Thetownend.com

This is only up the road and depending on the result v Notts County and the MK/Preston game, this could be a huge game for the run in...

If we are expecting these players to play well we should be supporting them, not getting on their backs by booing them during the match. It's clearly frustrating the players too because of the tweet from Wes and a lack of tweets from the players in general recently.

I'm hoping to sort out flags, streamers, beachballs, confetti and maybe balloons for this game to show the players we're still behind them and to generally try to contribute to getting the promotion push back on track.

If anyone wants to help with this let me know and I can get you involved, so just send me a DM. I'll need help on the distributing streamers, blowing up balloons (if I get any), waving flags. I want to reignite what used to be done by the Red Army Loud & Proud guys. http://www.redarmyloudnproud.org.uk/ultraswindon.shtml

If anyone knows who I can get in touch with that used to organise those sort of events, that'd be really helpful.

 :beers: COYR

Talk Talk is yer man....

I can tell you about my alternative to L and P.....Quiet and Ashamed....or Q and A.  Q and A has loads of Town fans in it.

haha. I'd be up for joining that one some days. Recently it's been more PO&F (Pissed Off and Frustrated) from what I've seen!

I'll message Talk Talk, cheers.

I seem to recall an L and P thing at Yeovil around this time of year.....we got beat 1-0, and were heading for the trap door at the time....Beaker scored for them mind, so maybe it might get him going  :)

Was it this one?

(http://www.redarmyloudnproud.org.uk/ultras0.jpg)

Yeah that's the one. I think it was the game that Cureton missed an absolute sitter, the total cunt.

Yep that was the one. Great day out that despite the result being a 0-0.

He missed that sitter right in front of us that day, straight at the post/bar with nobody between him and the goal IIRC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwXIv7MKEb4#t=117

Well, hopefully we can sort something out for Vale. I'm going to buy:

Confetti Cannons, but they're pretty expensive (the ones I've found anyway... so if anyone knows where I can get some that'd be helpful)
Red & white beach balls
Red & white streamers
Red & white checkered flags (possibly with poles)

What were the sheets from in that photo of Yeovil? Just cut up bedsheets? hahaha

That was one, the game I was thinking of was 2009....maybe it was seeing a few TEFers with face paint and wigs which confused me.

Yeah cos he missed it on purpose. God you sound like DV.

You could ask the Trust/Supporters club or the club itself if they had anything that could be used, if you don't ask don't get  :D

Cureton and Thorpe, what a potent strike force that season. The reason I have such dislike for Cureton is that before he joined us and after he left us he was a really good forward. Whilst with us however he was dogshite. Now I doubt he was dogshite on purpose, but that doesn't make him not a cunt.

I'm in communication with the STFC Trust on Twitter, they're having a board meeting this week and they're talking about what I want to do. Hopefully they get back to me in time to buy stuff for it! :D

Either way I'll be getting something out my own pocket. If anyone wants to contribute by bringing stuff along, please do.

You may want to get in touch wit Port Vale as well, just to make sure they will allow half the stuff in.

I've sent them a tweet asking who I'd need to get in touch with.

If you want to wave a flag on the day then you can get this one for £3. Just need to find a stick to wave it on!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201091568618?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

What about a few drums?

I'm going to York for the weekend, I hope that helps.

(http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/get-out-adam-sanberg.gif)

The sheets were rolls of paper if I remember rightly.

This sort of thing? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BANQUET-ROLL-PAPER-1-18cm-WIDE-DAMASK-EMBOSSED-DESIGN-/271196304544?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=570168934445&hash=item3f248f34a0

I'll be taking a paper for ticka tape action. One of the best was last day of the season 1990 at stoke. Think there's a pic in the po programme from the Blackburn game.

Whilst I'm all in favour of modern football.....you know foam hands, face paint, clackers, club distributed flags that sort of thing....ooh and not forgetting drums, you couldn't ask The Trust if they're going to organise a boycott of the JPT, should the B team thing happen? Cheers.

Didn't he also miss a sitter at Trashton the day we got relegated?

I seem to remember he did

The plot thickens

I'll mention it ;). I may need people to help on the day, would anyone from here be happy to help if I needed any?

Omg that game at Stoke was one of my best memories, hot day whole end stank of beer,big mob in seats behind us including a bimbo.My ex bro in law questioned about his replica shirt after break in at stfc shop(dougie woodmans ).same week as Lou fridge Brian hillier (fuck me what a rough deal he got ) and Vincent farrar nicked .They were already down ,pitch invasion by them before the end too.In hindsight the hills borough thing later springs to mind .at least 5k town fans crammed into a capacity of about 3 k .Happy happy days

agree

Already done, mate.

IIRC L&P wanted to use these at the CG but weren't allowed to by the H&S people until they'd done a full risk assessment of them. Presumably because they had the word "cannon" in the name. Unsurprisingly said H&S folk were then spectacularly unhelpful in what would constitute a full risk assessment and refused to commit to any time before the game they wanted to use them at anyway so they wouldn't be able to assess the risk assessment and wouldn't let anyone else validate it. So they got stymied. Port Vale's people might not be such a-holes but just thought it was worth a warning before you go spending a load of money on something you might not be allowed to use.

Don't think it was quite that plush!

check

That's great, mate. Thanks for this. I need to make sure they're fire-proof etc.

Unfortunately Vale haven't been very communicative. I'm starting to think I may need to call someone on their end.

I've just spotted it's all patterned! >.< Maybe not that, then!

I'm sure as long as you don't plan to set fire to the away end they probably couldn't care less if you want to throw confetti about and make balloon animals or not

To be fair if you set fire to the away end at valeyour probably doing them a favour!

