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Post by creationblue on Nov 7, 2015 23:09:54 GMT
So I've been thinking
Back in '96 we returned to Bristol after 10 years of travelling to Twerton and I remember there was hope. That 1st season on the North Terance watching a mediocre Rovers side, there was a tinge of disappointed but hey we were back!! Then there was the game against Notthampton. No roof on the terrace back then, Gale got 1 back and the writing was on the wall....
We had our heros back then, a plethora of strikers, hell some couldn't even get in the team!!
Ok so I'm thinking back after a few ciders and back then I didn't have children of my own and things were different all round. But I sit here after telling my kids earlier about Barry Hayles and thinking how we sang our hearts out on the terrace. Remember 'Andy Collet Andy!' 'Oh Jamie Jamie..' Wally Walters Wally' ect ect. And over the past three seasons where I have taken my 3 young kids there is such a lack of passion in the stadium.
On reflection it's obvious, we have put up with a lot of dross and some bad times, I guess it's been a low (understatement) in the history, but I just can't stand this lack of identity, I mean away fans come and must thing wtf, this is supposed to be a big club!
I'm not the best at expressing myself, I just want the mem rocking like it used to be!
Am I alone? I'm sure there will be others with some good reasons and different views. I'm not having a go, I'm just thinking back at how the atmosphere was electric. Of course that's maybe because back in those days I way in the thick of it behind the goal in the north terrace. These days I'm an onlooker in the south stand with 3 of the next generation.......UTG
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2015 23:35:45 GMT
100% the best rose tinted account of Bristol Rovers in the 90s I've read today.
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Post by creationblue on Nov 7, 2015 23:46:40 GMT
And of course the Latvian!
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hpgas
Joined: April 2015
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Post by hpgas on Nov 7, 2015 23:54:23 GMT
Sitting in the South stand won't help, the people around you have a huge impact on your perceptions.
I noticed our away attendance at Luton and Cambridge were about the same (felt like we had twice as many at Luton). Luton we were crammed in, low roof, noisy, electric. Cambridge, acres of space, crowd spread out, action a long way away, dullish atmosphere. Obviously more reasons why the games might feel different but also highlights why South stand might feel different than the North terrace, even 20 years apart.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Nov 8, 2015 9:21:32 GMT
I like op.
We are all nostalgic at times about our own personal pasts, I guess it reminds us of when we were young, full of energy and optimistic.
It's a fair point not as much noise is created as would've liked sometimes. I would be hypocritical if I criticised, as I rarely join in myself..
Maybe combination of years of cr@p football, aging fan population, a fracture in relationship between club and fans with feeling of disassociation, poor home form, not pi$$ed enough for starters.. ?
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Post by nonleaguegas on Nov 8, 2015 10:57:26 GMT
Sitting in the South stand won't help, the people around you have a huge impact on your perceptions. I noticed our away attendance at Luton and Cambridge were about the same (felt like we had twice as many at Luton). Luton we were crammed in, low roof, noisy, electric. Cambridge, acres of space, crowd spread out, action a long way away, dullish atmosphere. Obviously more reasons why the games might feel different but also highlights why South stand might feel different than the North terrace, even 20 years apart. I go every away game and at Cambridge I hardly knew anyone there that's why I think there was loads of local rovers fans that brought their friends and family along that didn't really care about rovers, even when we scored our second some people didn't even stand up |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 11:04:51 GMT
Sitting in the South stand won't help, the people around you have a huge impact on your perceptions. I noticed our away attendance at Luton and Cambridge were about the same (felt like we had twice as many at Luton). Luton we were crammed in, low roof, noisy, electric. Cambridge, acres of space, crowd spread out, action a long way away, dullish atmosphere. Obviously more reasons why the games might feel different but also highlights why South stand might feel different than the North terrace, even 20 years apart. I go every away game and at Cambridge I hardly knew anyone there that's why I think there was loads of local rovers fans that brought their friends and family along that didn't really care about rovers, even when we scored our second some people didn't even stand up Yes, East Anglia is a Rovers heartland.  My girlfriend doesn't really care about Rovers, but she was there. So that's one that fits your theory. |
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Post by nonleaguegas on Nov 8, 2015 11:45:36 GMT
I go every away game and at Cambridge I hardly knew anyone there that's why I think there was loads of local rovers fans that brought their friends and family along that didn't really care about rovers, even when we scored our second some people didn't even stand up Yes, East Anglia is a Rovers heartland. My girlfriend doesn't really care about Rovers, but she was there. So that's one that fits your theory. You can already tell the atmosphere was gonna be poor because everyone was sat down except a few up the top |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 13:16:53 GMT
I talk to supporters of other clubs and most of them say the same,that there is less atmosphere at games now than there used to be.
