Sea of Scarves

[St Pauli]

So, when has anything happened without a bit of orchestration?
Last week we had a 'campaign' to get people to take socks to Upton Park. A few years ago a 'campaign' to get people to bring pants to a game. Nothing happens unless you communicate the intent, be that a buzz around fans or a direct message from the club.

Is this just a case of 'not invented here' syndrome? Ergo, 'we didn't think of this on HNA, so we are going to object to it'. Sounds a bit like it to me. Who knows, it muight just be that this is the start of something a bit more spontaneous in the future.

Agreed.

A lot of posters that love how it used to be in the UK are the same that wet themselves over some of the old skool stuff that still exists in German grounds like terracing, booze in stands and on terraces, flares, storming ticket gates, football specials and general pwopa nawtiness like this. Almost all of this is down to fan organisation of stuff, not run through clubs but organisation all the same. Granted a lot of this is down to a recent rash of Ultra groupings in Germany, but without them, German fandom would be a lot less organised, there'd be a lot less fan influence on German clubs and the German FA, and the resulting pwopa nawtiness mentioned above would have gone the way of British football.

I remember reading a german magazine in 2005 that just covered fan culture, not a mention of player transfers or managers in it, and they did a feature on the decline of English fan culture. They quoted some bloke who worked for the FSF or something, and he said 'the key idea to understanding the English fan is moaning. English fans moan about developments in football culture, but very few will organise anything to change them'.

Those words could basically be used to sum up about half of HNA.

[watfordroyal]

Random inflateables >>>>>>> spattering of scarves

but if it gets west/north/northeast standers a bit more animated then go for it.

[exileinleeds]

It is clearly aimed to make it easier for the 10,000 non or semi-regular attendees feel more included. Something they can do- they don't know the chants, and don't have the confidence to stand and shout surrounded by people they don't know...a prop.

Obviously the kill joys know that you can't be a proper Reading fan unless you were spawned on the piss soaked terraces of Elm Park while Robin Friday watched and oxf*rd, his man-seed wiped over your parents humping sweaty bodies by Bill Oddie...

...but the harsh reality is, that notwithstanding Russian millions, Reading FC need to fill the stadium every week to sustain the cost of football we want to see. Better that it is full of "plastics, glory-hunters, bandwaggon jumpers" than half empty. Anything that gets those fanswhoarenotyetcompletelyhooked to feel more part of the day, the atmosphere, the support that lifts the players...then good. If they stick an extra tenner in the clubs coffers to buy a scarf, even better.

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

[Wizard]

Surely one of the reasons for this is that Leeds do quite a lot of scarf waving themselves? I seem to remember them doing it last season.

[John Peel]

It is clearly aimed to make it easier for the 10,000 non or semi-regular attendees feel more included. Something they can do- they don't know the chants, and don't have the confidence to stand and shout surrounded by people they don't know...a prop.

Obviously the kill joys know that you can't be a proper Reading fan unless you were spawned on the piss soaked terraces of Elm Park while Robin Friday watched and oxf*rd, his man-seed wiped over your parents humping sweaty bodies by Bill Oddie...

...but the harsh reality is, that notwithstanding Russian millions, Reading FC need to fill the stadium every week to sustain the cost of football we want to see. Better that it is full of "plastics, glory-hunters, bandwaggon jumpers" than half empty. Anything that gets those fanswhoarenotyetcompletelyhooked to feel more part of the day, the atmosphere, the support that lifts the players...then good. If they stick an extra tenner in the clubs coffers to buy a scarf, even better.

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

+1

[notloyalenuffroyal]

It is clearly aimed to make it easier for the 10,000 non or semi-regular attendees feel more included. Something they can do- they don't know the chants, and don't have the confidence to stand and shout surrounded by people they don't know...a prop.

Obviously the kill joys know that you can't be a proper Reading fan unless you were spawned on the piss soaked terraces of Elm Park while Robin Friday watched and oxf*rd, his man-seed wiped over your parents humping sweaty bodies by Bill Oddie...

...but the harsh reality is, that notwithstanding Russian millions, Reading FC need to fill the stadium every week to sustain the cost of football we want to see. Better that it is full of "plastics, glory-hunters, bandwaggon jumpers" than half empty. Anything that gets those fanswhoarenotyetcompletelyhooked to feel more part of the day, the atmosphere, the support that lifts the players...then good. If they stick an extra tenner in the clubs coffers to buy a scarf, even better.

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

Great post. I reiterate. Kids are important too. I expect there are quite a few Nobbers here, now moaning about scarf waving and banging drums, who only 5 years or so ago were enjoying a cuddle with Kingsley. (Well who wouldn't?)

My boy is coming to his second game and his first "sell-out". If he remembers a huge crowd waving scarfs and singing, he will get hooked - and whilst living 70 miles away we will never be season ticket holders, I would prefer him wanting to come and watch my beloved club in the future, rather than want to make a trip to Wolves or Villa.

If this finalises the deal - well done STAR.

I also expect if 15000 people do do it, I expect a few moaning Nobbers might be tempted to join in.

[under the tin]

It is clearly aimed to make it easier for the 10,000 non or semi-regular attendees feel more included. Something they can do- they don't know the chants, and don't have the confidence to stand and shout surrounded by people they don't know...a prop.

