Fan Groups in England

[Guest CityFan 06]

Do not think there is a thread for this so thought I'd start one. I notice there's quite a few Fan Groups in English football now, and they contiune to form it seems. I think it's definitely a step in the right direction for atmosphere's at clubs. One recurring theme I have acknowledged though, and this is not a criticism of Union FS in any way, but many of these groups are positioned at the front of their stands, which I think would be fantastic for our fan group. Of course this would mean the atmosphere would be closer to the pitch, closer to the players, especially as our stadium is built for the noise to travel onto the pitch - it would work so well and I can't help but think the positioning of the group in the lower areas would get their atmosphere heard even more, to a certain degree. 

 

Flags are also a major feature for these groups, UFS started the trend of flags at the back of the Kop and it's gained such popularity. Hopefully in the near future (club permitting) we will start see flags on the front rail as well as the back - the end would look outstanding. I get the impression groups are of mixed opinion with drums, I certainly get the feeling groups feel atmosphere should be traditionally created though, as opposed to atmosphere enhancing stuff (a big factor as to why I am behind these types of fan groups).

 

It's been excellent to see the progression of Union FS, through the three years of being formed. I remember their first game and ultimately the group have gone from strength to strength since then. Before their arrival our Kop perhaps didn't have such of an identity, but thanks to UFS, I feel we have now established our Kop end again which is great; the flags, the wavers, the Tifo's have all been key aspects which has helped this. Congrats to the group for the ongoing great work they do, at the back of SK1. 

 

Here's a few notable fan groups in England:

 

Leicester - Union FS

Birmingham - Tilton Alliance

Watford - The 1881 Movement

Crystal Palace - Holmesdale Fanatics 

Manchester City - 1894 Group

Middlesbrough - Red Faction

 

 

[Stadt]

Watford's group are wank, Villa and Oxford have groups too but I can't remember their names

 

 

There's quite a few fan groups/ultras in the lower leagues

[GaelicFox]

Slightly off topic 

 

But talking a birth flags , what are all thise flags circling the ground just under the roof of stands they go the whole way around 

 

the monks again ? 

[GaelicFox]

If someone says they were there last year I'm going to spec savers in morning 

[Voll Blau]

The ones worth talking about in the top few divisions really are Palace, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Lincoln. Things also seem to be cracking on at Exeter and Huddersfield that look OK, but almost every other group seems to be just a copycat joke - i.e. a bloke posting on Facebook "who wants to start an Ultras group at Derby" without actually understanding what one is, then waving a couple of printed flags at games and singing every song they can nick of Youtube.

 

Think Villa's have struggled with club bans and may have folded. Not 100% though.

[Guest CityFan 06]

1 minute ago, Voll Blau said:

The ones worth talking about in the top few divisions really are Palace, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Lincoln. Things also seem to be cracking on at Exeter and Huddersfield that look OK, but almost every other group seems to be just a copycat joke - i.e. a bloke posting on Facebook "who wants to start an Ultras group at Derby" without actually understanding what one is, then waving a couple of printed flags at games and singing every song they can nick of Youtube.

 

Think Villa's have struggled with club bans and may have folded. Not 100% though.

I have seen Huddersfield's group, they seems to be making decent progress. Tilton Alliance is fairly new, but they've got the exact right ideas and look like a decent group. They've received plaudits in the online/paper newspapers too, suggesting they've took great steps in getting the St Andrews atmosphere back. Their fanbase have been positive about their efforts too. Oxford did also come to mind in the original post 

[Finnegan]

You couldn't have union FS at the front of the stand, they'd spend the whole game being told to sit down by old boys who've been "in the kop" for fifty years.

[TiffToff88]

18 hours ago, GaelicFox said:

Slightly off topic 

 

But talking a birth flags , what are all thise flags circling the ground just under the roof of stands they go the whole way around 

 

the monks again ? 

i noticed them at the Arsenal game. Yeah they just look to be some sort of Thai themed flags. Maybe religious? maybe a good luck charm? or maybe the owners are gradually "Vincent Tan-ing" us without us even noticing!

 

Very subtle changes have been made in and around the ground over the last few years, it's definitely starting to have a more oriental feel around the place!

[AKCJ]

18 hours ago, GaelicFox said:

If someone says they were there last year I'm going to spec savers in morning 

 They were definitely there last season.

[Stadt]

11 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

 They were definitely there last season.

The small gold ones were but there's more now

[Guest CityFan 06]

Noticed recently the work 'Gallowgate Flags' have done with Newcastle's St James Park. They've made a real difference to the ground with the flags. They are now looking into getting a block designated for singing too.

[Soup]

Apart from the fvckers stealing a few of our flags a while back I have alot of respect for HF, they've a good mentality.

 

As for Watford and Derby, well they're a little bit naff to say the least. 

[SemperEadem]

North Stand Loyal looks to have really galvanised Huddersfield's support home and away.

[Finnegan]

On 10/03/2017 at 19:50, The soup nazi said:

Apart from the fvckers stealing a few of our flags a while back I have alot of respect for HF, they've a good mentality.

 

As for Watford and Derby, well they're a little bit naff to say the least. 

