"BRING BACK THE BRUMMIE ROAD" and "The Bomber Squad."

[DJ EmmJee]

As has been discussed a number of times, in a number of threads, over a number of weeks, myself and a number of other people on here would like to be pro-actively involved in doing something about the demise of the general atmosphere within the Birmingham Road End.

As we all know, on it's day, the BRE was a terrifying place. It was loud, it was hostile to away fans, it was by all accounts, THE Home end.

Whilst we do not advocate "hostility" towards away fans (well, maybe some of us do, but the less said about that the better,) we think that something needs to be done about it's general lack of atmosphere.

As most of you know, a couple of us tried (and failed) at the Peterborough cup game to inject some life back into it. Granted, this may have not been the best time to do so, given the fixture. However, with the increased allocation of season tickets for this Premier League season, thus meaning lack of available empty seats, this was our only real opportunity to group a gang of people together, in order to create the desired effect.

I have no problems with drafting something to send onto JP (along with the much needed help of Vince and any other willing person,) to suggest ways of how this can be improved. Be it allocated areas for singers, a 2nd drum being made available for use the the BRE, or what have you.

If you are against this campaign, I would ask you NOT to reply in this topic. We are only looking for pro-active and viable reasons as to why this should be put into place. The voices against this will be signified on the amount of names and points that we do not receive.

We will have a tough enough battle as it stands, trying to convince the club to allow us to do this, never mind help us to do it. So whilst I do not wish to ignore your opinion, or tell you why you are wrong, I would ask you not to include your opinion here. Whilst we obviously live in a democracy, and not that I dont value your opinion of course, but at the end of the day, pertitions are signed with one intent. They are not started with the intent of it being a general opinion poll/survey.

I do hope that others share our sentiments, and that we are not just wasting our time.

As mentioned in a previous post, if you wish to include your backing onto this, can you please keep it in a respectable matter. Whilst I will somehow find the time to arrange this, and contact the club, I do not have time to sift through the replies correcting spelling mistakes, and removing excessive swearing etc. I will copy and paste the replies from this thread onto any correspondance with the club, so whatever you write on here will be seen by them.

So dont make a prat of yourself! 

Thanks in advance

Mart

(Note to admin: if you wouldnt mind making this a sticky topic, that would be fandabby dosie!) 

[BAGGIE5]

I think we should maybe spilt the brummie road into two parts. one half who wish sing like the smethwick..and the other part next to the west stand for the bone idle people..

at least that way we'd get some kind of contribution.

[PTBWONDER]

Id would be in for any campaign

[albiontilidie]

It would be really good to give the back 10 rows of the two middle blocks to the singers, BUT getting the people who are already their to move might be a bit of a problem, There no point having this group to the side of the brummie as noise wont spread enough, For the club to do this it needs to get as much support from not just the brummie people but all stands as we all hope for a better atmophere to push the team we love on.

[DJ EmmJee]

That has to be the most grammatically correct post you have ever made Andy!






Only 8 mistakes! 

[Nickwba1]

i agree Mart!

[PTBWONDER]

We should move all the grumpys to the smethwick and have all the smethwick enders in the brummie lol

[albiontilidie]

We should move all the grumpys to the smethwick and have all the smethwick enders in the brummie lol

NO, we want the smethwick still to make the noise it doesm just the brummie to make as much so that both stands are buzzing

[kris_boing]

My idea would be this.

Allocate a particular area where a singing section could be housed.  I think it should be the top tier.

I would then send out a form for every ST holder in the BRE to find out who would be willing to move seats into an this singing area. 

Indicate also to these people that there will be a drummer introduced to increase the atmosphere.  I think that in itself will see many of the current BRE fans want to move.

Inevitably there will be some who dont want to move so an incentive should be offered such as free tickets for cup matches or a discount in the ST price.

I believe alot of the quieter fans sit in that stand because its cheaper than the sides so why not offer the current BRE ST holders a seat in the West or East Stands and the same price as the BRE.

Just a couple of ideas there and although there may be cost implications I think it would be worthwhile to bring all of the singers together.

[Bilston Dan]

Would be brilliant this would, hopefully we can get something going for it, I miss the old days of the brummie road.

[Lloydy]

I'm 100% behind this campaign.

I used to love looking at the Brummie Road End after we'd scored, to see every single person on their feet, arms outstretched, bellowing "The Lord's My Shepherd". Watching the entire stand Boing Boing after any goal is a sight I will never, ever forget.

I'd love to see this kind of atmosphere back in the Brummie End.

Logistically it will be difficult to move people from their current season ticket seats in order to group the singers together, but I'm sure there is something that the supporters and the club can do together to "Bring back the Brummie".

What I would suggest is that stewards are told to be a bit more relaxed. We all know The Hawthorns is an all seater stadium (we get told enough times before the match!), but even standing up for a corner is now frowned upon in certain areas of the ground, and it's ruining it for some people. There is a certain buzz, an excitement when the Albion attack the Brummie End, you can't force people to sit on their hands whilst OUR TEAM potentially are about to score. Personally I feel the "mini Hitler" attitude of stewards (not just at the Albion but up and down the country) is ruining the real matchday experience.

