You, the fans.

There's been a lot said this week about the fans remaining patient, trying to create a positive atmosphere and letting the team play.

Despite what was clearly a nervy performance lacking in quality, it sounds like you stuck with the team throughout!

A real credit. As long as we are still in this, we can do it!

Quoted from immariner

There's been a lot said this week about the fans remaining patient, trying to create a positive atmosphere and letting the team play.

Despite what was clearly a nervy performance lacking in quality, it sounds like you stuck with the team throughout!

A real credit. As long as we are still in this, we can do it!

Completely agree. The crowd there seemed very aware of what was needed. Whatever the reservations about our style of play generally, today was about staying patient despite the nerves and getting the points. Job done. Now come on Barnet!

Hopefully just four games left now that could change the course of history for the club. Let's give the team nothing but positive vibes.

Agree, the fans were very patient today, even tried to make some noise when things were not going well. Never got on the players backs. It was frustrating and nervy but we stuck together.

There was a few idiots shouting abuse in the lower findus were my lad and me was sat, Aswad gave them a dirty look whilst taking a throw-in but on a whole the crowd was excellent today!

I'd agree and would hope that paul hurst would acknowledge it, there was a bit of booing and shouting at half time (I shouted be more aggressive town) but I think that was deserved they just were very frustrating and slow in the first half.

Apart from a few ill judged cheers when LJL went off, the crowd were mostly well behaved. I think most were just waiting for something to happen and nervous that it may not. My group were.

I also noticed that Paul hurst responded to the "give us a wave" chant which was good to see!

IMHO the club need to do whatever they can to make the atmosphere (if we do indeed make it) the most unbelievable for the home leg of the playoffs. I remember that amazing night in 1998 at home to fulham. Us.....the fans.....we're fantastic, electric, encouraging. Come on mr fenty, let's get that partisan atmosphere that has been at blundell park before.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

IMHO the club need to do whatever they can to make the atmosphere (if we do indeed make it) the most unbelievable for the home leg of the playoffs. I remember that amazing night in 1998 at home to fulham. Us.....the fans.....we're fantastic, electric, encouraging. Come on mr fenty, let's get that partisan atmosphere that has been at blundell park before.

One of my favourite memories that Fulham game Woz, brilliant night!

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

IMHO the club need to do whatever they can to make the atmosphere (if we do indeed make it) the most unbelievable for the home leg of the playoffs. I remember that amazing night in 1998 at home to fulham. Us.....the fans.....we're fantastic, electric, encouraging. Come on mr fenty, let's get that partisan atmosphere that has been at blundell park before.

If we stay 3rd it'll be a 4:30pm kick off on a sunday before a bank holiday monday, so I imagine alot would go to that, probably alot of people will turn up drunk too lol

But, we still need to get the ground full. Obviously depending on who we play would depend on the amount of space available too. Halifax would bring more than Gateshead (unless a few extra from the north east fancy a weekend away) so give the town fans the chance to pack the osmand and the ponny and get that blundell park roar going. Why not make it £10 a ticket? Obviously season ticket holders would have to pay as well so it's extra money in the coffers and presuming it would be on bt sport


Agree chris it was a great night. Most electric I've know at bp.

That Fulham game was fantastic. I had a restricted view seat in the Upper Findus. I'm usually made up when I get one of those beauties but was rather miffed for that particular game.

Having town fans both end would make the world of difference, just shows how much more we go for it with the crowd behind us shooting towards the pontoon end

I have long thought the Osmond part behind goal should be unreserved seating for home fans then if a well followed team came along give it to them. When town are away from home the atmosphere is a lot better as the singers gather together with the occasional singers a bit further away and non vocal support further away.

Yep, stick the away fans in the corner of the Osmond and sell out the home stands (a la Morecambe, 2008 )

Quoted from Fcukthescunts

I have long thought the Osmond part behind goal should be unreserved seating for home fans then if a well followed team came along give it to them. When town are away from home the atmosphere is a lot better as the singers gather together with the occasional singers a bit further away and non vocal support further away.

I have long thought this too.

Remember about 20 years ago helping to do a survey of Town fans at BP asking if they'd like to swap the home end from
the Pontoon to the Osmond.
Not surprisingly the majority said 'No', but I wonder how many have been singing in the Osmond - the acoustics
are awesome.

Quoted from immariner

There's been a lot said this week about the fans remaining patient, trying to create a positive atmosphere and letting the team play.

Despite what was clearly a nervy performance lacking in quality, it sounds like you stuck with the team throughout!

A real credit. As long as we are still in this, we can do it!