Thousands of pounds worth of improvements I guess?

Well done Jay , will let you know if I can help.

That was the one we drew 1-1, and Alan MacLoughlin was roaring us on when we had a corner in front of us, right?

Just looked at the tail end of that season, as I thought we were pretty poor, considering we ended up beating Sunderland at Wembley....

Last 12 games: Won 3 Drew 5 Lost 4

Aye, then the club had the nerve to use a picture of that Yeovil display for the 2006/07 ST renewal form, a display which was banned in our ground. They disposed of the cardboard cutouts as well for H&S iirc.

Here's an article on the TrustSTFC website about what I want to do.

http://www.truststfc.com/red-army-on-the-road/

Good luck with this jay, hope our fans respond and travel to vale in decent numbers

Cheers. We took 650 to Crewe, so I'm setting that as how many might have gone (if not less) without the Trust and I doing this, so any more than that and I'm considering it a success.

I've called 3 different offices at Port Vale today and none of them are picking up. Not surprising considering it's a matchday. I'll try again tomorrow...

Err

(http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/photos/grounds/swindon-stratton-bank2.jpg)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Vale_Park,_Burslem_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1991993.jpg)

But you've never brought enough to be put in that open end.

Because we always bloody lose to Swindon

Fair weather fan! ;)

We were 3-0 up against you in around 04-05 and you came back to 3-3

We missed out on promotion that season by goal difference

you have the curse, Swindon!

let's hope so

And, whose fault is that?!!

Remember that well.

Nearly broke a bloody shin celebrating the equalizer thanks to the shitty leg room in the away.

Although as you rightly point out its miles better than our "away" end

Remember that game as well.
At 3-3 both teams had a chance in the last few minutes to win the game.

Vale had Billy Paynter up front that night and another forward (a Scot) that the name escapes me who was a great player at the time.
Scored a couple that night I believe.
Also remember getting to Vale Park and the game being called off.
Similar to us always had financial challenges :)
Used to be rough as fuck in the 80's. Remember getting a lift back to the station in a riot van :)

That was Steve McPhee. Went out to the Portuguese league and then back to England to play for Championship Hull and Blackpool. Chronic sick note, retired with a knee injury. Now back at Vale coaching the kids.

That's the lad. Always rated him, quick feet and could run with the ball.

Ah see you don't always lose...

I like vale park a lot. Haven't been for a while but looking forward to Saturday. Cracking away end and hopefully a few make the trip.

Well done to jay for his efforts. Will try and make it in for ko!

My first time at Vale Park we stood on an open terrace.
You beat us 3-0 :(
That was the game Staffordshires Finest gave us a lift in the meat van back to the train station.
Always remember we chucked in Vicious Hamster and he had to lie on the floor as there was no room left.

The plod carted out shitloads of town that day. Port Vale used to be fun back in the day.

I remember vale away hoddles first season .Big sign on motorway exit from city to congratulate us sending rovers down( they did that themselves)big stfc following on open terrace .We lost and we saw summerbee at ring wing back for first time and Paul ride out played too and just started to see Martin ling in advanced midfield role .Oh and vale turned up big time outside the pub

That was Stoke wasn't it?

I remember the snowy match when Ndah scored.....how the fuck the match finished I will never know....couldn't see the halfway line at the end!

Just got off the phone with the Health & Safety officer from Port Vale and he's happy with all the balloons, streamers, banners etc. Just not allowed flags on flagpoles.

Buzzing for this, now. Hopefully have a wall of colour. The Trust are going to try and use their channels to get people that want to get involved to hold their scarf up PDC era style. :)

Not sure how much use I'll be after a few  :pint: .... however - scarves ala pdc era is a great shout too!

We're all in this boat! I'm not driving so it's a result for me, but 4 or 5 of us will be blowing up balloons... so I'll not only be a bit pissed, I'll be light-headed as shit, starting to think I should invest in some pumps.

With the PDC scarf scene, if we have a group of fans that start it off, chances are it'll catch on.

Will there be ice cream and jelly?

You'll have to check with Port Vale about what they offer in their kiosks. Sorry!  :cloud9:

If anyone is able to contribute towards these displays it'll be really appreciated. I'm going to start planning something small for MK, something small for Preston and any Play Off games...

If you are doing something for Bristol City, what colour are you going for? I'm guessing we will be in the white kit?

I have replied Jay. Still have all of the flags, giant twelfth man shirt for crowd surfin', archived web site with some retro old L&P Lovelies and L&P Guys (including DV when he was a puppy) at http://www.redarmyloudnproud.org.uk/ (http://www.redarmyloudnproud.org.uk/)

We will be in the white kit so I guess we should get a load of white rolls of paper like at Yeovil. But I'm undecided about doing much at Bristol City. [Hello OTIB user reading our forum :) ]


Got your message and replied... I misread it though and didn't know you had the 12th man shirt! You need to bring them along to Port Vale!!

I'm not going to PV Jay  :(

As mentioned in my message I need to get it off you for it if that's ok? I can get someone to pick it up cause I don't live in Swindon if you're ok with that?

One of the other L&P guys has the shirt and the flags, he lives in Bromham but works in Swindon. I will get in touch and see what we can do

 :beers:

Cheers, mate. I have contacted Irriducibilirobi on Instagram who apparently was heavily involved in the L&P stuff. Is it the same guy?

Whatever happened to the massive flags we had in the early/mid90s that surfed above the crowd from one end of the stand to the other? Doubt they are allowed anymore.  Some were homemade, some from the club/sponsors if I recall.

Any update on ticket sales for Saturday?

