Is it time RFC ended Club1871

[Orion1871]

Aims of Club 1871:
Club 1871 are a Reading FC fan group who have formed to try and create a loud, positive atmosphere at the Madejski Stadium throughout the 90 minutes.
Their aim is: 'To add another focus to improve the atmosphere and get fully behind the team, by using both old and new Reading chants to make home games feel like the best away games'.

It feels like Club1871 is no longer fulfilling it's stated goals and are actually having the opposite effect.

It's not just the sacked in the morning chants from today, but they are quiet even at the start of matches with fans of clubs such as Port Vale, Northampton and Doncaster singing songs like "shall we sing a song for you" and "is this a library".

If they aren't improving the atmosphere then perhaps it's time to knock it on its head?

[Clyde1998]

I'll put a pin in this, because I have too many points on Club1871 for me to write at this specific moment.

Would say it's certainly not been loud for the entire season and for large parts of last season.

[WestYorksRoyal]

They're a symptom of our problems, not the problem itself. The whole atmosphere around the club is at best "meh" and at worst toxic.

I live away now, but try to make a handful of games every season. The Selles time in 2024 after he had turned around his poor start was the best atmosphere I can remember since we were genuinely good, in both away ends and at home. And C1871 was a big part of that for my money, they sung positively, it was contagion to Coppell's corner and made a good contribution to the SCL atmosphere. But now, they're where dissatisfaction is coming from. I don't agree with "sacked in the morning" chants against a decent guy who cares for the club like Hunt. But it should hardly be a surprise to anyone that football fans can turn nasty. Some may remember I was unhappy with the away end against Barnsley a few weeks ago, but similarly I did the same trip at the end of 23/24 and it was an enjoyable positive atmosphere then. It ultimately reflects what's happening on the pitch.

I must admit, I thought when Dai left we'd see life rushing back to the club, but I think his last "fcuk you" to everything was delaying his exit by a year. If Couhig takes over the team with Selles, Knibbs etc., there's not a rebuild job; it's simply a case of adding a bit of stability to what is being built. The job Couhig, Jacobson et. al are trying to do now is much harder, and it doesn't feel like the enjoyment is there is create a positive atmosphere currently. C1871 reflects that.

[RoyalBlue]

Aims of Club 1871:
Club 1871 are a Reading FC fan group who have formed to try and create a loud, positive atmosphere at the Madejski Stadium throughout the 90 minutes.
Their aim is: 'To add another focus to improve the atmosphere and get fully behind the team, by using both old and new Reading chants to make home games feel like the best away games'.

It feels like Club1871 is no longer fulfilling it's stated goals and are actually having the opposite effect.

It's not just the sacked in the morning chants from today, but they are quiet even at the start of matches with fans of clubs such as Port Vale, Northampton and Doncaster singing songs like "shall we sing a song for you" and "is this a library".

If they aren't improving the atmosphere then perhaps it's time to knock it on it's head?

A more effective solution might be the owners knocking Hunt & co on the head. Getting rid of Club 1871 will do absolutely nothing to improve the atmosphere or stop the 'Hunt out' calls. The fanbase has been very patient on the back of him being a club hero but it's not surprising that the atmosphere is now starting to turn toxic.

[blueroyals]

There was nothing wrong with the atmosphere pre-C1871. The same people who made noise in Y26 just moved over. But with a worse view. And a significant cost to the club to reconfigure the away end. It was a vanity project nothing more as evidenced by the attention seeking fella who runs it throwing a strop on X whenever someone criticises his baby.

[Hound]

1871 definitely worked at first. I think it added significantly

I think at times over the last couple of years it’s done its job as well but it’s been rubbish this season. No atmosphere at all

Suspect it’s largely due to what’s happening on the pitch though

[Bigtimmeh]

I think everyone has been struggling to get excited this year hence the poor atmosphere at most games.

If you don't song yourself at games you shouldn't be criticising other people for not doing so.

The fan base is clearly divided over "hunt out" and C1871 are no exception. A fair number stayed to clap the players but there was a minority shouting at them. The "sacked in the morning" was coming from y25/26 as well as C1871.

I have been dissapointed with the atmosphere so far this season, but I fear that without C1871 it could be even worse.

[Orion1871]

I think everyone has been struggling to get excited this year hence the poor atmosphere at most games.

If you don't song yourself at games you shouldn't be criticising other people for not doing so.

The fan base is clearly divided over "hunt out" and C1871 are no exception. A fair number stayed to clap the players but there was a minority shouting at them. The "sacked in the morning" was coming from y25/26 as well as C1871.

I have been dissapointed with the atmosphere so far this season, but I fear that without C1871 it could be even worse.

Sorry but that is rubbish when Club1871 and RFC themselves have created, for want of a better word, a hierarchy of fans and said these are the fans that are going to be the ones who lead the atmosphere.

[East Grinstead Royal]

To the OP: What exactly do you mean by “knock it on it’s (sic) head?” Tell people who have STs in that area that they have to sit somewhere else? Tell them they are no longer welcome at the club? Hire a couple of hundred extra stewards to enforce sitting in seats? Tell them they can only sing positive songs on pain of ejection if they don’t? Club 1871 is nothing more that putting the vocal section of the club’s support in an area where their support can be more effective - it was never anything else. If you really want to alienate all of the vocal support, sounds like the way to go.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Playing around with the singing areas etc will have no impact as long as the football on offer, and often the results are dire as they are now.

