Singing Section Post Match

[Babysis]

All in all the first singing section went well. It was really frustrating having people in front not standing or singing, but we were in with the YBIG lot and went mad for it for the whole game. Hoarse today but it was worth it. YBIG are going to take on board the points made and try and make it better for the Bulgaria game. Its a grower anyways

[Colie]

Alright all. I thought the "singing section" was a great success. I'm not going bananas here or anything but compared to 5 of us standing & singing all the way through up at the back to maybe 70 people standing & 30 singing for the whole game I think it was a great success. And at times we got maybe a couple of hundred to join in. I know it was a little disjointed but that'll get sorted. As I mentioned prior to the match the ss needs to be the back seats in the Canal not the front ones; that was poor planning. Things can only get better now that others know we're at it so fair play, I think it was a good start. Crokers & Lansdowne are usually painfully quiet so I'm happy with how it went. So long as we're consistently making noise it'll feed out onto the pitch I think so lets give it bigger socks come the Bulgaria match. I can't bloody wait.

[irishultra]

so yeah would anyone be up in the next match for orchestrating things from a loud speaker? would work very well imo.

[Mento]

so yeah would anyone be up in the next match for orchestrating things from a loud speaker? would work very well imo.

The FAI mentioned doing this
The plan for this match was to get it out there, just get started really.
Now we can build on it

What is the general feeling on a loud speaker?
Any other suggestions e mail www.youboysingreen.ie

[irishultra]

i tried joining that but it said i couldnt:o

[Mento]

i tried joining that but it said i couldnt:o

Couldn't join what mate?

[NeilMcD]

What was the story with the songs before the game. They played the bloody proclaimers. Fair play to the lads for putting all the effort in and Rome was not built in a day and it did add to the atmosphere. It was a pity for me that I did not want to risk going in there while on crutches but I will be there for the Bulgaria game. Fair plays lads and keep up the good work.

[Kingdom]

real big thank you to all at ybig for organising the Hedge. The first time I've felt like an Ireland supporter in a , well ever!

I'm hoarse this morning, my legs are boll*xed, my hands are numb, but I wouldn't have it any other way. First Ireland match I've been "dry" at in a long time too, which didn't help the nervousness approaching the new section. Spent the past couple of weeks looking at old fan clips, looking at the new chants and the you tube vids, thinking of the big days past at the Road.

Arrived early and was pretty disappointed by the lack of people around, to the (good natured) abuse of one our group. Was impressed by the green tops, nice touch even if they were sponsored by that shower.

The goal was a kick in the teeth, we as a section could have done without that. felt we settled too happily into the old repetoire of songs. The booing at half time seemed to be like an epiphany for us though. Everyone around our area burst into applause and from the word go in the second half didn't relent, and the performance on the pitch matched it.
Without about 5 mins to go I had to stop, my head was killing me from the singing. I couldn't give anymore. I suppose the fitness will come with time :)

Having read the numerous posts here so far, a few of my own observations.

There was an obvious lack of/ breakdown in communication between either the FAI and ybig or the FAI and fans in general. Both the previous incumbents of the Canal End and the new arrivals were shortchanged due to the apparent confusion over those standing.
We were in 321 Row V and we were lucky as all behind us were standing so it wasn't an issue, however those in front of us weren't and there was a bit of aggro between people who wanted to stand and those with kids who were getting peeved.

What I'd suggest is that maybe those of us with a like mind or a penchant for the craic of standing and singing submit their seat numbers to the lads at ybig and ask to be grouped together.

The fanzine got a lot of attention last night, as did the Hedge/SS and in the most part neither let itself down.

My own experience was great but at one point in the second half I looked around to the right, and people were sitting en masse. That was hard to take. Even bargaining with people didn't work. There were a man and his lad a few rows down to the right of us and they were obstructing another man and his even younger son. The standees offered to trade seats but through beligerence the sittee wouldn't move.

I can't wait for the Bulgaria game. A pat on the back for YBIG, the SS and the Hedge. From small acorns.....