Probably a lot of factors,all seater (or more seats),age of fans,stewarding,people who would of sung being priced out.
That going to football is a safer afternoon out now than it was in the 70s or 80s is great,but the lack of atmosphere doesn't encourage people to go to matches.
I don't think that there is an answer,life changes some change is for the better,some for worse but you cant go back.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
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Post by kingswood Polak on Nov 8, 2015 13:30:40 GMT
I talk to supporters of other clubs and most of them say the same,that there is less atmosphere at games now than there used to be. Probably a lot of factors,all seater (or more seats),age of fans,stewarding,people who would of sung being priced out. That going to football is a safer afternoon out now than it was in the 70s or 80s is great,but the lack of atmosphere doesn't encourage people to go to matches. I don't think that there is an answer,life changes some change is for the better,some for worse but you cant go back. I think most of it is down to having a team, over the last decade or so, that did poorly. I say poorly in general and 2007 was the high point. We have been witness to poor football, lies and total disengagement from our chairman and have been through some awful 5hit with hopes of new stadia etc. I think we still have a superb turnout given that history but we only truly get atmosphere when we sniff hope of promotion. The last couple of games last season were superb. Pout very simply, we only sing when we're winning but I see no shame in that. My only real worry is the age gap and having enough younger fans to be there when we no longer are. We are not trying, nor doing, anything near enough to engage with the younger generations IMO |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 13:38:08 GMT
I talk to supporters of other clubs and most of them say the same,that there is less atmosphere at games now than there used to be. Probably a lot of factors,all seater (or more seats),age of fans,stewarding,people who would of sung being priced out. That going to football is a safer afternoon out now than it was in the 70s or 80s is great,but the lack of atmosphere doesn't encourage people to go to matches. I don't think that there is an answer,life changes some change is for the better,some for worse but you cant go back. I think most of it is down to having a team, over the last decade or so, that did poorly. I say poorly in general and 2007 was the high point. We have been witness to poor football, lies and total disengagement from our chairman and have been through some awful 5hit with hopes of new stadia etc. I think we still have a superb turnout given that history but we only truly get atmosphere when we sniff hope of promotion. The last couple of games last season were superb. Pout very simply, we only sing when we're winning but I see no shame in that. My only real worry is the age gap and having enough younger fans to be there when we no longer are. We are not trying, nor doing, anything near enough to engage with the younger generations IMO The thing is its not just Rovers fans bemoaning lack of atmosphere at matches its fans of many different clubs. |
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Nov 8, 2015 17:09:17 GMT
I talk to supporters of other clubs and most of them say the same,that there is less atmosphere at games now than there used to be. Probably a lot of factors,all seater (or more seats),age of fans,stewarding,people who would of sung being priced out. That going to football is a safer afternoon out now than it was in the 70s or 80s is great,but the lack of atmosphere doesn't encourage people to go to matches. I don't think that there is an answer,life changes some change is for the better,some for worse but you cant go back. I think most of it is down to having a team, over the last decade or so, that did poorly. I say poorly in general and 2007 was the high point. We have been witness to poor football, lies and total disengagement from our chairman and have been through some awful 5hit with hopes of new stadia etc. I think we still have a superb turnout given that history but we only truly get atmosphere when we sniff hope of promotion. The last couple of games last season were superb. Pout very simply, we only sing when we're winning but I see no shame in that. My only real worry is the age gap and having enough younger fans to be there when we no longer are. We are not trying, nor doing, anything near enough to engage with the younger generations IMO Absolutely spot on, Kp! |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,261
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Post by kingswood Polak on Nov 8, 2015 18:57:56 GMT
