MICK PATCHAM
Banned
Modern obsession with singing? I've been going to football matches since 1965 and fans have always sung! The North Stand in the late 60s early 70s sung about a dozen regular songs.
What HAS killed the atmosphere is not all-seater grounds per se (although they have been a major factor) but the TRUE modern obsession that football should be a safe, fun family day out. Now no match can take place unless there are dozens of officials on hand to make sure that everybody sits quietly, and any utterances are carefully scrutinised for racist, sexist or homophobic content. Even bad language of the sort that was commonplace twenty years ago is now frowned on, and any transgression can see you not merely ejected but banned.
So what do you want? Happy families sitting down only saying nice things and only thinking pure thoughts or do you want an atmosphere?
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