[Archived] Blackburn End

[AndyNeil]

Couldn't disagree more.

Plenty of loyal supporters have had their current seats since the stadium was built and have every right to keep sitting in those seats for years to come. I know groups of 10/15 people that buy together each year, those fans deserve to stay put, not be moved because of some hairbrain scheme that's no more than a bit of window dressing in the grand scheme of things.

and plenty of 'loyal supporters' have no doubt moved around the stadium as their match day habbits/circumstances have changed. I'm not saying any particular part of the ground SHOULD be closed, I just don't get the fixation with this 'my seat' thing.

I do agree that it is tinkering at the edges, although get enough tinkering right and it reaches a tipping point were they start to make a real difference. I doubt the current people in charge have the balls to go against the supporters (even if there was a business case for it) and so the status quo will remain. Can't say I'm too bothered either way really however if the number of 'singers' in the bottom corner of the Riverside v. Leeds is the number of people we are talking then its pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things.

IF the club are hell bent on closing the Darwen End but lacking in the minerals to do so and the Darwen End supporters are so against moving back into the Blackburn End then why not offer them the end block of the Riverside? Are there any STH's in there - probably not. The DE'ers don't have to mingle with the BE'ers, they get to stay close to the away fans for 'banter' although most would probably sh!t themselves and leg it if anything actually ever happened and the BE'ers who have been in their seats since the dawn of time don't have to move and you don't have the issue of moving the DE'ers for what seems like an increasing numbers of matches each season.

What do you think?

[pk1875]

and plenty of 'loyal supporters' have no doubt moved around the stadium as their match day habbits/circumstances have changed. I'm not saying any particular part of the ground SHOULD be closed, I just don't get the fixation with this 'my seat' thing.

I do agree that it is tinkering at the edges, although get enough tinkering right and it reaches a tipping point were they start to make a real difference. I doubt the current people in charge have the balls to go against the supporters (even if there was a business case for it) and so the status quo will remain. Can't say I'm too bothered either way really however if the number of 'singers' in the bottom corner of the Riverside v. Leeds is the number of people we are talking then its pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things.

IF the club are hell bent on closing the Darwen End but lacking in the minerals to do so and the Darwen End supporters are so against moving back into the Blackburn End then why not offer them the end block of the Riverside? Are there any STH's in there - probably not. The DE'ers don't have to mingle with the BE'ers, they get to stay close to the away fans for 'banter' although most would probably sh!t themselves and leg it if anything actually ever happened and the BE'ers who have been in their seats since the dawn of time don't have to move and you don't have the issue of moving the DE'ers for what see ms like an increasing numbers of matches each season.

What do you think?

I moved to Riverside for Leeds game and JW for PNE game, a recent poll online suggested 2/3 Darwen Enders would move to corner of Riverside or JW if moved (all be it only a snapshot of the Darwen End).

That said I take Alan Myers at his word that there are no plans to close the Darwen End.

[Stuart]

IF the club are hell bent on closing the Darwen End but lacking in the minerals to do so and the Darwen End supporters are so against moving back into the Blackburn End then why not offer them the end block of the Riverside? Are there any STH's in there - probably not. The DE'ers don't have to mingle with the BE'ers, they get to stay close to the away fans for 'banter' although most would probably sh!t themselves and leg it if anything actually ever happened and the BE'ers who have been in their seats since the dawn of time don't have to move and you don't have the issue of moving the DE'ers for what seems like an increasing numbers of matches each season.

What do you think?

That doesn't achieve anything. If closing the DE doesn't result in a combined home end then we may as well leave the DE open and stick with the current split fanbase.

We still haven't got to the bottom of the DE'ers dislike of the BBE though. The views are the same and if there was some unreserved seating it would be the same. It can only be down to people issues.

[Gav]

They don't have any 'rights' at all GAV, but I see your point.

The trouble is that nobody likes change, especially when they don't have a say in it. It just seems to obvious to have ALL the singers in the BBE. The obvious way to ensure they can congregate with their mates (old terraces style) would be to make some rows or sections unreserved seating. The fact that the singers usually prefer to stand (indeed any singing should be done standing) then it makes sense for the unreserved seating to be at the rear rather than the front which would restrict the views of others.

