Away Support / Atmosphere

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

To begin with I have never wholly accepted the oft put forward argument that the Away support has had any significant bearing on the away form of ICT - I have always considered that we are a small bunch of fans who really enjoy the away experience, get "jolly" in whatever terms you may wish to ascribe to but were / are deluded to even consider that we do have an influence on the team.

I also have to concede that, although I have rarely been a welcomed figure at ICT by the "management", I find the home environment quite "boring" and "restrictive" and TBH "unfulfilling" - plus in these days of financial constraint I am loathe to spend the spondoolachs on trips to Sneck - and save ma pennies fer as many away games as possible. I get a real "buzz" away from home which - of course - may be due to the phenomenal winning streak.

But watching the team - at the end of last season and through this season - there is only what I can describe as a "togetherness" between the away support and the team and I now really do feel that it has a distinct influence on the "on the field" away performances. The players quite clearly respond to chants and their "reactions" at all the final whistles this season only supports a theory that they are buoyed by the positivity and non stop encouragement of the away support.

So am I being deluded or is the away support a 12th man ? Please do not get into the "how do we transform the TCS" aspect as that has apparent easy solutions but doesnt !!

And fer once - please have a serious focus on the responses.

[PaderbornCaley]

Well i'm back at all the away games now after a few years out and i'm at about half the home games this season. Before this season, the last time i went to away games regularly, we had a smaller support, (div 1) and there were a small bunch of fans singing. Now, we have so many more songs and i am really impressed with the support. We may have a small away support, but per head, I think we are one of the loudest in the league. If I were a player, I would be motivated by supporters backing me fully, 100% the whole game. At home, the atmosphere is so quiet, and if you try to get a sing song or even stand up to cheer / shout, i can see it out of the corner of my eyes,... people turning their heads looking at me funny. So to answer your question Johndo.. yes! Imagine the whole of TCS singing for the entire match. The players would get a buzz and we would pick up more goals / points. So, that's why I look forward to Caley Away!

Edited November 8, 2010 by CapitalCaley

[12th Man]

Noisy vocal fans can only have a positive effect on the team and also makes the day out more enjoyable. I also think it mentally drains the opposition as they can only wish their fans were as good.

Making the North stand higher and deeper, even if its only in the central third would improve the accoustics, its easy to add to noise thats being generated directly behind you anyone will sing then,but put someone only 5 or 6 along from noisy fans and they start becoming too self aware to make some noise themselves.

Im sure the newly created extra floor space below could be put to good use too.

[CaleyD]

I think the more people go on about and/or try to analyse the whole "home v away" thing, the more it plays on the mind of the players and the bigger a hurdle it is going to be for them to overcome.

The players are every bit as appreciative for the home support as they are for the away support and I have witnessed nothing that suggests they acknowledge one any more than the other.

The sooner our fans can get over the need for the recurring c*ck measuring contest that comes up every now and again about which fans are better than others for whatever reason...be it home v away, north stand v main stand or whatever other criteria you wish to dream up...then the better it will be for everyone.

[Alex MacLeod]

At most clubs its only sections of the stands that make noise. Even at Ibrox. The big difference is that those sections have grown both in numbers and confidence over many years.

We generate more noise at away grounds because we are huddled together in one section of any stadium and because we like to try and outdo the home fans in their own ground.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

NO - Sorry Alex - it is a lot more than that - CaleyAway just grows and grows - we practically are "brothers" - that is where the "feeling" and the "togetherness" eminates from - and it spills on to the pitch. And there are more and more yoof, leading the choir, aand increasing game by game. We are feckin enjoying ourselves.

PLAYED: SIX ; WON: FOUR ; DRAWN: TWO ; LOST FECK ALL ; FOR: A FECKIN DOZEN ; LOST: FIVE

CALEYAWAYWITHTERRYANDMO

[ICTFCkev]

And another great performance as standard from the away support this evening.. TERRY&MO!!

[L_G]

I have to say I thought the support last night was fantastic. For a freezing cold midweek game, I was really impressed with both the numbers and the noise. Some excellent chants on the go too.

Well done to everyone who made the journey and the atmosphere.

What a legend Terry Butcher is as he showed his appreciation at the end of the game, I think he enjoyed himself.

[RiG]

What a legend Terry Butcher is as he showed his appreciation at the end of the game, I think he enjoyed himself.

That was fantastic. Especially when he pumped the air in our direction which sent the already raging Aberdeen fans into overdrive!

[ICTPaisley]

I only really go to Away matches, not only because i live in Paisley but because they are far more enjoyable. Its nice to always see the same old regular faces belting out songs. I admit i thought we may lose our unbeaten record last night but now after yet another win i'm more than confident we can keep it going at least until parkhead.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

I only really go to Away matches, not only because i live in Paisley but because they are far more enjoyable. Its nice to always see the same old regular faces belting out songs. I admit i thought we may lose our unbeaten record last night but now after yet another win i'm more than confident we can keep it going at least until parkhead.

