After the Carling Cup Final sing-off, Geoff Shreeves says it's time to get fans more involved.
Wembley innovation has given Geoff a few ideas
So let's give Manchester United a big hand; well their supporters did - and Tottenham's too as a matter of fact.
Carling, the sponsors of Sunday's cup final, agreed to donate a sizable amount of money to The Bobby Moore Cancer Research Fund if the combined sets of fans managed to raise the noise to the 100 decibel level.
They managed to do this quite comfortably between them and not only set a terrific atmosphere in the stadium but also helped a really worthy cause.
Whilst applauding this I can't help thinking football could maybe take this on a step further. Firstly why not make it competitive with the loudest set of fans receiving a donation to their club's chosen charity?
Of course this would work best at a final when there are an equal number of fans but you could also adjust the readings for a home and away allocation. Many players say their away fans out-sing the home fans, why not prove it?
There could be a pre-match sing off to get warmed up and once the whistle goes it's a straight forward noise factor that decides the winners.
When Roy Keane famously lambasted and labelled the prawn sandwich brigade he was rebuked in some quarters for criticising his club's supporters but did he have a point?
Punters often vigorously defend their right to shout abuse and heckle their sides efforts but taking the fifth amendment is surely taking their "rights" a bit too far? It has to be a two-way street and any player will tell you good backing from the crowd is worth an extra man.
Ludicrous
In the light of this it does seem beyond ludicrous that Middlesbrough recently asked a section of their fans to be
quieter during games for fear of upsetting other spectators!
When Boro beat Liverpool at the weekend I half expected the stewards to leap up with Quiet Please signs as each goal went in. I say let's get the fans more involved. For a start it should never be a booking if a goalscorer runs to his own fans and hugs a few.
The fans' Man of the Match should be voted by free text service five minutes before the end of the game. Could football learn from tennis?
Sue Barker interviews the players for television and the crowd simultaneously at the end of play. One way or another fans bankroll football so let's get them interactive,
Free Bets - Bet £5 Get £20 Free