[Jegg]

i am dreading the bulgaria game, i had to move from 321 because of the lack of singing and the constant moaning from the people sitting behind me. worried that there won't be enough empty seats at the bulgaria game for us to move.

[gspain]

The FAI mentioned doing this
The plan for this match was to get it out there, just get started really.
Now we can build on it

What is the general feeling on a loud speaker?
Any other suggestions e mail www.youboysingreen.ie

The NI fans have a guy with a loudspeaker and it works very well.

Well done to the guys on Wednesday night too btw.

[antrimgreen]

I was in section 321 J and a few around sang through out but the main culprets for not singing and sitting like they were at the cinema was those directly behind the goal in the lower section. For crying out loud when we start chatting stand up for the boys in green the whole stadium should join in. All in all the SS area has definitely changed my Croke Park experience anywhere else now would just be dire now. After the Cryrus game i could see the next game far enough (upper canal row Z) and backs to the wall for 84mins (on and off the pitch), after Wednesday night i just wanted another game asap. Bring it on and again if you were shy/quiet on Wednesday take note and up your support for the next game!!!!! Hoarse the next day is the way to be!!!!!!!

[Junior]

Whats the score with the standing. Can the FAI be seen to be actively allowing standing...I thought UEFA/FIFA would have something to say about it?

[eirebhoy]

The FAI mentioned doing this
The plan for this match was to get it out there, just get started really.
Now we can build on it

What is the general feeling on a loud speaker?
Any other suggestions e mail www.youboysingreen.ie
I don't know if it would work. I've watched plenty of clips of St Pauli fans and they're like a hardcore choir. They wait until the moment the guy with the loud speaker gives the go ahead and all sing the verse together. That was the way it was with the Polish at Croker too. They had people facing their fans with the backs to the pitch for the whole match. It would take a bit of getting used to. If we're just using a guy to get songs going I don't think it would make a difference tbh. There was no problems getting songs started where I was on Wednesday. People just need to learn the words to the new songs.


What I'd suggest is that maybe those of us with a like mind or a penchant for the craic of standing and singing submit their seat numbers to the lads at ybig and ask to be grouped together.
To avoid the hassle of having to send your ticket back and get a new one we should just make the SS an open area like terracing. Ignore seat numbers once we're in that area. Stewards were probably given that instruction anyway because I was allowed move where I wanted on Wednesday but if the FAI could make that official it would be great.

[macdermesser]

Hoarse the next day is the way to be!!!!!!!

maybe we could work that in to .. "my lovely hoarse".

I'll get me coat.

[macdermesser]

The FAI mentioned doing this
The plan for this match was to get it out there, just get started really.
Now we can build on it

What is the general feeling on a loud speaker?
Any other suggestions e mail www.youboysingreen.ie

also would like to add my congratulations and kudos to ybig and the organisers

two suggestions in terms of the music ..

(1) an dearg doom/pride (u2)/O sullivans march(chieftains) or something in this ilk as the teams come on to the pitch

xpN93TT8nT4

close your eyes, and forget Rob Roy when listening to this Chieftains song


(2) Play On the One Road after the final whistle instead of at the beginning i.e. No STATUS QUO !!!

edit: might need a back up song in case the result doesn't go the right way. ermm ....

Anyone remember the Swiss playing aga doo doo doo after beating us in Basle ... it was so gay.

[Traps Cat]

Well done to the lads for organising the singing section - best atmosphere since the move to croker in my opinion.

We requsted a move of our blocked booked tickets in the Davin to the SS and presumed that the section would be solely for those who had requested the same and standing in the stand would be accepted (i know its not technically allowed)

There were fans both in front and behind us that knew nothing of a singing section having being organised. This resulted in a group of teenager's consistantly verbally abusing an elderly man (obviously in attendance with his grandchildren) - telling him to "F*** off to the Hogan" if he had a problem with them standing and obscuring his , and his grandchildrens view of the game. An isolated incident maybe , but i heard simalar on the way out of the ground.

Personally , i would have prefared to stand for the whole game (The north terrace is in my blood!) but i was sitting in front of a group of fans who knew nothing of the SS and refused to stand - which i thought was fair enough to be honost.