Jay,

Have just sent you some cash which will hopefully help proceedings.

Fair play for organising.

I will be at PV so looking forward to the atmosphere.

Regards

Wills

Apologies if this is mentioned elsewhere, but where do I send donations?

Jay, your passion for the club reminds me of myself about 15 years ago. Its fantastic to see!

I have sourced a giant '12th man' shirt to surf over the crowd which will be at Port Vale. But I haven't heard about any others. Sorry about that, mate.


Thanks, mate. I've just got it and buzzed you over an email before I read your post on here. It's much appreciated!


You can either PM me for a PayPal address or you can use the link at the bottom of this article.

http://www.truststfc.com/red-army-on-the-road/

Thanks, mate.

Ahhhh how young we are on the loud and proud lovelies, those were the days!   :-[

Thanks to everyone that has contributed financially and given me pointers on where to find resources or people to talk to that have helped.

I really hope Port Vale is something we can be proud of as Town fans and inspires a dramatic trouncing of the 'Valiants'.

Sent you some cash,have a great day and 3pts please

Have exchanged e-mails with Jay this evening the amount raised for this is already impressive.

Not often we as fans do this kind of thing for the lads but now is the time to push this forward.

In order to help Jay and in essence the Town, can everyone distribute his link for donations to everyone they know.

I will be there on Saturday now to see what we and the team can achieve.

Regards

Wills

A giant 12th man shirt with Nathan's name and number perhaps  :)

I am hoping to raise enough to get a huge flag printed with one of the images below and "Swindon through and through" with it. But before I spend a large sum of our money I'll run it by everyone as to what we get, and donators will obviously be notified so they certainly have their say.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_vUHUpWAAAMOay.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_k75BMWEAAu2W4.jpg)

Without sounding harsh, a banner with 'Swindon through and through' on, with a picture of a player that will be leaving in a few months doesn't work for me.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Nathan's surely around for a while. (I hope)

Yeah....a pic of Derek Elston would be much beter.

not a good idea, something League Cup winning related could be nice ?

This is a great idea.

I was about to say a huge "69" but it might be a bit similar to the "96" banners in the Kop. Don't want to go anywhere near that.

Maybe:

"in 1969, They thought they'd won the cup"
"Along came Swindon Town FC and messed the bastards up"

With an image of the cup at one end and the STFC crest at t'other.

We probably won't get away with hanging it up anywhere if we have "Fucked" on it. Any ideas are welcome and I'll look into it.

If we're going to be celebrating past achievements I think The Dubonnet Cup deserves a mention...

And of course THE big one....

WILTSHIRE CUP & PREMIER SHIELD

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Text.asp?Page=WC

We got our big (now very soiled) London reds one done for under £200 from a company in Scotland. I cant remember their name, but can find out if you are struggling to find a supplier. When you do get one, don't let PetswinPrizes ever look after it, Unless you want to double up it's usability as a dog blanket.

I was reading the Crewe programme again last night, and In their achievement's ( I say that in a loose term) One of their highest honours, Is "most admired club 2005" So the Wilts cup is a consideration for sure.

Thanks for the advice, mate. I am finding a lot of the companies I am looking at charge a shit tonne for banners. So send me a link to those guys. I have a good few hundred from donations so we can make a cup-related banner.


What about the Anglo-Italian cup? I quite like a League Cup specific banner though cause we can use a 'family friendly' version of the song.


OK, fuck the league cup. We're making a banner just for this.

Also, we'd have to have 10 Wiltshire cups on a banner...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindon_Town_F.C.#Honours

Says the man who, I believe, its responsible for at least one of the many fag burns now on it.

  Not only have we a runners up in the Charity Shield in our palmares, but more importantly runners up in the Daily Express, indoor 5 aside, from 1970, which was held at Wembley, and featured on Sportsnight with Coleman.

  We lost to Man City in the final...2-1, but only after the Don, had scored a phantom goal.....City fans were so moved by their good fortune, they wrote a poem..

 We usually see eleven men, when City play a game,
But they turned out five at Wembley pool, and triumphed just the same
With Tony Book, Joe Corrigan, Alan Oakes, Neil Young, Colin Bell,
They knocked out Crystal Palace and Coventry as well.
Then in the semi-final they really turned the screw,
They whipped the pants off Chelsea, by four goals to two.
They struggled in the final to master Swindon Town
But made it by two goals to one to win another crown
Six goals came from Neil Young and five from Colin Bell
To make it a round dozen, Alan Oakes got one as well.
And so on television, before ten million eyes
With a perfect exhibition, they carried off the prize.

Not guilty m'lud. Not that I'm a grass and want to get Ollie in trouble, but i'd be casting a glance in that direction.. Pretty sure in his defence though, we cant pin the skid mark on him.

Update from @STFCStore on Twitter... only 296 pre-sold for Saturday. Hopefully get that up over the next few days.

We only pre sold around that for Crewe. Anyway the London red that sorted our flag is going to dig out the details, one of the other lads has suggested http://www.ultrasshop.com, although having checked it out, it looks a bit scary!

Might have to get a smaller banner  :footinmouth:

I think we pre-sold about 360 for Crewe and there's a few days left. Hopefully the LinkSport article will help.

Given that there's no incentive to purchase your Port Vale ticket in advance, I'd actually say that's pretty encouraging ticket sales for the Wednesday before the game. We took 638 to Crewe Alexandra and it's practically the same distance/trip. So you can expect upwards of 650-700 with the extra incentive of it being a 'Loud & Proud' (ish) day.... in my opinion.

