Good Read below even if it does have a Scouse slant even Lofty will be nodding his head in agreement

Manufactured Support - It's There Anything Worse?

How long then before we have Craig Charles and Sinbad on the pitch before the game, waving a flag and bellowing out "Poor Scouser Tommy", encouraging us all to join in as we wave plastic flags that were left on our seats by the club?

Or maybe we could witness Larry the Liverbird running along the Kemlyn Road as our whacky DJ screams, "Centenary Stand, make soooome noooise"; before Larry then races down to the far end and past the camera flashes of the Road End. "Anfield Road End, make soooome nooooissse". The Main Stand come next before Larry slides onto his knees in front of The Kop as the DJ almost reaches a state of ejaculation as he screams for The Kop to "make some noooisssseeeee for the booooysss".

(I shudder)

A little far fetched? Not if you'd been to Hull on Saturday and witnessed first hand the pre-game antics at the KC Stadium; then watched Newcastle v Portsmouth last night as "Top Chanter" sauntered around the pitch making a noise only Geordie's could understand. The sight of a tiger mascot at Hull, whipping up a crowd of grown men in face paint and tiger hats will live with me forever.

The sight of that fat Geordie on the pitch last night, swaggering around to a backdrop of plastic flags will never leave me either. The name on the back of his shirt was just the icing on the cake. Who thought it'd be a good idea to do that before one of Newcastle's biggest games in years? Surely the nation's most passionate and noisy fans don't need any encouragement, do they?

Has football really sunk this low?

This new found craze of manufactured support is growing by the day. Telling fans what to do and when to do it, and even handing them out the tools to do so. From the flags they hand out at Chelsea to the happy clapper things at Fulham, Birmingham and Blackburn. The music played after goals at the likes of Middlesbrough, Bolton and Wigan. Wimbledon even used to pipe music over the PA when they got a corner before they vacated Selhurst Park. How did football crowds used to cope in the 100 years before this craze began? Anyone would think the grounds were silent morgues and nobody thought to bring their own scarves, flags or banners.

Up and down the country, groups of fans do the same dance to "Chelsea Dagger" every time they score. They then break into renditions of "who are ya" or "easy easy" aimed towards the opposition before breaking into The Great Escape, adding in "Rovers" or "City" at the end. It's like some sort of routine they have to follow from the idiot guide for "identikit fans in identikit stadiums" on how to support their team.

Thankfully, a handful of "traditional" clubs with large fan bases still maintain a core of their longstanding support that won't allow this to happen at their homes. The likes of ourselves, Everton, Leeds, West Ham, Tottenham, Man City and a few others. I'd have added Man United into that pot, but I can't after witnessing that clown on the pitch before the 4-1 win there, when he was singing "United Road" trying to get the crowd to join in. It was almost as embarrassing to watch as the episodes at Hull and Newcastle. Almost.

Some fans of those so called "identikit clubs" may see this as an arrogant and elitist view. I hope they do, as it indicates that our support does still retain a unique feel and highlights originality; that the club and our support still has some sort of identification and a culture of its own. Long may it continue. They day we resort to manufacturing an atmosphere like that is the day I give up going. Just leave us to it.

But what is the reason for this growth in manufactured support?

Is it a realisation that the atmosphere just isn't what it used to be? A realisation that the fans filling the grounds every week are no longer capable of supporting the side as they used to, and need to be given a helping hand in doing so? They turn up to be entertained and this free flag or scarf, as well as ear damaging loud music for them to dance along to is the way to do it. Isn't that all a little bit "ice hockey"?

As the commentary on ITV stated at the recent Chelsea v Liverpool tie, when zooming in on the travelling Liverpool support: "They hand out free flags to wave to the fans down here, but these lads don't need them, they bring their own"; or words to that affect. Even the nations media realise the way things have gone and how it affects some clubs more than others. I'm sure the long standing Chelsea fans cringe at the way things have gone at Stamford Bridge these days, but when they are diluted by this new brigade, they're fighting a losing battle.

The men in charge of these clubs will try anything to entertain their customers. We used to be called supporters I think. But when you're paying £50 a ticket, you want to be entertained don't you? Or so they think. We're incapable of creating an atmosphere of our own and creating our own enjoyment; we're now relying our clubs to do it for us.

Or is it more a case of them wanting to control everything we do? Music blasted out before the games to prevent the build up of a hostile atmosphere; instead having everyone singing along to the club's choice of "happy" music. Playing music after goals to stop fans mocking and taunting the opposition, instead dancing along to Chelsea Dagger and being all joyful instead of angry. Anyone would think a riot might break out without this soothing music to keep us under control.

Don't stand, don't sing, don't swear, don't smoke, don't fart, don't breathe, don't jump, don't shout, don't do anything unless we tell you to. Welcome to the wonderful world of modern football.

How much longer can this sanitisation of the game go on before the last remaining die hards walk away for ever? It may bring a smile to my face and make me laugh with embarrassment at some of the goings on, but in the greater scheme of things, it's completely killing fandom and all it stands for.

Paul Jones

http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fan...hing-worse.html

An interesting read for sure, and it's hard to disagree with most of it, you couldve put our fans on his exceptions list 15 years ago, but sadly not any more. Batesy saw to that. He's dead wrong about tottenham fans though.

