Stickied Championship - Away Support Thread 2023/24

[QPR_Matt]

Who are everyone's best and worst fans at their ground this year? Based on noise levels as numbers speak for themselves..

Newcastle fans were unreal when we played them. They did not shut up, and both tiers were stood to a man, doing the same chants at the same time which is very rare.

Wigan were really bad. There was only about 15 of them that wanted to sing, despite them still having a lot to play for at the time.

Saying that, I did not go to that many home games this year but I am sure more of you will have a better input into this than I do.

 

[JJH]

Loudest fans at times were probably Brum on the final day which is understandable given the importance of the game. Villa and Toon loud as well.

Worst fans we had down were Hull, they barely celebrated when they scored! Was just a polite applause, and it was the last 32 of the league cup.

 

[HertsWolf]

A couple of years in this division and Villas following at Newcastle will be their norm.

Is that absolutely automatic? What's the difference between Leeds following now and some years back? IIRC our away support was at its best when we were in League 1... Some away support just holds up.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Is that absolutely automatic? What's the difference between Leeds following now and some years back? IIRC our away support was at its best when we were in League 1... Some away support just holds up.

Leeds has fluctuated a bit but remains circa 2.7-3.2K, gone up this year obviously.

I do think Villas will find a plateau if they stay down, after a while there's only so many times you'll flog all your tickets for a ground you've been to five years in a row. Ours has fluttered between 1,770-2,500 depending on success.

 

[HertsWolf]

Leeds has fluctuated a bit but remains circa 2.7-3.2K, gone up this year obviously.

I do think Villas will find a plateau if they stay down, after a while there's only so many times you'll flog all your tickets for a ground you've been to five years in a row. Ours has fluttered between 1,770-2,500 depending on success.

I know you've done a lot of work on this over the years but how long have you been doing it? It really would be interesting to know some of the trends, not only away but with the net home fans. Is it really about the novelty of a place? I'm sure it is with some fans but only a very small number.

And some of the home numbers surprise. Have Brighton always been as well supported? I remember being surprised at their numbers a couple of seasons ago.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

I know you've done a lot of work on this over the years but how long have you been doing it? It really would be interesting to know some of the trends, not only away but with the net home fans. Is it really about the novelty of a place? I'm sure it is with some fans but only a very small number.

And some of the home numbers surprise. Have Brighton always been as well supported? I remember being surprised at their numbers a couple of seasons ago.

Brighton is a strange one and you'll see that a lot of clubs have had major uplifts with support when moving stadiums, like football becomes fashionable again.

Time will tell but I'd be absolutely stunned if Villa matched the loyalty of a Leeds given the same time outside the top flight.

 

[El Guapo]

Who are everyone's best and worst fans at their ground this year? Based on noise levels as numbers speak for themselves.

Call me biased but the best away support I have seen this year was our own down at Ashton Gate. Was sat with the Yokels and I watched on like a proud father at the pure joy and euphoria from the away end. One of those great away days that will still be spoken of at St Andrews 50 years from now.

 

[HertsWolf]

Brighton is a strange one and you'll see that a lot of clubs have had major uplifts with support when moving stadiums, like football becomes fashionable again.

Time will tell but I'd be absolutely stunned if Villa matched the loyalty of a Leeds given the same time outside the top flight.

I think you are probably right on Villa but **why**? What makes the fans of one club stick with it more than another? Both Leeds are old and big clubs. I rarely venture into L2 forum these days but wonder how Blackpool's support compares with Pompey's. I know Pompey have had a good season but they've had great support while down in the basement.

On the other hand, our away support seemed better and more vocal in L1 than the last few seasons (and certainly better than the season before we went down). However, I suspect that had we not bounced straight back, home and away support would have eroded very quickly.

 

[Luke_1884]

Best at ours; Blues. Worst; Wigan.

But they are the only 2 games I've made this year...

 

[The Southbank]

Fulham (A) sold out within a few hours to 'upper' ST holders, which means I'll have to make do with it in the pub.

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

Fulham (A) sold out within a few hours to 'upper' ST holders, which means I'll have to make do with it in the pub.

Neutral end

 

[The Southbank]

Neutral end

No neutral end for this game, tickets only being sold to supporters in the home end with a purchase history.

 

[villa loyal]

Call me biased but the best away support I have seen this year was our own down at Ashton Gate. Was sat with the Yokels and I watched on like a proud father at the pure joy and euphoria from the away end. One of those great away days that will still be spoken of at St Andrews 50 years from now.

class that is tbf and I'm glad you stayed up. Some of our lot were a fucking embarrassment at Blackburn.

 

[villa loyal]

I think you are probably right on Villa but **why**? What makes the fans of one club stick with it more than another? Both Leeds are old and big clubs. I rarely venture into L2 forum these days but wonder how Blackpool's support compares with Pompey's. I know Pompey have had a good season but they've had great support while down in the basement.

On the other hand, our away support seemed better and more vocal in L1 than the last few seasons (and certainly better than the season before we went down). However, I suspect that had we not bounced straight back, home and away support would have eroded very quickly.

it's just the way it is and it can't really be explained other than Leeds are more loyal on the road. One thing Leeds have over us which might favour them slightly is that they have a bigger fanbase than us and have plenty of fans all over the country.

