' Cardiff City fans call meeting '

Cardiff City fans call meeting in bid to improve atmosphere as crowds tumble despite superb start to season

14 SEPTEMBER 2015

BY TERRY PHILLIPS

Fans are concerned about falling crowds and the impact it could have on the Cardiff City team

Cardiff City played in front of a poor crowd despite beating Huddersfield 2-0 and climbing to second in the table

Cardiff City fans chief Vince Alm is calling on the club’s supporters to back the high-flying Bluebirds and help arrest the alarming decline in attendances at the Championship club.

A paltry 13,715 supporters, their lowest Championship home attendance ever at Cardiff City Stadium, saw Russell Slade’s side soar to second spot in the table with a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield on Saturday.

Cardiff can close to within a point of leaders Brighton tomorrow night when Hull City visit South Wales and Alm has issued a rallying call to the stay away Bluebirds fans while also taking it on themselves to fire up the atmosphere at the Cardiff City Stadium on match days with a series of new ideas in the pipeline.


Alm, a spokesman for the official supporters club, said: “We want passionate fans with ideas and a willingness to get behind the manager and his team.”

Among the ideas already put forward are....

A new area in the Canton Stand where those who want to sing and chant can join forces
A Bluebirds band to play music before games and during half-time
New songs, new chants to help fans get behind their team
Big CCFC flags being provided by the supporters' club

A new fans committee being formed, who will meet monthly to talk through progress and go through the latest ideas.
“We need to do something about the atmosphere at home games,” added Alm. “We don’t want to lose the spontaneity of football chanting, but we do need ideas and momentum to encourage more chanting and singing at home games after a few seasons of negativity.

“Anybody who genuinely wants to improve the atmosphere is welcome to help. We want fans who will support the team and club management no matter what during the 90 minutes of every game.

“A lot of people moan about the atmosphere, but nobody is doing anything about it.”

Read more: Cardiff City defender Matthew Connolly calls for fans to finally start singing Russell Slade's praises

Vince Alm of Cardiff City Supporters Club
Cardiff City Supporters Club are working closely with the Supporters Trust in their quest to give the Bluebirds’ home ground a new edge in terms of atmosphere.

Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman and managing director Ken Choo met with fans representatives before the match against Huddersfield and Alm says: “We’ve had a couple of meetings with the club. They will support what we do, but this is something the supporters are leading. There is a need for more singing, more chanting and anything else that will help create atmosphere.

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman and CEO Ken ChooCardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman and CEO Ken Choo
“We want people who are passionate about their club and won’t get on the backs of players or the manager during matches.

“We’ve talked about a singing area where, we want to come up with new songs, new chants. Fans are taking the lead on this with full support from the club.

“Why not have a Cardiff City band at games?

“The Supporters Club are also buying as many big flags in different designs as we can afford. We’d love new fans to come along - and it would be fantastic if people who haven’t been for a while come back down and get behind the team.

“If you love Cardiff City help us improve the atmosphere.”

I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here, but are the majority of fans who attended on Saturday really that concerned? Out of the 13,700 or so there, how many really care? Trust Terry Phillips to continue to highlight the negatives after a positive result on Saturday.

I would rather an afternoon sat in the sunshine watching my team win than much of the time in the 70s and eighties feeling anxious in case hostilities broke out between rival fans. Society has changed, and so has the nature of the football spectator. Its not better or worse, its just different.

Fans are fickle and will only return when the team is doing well consistently. End of.

it only needs to be a few, who can get more involved, bring friends etc. a couple of hundred singing in one section can make a difference

it only needs to be a few, who can get more involved, bring friends etc. a couple of hundred singing in one section can make a difference

Totally agree Paulh,plus most clubs now have fans singing next to away fans,Derby and Forest have done this and it's been a great success for the last two seasons

I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here, but are the majority of fans who attended on Saturday really that concerned? Out of the 13,700 or so there, how many really care? Trust Terry Phillips to continue to highlight the negatives after a positive result on Saturday.