Fans make the club.Personally and Iam not being biased here most fans are a credit to this club.Many of us appreciate hard work and a grafter and Iam sure if players deliver on this front then most fans will be off their back.

Big Chris - would the trust be interested in floating the idea of Town fans using the Osmond if possible for the play off games in discussions with the board? Surely it would give us a potential edge and would be great for our players.

Quoted from chaos33

Big Chris - would the trust be interested in floating the idea of Town fans using the Osmond if possible for the play off games in discussions with the board? Surely it would give us a potential edge and would be great for our players.

Have no problem whatsoever in raising the matter. I suspect that it will be a no if we draw Cambridge or Halifax but more chance if it is Heed or Braintree.

I will ask the question

Yeah, that's what I thought. Thanks Chris.  

Utm really looking forward to the games next week in the playoffs lets be loud and proud and show the conference how good our fans really are  

I think if at all possible, the club should try to get our fans behind both goals.  In these tight games, small margins make the difference- a marginal penalty call, a lift to the players attacking two home ends, extra hostility for the visitors.  The ONLY consideration that could override this could be whether we would be reciprocally restricted for tickets at the other club, thus preventing us from taking a shed load to Halifax or Cambridge.

As Chris says, if it's Gateshead or Braintree, we can probably give them one or two hundred each and still be able to take 2-3000 to their places, whereas Halifax or Cambridge will want a lot of tickets in return for us getting the same.

Indeed. I don't know how many the Osmond/main stand corner holds. Maybe 1000? Perhaps someone who knows will comment....

Quoted from chaos33

Indeed. I don't know how many the Osmond/main stand corner holds. Maybe 1000? Perhaps someone who knows will comment....

According to footballgroundguide the corner of the osmand holds just under 600

The pontoon lost most of it's atmosphere when seating was installed. The acoustics were never great but when standing singers could get close and join in at the back behind the goal it could and often was great!
I'm sure we tried one season at the Osmond end but it wasn't a success. There wasn't a great deal of singing as I recall as it was the season we were relegated losing the last game of the season at home to Hull of all teams.   I think a lot of people resented handing over the pontoon to rivals as well so it was changed back the following season. Can't recall if it was seating then or not though?
I don't think there would be such resentment of a change now? The pontoon is dead these days apart from a very few enthusiastic young uns in the top right corner as you look from the pitch. Was it ever explained why they congregate there? The couldn't really pick a worse place acoustically!
Oh, just back to that Hull game for a second. Me and my mate were so miserable after the game we walked all the way back home to Willows/Wybers Wood! LOL!   UTM!

Quoted from Badger57

The pontoon lost most of it's atmosphere when seating was installed. The acoustics were never great but when standing singers could get close and join in at the back behind the goal it could and often was great!
I'm sure we tried one season at the Osmond end but it wasn't a success. There wasn't a great deal of singing as I recall as it was the season we were relegated losing the last game of the season at home to Hull of all teams.   I think a lot of people resented handing over the pontoon to rivals as well so it was changed back the following season. Can't recall if it was seating then or not though?
I don't think there would be such resentment of a change now? The pontoon is dead these days apart from a very few enthusiastic young uns in the top right corner as you look from the pitch. Was it ever explained why they congregate there? The couldn't really pick a worse place acoustically!
Oh, just back to that Hull game for a second. Me and my mate were so miserable after the game we walked all the way back home to Willows/Wybers Wood! LOL!   UTM!

It started off as more of the rowdy element of our fans used to stand next to the away fans who were in the Harrington Street corner.  When the away fans were moved they stayed in the corner and didn't move.

They would be better off going to the Osmond end of the main stand or Omond end of the lower/upper Findus.

Quoted from Marinerz93

It started off as more of the rowdy element of our fans used to stand next to the away fans who were in the Harrington Street corner.  When the away fans were moved they stayed in the corner and didn't move.

They would be better off going to the Osmond end of the main stand or Omond end of the lower/upper Findus.

Ah, thanks. Think I vaguely remember that, oh my memory!

I think the majority of fans would be behind the idea of switching the pontoon to the away end and making the Osmond stand the home end. That corner would in no doubt be filled with noisy fans. Maybe the trust could get a poll going on the Mariners wall to see if the fans would be behind the idea (say for next season?)?  

I've seen many fans talk about the idea and moan about the acoustics in the pontoon, so don't see why we don't push for the change. It doesn't look like we're going to get a new stadium any time soon, so may as well try and improve the one we have.  

