Its a bit of a double edged sword really, if the team deliver there will be something to shout about, there was nothing at all to shout about apart from the opening 15mins and the last 6 or 7 mins.
If the team deliver and win games more people will come.

Fwiw my son (sth) and daughter (new supporter)were both in the clan stand and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, they were on the bohermore side.

I really thought the first year of the clan stand was the start of Connacht generating a great atmosphere on a regular basis but despite the fact the squad has improved and we are still getting good crowds, the place has been completely dead most evenings. I used to look forward to the atmosphere of the games but really now I think the atmosphere is worse than when there were only a few hundred people attending the games.

Obviously if the team start to deliver the atmosphere should improve but really at present there isn't much to attract people to come back on a regular basis.

Rory McTiernan wrote: I would love to know who that idiot was in the crowd shouting ''Rory McIlroy'' every time Jackson had the ball?? idiots shouting for the sake of shouting he wasn't making any sence and no one found him funny,The Clan really needs to up it tho it was dead in patches!

But... but... Jackson's a REDHEAD? Worst heckle ever...

I would love to know who that idiot was in the crowd shouting ''Rory McIlroy'' every time Jackson had the ball?? idiots shouting for the sake of shouting he wasn't making any sence and no one found him funny,The Clan really needs to up it tho it was dead in patches!

I'm always making noise, but some people just don't join in. There about about 5 of us nearby who chant and sing, but it's rare that the people around will pick it up.

To be honest I don't really know how to encourage them anymore than simply doing what I have been doing. Dec was suggesting chorus cards, but I don't know if that would even work. Some people just don't get into the match like that.

fatgav wrote: The lack of noise though really annoyed me Saturday. There were the guts of 5,500 people there and while the fare wasn't the best, it was the small Ulster contingent who were the loudest and most noticeable for large portions of the game. If we want to make the SG a fortress, then we need to make our voices heard. Easier said then done when you have 70 minutes of dirge but it's something which has bothered me for a while.

The Branch should bring back the young fellas with drums, which they had for a time last year (there was one in the second half on Saturday, I know) and other initiatives like this - I do believe it makes a big difference.

i joined in with the fields but since nobody else around me was singing, i stoped due to having really really awful singing voice, when there is a crowd not as noticeable :lol:

after the first year of the clan stand, its been very very quiet at games, no matter how poor we play, we should be singing and making noice, no matter what. could it be that the heineken the first year used to loosen the vocal cords?

The lack of noise though really annoyed me Saturday.

Yes me too, our group started 'the fields' on at least 3 occasions on Saturday and got no-one joining in.

There's no doubt that some peoples' behaviour in the Clan is poor, though IMO it's been a lot worse at times than on Saturday, at least in the section I stand - oppposite Bohermore 10m line.

The lack of noise though really annoyed me Saturday. There were the guts of 5,500 people there and while the fare wasn't the best, it was the small Ulster contingent who were the loudest and most noticeable for large portions of the game. If we want to make the SG a fortress, then we need to make our voices heard. Easier said then done when you have 70 minutes of dirge but it's something which has bothered me for a while.

The Branch should bring back the young fellas with drums, which they had for a time last year (there was one in the second half on Saturday, I know) and other initiatives like this - I do believe it makes a big difference.

Seapoint I have to disagree with you, ALL of the Sportsground should be family friendly, I don't agree with separate enclosures (to coin a phrase by N.Owens "This is not soccer"). When my children were younger I took them to every game and I expected to hear swear words & banter etc (I was even partial to a few myself), the problem on Saturday evening was not just the usual banter and swear words, it was very offensive to the people that were around these men and it was very abusive to officials and players and I don't see how this type of thing has any part to play in the game.

Secondly, I don't care how tough a week you have had it doesn't excuse the type of behaviour we witnessed.

The 'who are you' was aimed at Eddie at the main stand side and was actually quite funny, even Eddie got into it by shaking his tail feathers at them

Couple of things...

The family enclosure should not really be in either of the main terrace, you won't find them similarly located in any stadium anywhere for obvious reasons.

Adults use these events as a release after a tough week, and are perfectly entitled to express an opinion or disagree with decisions as long as the way they do it is not offensive to the majority or directed at aimed to deliberately offend our visitors

If you are offended by comments from anyone in your vicinity address it with them, if they are threatening get a steward and report it and ask them to take action, make sure you get their name also.

If they don't take what you feel to be appropriate action the next day, or the next day the branch office is open report it.

These days most people have phones with video capabilities on them, use them if yo have them and send them in to the branch if it's clear it will help identify the cluprits...

Another thing which we need to try and eliminate (as it ain't winning us any favours) is the booing of the referee & assistance when they are leaving the pitch at half time and full time.
I know its a difficult thing to do (I have been guilty of same in the past , so no angel here), especially when we feel really hard done by. But last night & in the past, booing the ref off at the end wasn't the best thing to hear. He didn't lose this match for us last night, we did a fine job of it ourselves.

I think a silence when they leave the pitch is a better 'protest' than all the booing.

Just a thought ?


PS Obviously a big cheer for them leaving if we feel they have been biased towards us

In fairness the Who are ya chant was the Ulster supporters towards 'Eddie the Eagle'!!

Well that's just funny!!! :lol:

I recant my previous statement your honour.

In fairness the Who are ya chant was the Ulster supporters towards 'Eddie the Eagle'!! You'll always get one or two. Anyone with two eyes can see the ref wasn't bad and that last night highlighted how poor we actually are at present.

We will make note of this to see if we can persuade Connacht Rugby to highlight this to supporters.

One thing I would like to say is that your first option is to talk to these people yourself (in a friendly manner) and ask them to curb their enthusiasm. Then report it to the stewards. If you are nearby when someone else asks such a supporter to chill out then lend your support with a "hear hear", but again try not to turn it into a shouting match. Just make sure that the person knows that the behaviour is not acceptable by the vast majority of people around.

I didn't hear any of the "who are ya" or "specsavers" chants as I am usually between the 10 and 22 on the college road side. Only objectionable noise around me were people who were upset about Connacht not getting the put in to the scrum when the Ulster maul collapsed in the try area and the ball was held up. That was just not knowing the rules.

Unless this is reported to stewards then this won't improve. It's important that it's highlighted here, but if that's all that happens then it will continue.

Fans should report this immediately to the stewards. The headstone comment was pathetic, but at the same time if you want to be precise it was a death threat. Ok, so the person who said it wouldn't think that, but a bit of legal weight on him (it's always a him, isn't it?) would do wonders for his ability to rein his neck in.

If the stewards and Conncht Rugby aren't aware of this then it will continue. And it's also part of the Clan's responsibilty to let fans know this is unacceptable.

Crap chants about "Should have gone to specsavers" are just that, crap. They're not the problem. So lets not get worked up about that. But abusive chants that drive people away need to be stamped out.

Was watching it on BBC last night and you could clearly hear supporters chanting 'Who are ya!' over and over again. I was like what the f*ck is this a soccer match? Which ever side it was they get zero points for originality.