Which season - 2010/2011 or 2011/2012 ?

[FoolPhysio]

As I live in Stonehaven and work in Aberdeen I am surrounded by sheep so it was inevitable that we would be discussing the game on Tuesday, and one of the most positive comments was how impressed my colleague was with our away support, definitely the best he has seen visiting Pittodrie for some time.

As I have said before, Aberdeen supporters have always expressed having a soft spot for us, possibly because we are fellow true-northerners but most likely because we never seemed to secure a win against them. Now that this has recently changed (two wins out or two) and considering our relative positions in the table albeit they are only 8 points behind with still 2/3 of the season left to play, I wonder if maybe this soft spot is likely to harden?

Still, whether or not it has any major effect on how the team performs on the park, having a vocal and passionate support in decent numbers brings honour to the club and to those of you who make those journeys time and time again, I salute you!

[TopSix]

On topic for away games, ticket prices for NDP are ?20 for adults and ?10 for U18 and pensioners. No discount for students.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

PLAYED: SEVEN ; WON: Five ; DRAWN: TWO ; LOST FECK ALL ; FOR: FIFTEEN ; AGAINST: SIX POINTS - SEVENTEEN (out of 21)

More evidence as a smaller and slightly more subdued ICT Away support (in the first 45 and not helped by over zealous stewarding again)backed the team to the hilt - and look at the manner in which the players and TB responded to us at the end of the game - that is what I call "togetherness". I would admit that our formation, our pace and our "play on the break" style is evidently the main contributor but the players quite simply respond to the away support in a mannner that is not shown or reciprocated at home games.

[Doresboy]

Think your onto something there oldman. Now that I think of it Butcher Does not give the home fans the time of day?

[CaleyD]

BS...and if people weren't so quick to be running out the gate at FT they would know that.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Less of the feckin old man - ya aint no feckin spring chicken yerself. But I bet TB gets a fair ammount of stick from wannabee managers wallowing in the Main Stand.

[Doresboy]

There till the last Caley player comes of the park even when we get beat "sometimes"

So when does Butcher do all his arms in the air stuff at Caley park to gee up the home fans

[super1ct]

Right its not got anything to do with away fans being better than the home fans cos the large majority of away fans also attend the home games. The difference is at home some people, rightly, who arent too interested come along for a day out. Away from home everyone appears up for joining in a song etc. This is all made more enjoyable by our unbeaten record.

Personally I love the away games and I think the players show a different response to the away croud because those who got behind the team are all together. At home people are so spread out the fist pumping wouldnt have the same effect. I think terry gives such a strong reaction to the away fans because he realises how hard it is for many people to get to the games.

End of rant

[+Wanderer]

Jings, this thread again.

It is exactly what everyone is saying.

At home the vocalists are spread about, the stewarding is bizarre (for 'home' stewards) and the watering hole too distant.

Away you have, these days, a sensible place to congregate next to the ground with the opposition fans and a good deal of banter and alcohol, a compacted support that provides the team with a focus point...Eric, next time you score an important goal at Ibrox, the other corner, ok? THE OTHER CORNER!

There must be a lot of pressure for these young guys. Even in front of 2019 (WTF?) supporters yesterday the pressure to perform must be fairly intense...and public.

A couple of hundred adoring away supporters are bound to make you feel a bit more comfy than 3000 of your own kind ready to jump on your back at the first opportunity!

And don't forget there are hundreds of us out here who are away day specialists because we don't live north of Aviemore. Never have. My grandmother was an Invernesian...so when Naelifts suggested we buy shares in 'this new SFL club' I thought, yep...let's do it. The 90s, Caley Inn, Innes, TCS...fantastic; away days - among the best days of my life.

The players (and Terry and Mo) are simply responding to a lessening of pressure and an unapologetic worshipping. Wouldn't you perform better?

[WeAreSPL]

I'd just like to add that this is the same for every team in the SPL.

Their support, without exception, is noisier and better organised away from home.

All seater grounds mean that the home support can't always sit where they choose.

Away support can more readily congregate.

Add to that the fact that, if you've made an effort to travel a long way for a match you're probably going to make sure you enjoy yourself!

That said - I believe that OUR away support is the BEST (not biggest) away support in the SPL.

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

I agree with most of what has been said but what I was alluding to in the first post was a growing "feeling" that the management and the players were actually positively influenced by the away support. Most teams have a better away support but I really do feel that we may have the most influential.

[PullMyFinger]

Monkey's c0ck5.

[PaderbornCaley]

With that impressive singing section at septic park, we're going to have to be extra loud. They drowned us out at the league cup game. so we need all the voices we can get!

[TopSix]

They won't be loud when we're 2 up. Another factor that night was the poor crowd at septic park. With so many season ticket holders staying away, their 'green brigade' could congregate hence the louder than usual support. Give it til 60 minutes next week. If we're drawing or even winning their fans will get on the teams backs.

Edited November 16, 2010 by Top Six Next Year