Obviously the kill joys know that you can't be a proper Reading fan unless you were spawned on the piss soaked terraces of Elm Park while Robin Friday watched and oxf*rd, his man-seed wiped over your parents humping sweaty bodies by Bill Oddie...

...but the harsh reality is, that notwithstanding Russian millions, Reading FC need to fill the stadium every week to sustain the cost of football we want to see. Better that it is full of "plastics, glory-hunters, bandwaggon jumpers" than half empty. Anything that gets those fanswhoarenotyetcompletelyhooked to feel more part of the day, the atmosphere, the support that lifts the players...then good. If they stick an extra tenner in the clubs coffers to buy a scarf, even better.

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

Power post. The movement growing is far more important than the views of a few miserable old sods on tinternet.

[West Stand Man]

It is a good post, except for the inference that the -ve views come from the 'old boys' with EP history. Most of those knocking this type of thing are the new fans with little or no perspective on history or where the origins of football are. We old codgers from the bad old days of Div 4 tend not to be so anti anything these days.

[Avon Royal]

It is clearly aimed to make it easier for the 10,000 non or semi-regular attendees feel more included. Something they can do- they don't know the chants, and don't have the confidence to stand and shout surrounded by people they don't know...a prop.

Obviously the kill joys know that you can't be a proper Reading fan unless you were spawned on the piss soaked terraces of Elm Park while Robin Friday watched and oxf*rd, his man-seed wiped over your parents humping sweaty bodies by Bill Oddie...

...but the harsh reality is, that notwithstanding Russian millions, Reading FC need to fill the stadium every week to sustain the cost of football we want to see. Better that it is full of "plastics, glory-hunters, bandwaggon jumpers" than half empty. Anything that gets those fanswhoarenotyetcompletelyhooked to feel more part of the day, the atmosphere, the support that lifts the players...then good. If they stick an extra tenner in the clubs coffers to buy a scarf, even better.

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

Bloody hell, that is quite brilliant!

[southstand67]

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

But the game is on Friday.

[paulholsgrove]

It is clearly aimed to make it easier for the 10,000 non or semi-regular attendees feel more included. Something they can do- they don't know the chants, and don't have the confidence to stand and shout surrounded by people they don't know...a prop.

Obviously the kill joys know that you can't be a proper Reading fan unless you were spawned on the piss soaked terraces of Elm Park while Robin Friday watched and oxf*rd, his man-seed wiped over your parents humping sweaty bodies by Bill Oddie...

...but the harsh reality is, that notwithstanding Russian millions, Reading FC need to fill the stadium every week to sustain the cost of football we want to see. Better that it is full of "plastics, glory-hunters, bandwaggon jumpers" than half empty. Anything that gets those fanswhoarenotyetcompletelyhooked to feel more part of the day, the atmosphere, the support that lifts the players...then good. If they stick an extra tenner in the clubs coffers to buy a scarf, even better.

Some of the boo boys should take a long hard look at themselves. Doesn't matter when you jumped onto the train- we all want the same destination. Everyone had a defining moment when they finally "get it" the day they fall in love with the club, or the game...is it so wrong that Saturday could be that day for some?

The problem is the train is becoming fabricated. Whether it be waving scarfs or socks, or holding up bring it on cards, or rumblestixs. Surely kids are here to watch the football, if they are more interested in watching and joining in with scarf waving, perhaps they should join the youth club or interpretive dance classes.
My first game was getting soaked on the terraces at elm park, and we lost. But I enjoyed the football that was being played and enjoyed watching some talented players, with a great team spirit. It only cost my parents 4quid to get in. Now it costs 15+quid for a child that is more interested in watching everything else bar the football, and annoying the supporters around them as they go off on another sugar high. Parents save your money the jungle gym is cheaper and your kids won't annoy everyone around you.

[who are ya?]

If they fall in love with the club because of waving scarves, they'll be thouroughly disappointed for the majority of games.

I remember when I was alot younger, being stood on a barrier watching Millwall fans beat up Reading and my Dad having to drag me away, gr8 football memories.. Maybe STAR could start arranging a few meets and have kids stand and watch from a safe distance.

[exileinleeds]

The point about kids being annoying is very valid. They are.

In my ideal world, the WS would be reserved for Corporates & Kids, nice and sanitised....The North Stand for lads and dads- older kids who can get into it, and understand that what you hear at football stays at football. Reserve the East Stand for adults only.

[Compo's Hat]

Thankfully STAR didn't realise that when the teams come out, the embarrassment of being mocked by the nation will be saved by Sky going for a commercial break.

[exileinleeds]

Thankfully STAR didn't realise that when the teams come out, the embarrassment of being mocked by the nation will be saved by Sky going for a commercial break.

Embarrassment?

Why?

Do you imagine anyone gives a flying fruitcake what fans at the mad stad do? Those watching will care about the result, and it's impact on the league.


But some big boys may say some rude words on the internet.


Why would you care?

[Compo's Hat]

You do realise there's a world outside of hob nob and the internet.

[muddyfeet]

There is?

[Royal With Cheese]

Yes, yes there is.

[Friday's Legacy]

Twitter. But that's it, isn't it?

[leicsRoyal]

Thankfully STAR didn't realise that when the teams come out, the embarrassment of being mocked by the nation will be saved by Sky going for a commercial break.

Another 3 quid for a scarf.

If only you hadn't thrown your socks on the pitch on Saturday!