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Having publicly stated I will not be dictated to with regard to the opening or not of the Sandy Lane end, I wonder if the players have been asked their preference whether they would rather play to an empty stand or one containing several hundred supporters.
Picking up 1949er's point about the players' view on attacking the goals in front of an empty stand, hasn't it been the case for decades that when Dale captains win the toss they almost invariably chose to play towards the Sandy Lane in the second half?
It's been said that allows the team to play 'down the slope' in the second half (though I'm doubtful that there is much of a slope, if any). My impression is that when visiting captains win the toss, they seem to show no preference.
But I reckon - though I've no stats to back it up - that Dale have over the seasons scored more goals at the Sandy Lane end. As well as the lower admission charge, some fans think they see more goals close to in the Sandy.
Can anyone remember the last time we didn't kick towards the Sandy in the second half?
Can anyone remember the last time we didn't kick towards the Sandy in the second half?
Back in the day (60s, 70s) it was probably 60/40
Of course, back in the 60s and 70s it was possible at half time to walk from one end to the other. It's probably the distorting lens of nostalgia, but I now believe that I then preferred to start at the Pearl Street end and walk round to Sandy Lane for the second half.
Of course, back in the 60s and 70s it was possible at half time to walk from one end to the other. It's probably the distorting lens of nostalgia, but I now believe that I then preferred to start at the Pearl Street end and walk round to Sandy Lane for the second half.
Yep, that was pretty much the pattern. We used to gather in the Pearl St at the start but if it turned out we were kicking towards the Sandy first half there'd be a mass evacuation of the Pearl St. If it was a big game there'd be 3 or 4 thousand rival fans passing each other along the Willbutts side, usually without too much hassle
Another feature was the shed at the Pearl St end. If it starting chucking it down, everyone withdrew from behind the nets to shelter underneath it, then move back out again when it stopped raining! Sometimes, we'd be in and out of it like a... well, choose your own metaphor
Me and my mates used to stand on that hill between the main stand and the Pearl St End.
We were there for the ' Dale v Oldham FA Cup tie many years ago. When the ' Dale scored to go 2-0 up the Oldham fans invaded the pitch in front of the main stand trying to get the game abandoned. The two police horsemen trotted down the hill, leapt the boundary wall and galloped the full length of the running track scattering Oldham fans like chaff. When they got to the Sandy Lane End they turned around and galloped back the other way, scattering the remnants. Oldham fans were diving headlong over the boundary wall in the Main Stand area to get out of the way.
How nobody was killed I'll never know but they achieved their purpose. They'd cleared the pitch and the game went on.
Fair play to 1949er,if he can stand throughout the game at that age he's a better man than me.
So the club are expecting less than this to turn up. Better arrive early and get in if you want to get seats together as would have thought that by 7.30, would be limited. Can see this decision causing problems in the night.
Good point. As it's unreserved seating, I can see it all being a bit of a faff at kick off with people looking for the odd seat here and there. They should have compromised on two stands for Dale fans.
Edit: Didn't they have a walk round last year for the JPT from the Main Stand to Sandy? Could've done this this time for the cost of a handful of stewards/gatepeople.
Good point. As it's unreserved seating, I can see it all being a bit of a faff at kick off with people looking for the odd seat here and there. They should have compromised on two stands for Dale fans.
Edit: Didn't they have a walk round last year for the JPT from the Main Stand to Sandy? Could've done this this time for the cost of a handful of stewards/gatepeople.
[Post edited 12 Nov 2016 7:44]
While understanding why we're only using one stand, it could end up losing some money at the tea bars. Having moved to the Sandy this season, the ease around wandering off to get food and drink during the game has definitely seen me spending more in the ground. When in the main stand I'd not want to disturb people and it would involve missing some of the game - in the Sandy you can choose when to join the queue and keep an eye on the action at the corner flag.
If there's one tea bar on Tuesday in the main stand (did it ever have two?!), the option is to go at half time when there are queues (for anyone who doesn't want to miss the game that fancies a drink etc after kick off). There may be no difference whatsoever, but I know they'll get a couple of quid less from me. Multiply that across others who may not fancy a big queue and it could cover the costs of opening the Sandy. Definitely worth analysing the takings in the bars to assess this.
Edit: actually you can probably scrap all that as presumably the 'spend per person' in the ground is something that's easily analysed and recorded each game anyway. The figures from the Sunderland and Notts games will support the decision. So if that spend per person is not significantly different, then not using the Sandy on Tuesday makes sense.
Picking up 1949er's point about the players' view on attacking the goals in front of an empty stand, hasn't it been the case for decades that when Dale captains win the toss they almost invariably chose to play towards the Sandy Lane in the second half?
It's been said that allows the team to play 'down the slope' in the second half (though I'm doubtful that there is much of a slope, if any). My impression is that when visiting captains win the toss, they seem to show no preference.
But I reckon - though I've no stats to back it up - that Dale have over the seasons scored more goals at the Sandy Lane end. As well as the lower admission charge, some fans think they see more goals close to in the Sandy.
"some fans think they see more goals close to in the Sandy"
Seeing would depend on if you can see past the pillar in your way or the fella in front, or the fella in front of them or the fella in front of them. I think more goals are scored in the second halves of games regardless. The only intimidating thing about the Sandy is the smell of Friday night arse.
I remember back in the seventies gates were installed to stop people changing ends at half time. I contacted the then chairman, Fred Ratcliffe about my dilemma. He then sent me a letter to show the gateman to allow access to both ends.
I remember back in the seventies gates were installed to stop people changing ends at half time. I contacted the then chairman, Fred Ratcliffe about my dilemma. He then sent me a letter to show the gateman to allow access to both ends.
Maybe you could contact Chris Dunphy to ask if he'll let you stand in the Sandy on your own?
As someone else pointed out, there'll need to be someone in there to retrieve balls
I remember back in the seventies gates were installed to stop people changing ends at half time. I contacted the then chairman, Fred Ratcliffe about my dilemma. He then sent me a letter to show the gateman to allow access to both ends.
That can't have lasted long. Could always walk round the ground in the 80s. In fact when was it they stopped home fans going in the Pearl St? I definitely remember watching games at that end: Northampton 5-3 when they took the lead before 3pm.
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