OK; I'll be the one to ask the question

[ab]

WHAT has happened to the vocal support at home games which we know has always been highly valued by the team?

We are fourth in the table yet our big old ground is far too quiet.

The support yesterday was fragmented and silent at the very time it needs to be loud and proud behind our excellent team.

We are pushing for promotion to the top tier of Non-League football. We're all in it together. That's our mantra.

#twelfthman. Come on.

[tonyd]

I assumed they were all ill after standing in the rain at Ebbsfleet.

[sallycat]

We weren't all standing in the rain

People were singing at Ebbsfleet but you couldn't hear them because they were singing/shouting directly into the wind. Those big old terraces, however, have excellent acoustic properties.

Think there's a bit of the same happening at Sutton. For some reason, the crowds have sort of fragmented again

[garethl]

It's been a thoroughly muted atmosphere (depressing) for many home games now unfortunately. Has it contributed to below par home performances and lower crowds? Who knows but it hasn't helped. Seems the same people who support so well away have given up at our home ground. A great shame that we can't produce a vibrant home atmosphere as everything else continues to progress. As Dos noted in the program we can't seem to pick up more support whether we are doing well on the field or not. I can't judge too much as I don't stand with the vocal element (purely because of who I watch with) but it has been sadly noticeable and I'm sure the team would appreciate it if we can make a concerted effort. At the end of the day though it is a personal choice for the individuals concerned and I don't think anyone can argue with however people choose to watch the game. These are individuals who show great loyalty following home and away and all I can say is at least they are there and turning up. Who are the ones who have drifted away??

[Amber Aleman]

I wasn't at the Boxing Day game, but I noticed that the attendance was a rather disappointing 537 (a total that would have included me as an absentee season-ticket holder). Only three gates in the Skrill South were lower. Admittedly, it wasn't exactly a local derby and I don't suppose H&Y brought many.

As for vocal support, I think you'll find that most of it is initiated by a hard core of about five individuals. If those fans don't feel like it - or don't turn up - then you won't hear much from the terraces apart from the occasional whinge plus Mr Frake's complimentary advice to the matchday officials.

There's probably a bit of chicken and egg about this - the fans are more likely to voice their support if the team are playing well and the team are more likely to play well if, er, the fans voice their support. But I also think fans tend to be more vocal away from home, and only get going at home for the 'bigger' matches. This may be a sign of our recent success under Dos, but home fixtures these days against the likes of Maidenhead, Tonbridge and Hayes & Yeading don't exactly set the pulse racing.

Were we to get up to the next level, it would be a different story.

[os]

As said there is only about 4 or 5 chant leaders if that's the correct term, and if they are not there or are a bit flat then the noise doesn't happen. I am one who likes to open my gob at football but with recent atmospheres particularly at home, it almost feels embarrassing with the silent background to shout out. With that said I did feel a sense of renewed confidence brush across the team and supporters when the 2nd went in. Maybe we the supporters have been suffering a bit of nerves with the run we have had not really getting the rub of the green and expecting something to go wrong at any moment hasn't helped? Getting 2 goals ahead yesterday did feel good though and lets hope we take that feeling to Staines and H&Y.

[garethl]

If that was the attitude we'd never raise a peep. How many 'big' names are there in this league? We managed to give it a go in the Ryman. Surely it is about trying to make it a better place to play and watch football. Everyone prefers a game/ground with an atmosphere to one devoid of it. I think it is a shame that is all, I'm not attaching blame to anyone but if the 'leaders' try and get something going it would I'm sure be appreciated by all??

[garethl]

Sorry that was response to AA.

[markf2]

Anone would thnk I as the only one who moaned at the ref AA. I actually do yell out encourgement to the team as well.

Not sure why the support has fragmented from the colective we first had under Dos but I've always watched from behind both goals since the covered stand was built so I have not changed my viewing habits for years.

[Del]

Of course it might be something to do with losing home games to lowly opposition like Dorchester & Tonbridge.Hayes & Yeading were hardly likely to bring a large away support & all the neutrals were watching Bromley-Ebbsfleet.
I believe the crowds will pick up in the New Year if we continue to be in a play off position.

We do however need to be more vocal at home games whether we are playing well or not.

[taz]

Not surprised this has been raised on here. Dos came and asked some of us (including myself) in the bar after the game on Boxing Day what was going on (it's what we were discussing before we were so rudely interrupted by you and your accordion Mr Barry!)

