I remember watching an Everton game in the Europa League vs. AEK Athens. Everton were 3-0 up before half time. Cause for joyous singing and celebrations from the home fans one would think? Not quite. There was the sound of singing and jumping coming through my TV set for the full 90 minutes but it was instead from the Athens fans who seemed to get louder with every goal conceded. They sang as one, they're chants often went on for minutes and the only retaliation chant from the Everton fans was the very original chant of "Who are ya!". Even Liverpool, who's fans get non-stop praise for being awesome are frequently outsung by travelling European fans who venture to Anfield. Is this lack of singing an English thing? I'd like to hope not.
Stoke are a prime example. The Britannia is a giant sound box but their fans do it justice week in week out. Pompey's fans are also well known for their non-stop singing attitude. Then even down at our level. The Bognor supporters were non-stop at ours as were Hastings and Horsham and I see no such reason why we shouldn't also have such a reputation.
The way I look at things, the club has missed out on a generation of supporters due to events conspiring before my own birth but one key way to attract people back through the doors, especially younger people who can easily be tempted away to the likes of Millwall and Charlton is to keep up the atmosphere at games. The quality of football isn't going to be troubling the likes of the Addicks, and as big as Maidstone and Tonbridge are, Leeds, Southampton and Norwich pack a bit more punch on the fixture sheet. Therefore one way we have to get people coming back is making Dartford games an enjoyable experience, through constant noise, constant singing and constant bouncing which our Football League counterparts currently do not offer.
I'm sure we'll be doing ourselves no disservice on the player front as well as although money plays a big part in a decision to switch clubs, the facilities, stadium and general direction of the club coupled with the fact that they'll be playing in front of fanatical crowds of over 1000 versus mumbling crowds of around 500 can surely be a swinging factor.
The rant is nearly over, just one more thing. Regardless of the result, the weather or the "importance" of the match. As supporters, let's do what our name says we do and support the team. A team who are behind but can still hear the crowd roaring them on get that extra skip in their step and want to try harder to get that equaliser. Calling for substitutions or constant bo***cking isn't the way to go. Yes we get frustrated sometimes but lets not forget. We are top of the league and long may it continue.
