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Much as I am happy/resigned to joining in with the piss taking most of the time, I would like to point that the reason we don't have a 'singing section' , is that the atmosphere at Rovers when we are doing well still is pretty good and we don't actually need to tell people to stand or sit in a particular place to join in. Most of the noise does come from the Blackthorn end of course, but even then it still comes from different parts of the terrace and hearing all the other sides/tents join in isn't uncommon. Considering there are regularly posts on here about lack of atmosphere , fans asking where they should sit if they want to sing and even one saying he doesn't sing out of consideration for those around him (I mean, come on!) . I was at Bromley last week , we had a piss poor following and the home fans treated us to a 'One nil and you still don't sing' I'm trying to see how I can make ' Top end of the table team for ages now with oodles of cash a great big stadium, biggest attendances for years and inevitably bound for the Premier league and you still don't sing' scan into a chant

I do enjoy it, in fact I really like the Mem and will be sad to see us move (although I don't think we will in my lifetime). I like standing at games and I love Gloucester Road for post match beers. I shall be 55 years old next month and having had to say goodbye to one of my closest friends from Rovers at the age of 59 this season, football is now more than ever something to be enjoyed socially for me rather than worrying about results (and believe me there was a time when Rovers results meant far more to me than they ever should have) The downside to me for all that of course is that without a new stadium Rovers will probably never really progress (and even if we did get one there are no guarantees), but that is something that is no longer so important to me.

Miah, when your ground has terracing you can stand wherever you want; if you want to sing, you stand with a bunch of like-minded souls who have the same intent; if you don't like the people in your vicinity you can easily move. Once you've found a place that suits, you return to the same spot every match with the result that over the years, you stand alongside the same strangers, nod to them, discuss team selection, moan about the manager/referee/price of Fanta and not much more. You recognise them but you don't know their name, telephone number or where they live. Then the terracing disappears and you move into an all seater stadium (you'll have to imagine this part) and you have to decide where you're going to buy your season ticket. You'd like, perhaps to be able to sit alongside the acquaintances with whom you're used to spending your Saturday afternoons but unless you've pre-planned it, that's never going to happen. Thus kindred spirits face being split up so in anticipation, the club designate a 'singing area' which quickly attracts a number of 'not really singers but who like the thought of a noisy, irreverent afternoon' at the expense of later-off-of-the-mark dyed-in-the-wool yellers and shouters; The atmosphere changes all around the ground; people who've stood happily with others turning the air blue (with their language, you understand) suddenly find themselves sat next to a dad with his ten year old daughter or even worse, next to some sad old git who owns a scruffy, provincial computer shop; former singers in the choir find that they're now soloists. A new stadium changes everything - certainly with big positives in our case, although the atmosphere does change and not consistently for the better. I wouldn't want to go back to the old AG though. The new stadium is a hundred thousand times better. Enjoy the terracing at the Mem while you've got it, Miah. Those decades will quickly pass.

I actually think it's good for our young footballers to be sent away from Bristol to play in another town or city, I think thats an important part of their development as a person. Most of the youngsters likely still live with mum and dad so it's a valuable life lesson for them to be taken out of their comfort zone and it's a real test of their character. If a youngster cant handle being away from the family home, then its questionable if they could handle the pressures that being a footballer bring. The only advantage to joining the sags would be that the player would still be able to train with us during the week, but we could still have that at clubs like FGR etc.

They can **** off. We want our young players playing for the other 22 teams in L1 AGAINST the 15ers, ideally scoring against them Hinder them, not help them.

The Fewers don't seem that enthusiastic about it. http://gaschat.co.uk/thread/15350/widdrington-wants-closer-links-teds They'd probably give their mum's left bollock for a player like Morrell, now a full Welsh international, rather than believing their 'yoof setup' is any good because one of them qualifies for Gibraltar reserves because a monkey ripped the wing mirror off his dad's Austin Maxi at a safari park once.

Anyway, **** all that, how did you lot get on tonight I'm hoping I am allowed a free piss take, especially considering I didn't cash out my super yankee for £20 that involved you lot losing 2-0 , only to end up with nothing because of your shite defence and annoying habit of scoring late goals!

Semi Radradra signing a statement of intent from fast-rising Bristol https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/nov/27/semi-radradra-fiji-winger-joins-bristol-bears-rugby-three-year-deal?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

GasLogic at it’s finest..... Try it yourselves, you’ll be amazed to find out how close we are to catching Liverpool, being only 26 places above us.

This needs moving to the dustbin thread.

I know what TTFN means but that’s because I’m an old stager. I think you need a translation for everyone under 50.

Same posts appear on Gaschat. In fact the same posts probably appear on most clubs forums up and down the country, especially since more and more clubs have found themselves in all seater stadiums. Ashton Gate can be like a library at times and really loud at others, same as everywhere else. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I lived near the Mem for years so I know your games are not full of non stop deafening noise from the stands.

Guess we now know

It depends what position they play. A lot of the guys who end up playing to a high level into their late thirties tend to be forwards. I don't think you get too many 38 year old midfielders or back three players at that level. Amazing signing for Bristol. Would be intriguing if Rory joined them too. From one point of view I hope he leaves it now. Been a great player for Ulster and Ireland and it seems fitting for him to go out as a one club man. Then again nobody should begrudge him getting the payday if he's still feeling good. He owes Irish rugby nothing.

