Highfield Road - outsiders perspective (1 Viewer)

Nostalgia · Feb 3, 2012

Hey there, genuine fan of a lower league club here who visited Highfield Road years ago for a cup tie and we were just reminiscing about it - which led to a discussion about your recent troubles and new stadium...so our debate was, is it the feeling of Cov fans that leaving Highfield Road for a rented stadium was in hindsight, a mistake? I'm aware you've probably discussed this on/off since the bulldozers went in, but i'm genuinely interested.

Changeyourface · Feb 3, 2012

Possibly the biggest mistake ever made in the clubs history.

Paxman II · Feb 3, 2012

You can't deny the modern Ricoh Arena (rented or owned ) is a great footy stadium compared to the old Highfield Road. It is devoid of atmosphere at times but that is largely due to how restrictive crowds are (we don't have the gathering under the old 'west end' anymore as highfield rd had) and of course through a lack of attendance! (we are lucky at present to be half full) Fill it like we did against Chelsea and it's fab! Could do with some underground and multi-storey car parking though!

Rickstar8701 · Feb 3, 2012

I still get weepy when talking about highfield road.

They were the days when I felt like we(the fans) owned our club

scroobiustom · Feb 3, 2012

Changeyourface said:
Possibly the biggest mistake ever made in the clubs history.

Motion seconded!

Nostalgia · Feb 3, 2012

Rickstar8701 said:
I still get weepy when talking about highfield road.

They were the days when I felt like we(the fans) owned our club

I actually thought about not asking because of this, as although i didn't know enough to be sure, i felt the bulldozers demolished more than just a cracking little ground.

Thanks for the replies, maybe the 'Ricoh' offers potential for a successful future but it seems it's unbalanced the feel of the club aswell as the finances.

sw88 · Feb 3, 2012

Without a doubt, the decision to move from Highfield Road was one of the worst (if not 'the' worst) in the hostory of our club. Yes, the Ricoh brings alot more than just football, but HR was our home. There will NEVER be an atmosphere at the RA as there was a HR. No matter how successful we may be (in the future of course). I dont think new Arena type stadiums will creat atmospheres like those in the old fashioned grounds, no matter who the club is.

I think there was only 1 man at the time who felt we needed to move........in order to fill his pockets with the cash to be made.

Gray · Feb 3, 2012

we were renting Highfield road though towards the end

ccfcway · Feb 3, 2012

Selling Ben Turner for 750k, letting Noel Whelan "have a night out, but dont go too crazy Noel", Sacking EB for Peter Reid, Listening to Oyne, "text a sub", Nacho Novo has signed (or has he), fans forum but you arent allowed to know what was said, cashless turnstyles, Lee Sawyer, loaning PVA and banning him from going over the halfway line after 1st game, not signing Chris Marsden, giving McPake another contract, letting Fat Freddie sit around for months (surely he is in breach of his contract ?), Signing Marlon King for only 6 months, World Cup star Alexi Lalas could be coming, Steve Walsh, buying 2 goalkepeers when you only have money for 3 players,
paying £5,000,000.01 for Lee Hughes, "Elliot Ward and Leon Barnett, now theres a crap centre half duo" oh they got Norwich up !, Not signing Le Fondre, Not playing Alosis, holding up a banner saying "we will be back", standing by a statue, turning down 6 million from Liverpool for Ndlovu, Robert Jarni has joined, SISU....

We didnt start the fire !!

:wave:

Changeyourface · Feb 3, 2012

The Ricoh Arena is a casino, concert hall etc. Oh and the council let's us play football there every other saturday, how anybody can say we have a great ground is beyond me. Who wants to play in a souless bowl which is pratically identical to at least 15 other grounds in this country. Won't even be called the ricoh soon we'll be playing at the KFC Arena or something similar.

shmmeee · Feb 3, 2012

HR was horrible to get to, devoid of atmosphere and horrible to watch games in.

Any other viewpoint is just nostalgia because we were in the Prem at the time IMO. I remember many a game in front of a silent 12k with a pillar blocking my view, my knees by my ears and talking an hour to get out and back to my car.

I wouldn't trade the Ricoh for HR in a million years.

Gray · Feb 3, 2012

Highfield road was 15 mins walk from city centre, and if you didn't fancy walking there was always places to park around the ground!

torchomatic · Feb 3, 2012

Two things amaze me about your list.