Yeah, as it's the first one I'm not expecting the attendances to increase dramatically, but after we have footage and photos etc of our day at Vale, we might be able to encourage more in the future.

Really looking forward to it.

Dont fret If it's a little lower than expected, as Ideally another weeks notice would have helped,whilst the cheap rail tickets were still around.

Yeah. I only had the idea putting out a 'feeler' tweet on the 5th. I'm sure Bristol and Preston won't have the same problem...

Crewe is piss easy by train Port Vale isn't so actually that's really good.

Btw somewhat surprised to read Vale Park holds 18k+.

I thought it held more tbh.  The away end alone is 5-6k.  Great ground is Vale Park. 

Will you be making the trip Mr H, or too busy digging up fields looking for dead vikings?  :)

Wow. So I guess they'd be one of the good teams to get in the POs IF we end up there. Nice big away end, not horribly far and our good record against them...

Taking note the hassle of getting there and my track record for causing the team to perform poorly I am giving it a miss!

Digging up fields - I am no archaeologist - old buildings are my thing although now I have stepped off the corporate roundabout life is generally less stressful!

Yes, a much reduced capacity since its 1960 heyday as the Wembley of the North.

Here's a little bit of recognition from the manager about what we're doing for Saturday.

http://www.swindonlinksport.com/2015/03/11/cooper-praises-fans-plans-for-wall-of-colour-at-port-vale/

Fair to say, I'm buzzing for it.

Not quite as the plans were not fully realised.

Check out Vale's earlier ground in Hanley:

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw053355?search=hanley&ref=46

For those real ale fans who are going Saturday, check out the Duke William, St John's Square.

Also the Bulls Head, just over the road. Titanic's brewery tap.  :pint:

Fair play to you lad. Great effort.

I know, but Vale did manage a crowd of 50,000 at VP in 1960.

Thought Deepdale was reputed to be the"Wembley of the north" at one time.

Nope alwasy been Port Vale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_Park

I know I mentioned the possibility of having a banner with Louis on it and some (including me) were unsure about a banner with his face on it knowing he's leaving at the end of the year. But after this news, I'm going to try and make one (to save the money for a bigger banner in future) with him on it saying something positive.

http://www.swindonlinksport.com/2015/03/12/thompson-out-for-the-rest-of-the-season/

Not only to show our appreciation for what he's done and how good he is, but I bet he could use a positive right now after that news. Or we could wait until the end of the season and make a 'farewell' sort of banner for the lad. He's been a huge positive for the club over the last few years and we should show it. Any ideas for Louis related banners are welcome.

"We're in it for you-
Let's win it for Louis"

That's great. I'll start mocking some ideas up.

Song: "We're gonna go up for Louis, go up for Louuuiisss. We're gonna go up for Louis. Go up for Louis, we're gonna go up for Louis." etc.

This is now getting fucking stupid.

It's almost as embarrassing as the whole gay & proud thing from a few years ago. In fact, it's close to Swindon 'Ultra's' home made and hand painted pathetic flags when PDC was here.

You're a fucking weirdo and need to grow up.

if Ironside hates it, then you are doing something right.

Got to say, I'm with you on this. It'll be like going to a game as a school trip.

What happened to spewing and pissing in the away end? It was always good enough for me!

Fuckem, Jaybox. It could well help and it certainly won't do any harm. Keep it up.

Yeah ignore the moany old bastards. and that comes from a moany old bastard

Cheers, I was planning on it. I think the contributions and thoughts of 95% of fans, journos and Mark Cooper himself show it's not doing any harm.

I thought you had to be a moany old bastard to get on the forum? I keep checking my emails being kicked off for being 'too positive'.

No one starts like that, but being in the cyber company of some on here, soon turns you into one ;)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bv6br24CAAAe8X-.jpg:large)

Déjà vu to me Jay. It was the same the first time around, a few miserable bastards decried the quite substantial time, money and effort that went into doing something positive. But the majority of fans were more than happy to join in with the displays, I think that they actually enjoyed participating.

You have two options really:

1. Just ignore it, they are not worth responding to and in their own little minority
2. Tell them:

(http://static.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1339426725154_9146065.png)

Cooper likes it. His opinion about what is good for the team is worth more than most.

I think it's a good idea, be nice to create a decent atmosphere. Been quite often and it's dead; people clapping when we score but that's about it.

Option one is the one I've been using so far.

I was invited to a Swindon Town Fans group on Facebook but it was predominantly teenagers that were raving about flares or telling me how it was a shit idea and I 'should be a real fan by turning up, not sitting down and singing for the 90'. I (John) Swiftly left the group and left them to it.

Tbh, I was surprised by the response wasn't similar on the TEF! I was expecting more of the moody bastard responses.

Cheers for all the help to date though, lads. :)

I got banned from that group in less than 20 minutes. Boring cunts.

It was mainly bickering amongst themselves. It felt very much like:

"I'm the biggest fan!"
"No, I'm the biggest fan!"

and on and on and on.

Those FB pages are a fucking embarrassment.

Yeah, I'm going to stick to getting things organised through TEF, Twitter & the Trust.

Going forward the club themselves are looking to get more involved if possible and the Trust is hoping to get more involved, too. Which is very promising. All very exciting.

Good work jay, hope it's a success, however orchestrated.

Any news on ticket sales? I have mine, but most of our group are buying on the day. As you say, anything beyond the 600odd at Crewe should be seen as a success. 

I have asked for an update. We were up to 296 on Tuesday, which is pretty good.

Wish I could of helped but work commitments are going to stop me going.  Really hope it's a success and more are planned.