I think most of it is down to having a team, over the last decade or so, that did poorly. I say poorly in general and 2007 was the high point. We have been witness to poor football, lies and total disengagement from our chairman and have been through some awful 5hit with hopes of new stadia etc. I think we still have a superb turnout given that history but we only truly get atmosphere when we sniff hope of promotion. The last couple of games last season were superb. Pout very simply, we only sing when we're winning but I see no shame in that. My only real worry is the age gap and having enough younger fans to be there when we no longer are. We are not trying, nor doing, anything near enough to engage with the younger generations IMO Absolutely spot on, Kp! Thank you mate |
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irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
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Post by irishrover on Nov 10, 2015 15:00:44 GMT
So I've been thinking Back in '96 we returned to Bristol after 10 years of travelling to Twerton and I remember there was hope. That 1st season on the North Terance watching a mediocre Rovers side, there was a tinge of disappointed but hey we were back!! Then there was the game against Notthampton. No roof on the terrace back then, Gale got 1 back and the writing was on the wall.... We had our heros back then, a plethora of strikers, hell some couldn't even get in the team!! Ok so I'm thinking back after a few ciders and back then I didn't have children of my own and things were different all round. But I sit here after telling my kids earlier about Barry Hayles and thinking how we sang our hearts out on the terrace. Remember 'Andy Collet Andy!' 'Oh Jamie Jamie..' Wally Walters Wally' ect ect. And over the past three seasons where I have taken my 3 young kids there is such a lack of passion in the stadium. On reflection it's obvious, we have put up with a lot of dross and some bad times, I guess it's been a low (understatement) in the history, but I just can't stand this lack of identity, I mean away fans come and must thing wtf, this is supposed to be a big club! I'm not the best at expressing myself, I just want the mem rocking like it used to be! Am I alone? I'm sure there will be others with some good reasons and different views. I'm not having a go, I'm just thinking back at how the atmosphere was electric. Of course that's maybe because back in those days I way in the thick of it behind the goal in the north terrace. These days I'm an onlooker in the south stand with 3 of the next generation.......UTG I'm afraid I don't remember it like that at all. I don't think the atmosphere at the Mem has ever been any good - it has always been a Rugby ground and is open and wide with the stands a fair way back from the pitch. I remember being massively dissapointed with the atmosphere at the Mem when we first moved in - it marginally improved with the roof on the clubhouse but not by very much. If we're winning and on the front foot then it can be OK but that isn't the bit that matters - the rest of the time it has always been crap, even for most of the big games. It's funny how everyone now seems to remember the Holloway era as a period of hope and unity- I can remember a hell of lot of moaning, abuse of our own players and Rovers teams being booed off at half-time when it was still 0-0. I also remember Holloway sounding off in the press several times about how crap the atmosphere was and how Gasheads didn't get behind the team enough - a complaint that has turned out to be a common thread among pretty much all of our managers since then. But everyone seems to forget that the relationship between Ollie, his players and the fans during most of his time as manager was actually quite antagonistic. Partly I think because a lot of people had unrealistic expectations of what the move back to Bristol meant - but I certainly don't remember that time as being a brilliant atmosphere of unending support, I remember being shocked at how quickly the crowd would turn on the team if we went 1 down in a way that never seemed to happen at Twerton (but maybe where that is where I left my own rose-tinted memories). |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,261
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Post by kingswood Polak on Nov 11, 2015 10:37:08 GMT
