Just thought I'd start an interesting debate on what you guys prefer, the old 'generation' of football (By this I mean the 60's, 70's and 80's), or the new noveau era? (90's and 00's so far) Personally I can see the benefits of both, currently we have great stadiums for everyone, minus one or two crap away ends (Aston Villa and Portsmouth spring to mind) and the facilities are good, but apart from when I go to away games I feel that I have lost something important to me. Our old standing terrace that was called The Kippax. You see, back in the 60's, 70's and 80's, football was loud, it was rowdy, and gates were high, then slowly declined as the masculinity and machoism of the hardcore followers meant that where the bulk of the singing support came from the followers were of working class origin most of the time. You simply didn't get women in posh mink coats and high heels standing on these terraces (And she would've probably fallen over during one of the goal surges) It might've been violent standing on these terraces, but the games actually had atmosphere, when you were amongst the 'lads', goals scored actually meant something. You could go barmy, crash about everywhere, foam around on the terraces, and the great thing was that everyone else was doing the same. The atmosphere was always unique and funny too. I remember one instance when on the Kippax in 1992 as an 8 year old someone in front of me had a young kid with him, and this kid had thrown some litter onto the pitch. A policeman came over to have a word, and quick as a flash 50 or so lads behind me started chanting 'Future hoolie, Future hoolie, Future hoolie' and pointing at him, it was great. Just had to be there. Of course the terracing was dangerous, and since I was a young kid in them I sometimes got into dodgy situations where I had lost my family, stranded somewhere in the Kippax, wedged into the fan in fronts arse (the smells were not nice) but I always got lifted to safety and crowd surfed to the front. I always loved that, plus my dad stood in the same spot with his mates every season, so it was always easy to find him once down the front. I really do miss the spirit, the camaderie and the friendship gained during those times, and these were in the dying days of football terraces, the early nineties. I really wish I'd been born during the 50's sometimes so I could've experienced the great terraces from the 60's, 70's and 80's and the evolution of them, from the 30,000 capacity Liverpool Kop, Aston Villa Holte End and Wolves South Bank, the crowd surges and all that. Also, the players of that generation seemed to care for the clubs more, they were not on insane wages, so they were more in contact with you, and you could have banter with them, it were great. Now I look at football and what do I see? Overpaid and overhyped fairies crashing to the ground at any minor shove, idiots who think they're hard (Like Robbie Savage) , and players rejecting contracts because 20k a week is SIMPLY not enough to survive on. Arseholes, the lot of them. Of course, you still get the odd few players who you still feel have the values of football inside them, but its rare to see that these days. And the fans. I could rant about this all day, but lets just say, I go to home games to watch the players and join in with the chanting, and support MY team, I don't go to be told to sit down, to not swear, and be reported to stewards for my language and behaviour. (I once got cautioned for standing up and trying to get my block rocking to a chant of 'Niall Quinns discopants are the best, they go from his arse to his chest, they are better than Adam and the Ants, ohhh Niall Quinn's discopants'. Simply because the bloke behind me couldn't see... Well, feckin go to the old farts stand then, mate) Away games still have the spirit of the 60's, 70's and 80's in them, if you're lucky to support a club with a huge vocal following. Some of my best days this year have come from standing in the cowshed at Crystal Palace and chanting all day in support of Kevin Keegan and the good ship Manchester City FC. I remember taking my shirt off in a drunken haze once, and launching into the Lokeren tune when we'd scored, and seeing loads of other fans doing the same. Now it might be elitist and lame of me, but I really hate the element that comes to football to sit on thier arse, clap when we score and that. I dont care where you're from, be it Wythenshawe or Wilmslow, just as long as you get behind the lads with good vocal support, and feel like scoring a goal means something to you. Where I sit, the crowd is full of old ladies, kids, mums and da's, and hardly any lads. I hate it here, and I'm going to transfer my arse to near the away fans next season, as thats where the best atmosphere is these days. I'm City til I die I'm City til I die I know I am, I'm sure I am I'm City til I die. Trouble is, I dont think many in the stadium ARE 'City til they die', these days, its more like entertainment to them, like going to the circus or theatre.
Been once to the new stadium, and going again soon. But it lacks atmosphere. The Kippax was brilliant. What you are saying on the state of the game and overpaid, overrated players rings very true. Look at the state of City with Keegan in charge. Just as well quite a few youngsters are breaking through, and play with heart, not just for a pay packet.
I think the lack of atmosphere these has little to do with (dangerous) terracing being removed, nor an influx of so called middle classes. I belive its linked to ticket prices. Without a season ticket you wont be going to everygame, you wont be in the same spot, you wont be with the same people, and you wont be with your FRIENDS. You said yourself you enjoyed the old days with your friends. Do you still sit with them regularly. If you do your one of the lucky ones.
There's good from both. Back in the 70's and 80's the atmosphere was superb. I went to several Arse and Spurs matches (against other clubs, I might add), and it was like a religious communal (?) experience. Nowadays, the atmosphere isn't as good, but on the plus side, the players aren't being injected with hydrocortisone to cover up their injuries, and so won't be needing hip/knee etc replacements when they've retired.
Oh yeah........i do prefer the good old days. I'm a Spurs fan, so I have to. We were a football team once...and good. where's me pipe and slippers?
Watching some 80's highlights, I kept noticing those goal rushes. They looked incredibly dangerous. Didn't people get crushed easily? Too bad the games around as loud as they used to be. One of the main reasons why I came to prefer the EPL is the game atmosphere. How did this come about? Is it that there are more fans in England now? Seems to be the case in most sports when they get more popular is the new fans are more and more casual.