Another thing I simply have to mention is the pre match schedule. I'm sorry, but at the moment it's all completely wrong! For a start, we need an announcer with at least an ounce of charisma and character - not the blank, boring bloke that does it now. I'm sure he's a nice chap, but I'm afraid he hasn't got the personality or charisma to "gee up" a crowd.

Also, the music selections pre match is nothing short of awful. Who devised this "playlist"? Apart from Insomnia when the teams come out (which must stay) the rest is abysmal. Why not something that gets the heart racing? Stoke City play the backing music to Eminem - Lose Yourself, and I have to admit that it is quite intimidating, and in a way gives the home team an advantage if the away team don't feel "up for it". Nottingham Forest play Underworld - Born Slippy, again another tune that gets the heart racing. Sorry, but the latest Britney Spears or Rihanna track certainly doesn't get me in the mood for a football match.

That's my opinion and a couple of suggestions anyway, I'm sure the club will be able to liaise with the supporters to find the best possible solutions to making the atmosphere at The Hawthorns unique, not just the Brummie End but all around the stadium.

[Nickwba1]

certainly agree about music.. cant remember what game i heard think was MK Dons they played Tiesto- adagio for strings.. now that would get my going!.. but like eminem- lose yourself is very good song to play! also noticed at villa park the announcer hardly said a thing and let the atmasphere build... apart it helped us more than the vile fans!

[Signor_Maresca]

Something definitely needs to be done about the atmosphere in the Birmingham Road End.  It used to be such a force, such a ferocious, thunderous, ear splitting noise.  The Brummie roar being our 12th man, spurring on our team while intimidating the opposition and visiting support.  It is now just a shadow of its former self.  It desperately needs to find its voice, not only for the sake of ‘match day experience’ but also for the sake of the team.  There is no doubting that good, loud vocal support can affect the performance and energy levels of the players on the pitch.


Three schemes I would like to highlight which may interest some regarding this campaign:

REDAction – This is a group of Arsenal supporters who became seriously disillusioned with the decline of atmosphere on match days.  They lobbied the club and now have, I believe, a large designated singing section at the Emirtaes, they sing for 90 minutes non-stop.  As well as this they arrange scarf days, flag days etc which the whole stadium participate in not just their core section.  Such is the support from the club that they now have their own page on the official Arsenal website and are indeed given financial support by the club.

http://www.arsenal.com/fanzone/redaction


The FAI have taken it upon themselves to setup a singing section at Croker Park for Ireland’s international games. I believe it consists of around 2,000 seats.  Basically if you want to sing you ask to be seated in this section.

Section 6.  This is a group of Ipswich supporters who are housed in their North Stand to solely generate atmosphere, this initiative is fully supported by the club.

‘Ipswich fans who are season ticket holders are being allowed to relocate in to a relatively empty section of the stand after a meeting with Portman Roads safety officer. They will be allowed in with banners and flags, with certain restrictions, to add colour as well as noise.’

All of this suggests that a similar section/group needs to be setup in the Brummie, obviously you can’t displace people in the middle of the season, but at the end of the season a block or a section in the stand could be given up and designated for singers.  Obviously this would cause dissatisfaction for those who have seats in this section and are more or less being forced to move, but in the grand scheme of things this is a small hit the club may have to take for the sake of atmosphere. 

[Powelly]

How about the top tier is standing and the bottom tier seated??

This would mean that their will be enough people in the top tier to make an atmosphere but also we don't obstruct the seated fans view of the game in the bottom tier! Everybodies happy.

I am fully behind the campaign. 2 stands behind the goal making noise will make the Hawthorns one of the loudest grounds in the country like we all know it can be!

[mickk]

id 100% move to the back tier of the brummie if it meant more singing and standing. And at the moment im in the lower part. This is a great idea and i think the club will help you if you get in contact, like they did with Gulch.

[albiontilidie]

the idea needs taking further than this board, maybe even handouts in the brummie with the idea and put about westbrom.com in it to get more people to back the idea, handouts in the brummie gives everyone the chance to put their ideas forward

[DJ EmmJee]

Handouts also cost money mate. But a good idea nonetheless

[albiontilidie]

Handouts also cost money mate. But a good idea nonetheless

true if you got enough people to print out 20 copies each or something i dunno 

the idea needs taking further than this board, maybe even handouts in the brummie with the idea and put about westbrom.com in it to get more people to back the idea, handouts in the brummie gives everyone the chance to put their ideas forward

Chris Lepkowski - Birmingham Evening Mail 

good thinking

[DJ EmmJee]

Chris Lepkowski - Birmingham Evening Mail 

He already knows! 

[DJ EmmJee]

Dont forget to put a little kiss at the bottom for me. x