GP homesickness

[BEEcool]

As a staunch New Roader for the past 15 years I could count on one hand the number of times I have sat elsewhere in GP to watch a match...

Last night however, I was in Brook Road terrace for one reason and another and have to say it has made me realise how much I appreciate New Road!

- Massive concrete piers obscuring views, impossible to gauge how far up the pitch the play is, floodlights in your eyes (exluding last few steps), not being able to directly bate the opposing fans etc! Only possible plusses in there, - atmosphere and the closeness to goalmouth action...

Wondered if anyone else had tried another part of the fround and become homesick?

 

[alikat]

As a staunch New Roader for the past 15 years I could count on one hand the number of times I have sat elsewhere in GP to watch a match...

Last night however, I was in Brook Road terrace for one reason and another and have to say it has made me realise how much I appreciate New Road!

- Massive concrete piers obscuring views, impossible to gauge how far up the pitch the play is, floodlights in your eyes (exluding last few steps), not being able to directly bate the opposing fans etc! Only possible plusses in there, - atmosphere and the closeness to goalmouth action...

Wondered if anyone else had tried another part of the fround and become homesick?

I too am a New Roader and tried the Paddock a couple of times a few years back. I have to say that the view was fairly crap - too close to the play. It beats me how the mangers and coaches can really assess the game from the dug out, as it's not really possible to get a decent view of the overall game IMO.

I'm more than happy to stay in the New Road near the back and just by the halfway line - in my view, a good view of the game is had from there, even tho' there are one or two morons in the vicinity (I'm sure you'd get that wherever you go in the ground!)

 

[Mr Tree]

i've done a gradual tour in my time, settling on Brookie terrace, but due to circumstances i have had recent games in Brook Upper and New Rd - i definitely get the homesickness thing, but probably purely out of missing being able to stand up and jump around during the game...

 

[Edmundo]

Like Mr Tree, I have watched from many places over the years: the Royal Oak, New Road when it was a terrace, Ealing Road, Hate Corner, E Block, D Block, Upstairs in Brook Rd and now the Paddock. The places I miss the most are no longer there, transformed by the addition of seats, or given to the away fans, so I don't really get the homesickness. But I am thinking of moving next season, but I think certain people are out to dissuade me!

 

[Paul O'Brien]

Wasn't it great when you could move from one end to the other at half time? Worst bit was lurking at halfway so you could see which way the Bees were kicking and rush to the right end.

 

[Edmundo]

Wasn't it great when you could move from one end to the other at half time? Worst bit was lurking at halfway so you could see which way the Bees were kicking and rush to the right end.

:yes: One of the great attractions of GP in the old days and a factor in my choice of the Bees as the team to support.

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

i normally go in the brook road terrace and now you mention it is pretty crap, but there's not much atmosphere anywhere else except the braemar paddock for the big games. bring back the new road terrace or build a huge kop the Holt End used to be! i might try the new road again for old times sake.

 

[Mr Tree]

i'm personally not going back to NR for a while ISB, everyone looked at us like we were crazy when we tried to show a bit of passion for the Bees on Boxing Day

Brook may be full of little chav scums, and i'll probably try and graduate to the Paddock some day soon, but it seems so :zzzzz: in there most games...

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

i'm personally not going back to NR for a while ISB, everyone looked at us like we were crazy when we tried to show a bit of passion for the Bees on Boxing Day

Brook may be full of little chav scums, and i'll probably try and graduate to the Paddock some day soon, but it seems so :zzzzz: in there most games...

i agree.

that's worrying about your new road experience though, maybe i shalln't bother.

 

[Beesnut]

Wasn't it great when you could move from one end to the other at half time?

That's why non-league still has it's attractions for me

 

[hanworthbee]

Only stood in new road once since 1985 and hated it, started off in Braemar RD then moved behind the goal in Brook RD when we attacked that way, Ealing RD was the worst and im happy now to be in Brook RD where I feel the atmosphere is the best, theres nothing like roaring the lads on when there attacking the goal your behind.

 

[jlove]

I'm New Road back row, above "Keep in tight, Brentford...", since they kicked us off the Ealing Road terraces (under the floodlight tower was my spot), although was a D Block regular 20-or-so years ago. Started on the New Road terraces as a kid and, yes, did the changing ends at half-time thing.

