Who wants to join me in W01?

[Alan]

I'll tell you what Al, I'll buy us a mobility scooter, paint it Blue and White and I'll give you a backy to Ewood on match days

I can drive there. It's the walking that's the problem but Rovers are very good about it. I park in the yard at the Darwen End and they take me up in the lift. I can get to my seat but the problem comes getting back up to the concourse up those steps with no rail. However a steward helps me up them.
If you have a problem ring the Rovers, I have found them brilliant at helping You only have to ask.

 

[1SimonGarner]

That's good and in fairness it's the least a club should do for it's loyal fans. I know I'm making light of it and in truth I'm still a few years off - hopefully - having problems getting about. Whoever's job it is to look into these things should have a serious think about how our disabled and physically impaired people are accommodated at Ewood.

There should be a viewing platform at a decent level easily accessed in at least one stand in the ground (I've noticed at lots of grounds these areas are mixed home and away fans) with a good sized capacity. How difficult would that be to implement and how many seats would we lose? I can't imagine it'd be that hard logistically and it's not as though we can't afford to lose a few hundred seats somewhere in the ground.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder why more is not made of this, there's a disabled bloke that is usually plonked at the front of W01 (he has his Rovers top on with "wheels" on the back ) and surely he can't have a good view of the game. I don't know, maybe he likes being at pitch level? II know I wouldn't and it's definitely something that needs sorting.

Disabled platforms, railed safe standing, cheap block tickets in the less popular areas of the ground etc etc. I could probably think of 10 more things that are either needed or worth a trial but nothing ever seems to get done. Clubs just seem to take their fans for granted because they know they'll come back for more but in truth we're losing them at a big rate and the club needs to be more pro active on initiatives to get some back through the gates.

Bloody hell, the soap box came back out, I only set off wanting to write a small reply to Alan, I've got verbal diarrhoea

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

SG1 asked me to give some fan feedback tonight.

Approximately 16,500 on of which about 500/600 were Rovers fans.

HOME FANS 8/10: They were very noisy and got behind their team from the first minute. They got louder and louder as the game progressed. Very impressive in a ground with excellent acoustics.

AWAY FANS 1/10: I have been to many Rovers away games and the fans have been excellent. This evening there was no singing section, hardly a chant from the fans and plenty of abuse of Rovers players. I recognise fans get unhappy but constantly calling players sh!t will not help their confidence even when the players are sh!t.

Sorry but I cannot say anything positive about our performance or support tonight. Both were dire.

 

[1SimonGarner]

Thanks BB, really appreciate it. I know everyone is disappointed, it's only natural when you play like that, but we're far too reactionary on the whole these days. We're still 2nd, we're still out performing our pre season expectations and we've got a nice home game on Saturday to hopefully get back on track.

I don't want to be the bloke calling people out for being negative because I understand we're all Rovers and performances like tonight hurt, but would we rather be in our position right now or West Brom or Boro, two teams that had massive expectations at the start of the season.

I'm sulking....... but we'll win Saturday, beat Burnley and we'll all be buzzing again. Have a safe trip home BB.

PS we were equally as bad at Wigan and won our next 4, it's not beyond us, it just feels like it is tonight.

COYB

 

[1SimonGarner]

I see Sky have played a blinder again over Christmas. Asking the Rovers fans to make the trip to Sunderland on Boxing day for a 12.30 KO is bad enough but spare a thought for the poor Cardiff fans that are being asked to travel half the length of the country on new years day for a 12 o'clock KO!

It's absolutely scandalous. Who in Sky towers thought that was a good idea? It's not a rivalry, it's not a top of the table clash, yet they're totally inconveniencing a set of supporters so Joe Sky can sit at home and watch a match on the telly.

It's beyond annoying, the proper fans getting shit on again. Sky the friends of the average fan - NOT!

 

[Drog]

Ever thought Sky might be doing it to improve viewing figures by a couple of thou?

tbf though most will have an early night on what has now become a deadly dull Christmas Day and a lunchtime KO means they can get back for more festivities Boxing Day night.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

I see Sky have played a blinder again over Christmas. Asking the Rovers fans to make the trip to Sunderland on Boxing day for a 12.30 KO is bad enough but spare a thought for the poor Cardiff fans that are being asked to travel half the length of the country on new years day for a 12 o'clock KO!

It's absolutely scandalous. Who in Sky towers thought that was a good idea? It's not a rivalry, it's not a top of the table clash, yet they're totally inconveniencing a set of supporters so Joe Sky can sit at home and watch a match on the telly.

It's beyond annoying, the proper fans getting shit on again. Sky the friends of the average fan - NOT!

The Rovers supporters coaches for Sunderland leave at 7am. Bonkers stuff.

 

[1SimonGarner]

What time will the Cardiff coaches be setting off, on bloody new years day! If they bring more than 200 I'll be impressed, really is ridiculous.

 

[1SimonGarner]

Read a worrying article about Sheffield council banning Sheff Utd from selling match tickets for their Kop because of persistent standing. Apparently there will be about 2000 empty seats in that end for their game against Burnley with only season ticket holders allowed in.

As much as I love the Rovers I couldn't bring myself to go every week sat down, it would totally ruin it for me. Just have to see if anything more comes of it, these things usually spread from one club to another.

 

[Alan]

It is against the law to stand in seated areas and in my opinion it should be rigidly enforced. It is frustrating to be sitting behind a constant stander and it is the right of the sitter to have a proper view.

 

[1SimonGarner]

I understand your argument Alan and this sit down or stand up argument has been bubbling since the stadiums became all seater. My argument is that there are lots and lots of football fans that don't want to sit at the game, for them it takes away a massive part of the enjoyment of going to watch their team.