You will never please everyone. No matter how great an idea there will always be somebody who doesn't like it. I'd suggest that anybody displaced from their seat as a result of this change would be offered a free season ticket (for one season) in any other part of the ground, with the option to relocate during that season.

If we always do what we've always done then we will always get what we've always got. If nobody is willing to change then they can't grumble about the atmosphere... or the impact on the team and manager of the lack of one.

Some good points as always, I just feel displacing fans that have 'taken root' in the same spot for 20yrs isn't the way to go.

and plenty of 'loyal supporters' have no doubt moved around the stadium as their match day habbits/circumstances have changed. I'm not saying any particular part of the ground SHOULD be closed, I just don't get the fixation with this 'my seat' thing.

I do agree that it is tinkering at the edges, although get enough tinkering right and it reaches a tipping point were they start to make a real difference. I doubt the current people in charge have the balls to go against the supporters (even if there was a business case for it) and so the status quo will remain. Can't say I'm too bothered either way really however if the number of 'singers' in the bottom corner of the Riverside v. Leeds is the number of people we are talking then its pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things.

IF the club are hell bent on closing the Darwen End but lacking in the minerals to do so and the Darwen End supporters are so against moving back into the Blackburn End then why not offer them the end block of the Riverside? Are there any STH's in there - probably not. The DE'ers don't have to mingle with the BE'ers, they get to stay close to the away fans for 'banter' although most would probably sh!t themselves and leg it if anything actually ever happened and the BE'ers who have been in their seats since the dawn of time don't have to move and you don't have the issue of moving the DE'ers for what seems like an increasing numbers of matches each season.

What do you think?

I'm the same as you Andy, I couldn't careless about my seat, or old seat as it is now, but plenty do care and I feel they have a right to sit in those seats year on year.

The Riverside seems a good option, the Dunny 93rd minute equalizer against burnley was probably my best moment at Ewood in recent times and I was sat in the last section of the Riverside, its not for everyone but could be an option.

[K-Hod]

Riverside by the DE would be good as would the same spot in the JW IMO.

Glad we're looking at ways to improve the atmosphere though, still, what happens on the pitch will ultimately influence what happens in the stands...

[Stuart]

Riverside by the DE would be good as would the same spot in the JW IMO.

That would feel like moving for moving's sake.

[VinjayV4]

The Hillsborough tragedy changed the face of English football forever and sadly not all for the best.

Personally I would go back to standing on the old BBE terrace in a flash.

You could argue it changed the face of Rovers. Or to be more precise the face of the manager. Of course nobody knew then Jack's sensational intervention was coming (other than possibly himself) but the stress that caused Dalglish to resign largely goes back to that day in 1989. Could Dalglish have resigned anyway? Maybe but we will never know.

In no way whatsoever am I saying a league title is worth 96 lifes. Hopefully nobody would go so low to twist my words on that. Its probably a question that should be ignored and just accepted as fate really but its just something I've thought about now and again. Of course considering what Dalglish rather tactlessly revealed Liverpool didn't take him back when they had the chance.

[barry_]

That doesn't achieve anything. If closing the DE doesn't result in a combined home end then we may as well leave the DE open and stick with the current split fanbase.

We still haven't got to the bottom of the DE'ers dislike of the BBE though. The views are the same and if there was some unreserved seating it would be the same. It can only be down to people issues.

I can only speak for myself... there is no 'dislike' of the BBE. We all go to the ground for the same reason... to support the team (i hope).

The reason the DE singing section was started up was because people in the BBE had just stopped (vocally) supporting the team. 'We' don't want to go back there because the issues still remain (again, not taking away from the efforts from the two corners of the BBE)

The DE has also suffered over the last few seasons with a growing minority of people not vocally supporting. Exasperating at times because that's why we go in that area.

I don't think that the home area that the manager desires will ever come to fruition. He should be trying to support us by showing HIS passion and he will get it back a 100 times over.

[Stuart]

I can only speak for myself... there is no 'dislike' of the BBE. We all go to the ground for the same reason... to support the team (i hope).