 

From the outside looking in they seem like a bunch of pretentious little bellends that think they invented singing at football games tbh.

[Soup]

20 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

From the outside looking in they seem like a bunch of pretentious little bellends that think they invented singing at football games tbh.

Yeah that may be true but their effert into the stuff they do is impressive. 

[Bayfox]

on the issue of being towards the front and flags.

 

Already mentioned but the club won't allow flags at the front. We don't really have a rail for them as such. So that's unlikely to change. 

 

And ufs themselves tried using the unreserved seating at Copenhagen to get to the front. The singing never really caught on one bit.

 

Think where they are is ideal. If we can just get more like minded people in the kop over the years.

[Finnegan]

6 minutes ago, The soup nazi said:

Yeah that may be true but their effert into the stuff they do is impressive. 

 

But let's be honest, it'll just be a few select individuals that like arts and crafts and whose hobby is European ultras.

 

Everyone else just has to turn up, buy their season ticket in the right spot and be willing to sing.

 

Even amongst UFS, I'm willing to bet it's the same small handful of people getting the TIFO sorted every time and the vast majority in that corner just turn up and sing?

 

That's not criticism, it's just normal, in all walks of life. 

[Soup]

8 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

But let's be honest, it'll just be a few select individuals that like arts and crafts and whose hobby is European ultras.

 

Everyone else just has to turn up, buy their season ticket in the right spot and be willing to sing.

 

Even amongst UFS, I'm willing to bet it's the same small handful of people getting the TIFO sorted every time and the vast majority in that corner just turn up and sing?

 

That's not criticism, it's just normal, in all walks of life. 

No your right of course. But they do a fair bit so I'm thinking that they must have more than a handful of active members within their ranks. 

 

You'll always have people within groups that do less than others, like you say that's the same in all walks of life.

 

Your European Ultra hobby comment  made me laugh though . Being into that is really no different than being a fan of European football really, just a different way of enjoying football.

[Finnegan]

1 hour ago, The soup nazi said:

 

Your European Ultra hobby comment  made me laugh though . Being into that is really no different than being a fan of European football really, just a different way of enjoying football.

 

That's the bit I disagree with really and I'm not sure why it seems to rattle people.

 

Liking ultras has nothing to do with football. What you like is the noise, the visual styles of the tifo and the pyro. It's actually art, really. Maybe one day it'll be appreciated as art in the same way graffiti gets a lot more respect now than it did twenty years ago.

 

But it's got nothing to do with twenty two guys kicking a ball around. It's a hobby, an interest in and of itself. The Ultras thread on here isn't full of clips of football with some tifo in the background is it? It's just videos and pictures of crowds. 

 

That's cool, that's what interests some people, no problem. For those that go out and actually physically get involved artistically, that's their hobby. They're doing it because they enjoy creating, not because they think "if I get this banner right, Leicester are staying up." 

[Ashley]

21 hours ago, Bayfox said:

on the issue of being towards the front and flags.

 

Already mentioned but the club won't allow flags at the front. We don't really have a rail for them as such. So that's unlikely to change. 

 

And ufs themselves tried using the unreserved seating at Copenhagen to get to the front. The singing never really caught on one bit.

 

Think where they are is ideal. If we can just get more like minded people in the kop over the years.

 

See I've massive respect for UFS and I did question their motatives for Copenhagen. For me personally they seen Copenhagen doing their, sha la la la la laa FC Kobenhavn song with them all bouncing and tried to do something similar, during that game they tried a capo too - why? It hadnt been done before and it failed. 

 

For me I want us to bounce the **** out of the King Power and Away ends were in would be brilliant to see. Just like you see Sheffield Wednesday - if you don't ****ing bounce, if you don't ****ing bounce you're a blade. 

 

Im all for new ideas but Copenhagen game was a bit silly to be honest. Trying to bounce around at the front didn't work, the capo thing too these should probably be tried at home games before doing it away? 

 

Another thing - we need the Family Stand and Kop changing around and that is me being serious. There is no reason it can't be done. Derby and Middlesbrough  have had their away ends moved to accommodate their supporter groups so why can't we move our Kop and family stands around?

[walkerleeds]

43 minutes ago, Ashley said:

 

See I've massive respect for UFS and I did question their motatives for Copenhagen. For me personally they seen Copenhagen doing their, sha la la la la laa FC Kobenhavn song with them all bouncing and tried to do something similar, during that game they tried a capo too - why? It hadnt been done before and it failed. 

 

For me I want us to bounce the **** out of the King Power and Away ends were in would be brilliant to see. Just like you see Sheffield Wednesday - if you don't ****ing bounce, if you don't ****ing bounce you're a blade. 

 

Im all for new ideas but Copenhagen game was a bit silly to be honest. Trying to bounce around at the front didn't work, the capo thing too these should probably be tried at home games before doing it away? 

 

Another thing - we need the Family Stand and Kop changing around and that is me being serious. There is no reason it can't be done. Derby and Middlesbrough  have had their away ends moved to accommodate their supporter groups so why can't we move our Kop and family stands around?

 

It would 100% encourage more standing, would the club welcome this?