Quoted from GiveUsAG

I think the majority of fans would be behind the idea of switching the pontoon to the away end and making the Osmond stand the home end. That corner would in no doubt be filled with noisy fans. Maybe the trust could get a poll going on the Mariners wall to see if the fans would be behind the idea (say for next season?)?  

I've seen many fans talk about the idea and moan about the acoustics in the pontoon, so don't see why we don't push for the change. It doesn't look like we're going to get a new stadium any time soon, so may as well try and improve the one we have.  

Sorry but imho it would be a travesty if the Pontoon (which if I'm right was a stand brought about by Town fans) were to be more or less empty with a handful of away supporters rattling about in there?

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Sorry but imho it would be a travesty if the Pontoon (which if I'm right was a stand brought about by Town fans) were to be more or less empty with a handful of away supporters rattling about in there?

I believe that's true.

To be honest I agree a little, but feel a change is needed. I'm also looking at the future, of which I hope we won't be in this league and will have more away fans attending at BP.

The idea of having fans behind both goals sounds good too.

Quoted from GiveUsAG

The idea of having fans behind both goals sounds good too.

Now that I do agree with  

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Sorry but imho it would be a travesty if the Pontoon (which if I'm right was a stand brought about by Town fans) were to be more or less empty with a handful of away supporters rattling about in there?

Surely it wouldn't make a great difference because the osmond would be full instead?

We would just see lots of empty black and white seats instead of red ones!

Quoted from GyMariner

Surely it wouldn't make a great difference because the osmond would be full instead?

We would just see lots of empty black and white seats instead of red ones!

Maybe me just being sentimental about the Ponny but ever since I started going to see Town as a kid many years ago it's always been the home end (apart from that mid 80s failed experiment)

The Osmond end has always been mainly for away fans so to change things around for the sake of it just somehow doesn't sit right with me

I might be in the minority with this of course but for 50+ years (1961 wasn't it?) the Pontoon has been the place for me and many others to congregate...if they were to swap home ends to the Osmond I doubt it would improve the atmosphere but until it ever happened I couldn't prove that of course

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Maybe me just being sentimental about the Ponny but ever since I started going to see Town as a kid many years ago it's always been the home end (apart from that mid 80s failed experiment)

The Osmond end has always been mainly for away fans so to change things around for the sake of it just somehow doesn't sit right with me

I might be in the minority with this of course but for 50+ years (1961 wasn't it?) the Pontoon has been the place for me and many others to congregate...if they were to swap home ends to the Osmond I doubt it would improve the atmosphere but until it ever happened I couldn't prove that of course

Sums up my feelings exactly...

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Sorry but imho it would be a travesty if the Pontoon (which if I'm right was a stand brought about by Town fans) were to be more or less empty with a handful of away supporters rattling about in there?

I remember when I first started watching Town in the 60's, and was not long after the Pontoon was built, it used to say across the top of the stand where the adverts are now-

"Erected by the Grimsby Town supporters club and Mariners Pool- join now"

Isn't it odd how you remember daft things like that.

UTM

That's the thing though, the pontoon has so much history. It belongs to the fans of GTFC because it was brought about because of GTFC fans. S0 we have to ask ourselves, do we really want to see away fans in there? Have to say now thinking about it and reading others' comments, I don't think I would want to see away fans in there (despite me bringing it up). But at the same time, a change is needed, but what do we change to improve things? Fans behind both goals? I like the idea but, I feel that would only work if there was an increase in attendances, but if there was an increase in attendances the atmosphere would be better as it is anyway (E.G. Huddersfield, Scunthorpe, Lincoln and couple of other games).

Hypocrite? No, I'm just in 2 minds about it. Kinda wish I never said anything, haha.    

Quoted from mariner tommy

I remember when I first started watching Town in the 60's, and was not long after the Pontoon was built, it used to say across the top of the stand where the adverts are now-

"Erected by the Grimsby Town supporters club and Mariners Pool- join now"

Isn't it odd how you remember daft things like that.

UTM

That's what I was thinking of....the Pontoon stand is synonymous with the fans who got it built in the first place and have ever since have taken pride of place there

I've never even been in The Pontoon, but it'd be odd without GTFC fans in.

Quoted from GiveUsAG

That's the thing though, the pontoon has so much history. It belongs to the fans of GTFC because it was brought about because of GTFC fans. S0 we have to ask ourselves, do we really want to see away fans in there? Have to say now thinking about it and reading others' comments, I don't think I would want to see away fans in there (despite me bringing it up). But at the same time, a change is needed, but what do we change to improve things? Fans behind both goals? I like the idea but, I feel that would only work if there was an increase in attendances, but if there was an increase in attendances the atmosphere would be better as it is anyway (E.G. Huddersfield, Scunthorpe, Lincoln and couple of other games).

