When the Moon Shines
During the 2006 - 07 season Bristol City supporters campaigned to reopen the clubs traditional end as an affordable, accessible alternative for vocal support. Three years later the aim of fans to simply bowl up to the ground with their mates, get behind the goal and sing like fans had done for decades still is unattainable. The Eastend for Bristol City fans has become a closed shop only accessible for those without season tickets when the attendance … "Overspill" gets in then. Affordable maybe, accessible hardly and an alternative well not unless you can get it in it is not. Bristol City supporters have ended up with access arrangements in the Eastend which were not part of any consultation process.
The Eastend should be about more than buying a season ticket and just turn up, Bristol City fans campaigned to get a stand open for ALL
There is no evidence base to suggest having Bristol City support in the Eastend improves Ashton Gate or that some amongst that presence tucked away in blocks F- G may not be happy with the way they are treated. So the following is simply opinion based on several seasons experience and common sense [?].
It is not hard to see that the stand can be improved upon, it is not hard to see that a feeling amongst some that supporters are just taken for granted and treated unevenly could be addressed.
So here are a few proposals, ideas and observations lifted off the Eastenders Forza Eastend website which will be discussed with Bristol FC in attempt to improve red Wurzels lot.
"Bring a Friend"
For most games in the Eastend there is a lot of scope for the club to reintroduce "Bring Friend", a lot of scope. The Eastend has 5500 seats, there are approximately 1200 Bristol City season ticket holders, most visitors to Ashton Gate muster less than 1500 fans.
Given the average away attendance of numerous clubs over two and three seasons Bristol City fans possessing season tickets if the club was willing could bring two or three friends or family members to games.
Club average away support over two or three seasons:
Barnsley 281
Blackpool 506
Burnley 859
Coventry 748
Crystal Palace 1004
Donny 466
Ipswich 917
Norwich 1125
Preston 726
Scunthorpe 340
Watford 1050
The Eastend has CCTV, segregation going far beyond the majority of clubs. Looking at the above clubs what possible threat to safety, what increased risk would there be from a match v Barnsley?
By the fans day, Red and White Nights …
Call it what you want, but next season the club, all fans groups, all stands in unison could work together to promote a fan inspired event Ashton Gate in support of the team. For the Eastend this event could coincide with:
" "Bring a friend"
" Transfers into or out of the Eastend
" Fans with membership being allowed to buy Eastend tickets
" The Eastend being open
This would then create for club and fans something meaningful to promote and provide the club with an opportunity to loosen the rules for access to the Eastend.
Club membership
Why can't club members buy tickets for the Eastend? If you possess membership you can gain priority for away games but not for a section of your own ground!
Megaphone ban
Simple question, Would the anthemic "I am a cider drinker" and "Johnson said" taken such a hold in the Eastend without megaphone? The answer is a no unless somebody else came up with the idea of "Johnson said" and in the case of "I am a cider drinker" singing the cider hymn verse and chorus twice a game for most of 2007 - 2009. The person [contributing to these ideas] responsible for the concerted effort to get both onto the Eastend's repertoire would not have bothered without the extra atmospheric wattage cutting across the stand.
Forza Eastrend would like the megaphone to be given another trail period given that the megaphone did work well co-coordinating chants for a long period. Any concerns can be overcome by having another user.
Fans who have been in the Eastend since 2007 are likely to be a familiar with who we propose will use the megaphone in future if a trial is agreed by the club.
If the trial period is considered a success the club [via Dave L] will be able to directly contact [if necessary] Forza Eastend's spokesperson [not sure yet who he is but hey!] regarding the megaphone and also drum's use.
Leeds - "Overflow"
It is generally accepted that "Overflow" games have poorer atmospheres in the Eastend. How can this be improved upon?
The club's "Overflow" policy of only selling tickets to fans after the other stands have sold out on a free for all basis is not only illogical , but also lessens the enjoyment of regular support. The club could easily improve the experience of fans within the Eastend by allowing fans the opportunity to buy tickets for games where overflow is inevitable like LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS in advance.
Being able to co - ordinate ticket purchases for friends and a family is an accepted aspect of football support at virtually all clubs, but not for supporters of Bristol City FC in their own traditional end, this does nothing to attract new support and families to Bristol City via the Eastend.
The club will sell "Overflow" tickets for the Leeds game, anybody will be allowed into the Eastend regardless of the club knowing who they are or not. The club CAN sell tickets in advance for this match for the Eastend, the club can sell "Bring a friend" tickets, the club can sell tickets to support with membership cards, the club can sell tickets to identifiable fans , the club can sell tickets to fans who want to be within the Eastend for this match who have other commitments or can't afford to go every week, but want to buy tickets at the earliest opportunity rather than wait for the irrational "Overflow" free for all.
SelIing tickets in advance of the Eastend WILL improve the "matchday experience" of Bristol City fans, having fans in the Eastend who really want to be in the stand with their friends or family will go some way towards creating a noisier Eastend.
Segregation
On occasions [Cardiff / Nottingham Forest / Newcastle / Swansea / WBA] last season Bristol City FC moved it's own support in the Eastend into the extreme corner of the stand [Blocks G - H]. This action to accommodate visiting supporters not only gives away home advantage in the Eastend, but also again reduces the enjoyment of the clubs own customers while the away fans enjoy a superior view!
It should be noted that while Bristol City's fans are having a poorer view imposed on them the club is not housing away supporters in similar areas of the Eastend [Block B].
By simply moving larger away supports over just one block, filling block B the club can still ensure there is adequate segregation and provide Bristol City support with the same area of the stand they would regularly be allocated.
Show your colours
Since 2007 fans within the Eastend were allowed to display flags more or less anywhere and the clubs only proviso was that signage was not concealed. This led to fans buying their own, designing and purchasing their own flags for the rear of the stand.
On matchday flags often stretched right across the whole of the back of the Eastend, now?
After the match v Middlesbrough last season netting was placed across the rear of the Eastend' seating blocks concealing not only signage, but space to hang flags. This netting has now increased in size and there is virtually no space left to display flags beyond one or two within the stand..
In effect this amounts to a ban on home supporters flags, a ban which is clearly not being applied to the away fans and has not been the result of discussion with support..
The club were made aware of fans intentions to create a Eastend which was a colourful and visual backdrop at Ashton Gate. Fans have requested that the netting be at least lowered allowing fans access to the rear of the stand to hang their colours. Fans are requesting again that the club back not only fans initiative, but acknowledge the expense some have gone to by altering the way the netting is hung.
Forza Eastend - http://www.forzaeastend.co.uk/ee/
