Sing your hearts out for the lads
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seán Connor from the match day program
I would like to say a few words to all those lads at the back of the stand behind the away dugout, keep sinding and I WILL KEEP PUSHING TO GET YOU THE SHED BACK. I love to hear you cheer on the lads, keep it up, we won't let you down.
Unfortunately I can't get to go to much home games this season with my job (But I get to away ones ;) ) So I don't get to cheer on The Bit O' Red as much as I'd like. It was good to see Connor mention the lads in the program.
But lets face it the MC won't be opening the shed for a long time. I was talking to one of the lads who Connor mentioned in the program yesterday he was telling me how he'd like more SR supporters up their singing with them so for all the people who voted in this poll
http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=25077
Get up there and sing your hearts out for the lads. The team needs more fans to get behind them. It's not an exclusive club you know
I'm open to correction here
After reading Robert Cullen's article in the weekender and pondering over the many contributions here on this very forum regarding the lack of atmosphere in the showgrounds it leaves me with the following observation.
Prior to the McStay era and most especially the '93/'94 season my recollection of games in the showgrounds lacked atmosphere. This famous showgrounds roar we hear about from time to time is purely a myth. From what I remember back then was much the same as is is now. The big cheer whan a goal was scored and the hand clap when an attempt on goal was made. I often heard it said that the supporters in the old main stand would clap if a rovers player hit the corner flag with a shot.
The dawn of the floodlight era brought a whole new atmosphere to the showgrounds. The novalty of the lights brought out more 'supporters' and the fact that Rovers season kick started with the big switch on was a huge bonus for the club. The atmosphere at those matches back then was electric. I remember supporters saying that our players were akin to battery hens, they could only perform when the light went on.
The best atmosphere was at the big games when the showgrounds was packed to the rafters. With the pitch illuminated and the dark winter sky over head we'd sing like the morning lark. I'd imagine the modern game having switched to summer football is suffering because of this. Everyone will tell you that there's no comparison between daylight games and floodlite matches and you know what I think they are right. There's a lot to be said for summer football but the saturday winter/spring nights were better.
Sadly, like all good things in life, the novalty of the lights wore off. The years rolled on and we settled back to what we as Rovers supporters accepted as the norm. Rovers struggled both on and off the pitch and nobody but the diehard supporter cared. We had the belief that if only we could pull together a winning team then the good times would come rolling back. Now we have the winning team but alas the dream of huge crowds have not materialised.
Back in the '93/'94 season the introduction of floodlite soccer was the catalylst. I can't imagine what it will take in 2005.
atmosphere in showgrounds or lack of it
i agree with all the posts here there is very little atmosphere at the matches. i sit in the new stand and sometimes i cant believe what im hearing . people in front of me talking about everything but the match people behind me doing the same. when im at a game my heart starts thumping because i am passionate about rovers and i do give them encouragement but there are so many clowns there who shout abuse at the players that i feel like busting them but i know i would only get myself into trouble. the comment about the lights is a valid one but should be able to overcome. people are like sheep if you get one or two leaders who can get the chant going then you have a chance of making some noise, but at the end of the day the shed is the best place to start. get the drum over there start belting it and the crowd will soon follow. the players need noise and a place to focus on when they score remember eddie annand when the wire in front of the goals was nearly puled down everytime he scored a goal. i read a few years ago from a comment made by him in a program when he played for dundee i think he said that the atmosphere in the showgrounds was the best he ever experienced. we have got to make noise in a small enclosed area this is best and projects out. i have no doubt that if the shed had being opened from the start of the season that there would now be a greatet rapoire between the players and supporters. its not to late. i was recently asked by no name mentioned (dedicated worker for rovers)why the crowds were somewhat dissapointing. my answer was partly times have changed over 10 yrs but also the club dont do enough to project sligo rovers to the public also i mentioned that the shed should be opened. this has got to be our goal. i spent all my life in the shed supporting rovers and i am supporting them 35 yrs . if the shed is opened i will be back. i still have ahead of hair so dont be looking for a bald man. there are some more like me but it is to yee young fellows that the future lies with regard to making noise .so i implore with yee group togeather and do it now dont hesitate because if you move now you can elevate this team to greater things. make the players play for the jersey and for the bit o red
sing your heart out......
we are getting the same kind of grief down in athlone
people actually giving out because we make too much noise
did you ever hear anything as ridiculous at a football match
keep on singing.............we will only have a handfull of us up at sligo
but we will be making as much noise as possible