Hypocrite? No, I'm just in 2 minds about it. Kinda wish I never said anything, haha.    

It's good to have an open discussion about it though....sometimes we just need to express what our thoughts are on different things so while I for one wouldn't want to see the Pontoon being anything other than our home end, I'd welcome opening up the Osmond to give four sides of the ground to our fans

UTM

I know this might sound daft as i have not thought it through in too much detail, but to give the ponny better acoustics, why not just panel both the open sides up? Surely it would not take much? Or am i missing something?
Oh, and never, ever give up the ponny! It has been mine and my kids ' homes ' for the past 25 years and hopefully for another 25 years and the rest! I defo don't want some smelly, buck toothed, neanderthal yorkie sitting in my seat

Quoted from lobsterpot

I know this might sound daft as i have not thought it through in too much detail, but to give the ponny better acoustics, why not just panel both the open sides up? Surely it would not take much? Or am i missing something?
Oh, and never, ever give up the ponny! It has been mine and my kids ' homes ' for the past 25 years and hopefully for another 25 years and the rest! I defo don't want some smelly, buck toothed, neanderthal yorkie sitting in my seat

Good question. I'd like to know the answer if there is one.  

Quoted from lobsterpot

I know this might sound daft as i have not thought it through in too much detail, but to give the ponny better acoustics, why not just panel both the open sides up? Surely it would not take much? Or am i missing something?
Oh, and never, ever give up the ponny! It has been mine and my kids ' homes ' for the past 25 years and hopefully for another 25 years and the rest! I defo don't want some smelly, buck toothed, neanderthal yorkie sitting in my seat

I have seen suggestions a lot of times about panels being added to the side of the Pontoon, but am not 100% sure that I have seen a response. Vaguely remember something about the cost of doing this not making it worth while, but that is probably balderdash.

I know the chances of this are slim but as we are giving ideas. I like the idea of putting away fans on the second tier of stands (upper findus) where they can have no or little influence on the game. I do believe having town fans behind both goals would have an impact on the teams performance.

The Pontoon stand was bought by the Town fans. It has nearly always been the stand of choice for the younger enthusiastic fan.
I used to go in there when I was a teenager, and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.
I now sit in the Lower Findus.
The only season that the Town fans were not allowed in the Pontoon was when the board of directors decided in there infinite wisdom to put the away fans in the Pontoon and moved the home fans out. The home attendance dropped by a couple of thousand, as a lot of loyal fans refused to ever attend a game again. The vast majority of them never came back.
I would be in favour of having home fans behind both goals, but do not forcibly remove Town fans from their Pontoon stand

Quoted from cod_head_doug

The Pontoon stand was bought by the Town fans. It has nearly always been the stand of choice for the younger enthusiastic fan.
I used to go in there when I was a teenager, and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.
I now sit in the Lower Findus.
The only season that the Town fans were not allowed in the Pontoon was when the board of directors decided in there infinite wisdom to put the away fans in the Pontoon and moved the home fans out. The home attendance dropped by a couple of thousand, as a lot of loyal fans refused to ever attend a game again. The vast majority of them never came back.
I would be in favour of having home fans behind both goals, but do not forcibly remove Town fans from their Pontoon stand

I seem to remember being the home end being the Osmond for two seasons Doug

85-86 - games that stick out for me being in there; Arsenal 3-4 in the cup and Norwich 1-0 (Champs being beaten by a Gordon Hobson goal )

The season after that less memorable but I definitely remember the Leeds and Birmingham games and being in the "wrong end"

You and me are singing off the same sheet though...In the Pontoon Stand, the finest in the land

Agree with a couple of the viewers points prior :

1: put up side panels in the ponny. Surely these coils have sponsors on too? And as many have said before, get the noisier lot that want to get down and boogie with their drum, more central.

2: putting away supporters in the upper findus. The away team then have no fans to play towards (unless serge makofu is playing!)

3: put away fans in a section of the osmond but give town supporters the other part.

Sorry, just my opinion

Why don't we just take the panels off the side of the Osmond and stick them on the side of the Pontoon? That way the acoustics will be better in the Town end and worse in the away end?

Equally we could just have a collection and get a few sheets of plastic from B&Q and stick them on the side!  

Surely we could have sponsors on the side of them as well, a bit of extra revenue for the club?

Segregation may be an issue with fans being in the upper findus, I'd assume they'd have to use the side stairs, would like to see this though, get town fans in the osmond and ponny! Or even put them in the 'family' end of the main stand??