The idea in principle is great - and im sure will be fine tuned , so that everyone is singing of the same hymn sheet so to speak. Although the behaviour of some of the fans that i witnessed , in my opinion , was unacceptable.

[paul_oshea]

I will be there for the Bulgaria game when I am off the crutches and I will be giving it socks.

you have lots to give.

[paul_oshea]

Whats the score with the standing. Can the FAI be seen to be actively allowing standing...I thought UEFA/FIFA would have something to say about it?

sssssh :D

[ParkLife]

My experience from Wednesday night....Good start that will improve as time goes on.
My suggestion for the next games if for the FAI to put aside 2000 seats,regardless if there booked or not and hold them for anyone coming into the stadium to have the option to move to these seats.
We were in front of the SS ..in line with the corner flag and it was a mess. We wanted to stand and sing,a few behind us wanted to sit,a group to the left of us (about 20) refused to sit down,even though everyone else around them were sitting. A lot of arguments breaking out over it.
I think someone with a loud speaker or megaphone standing at the very front of the Davin directing people to move to the SS if they wanted to sing,or likewise, giving people the option to move out of the SS, At least people will understand what's going on, and it might keep all the singers in one area,cos it would have been brillaint had all the singers been in the one area.
The St. Pauli song was good, the oh,oh,oh bit sounded great, but the actual words couldn't be heard. And last point..it REALLY needs someone with a pair of balls to be the music conductor at the front of the SS, so that we all sing the same songs...a few times different songs were started, and just cancelled each other out.
AND last point...someone good on the drums. Yer man from the Derry City-St. Pauli video is class on the drums..anyone know who he is ;)

[Drumcondra 69er]

[QUOTE=Kingdom;1103948]

What I'd suggest is that maybe those of us with a like mind or a penchant for the craic of standing and singing submit their seat numbers to the lads at ybig and ask to be grouped together.

[QUOTE]

I agree, as I said earlier in the thread the 17 of us on my block booking weren't seated together which was a pain in the @rse, we used to have two sets of 8 and 9 in consecutive rows but we were in seperate areas in 321 for this game. No hassle standing where we were at least. Only problem is that the Bulgaria tickets have already been issued with the same seat numbers as Georgia......

[irishultra]

can someone tell me if ybig would be the best bet for getting singing section tickets for bulgaria? as has been said, it was grand against georgia we could move to where the action was but where i was originally sitting i knew from the moment the people came in behind they were going to be sitting through the whole game.

[zenokelly]

The atmosphere was the best in Croker, along with the Slovakia match in my opinion.


Was at the front of 321 and had 1 problem with the person sitting in the seat directly behind. After standing for about the first 6 minutes,I got a tap on the shoulder from a middle-aged fella to sit down.I turned around and friendly enough said that this was the SS and straight away got threatened by this lad that if i didn't sit down he'd knock me "down there" (pointing at the floor) if I stood again. Anyway I pointed out the rest of the crowd around who were standing and told me to "**** off over there then, I've paid for this ticket".

i left it and we sat down to let him cool down and about 3 minutes later 'Stand up for TBIG' started and most of the Davin were up, not just the SS. I turned around when it was petering out to the lovely sight of the fella's foot sitting on my chair with the words "that will go as far up ur ****in hole..."

A real fan behind him told him to stop and leave it, and then fair enough, 1 of the 2 lads that was with the abusive lad encouraged him to calm down and made a slight apology to me.

However it did spoil the occasion as it meant we had to sit for the rest of the 1st half and the start of the second half. And when the whole stand was standing for the end of the second half, he was the only one within sight that I could see sitting down.(And he missed the winner when he was at the toilet which he rightly deserved).
The 2 he was with were genuine fans, yet I still doubt that they knew of the SS.

A cheerleader with a loudspeaker would help imo but well done YBIG, it was a success that only can lead to better things.

[eirebhoy]

Probably the same chap in 321 roaring at me with pure anger to sit down. He was sitting I think in the front row before the corridor area over the entrance. I was standing over the entrance, as in I could look directly down to the stairs and not blocking the view of anyone (this guy was to my right). I didn't even look his way once which I'm delighted about. I could hear the anger in his voice building as ignored him. We're both probably lucky I didn't look his way as it no doubt would have resulted in a heated argument. The steward shut him up anyway.

