The last home game featured a trial run of having a singing section in Block N, to help improve atmosphere at the ground. While the combined factors of the arrival of Milan Mandaric, the first half performance and playing local M69 rivals obviously were all significant factors in the increased volume, generally the experiment initially appears to have been a success leading to extending the trial to this weekends game against West Brom.
The Trust supports any initiative which helps create a better atmosphere in the ground and in doing so makes the ground harder to visit for opposing teams. We asked one of the organisers of this initiative to give his views of the first trial, here is Andy Hunt’s report.
“After having met the club’s officials a week prior to the match against Coventry and the green light being given about a singing section in Block N, it was a relief finally when Saturday came to make the singing section a reality. The singing section had been well-publicised by the football club on the official website and the story even ran in The Leicester Mercury, which heightened expectation and increased popularity in the idea. As the days elapsed prior to the match, tickets for the game were selling well and the club were expecting a crowd in excess of 25,000. Block N was also in demand and few seats were available by Saturday.
When I ascended the steps in Block N half an hour before kick-off, for the first time I can remember since the construction of The Walkers Stadium in 2002, there was singing at the back of the stand amongst an effervescent group of early arrivals. The atmosphere was excellent and it soon drew the attention of several Coventry supporters who then attempted to encroach towards the Leicester fans and engage in some banter….
Thankfully, the stewards intervened and formed a cordon, but the Leicester fans were not too fussed and continued to sing pro-Leicester songs before the start of the game. As kick-off approached, the section became steadily filled and the upper part of Block N remained stood and chanted passionately. The appearance of Milan Mandaric on the pitch before kick-off further increased expectation and excitement causing the decibel count in the stadium to rise. Songs and chants soon turned to Milan Mandaric and he took on a Messiah status among those in Block N.
The atmosphere in Block N remained superb with continuous singing and chanting as the game started, aided by periodic bursts of a drum which was used to good effect. As the goals flew in as the first 26 minutes of the game evaporated, Block N had turned into a frenzy of noise and animation. The top section of Block N had become a mass of bodies jumping wildly and passionately roaring with deafening approval. The scenes were symbolic of what had been a regular feature of the Spion Kop at Filbert Street. The foundations of the stadium actually shook with the vibrations of those in Block N manically celebrating.
The Coventry fans by this stage had slumped into their seats and the gloating Leicester fans at intervals made constant references to the scoreline and the Sky Blues inability to score. There was such a feel good factor and supporters were genuinely enjoying watching a football match and vociferously backing their team in a traditional sense without the normal dreary silence that normally punctuates games. The half-time was greeted with ecstatic cheers and there was much-expectation for the second half with more goals anticipated. Even the confiscation of the drum did not ruin matters, despite the best interests of Coventry fans to use it as a target for coin throwing. The Leicester fans were far more civilised and in good nature.
However, Coventry started sharper and looked livelier after the break. This did not dampen the spirits though amongst the supporters in Block N who continued to make good noise throughout. As the second half wore on the noise increased as fans eased and fears of a dramatic revival by the Sky Blues subsided. The second half may have been no spectacle, but those in Block N had enjoyed a memorable day, both due to the unique atmosphere in Block N that all supporters had contributed in the section to and the fabulous scoreline. It was a great day and a game to remember. We have now been given the all clear for the baggies game this Saturday, so if you want atmosphere – Block N is the place to be!”
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the author of the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation