@A_Worboys said:
Good performance - I think we got our mojo back today. Good crowd (8,523) but I thought the atmosphere was rather anaemic without Tom the drummer.
Maybe a quiet word would have been better but this guy goes home & away and does his level best to keep people singing, even when it’s going against us. Without him today we seemed unable to crank up the atmosphere enough to really intimidate the Ipswich players. Our 12th man was dropped today.
Might have moved on a bit since that, he was there, looks like he brought a bell with him and sounded it after we scored, half the stewards in the stadium and about half a dozen local police then chucked him out. Not entirely sure why but I don't think he'll be in for a cozy chat anytime soon.
Ah, I did wonder what was going on, with a line of stewards in there, and then watching him being escorted out!
@A_Worboys said:
Good performance - I think we got our mojo back today. Good crowd (8,523) but I thought the atmosphere was rather anaemic without Tom the drummer.
Maybe a quiet word would have been better but this guy goes home & away and does his level best to keep people singing, even when it’s going against us. Without him today we seemed unable to crank up the atmosphere enough to really intimidate the Ipswich players. Our 12th man was dropped today.
Might have moved on a bit since that, he was there, looks like he brought a bell with him and sounded it after we scored, half the stewards in the stadium and about half a dozen local police then chucked him out. Not entirely sure why but I don't think he'll be in for a cozy chat anytime soon.
Ah, I did wonder what was going on, with a line of stewards in there, and then watching him being escorted out!
@bigred87 said:
I haven't kept up to speed with this thread...... why didn't he have his drum?
The grapevine has it that both drummers were asked to leave their kit at home, at least this week, though the reasons have not been officially stated. It's not clear why Thomas was thrown out in the second half but there were stewards and a full quota of police present for some time, looking up towards the back (where he normally stands) before he was taken away.
@chairboyscentral said:
He brought a bell with him apparently - and I definitely heard one in the second half.
Yes. I heard it, too, after the goal. Not a troublesome noise - rather liked it, actually - and would be surprised if the police were minded to think it worthy of their involvement on that basis alone.
He brought a bell along after being banned from bringing a drum. Stewards went over and he was then mouthing off to them and people around, was inevitable that he was going to get kicked out, and if he's allowed to bring the drum again, it's inevitable that he's going to get banned.
The solution is obvious, only allow one drum, the "other" drummer who gets that the drum is to support the atmosphere, it isn't "the" atmosphere.
@bigred87 said:
I haven't kept up to speed with this thread...... why didn't he have his drum?
The grapevine has it that both drummers were asked to leave their kit at home, at least this week, though the reasons have not been officially stated. It's not clear why Thomas was thrown out in the second half but there were stewards and a full quota of police present for some time, looking up towards the back (where he normally stands) before he was taken away.
@Username said:
He brought a bell along after being banned from bringing a drum. Stewards went over and he was then mouthing off to them and people around, was inevitable that he was going to get kicked out, and if he's allowed to bring the drum again, it's inevitable that he's going to get banned.
The solution is obvious, only allow one drum, the "other" drummer who gets that the drum is to support the atmosphere, it isn't "the" atmosphere.
If they allow him to bring the drum again, surely they can't then ban him for using it!
Such a bizarre situation isn't it.
Lad himself can't process that you can be a top fan without smashing it for 90mins and and others not understanding his condition stops him reacting to things like others might.
@Username said:
He brought a bell along after being banned from bringing a drum. Stewards went over and he was then mouthing off to them and people around, was inevitable that he was going to get kicked out, and if he's allowed to bring the drum again, it's inevitable that he's going to get banned.
The solution is obvious, only allow one drum, the "other" drummer who gets that the drum is to support the atmosphere, it isn't "the" atmosphere.
If they allow him to bring the drum again, surely they can't then ban him for using it!
Such a bizarre situation isn't it.
Lad himself can't process that you can be a top fan without smashing it for 90mins and and others not understanding his condition stops him reacting to things like others might.
i meant that people have had enough of tolerating him now, and him telling half the terrace to "F### off" on the way out won't have helped either. You're right not everyone understands his situation, but the vast majority do, quite frankly if they didn't, it would already have kicked off majorly as his behaviour has been "unacceptable" by usual standards a fair few times. Enough people have lost their patience now that as soon as we're not winning or he incessantly drowns out a few chants and annoys people, they'll push his buttons and get him to react. For his own good his parents / friends need to convince him to take a step out of the limelight for a while, not continually encourage and excuse him, unless they want to see him with a lengthy stadium ban.
Certainly feels like we're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but hopefully a cooling off period and some advice from wiser heads will help Thomas out.
@floyd said:
Certainly feels like we're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but hopefully a cooling off period and some advice from wiser heads will help Thomas out.
Unfortunately the group around him don't exactly count as "wiser heads", one of them apparently took the bell in for him to then ring (and then to take rap, which considering his issues and anger at the drum being banned, led to the inevitable argument and removal)
Suggestions to avoid the sledgehammer have pretty much all been tried and failed (asking him to follow the crowd, asking him to work with the other drummer, even suggesting lessons) Often there's a 1 or 2 week improvement, but that quickly reverts.
Sounds harsh, but it's quite clear he simply can't understand the role of the drum which the vast majority of the terrace want, and he also can't hold a rhythm so it kills as many chants as it creates. He wants to be a terrace character like the smelly pompey bell guy, at the expense of those around him, do we want that?
You make very good points @Username, some of which is didn't know about. It's a shame, because a good drummer can enhance the atmosphere, particularly at away games, more than anything.
Thomas can't be much older than 18, maybe the club should contact his parents.
@Username said:
He brought a bell along after being banned from bringing a drum. Stewards went over and he was then mouthing off to them and people around, was inevitable that he was going to get kicked out, and if he's allowed to bring the drum again, it's inevitable that he's going to get banned.
The solution is obvious, only allow one drum, the "other" drummer who gets that the drum is to support the atmosphere, it isn't "the" atmosphere.
If they allow him to bring the drum again, surely they can't then ban him for using it!
Such a bizarre situation isn't it.
Lad himself can't process that you can be a top fan without smashing it for 90mins and and others not understanding his condition stops him reacting to things like others might.
You discussing it on here ad nauseum is definitely helping though
@floyd said:
You make very good points @Username, some of which is didn't know about. It's a shame, because a good drummer can enhance the atmosphere, particularly at away games, more than anything.
Thomas can't be much older than 18, maybe the club should contact his parents.
I'd guess he's early 20s, but you definitely can't treat him as an "adult" still.
I agree that a good drummer helps, we have one of those already, but he's also been asked to not bring his drum because of the behaviour of Thomas.
I'm sure we'll win our next game and it'll quickly be forgotten about if drums as a whole are banned, just a shame it's had to come to that.
If more people on the terrace were to sing, and sing a lot louder than they do now, then I don't think there would be a problem.
I don't really go with the stuff about the acoustics of the home end being poor, the solution to the lack of noise is as above in my opinion.
@NewburyWanderer said:
If more people on the terrace were to sing, and sing a lot louder than they do now, then I don't think there would be a problem.
I don't really go with the stuff about the acoustics of the home end being poor, the solution to the lack of noise is as above in my opinion.
There's quite definitely a difference in the away and home ends, as you can often barely hear the home terrace from the FA stand.
@floyd said:
You make very good points @Username, some of which is didn't know about. It's a shame, because a good drummer can enhance the atmosphere, particularly at away games, more than anything.
Thomas can't be much older than 18, maybe the club should contact his parents.
His parents used to go as he needed a carer. Not sure if they still go, but surely if they do, they must have seen this all blowing up!
@floyd said:
Certainly feels like we're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but hopefully a cooling off period and some advice from wiser heads will help Thomas out.
Unfortunately the group around him don't exactly count as "wiser heads", one of them apparently took the bell in for him to then ring (and then to take rap, which considering his issues and anger at the drum being banned, led to the inevitable argument and removal)
Suggestions to avoid the sledgehammer have pretty much all been tried and failed (asking him to follow the crowd, asking him to work with the other drummer, even suggesting lessons) Often there's a 1 or 2 week improvement, but that quickly reverts.
Sounds harsh, but it's quite clear he simply can't understand the role of the drum which the vast majority of the terrace want, and he also can't hold a rhythm so it kills as many chants as it creates. He wants to be a terrace character like the smelly pompey bell guy, at the expense of those around him, do we want that?
Sums up my thoughts perfectly. Its a real shame but the club needs to act in their best interests. Other people should be looking out for Tom's.
Clearly a significant number of people do or it wouldn't have become the issue it has. It's not the drum anyway, it's the question of the empathy of the person behind it.
@fame_46 said: @thecatwwfc. I tend to agree with you, it’s a drum and a real first world issue. Whilst Australia burns from within and we teeter on the brink of another Gulf War, Drumgate is consuming WWFC.
Puts things into perspective really.
With respect that's a ludicrous comparison.
Noone is saying any of our witter on here is comparable to world tragedies!