I'll tell you pretty much what we told him.

First there's the fact that when the shoutier people like me and others try to get stuff going, no one really seems that interested in joining in. It's pretty much just us 90% of the time. That's about 6 people. Christ, we even keep the chants we do use as simple as possible so that people can easily join in! But when you're stood in a group of 50-60 under cover and barely 10 can be arsed to raise a chant of 'United', it's pretty soul destroying week in week out.

Why is this? We dunno. You tell us. Do you just want to stand and watch and that's it? Do you simply not like the people trying to get atmosphere going? Or is it because under Dos we're usually pretty competitive compared to a few years ago and you just think we should be winning games regardless of encouragement from the sidelines?

Now, I'm well aware that events on the pitch play a large part in the ebb & flow of crowd noise. If you're getting battered or it's a bit dour with nowt really going on, it can be hard to raise your voice sometimes. It's just a human reaction. I'm the same. But there's been many times at home where we're behind and trying to chase games and still no one really joins in, even when we need it most.

What hasn't helped either is the sniping about people and language etc on here and elsewhere too. But for many, the slagging off in the wake of the Farnborough home game last season was pretty much the straw that broke the camels back and it has been downhill since. Fans who'd given up their nice warm spot in the bar having a pint and a laugh with friends to spend ages forking the pitch to ensure the match actually went ahead were not only rewarded by a dire game, but getting coated off on here for not making enough noise and bad language as well.

Whatever. The fact is it seems some think the support at GGL is about half a dozen people. It's NOT, it's about everyone. From what I've read here were we shouty ones basically to disappear tomorrow, no one else would really bother to pick up the slack. In fact no one has this season.

I prefer a shout and a sing at football. It's part of what I enjoy about watching. The bottom line is this, you want atmosphere? Bloody make some.

[billy]

I used to enjoy standing behind the goal in the early sixties at Craven Cottage one week and Stamford Bridge (much further away) the next.

When i was about 12 i realised that the best vantage point is somewhere near the halfway line. I often pause on my way out of GGL to have a look from around the goalmouth but you can't tell what's going on. I suppose it doesn't really matter if you are more interested in standing in the rain and singing.

[Andy K]

I've been reading this thread with interest, and it's interesting to see where people are pointing the blame. I'm not going to make many friends saying this, but of course this is a forum all about opinions - my take is that it's up to the individual. The only people who can answer "why we don't sing" is each and every Sutton fan. I really don't buy into the whole "we gave up singing because only 5 or 6 of us do" bit - it certainly didn't stop the 5 or 6 Hayes fans on Boxing day. But by the same token I can see why that's stopped. It shouldn't be the responsibility of those 5 or 6 to start a chant. The fact the majority of those who do start it are now standing more when they would like to watch the game certainly doesn't help bring the supporters together.

It is very easy to be critical, and how that seems to be directed at a few individuals who have been the focal point of the noise. But as Dan rightly said, these individuals do a lot for the club, as do many of the fans. I can also see Dos's point that we need to generate an atmosphere - personally I prefer that too, it's much more exciting to watch. But you need certain characters to have the charisma to have that - we do, but in the same way as sometimes the performance on the pitch can be a little flat, so can be off the pitch too - certainly there are other sides in the division who suffer worse than us in this.

In terms of the swearing, maybe I'm a little bit too modern - I don't have any gripe with bad language at all, but when there are individuals (as one did on Saturday) who spend the entire game calling an opposition supporter a "fat c***" rather than encouraging our team, I don't class them as a "Supporter" as they are not supporting our team.

[smiffydownunder]

I am always singing and shouting encouragement whenever Sutton are at home .
Yes, I admit that I do swear from time to time but that is all part of getting wrapped up in the game.
However it does tend to annoy the neighbours, not to mention the wife, since I am sitting on the balcony at 1.30 in the morning following the game on twitter

[os]

Its so frustrating for me as I would love to be a chanter behind the goal but with a little boy who doesn't like noise and my wife their I just can't do it. I do shout words of encouragement to the team but the trouble is people tend to look at you as if you are weird and shepherd their children away in case you are some kind of deranged axe murdered. I rely on those in the group who are able to band together to make a atmosphere to drown me out. As I am the sort of person who would be a chanter its extra noticeable when that little group are quiet and even more frustrating for me.