Fair enough if I was blocking his or someone elses view but he just wanted to shout for the sake of it.

[Murpholini]

7 of us in block 321 row O. There was an enclave (touchy word to the Georgians) of about 20 fans singing. Had no problems with standing and singing all the game and would have loved to have been up with the core group of singers as noise ye were making was brilliant. I think part of the problem was when the singing section tickets went on sale at twenty euros less than the rest of the lower level there were a lot of opportunists who availed of the cheaper tickets with no intention of singing. Coupled with block bookers who had their regular seats there, there was always going to be some flashpoints. I agree with the idea of anyone wanting to sing to give their current seat numbers to be relocated to a central section. Obviously it won't happen the next game with all of the tickets sent out but surely with the Italy game being a good while off it could be done in time for the big one and use the friendlies in between to co-ordinate our singing.

[eirebhoy]

I think the whole of the Davin is €50 Murph.

My seat was in front of you, row NN, but as I said I lasted 2 minutes there. You should have moved down to the main crowd.

[Colie]

The only downer was the idiot who at the end of first half started giving abuse to everybody as they were walking up to toilets etc for booing at half time..there was dad with his two kids and there was this fool mouthing off would not mind but he kept on for about two minutes making a ***** of himself and people just afraid or amused at him.
Sorry Hibs but I have to back the guy up. The boo boys have no place at the game. Please see the "Booing at half time" thread for the arguments but I'm totally behind that lad. The only ones "making a ***** " of themselves were the boo boys. I think any spectator (coz they ain't supporters) should be shamed for booing or hurling abuse at the team. I' propose a campaign of ostracism against all the booers. See this thread http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=111757


Was at the front of 321 and had 1 problem with the person sitting in the seat directly behind. After standing for about the first 6 minutes,I got a tap on the shoulder from a middle-aged fella to sit down.I turned around and friendly enough said that this was the SS and straight away got threatened by this lad that if i didn't sit down he'd knock me "down there" (pointing at the floor) if I stood again. Anyway I pointed out the rest of the crowd around who were standing and told me to "**** off over there then, I've paid for this ticket".
I'll bet it's that fella that goes to all the mtches home & away & just scowls for the whole thing. He nearly had a go at us in Cardiff for standing & going mental for the whole match & we were in the same row as him. He didn't even stand when we scored! How hardcore is that? Never smiled or cheered once. Check it out.....

[eirebhoy]

I've uploaded the RTE audio of the few minutes after the Georgia goal. Have a listen.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/55620069d7c194dd/

Most of the crowd join in with a couple of the usual chants but it was the SS that got those chants going. Then listen exactly 2 minutes in. It's silence. That's the silence (with the exception of groans and shouts) we would have got for 70 minutes if it wasn't for us. 15-20 seconds later and you can hear the fields of athenry. It's not very loud but it's positive noise.

Chants can be heard all throughout the game on the RTE coverage so maybe many those at home just weren't listening for it. Maybe a few hundred people singing just goes over the head but whether they realise it or not it does make a difference.

I just find it frustrating that I have the match here on my PC and I can hear us singing all throughout the game yet I go into work on Thursday and I get a bit of friendly stick because nobody heard anything of a singing section.

[irishultra]

brilliant Éirebhoy. as you say god forbid what it would have been like if not for the singing section.

now we have to try figure out how to get the st.pauli song and oró sé do bheatha abhaile widespread.

[NeilMcD]

I've uploaded the RTE audio of the few minutes after the Georgia goal. Have a listen.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/55620069d7c194dd/

Most of the crowd join in with a couple of the usual chants but it was the SS that got those chants going. Then listen exactly 2 minutes in. It's silence. That's the silence (with the exception of groans and shouts) we would have got for 70 minutes if it wasn't for us. 15-20 seconds later and you can hear the fields of athenry. It's not very loud but it's positive noise.