I also think that this year's strategy of more experienced pros at the expense of academy players, has some impact as fans are more willing to back home grown players even when performances drop.

[Bigtimmeh]

I think everyone has been struggling to get excited this year hence the poor atmosphere at most games.

If you don't song yourself at games you shouldn't be criticising other people for not doing so.

The fan base is clearly divided over "hunt out" and C1871 are no exception. A fair number stayed to clap the players but there was a minority shouting at them. The "sacked in the morning" was coming from y25/26 as well as C1871.

I have been dissapointed with the atmosphere so far this season, but I fear that without C1871 it could be even worse.

Sorry but that is rubbish when Club1871 and RFC themselves have created, for want of a better word, a hierarchy of fans and said these are the fans that are going to be the ones who lead the atmosphere.

Anyone who wants to can "lead the atmosphere". that is the nature of a crowd, regardless of what someone said on twitter or what others are trying to do. This attitude of "its someone else's job to create the atmosphere " is part of the reason it's got so quiet. Just because you have created a hierarchy in your mind that doesn't mean there is one. Plenty of songs used to be started from other parts of the crowd (family stand drummers, y26) then spread to 1871, that happens less now. The issue is with all the fans feeling apathetic, not just one area.

[Snowflake Royal]

Criticism of C1871 always comes largely from the same voices. It's the same people who somehow felt threatened by fans trying to do something positive in setting it up, and opposed it from the beginning. Who regularly lobby for it to be closed down any time something isn't perfect, with the same arguments from day one.

IMO, if there's a problem, it came when it moved to the SE part of the stand. Logical of the club to try to move the away fans away from the teeny wannabe hooligans of Y26, to reduce antagonism. But all it's done is have them follow the away fans and move into C1871. Bringing with them more focus on abusing and winding up away fans and negativity, diluting the original mission and positive crowd that started or embraced it.

Orion needs to get over it. It's going nowhere. Hundreds of fans chose to sit(or stand) in C1871, and he doesn’t get to tell them to do different. Just as they aren't telling him where he can sit or how he has to behave at a match.

Mind your own business.

When things are going well, C1871 will be a huge boon to the atmosphere. As they've shown time and again. The players have shown how much they appreciate vocal support by engaging with them.

And when things are not going well and everyone's frustrated, they're no worse than anywhere else in the stadium. Except maybe the teeny wannabes. But they'll be somewhere, doing the same things regardless

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Shock at the lack of a loud atmosphere with a half empty stadium being at the lower end of league one.

We can all help to build an atmosphere

[Royal Shepherd]

Never had this on the South Bank

[Linden Jones' Tash]

I don't sit in C1871, but applauded the intent to concentrate those who want to show passionate support in the tradition of Ultras at clubs around the world....

They should therefore be chanting and singing for most of the game...

The fact that they main sounds coming from C1871 are complaints when opposition corners are taken from the SE corner (irrespective of relevance) tells its own story...

It definitely needs rebooting if it's to fullfill its original purpose lIMHO...

[Clyde1998]

Atmosphere has been poor this season. The football doesn’t help, but many people are getting tickets in the south stand to just stand there quietly

We try get things going and many people just stand there. You know why we were set up.. we need to up it next home game. #ReadingFC

[Millsy]

Chantstarter for years, many of them came through me and my crew but past it now.

Atmosphere has been embarrassing since we moved to the new stadium especially after reserved seating but C1871 has been a decent step in the right direction. Pity the kids don't know how to sustain a chant for long periods like we used to but it is what it is.

Southbank >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> East Stand before reserved seating >> Club 1871 >> East stand after reserved seating but before C1871

It's the best of a bad job, nothing now can ever compare with the good old days for obvious reasons. Let it stay, good job boys keep it up.

[windermereROYAL]

No.

[Orion1871]

Chantstarter for years, many of them came through me and my crew but past it now.

Atmosphere has been embarrassing since we moved to the new stadium especially after reserved seating but C1871 has been a decent step in the right direction. Pity the kids don't know how to sustain a chant for long periods like we used to but it is what it is.

Southbank >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> East Stand before reserved seating >> Club 1871 >> East stand after reserved seating but before C1871

It's the best of a bad job, nothing now can ever compare with the good old days for obvious reasons. Let it stay, good job boys keep it up.

Too busy outside migrant Hotels on a Saturday.

[themwasthedays]

Chantstarter for years, many of them came through me and my crew but past it now.

Atmosphere has been embarrassing since we moved to the new stadium especially after reserved seating but C1871 has been a decent step in the right direction. Pity the kids don't know how to sustain a chant for long periods like we used to but it is what it is.

Southbank >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> East Stand before reserved seating >> Club 1871 >> East stand after reserved seating but before C1871

It's the best of a bad job, nothing now can ever compare with the good old days for obvious reasons. Let it stay, good job boys keep it up.

Yes, I remember when the singing started. I think it was Alan S......... & a few others,whilst our little group from Tadley/Baughurst had our own little choir. We joined them after a few games and it just grew and grew, and the atmosphere eventually became quite something particularly at the bigger games, especially the FA Cup. As they say 'themwasthedays'.