I would rather an afternoon sat in the sunshine watching my team win than much of the time in the 70s and eighties feeling anxious in case hostilities broke out between rival fans. Society has changed, and so has the nature of the football spectator. Its not better or worse, its just different.

Fans are fickle and will only return when the team is doing well consistently. End of.

Disagree. The missing fans will ONLY return when they feel that they are not just customers but are treated and welcomed in the same way that the Club does to visiting fans. Let us have our standing singing sections next to the away fans and you will see many of the old skool fans return. What is the point in having a singing section so far away from the away fans that each set of fans cannot hear one another? If you want a passionate, loud and very vocal atmosphere to spur the players on and be the 12th man, this is what is needed. Without this I can only see the decline in attendances continuing.

They tell me stewards are a nightmare telling fans to sit down all the time in the ninian stand what's that all about .thirteen thousand would have been a big crowd in ninian park it just looks awfull know because we are in a bigger ground I'm sure if we stay in the promotion places like we are know I'm sure the crowds will come back apart from one or to clubs falling attendances are everywhere if clubs are not in pl the fans don't want to know to be fair that's sky and the pl fault it just all about the pl know clubs don't even want to win the fa cup anymore or the league cup they are afraid of Los pl status that's what the game as come to

Change the ends around pronto. Get the stewards to stop being wankers
The rest will follow people are sick of being treated like kids. Bring back block A with avengeiance.
Other wise the place stays a library. Singing section the other end of the pitch away from rival supporters pathetic.

Simple solution is to put family stand in new ninian stand seeing as empty no problem moving people!

A meeting isn't going to much its success on the pitch.

I say it everytime and get hammered everytime..but swap Canton and family stand ends.
Atmosphere will improve immediately.

I know the people in the family stand might not want to move but seen as there is only about 40 of them they can stay if they like!

I don't eat or drink in the ground ,so does not bother me,but heard a lot moaning about the price of stuff ,£4 pound for hot dog come on that is extortionate ,they even got rid of the coffee /tea stall that at least sold a decent cupa ,i know its nothing to do with the football but it does not make fans who don't go all the time want to go with there kids when you got prices like that ,only telling you what people have said to me .

it only needs to be a few, who can get more involved, bring friends etc. a couple of hundred singing in one section can make a difference

Totally agree Paulh,plus most clubs now have fans singing next to away fans,Derby and Forest have done this and it's been a great success for the last two seasons

I am genuinely at a loss Annis, as to why there is now so much disenchantment and lack of passion from the Cardiff football public Saturday, was one of the most sterile atmospheres I have ever been in, especially as we had won 2-0 and gone second in the league. The Ninian 116, where we are, all sat down pretty much before kick-off , no one even thought twice about it, trying to get some chants going.
I think the club are now reaping what they have sown, you cannot continually do everything to subdue the support, from over zealous stewarding to over the top segregation and then expect supporters to suddenly turn on the 'passion tap'. the club have wanted a sterile, subservient supporter base for so long, done all in their powers to get it and are now whinging about it. Under Wayne Nash, they have used a hammer to crack the 'hooligan' nut and ended up with destroying any supporter passion.
The club needs to radically rethink how the ground is set up, they need to acknowledge that a passionate atmosphere sometimes comes with a price. i.e the odd arrest or ejection for over the top behavior from one or two in exchange for the vast majority just getting behind the team.

Get the kids in the family stand involved. Last season when they had a go at the Brum fans it livened up the atmosphere. I am not saying get the kids to front up away fans, but give them those flappy things that Leicester use, need to get the children enjoying the game.
I remember at Watford few years back, family section was next to away fans, they had those flappy things, cut out the noise of the away fans.
Also use up per ninian for free tickets for different school each week,

it only needs to be a few, who can get more involved, bring friends etc. a couple of hundred singing in one section can make a difference

Totally agree Paulh,plus most clubs now have fans singing next to away fans,Derby and Forest have done this and it's been a great success for the last two seasons