More are definitely in the pipeline. ;)

418 pre-sold for Vale so far. Considering we pre-sold around 350 for Crewe and ended up with 650... I'm happy with that so far!

Decent news on the ticket front and congrats on all the (positive) attention you're getting Jay, you deserve it and I really hope it's a success. Hope next time it happens it happens so I can contribute in some way!

I think the quality of the Facebook pages is more to do with how many people still actually use Facebook  :shrug:

Good luck Jay, I remember having some crazy shit idea like this 10 years ago in the lead up to a game against Port Vale!

The other big flags have long since died a death.  One was being used to soak up piss at the back of the Town End when we found it.  Another had long since been chucked by the club.

Do not underestimate the financial and personal cost of doing the stuff!  Ironside hated me as well, think he still does.  In fact this has all been rather civil so far.

The paper was the cheepest and most effective - it was just some banquet roles and to be fair was the idea of some of the Ultras.  Oddly in most other countries this isn't part of the happy clappy crowd, it's done by the nutters.

http://i22.servimg.com/u/f22/11/39/64/41/1tifob11.jpg

The flags/banners do cost a small fortune and many clubs get quite funny about them having a safety certificate.

Good luck. It will probably lead to a decline into alcoholism and being chucked out at Walsall or something.

not my type of thing, but fair play for taking the time and effort to organise it

Yes indeed the club also disposed of our massive DR stand "South Oxfordshire Reds flag" after saying it could stay up permanently.

There was once a Canadian flag with "STFC Ottawa Reds" on it doing the rounds, whatever happened to that? That said, it was 1989 when I last saw it.

Get my 8 holes and crombie .....Hersham boys and Sham69.
Do you want some ?.....football has changed mate :)

More's the pity

Forget the rest of the post.  I'm just extremely impressed that you went to the trouble of getting both of those accents right.  Bravo!

The London Reds flag was ever present at away games until last season.  I was talking to a mate at Scunthorpe about its disappearance.  Not sure where it's got to, but would be good to see it reappear soon.

It went to Bromley, that's the last I know of it for certain. Rumour has it Lord Lucan is using it as a tent outside the city walls of Atlantis.

Or pets dogs crapped on it and he binned it, or it might be stuffed in a cupboard in East Croydon. One of the 3 is true, not sure which.

Vile story

Yeah, knowing the TEF, I was expecting a bit more hostility but I'm pleasantly surprised with the response.

We have got some of the banquet paper sorted out for it so no worries there!

In terms of the finances I have been very lucky that a lot of fans and the STFCTrust have donated a lot towards it.

Hopefully we'll be able to do these kinds of displays at the County Ground soon.

Would have been 12/13 it was ever present, as last season it went to Posh on the opening day and then spent the rest of the season in my cellar. I've not had it since Bromley in pre season though.

Good luck tomorrow Jay and everyone, I can't make it but will be at Donny, perhaps we can repeat it.

Glad to hear that you are still breathing Rob :-p

I remember you being in the Adver in a photo wearing a red and white wig and screaming and that was before I met you  :clap:

Yes, how much synchronicity is there in that then? The first L&P event, Port Vale at home - Saturday 8th October 2005. We lost 2-1, Rory Fallon scored for us. The attendance was 4,531...

Also my first Town match. I brought two of my children along, who were then ten and eight. Nineteen and seventeen now. Bloody hell, nearly ten years of masochism, I must deserve some kind of award. Where has that time gone?

Q and A were happy beating the Shitheads 2-0, in a parallel universe. The attendance was a few more.

Ooops. 2005 then Reg  8)

Ok, I've got a free day today and it's just dawned on me that I can get to this game. I don't away games very often (hardly ever) so what's the deal? Just buy a ticket when I get there?

You can buy on the gate. There's usually loads of stewards happy to lead you to the ticket offices.

Hopefully you can make it!

Yep looks like I'm there. Only a 6 hour round trip! See you there!

Usually cash only on turnstiles just so your aware.

What pubs are people going to be at?

Here's the footage that the Port Vale media guys sent me... unfortunately they actually missed out the entire display at the start and just have us singing. We were fookin' loud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACy9C0xhHMQ

I don't hate you.

I just thought at the time, and still think today with this latest version of your sanitised happy clappy bollock's, that if you want to galvanise the support, a couple of fucking fairies waving home made flags and a bit of 'ticker tape' around is just a bit shit.

If you fancy going all in, getting some proper flags and banners produced to recognise the club's history and create a proper atmosphere, then let's do it. This whole exercise that was undertaken is a waste of time, effort and money. You either get 'partisan' or don't fucking bother.

Credit where it's due, you were fairly prominent at the time (if a little over opinionated) but it served a purpose, as embarrassing as it was.

Who made you the judge about what's acceptable in supporting your club? If people want to throw paper and balloons in the air, what's wrong with that? Jay's efforts on Saturday not only started the game off positively, but it carried through the whole game.

Just thought I'd repeat that for posterity's sake.

Was it Blackburn away in the Playoffs that there was loads of ticker tape!  I remember it was very impressive for a young lad

I hate shit things in football more than the average bloke (drums, mk, song sheets, pox, out of town stadia, legroom), but after the balloons had burst, it was the best atmosphere all season (from eight aways). There was nothing sanitised about it. If jays 2mins at the start of the game had an impact on everyone singing for the remaining 88, which I believe it did, then I'm up for more.

Yep. And Stoke last game of season. Pic in the centre fold of the Blackburn programme if I remember. Keep meaning to have a look next I'm home. I've got a lot of time for ticka tape. Still old school without being too, you know, what ironside try's to describe. Jay could save himself some money and just tear up a load of free papers into a bin bag and stand outside the away end giving everyone a handful.  We were knee deep at Wembley 90. As a a 10 year old, that was ace.