Chants can be heard all throughout the game on the RTE coverage so maybe many those at home just weren't listening for it. Maybe a few hundred people singing just goes over the head but whether they realise it or not it does make a difference.

I just find it frustrating that I have the match here on my PC and I can hear us singing all throughout the game yet I go into work on Thursday and I get a bit of friendly stick because nobody heard anything of a singing section.

Dont take to heart what a couple of wind up merchants are saying to you. Also not sure if you did, but bigging up the singing section to cynics does not work either.

[stojkovic]

I don't get you? Certainly in Dublin anyway, most people with a keen interest in a premiership team wouldn't support Ireland too strongly. That's from my experience anyway. If I'm in the pub and I see someone with a Liverpool top watching Liverpool or a Man Utd top watching Man Utd, I definitely wouldn't expect them to have a great knowledge or support of the Irish team.

That's not just Irish people btw. If someone supports a club really strongly there's a big chance he doesn't have much interest in his national team. I myself would even be an exception to that so I'm not saying everybody. Anyway my point is, if I remember, the lads in the singing section last night would mainly be Ireland fans first and foremost. :)

Im a mad Liverpool fan and Im going to the Bernabea in ten days for the Champions League. Ive been at every Ireland home game since 1979 and a lot of away trips incl Euro88 and USA94.

My mate is a mad Leeds fan and goes to Elland Road about five times a year. He too has been at every Ireland home game for the last 30 years and he was at Euro88 and WC2002.

We are also season ticket holders for a LOI club.

:mad::mad:

[eirebhoy]

And I'm a big Celtic fan and big Ireland fan. Most Irish people that adore a club team though wouldn't be huge Ireland fans. That's just the way it is. Anyway, I haven't even looked back over the thread to remind myself what I'm debating about so it's not important. :)

[Hibernian]

[QUOTE=Colie;1104748]Sorry Hibs but I have to back the guy up. The boo boys have no place at the game. Please see the "Booing at half time" thread for the arguments but I'm totally behind that lad. The only ones "making a ***** " of themselves were the boo boys. I think any spectator (coz they ain't supporters) should be shamed for booing or hurling abuse at the team. I' propose a campaign of ostracism against all the booers. See this thread http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=111757

Respect what your saying and agree..What was wrong for me was that he was hurling abuse at kids using strong language as people were walking by at half time and these were not the people booing. (well the strong majority im sure anyway).

I do agree booing is something i hate to see

[Conormack]

Singing section is a cracking idea! get all the loud fans in the one place but the fai made a serious joke of the location and plaining... fair enough people want to sit during games but why would those people be left sitting behind the SS. and not to mention the dozen wheelchair spots up the back of the lower section of the davin!! complete balls of it was made which caused hassel between fans which aint right... one guard standing at sec 321 ended up in 5 in space of few mins cause of it. . great idea to have but better planning and location is well needed...

[aidz1]

Singing section is a cracking idea! get all the loud fans in the one place but the fai made a serious joke of the location and plaining... fair enough people want to sit during games but why would those people be left sitting behind the SS. and not to mention the dozen wheelchair spots up the back of the lower section of the davin!! complete balls of it was made which caused hassel between fans which aint right... one guard standing at sec 321 ended up in 5 in space of few mins cause of it. . great idea to have but better planning and location is well needed...

agree.

and i presume their will be an increased attendence at the Bulgaria game which will mean that people behind the singing section will not have the chance to re-locate as easy this time..

this could cause a bit of friction a couple of minutes after kick off.

[Stuttgart88]

Funny / interesting article in context of this thread. I thought I saw a response to the article in the Guardian print edition but I can't find it online. Will look again...

http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/2938/38/

Boro fans told to shut up


Middlesbrough are currently one point off the foot of the Premier League. A club who have been established in the top flight club for a decade, and reached a UEFA Cup final, are enduring their worst league season since they last went down in 1997-98. For several reasons, however, their downturn in fortunes has been met with a fairly muted response, both on Teesside, and elsewhere. It is difficult to be hugely critical of a relatively well run club, with a likeable, generous chairman and strong youth policy. Boro supporters have been critical of the club's PR in recent times, particularly around the introduction of a new club badge in 2007. Now the growing sense of dissatisfaction caused by the team's form has been further fuelled by a letter handed to fans before the game against Wigan last Saturday.

