Editorial
Issue 134
Three things seem to help set a crowd
going; adversity, challenge and confinement. For us, that was proved again at Derby (we
were supposed to be underdogs!?) and Coventry. We experienced it at Spurs in
’93 and at the Baseball Ground in ’92, too. But it rarely happens at Turf Moor
– Fulham, last year and Plymouth, the year before that, are obvious exceptions and we
know why. The greater the adversity the greater the chance that like-minded people will
pull together.
It’s strange that we’ve been so good
at home this year and so inept away. Generally speaking, we seem to muster more vociferous
support away from home. Playing at Turf Moor, we sometimes get out-shouted by the
opposition’s handful. We’re told that all-seated stadia can be mean,
intimidating places, with Serie A grounds quoted as examples. I only watch Italian
football in snatches but on TV the atmosphere seems anaemic despite the fireworks. Anyway,
my point is that if we are to restore active crowd participation at home, we have to
recreate a sense of togetherness. I’m not sure whether the ‘singing area’
idea will work. The US reservation policy didn’t do too much for the native Red
Indians. We have to develop this sense of togetherness ourselves (as on the Longside). It
can’t be manufactured. Despite that, the idea may be worth a shot.
Obviously, we’re not alone here. Even Man U
fans complain about the lack of passion at Old Trafford except for the really big games. I
doubt whether a ‘singing area’ will do much for them because there’s
insufficient challenge and no adversity (unless you count a defeat by Marseilles or the
Roy Keane contract saga as a bad time). I suppose some think that famine relief comes when
you run out of gourmet dinners.
Having been at both Derby and Coventry this
year, I note how the clubs try to get the crowds pumped up with booming rock music
(alright, Robbie Williams and some crap club song). This just smacks of corporate nonsense
like the abysmal ‘Simply The Best’ out-pourings from Exeter to Ross
County. At least, Coventry’s rendition of the ‘Eton Boating Song’ belonged
to their crowd. Credit should go to Barry Hearn for realising that the club’s
supporters should own the team’s entrance music, too. He quickly realised his mistake
when he dumped ‘Tijuana Taxi’ at Brisbane Road in favour of Tina Turner
or whatever. Dundee United actually chose ‘Love Is In The Air’ after an
impromptu chorus had greeted a stunning headed goal. And Kilmarnock wouldn’t dream of
changing ‘Paper Roses’ as their idiosyncratic opener.
If we’re going to have music at football
grounds, it might be an idea for different supporters to choose something themselves, like
a favourite top five. It doesn’t matter what – it could be classical, jazz,
hip-hop, rock, anything. At least the music would mean something to someone. What I
frequently hear means sod all to anyone.
Tim Quelch
February 2000