Dunno. I was truly bladdered.

Bring back the days when you could sing and  point at opposing fans.
Maybe chuck a bog roll or two.

I chucked alright - but it wasn't a bog roll.

That was one of my favourite away days

Ironside, the original fun of football has long gone. The getting up on the fence to goad the away fans etc. A lot of it was harmless and a lot of it wasn't. There's nothing more depressing at a football match than silence and groaning,  if Jay wants to inject a bit of enthusiasm back into the game then fair play to him. Many people look at palace and the fact that they have brought a bit of old school back to the game. Many people want it, very few achieve it. That's a shame.

Palace have brought nothing but a plastic, sanitised version of football to the premiership.

You can go to any ground on a matchday,  walk in to any stand and sing a song about their most hated rival and all you'll receive is a few disapproving comments and a few dirty looks. How fucking plastic is that?

I'm not suggesting going back to the old days of fighting, I'm just saying that  unless there's some hostility, some hatred of the opposition but more importantly some massive over exaggeration of loyalty, Jay's little exhibition just makes us look like a Yeovil or a Cheltenham when they win against a 'rival'. Passion counts, but it needs to come from within.

So you like the buzz of the "threat"?

This is quite a strange argument in that all parties have made fairly valid points. I'm not too sure that even the most accomplished of (sports) psychologists could establish a link between pro-active support and success on the pitch.

It is true that the so-called "wall of colour" was visible at the start of the Vale game. It is true that we were noisy for much of the first half. It's also true that Town came out all guns blazing for the first 20 minutes or so, when usually that period is characterised by lethargy, nervousness and vulnerability.

What isn't true is that Town fans sang for 90 minutes. The second half (while we were being dominated) saw the same nervousness amongst the fans, as usually happens. The dour, slow, half-hearted singing of "Come on you Reds" sometimes really grates. This is where we got back to the norm....the "wall of colour" suddenly became irrelevant.

So how do we harness the enthusiasm that Jay has articulated to best effect ? As much as I commend his efforts, I don't see that a 5 foot flag is going to contribute to anything. Most supporters and players will not even see it. Those that do may well not even understand it. The Trust is trying to encourage young potential fans; a distant splodge of a distant Norwegian player from yester-year isn't really going to register.

This is where I can empathise with Ironside. I perhaps wouldn't use the word "sanitised", but more likely "contrived".

Do I have a solution ? No' not really. The old adage springs to mind...."actions speak louder than words". Perhaps it should be inverted. Maybe, sing at the beginning and at the start of the second half, bring out the balloons, flags and ticker-tape. It will count most should we have to settle for the play-offs. Plenty of time to plan and pool resources.

Get rid of goal celebration music for starters.
I reckon crowd segregation should go as well ,it would gee up the atmosphere.
Proper  "old school"  :swordfight:

Oh dear. So now we have to hate the opposition to be a genuine fan? I like that I can talk to fans of the other team and not have to fear that my wife or son aren't going to get caught in some nasty encounter.

Oh dear. I can't help but think you have maybe missed out on something. Murdoch's kids. Pfffft.

When I was younger I used to enjoy the bouncing around the terrace when we scored,  the climbing of fences (city away 91 and Bolton away 95 league cup spring to mind. Nowadays I'm quite happy to sit, just a pity the atmosphere has to go  :(

It goes much further than that. The Manor, Tooting & Mitcham away, The Wrexham train. You can't measure passion. You've not seen it Hoboken. Ask me, Chalkies, Banbers, Ronnie. You haven't lived.

I'm not hoboken  ???

I don't really know what to say to some of the criticism. You don't have to get involved, I'm not forcing you to. I go to football to watch my team and support them and I think that getting the crowd more enthused is going to help support them, I'm going to keep doing it.

Personally, I hate all the violence between fans at football. If you want to be a yobbo and have to start a fight to get a kick out of football, by all means go ahead. This doesn't mean I don't enjoy calling another fan any selection of expletives in the terraces, but fighting is another thing entirely.

It's not a waste of time or money if 95% of our fans and the players enjoy it. So yeah, I'm going to keep doing it. Port Vale may have been a bit of an anti-climax in terms of what people were expecting but 850 people in a 4k away end was difficult with how spread out everyone was, plus it's my first time sorting this sort of thing out... it can only get better.

Don't be disheartened Jay. You aren't gonna please everyone no matter how hard you try. The overwhelming response I heard was that it looked decent and the atmosphere was brilliant. Let's not overlook the fact the players quite obviously responded and we got a vital 3 points.

If people wanna bitch and moan then let them. Keep doing your thing, they'll either join in or fuck off. Swindon fans are notoriously negative and if a few balloons helps the team then do it. I've never ever met a footballer who said, "you know what? when I fucked up and got booed that really spurred me on". No, they respond to positive chants and a crowd getting behind them.

I'm not disheartened. I've been blown away by the response I've had so far. Definitely going to keep at it.

There's enough room to accomodate all types of supporters. As long as you're not hurting anyone in the way you support the team, go for it.

Yeah, stick that flagpole in me eye and I'll lump ya!

It'll look decent with 4k at Preston Jay  ;)
Perhaps we could get a Thor banner?

My armchair is soooo comfy.

There is only one true way to support the team and anyone who suggests otherwise is a heretic. We should all be aiming to wittle our fan-base down to about 48 true fans, far better than thousands of people enjoying themselves in the wrong way.

Touché.