Radradra confirmed! https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/world-class-radradra-pens-bears-deal/ WORLD CLASS RADRADRA PENS BEARS DEAL Bristol Bears are delighted to announce that one of the finest players on the planet, Semi Radradra, will join the club ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. A standout individual across both rugby codes, the Fijian international arrives at Ashton Gate on a three-year deal. 27 year-old Radradra averaged 100m a game at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, lighting up the competition pool stages with a string of sensational displays, including a brace against Georgia. During his time in the Australian NRL (National Rugby League), Radradra was named Dally M winger of the year for two seasons in a row, scoring 82 tries in 94 games for Parramatta Eels. “There is no doubt that Semi is one of the best players in the world – he’s truly a world class performer and we are so excited about what he can do for the team,” said Director of Rugby Pat Lam. “Every top club across both codes on the planet wanted him, so for Bristol to be able to bring in a player of his quality underlines the fantastic work that the club is doing. Semi has clarity about our vision and knows what the club want to achieve. As a person and a player, he is perfect for our culture which places an emphasis on community and high performance. “I got to know Semi well at the Barbarians and we were blown away by his professionalism and dedication. He is world class because of the relentless work and preparation he puts into his game, day in day out. It’s no surprise that he has taken the World Cup and French Top 14 by storm – Semi is the ultimate professional. “We believe the Gallagher Premiership is the best league in the world and Semi’s arrival into the league will only enhance the product further. He’s an unstoppable force and we are looking forward to seeing him light up the competition for the next three seasons.” Radradra has enjoyed a stellar club career so far, representing Toulon and Bordeaux in the French Top 14, following his switch from the NRL in 2016. He added: “I’m looking forward to coming to the Premiership and to be playing under Pat Lam at Bristol Bears. They are one of the most exciting teams in Europe right now and the way that they are doing things is making everybody take notice. “I visited the world class facilities at Ashton Gate and saw the progress of the new training ground – it’s a fantastic club to be joining with a bright future ahead. I can’t wait to get started and contributing to the Bristol Bears vision.”

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/domestic-club-rugby-union/34305/exclusive-bristol-bears-offer-rory-best-shot-at-the-premiership/ Rory Best is being asked to kick retirement into touch and take a fast track to the summit of the English Premiership. Bristol Bears are offering the venerable Ulsterman a contract for the rest of the season aimed at reinforcing their ambitious bid to win the domestic crown put up for grabs by Saracens’ enforced abdication. The 37-year-old farmer whose long Test career ended with New Zealand knocking Ireland out of the World Cup at the quarter-finals last month had intended to retire from all rugby as part of the Barbarians’ tour ending in Cardiff on Saturday. After appearing against Fiji at Twickenham and coming off the bench for a goalkicking cameo in Brazil in midweek, Best flew home amid uncertainty as to where he would be this weekend – on Baa-baas’ duty against a Wales XV, part of Bristol’s 23 against London Irish at Ashton Gate or putting his feet up at home. Bears’ director of rugby Pat Lam has an impressive track record of having already signed a pair of Test veterans – ex-All Blacks’ prop John Afoa (36) and the durable Australian George Smith whose one-season deal helped the club make an impact on their return to the Premiership. Smith was 38 when he signed last season, a year older then than Best is now. Bristol’s move will leave Ireland’s most-capped forward with an unexpected decision, whether to stick with his retirement plan or extend his career for six lucrative months’ work in the English game. The Rugby Paper’s revelation is yet another indication of Bristol’s ultimate objective of becoming the new dominant force in the English game. It follows last week’s TRP exclusive of the Bears’ £500,000-a-year bid for Ospreys’ Wales openside Justin Tipuric and last summer’s capture of England No.8 Nathan Hughes from Wasps. Lam, who came into regular contact with Best during his PRO12-winning spell at Connacht, is clearly convinced the Ulsterman has enough left to keep going for another six months.

I’ll have you know the atmosphere is that great at the dump, it’s scares the life out of the opposition players, just ask Matty Taylor shit himself and faked injury just to escape it all.

Just to cut through all the unnecessary waffle in your post, the key statement here is “the atmosphere at Rovers when we are doing well still is pretty good ”........so, pretty much the same as every club in the country then. your fans keep rolling out the myth that you are “loyal and true” yet your manager comes out asking for improved atmosphere, surely if you were “da best fans in the world” doing well would not matter. And please, rolling out goodnight Irene on loop does not make a good atmosphere

"As the former Southampton midfielder admits, City would surely be appreciative" It's this sort of ******* attitude that does them absolutely no favours what so ever. We are a top half Championship side and we should be be appreciative of being able to send them our youngsters on loan to them?

yes that's correct - we've got the 'Singing Section', they've got the 'Minging Section(s)', they copy everything FFS

Reality is, they have an unproven coach, minimal medical facilities, a training pitch that requires players to clear fox shit from, no money and a shit stadium. The only thing our young players might learn are. A familiarity with their sprinkler system, they have probably seen it before. An understanding that other League One clubs have better facilities than the Fewers. Fanta can be faked.