapped seats. The trick is to ask for seats on an end when you book. As most stewards at away matches have been ok with him standing a bit in the stair ways.

[Lord Duckhunter]

The teams with the best vocal away followings all stand. Fact. Man utd, spurs, west ham, liverpool, leeds etc. Wish our support was more like theirs. Yesterday it was completely dead, no atmosphere

Haven't Man Utd been given reduced allocations at some grounds due to standing in past visits?

 

The issue isn't standing, the issue is standing in front of a nipper who therefore can not see the game.

[Lumypie]

I was sat right next to the stairs at Swindon and had the police and steward congregating there all game had to keep asking them to move as i couldnt see and i am 6ft and i didnt want tos tand as there were kids behind me, they finally got the message and stood lower down the stair well, however to the point there was a dad and his nipper in front of me his nipper stood on his chair so he could see and it didnt affect our view, mind you on those rare moments of excitement when everyone stood up his dad had to lift him up.

[Jones91]

They can just stand on the seat, if they still aren't tall enough they must be small enough to carry

[Andoverian]

We rarely go to away matches now. Not because we dont want to support the team but the fact that, as we are getting on and have a few relatively minor physical problems, we cannnot stand for 90 minutes. On occassions we have asked people in front of us to sit down but we have either been ignored or at times had to put up with abuse. It is amazing how selfish some people can be. Whats the point in going if you cant see. I have a great deal of sympathy with kids who have the same problem. It's a shame.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Tricky one but what I did with my kids was home games only - seat in the Chapel. Then when they were big enough starting taking them to away games where invariably everyone stands.

[Armitage Shanks]

I've been taking my lad since he was five to home and away games. He's now 11. We've always stood - just stand him up on the seat. No-one has ever said anything and he's always been able to see.