So I've been thinking Back in '96 we returned to Bristol after 10 years of travelling to Twerton and I remember there was hope. That 1st season on the North Terance watching a mediocre Rovers side, there was a tinge of disappointed but hey we were back!! Then there was the game against Notthampton. No roof on the terrace back then, Gale got 1 back and the writing was on the wall.... We had our heros back then, a plethora of strikers, hell some couldn't even get in the team!! Ok so I'm thinking back after a few ciders and back then I didn't have children of my own and things were different all round. But I sit here after telling my kids earlier about Barry Hayles and thinking how we sang our hearts out on the terrace. Remember 'Andy Collet Andy!' 'Oh Jamie Jamie..' Wally Walters Wally' ect ect. And over the past three seasons where I have taken my 3 young kids there is such a lack of passion in the stadium. On reflection it's obvious, we have put up with a lot of dross and some bad times, I guess it's been a low (understatement) in the history, but I just can't stand this lack of identity, I mean away fans come and must thing wtf, this is supposed to be a big club! I'm not the best at expressing myself, I just want the mem rocking like it used to be! Am I alone? I'm sure there will be others with some good reasons and different views. I'm not having a go, I'm just thinking back at how the atmosphere was electric. Of course that's maybe because back in those days I way in the thick of it behind the goal in the north terrace. These days I'm an onlooker in the south stand with 3 of the next generation.......UTG I'm afraid I don't remember it like that at all. I don't think the atmosphere at the Mem has ever been any good - it has always been a Rugby ground and is open and wide with the stands a fair way back from the pitch. I remember being massively dissapointed with the atmosphere at the Mem when we first moved in - it marginally improved with the roof on the clubhouse but not by very much. If we're winning and on the front foot then it can be OK but that isn't the bit that matters - the rest of the time it has always been crap, even for most of the big games. It's funny how everyone now seems to remember the Holloway era as a period of hope and unity- I can remember a hell of lot of moaning, abuse of our own players and Rovers teams being booed off at half-time when it was still 0-0. I also remember Holloway sounding off in the press several times about how crap the atmosphere was and how Gasheads didn't get behind the team enough - a complaint that has turned out to be a common thread among pretty much all of our managers since then. But everyone seems to forget that the relationship between Ollie, his players and the fans during most of his time as manager was actually quite antagonistic. Partly I think because a lot of people had unrealistic expectations of what the move back to Bristol meant - but I certainly don't remember that time as being a brilliant atmosphere of unending support, I remember being shocked at how quickly the crowd would turn on the team if we went 1 down in a way that never seemed to happen at Twerton (but maybe where that is where I left my own rose-tinted memories). That is spot on but I can only say the GD was really giving it some re coming back to Bristol and how this would now enable us to make money and infact it was basically the same spiel as we are having now, re the UWE ironically lol Holloway lost it in the 99-2000 season when we were top and then lost all but one of the last 10 games. A season I'll never forget. I recently looked back at our attendances, in the last decade. We had basically the same average attendances when we were in L1 & had plenty moaning when we were mid table and not far off of play off. Fact is, like it or not, we are nearly the same as the sheeads. We are not as quick or as nasty but we do boo, not me, though we do have a lot of that and if anything, it's got worse. Family club my ar5e, Small wonder the 82 rip the p155 out of our club on that front The atmosphere has only ever been good when we have had hope of promotion and playing attack minded football. Fact is that it's never been any different |
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Post by laughinggas on Nov 11, 2015 11:26:04 GMT
Is it just me or has football become a little sterile(for want of a better word). I have seen 3 home games this season - Notts, Newport & Northampton all the 'N's'....
Each game at times has reminded me of a pre-season game. Nice litle passing and movement but nothing to get excited about. Even the refs have been adequate and not generated anger.
We lack players that can get you excited when they get the ball, none of them seem to be able to do the unexpected (in a positive way), there are no crowd pleasing crunching tackles. All these things can get a crowd going. I suspect that this is probably applicable to many clubs this season. It's almost like watching basketball without a score every time.
I know it's an old chicken and egg situation where who gets things going first, the crowd or the players, but there seems to be a lack of moments on the pitch to get the crowd excited.
Think about games at the Mem when the atmosphere has been raised, something can spark it, great goal, players sent off, pantomime villans on the other team?