1. You are still droning on about the London SC meeting. Is it really one of the most important events?
2. There is no mention of the common demominator with all our woes, the Golden Thread. Bryan Richardson. He was a million times worse than sISU will ever be. Like I said I am amazed that you missed him from your list.

And, finally to the OP. I loved HR. It was just the right size for us, excellent during night matches. Fond memories.

ccfcway said:
Selling Ben Turner for 750k, letting Noel Whelan "have a night out, but dont go too crazy Noel", Sacking EB for Peter Reid, Listening to Oyne, "text a sub", Nacho Novo has signed (or has he), fans forum but you arent allowed to know what was said, cashless turnstyles, Lee Sawyer, loaning PVA and banning him from going over the halfway line after 1st game, not signing Chris Marsden, giving McPake another contract, letting Fat Freddie sit around for months (surely he is in breach of his contract ?), Signing Marlon King for only 6 months, World Cup star Alexi Lalas could be coming, Steve Walsh, buying 2 goalkepeers when you only have money for 3 players,
paying £5,000,000.01 for Lee Hughes, "Elliot Ward and Leon Barnett, now theres a crap centre half duo" oh they got Norwich up !, Not signing Le Fondre, Not playing Alosis, holding up a banner saying "we will be back", standing by a statue, turning down 6 million from Liverpool for Ndlovu, Robert Jarni has joined, SISU....

We didnt start the fire !!

:wave:

ccfcdan · Feb 3, 2012

Only had the pleasure of watching the city at Highfield road for 4 seasons and i loved it, Used to walk up from Radford each week and also used to attend the reserve games for a £1. There was something special about going to a HR. I used to get a buzz when the players came out, also as a kid i used to sit up next to the away fans
and the banter was excellent.

I also like the Ricoh though as its a superb stadium and the facilites are excellent. If we had got the bloody thing built when intended and not once relegated maybe just maybe we would of seen larger crowds and finally established ourselves as a mid-table prem side.

I still think the club should look at ways of improving the atmosphere in the ground. Maybe reduce the capacity and encourage fans to sit together, also get the away fans closer to singers corner to encourage the banter.

So on reflection......I loved HR but it was time to move on and im hoping that in 20 years time ill have just as fond memories of the Ricoh arena.

Grendel · Feb 3, 2012

torchomatic said:
Two things amaze me about your list.

1. You are still droning on about the London SC meeting. Is it really one of the most important events?
2. There is no mention of the common demominator with
all our woes, the Golden Thread. Bryan Richardson. He was a million times worse than sISU will ever be. Like I said I am amazed that you missed him from your list.
And, finally to the OP. I loved HR. It was just the right size for us, excellent during night matches. Fond memories.

Richardson was a chancer but I would rather have had the 10 years under him than the last 10. Mcginnity destroyed the club. Sacked 2 potentially good managers and more importantly refused administration after relegation when there was no financial penalty. We have paid the penalty ever since.

TheHellion · Feb 3, 2012

My enduring memories of Highfield road were the incredible atmosphere the place seemed to have at night games. The place had a buzz, a special feeling about it under the floodlights that I've just not felt at the Ricoh. There were also games I went to as a young kid (circa 95-97). I remember my dad used to work on the turnstiles, and so more than once I was able to get in at a "discounted" price. When he'd finished, he'd come over to us and watch the game, then at full time we'd head off to our local newsagents to wait for the pink.

Trouble with the Ricoh is that it was designed for the club when it was in a different era. For the first season, maybe first season or two, it wasn't bad. We were getting good crowds, and our home form wasn't too bad. But ever since then, it's just become soulless. There's too many empty seats (let's not get into all the reasons about why) and the crowds are spaced out such that the atmosphere just doesn't have an impact.

torchomatic · Feb 3, 2012

Have to strongly disagree with you there, K. All our troubles started with Richardson. Paid himself six figure salaries, sold HR and took a bonus for it. Sold retail space in the Ricoh development and paid himself £400k for doing so. Bought players that we coulkdnt afford. Refused to sack Strachan when everyone could see we were going down - sound familiar? Yet, you reckon McGinnity was worse!? LOL I've heard it all now. Imagine if SISU had done half of what Richardson has?