I am genuinely at a loss Annis, as to why there is now so much disenchantment and lack of passion from the Cardiff football public Saturday, was one of the most sterile atmospheres I have ever been in, especially as we had won 2-0 and gone second in the league. The Ninian 116, where we are, all sat down pretty much before kick-off , no one even thought twice about it, trying to get some chants going.
I think the club are now reaping what they have sown, you cannot continually do everything to subdue the support, from over zealous stewarding to over the top segregation and then expect supporters to suddenly turn on the 'passion tap'. the club have wanted a sterile, subservient supporter base for so long, done all in their powers to get it and are now whinging about it. Under Wayne Nash, they have used a hammer to crack the 'hooligan' nut and ended up with destroying any supporter passion.
The club needs to radically rethink how the ground is set up, they need to acknowledge that a passionate atmosphere sometimes comes with a price. i.e the odd arrest or ejection for over the top behavior from one or two in exchange for the vast majority just getting behind the team.

Your spot on. Why did I fall in love with cardiff city back in 1992. It was the passion of the supporters not the standard of football that's for sure. That passion has been drained slowly but surely over the past few years. Myself included I am no longer as bothered as I used to be. A big change to atmosphere is the logical one. Swap canton and Grange end and let away fans and city fans enjoy the banter. Lots of fans like me loved the match day experience of interaction with away supporters. There is plenty of no man's space to ensure things won't get aggressive. If this doesn't change the 13k crowds won't be able to do anything to improve in a bigger stadium

They won't change the stands around. I doubt the over zealous wannabe coppers will stop ruining everybody's day who can be arsed to turn up. Like many others have said you reap what you sow. The club are now big time. Treating the fans with such dis regard whilst praising fans of fc sarajevo for being grateful was probably the final straw for many, a right kick in the nuts.
5000 glory boys have gone and about the same of the core support.

Seems to be a common theme coming through and its nothing new. Its beem said over and over but ignored. Bet Mr. Nash is still happy with his legacy though. As said above, you reap what you sow

Seems to be a common theme coming through and its nothing new. Its beem said over and over but ignored. Bet Mr. Nash is still happy with his legacy though. As said above, you reap what you sow

Your spot on there .

Easy to change it.
Just join in when you hear someone sing.
Ninian Stand is a morgue.

3-4 of us sang on a few occasions on Sat, but everyone else sat on their hands.
The lads near the away fans could have heard us too.

If you can't be arsed to join in with the signing then you'll get the atmosphere you deserve.

It doesn't even need a lot of people to do it- and you can still do it sitting down as well.

We need to back Vince as at least he is the only one actually trying

it only needs to be a few, who can get more involved, bring friends etc. a couple of hundred singing in one section can make a difference

Totally agree Paulh,plus most clubs now have fans singing next to away fans,Derby and Forest have done this and it's been a great success for the last two seasons

I am genuinely at a loss Annis, as to why there is now so much disenchantment and lack of passion from the Cardiff football public Saturday, was one of the most sterile atmospheres I have ever been in, especially as we had won 2-0 and gone second in the league. The Ninian 116, where we are, all sat down pretty much before kick-off , no one even thought twice about it, trying to get some chants going.
I think the club are now reaping what they have sown, you cannot continually do everything to subdue the support, from over zealous stewarding to over the top segregation and then expect supporters to suddenly turn on the 'passion tap'. the club have wanted a sterile, subservient supporter base for so long, done all in their powers to get it and are now whinging about it. Under Wayne Nash, they have used a hammer to crack the 'hooligan' nut and ended up with destroying any supporter passion.
The club needs to radically rethink how the ground is set up, they need to acknowledge that a passionate atmosphere sometimes comes with a price. i.e the odd arrest or ejection for over the top behavior from one or two in exchange for the vast majority just getting behind the team.

Totally agree although I cannot think of a ground I have visited of late with any atmosphere, Wolves was decent Huddersfield Sterile. I tried the 116 but got fed up being challenged and watching people ejected for standing in the back row no fans behind them was enough for me

Easy to change it.
Just join in when you hear someone sing.
Ninian Stand is a morgue.