I've been going to see STFC since the late 70s, so I've seen a fair share of what you think is passion. I've been spat in the face at Bolton in the League Cup semi-final 2nd leg; I've been randomly tripped up in a crowd by Sheffield United fans at the first game of the Premier League season; I've been sat in a bus shelter at Barnsley, after having lost to them, when some home fans ran into the shelter shouting "Any f-ing Swindon in here?!!". Not for me, thanks.

I'm (one of) the idiots who desperately tries to get people in the DRS to sing every home game - sometimes there's only 2 or 3 of us chanting - but I'm not going to be impressed by tales of "getting Oxford on the run" or things like that. Sorry I don't meet your definition of passion, but by my own definition I'm doing ok.

Different strokes for different blokes.

Nobody is advocating everyone should be the same - I've calmed down in my dotage - but for those of us who enjoyed the less sanitised days of following your team, the happy clappy, ticker tape sort of thing is faintly embarrassing.

Not knocking the enthusiasm, but the lack of standing terraces has done for what I would identify as a prerequisite for atmosphere.

Look football has changed. Difficult call to say for the better.
I know exactly where Hammer is coming from recalling the 70's and 80's madness.
However nothing compared to the atmosphere then. Hatred, hostile and the tension. I loved every minute of it but I was lucky I didn't turn down the wrong street at the wrong time or got hit by the bricks thrown from the bus station after a Brentford cup game.
For those who are too young to remember the Plymouth fan killed outside the ground or the Rovers fan left on a life support machine. Glorified ....no way, it was the terrible ,looking back it makes you shudder. For me as a young lad it was simple, get to the ground from the station and get back to the station after the game in one piece. Oh I forgot the bit in the middle when some teams would try and "take the TE" ....if was scary, do I miss it no but I do miss the packed TE and terracing and most of all the noise from the TE. It simply does not even come close now. I absolutely loved it and miss it and glad I lived through it.

Yes times have changed. I still love going but now take my kids and take them without any fear.
Now that I would not swap. No way would I have taken them years ago.
What Jay did last week was fantastic and nobody should knock him and it belongs to the modern game.
Not even sure if Ironside lived through the 70's and early 80's but for all the good things about the atmosphere back then it simply had to stop.

So I have been lucky to witness then and now and today I am happy to watch the games and still sing with no fear that I have got to get my lads home and safe.
However I wish the missing few would turn up, the TE back to its former glory but I think I have seen the best times and for those who unfortunately missed out you certainly missed something very special as Hammer is eluding to.

It might not be the same, but you don't need the threat of a violent encounter to have a good atmosphere (not saying anyone said this mind)!

Got kids to take now, I've become a quiet sit downer in the DRS. Some dude tried to get a "Give us an S" going last game. It made me realise how long ago it was that I heard/sang that..

But it wasn't so long ago I used to stand in the Town End, and when it got going in there your ears used to resonate with the cheering/singing and you couldn't hear a fucking thing.

Where are the young fans to replace the lost old farts? Is football to them a quite, prawn sandwhich, sanitised affair. Or am I being too harsh.

Nope not harsh at all
Not sure when it all went quiet but the 70/80s were a hundred times louder than today.
Maybe its all seated stadia, maybe evil of sky, maybe just today's society or a combination of any and all.
I do miss the TE in full cry tho

[/quote]I've never ever met a footballer who said, "you know what? when I fucked up and got booed that really spurred me on".
The whole team deserved the boos they got at Histon a few years back.

That was probably Nathan.
Back of the DR nearest TE level with 18 yard box.

Yep, that'll be Nath. Let's have a few more people joining him. I sit a lot further down in the same block. I try to join in but often feel there's not enough of us!

Welcome to my world! :-)

I'll go down the unpopular route here but the late 70s / early 80s were fucking great and a lot of it was because the threat of violence. You left home with your mates and sometimes didn't have a clue what was waiting for you. I've smacked a few, been smacked, ran like fuck a few times, chased a few and bluffed my way out of loads of shit, been in in a few home ends. I wouldn't take a minute of it back. Away games were much more fun. Going to the Manor with a group of mates - nothing like it. The atmosphere in the Town End was electric for the big games moreso when someone tried to take it. Adrenalin and fists flying all over the place. If you had two groups of lads who wanted it then let them crack on.
The brick throwing or tooling up was for wankers. Town used to do a good job of self policing if the rules of engagement were broken.
It was a rights of passage and I don't wish to go back there but it was great fun.
I go with my daughter now and am probably the most boring cunt in the ground.
Fair play to Jay though. You've got up off your arse and done something constructive. keep it going Jay, I wish I had your enthusiasm.      

Started in the 60's...but yes a rite of passage....for many years now, kids mostly look elsewhere for such activities...which is why the crowd at the CG has a senior profile...or little tackers dragged along or furnished with free tickets.

Absolutely Spot On. Post of the Century. Hang on though.... what about the early to mid 1970's ? The Doc Martens sprayed with red glitter, the Bay City Rollers trousers, the silk Town scarves tied around the wrist ? But let's get realistic. Us owd'uns become more mellow with age. Chuck in a sprog or two and attitudes quite rightfully change dramatically. Unfortunately, despite my advancing years, and when Town fans have been under threat, I have struggled to stop myself from "steaming in".

I miss it! Those WERE the days...

There were loads of bricks thrown when Cardiff were ambushed on their way back to the station - loads of Town fans waiting where the bus station was being built.

Taffs laying all over the road!

Yep, what we really need to make football great again is the threat of having your head kicked in.

Sounds great.

I'm with you on that Samdy. I know some people get a buzz out of violence or perceived threat thereof but it's never done anything for me whatsoever.  I completely fail to see the attraction but I suppose it would be very boring if we were all the same.

