Getting the games on the live stream here has been amazing this season, especially of course because of our incredible form and performances, but one thing that has been occurring to me is how brilliant our fans are. This time last season we were heading towards one of the worst runs of results for years and confidence among many was very low. However, this never actually translated into poor attendances. Some were trying to suggest that it had, but if you look at the numbers for October and November for home games last season they were around 3,500, which actually showed great patience and loyalty. The protests against the club didn't attract the numbers those organising had hoped for, and by the first couple of good home results (December!) the noise from the Big Bank was good again and since then waves of optimism and belief have pushed the team forward. The players love playing in front of a noisy Big Bank and you can see the energy draining from the opposition late in games as the belief takes over.
In recent games I have noticed that there is plenty of pressure on the referee when we get roughed up by the opposition and this is really important, we rely on the refs to get a card out when one is warranted because it sends a signal out to other players that they can't do it. On iFollow you can hear the noise of the crowd much better than on the Radio Devon commentary, I have audio from both running together although the commentary is a bit behind the televised action. I think the consistency of refs we've had this season is one of the reason why we're doing so well, in previous seasons all too often I've seen yellow card offences not punished as such.
Our away support is always sizeable and loud and always was in fact, and we are becoming the envy of the division in terms of making the most of what we have. Whenever I attend matches at SJP (not often enough) I am struck by the great atmosphere, and home fans love engaging away fans in a chat around the ground before the game. If there is ever any racism or other stupidity the majority of fans are quick to call it out and shame it, as we saw recently. While there are often silly spats on Exeweb (I know I indulge in this too) if you go to a game you rarely see anything but good feeling. As someone who grew up in the 70s as a big football fan and attending games all over the country (I was actually a Man U fan as well until I turned 18 and actually went to live in the north and then realised that City were the only team for me) and hating the hooligan culture of that time, I would claim that we are one of the English clubs leading the way in terms of neither being sterile corporate Premier League but also having the maturity and community-minded ideas that bring in kids and women fans to a welcoming environment (don't stand next to me on the Big Bank, kids, when the ref doesn't get the cards out though!), at the same time as having a noisy passionate support.
I know most of this has been true for some years now but I think it is another key to our current good form. If you compare the atmosphere and the set up with what we had in the late 90s there is no comparison at all. I've no doubt that if we go through a bad run of results this season the support will still be there as it has been through the years.
In recent games I have noticed that there is plenty of pressure on the referee when we get roughed up by the opposition and this is really important, we rely on the refs to get a card out when one is warranted because it sends a signal out to other players that they can't do it. On iFollow you can hear the noise of the crowd much better than on the Radio Devon commentary, I have audio from both running together although the commentary is a bit behind the televised action. I think the consistency of refs we've had this season is one of the reason why we're doing so well, in previous seasons all too often I've seen yellow card offences not punished as such.
Our away support is always sizeable and loud and always was in fact, and we are becoming the envy of the division in terms of making the most of what we have. Whenever I attend matches at SJP (not often enough) I am struck by the great atmosphere, and home fans love engaging away fans in a chat around the ground before the game. If there is ever any racism or other stupidity the majority of fans are quick to call it out and shame it, as we saw recently. While there are often silly spats on Exeweb (I know I indulge in this too) if you go to a game you rarely see anything but good feeling. As someone who grew up in the 70s as a big football fan and attending games all over the country (I was actually a Man U fan as well until I turned 18 and actually went to live in the north and then realised that City were the only team for me) and hating the hooligan culture of that time, I would claim that we are one of the English clubs leading the way in terms of neither being sterile corporate Premier League but also having the maturity and community-minded ideas that bring in kids and women fans to a welcoming environment (don't stand next to me on the Big Bank, kids, when the ref doesn't get the cards out though!), at the same time as having a noisy passionate support.
I know most of this has been true for some years now but I think it is another key to our current good form. If you compare the atmosphere and the set up with what we had in the late 90s there is no comparison at all. I've no doubt that if we go through a bad run of results this season the support will still be there as it has been through the years.