Football United - July 2014 West Ham and Newcastle visit

Yesterday provided an ear-opening insight into the 'away' fans perspective of a game at the Stadium

I always thought, as a Foundation Season Ticket Holder in the Fever Zone, that the YF made a huge noise that was heard all round the ground.

I watched the first game in my usual place in the YF Zone, in black and white, enjoying and participating in the Hammers baiting, thinking that both sets of fans made a great noise

Second game I was in the Toon Zone and thought we made a great noise. 

However, from the away end, nothing could be heard from the home end, apart from one version of 'Oh Wellington' after about ten minutes

My mates confirmed that the chanting from the Toon Army could not be heard in the Fever Zone

I am now a confirmed supporter of a re-configured stadium to make it a better place to watch and participate in a game of football

When Saturday Comes...a great day of football, afternoon games, sun and watching the Toon in Wellington. H'way!

There were two top teams playing yesterday, plus the Smurfs and the Claret Smurfs 'led' by Bigsam Smurf

Yeah it's a shame they didn't have the toon zone closer to the fever zone. Interesting comments about noise level. The Fever zone was quite but we could not hear the toon much at all either.

Also I think I spotted about 2 Sydney supporters all day. Anyone know how many turned up?

In a perfect  world a new stadium would be up there. However after the Petone fiasco I reckon that's a long way away.

I was being a bit polite, unusual for a Geordie. You're right the Fever Zone was quiet and not united in the chanting 
The Toon Zone was considerably louder, but still could not be heard from the other end of the ground 

What about the "who are ya?" chants for the corners?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5gOBj0PK0Y

Fever zone seemed pretty disrupted by the WHU fans singing the entire game, seemed like there was appetite for some chanting but nobody could really get one going properly as we couldn't hear each other. Slightly annoying but fair play to the WHU for their enthusiasm!

 

From aisle 25 I could here both incl Toon Army quite clearly.

From the Toon end there were was at least two, maybe three, times in the first half when we were relieved/amazed that the Nix didn't score
Looking forward to the season proper after the longest pre-season for ever ever

I don't buy that, and if it's true then that is piss poor.  The YF were louder in the first game than they were for the second game.

It's certainty a concern if the wider YF group don't know or don't join in on the chanting and you're left with the same old people singing. 

The hammers won the battle of the chanting. I was in Aisle 17 with some toon. The main toon body were not heard from our area at all throughout. The fever got in there a few times but the the hammers kept that chant up most of the time. If only we knew what the words were.

The minutes silence would have been perfect but for the waiata which I am informed from a Ngati Porou was disrespectful to the deceased. I am told you dont sing during a minutes silence but can before or after. I am not trying to start a racial debate but am trying to clarify one iwi's way of doing things.

Probably a good thing we aren't in the East Coast then. I'm sure the group knew what they were doing.

No consistancey eh? 

Another point I meant to make too, anyone buy any of the fan gear? Those scarfs were awesome, got one for me and a flag for the boy. Well pleased with them.

Wgtn is Te Atiawa mostly.  Presumably the group had a protocol briefing.

Protocols often vary between Iwi and Hapu.

Also was a big favourite during the last 3 seasons of the Kingz.

I couldnt resist one of the black shirts with yellow & white stripe on one side, at the reduced price of $25.

had a great time.  footy was fantastic, but the entertainment was dreadful.

i'd be alarmed if the phoenix didn't make money from this; they took the better part of $1,000 from me this week and there were 30,000 more people there

After that comment I hope you were at Wakefield Park this arvo

I can count up around 7 from our forum that went, made holidays out of it. One couple I know travelled with their 18 month old doing craft beer stops in each city hosting.

Another couple did a campervan from ChCh for a few weeks to Milford & Central Otago etc.

Most had a connection to either epl team but not all.

I'd imagine the three East Coast Cities of Oz contributed well to the numbers that showed up.

Saw a figure of 4k traveling fans being mentioned but no official sauce.

Reg, youre a bloody legend. Total respect for what you spent. I agree the entertainment was a low point but I really enjoyed the day and speaking to new fans. The three toon sitting around were a great bunch and so too were the two hammers. I really enjoyed it and hope that the Nix do this again.

I would though encourage the club to do two double headers. One in Auckland and one in Wellington. A week apart and on a Saturday. The kick off times this weekend could not have been better. If only our A League games kicked off at those times.

This. I would buy a membership each for myself and my partner if it wasn't for so many home games being 5pm Sunday. Unfortunately due to another regular Sunday night commitment we just can't make those games. Any other time or day is perfect. Earlier Sunday afternoon would be awesome. Guess any time would be inconvenient for some people so that's just us.

ffs was it reduced??? Paid full price two days before, (ahh guess it's for a good cause).  Big for a medium.

If I wasnt on a tight budget, I could have gotten in serious trouble with the wife. There really was some cool stuff on offer. And what about those programmes? What a steal at $7.00. High quality paper and really well done. Easily worth the price. I grabbed two extras for people I know who couldn't make it.

I flew up the son and two grandies. You have to say 'when are they likely to see this again?' Ok they are a bit young but I'm not short on cash and it was a good excuse to get them up. I respect not everyone is like that but the point is to get in behind it cause when is it likely to happen again?

What did they think of the stadium food and waiata?

Honest answers please.

I'm not sure if you're taking the piss or being serious. 

There was no waiata at Eden Park...

I was being serious. Those programmes are mint.

Maybe Im old but I thought Twist and Shout was known by everyone?

No prior experience, but I treated it like you would the 'Last Post' on harmonica. You shut up and listen.

Was that what it was? Didnt sound like it from the aisle almost next door.

So Eden Park's waiata was a bit sh!t then.

Serious question: Could a future double EPL team visit be viable if there were double headers in Aus (e.g. Tardistan or Blingsville) and then Wgtn?

I bought one of the polo shirts with the 4 team badges on and it was half price

Thought about that myself but it might dilute the NZ crowd if Aussie and/or British based fans decide to just go to Australia and not NZ too.

Both good points. Its tough to do a due diligence based on this tour because you will never know the numbers that just go 'stuff it we will visit Australia' from the UK. Obviously the Aussies would most likely stay in Australia so its hard to tell.

Would another EPL team next year have a smaller crowd due to the a decreased 'OMG an EPL team is playing the phoenix' novelty factor?

No it wouldnt if it were someone else. Say they actually got Spuds or the Arse down here as an example, the place would be packed.