It is well known that the grounds of even the biggest football clubs in England can resemble a library at times. Almost anyone who has been to Anfield over the last few seasons will have been privy to the increasingly popular chant “Where’s your famous atmosphere?”
This is nothing new, and often served as a red rag to Kopites during a rare lull in singing. The usual responses to this chant have been gone for a long time now. The sad thing is, the lulls have become much more commonplace – to the point where you could even say that singing is now the exception; silence the norm.
A flurry of fans still instinctively tell the offending visitors to shove their ‘library chant’ but not many think of striking up a song to remind them that the famous atmosphere is still alive and well. And we can only assume that this is because it isn’t. Our famous atmosphere is dead – and the only ones who can fix it don’t seem to be arsed any more.
There’s no point in exploring the possible reasons for the atmosphere dying as I wouldn’t be able to add anything that hasn’t already been said in our forum’s discussion thread, and many others on the internet eg. changes in the type of fan attending, price of games, fans more attuned to watching football on TV in a passive environment (ie. their couch), all seater stadia etc etc.
The daytripper theory seems to be the most popular one, but I personally find it hard to believe when I witnessed a gang of lads from abroad being urged to remain quiet while trying to kick a rendition of Fields of Anfield Road.
Being split up from your mates is another point that seems quite relevant. The strange thing is, being split up from your mates never used to matter when you were in the Kop as you were constantly surrounded by friends. Like-minded friends who all naturally contributed to the atmosphere. Friends who wouldn’t like to see a mate being made to look like a tit in front of hundreds of people by singing alone. But now there seems to be a spreading mentality of sitting back and letting someone else create the atmosphere – while simultaneously glaring down anyone who dares to stand up and attempt to kick a chant off. It is a vicious cycle that is stagnating progress.
But instead of ending it there and reminiscing of better days, I propose we make a stand. The fact is, our atmosphere arguably used to be the greatest in the world. The type of crowd that they would film and describe as a phenomenon, having to explain it to those who do not understand. The Kop innovates and never imitates. And the fact is, we’re now arguably setting the completely opposite standard to the one we used to
I propose we publicly pick out a home game to rediscover our famous atmosphere.
We need to spread the word that 90 minutes of constant noise – against anyone, not just our big ‘Sky Sports opposition’ – from all sides of the ground is what we need to properly get behind the lads on the pitch. If it ends up inspiring them even more then it will only further prove the reasons for doing this.
The 1964 documentary on our world famous Spion Kop worded it perfectly for me, quoting the Duke of Wellington before the Battle of Waterloo saying, “I don’t know what they do to the enemy, but by God they frighten me.”
So, I’ll stick my neck out here and say “Stoke City at home, 14th January 2012.” Let’s make noise the norm and abolish the library.
It’s nothing new.. the Kop was said to be going quiet when i used to go in the 70s and 80s… and nowdays most big grounds are fairly quiet. Everton’s ground is one of the quietest I’ve heard. Home supporters only make a noise when they are up against stronger or ‘bigger’ opposition (that includes Stoke and Portsmouth!!). Away fans always make more noise as the hardcore singers travel and make their presence felt while on the opponents territory…. it’s a tribal thing..
What I found amazing was the LFC atmosphere by the Etihad stadium last night. We certainly have the most passionate fans in the world we just have to try and stop these idiotic tourists from invading Anfield.
Everyone at every match is responsible. Make a difference. Sing and make noice! For sure it will get us more goals and points with fans that dear to sing insted of observing the Anfield spirit. Fans make the spirit. Off course the wall of sound inspire our players. Thats what the sign “This is Anfield” reminds the opposition of. LFC -> The Mighty Reds. The team and fans together. Makes us invincible!
Sadly, I’ve not been to a match for years due to other commitments, but on Saturday this is about to change. I will be at the Stoke match singing my heart out and I can’t wait. I remember standing on the Kop as a young boy. It was like being in a wall of noise, the rush down the terraces and back up when a goal was scored, getting carried by the crowd that was like a large organic blanket. This oneness and unity helped create the atmosphere, we need to regain that atmosphere once again. Lets reclaim Anfield and give every game the atmosphere of the big European nights of old. YNWA
I’m french, and it will be my first game at Anfield against stoke. I hope i’ll not be in a library though
Make sure your not. YNWA
Thank god some one has got the balls to admit how quiet it has gone inside Anfield. Took my 7 and 4 year boys to there first home game the other week and after 5 mins all was quiet because if we are not a goal up before then, the atmosphere changes it goes so tense. We need to make the atmosphere what it once was, and I will guarantee those draws at home will turn into wins. We can`t blame one section of the ground or the other we need to be one voice. There`s nothing better than going to the game singing your nuts off, getting a win and not being able to talk for a couple of days. I hope it changes.
Stoke City is a great place to start,i’ll be there and singing till i cant no more. Good article Joey lets get the party started
Sorry to add this and I’ll get shot down, but when all the season tickets went to the out of towners during the sourness ere, that was the beginning of the end. Too many people who got on the bandwagon to go see Liverpool and it has evolved from there ever since. I’m not satin ALL OOT’s but there are too many carrying plastic bags, too many interested in taking pictures of corners rather than see if a goal is scored. If you want to go the game that’s fine, just don’t sit in the kop if you’re not gonna sing.
count me in
Yes and everyone in the ground should have their scarf aloft when they sing ynwa
And i allso know for a fact that some fans. (Norwegians) are afraid to start songs. Even in the pubs. If you try to start something different than the 5 songs they sing there. You allmost get threatened to stop.
I know a LARGE group of Norwegian supporters that probarbly know more songs than most of the Kop. But most of them never dear to start a song.
I dont care what others say. ill start a song, or try to continue those i hear from the 305.
Manchester united at home in october was the most embarassing day on the Kop for me. Couldnt even get Justice for the 96 going when they started it on 305.
My voice is usually used up before the second half starts tho 😛
Good article. Wrote the same thing on a Norwegian Liverpool blog three months ago. But i did go abit over board with the critizism of ceirtan groups of fans. So got pretty much slagged of.
Same as all the other grounds, football is too expensive for the common man who would stand and sing, these days its mainly those that can afford it and probably dont know any of the songs..Spending 30 odd million on a waste of space could easily have gone into making the game more accessible again, plenty of other realistic bargains out there.
There ain’t been much singing at some of the games I’ve watched in recent months. Fans spend half the time fixing their effin’ ties. Especially bad, it seems, when the lads are endurind a tough period in a game. I almost never hear the fans singing to lift the players’ spirits. My most memorable game for collective chanting was in ’92 vs Palace away. We were few but the singing never stopped for 90 mins – burnt in my brain that…
Great point. It’s all about supporting the team and make them stronger out there on the pitch! We make them believe, like they make us believe.We expect the best from the players, so as fans we should set the standards. Get in!