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irishrover
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Joined: June 2014
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Post by irishrover on Nov 11, 2015 12:32:18 GMT
I'm afraid I don't remember it like that at all. I don't think the atmosphere at the Mem has ever been any good - it has always been a Rugby ground and is open and wide with the stands a fair way back from the pitch. I remember being massively dissapointed with the atmosphere at the Mem when we first moved in - it marginally improved with the roof on the clubhouse but not by very much. If we're winning and on the front foot then it can be OK but that isn't the bit that matters - the rest of the time it has always been crap, even for most of the big games. It's funny how everyone now seems to remember the Holloway era as a period of hope and unity- I can remember a hell of lot of moaning, abuse of our own players and Rovers teams being booed off at half-time when it was still 0-0. I also remember Holloway sounding off in the press several times about how crap the atmosphere was and how Gasheads didn't get behind the team enough - a complaint that has turned out to be a common thread among pretty much all of our managers since then. But everyone seems to forget that the relationship between Ollie, his players and the fans during most of his time as manager was actually quite antagonistic. Partly I think because a lot of people had unrealistic expectations of what the move back to Bristol meant - but I certainly don't remember that time as being a brilliant atmosphere of unending support, I remember being shocked at how quickly the crowd would turn on the team if we went 1 down in a way that never seemed to happen at Twerton (but maybe where that is where I left my own rose-tinted memories). That is spot on but I can only say the GD was really giving it some re coming back to Bristol and how this would now enable us to make money and infact it was basically the same spiel as we are having now, re the UWE ironically lol Holloway lost it in the 99-2000 season when we were top and then lost all but one of the last 10 games. A season I'll never forget. I recently looked back at our attendances, in the last decade. We had basically the same average attendances when we were in L1 & had plenty moaning when we were mid table and not far off of play off. Fact is, like it or not, we are nearly the same as the sheeads. We are not as quick or as nasty but we do boo, not me, though we do have a lot of that and if anything, it's got worse. Family club my ar5e, Small wonder the 82 rip the p155 out of our club on that front The atmosphere has only ever been good when we have had hope of promotion and playing attack minded football. Fact is that it's never been any different The point about Holloway is that people look back on that era as a form of golden age but I think it is a case of looking desperately for something positive compared with what followed. It wasn't 4 years of superb football played out in front of fired up passionate crowds. It was maddeningly inconsistent football played out in front of increasingly impatient crowds in which the relationship between the manager and the fans (and the players and the fans) was often very tense. Right from the start there were calls for Ollie's head 'he wasn't the right man', 'he's too inexperienced', 'he's too emotionally attached' etc. Many wanted him fired in his first season and it wasn't really until we put together that run to the playoffs in 98 that a lot of people came round and even then it is likely he only survived in 99 due to the cup run. People remember that period up to March in the 99-00 season as indicative of that whole era but it was very much the exception. Most of the time we were very up and down and so was the fans relationship with the team. I remember plenty of boos, plenty of 'what a load of rubbish', plenty of 'you don't know what you're doing' etc. It's not to have a potshot at Ollie, who I think generally comes out in credit (just) from his time in charge of us but the problem is that many people have created this mythical golden age to which everything else is compared and it does make you wonder about our expectations - we idolise an era in which the best we actually managed was a soul crushing playoff loss, a soul crushing late season collapse and an FA Cup defeat at Barnsley and that ultimately culminated in a disastrous relegation season all the while there was largely a non-stop love-hate dialogue between the manager and fans across the media. I wonder if what people actually miss from that era is not the somewhat misremembered sense of unity but the tension - when you have a manager who is perceived as, and understands himself to be, 'one of you' everything seems to be heightened; every criticism becomes more personal in both directions, every result feels more important etc...so people remember the atmosphere as being far better than it actually was - I can remember it being thoroughly poisonous at times. |
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Post by percypiecrust on Nov 11, 2015 12:37:25 GMT
Sorry to harp on, about us not scoring enough goals (see my thread "why can't we score from corners") but scoring goals create atmosphere and excitement. When we attack, get free kicks in dangerous positions, or corners, the expectations used to be high, with a good chance of scoring, (thats if you remember the likes of Penrice, Devon White Boris Mehew etc )but with such poor attackers and a midfield who don't look like they are ever going to score any goals,I think we know deep down, that any good scoring moments usually end up in dissappointment along with the ball about 20 yards over the crossbar!
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Post by DudeLebowski on Nov 11, 2015 13:01:10 GMT
Rovers 2 - 2 Yeovil
Best atmosphere I have ever known at the mem, for a regular league fixture. Two nil down & two men down after an hour, coming back to grab a point was unreal. The ground was properly rocking that night.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 13:28:07 GMT
Atmosphere problems are a symptom of the modern game in England, I think it's down to seating, stewarding, banning orders to vocal fans, high ticket prices, apathy.
If you look at other countries they are still loud and passionate i.e Germany, Poland, Holland...
We need to take a leaf out of their book, as i'm sure they did with us in the 70-80's.
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