The reason the DE singing section was started up was because people in the BBE had just stopped (vocally) supporting the team. 'We' don't want to go back there because the issues still remain (again, not taking away from the efforts from the two corners of the BBE)

The DE has also suffered over the last few seasons with a growing minority of people not vocally supporting. Exasperating at times because that's why we go in that area.

I don't think that the home area that the manager desires will ever come to fruition. He should be trying to support us by showing HIS passion and he will get it back a 100 times over.

That just makes me think that displacing the non-vocal BBE fans is an even better idea. But even if they stayed (in the new unreserved rows) they would become the minority and would need to join in or move.

Good point in your last sentence though. To be fair I think he does do that. I've yet to disagree with anything he has said - he tends to say it like it is.

[JAL]

There were, probably still are, facilities for the kids in the Strikers Lounge situated on the family stand. It is still hugely popular with parents if they want a decent environment to take kids to watch the Rovers. Not every parent wants to expose their kids to some of the language that is on offer in other parts of the ground.

Personally, whilst I can understand what Lambert is trying to achieve, it is a very contentious issue to tell fans where and where they can't go in the ground. Supporters go to different parts of the ground because it suits what they want from watching football. If you want to stand and sing then one block of the Blackburn End and the unreserved seating (or standing) in the Darwen End is the place to be. Moving those in the Darwen End to the Blackburn End will no doubt result in problems with existing season ticket holders in that area. We don't have a large enough fanbase to be antagonising those fans who do come down to Ewood. To suggest that simply moving fans from one end of the ground to the other will suddenly create the type of atmosphere found in other parts of Europe is wishful thinking. We didn't have that type of atmosphere when we were winning the Premier League, let alone being a championship club. People won't come down to Ewood until we get back to the Premier League and even then, it is unlikely that we will see the same sort of numbers when Shearer was in his pomp.

Lamberts focus should be on the team only and the scousers should ensure that manager has no say in where the crowd sits or wish to sit.

End of !

[K-Hod]

Go on then JAL- I'll humour you again. What scousers are these? Assuming Alan Myers is one, who are the others?

[JAL]

What does it start with then, JAL?

Billionaires bankrolling a club, half of whose fans are caught between apathy and hatred, and the majority of the rest are just mute?

The manager we have knows what he is doing. We should listen to him.

Barry, why do I have to have an agenda? But if there is one then it is uniting behind a proven manager for the good of the team - before we scare him off and end up with worse (again).

It's a shame that the DE fans seem to hate the BBE so much. That in itself is part of the problem.

Read Gavs post Stuart! don't think it's more hate than loving where they currently sit.

All comes across as though these are cut backs due to a lack of money.

[Pedro]

if any supporter stopped going because they were having to move seat, IMO that would reflect more on the supporter than the club.

I used to have a seat in the Riverside right next to the yellow bar in the family stand (I could balance my pop on it). It was a good seat because I could stamp my feet on the metal floor and it made a racket downside was I had to dodge a big metal pillar. Then that Jack Walker came along, dropped the other terraces and stuffed us in a brand new stand. I should've packed in there and then.

Personally, I'd rather see.our areas full and see some togetherness amongst the supporters. I like to sing, shout and chant amd I'm a firm believer that supporters have a positive and negative effect on the team. It seemed to me that the Darwen Enders numbers increased during the darkest of times when supporters were at each others throats, but their numbers have visibly dwindled now and there is very little to justify having people there - although I accept that some prefer to be there amongst friends etc.

Ideally, I'd have a packed out and loud Blackburn End from here in.

[Pedro]

All comes across as though these are cut backs due to a lack of money.

No it doesn't. It comes across that the atmosphere is dire at Rovers and it's a suggestion of how to improve it.

[MCMC1875]

I used to have a seat in the Riverside right next to the yellow bar in the family stand (I could balance my pop on it). It was a good seat because I could stamp my feet on the metal floor and it made a racket downside was I had to dodge a big metal pillar. Then that Jack Walker came along, dropped the other terraces and stuffed us in a brand new stand. I should've packed in there and then.

