Invoice Shankly as soon as stated, a packed stadium was a vital a part of an important match.
Final evening at St James’ Park we had the previous however not the latter.
I’m not blaming AFC Wimbledon, who gave the impression to be enjoying for a penalty shootout from the primary minute and had solely two wayward makes an attempt to attain in all the recreation.
That’s their proper, their privilege.
Taking part in with 11 males behind the ball every time they misplaced possession is a tactic some Premier League golf equipment have tried at St James’ Park. The Wombles defended stoutly, stored their form and made life troublesome for a less-than-dynamic Newcastle United.
We not often troubled their keeper and struggled to get out of second gear till Guimaraes arrived for the second half.
Almiron ran his socks off. Schar was coolness personified with the spot-kick. These two aside, no one stood out in black-and-white.
The followers who made a midweek return journey of practically 600 miles had been in excessive spirits all through, singing, chanting and mocking the hosts. The place certainly was our “well-known environment.”
My favorite little ditty was: “Premier League. You have to be trite. Taking part in the Wombles on a Tuesday evening.” Or one thing like that. Self-deprecating humour at its greatest.
On the finish they continued to face and applaud their heroes. It was correct Outdated Faculty and I’ve nice respect for the boisterous youngsters, twentysomethings and older travelling supporters who had been throughout me in Stage Seven. If you personal 75% of your membership, you’re entitled to be passionate.
The alleged sell-out at St James’ Park included, in actuality, about 500 empty seats, many within the west stand close to the midway line. They had been clearly seen. Far clearer than the PA, whose high quality is as dangerous as within the Seventies, or the garbage wifi. On second ideas, the PA within the Leazes Finish is now worse than 50 years in the past.
I keep in mind an announcement mid-match within the 1977-78 season that prompted a large outpouring of schadenfreude. “May Mr [insert name here] please report back to the membership places of work. His store in Whitley Highway is on hearth.” Oh, how we laughed. Final evening, nearly no one would have been capable of hear that information.
The official attendance of 51,739 was beneath capability partly as a result of some house followers had declined to purchase company hospitality, which began at £180 final time I checked. In the event you wished a three-course pre-match meal and drinks, the value was practically £300. Therefore these explicit empty seats, in addition to some within the away finish. In trendy parlance, it’s not an excellent look.
If these packages are unsold 24 hours earlier than kick-off, they are going to nearly actually stay unsold. Why does the membership not make them accessible to regular followers as regular seats at regular costs? Or higher nonetheless, give them away to folks unable to pay the £20 or £10 worth?
One factor that hasn’t modified, regardless of the Saudi Arabia PIF possession, is the feeble or non-existent makes an attempt at pre-match and half-time leisure.
On the climax of our greatest season in a technology, when Brighton and Leicester visited in Could 2023, a number of supporters had been invited onto the pitch to kick a ball in the direction of a purpose. They had been doing that after I was a teen. And it’s no extra entertaining now than it was then.
Final evening there was nothing aside from a number of rock and pop songs earlier than kick-off that sounded as if they had been amplified by means of a Dansette report participant.
The biggish display screen within the north-east nook stored exhibiting adverts for this, that and the opposite, however little in the best way of helpful data. There have been no rating updates from the Champions League or the Championship, both over the PA or on the display screen. Is that an excessive amount of to ask?
We wish to consider we’re a giant membership, we actually have a giant fanbase, however because the PIF took management what has been improved, aside from the performances on the pitch?
Our present homeowners have in some ways labored wonders in three years. They’ve restored hope and helped to make match attendance a pleasure reasonably than a chore.
All I’m saying is they might achieve this rather more.