 

[villa loyal]

Time will tell but I'd be absolutely stunned if Villa matched the loyalty of a Leeds given the same time outside the top flight.

it won't happen because we are too inconsistent and always have been. Can't fault us this season, actually taking more away than Leeds who had a great season and we were piss poor. New ground novelty I know but I thought our support home and away was very good. Another season like last season and our away following will drop slightly. Another 13 years of it and we would be closer to your support than Leeds.

 

[villa loyal]

A couple of years in this division and Villas following at Newcastle will be their norm.

don't think it would go that low mate.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

don't think it would go that low mate.

Agree I was meaning you'd get a load of sub 2ks

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

No neutral end for this game, tickets only being sold to supporters in the home end with a purchase history.

That's a shitter then, what was your allocation? If it's near 4k I'm surprised you've even sold it.

 

[Madejski]

That's a shitter then, what was your allocation? If it's near 4k I'm surprised you've even sold it.

2k. Agreed between all play-off teams to have a 2k maximum on away allocations.

Our away support isn't great, but why would you be surprised if it were near 4k that we would not sell it? We took over 3k this season, probably 5k the year before just for regular league games. Would have taken 8-9k easily given the importance of the game.

These tickets sold out so quickly, you needed the equivalent of 11 season tickets in the past 16 seasons in order to have enough points for the opportunity of buying into the allocation. Safe to say a lot of fans who wanted to go couldn't

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

No it's just not had 3 clubs as big as Newcastle, villa and Leeds at once before.

I agree about the 3 clubs and to me the bigger the clubs in the Championship the better the Championship is for it.
It isnt the 4th best supported league in Europe for no reason, it's because it is now a quality league.
You may find this out the hard way next season.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Who are everyone's best and worst fans at their ground this year? Based on noise levels as numbers speak for themselves..

Newcastle fans were unreal when we played them. They did not shut up, and both tiers were stood to a man, doing the same chants at the same time which is very rare.

Wigan were really bad. There was only about 15 of them that wanted to sing, despite them still having a lot to play for at the time.

Saying that, I did not go to that many home games this year but I am sure more of you will have a better input into this than I do.

Best I heard at Hillsborough were Newcastle, but as I was sat directly below them I will discard them and say Villa. I personally wasn't there due to illness but the Burton fans seem to have got alot of plaudits from fellow Owls for the noise they made for a midweek visit.
Worst for me by a country mile has to be Rotherham, less than 1k for what they regard as their biggest rivals, I know they have been shite this season and prices aren't cheap, talk of boycott etc, but to me that was easily the worst away support at Hillsborough had they happened to be top of the league there would have been no talk of boycotts.

Have to say, due no doubt to our pricing policy there were alot of disappointing turnouts at our place this season, but this doesn't stop those that turn up from making some noise, whiche again didn't happen often this year.
Also have to say, although our home numbers increased quite drastically from last year, by and large the atmosphere wasn't as good as last year.
Sure we will create a special atmosphere for the playoff game though.

 

[Trebor68]

Favourite away game of season had to be Reading on a Tuesday night, 4.5k Villa fans celebrating our first away win for what seemed decades.
Worst away game of season was Cardiff, we were terrible and atmosphere was really disappointing.
Best home supporters would be Huddersfield. There group that shares the Away End never shut up all night.
Most surprising home supporters would be Reading. Made a lot more noise than I expected, perhaps because of their proximity to us, as we filled the away end.
Already looking forward to next years away days and love a trip to Bramall Lane, one of the proper football grounds.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Best fans at Molineux? Probably Small Heath Alliance or Leeds.

Worst fans? Easy, Reading.

 

[roversfan2001]

Best fans at Ewood is obviously Leeds. Didn't quite sell out but on a Wednesday night they were class in numbers and volume. Worst fans is either Wigan or Derby - both awful numbers and made no noise.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Vocally the best I've seen this season at ours were Bristol City given the midweek fixture and numbers there with Burton second.

Numerically I'd say probably Norwich for a nothing game in essence.

Worst in terms of number were Derby given the distance.

Vocally probably the worst were Blackburn.

 

[blademan89]

I agree about the 3 clubs and to me the bigger the clubs in the Championship the better the Championship is for it.
It isnt the 4th best supported league in Europe for no reason, it's because it is now a quality league.
You may find this out the hard way next season.

It's the 4th best supported league because England are the best supported country as a whole in general. I'm sick of fucking hearing how good the championship is. Reading came 3rd, hudders 5th , Leeds 7th, all with not spectacular squads, if it was that good they'd be no where near those positions.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

It's the 4th best supported league because England are the best supported country as a whole in general. I'm sick of fucking hearing how good the championship is. Reading came 3rd, hudders 5th , Leeds 7th, all with not spectacular squads, if it was that good they'd be no where near those positions.

It's better than the league you've come up from though...?

 

[blademan89]

It's better than the league you've come up from though...?

I know that. I'm sure we will strengthen too to be able to compete as high as possible. Some squads we are way behind, yours being one of them but teams with worse squads have finished higher than some better ones , the likes of villa, derby, Norwich so it's easily possible to finish higher than expected. Its not like going from league one to champions league standard Jesus Christ.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Nope but clubs who have come up as Champions have struggled in the main compared to the ones in the playoffs, well in last two seasons anyway, maybe the managers have trusted their winners too much.

 

[QPR_Matt]

The gulf in League 1 to Championship has increased over the years. I remember back when QPR were in League 1, teams that got promoted would be finishing mid table. Now, the bulk of teams end up fighting relegation.

And the likes of Villa, Norwich etc with relatively large budgets still came mid table which again, shows how good the teams above them are.