Firstly I apologise if there is an old thread on this topic but I wasn't able to find it. Anyway...

It really irritates me that the away fans sit in the Shed End and I've never really understood why their allocation was ever moved from the East Lower. I don't understand how the club can agree to giving away usually half of our flagship stand given that firstly its the Shed that represents a lot of our tradition - As relative examples, ManUnited and Liverpool would find it unthinkable to allow away fans to sit in the Stretford End or the Kop, respectively.

Secondly, given that much of the atmosphere in the ground tends to come from the stands behind the goals, and in light of how poor the atmosphere is generally at the Bridge, surely we want our own fans sat in the Shed? This problem is also compounded by the fact that when the small clubs from the north come to the Bridge (Wigan etc), they barely even fill half of their allocation. I remember once being at the Bridge for Bolton at home when they literally had around 100 fans.

Thirdly, no disrespect to those that sit there, but the East Lower is probably the worst place to sit in the whole ground in terms of both view and atmosphere - Its no surprise that the family section is there. Maybe move the family section over to the West Lower and allocate the away support the EL once again?

The only reason I can think of is if the FA/Premier league originally introduced some sort of new legislation that compels the club to place the away fans in the Shed. I can't think what it would be but there must surely be some legalities involved, it seems strange to me otherwise. That, or perhaps our players/managers were receiving too much stick from the away fans.

So yeah, Just wondering if anyone could 'shed' any light on this

Edited August 19, 201213 yr by Celery1989

The thinking was that previously the away game got too premium a place in the ground where they were too in the middle and also too supportive to away dugout. The north standmade all the noise so they didn't want to put them there and the others were too hard to partition so they moved them into the corner of the shed . Aside from the history I think it was a good move and certainly helped bring more atmosphere to. The shed

Wasn't it Jose that specifically requested the away fans were moved to the shed from the east lower on the grounds it was bad for team moral when the dugout was surrounded by away fans and subjected to their noise abuse all game at such close proximity?

To be honest the Matthew Harding has been the home of the more hardcore vocal Chelsea support since the mid/late 90's and is considered the main home end these days so The Shed has not been what it once was for some time, although I do agree and would prefer of it was Chelsea only in there.

I would like them up high in the west stand if I could choose but I can't imagine that ever happening.

I'm also sure it was Jose that had the away fans moved and I agreed that they needed moving. Why would you have your own subs and coaching staff subject to a load of verbal every home game?

And like mclovin, up in the top corner of the west stand would be best. Out of view of the cameras and hopefully less audible on the TV.

The only drawback of sticking the visiting fans out of the way is that it takes their efforts to provoke much singing from our fans at the Bridge.

I agree , high in the west stand would be good . The logistics for supporters movements are probably better in the corner of the SHED but it also seems the accousticaly noisiest place to be which is why i hate it being for away fans..It was mentioned MAN U N LIVERPOOL wouldnt accept this sort of scenario..Firstly their clubs think more of their fans and wouldnt dream of doing this and secondly their fans would kick up such a stink that it would never happen....CHELSEA FANS...WELL....SSSHHHHHHHHHH

I went on the stadium tour last year and the guy said that it was Jose who asked the away section to be moved because it used to be right next to the home bench.

Thanks for the replies guys, I do seem to remember now that Jose had a role in the decision. Its true the MHL is where the noise has come from for years, even when the away fans sat in the EL. But my point is that it would be great to raise the noise levels in the Shed too a shifting the away support elsewhere would help. I say put them in the East Upper.

Well its no good complaining to each other.Everyone who agrees to the moving of away fans send messages to the Bridge..My one is on its way

The only way away fans should be in the Shed is either for a tear-up,or to pick up the rubbish.

In my opinion,it reflects badly on all CFC's history & all we stand for that they are allowed to do so.

Still,it's a modern age,times change & when all is said and done,what do I know.

Well its no good complaining to each other.Everyone who agrees to the moving of away fans send messages to the Bridge..My one is on its way

I already did last year in the end of season questionnaire that they ask members to fill out. Its not the end of the world but you know, would be nice.

Where should we put them? I remember going to a Carling Cup game against Man U back in 05 and they got a large chunk of the East Lower, and some folk were saying it was too close to the benches and the pitch, so were advocating them being sent to the East Upper.

The only way away fans should be in the Shed is either for a tear-up,or to pick up the rubbish.

:biggrin:

Alan

West upper/lower right next to the shed. Still good to have a bit of banter with them

They were behind the dugout but Jose told the club he wanted them moved. Now it comes down to what the safest way of getting them in and out of the ground. You always get some away fans who have had a bit too much to drink and think they can single handedly take on 40,000 fans.

No matter where you put them its going to annoy someone or become trouble for the club. You cant please everyone all the time im afraid.

To be honest I think it is the best place for them and brings banter and noise to that end of the ground . If anyone is to blame it is Ken Bates for putting a poxy hotel at the wrong end of the ground the MH and Shed End stands should have been swapped around from the start. If he had devloped the ground this way we wouldn't have this problem . The reason everyone ended up in the MH stand is that this was the first stand to be finished .

The away fans couldn't be moved to the west upper as it is arguably the sw**kiest area in the stadium. The seats are better, there's more space in the bars. Also West upper are the most expensive seats. Moving to west lower would be best in terms of noise. We could give them west lower, but still nobody wants to see the away fans on the camera. We can't move the away fans anywhere if you are realistic about it. We need to redevelop the stadium or move. Get rid of the stupid hotel so we can expand.

I think when its a 1500 allocation its not bad but big games and cup games when its 3000 and the whole stand like Cardiff had a couple years back we seem like a much smaller club than we are West stand would never happen especially upper due to revenue East stand there would be upset from the Family section if some was taken and Upper I never think its wise to put away fans in Upper tier with home fans below especially Family section. So for now there probably gonna stay put.

Away fans should be put in the Matthew Harding end of the ground. Actually behind the Matthew Harding Stand. Quite a bit behind it in fact, on the f*ckin' railway line.