Always go somewhere else for the non-ST games, except the big FAC-ties (Soton, Sunderland). Brook Road terrace (although I do like standing when I have a choice at away matches) is not a good view and seems to have more pimples than I can handle at times. BR upper's not so bad but I prefer New Road side-view now. Go in the Braemar, usually when there's no choice, but find C and D Block to be dead; more life in the Paddock!

Call me an old traditionalist but I will stay in the back of New Road until the new hospitality boxes force me out... which I anticipate will be a long time.

 

[Billy Hunt]

Usually a Brook road terracer, been in the paddock for the last two home games. Enjoy the chance to really abuse the ref./opposition, but cannot stand the amount of negativity in there.

F ucking moaning c unts, sitting there laughing at each others pathetic put-downs of OUR players. :mad1: :mad2:

These people do not sing, or offer any support of any kind. Toss ers.

 

[rg12bee]

Like others have been all over GP watching the bees.

As a young upstart the only place to be was the Royal Oak stand. Stayed there until the flats were built. Great atmosphere, great view.

After this moved over to New Road terrace. Decent view and could move from end to end. Discovered that you could see more from the side. Still not the same as a good `end` behind the goal.

Kids!! Moved to small family section of the paddock (still terracing ). Crap view really, but the regular steward was absolutely superb.
Ground `turned round`, therefore in the junior Bees terrace in the wendy house (Brook Road). Corner section for families was ok. Kids could play ball etc behind stand when bored. Also went upstairs in the seats occasionaly. Thought the view from up there was excellent, although leg room a bit cramped.
BlockA was turned into family stand. Now that was good while it lasted for families. Good view.Cheap prices.Snack bar.Mars ice creams. Brilliant!

KIds stopped going! Block A given to away fans. Season ticket time in the New Road with mates, and still there. Atmosphere was best in hate corner.Sit the other side of halfway line now, and have a good relationship with all the regulars. Will stay there until the ground is redeveloped!!!!!

Still homesick for Royal Oak though....What memories!

 

[fencer/bee]

i started my gp life,, roughly where all the action is in the paddock.. standing at the front row,,, with me old-man, standing in the back row of the paddock... in those days, i had to stand on tip-toes to get my chin between the top railing/thingy........ i moved to the ROYAL OAK,, ( what a great stand )...at about the age of fourteen.. till they pulled it down a few years latter ..then ealing rd ... new road.. and now in the wendy house.....damn i miss the OLD days..

 

[IsleofWight_Bee]

Nostalgia

The old Royal Oak was the only place to be Southend in with us :box: Aldershot etc in there with us :box: ...happy days

Now I've joined the ranks of the old gits (not the moaning ones, yet!!) its the New Road where we still have a laugh and rant..normally at the expense of the hopeless officials lol I have to say that over recent seasons the atmos in the NR has improved...still a way to go though.

PS better seats compared to the Braemar cos at least my knees are not sticking into the seat in the row in front of the seat of the row in front!! rofl rofl

 

[Bigbee]

yeah ,what ever ,nothing will ever replace Royal Oak ,ta Langey , remember when it was standing the other side of the dug outs in Braemar ? Done that ,used to buy peanuts off the " hawkers " at half time ,and chuck them at the lino .Ealing Rd was good for a suntan in Summer .Now,New Rd is a good mix of whats available to home fans around the rest of the ground ,decent view ,decent atmoshore ( some times ) and room to sing and dance( and fall down steps ) in the old Hate Corner .Considering what lack of views peeps have to put up with in Wendy House lower ,some times its hardly a " cauldron of noise " which is annoying ,chavs and Tree sing up !

 

[Mr Tree]

i do what i can, they spend all game being pikeys and trying to ponce cigarettes off you

 

[Westlad]

started off at braemar, then got a bit bored and moved to Brook Road, and don't regret it, because it's the best atmosphere in the house

 

[Garybaldbee]

BR upper's not so bad

Its odd. Everybody goes on and on about Brook Road seats offering the best view, but I really don't rate it. I can't stand watching from behind the goal bceause you miss so much of the detail at the other end. I'm happy to put up with the pillars on New Road because I'm able to sit exactly level with the half way line. I wouldn't swap my seat for any other in the ground.

 

[homerbees]

I started my life as a bees fan as a regular on the Ealing Road terrace, normally tucked under one of the floodlights as i didn't have someone blocking my view there. Not been there for a while obviously, last i remember was the players celebrating promotion at GP for an evening kick off. It may have been against Swansea, good memories.

Been a brook road terrace regular since then, but ive had 5 or 6 games in the paddock and a plan to go over to New Road over like the Forest game brook road upper.