Signed by the club's safety officer, this letter concluded with the words: “I am receiving more and more complaints from our fans... about both the persistent standing and the constant noise coming from the back of this stand. Please stop, make as much noise as you like when we score, but this constant noise is driving some fans mad.” This, quite understandably, received an angry reaction from fans and many protested by turning their backs on the game. In the end they didn't miss much and their team are “Woefully weak and in danger!” according to the local paper.

The irony of the request for noise following a goal (but not at other times) is that in their last nine league games Middlesbrough have scored just once – it has been eight hours and 15 minutes since Boro fans last saw their side score in the league. Their last victory, courtesy of defensive errors by Aston Villa, was on Sunday November 9, a win that took them to eighth in the table. It seems unfortunate now but Gareth Southgate described this as his best result as Boro manager.

The 13 games since have seen a dramatic collapse in form, with the inability to score goals an obvious and fundamental problem. In the Fly Me To The Moon fanzine, Boro fans have called for unity among the support and fretted over the home crowd's apparent resignation to the club's fate. This could be the only option to open Middlesbrough supporters, however – Steve Gibson is unlikely to sack Southgate before the end of the season and unless Afonso Alves manages to convert some of his numerous chances in the 12 games remaining Boro seem destined for the Championship. The club would prefer that the fans remained quiet.

[Mento]

agree.

and i presume their will be an increased attendence at the Bulgaria game which will mean that people behind the singing section will not have the chance to re-locate as easy this time..

this could cause a bit of friction a couple of minutes after kick off.


This problem will be addressed so hopefully it won't be an issue

[ParkLife]

Hi Mento, Can you shed some light on how this is going to be addressed? Especially since it's on a Saturday evening so I'm sure alot of the lads will have had quite a few pints and could lead to some ugly scenes if there's a repeat of the last game!!

[aidz1]

Hi Mento, Can you shed some light on how this is going to be addressed? Especially since it's on a Saturday evening so I'm sure alot of the lads will have had quite a few pints and could lead to some ugly scenes if there's a repeat of the last game!!


and the fact we have already recieved our tickets for this game, which are the same seat numbers as the georgia game!!!

[irishultra]

ye any idea how the singing section will work for this match? doesnt seem to be an option for 'singing section' on ticketmaster like last time.

[Fr. Joe]

I've only one thing to say, god help any person that tries to stop me from standing in the singing section on saturday week I hope ye are all with me on this front.

[kingdomkerry]

Well it will take a brave man to tell me to sit down and shut my gob!

[Fr. Joe]

Well it will take a brave man to tell me to sit down and shut my gob!

Got it told to me a few times the last day, I just looked back for a second but didn't budge. This isn't like before when it was a UEFA mandate to sit down, we have been given permission by UEFA as long as it was stewarded correctly, PERSISTENT STANDING is allowed, remember that lads. The more that takes kingdomkerry and my own stance the better i reckon.

[ParkLife]

Is there ANY update on this yet?? Only 10 days to go.... How's it going to be managed??

[Sligo Hornet]

Got it told to me a few times the last day, I just looked back for a second but didn't budge. This isn't like before when it was a UEFA mandate to sit down, we have been given permission by UEFA as long as it was stewarded correctly, PERSISTENT STANDING is allowed, remember that lads. The more that takes kingdomkerry and my own stance the better i reckon.

Our group stood the whole time at the last game.....and will do the same on the 28th!!:)

[NeilMcD]

I bet the Green Hornet was blocking the view for everybody.

[Sligo Hornet]

I bet the Green Hornet was blocking the view for everybody.

There's hardly anything of her!......I'm sure a good few struggled to see AROUND Moscow Mule!:D

[Mento]

Will be talking to the FAI this week
All systems go
They WILL be putting more stewards in the SS to usher non singers into another block
I would tell people to get in early and make your way to where the action is

Tickets are currently on sale from the FAI