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It has been suggested that the physical proximity of everyone in away
accommodation makes the difference, but actually we have been typically
getting a whole end at most grounds which means people can choose where to
sit, with the noise or away from it. At Brentford, there were actually two
groups of Daggers fans singing, one with the drum and the another at the other
end of the away stand going too.
Another thought raised in the discussions on the Daggers
forum is that travelling away means that people are more into the football
as they have done the chats to mates on the way to the game. It even came up
that being seated helps. I don't see that one really since the Carling is
hardly a hotbed of noise.
How about being under cover generally at away games? Well we were loud and
proud at Stockport with no roof, and of course the Sieve provides a roof and a
decent atmosphere too when the crowd does occasionally get going.
Is it because it is only the "hard core" support that tends to
travel? There were over 750 Daggers fans at Orient on Tuesday, the best part of
half the usual home support at the LBB&DS and well over the normal numbers
that travel, yet the atmosphere was reported as being superb.
Daggers fans at Accrington 2004 (c Simmo)
I really don't know what the answer is, but I do know that the
support they get is much appreciated by the team and management. In his
programme notes for Saturday's home game against Darlington, John Still said
of the support at Brentford:
"First things first, the away support was absolutely fantastic. I have to say that nothing surprises me with our supporters but this was extra special. They got behind the players from the first minute and stayed with the players until the last. As it’s been said many times by many people but never was it so true as it was on Tuesday night at Brentford, we felt we have a twelfth man playing for us. Thanks for that, absolutely fantastic and please keep it
up."
The result of that rallying call was a game watched in almost
silence even when the Daggers were on top against Darlington for most of the
first half. The Quakers fans were very quiet too given there was over 300 of
them proving it isn't just being away from home that gets people going.
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