Edited April 29, 200917 yr by bjd

He forgot to mention that youll never walk alone is played over the tannoy for them to sing along to,

As someone said a while ago its not passion its karaoke

He forgot to mention that youll never walk alone is played over the tannoy for them to sing along to,

As someone said a while ago its not passion its karaoke

Yes - strange how he managed to overlook that. And Z-Cars. I wonder why.

Fantastic article - and fully agree with everything he's said.

We've even had threads on here about Neil Barnnett and his East stand' West stand' - let's hear it from the shed prematch embarassment. Football is deffinately not the same as even a few years ago.

It's become to popular, and there are people going to matches who would never have even considered it a few years ago. They all want to buy into or tap into what they see on the TV. You can't watch a match nowdays without someone mentioning the atmosphere.

I personally think it's a real shame the way football has gone, a real shame.

"They hand out free flags to wave to the fans down here, but these lads don't need them, they bring their own"

A clear highlight of that match for me, and the timing was just f**king superb. That absolutely cretin from ITV saying it, just as the camera zoomed in on a bunch of incredibly glum scousers, scarves over their shoulders, arms crossed, and completely silent as we beat them.

Brilliant :)

Edited April 30, 200917 yr by blizeH

A clear highlight of that match for me, and the timing was just f**king superb. That absolutely cretin from ITV saying it, just as the camera zoomed in on a bunch of incredibly glum scousers, scarves over their shoulders, arms crossed, and completely silent as we beat them.

Brilliant

But what do you think of the plastic flags the club hand out on CL nights?

Do you think it's genuinely to create an atmosphere in the stadium, or a spectacle for those watching globally on TV?

But what do you think of the plastic flags the club hand out on CL nights?

Do you think it's genuinely to create an atmosphere in the stadium, or a spectacle for those watching globally on TV?

Both, plus I like to think it's a gift from the club.

But what do you think of the plastic flags the club hand out on CL nights?

Do you think it's genuinely to create an atmosphere in the stadium, or a spectacle for those watching globally on TV?

i think its a nice gesture from the club. too often football clubs are attacked for fleecing their supporters and giving nothing back. the minute chelsea make a gesture like this they get slated for trying to build an atmospher. but what exactly is wrong with that? didnt ehy also finance the massive flags we now have too? is that wrong also because the club paid for it? to my mind its just looks like another pathetic way to attack the club and chelsea fans by spiteful and jealous opposition fans.

But what do you think of the plastic flags the club hand out on CL nights?

Do you think it's genuinely to create an atmosphere in the stadium, or a spectacle for those watching globally on TV?

For me, it's a bit too close to the way Japanese workers sing the company song before they start work

For me, it's a bit too close to the way Japanese workers sing the company song before they start work

they seem to think it helps morale and therfore improves productivity.............seems to work.

to be honest i find the whole plastic flags a bit silly but it is for the affect on t.v. as for creating an atmosphere i does to a certain extend when the teams come unto the pitch but its over then id prefer to be singing then waving a flag little bit childish. scarfs are better but not by much just sing instead the only way to support your team if we got the west stand goin with the shed and mhl it would be a cracking atmosphere dont happen that often. which is a pity.

they seem to think it helps morale and therfore improves productivity.............seems to work.

Maybe it does work for indoctrinated employees/servants of a company but why would you impose it on money paying supporters.

Increasingly I ask myself why I put up with all the 'thrust down your throat' crap each time I visit SB but one things for sure, I do not go there to be a performing monkey in the corporate ceremony.

If you are so keen - how about kowtowing to a Peter Kenyon shrine each time you arrive at/leave the ground

Never said I was keen.

Never said you weren't either

I've never said a lot of things.

I've never said a lot of things.

Are you two married to each other?

Did anyone notice the flags handed out at the Arsenal game tonight?

Of course there was no mention of them being plastics who need gimmicks to drum up an atmosphere...

I've never said a lot of things.

You have know.

Back to the subject, thank God for non-league footie. £8 to get in, great atmosphere (well as great as 400 people can make it), no plastics, talk to the team afterwards, and its all about community.

Above is a great article and the point about ticket prices and 'entertainment' is spot on.

Back to the subject, thank God for non-league footie. £8 to get in, great atmosphere (well as great as 400 people can make it), no plastics, talk to the team afterwards, and its all about community.

Above is a great article and the point about ticket prices and 'entertainment' is spot on.

which team you watching? my local team is in the unibond northern prem (or whatever the hell they call it now). its usually a good laugh usually with more banter etc, but the football most of the time really is appalling.

which team you watching? my local team is in the unibond northern prem (or whatever the hell they call it now). its usually a good laugh usually with more banter etc, but the football most of the time really is appalling.

The mighty Kingstonian are my team.

They've just won the Ryman Division 1 league and move to the Ryman Premier, 2 divisions below the Conference.

We happily invaded the pitch when they scored the winning goals to secure the title, got pissed with the team afterwards and managaed to blag a season ticket for my son for next season at the amazing price of £20.

Quality of footie may not always be stellar, but it still feels exactly the same when the ball hits the back of the net.

The only real difference is that you're unlikely to see replays on Match of the Day...

Did anyone notice the flags handed out at the Arsenal game tonight?

Of course there was no mention of them being plastics who need gimmicks to drum up an atmosphere...

maybe not, but there is always mention of how poor their support is and how the ground is empty for 10 minutes either side of half time due to all the corporates. Not as bad as some mentioned in the peice in terms of plastic atmosphere, but thats because so much effort is put into the corporate facilities that i dont think the club really give two hoots about the atmosphere.

The Emirates is a graveyard of a ground almost every week.