Quoted from cod_head_doug

The Pontoon stand was bought by the Town fans. It has nearly always been the stand of choice for the younger enthusiastic fan.
I used to go in there when I was a teenager, and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.
I now sit in the Lower Findus.
The only season that the Town fans were not allowed in the Pontoon was when the board of directors decided in there infinite wisdom to put the away fans in the Pontoon and moved the home fans out. The home attendance dropped by a couple of thousand, as a lot of loyal fans refused to ever attend a game again. The vast majority of them never came back.
I would be in favour of having home fans behind both goals, but do not forcibly remove Town fans from their Pontoon stand

That's a very powerful argument.  If Town fans paid for the Pontoon, then the thought of handing it over to away fans is quite shocking.  I do agree that the 'acoustics' in there could / should be improved if at all possible, although someone gave me a DVD of the Town v Spurs game (Slade era), where the commentator says something about the capacity of Blundell Park only being about 9,000 (?) but it sounded more like 30,000 (?).  We do still have our moments.  Let's hope the play-offs can bring some of that back.

I remember the days when you could watch one half from the Osmond and the second half from the Pontoon or vice versa depending on which way we kicked first half! Was quite funny seeing half the Pontoon charging down the other end after the coin toss if we were kicking towards the Osmond first!  

Quoted from Badger57

I remember the days when you could watch one half from the Osmond and the second half from the Pontoon or vice versa depending on which way we kicked first half! Was quite funny seeing half the Pontoon charging down the other end after the coin toss if we were kicking towards the Osmond first!  

Is that when the away fans were put in the Harrington st corner (next to the ponny) ???
Seem to remember this in buckleys first promotion season.

Quoted from GyMariner

I know the chances of this are slim but as we are giving ideas. I like the idea of putting away fans on the second tier of stands (upper findus) where they can have no or little influence on the game. I do believe having town fans behind both goals would have an impact on the teams performance.

This really wouldn't work for many reasons. The corporate boxes,directors area,McMenemy's and the Mariners Bar are all supported by the Upper Findus. This part of the Findus stand offers the best view ( football wise ) of any of the stands, especially the area towards the centre-line of the pitch.

Agreed that it wouldn't be right to swap ends and move away fans into the Pontoon but been saying for years that 100 fans on the away end can sound a lot noisier and roudier than 4-500 on the Pontoon because of the acoustics of the stands. The roof in the Pontoon is the main reason for the poor acoustics and although I'm not 100% sure, I would hazard a guess and say it would cost far too much for the club to address this and sort a new roof out?

The idea of putting panels at the side of the stand is an interesting one as I'm not sure if it would help improve the acoustics as much as fixing the roof situation would but could possible improve it a fair bit and would be a cheaper option. Is this something the trust could put to the club maybe? Just ask some questions about it so to speak...

Out of interest, when the club just wondered about these things:

When built, was the findus stand intended to be behind one of the goals and the pitch turn round?

And

When making the pontoon all seated, is it right the council refused to allow it to be made into a 2 seated stand due to it not allowing the right amount of sunlight into people's gardens??

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Is that when the away fans were put in the Harrington st corner (next to the ponny) ???
Seem to remember this in buckleys first promotion season.

No, it was when I was a young kid, I'm thinking it was probably the 69/70 or 70/71 season. Probably before segregation? I don't remember many scraps but then again there were not many there in those days!

Quoted from Badger57

No, it was when I was a young kid, I'm thinking it was probably the 69/70 or 70/71 season. Probably before segregation? I don't remember many scraps but then again there were not many there in those days!

I agree badger. We used to wait for the coin toss before walking round to be behind the goal Town were attacking and then switch at half time. This was common certainly from about 68 through to even 73 ish. Not many travelled in those days and very little segregation most of the time

Quoted from BIGChris

I agree badger. We used to wait for the coin toss before walking round to be behind the goal Town were attacking and then switch at half time. This was common certainly from about 68 through to even 73 ish. Not many travelled in those days and very little segregation most of the time

Night matches were great in those days...

All this palarva. two goals off the shops rear end and two from Hannah and good night boys especially with our skinny away goals against record

Quoted from Badger57

I remember the days when you could watch one half from the Osmond and the second half from the Pontoon or vice versa depending on which way we kicked first half! Was quite funny seeing half the Pontoon charging down the other end after the coin toss if we were kicking towards the Osmond first!  

I remember when we played Middlesborough at home when they were top I think and the Pontoon was packed with Boro fans with just a small enclave of Town fans that made it in, there was a sizeable element of Boro fans in the Osmond as well. but we had the last laugh as we beat them 2-1 if my memory is right.