Irish Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
My son and myself were talking about the atmosphere at the games this season both before and after the match the other night. Walking up to the game 45 minutes before kick off, it was like things used to be, crowds milling about and areal expectant feeling to the night. He is 34 and said he can never remember it being as good as it is at the moment.
For me, I don’t think things have been as good as this since the Cup Finall season. Even then, the ‘special atmosphere’ only really happened with full houses at Highfield Road after the semi final. Before that I would say the Fergie and Wallace seasons under Gordon Milne when Highfield Road was really raucous, loud and vibrant for a couple of years. The only other occasion that springs to mind from my time watching City was the 67 promotion season and the first 3 seasons in the top flight with 30k plus average crowds.
In short then, in the 55 years I have followed City, the atmosphere at our stadium this season is one of the best I can remember, probably second only to the period at the end of the sixties. Considering how things have been since the move to the Ricoh, when sometimes the ground has been like a morgue (and I think came 92nd in a poll of best match day experiences?), it is a great part of being at the games. My mate was late getting into the game on Friday night and commented about how loud the crowd noise was from outside the stadium. I have also noticed the decibel level going through the roof when we score a crucial goal ( first on Friday for example).
I always felt that the Ricoh was a fantastic ground that just needed a team to match the facility in order for the blue touch paper to be lit. Odd games showed how good it could be ( Blackburn in the cup, Preston in the JPT etc) Even these occasions pale when compared to what is going on now.
Long May it continue.
For me, I don’t think things have been as good as this since the Cup Finall season. Even then, the ‘special atmosphere’ only really happened with full houses at Highfield Road after the semi final. Before that I would say the Fergie and Wallace seasons under Gordon Milne when Highfield Road was really raucous, loud and vibrant for a couple of years. The only other occasion that springs to mind from my time watching City was the 67 promotion season and the first 3 seasons in the top flight with 30k plus average crowds.
In short then, in the 55 years I have followed City, the atmosphere at our stadium this season is one of the best I can remember, probably second only to the period at the end of the sixties. Considering how things have been since the move to the Ricoh, when sometimes the ground has been like a morgue (and I think came 92nd in a poll of best match day experiences?), it is a great part of being at the games. My mate was late getting into the game on Friday night and commented about how loud the crowd noise was from outside the stadium. I have also noticed the decibel level going through the roof when we score a crucial goal ( first on Friday for example).
I always felt that the Ricoh was a fantastic ground that just needed a team to match the facility in order for the blue touch paper to be lit. Odd games showed how good it could be ( Blackburn in the cup, Preston in the JPT etc) Even these occasions pale when compared to what is going on now.
Long May it continue.
