Bring back the Brummie
I'VE lost count of the number of times I've heard Tony Mowbray state how much of a difference Albion's support can make to his side's fortunes.
Hell, it's that important that he even mentioned it at the lunchtime press conference earlier today.
Atmospheres - Russ Abbott even penned a song about them.
So it's no surprise that a group of Albion fans are campaigning to 'Bring Back the Brummie' and make Albion's traditional home end the place it used to be.
Fans Martin Greenwood, Mark Abel and the club's matchday drummer Andy Goulcher, are lobbying supporters on www.westbrom.com to inject what they believe is some much needed life into the Birmingham Road End.
Their plan is to send a letter to Jeremy Peace with suggestions on how the atmosphere can be improved.
Ideally they want to recreate the presence of the Albion 'Ultras' during the early part of this decade - a venture which Peace was heavily involved in before his time was taken up by the small matter of becoming chairman.
If you'd like to lend your support or feel you can contribute then click here and away you go.
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Chris Lepkowski - Mail man Chris Lepkowski’s view of what’s going on at West Bromwich Albion FC.
Whe-heey! A subject very close to my heart eh Chris?
If i can do anything to help lads i will.
I took my kids to the East stand a few years ago cos of the smoking in the Brummie. It was
doing me in so i couldn't subject them to it.
Maybe next season though, in the smoke free
Brummie will see my return!
Andy Goulcher's on drums eh? Didn't know that!
Good lad Andy, one of the original Ultras!
Hi Daz,
Good to see you backing this idea. I'm sure any help or advice you can pass on would be appreciated by those behind the idea.
The Brummie Road, if it had much of an atmosphere, would make The Hawthorns an intimidating cauldron of noise - but these days, all the noise comes from the Smethwick End, and everybody knows it. Andy's drum helps of course, but the Smethwick was already the most atmospheric stand before the drum was introduced anyway.
Smethwick!
Chris.
Good idea but in saying that if the Brummie Road is to reproduce it's once Halcyon days whats to stop them acheiving this aim without official 'backing' or support from the club?
Well done to Martin, Mack,and Andy for their enthusiasm.
Here's hoping it receives a positive result and succeeds in it's aim but I'd love to hear from Brummie Road regulars WHY the 'Brummie' is so quiet?
The answer is in their own hands, whoops, sorry voices!
"Come on you Baggies"
I've been a season ticket holder at the top of the Brummie for 12 years now and every year it turns more in to a family stand.
Stewards don't help, always telling us to sit down making it harder to create an atmosphere, a problem that doesn't seem to occur in the Smethwick End. Add that to the fact that the away support is housed within the Smethwick and you can see why the atmosphere is more intense.
Is it that people have grown old in the Brummie and maybe aren’t as loud as they used to be? Certainly around where I sit, there doesn't seem to be a young, enthusiastic contingent of fans anymore.
Another question… what has happened to the ‘Boing’ as well? Now no more than half hearted jump! Is this the way football is heading in general? No standing, people feeling under pressure to be quiet? As a regular attendee of England games this is also the same at Wembley.
Go away however, and it’s a completely different story, both Albion and England fans are up there with the best of the best. If somehow, all of these fans can be merged together for home games, the atmosphere all around the country would improve?
Chris, on another note, please can you explain your rating of 5 for Jay Simpson for the Burnley game. In my opinion, and that of Birmingham Post reporter Rob Tanner, who gave him man of the match, Simpson was by far the best player on the pitch, both technically and with the hunger to do well. I agree Koren had a good game, but at times went missing. Take away his goal and I’m not sure he was involved too much at all. As for Tex, how on earth he scored a 6 with lesser marks given to players like Simpson is beyond me. He looked overweight, gave the ball away prior to the penalty and hardly created a chance – a mark of 4 would have been generous! It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on that!
Well done on the Weakest Link by the way!
And for all the Albion fans, let’s get behind the boys on Tuesday! Boing Boing!
Hi matt,
Thanks for your message. Some interesting insight into your experiences and how Albion fans are perceived elsewhere.
Re your comment about my player marks. Perhaps I am a little bit guilty of judging Jay Simpson on his games so far. I didn't expect him to start as well as he did. He's been enthusiastic, sharp, alert, shown great movement and really looked a goal threat. I thought Saturday was his weakest game. He wasn't poor - average I called him - but we've seen better and, crucially, against better opposition. However, that's only my opinion.
As for Teixeira I gave him a higher mark than usual because he's not got going yet. He's been out for a while and, in my view, gave a good account of himself given his long absense. Funny you should mention his 'weight'. I mentioned this recently to a colleague and it occured to us that he covers himself in clothing before pulling on his shirt. The PRemier League is an unforgiving division - if he is overweight then we will soon find out...
Thanks again for your message.
CL