So what do we do? Get heavy handed and tell them to like it or lump it, or try and come up with some solution so their preferences are looked after? They'd lose me for one, no great deal losing one fan, but they'd lose a good few more as well and just speaking specifically for the Rovers, we can't afford to do that surely.

I said in one post on here that I moved seats at the Hull game so I didn't get in the way of the bloke behind me who wanted to sit down, same as I always bought tickets in the BE in the back row to avoid the same problem. Where I am now is great because everyone stands up and there's no need to be on the lookout for anyone you might be upsetting or spoiling their view.

It's too simple to just say these are all seater stadiums, you've got to sit down, or we don't want you. Like everything in life, you've got to be able to be empathetic and understand that not everyone wants to do things your way. You want to sit, I want to stand. I think I should have a place in the ground where I'm allowed to do that.

 

[Drog]

"I said in one post on here that I moved seats at the Hull game so I didn't get in the way of the bloke behind me who wanted to sit down,"
Good on you SG but you are in the minority and one of the main reasons that I don't go to away matches anymore.

 

[blueandwhitehalves]

AWAY FANS 1/10: I have been to many Rovers away games and the fans have been excellent. This evening there was no singing section, hardly a chant from the fans and plenty of abuse of Rovers players. I recognise fans get unhappy but constantly calling players sh!t will not help their confidence even when the players are sh!t.

Doesn’t Hull and Coventry just sum up our away support. Win the first 1-0 and the fans are so good that 1SG persuaded me to give it another try. 72 hours later lose 1-0 and the players (who have got us 2nd!) are getting abuse.

I’d either be having the time of my life with my shirt around my head, or leaving at half time in disgust at our own fans/almost getting into a fight with one of them. Not worth the risk, I’ll stick to the W01 lot and save my money. Sad that the moaners drive fans away but just how it is these days.

 

[1SimonGarner]

Great post BAWH and I think in 2 paragraphs you've summed up why a good few fans (not just Rovers BTW) have given up the football as a bad job. They don't have their "tribe" on the terraces to hide away from this type of fan. We were segregated back in the day, now we're all mixed together and it might be hard for some to get their head round, but for people like you and me it can spoil our day just as much as "our type" can spoil theirs.

Not wanting to sit in silence but wanting to stand and swear does not make you a trouble maker, there's a lot of room in between!

 

[1SimonGarner]

"I said in one post on here that I moved seats at the Hull game so I didn't get in the way of the bloke behind me who wanted to sit down,"
Good on you SG but you are in the minority and one of the main reasons that I don't go to away matches anymore.

I agree I'm in the minority but history has taught us that persecuting the minority is a dangerous road to go down. Instead of persecution, instead of heavy handedness would it not be better to try and come up with some solutions that would suit everyone?

 

[Drog]

the only solution for me would be a seat high up near the half way line. 2 areas... one for families and the more discerning football spectator and another cheaper area behind the goals for the ones who want atmosphere, noise and a poor view of the match. Not every club could do it of course unless like ourselves they had a half empty stadium.

 

[Old Darwen Blue]

the only solution for me would be a seat high up near the half way line. 2 areas... one for families and the more discerning football spectator and another cheaper area behind the goals for the ones who want atmosphere, noise and a poor view of the match. Not every club could do it of course unless like ourselves they had a half empty stadium.

The solution is to sit in the BBE as most there don’t stand, sing or give much verbal or vocal support!

 

[Drog]

Can't watch the match properly though.

 

[Alan]

I understand your argument Alan and this sit down or stand up argument has been bubbling since the stadiums became all seater. My argument is that there are lots and lots of football fans that don't want to sit at the game, for them it takes away a massive part of the enjoyment of going to watch their team.

So what do we do? Get heavy handed and tell them to like it or lump it, or try and come up with some solution so their preferences are looked after? They'd lose me for one, no great deal losing one fan, but they'd lose a good few more as well and just speaking specifically for the Rovers, we can't afford to do that surely.

I said in one post on here that I moved seats at the Hull game so I didn't get in the way of the bloke behind me who wanted to sit down, same as I always bought tickets in the BE in the back row to avoid the same problem. Where I am now is great because everyone stands up and there's no need to be on the lookout for anyone you might be upsetting or spoiling their view.

It's too simple to just say these are all seater stadiums, you've got to sit down, or we don't want you. Like everything in life, you've got to be able to be empathetic and understand that not everyone wants to do things your way. You want to sit, I want to stand. I think I should have a place in the ground where I'm allowed to do that.

I am well in favour of special standing areas but have in the past been forced to break the law and stand because the person in front of me refused to sit down and in my opinion when you buy your ticket in a sitting area you are obliged to sit down because that is the contract that you agree to by buying it. I have some sympathy if you are on the back row but if you are blocking somebodies view they have every right to insist that you sit down without getting a mouthful of abuse. You know the rules when you buy your ticket.

 

[1SimonGarner]

I am well in favour of special standing areas but have in the past been forced to break the law and stand because the person in front of me refused to sit down and in my opinion when you buy your ticket in a sitting area you are obliged to sit down because that is the contract that you agree to by buying it. I have some sympathy if you are on the back row but if you are blocking somebodies view they have every right to insist that you sit down without getting a mouthful of abuse. You know the rules when you buy your ticket.

I agree totally Alan, if you've got anything about you, you don't tell anyone, especially an elderly person to f off if they ask you to sit down. Just because I've got a foul mouth and like to act a bit of an idiot during the game doesn't mean I forget what's right and wrong. I know some do though so the whole situation is not a simple fix but there are better alternatives to just saying sit or you can't come imo.