Comments
Ah, I did wonder what was going on, with a line of stewards in there, and then watching him being escorted out!
A bell!? Like that infuriating guy at Portsmouth?
I wondered why they kept calling him a bell end
I haven't kept up to speed with this thread...... why didn't he have his drum?
The grapevine has it that both drummers were asked to leave their kit at home, at least this week, though the reasons have not been officially stated. It's not clear why Thomas was thrown out in the second half but there were stewards and a full quota of police present for some time, looking up towards the back (where he normally stands) before he was taken away.
He brought a bell with him apparently - and I definitely heard one in the second half.
Yes. I heard it, too, after the goal. Not a troublesome noise - rather liked it, actually - and would be surprised if the police were minded to think it worthy of their involvement on that basis alone.
He brought a bell along after being banned from bringing a drum. Stewards went over and he was then mouthing off to them and people around, was inevitable that he was going to get kicked out, and if he's allowed to bring the drum again, it's inevitable that he's going to get banned.
The solution is obvious, only allow one drum, the "other" drummer who gets that the drum is to support the atmosphere, it isn't "the" atmosphere.
Thanks for the update
If they allow him to bring the drum again, surely they can't then ban him for using it!
Such a bizarre situation isn't it.
Lad himself can't process that you can be a top fan without smashing it for 90mins and and others not understanding his condition stops him reacting to things like others might.
i meant that people have had enough of tolerating him now, and him telling half the terrace to "F### off" on the way out won't have helped either. You're right not everyone understands his situation, but the vast majority do, quite frankly if they didn't, it would already have kicked off majorly as his behaviour has been "unacceptable" by usual standards a fair few times. Enough people have lost their patience now that as soon as we're not winning or he incessantly drowns out a few chants and annoys people, they'll push his buttons and get him to react. For his own good his parents / friends need to convince him to take a step out of the limelight for a while, not continually encourage and excuse him, unless they want to see him with a lengthy stadium ban.
Certainly feels like we're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but hopefully a cooling off period and some advice from wiser heads will help Thomas out.
Unfortunately the group around him don't exactly count as "wiser heads", one of them apparently took the bell in for him to then ring (and then to take rap, which considering his issues and anger at the drum being banned, led to the inevitable argument and removal)
Suggestions to avoid the sledgehammer have pretty much all been tried and failed (asking him to follow the crowd, asking him to work with the other drummer, even suggesting lessons) Often there's a 1 or 2 week improvement, but that quickly reverts.
Sounds harsh, but it's quite clear he simply can't understand the role of the drum which the vast majority of the terrace want, and he also can't hold a rhythm so it kills as many chants as it creates. He wants to be a terrace character like the smelly pompey bell guy, at the expense of those around him, do we want that?
You make very good points @Username, some of which is didn't know about. It's a shame, because a good drummer can enhance the atmosphere, particularly at away games, more than anything.
Thomas can't be much older than 18, maybe the club should contact his parents.
He's a lot older than that, isn't he?
I've only got his Facebook pictures to go by!
You discussing it on here ad nauseum is definitely helping though
I'd guess he's early 20s, but you definitely can't treat him as an "adult" still.
I agree that a good drummer helps, we have one of those already, but he's also been asked to not bring his drum because of the behaviour of Thomas.
I'm sure we'll win our next game and it'll quickly be forgotten about if drums as a whole are banned, just a shame it's had to come to that.
If more people on the terrace were to sing, and sing a lot louder than they do now, then I don't think there would be a problem.
I don't really go with the stuff about the acoustics of the home end being poor, the solution to the lack of noise is as above in my opinion.
Settle in Eric, we haven't got a game for ten days!
I'm sure drums are prohibited at the Stadium of Light, or have Sunderland finally accepted that they're in League One?
I certainly hope so
We have one lady who intermittently screeches 'Come on Wycombe' in the Beechdean. It works for us.
The terrifying ghost of the Beechdean. A more haunted scream has never been heard by mortals.
There's quite definitely a difference in the away and home ends, as you can often barely hear the home terrace from the FA stand.
His parents used to go as he needed a carer. Not sure if they still go, but surely if they do, they must have seen this all blowing up!
Sums up my thoughts perfectly. Its a real shame but the club needs to act in their best interests. Other people should be looking out for Tom's.
Reading all of this....who actually gives a flying monkies'....?
It's a drum.
Clearly a significant number of people do or it wouldn't have become the issue it has. It's not the drum anyway, it's the question of the empathy of the person behind it.
With respect that's a ludicrous comparison.
Noone is saying any of our witter on here is comparable to world tragedies!