Chalkies actually said

"I don't wish to go back there" and was most certainly not advocating that violence or the threat of it would improve football.

Dismiss away the fun that we dinosaur fans drone on about but the threat of violence did inevitably heighten the senses and at times the passion and excitement as did, within the ground, the terracing - also at it's most dangerous and exciting when packed.

As a fan, I was embarrassed by football violence at the time but I do not regret having found the dangerous aspects exciting even if incidental to my experience.  I do hope that posters aren't against all rites of passage that are not organised and officially approved?

Looking at the present, I embrace the fact that there are more women fans and family areas and especially what Jaybox is doing.  I really hope Jaybox's initiatives gain traction and can help up the passion and support for the team throughout the whole 96 minutes and improve the whole experience (unlike drums and Crystal Palace piped music after a goal).

COYR!

Jay, keep it up.  Ironside, I've always thought you'd probably give me a kiss and a hug if we met.

When we had a bash at this in 2005 it was mainly as result of my dismay at the sheer negativity and depressing nature of being around fellow fans at that time.  I've seen some terrible seasons, but going to football has always been about having fun for me.  Certainly as we moved into the 2000's it seemed more and more to me that people were actually out to have a bad time - and I'm excluding the types that enjoy themselves in the TE style atmosphere's here.  For all our efforts at flags, banners and ticket tape etc. (and it was a lot of personal effort for those involved) it was only ever geared to trying to brighten the atmosphere of those around us - the idea being that get those people a little more positive and the singing sections can bring a few more along with them.

As it happens, it was pretty far removed from my usual experience at a football match.  My teen to early 20's years were spent just in front of the cock at the back of the Bank and then later enjoying a good pint or 7 before a game.  Anyone who met me around those times will probably vouch for the fact that having a good time and some beers was more my thing -I present my state at Cheltenham when I failed to understand how seat rows and numbers worked for a day and Walsall away.  The mini bus adventures were a great laugh and it didn't need any flags and streamers for me to have fun and remain positive.

But.....for others, some of it did rise a smile, get their kids involved and if it raised just one persons spirits it was worth the effort.

On the other subjects, never really got the violence thing at football.  I remember dodging bits of the Bank coming my way against Bournemouth, which was not much fun at all.  I struggle to comprehend how taking a good beating is a rights of passage, it's not stopped me in life because I didn't get in fights as a kid.  Who knows if I could hold my own in a fight? so far, it's not really been a problem getting promotions at work or buying the weekly shop at Asda.

I wasn't dismissing anything my friend, hence my comment "I suppose it would be boring if we were all the same". Violence does nothing for me but I understand it gives some people a buzz. Each to their own.

Simples innit?

I don't think anyone is saying taking part in actual violence increased the match day experience.
Was more the perceived threat of violence.
Imtimidatery away support up against the fences always upped the vocals of home fans.
Terracing helped of course, seating isn't the same even if you stand up. The freedom to move around the terracing meant like minded fans congregated together.

Anyway carry on Jay, anything that makes a difference is welcome

One of the best typo's ever :)

 :)

What a day that was :D :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I think they're saying exactly that to be fair. But that's fine - I'm not having a go at anyone for feeling that way. A lot of young blokes are like that. I wasn't. I'm not saying that's good or bad. It just is what it is.

I agree with much of what you have written, but I suspect a lot of us who have never wanted to take part have been victims of football fan violence.

A lot of the time you had little choice - in the pub, walking to/from grounds and in the ground itself.

It took clubs so long to cotton on that segregating fans in the ground would all but finish trouble inside grounds it beggars belief.

It is still there just below the surface, though.

To avoid any ambiguity what I'm saying is that those games where it "kicked off" were more fun than those that didn't, particularly if you could go toe and toe.That's just the way it was and as an away fan ( unless you went with the Travel Club ) you were a target. Scum away was brilliant as was Trashton. Pompey and Cardiff away were suicide.
I walked away from this when I met my wife and settled down but it was a great crack.  I didn't see many innocent victims as most groups had a code of conduct.
It was the bloody idiots throwing bricks and coins that were the problem.
I accept what I'm saying is not politically correct but if you went away in the 70s and early 80s that was just the way it was.
I still see some of the lads at games now with their kids / grandkids. Its over half a lifetime ago but it was great but it was "of its time". The world has moved on.

I support you 100% on the diversity point and didn't mean to imply you were dismissing anything.

I was lending some support to the posters who had expressed a certain excitement at aspects of the matchday experience of the 70s and 80s and clarifying that that didn't mean anyone was advocating a return of it (Samdy, I think!)

A little passion has disappeared from the terraces in my view for various reasons and getting some of it back, with JayBox's initiatives, is something I'm all in favour of

Believe me mate, I have no problem with that!

People have different ways of being entertained. But for me, the idea of coming into work (or not being able to) just because I had a ruckus with another fan from another club doesn't make sense. Weighing up the pros and cons, it doesn't add up. Could be shutting a door to a career because of it or having a disabling injury from it. It never seemed worth it.

Saying that, I love the threatening away atmosphere of calling someone every expletive under the sun in the ground, but when it changes from that... I'm not a fan.

I'll keep trying to get the atmosphere's up via flags and balloons and leave the pyro & fighting to others.

Jay what's happened to the goals of the month YouTube montages?

Haha. Yeah... sorry. I usually do them on the Sunday after the last game of the season but that was Sheffield United away in Jan, then we started that poor run and I lost all motivation to re-watch any of those games. I'll get back on them when I can but I tend to spend my spare time working on freelance work or sorting out banners etc ;)