Personally, I'd rather see.our areas full and see some togetherness amongst the supporters. I like to sing, shout and chant amd I'm a firm believer that supporters have a positive and negative effect on the team. It seemed to me that the Darwen Enders numbers increased during the darkest of times when supporters were at each others throats, but their numbers have visibly dwindled now and there is very little to justify having people there - although I accept that some prefer to be there amongst friends etc.

Ideally, I'd have a packed out and loud Blackburn End from here in.

There's only a smattering of Rovers fans in the Darwen end these days. It's not worth opening it.

[pk1875]

There's only a smattering of Rovers fans in the Darwen end these days. It's not worth opening it.

Same could be said for Jack Walker Stand and Family Stand, do you suggest closing all three?

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Same could be said for Jack Walker Stand and Family Stand, do you suggest closing all three?

I've always had a liking for ground design, yes I'm a human being - Jack's vision was for a 40,000 seater ground.

When he built the new Ewood, we had his first stand, Riverside, approx, 5,500 both, ends, 7,0000-8,000, JW the rest, isn't our token full stadium 30,500, yet our highest total v Liverpool is just short of that?

In effect we could accommodate our present support in the JW, BE, and shut the RS, and have away fans in DE.

We only need three sides. It's very sad, and so far from Jack's vision, but we come back to Loondom, no idea, no class, no history.

Back to backing Paul, and getting us back up!

[JAL]

No it doesn't. It comes across that the atmosphere is dire at Rovers and it's a suggestion of how to improve it.

Easy put a winning team together.

It's far easier to sell tickets for a winning team, but then if the policy is to keep pUlling in £10m plus every transfer window, your going to find iT very difficult to achieve a winning team.

[K-Hod]

The players can also get a lift from the fans that are in the ground already, this can help to breed a winning team.

Either way, many things with the club need to improve. We need to get some of the stay aways back and we should be open to most avenues of making that happen.

[JAL]

if any supporter stopped going because they were having to move seat, IMO that would reflect more on the supporter than the club.

All sounds like downsizing of the club wouldn't you say.

The money run out ?

[barry_]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/14349495.Blackburn_Rovers_fans_have_their_say_on_Paul_Lambert_s_wish_to_have_one_home_end/?ref=mac

The LeT used to be a good source of news, but now that whelock is 'writing' (copy and paste) articles for the paper it's like reading the club programme.

[Tom]

Not just wheelock though to be fair it's the style of the paper.

Their top restaurants in the area article was just a list from trip advisor and we now get weekly 'bad parking in lancashire' photos

Nonsense click bait stuff

[Mike Graham]

My Brother is in journalism, I fact he was "news" editor for the Daily Sport and wrote articles like Ford Cortina found on the Moon and various others about Elvis on the Moon!!

He reckons journalism pays less now than it did 20 years ago; if anyone complains then they get replaced by a new starter straight out of college who is paid peanuts. Most are "reporters" not "journalists" and are of low quality and cannot do investigation.

The days of printed newspapers are almost over. I have not bought a printed version of a national newspaper for 3 years. I get the Times and Daily Telegraph on-line.

Out of interest my Bro also wrote the front page: "Man eaten alive by leeches "!

He assured me it was a cheating husband fr Brazil whose Wife found out he was playing away. She made him a consommé to which she added leeches.

The moral of the story is.......NEVER EAT COLD SOUP !!

[sambo]

http://mobile.rovers.co.uk//news/article/blackburn-rovers-huddersfield-town-3014116.aspx

Club encouraging both ends to dress in colours and be loud and proud.

Even questioning which end can be the loudest - great to see. Let's hope for a good atmosphere and a good crowd - the prices are brilliant.

[tomphil]

http://mobile.rovers.co.uk//news/article/blackburn-rovers-huddersfield-town-3014116.aspx

Club encouraging both ends to dress in colours and be loud and proud.

Even questioning which end can be the loudest - great to see. Let's hope for a good atmosphere and a good crowd - the prices are brilliant.

This is one where everyone can do their bit and get down there and just enjoy it for once. We should be safe so leave the negatives and looking for scapegoats at the door and try and get back to just enjoying supporting the team regardless.

Bring a friend, family member, lapsed supporter and make a day of it and lets show this team, manager etc what we are all about, Blackburn Rovers FC.