Its amazing how some fans forget so easily.

Grendel · Feb 3, 2012

I don't forget torchy but premiership chairman are all chancers especially clubs of our size. No one complained about accumulating debt when we were in the premier league. We had for a club of our size some great players and survived against the odds many times.
I am well aware of the odd transfer deals, strange scouts in eastern europe and OFT investigations but without him we would not have had the decade we did.
We got relegated with terrible debt. Mcginnity should have folded and reformed the club. There was no penalty whatsoever but because the main creditors were his chums he went on an asset striping spree that makes sisu look like sugar daddies. Also I am convinced we would have made the play offs if he did not get Jim smith in. Then he sacked nielson. He also sacked black. He was a disaster and ultimately ruined the club,

Brighton Sky Blue · Feb 3, 2012

kduffy said:
Richardson was a chancer but I would rather have had the 10 years under him than the last 10. Mcginnity destroyed the club. Sacked 2 potentially good managers and more importantly refused administration after relegation when there was no financial penalty. We have paid the penalty ever since.

I wouldn't accuse anyone of 'destroying the club' by wanting to make sure that creditors got paid-which usually extends to quite a lot of local businesses who got shafted by our M69 friends when they built the Crisp Bowl for nothing.

torchomatic · Feb 3, 2012

A chancer? Richardson was a crook. Debts went to £60M with Richardson in charge. McGinnity reduced it by £20M. McG may not have been perfect but the rot started with BR.

Grendel · Feb 3, 2012

Brighton Sky Blue said:
I wouldn't accuse anyone of 'destroying the club' by wanting to make sure that creditors got paid-which usually extends to quite a lot of local businesses who got shafted by our M69 friends when they built the Crisp Bowl for nothing.

I would agree but if a certain mp was not a major creditor then I suspect he may not have been so generous. I would have taken the m69 route with no guilt at all.

Grendel · Feb 3, 2012

torchomatic said:
A chancer? Richardson was a crook. Debts went to £60M with Richardson in charge. McGinnity reduced it by £20M. McG may not have been perfect but the rot started with BR.

Name a premier league club without debts like that if they are relegated or the oligarch or shiek calls it a day. Just the way it is in planet premier league. Ethics and morality do not apply.

Nostalgia · Feb 3, 2012

Seems i've opened up an owner-based debate i know very little about, so sorry about that!
Looking at things again from the outsider perspective, i've never been to the Ricoh but from the reports and highlights i've seen it always looks like a friendly match. But Highfield Rd always seemed quite intense and had identity, so although there's no success on the pitch at the Ricoh- i wondered if it's working both ways.

Grendel · Feb 3, 2012

Nostalgia said:
Seems i've opened up an owner-based debate i know very little about, so sorry about that!
Looking at things again from the outsider perspective, i've never been to the Ricoh but from the reports and highlights
i've seen it always looks like a friendly match. But Highfield Rd always seemed quite intense and had identity, so although there's no success on the pitch at the Ricoh- i wondered if it's working both ways.

I am glad you did open the debate. Always felt strongly mginnity and his cronies wrecked the club. As for highfield road it's like music. Always better in the 80's until you are reminded Joe dolce topped the charts. Nostalgia eclipses reality. Ricoh is a better stadium and if we played Chelsea every week rather than once the atmosphere would be electric.

Brighton Sky Blue · Feb 3, 2012

Nostalgia said:
Seems i've opened up an owner-based debate i know very little about, so sorry about that!
Looking at things again from the outsider perspective, i've never been to the Ricoh but from the reports and highlights i've seen it always looks like a friendly match. But Highfield Rd always seemed quite intense and had identity, so although there's no success on the pitch at the Ricoh- i wondered if it's working both ways.

Who is it you support anyway, out of interest?

ccfcway · Feb 3, 2012

torchomatic said:
Two things amaze me about your list.

1. You are still droning on about the London SC meeting. Is it really one of the most important events?
2. There is no mention of the common demominator with all our woes, the Golden Thread. Bryan Richardson. He was a million times worse than sISU will ever be. Like I said I am amazed that you missed him from your list.

And, finally to the OP. I loved HR. It was just the right size for us, excellent during night matches. Fond memories.