 

[Infatuated Bees Alter Ego]

I was thinking of moving to the New Road next season, but since I've heard Edmundo is moving somewhere else, I may stay put

 

[SamBFC]

Get homesick everytime I have to leave the terrace, and someone's bought me Braemar tickets for Huddersfield...

 

[big neil]

in order starting from 1980 til the present day.
royal oak, braemar paddock (terrace), new road standing big games in the early 90's were fantastic in there (v Stoke & v Foolham in the 92 championship season were unforgettable), hate corner, ealing road, brook road lower.

 

[Infatuated Bees Alter Ego]

From 1967 we used to stand in New Road, by the half line, near the front.
Before the game started it would be shoulder to shoulder and crammed in like sardines in a can, for those big games and then as the game unfolded, people seemed to move away from us to create more room. It wasn't because of any bad odours coming from our way, just my Dad was VERY vocal
I sometimes ventured behind the goal, down the Brook Road end. Especially remember that I did just that, for the Newport game when we won 6-0 to book our place at Wembley.
For those seasons when I havn't had a season ticket, I've tended to go down to the Wendy House for the big Cup games, so I can try and sing the team to victory with all the other noisy, singing fans.
When I take my Nephews to a game, they like to go in the upper tier of the Brook road. The view is especially good and they like dropping things from above, especially my programme !
I sometimes went into the family stand with my Daughter in the early 90's.
My favourite vantage point is in the Paddock, back row. Best leg room in the Stadium. The atmosphere can be electric at times. I have this tendency of going ape sh*t when we score. I don't know what comes over me. Up on the seat and beyond I go, usually scaring the living daylights out of anyone who is sitting in Block E.
There was a time when I thought I'd never be able to go to a game again after my Daughter passed away and I still think of us singing together from time to time.
It's a great place is Griffin Park.
My Dad did me proud when he first took me to watch the Bees play. I'm indebted to him.

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

Like several previous posters, I've done the rounds of the ground. As a kid, it was middle of New Road near the front if my Dad brought me, or the corner section of Braemar stands if it was family friends.

Then it was swapping ends at half time until that was stopped. New Road again while Brook Road was being re-built, then Brook Road terraces until it became the away end. Back to New Road for a while, then Ealing Road (with the occasional game in Braemar if it was p***ing down at kick-off.

Now Brook Road Upper. In many ways, I'd rather stand, but the view from Brook Rd terraces is awful. If they put a roof on Ealing Road and move away fans to Brook Rd, then it will be back to Ealing Road for as long as I can take standing.

Much prefer watching from behind the goal, even if from over 100yds it's hard to identify people (I can distinguish Sodje from Tabb, but that's about it).

Still miss the old Royal Oak end, though if it was there now I'd probably be one of the miserable old ***s moaning about the behaviour of the kids there

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I've been pretty much New Road for 35 years, with various relatives and friends in tow. I remember taking a girlfiriend to a few games when the New Road was terracing and she wanted to sit so I was at the back of the Braemer. I also recall watching Brentford v Liverpool from the top of the stand as well and it is a excellent view but I miss the craich in the New Road. Also sat in the Brook Road seats on a couple of occassions which is also a good view. Never sat in the Paddock. I've heard that it's full of large, beer-soaked racist thugs ...

 

[JANORAK]

Like most others above, I've been all around the ground in the past 41 years. Now back where I started, standing behind the Brook Rd goal. Reasons? Cost, atmosphere & sciatica (can't sit for more than 20 mins).

Referring to changing ends at half time, did anyone else fail to negotiate the New Rd "moat" and spend the 2nd half with wet feet, like I did a couple of times?

 

[Nigel Brooks]

Moved to NR (D151) for all the seasons between the loss of 'The Oak' and the availability of BR Upper after away fans were moved back into the open.

I like the view of play from BR Upper (crap for spotting offsides but wonderful for being able to shout 'use the bloody width') but miss some of the characters on NR.

 

[Griffin]

I've watched the action from most places at GP but have mainly been a New Roader. I was brought up on the New Road terrace halfway line but when the seats were put in it lost the atmosphere. I have since remained in New Road and now take up a position in the back row - so I can stand - just outside the old Hate Corner. The atmosphere obviously isn't what it used to be but there are a few people in the back few rows who like a sing and the view is better than Brook Road terracing!

 

[Scott "tap in" Fitzgerald]

Has anyone any pictures of the Royal Oak end as it was before my time?

