Enjoy the match

[Mr Irascible]

Interesting that they have chosen the Watford game...this could backfire quite spectacularly if the Watford fans welcome their old manager!

[Deathy]

?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

google or check the official site deafy.

[Row Z Royal]

google or check the official site deafy.

Say no to unnecessary clicks.

[Royal Lady]

It's a competition - you have to say why Enjoy The Match is important to your family........ and the winner receives up to 10 seats in a hospitality box to watch RFC v Watford.

I think I'll pass tbh.

[Row Z Royal]

It's a competition - you have to say why Enjoy The Match is important to your family........ and the winner receives up to 10 seats in a hospitality box to watch RFC v Watford.

I think I'll pass tbh.

Because you haven't got that many friends?

[Winchester Royal]

I put in an entry.

[Royal Lady]

No neighbourino, because I'd rather sit where I normally sit - hospitality tends to make me suppress my shouting.

[DavidM62]

Funny thing is that there is a chap behind us who in moments of complete frustration gives it a good old swear. A couple of seasons ago I asked the children if they wanted to move if there was a movers week, oh no they wanted to be near Mr Sweary as he makes us laugh so much.

He cut it a bit fine for the Forest game. My daughter got quite anxious in case he had not renewed.

If you don't like to hear swearing don't go to football.

[Ian Royal]

No neighbourino, because I'd rather sit where I normally sit - hospitality tends to make me suppress my shouting.

I think I'd enjoy introducing the corporate poshos to my vocabulary.

[Dirk Gently]

According to a guy at the football league, they recognise that football is an emotional game and that people will swear. What they want to do is get rid of abusive swearing directed at others, rather than just the occasional curse.

Plus, the "Enjoy the game" campaign is aimed at family areas rather than the whole ground - the mistake made by RFC is to try and think the whole of the MadStad is a "family area" - rather than have a specific designated family area.

[The Cube]

In truth, the swearing is probably no different from that in many other areas of life, and probably far less than in the average school playground. The specific abuse is certainly more of an issue, but personally the thing that I find really detracts from enjoying a match is the constant moaning from miserable gits. Sometimes old, often about my age, sometimes old before their time. People who would have been sitting there grumbling when we were 5-0 up at home to Derby and having won promotion the previous week. I don't know why they don't all kill themselves and let the rest of us appreciate life.

[Jerry St Clair]

the mistake made by RFC is to try and think the whole of the MadStad is a "family area" - rather than have a specific designated family area.

Really? I'd say that's RFCs goal and they're successding very nicely. The ground is like a middle-class recreation centre on matchdays.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

the mistake made by RFC is to try and think the whole of the MadStad is a "family area" - rather than have a specific designated family area.

Really? I'd say that's RFCs goal and they're successding very nicely. The ground is like a middle-class recreation centre on matchdays.

Sadly the middle classes have decided that as we are not sucessful they are not going to attend.

[Dirk Gently]

the mistake made by RFC is to try and think the whole of the MadStad is a "family area" - rather than have a specific designated family area.

Really? I'd say that's RFCs goal and they're successding very nicely. The ground is like a middle-class recreation centre on matchdays.

I'm saying it's a mistake as by gentrifying and making the whole stadium anaemic like a family area they'll alienate the more traditional supporters who realise that a football ground is not a church fête - and those are the very supporters who will stick with them when the more fickle family audience has lost interest.

Nothing against family areas, but keep them where they belong rather than try and impose their standards onto the whole ground.

[Sarah Star]

the mistake made by RFC is to try and think the whole of the MadStad is a "family area" - rather than have a specific designated family area.

Really? I'd say that's RFCs goal and they're successding very nicely. The ground is like a middle-class recreation centre on matchdays.

Sadly the middle classes have decided that as we are not sucessful they are not going to attend.

So are we more middle class or less middle class now?

Either way, let's blame them!

[I was there at Elm Park]

Really? I'd say that's RFCs goal and they're succeeding very nicely. The ground is like a middle-class recreation centre on matchdays.

Sadly the middle classes have decided that as we are not successful they are not going to attend.

So are we more middle class or less middle class now?

Either way, let's blame them!

I do find this middle class at football bashing rather funny. They say football reflects society and Britain's working class is nowhere near as big as it was 20/30 years ago. The town of Reading is a perfect example of this and surprise, surprise that is shown by our crowd. Sure the club is doing its utmost to create a truly cringeworthy match experience but maybe if there was more atmosphere they wouldn't need to.

[Dirk Gently]

I do find this middle class at football bashing rather funny. They say football reflects society and Britain's working class is nowhere near as big as it was 20/30 years ago. The town of Reading is a perfect example of this and surprise, surprise that is shown by our crowd. Sure the club is doing its utmost to create a truly cringeworthy match experience but maybe if there was more atmosphere they wouldn't need to.

It's slightly more than that, though. The club's marketing is based much more on appealing to a middle-class audience much more than to traditional/less affluent audience. It makes commercial sense since they are more affluent and able to afford what is now a very expensive pastime, and off course the family side means that they get a whole family and endless trips to the refreshment kiosks for cola-flavoured sugar water and the other pap sold there.

But they can't have it both ways - if they aim the marketing at middle-class families and not "traditional" supporters they can't then expect there to be the a traditional sort of atmosphere.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

ENJOY THE MATCH

Yeah right just like yesterday. I stood up once all afternoon, when that Polish geezer went close and that is about as exciting as it got.

I have been watching RFC for the best part of 37/38 years and have never felt so down about the whole "matchday experience."
Gone are the days of looking forward to the weekend games travelling the length and breadth of the country in order to do so.

Reading FC is in a terminal decline, the club is a shambles on and off the pitch.
How many other clubs having made the top echelons in football do their best to get back down again having fleeced their fans with false promises and lies.

It is not right when you have to force yourself to go and watch the team and consider other options on a Saturday afternoon.



RFC RIP

[Sarah Star]

I do find this middle class at football bashing rather funny. They say football reflects society and Britain's working class is nowhere near as big as it was 20/30 years ago. The town of Reading is a perfect example of this and surprise, surprise that is shown by our crowd. Sure the club is doing its utmost to create a truly cringeworthy match experience but maybe if there was more atmosphere they wouldn't need to.

It's slightly more than that, though. The club's marketing is based much more on appealing to a middle-class audience much more than to traditional/less affluent audience. It makes commercial sense since they are more affluent and able to afford what is now a very expensive pastime, and off course the family side means that they get a whole family and endless trips to the refreshment kiosks for cola-flavoured sugar water and the other pap sold there.

But they can't have it both ways - if they aim the marketing at middle-class families and not "traditional" supporters they can't then expect there to be the a traditional sort of atmosphere.

I think this is a bit too cynical.

Talking to many of you, it seems most people started coming to games as kids and you stayed and became "traditional" supporters. To blame the club for trying to catch kids young and turn them into supporters seems a bit hypocritical. Whether they are going about it the right way is debatable, but of course they're going to try to appeal to families even if matters on the pitch aren't helping.