Ha, couple of points,

1) STILL droning on ?, I must have mentioned it on here about 3 times
2) I could have put BR in there, as much as I could have put Big Ron the racist, Phil "do i not like that" neal, Jim "I'll sort it out" Smith, the sacking of Neilson etc etc

Nostalgia · Feb 3, 2012

Brighton Sky Blue said:
Who is it you support anyway, out of interest?

Always better to start as a neutral when you're being genuine i think ! But i've broken the ice so should be free from geographical abuse I support Tranmere

Nostalgia · Feb 3, 2012

kduffy said:
Nostalgia eclipses reality..

Don't i know it ... and maybe if your top flight days were in the Ricoh and you were currently at Highfield you would miss the Ricoh's electric days. But like i say, i'm only peering in, but the Ricoh doesn't look like 'Home' to you.

Brighton Sky Blue · Feb 3, 2012

Nostalgia said:
Always better to start as a neutral when you're being genuine i think ! But i've broken the ice so should be free from geographical abuse I support Tranmere

Nowt wrong with Tranmere! League Cup '99 your last visit?

Nostalgia · Feb 3, 2012

Brighton Sky Blue said:
Nowt wrong with Tranmere! League Cup '99 your last visit?

Yeah my only visit, we arrived with a 5-1 lead and tried to throw it away but ended up holding on going all the way to the final....great times

skybluehugh · Feb 3, 2012

Rickstar8701 said:
I still get weepy when talking about highfield road.

They were the days when I felt like we(the fans) owned our club

Nearly started a thread on this subject after watching the Cardiff game the other day.

HR at night the floodlights on with the whole ground singing the hey jude City song was just fantastic, still makes the hair stand on end when i think about it.
One of the best i remember was playing Derby (sorry carn't remember if it was 77/78 or 78/79) But the ref had given them two pens in very quick sucecesion and he got the usual "who's your father" and "the ref is fatherless" the scoreboard told us to mind our language and 20 odd 000 spend about 10min telling it to go away. Oh the memories

Watcher of the sky blues · Feb 3, 2012

I remember the FA Cup tie against Tranmere at Highfield rd, they beat us 0-2. If I remember correctly, it was a replay

DiveDiveWhereverYouMayBe · Feb 3, 2012

ccfcway said:
Selling Ben Turner for 750k, letting Noel Whelan "have a night out, but dont go too crazy Noel", Sacking EB for Peter Reid, Listening to Oyne, "text a sub", Nacho Novo has signed (or has he), fans forum but you arent allowed to know what was said, cashless turnstyles, Lee Sawyer, loaning PVA and banning him from going over the halfway line after 1st game, not signing Chris Marsden, giving McPake another contract, letting Fat Freddie sit around for months (surely he is in breach of his contract ?), Signing Marlon King for only 6 months, World Cup star Alexi Lalas could be coming, Steve Walsh, buying 2 goalkepeers when you only have money for 3 players,
paying £5,000,000.01 for Lee Hughes, "Elliot Ward and Leon Barnett, now theres a crap centre half duo" oh they got Norwich up !, Not signing Le Fondre, Not playing Alosis, holding up a banner saying "we will be back", standing by a statue, turning down 6 million from Liverpool for Ndlovu, Robert Jarni has joined, SISU....

We didnt start the fire !!

:wave:

Leon Barnett was awful as a Coventry City player.

sly_old_fox · Feb 4, 2012

shmmeee said:
HR was horrible to get to, devoid of atmosphere and horrible to watch games in.

Any other viewpoint is just nostalgia because we were in the Prem at the time IMO. I remember many a game in front of a silent 12k with a pillar blocking my view, my knees by my ears and talking an hour to get out and back to my car.

I wouldn't trade the Ricoh for HR in a million years.

HR was a top ground, why didnt you just move your seat? £12K ? must have been plenty to choose from

sly_old_fox · Feb 4, 2012

Brighton Sky Blue said:
I wouldn't accuse anyone of 'destroying the club' by wanting to make sure that creditors got paid-which usually extends to quite a lot of local businesses who got shafted by our M69 friends when they built the Crisp Bowl for nothing.

agree with your comment re: admin/local business's, the stadium was built for £30M which was borrowed from an American lender, who we couldn't then pay, so they took posession and we rented. I think we own it now

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