 

[Edmundo]

Has anyone any pictures of the Royal Oak end as it was before my time?

Check out my avatar.

 

[Billy Hunt]

.

 

[Berkshire Bee]

Been a New Roader since my old man first took me when i was about 9 and i used to stand right at the front with my head barely above the advertising boards (im sure other kids used to stand on milk crates lol) at the Ealing Road side where the away fans had a bit of New Road with the metal fence dividing the fans. Who remembers that???

Still in the New Road but now at the Brook Road end just outside the 18 yard line and dont wanna sit anywhere else at the moment.

Ive stood on Brook Road terrace a few times like the atmosphere but i dont like the fact of you have no clue of where were shooting from at the Ealing Road end we could either be on the 6 yard line or 25yards out lol. Only sat in Brook Road upper once when i was about 10.
Sat in the Braemar but to quiet for me :zzzzz: , and paddock is ok but only sat there for friendlies and an LDV game.

 

[Stanley]

My last place to go, for some reason, was D Block in Braemar which I managed last season. Great view and all that but the company........!

As for homesickness , have never really got over losing the Royal Oak stand to be honest and sometimes when I stand in the new Brook Rd stand you can try and pretend it is still there...just don't look back!

I also miss that corner bit of terrace under the floodlights between the Roak Oak stand and the New rd, as a little un it was the place to go.

 

[Scott "tap in" Fitzgerald]

Ta Edmundo n' Billy Hunt. Its a shame as i'd have loved to have seen Griffin Park when it was all terrace. Can't stand sitting which means its the Brook Road lower for me.

 

[Billy Hunt]

Can't stand sitting

'Tis true.Makes my brain hurt.

 

[Aberdeen flyer]

.

Good pic...against The Loftus Road Scummers..think that is game we won 6-1 with Billy Cobb getting a hatrick....

 

[Aberdeen flyer]

I also miss that corner bit of terrace under the floodlights between the Roak Oak stand and the New rd, as a little un it was the place to go.

That was my favourite place as well as I could stand on the concrete blocks at foot of floodlight pylons and see over people's heads....I was only little ( still am actually) !!!!

 

[nocoat]

Like most have done the tour, had a ST everywhere in the ground ... Hate Corner was quality

Sit quietly at the back of the paddock now watching the crazy kids abuse the opposition ... may sit at the front one day if my ****ing **** mates stop stealing my bastard reserved seat! :mad2:

Cannot beat the Braemar for the big games, otherwise would be happy chilling out in the Brook Upper, D block, or even the terrace and the wonderful cage :beer:

 

[rock_on_u_bees]

been in most parts of braemer, new road, currently have a ST for brook upper although I haven't seen my seat for ages as i stand downstairs all the time.
I wouldn't go back to new road, too quiet and big posts in the way of a decent view.
Braemer is good, as is brook upper, but you cannot beat brook lower for atmosphere

 

[rebus]

I've had a season ticket in all four parts of the ground. Loved the paddock when it was terracing for its banter. Halcyon days!

 

[rebus]

Good pic...against The Loftus Road Scummers..think that is game we won 6-1 with Billy Cobb getting a hatrick....

It's 1963-64 against either QPR or Reading.

 

[hanworthbee]

decided for a couple of reasons to swop the terrace for New Road next saturday, the view is really getting on my tits and I want to try something new that may mean a change in fortunes for us when we are shooting that way

 

[Idaho Bee]

Good pic...against The Loftus Road Scummers..think that is game we won 6-1 with Billy Cobb getting a hatrick....

I was at that game! We were so smug and happy. It was very early in the season. By the end of the season QPHa were promoted to the 2nd Division (and haven't returned since" and we've bounced between the 4th and 3rd Divisions. (Except for our 1 year in Div 2).

Oh the Football Gods are cruel!!!

 

[leatherhat]

.

Do you have a bigger version of this pic?

I'd like to use it as my desktop

Ta

 

[West Ealing Bee]

By the end of the season QPHa were promoted to the 2nd Division (and haven't returned since"

QPR were in the third tier for three seasons from 01-02 to 03-04

 

[Billy Hunt]

Do you have a bigger version of this pic?

I'd like to use it as my desktop

Ta

I don't think so.

Pinched it from somewhere myself. Can't remember where now.

I'll have a check when I get on my pc* at home.

*Bloody pc brigade.

 

[Simon C]

It was on sale on ebay not long ago.

 

[Billy Hunt]

It was on sale on ebay not long ago.

That's it!

I nicked it from ebay.