Bunch of Hypocrites! (10 Viewers)

[torchomatic]

Yeah and there were real issues getting the badge up there.

I'm not sure what other personalising it needed though. It had the badge on it, sky blue seats, ccfc written into the seating.

In terms of ccfc signage, what did HR have that the Ricoh didn't?

 

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[torchomatic]

That's the way people are on here.

Blimey, can I just say that I'm feeling a bit sorry for Torchy here - he's made a couple of not unreasonable points and he's being hammered. I mean, I hate the bloke, but I still feel obliged to be at least a tiny bit polite.

 

[bigfatronssba]

The turnstile bars were painted Sky Blue (or did I just make that up?).

I think it was the history that made it personal to me, rather than the decor. The Ricoh never saw a First Division/Premiership game for starters, so for me it kind of started off slowly and then went rapidly downhill. Would still be very happy to be back there though.

But that history was never going to exist in any new ground.

Even HR was new and lacking in character and history at one point remember.

 

[Astute]

When we moved to the Ricoh we were getting attendances higher than could get into HR. But when we moved we had been relegated and were on a downwards roll. When SISU took over our attendances were higher than for many years at HR. But because they did so shite for our club people stopped going. The atmosphere became shite.

I loved HR. Maybe it is because I have many fond memories from there. But it has now gone. The Ricoh is now our home. Northampton never will be.

 

[duffer]

But that history was never going to exist in any new ground.

Even HR was new and lacking in character and history at one point remember.

Yep - I'm not saying you're wrong, although I suspect that HR gradually grew as the club improved its status and following, whereas the Ricoh was very quickly too big for us. I don't remember HR, even in the 80s, ever feeling quite as empty as the Ricoh could.

If this sounds like I'm supporting a new, smaller stadium btw, I'm not. That's just madness!

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

Yep - I'm not saying you're wrong, although I suspect that HR gradually grew as the club improved its status and following, whereas the Ricoh was very quickly too big for us. I don't remember HR, even in the 80s, ever feeling quite as empty as the Ricoh could.

If this sounds like I'm supporting a new, smaller stadium btw, I'm not. That's just madness!

Youve forgotten the neal days then

 

[duffer]

Youve forgotten the neal days then

No mate, I followed the team pretty much full on from the late eighties through until a few seasons into the Ricoh. I can remember the Neal era. Don Howe too. In terms of win ratios, I suspect that Neal was far from the worst manager we've seen at CCFC.

I can only stand by what I felt and remember, though if you wanted to you could probably do some sort of percent utilisation analysis, which showed how relatively full both stadia were. I'd be surprised if the Ricoh came out tops on that in any case, but in truth you can't measure atmosphere.

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

No mate, I followed the team pretty much full on from the late eighties through until a few seasons into the Ricoh. I can remember the Neal era. Don Howe too. In terms of win ratios, I suspect that Neal was far from the worst manager we've seen at CCFC.

I can only stand by what I felt and remember, though if you wanted to you could probably do some sort of percent utilisation analysis, which showed how relatively full both stadia were. I'd be surprised if the Ricoh came out tops on that in any case, but in truth you can't measure atmosphere.

The atmosphere at Highfield Road except for a few games in a season was shit,dont make out it was something it wasn't.

 

[Sba180]

OP = tool of the highest order

Probably RFC on another account

 

[Astute]

The atmosphere at Highfield Road except for a few games in a season was shit,dont make out it was something it wasn't.

The atmosphere is mainly down to which part of the ground you were in. I was normally in the middle of the noise so it nearly always seemed good unless we were getting a beating.

 

[Otis]

The atmosphere at Highfield Road except for a few games in a season was shit,dont make out it was something it wasn't.

Yep, it was. It was goddamn awful for the most part. Like a library.

Think some people have selective memories. HR atmosphere was hardly ever good. Ricoh has only been worse because we moved into a larger stadium and the crowds went down!

 

[shmmeee]

Agree with that. However it started it off badly didn't it what with all the nonsense about putting our badge on the outside. I've always thought that we were like someone sleeping on their mates sofa while at the Ricoh so when something is finally (and hopefully) sorted then those issues can be addressed. If it could feel like we owned it, even if we actually didn't, then that would be a start.

I agree with this 100%. I hate the concreteness of the concourses and the huge expanses of white. I'd like to see the club getting some banners done with fans, maybe the Trust could organise something as well, and Robo's "Ultras".

We really need to talk about opening less of the ground as well. Maybe that's a way to reduce cleaning and stewarding costs as well. I don't like closing corners or whole stands, much better IMO to close from the back down and put advertising/banners/artwork over the seats, push everyone closer to the pitch.

Yeah, you're probably right. Not the whole story though, I don't think.

The Ricoh added 30% to the crowd. The problem was the football took it back off and more. The stadium needs Championship football at a minimum and ideally competitive Championship football. In the Premiership I think everyone agrees it'd really shine, but we're some way off that.

 

[Hobo]

The number of fans posting on this site wanting and asking to return to their so called home "Ricoh Arena" is a joke!

Less than two years ago before the SISU / ACL saga many of you were reminiscing about Highfield Rd and slagging off everything to do with Ricoh and how it was being managed.. There were constant moans about the atmosphere, how far away from the pitch the seats were and the general facilities, to mention only a few of the moans.

I'm not sure a return to the Ricoh would really please some fans, because what the hell would you moan about then.........

The Ricoh is a great stadium, Highfield Road is over rated due to rose tinted spectacles.

 

[torchomatic]

Disagree. I prefer it to the Ricoh, but it was still a great little ground.

The Ricoh is a great stadium, Highfield Road is over rated due to rose tinted spectacles.

 

[duffer]

The atmosphere at Highfield Road except for a few games in a season was shit,dont make out it was something it wasn't.

Rubbish. I'm telling you what I felt. Who are you to tell me I felt something different?

It might have been shit for you, but that's your problem. Don't make out that everyone here feels the same way as you.

I had a pretty good time there myself, for most of the years I went - otherwise I doubt I'd have kept going.

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

The Ricoh is a great stadium, Highfield Road is over rated due to rose tinted spectacles.

I agree went as a four year old in 1959 I loved the place was sad when we left,but soon forgot that at the Ricoh great ground,the only thing wrong with it are those orange jacketed twats.

 

[wingy]

Agree with that. However it started it off badly didn't it what with all the nonsense about putting our badge on the outside. I've always thought that we were like someone sleeping on their mates sofa while at the Ricoh so when something is finally (and hopefully) sorted then those issues can be addressed. If it could feel like we owned it, even if we actually didn't, then that would be a start.

A Sofa Surfer In modern parlance.

 

[torchomatic]

Couldn't agree more. There's too much of that on this site.

Rubbish. I'm telling you what I felt. Who are you to tell me I felt something different?

It might have been shit for you, but that's your problem. Don't make out that everyone here feels the same way as you.

I had a pretty good time there myself, for most of the years I went - otherwise I doubt I'd have kept going.

 

[torchomatic]

NAh, don't agree there. OK, so it wasn't as modern and impressive. But like a library? I think that's something you can throw more at the Ricoh than at HR.

I don't think I have a "selective" memory at all. As Duffer also said, I know what I felt and I remember how cracking the atmosphere could be and was. Yes, there were shit games with crap atmospheres, but that's also true of matches at the Ricoh.

Yep, it was. It was goddamn awful for the most part. Like a library.

Think some people have selective memories. HR atmosphere was hardly ever good. Ricoh has only been worse because we moved into a larger stadium and the crowds went down!

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

Rubbish. I'm telling you what I felt. Who are you to tell me I felt something different?

It might have been shit for you, but that's your problem. Don't make out that everyone here feels the same way as you.

I had a pretty good time there myself, for most of the years I went - otherwise I doubt I'd have kept going.

You've got your opinion I've got mine,if you dont like mine tough fucking shit,And who was making out that everybody felt the same as me?

 

[spider_ricoh]

The number of fans posting on this site wanting and asking to return to their so called home "Ricoh Arena" is a joke!

Less than two years ago before the SISU / ACL saga many of you were reminiscing about Highfield Rd and slagging off everything to do with Ricoh and how it was being managed.. There were constant moans about the atmosphere, how far away from the pitch the seats were and the general facilities, to mention only a few of the moans.

I'm not sure a return to the Ricoh would really please some fans, because what the hell would you moan about then.........

In fairness to the OP, the moaning about the Ricoh used to be constant and bloody irritating - it wasn't the ground's fault it had no atmosphere, blame the fans for that one.... the location not great but if/when we go back the new station will be ready.

So "out of sigh, out of mind" in a sense... that said, it's a bit of a "first world problem" when you compare it to playing home matches in Northampton!!!

 

[Samo]

it was in coventry though

Still is I think. Unless there's a strong breeze, then it will be in Bedworth.