3-4 of us sang on a few occasions on Sat, but everyone else sat on their hands.
The lads near the away fans could have heard us too.

If you can't be arsed to join in with the signing then you'll get the atmosphere you deserve.

It doesn't even need a lot of people to do it- and you can still do it sitting down as well.

Totally agree all moan about it then sit their voiceless only to then take to the keyboard and moan again! Get behind the boys Tuesday night. Action speak louder than words

When is the meeting?

Could Vince have word with Dalman and Choo and bring up this attitude that the stewards have. From what I read on here the club has to relax the way the stewards behave.

as long as fans are not insulting or racist to others - should be allowed to get excited and sing their hearts out if this means standing up then allow it all away fans 90 per cent stand and sing and back there teams for 90 mins - Club and police are still living in the dark ages - when it comes to home fans @ CCS not being allowed to have banter with away fans and raise the roof with their welsh voices - once you have one or two sections buzzing with singing the rest of the ground will follow - this can and should be allowed on a trial basis immediately - the atmosphere would lift the players giving them a sense of belonging and proudness to run out on the pitch and give 110 per cent win - draw or lose and the fans would return week in week out just for the excitement instead of being threatened with bans for standing - singing etc this as been caused by the club in the past but its obvious now they need to admit they have caused the stadium to be dead on its feet for a few seasons and had a big part in fans staying away - due the stewards police heavy rules - football is passion and fans should be allowed to voice their passion with out cheap threats and bully tactics IMO - well done Vince hope it all works out b please print me a sheet of the words lol x We, ll always be blue we want Annis walking round the pitch lol Support the boys and make some noise bring a friend for £10 - £20 on what are classed low attractive games also - Good Luck !

I say it everytime and get hammered everytime..but swap Canton and family stand ends.
Atmosphere will improve immediately.

I know the people in the family stand might not want to move but seen as there is only about 40 of them they can stay if they like!

Good idea and the kids could sort the Bristol fans out, if they get over the segregation

I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here, but are the majority of fans who attended on Saturday really that concerned? Out of the 13,700 or so there, how many really care? Trust Terry Phillips to continue to highlight the negatives after a positive result on Saturday.

I would rather an afternoon sat in the sunshine watching my team win than much of the time in the 70s and eighties feeling anxious in case hostilities broke out between rival fans. Society has changed, and so has the nature of the football spectator. Its not better or worse, its just different.

Fans are fickle and will only return when the team is doing well consistently. End of.

Disagree. The missing fans will ONLY return when they feel that they are not just customers but are treated and welcomed in the same way that the Club does to visiting fans. Let us have our standing singing sections next to the away fans and you will see many of the old skool fans return. What is the point in having a singing section so far away from the away fans that each set of fans cannot hear one another? If you want a passionate, loud and very vocal atmosphere to spur the players on and be the 12th man, this is what is needed. Without this I can only see the decline in attendances continuing.

Totally agree.

I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here, but are the majority of fans who attended on Saturday really that concerned? Out of the 13,700 or so there, how many really care? Trust Terry Phillips to continue to highlight the negatives after a positive result on Saturday.

I would rather an afternoon sat in the sunshine watching my team win than much of the time in the 70s and eighties feeling anxious in case hostilities broke out between rival fans. Society has changed, and so has the nature of the football spectator. Its not better or worse, its just different.

Fans are fickle and will only return when the team is doing well consistently. End of.

What has any of this got to do with anything kicking off?

Annis as annoying as they were gets the drums back that will loft the fans. FACT

If we played more attacking football I think it would give the fans a bit of a lift or maybe have a band like the Wales games ( I'm not usually into artificial atmosphere's, I prefer it when it's spontanious but something needs to be done to improve the atmosphere)

Annis as annoying as they were gets the drums back that will loft the fans. FACT

At the moment any extra noise will help