Oxford United have been struggling at home this season, so it’s vitally important that the fans keep on backing their team.

Having been a professional footballer for most of my life, I know how critical it is to have positive support at your home ground.

When your team is winning, it’s easy to follow a side, so when the chips are down, it’s vital you keep providing that positive energy.

“The place where you continually return for love and acceptance – that’s home, that’s how author Richelle E Goodrich described it.

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Stamford Bridge, Elland Road, the Britannia Stadium and the Kassam Stadium are all places I have called home at some stage of my life.

At every one one of those places, I wanted love and acceptance from those that shared my home with me – not from the players, but your home crowd.

I’m not saying that in a sycophantic way, but realistically all players want it from their own fans.

The supporters have the power of voice to make it a happy home or they can make it an uncomfortable place to be.

Some of the most memorable games I was involved in were played at home in front of my own fans.

Chelsea’s 3-1 win against Vicenza in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge in April 1998, Leeds United’s 1-0 Champions League victory over AC Milan at Elland Road in September 2000.

And, of course, who could forget ten-man Oxford United’s superb 2-0 win over bitter rivals Swindon Town at the Kassam Stadium in March 2012.

All of them, as did many others, had something in common, and that was the backing of home support, making defeat near impossible.

When you are on a good run of form and have the backing of the crowd, you can feel the energy even as early as when you turn up at the stadium.

The changing room is buzzing and lively, players engaging in chat and it’s a relaxed environment full of confidence.

You walk out onto the pitch feeling that love and acceptance from your own.

There is a flip side, as we know, because form isn’t always good and that tests the patience of your own fans.

Turning up to the ground on a match day has a different feel, low energy and negativity is polluting the atmosphere.

There is an uncomfortable silence in the changing room, players are in their own zones focusing on the game or trying to block out the fear factor.

So confidence is at a premium.

You walk out onto the pitch feeling anything but love and acceptance from your own.

I have sat in changing rooms knowing that the fans are ready to turn on us if we don’t start well or win.

I pride myself on being mentally tough and not letting outside elements have a negative impact.

It’s when you see how it affects different teammates that you feel the impact.

Even the strongest one-to-one pep talk and words of encouragement to an affected player can do nothing to stop the fear.

The look on their face resembles that of a man about to walk out into the Colosseum in ancient Rome.

On the pitch, the player’s performance is nowhere near the level he can play at, because the fear factor has kicked in.

His performance makes the fans get annoyed with what they see and voice it, which sends the player further into his shell.

I am not saying fans shouldn’t voice their opinion of their team, as long as it football-related, it’s not personal and it’s productive.

If the opinion being voiced is one, that is damaging the team or an individual then I think then those involved have to ask themselves – is their behaviour helping?

We all share the same home and ultimately want the same thing, which is to win and be a successful team.

It’s all about creating that positive atmosphere and eradicating that fear factor.

So, sing, clap, cheer and make as much noise as possible and back your team.

But if it’s not positive and helpful, then don’t say it.

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