 

[italiahorse]

We can all agree that owning our own stadium is a good thing, we all wanted us to own the Ricoh. But it's just not true to suggest anyones issues with the Ricoh were because we didn't own it.

I must admit I didn't pay the extortionate prices for food and beverages because Ccfc didn't get the profit. Having said that SISU need to buy the rights to these.

 

[mattylad]

The number of fans posting on this site wanting and asking to return to their so called home "Ricoh Arena" is a joke!

Less than two years ago before the SISU / ACL saga many of you were reminiscing about Highfield Rd and slagging off everything to do with Ricoh and how it was being managed.. There were constant moans about the atmosphere, how far away from the pitch the seats were and the general facilities, to mention only a few of the moans.

I'm not sure a return to the Ricoh would really please some fans, because what the hell would you moan about then.........

dont you know absence makes the heart grow fonder

 

[skybluepm2]

Crack me up every time with these Mr Hill :claping hands: Beduff is hot on your trail though of late! Keep em coming

 

[bigfatronssba]

Aren't we all jumping the gun here slightly saying what we'd like to see at the Ricoh?

I mean we have to get back there first!

 

[joemercersaces]

Hypocrisy is something blithely bandied about by people trying to defend the indefensible. It actually means according to the Oxford dictionary the practice of pretending to have higher standards or nobler beliefs than is the case. So preferring Highfield Rd to The Ricoh and The Ricoh to playing in Northampton does not amount to hypocrisy but seems to me a totally reasonable position.

 

[ajsccfc]

I preferred Highfield Road because it was so nearby, and I'm a very lazy person.

 

[ecky]

The number of fans posting on this site wanting and asking to return to their so called home "Ricoh Arena" is a joke!

Less than two years ago before the SISU / ACL saga many of you were reminiscing about Highfield Rd and slagging off everything to do with Ricoh and how it was being managed.. There were constant moans about the atmosphere, how far away from the pitch the seats were and the general facilities, to mention only a few of the moans.

I'm not sure a return to the Ricoh would really please some fans, because what the hell would you moan about then.........

Stick to fences...

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Personally always hated the Ricoh. Soulless, bland, rent-a-stadium (sounds somewhat more prescient now!) that could have been any new bowl tbh.

And then games stick in the mind like v Palace, 4-1 defeat(?) the wind howling through the stands, the depression, the misery.

If we went back I'd hate it too, I'd far rather have a proper ground than a soulless bowl with one the cameras pointed at an advert and a bunch of white clad executive boxes.

But it's still the best option we have!

Hypocritical to want them back at a stadium I hate because the alternative's worse?

 

[letsallsingtogether]

I have never slagged it off.
I have also always been proud that we played in such an Arena don't get me wrong HR was better then most grounds even when they knocked it down.
I have never cared if we owned it or not was not my call would have been nice thou looking forward to going back.

 

[Hobo]

Disagree. I prefer it to the Ricoh, but it was still a great little ground.

Highfield road was great because it was the home of Coventry City. But it didn't project the passion of the fans. Most people who came to visit thought it lacked atmosphere and our fans were shit.

Having lived all over the country, fans have a different take on our support on the road, it is admired....but they still think Highfield Road was crap.

Ever met an away fan who said Highfield Road was one of their favourite grounds? Visiting fans have said of the Ricoh, great ground!

 

[RegTheDonk]

Oh Shit! It's Mr. Creosote!
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[torchomatic]

Highfield road was great because it was the home of Coventry City. But it didn't project the passion of the fans. Most people who came to visit thought it lacked atmosphere and our fans were shit.

Having lived all over the country, fans have a different take on our support on the road, it is admired....but they still think Highfield Road was crap.

Ever met an away fan who said Highfield Road was one of their favourite grounds? Visiting fans have said of the Ricoh, great ground!

That's a broad brush you have there. How do you know "most people" who came to visit in 103 years thought it lacked atmosphere?

And again, I disagree. Yes, I remember some crap games but I also have many memories of great football with great atmosphere.

 

[Mr T - Sukka!]

Mr Creosote i have always bigged up the Ricoh. Look at my history. Its a top top stadium with amazing facilities. Prehaps a little under used when CCFC were there. There is not a ground better in the midlands. IMO.

I always prefer Ricoh over HR as a VENUE! Its not even close.

However nothing can compare to the MEMORIES of HR.
Top flight footy.

Whealan, Hucks, Dublin, Nuddy, Regis, Bennet i could go on.

People get confused when comparing the Venues and memories. And what memories we have!