Who threw the first insult? Who threw the first pint? Who grabbed the first throat?
Who cares?
More importantly, when did everyone get so incredibly angry? Unfortunately, Poppies fans are getting a bit of a reputation here. I'm sure we're not always entirely to blame, but we sure don't help ourselves by going ape-shit every time we lose a game of football. Or have a goal scored against us. Or a corner is given against us. Or lose the toss at the start of the game..... Whether it is directly into the face of an obnoxious full-back at the game, or while bashing away on social media, we seem to be losing it far too often than is healthy. No wonder most other fans view is that we are a bunch of complete lunatics.
But why are we getting so angry?
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| "Did you spill my pint?" |
Is it the absolute desperate need to demand instant gratification, brought on by a decade spent spouting whatever went through our heads, with no consequences, on Facebook or Twitter?
Is it the almost complete lack of physical violence in modern football? Would arsy kids spout off so much if there was the very real possibility of coming away from a game with a thick lip?
Is it the lack of terrace wags who were able to defuse tricky situations with a humorous aside? I'm afraid shouting, "PAEDO", or "C*NT" at a goalie for 90 minutes doesn't quite cut the mustard in the terrace-wag stakes.
Is it the lack of "Chant-herders" who were a group of older supporters who controlled the singing at matches and steered the young-uns in the accepted ways of support and derision? Those more dignified Gents who knew the perfect chant for any situation, and knew whether that afternoon's visitors "found a dead dog, and thought it a treat..." Again, I doubt these guys would have permitted a session of chanting "PAEDO", or "C*NT" from the younger elements. If memory serves, you weren't even allowed to start a chant until you had 10 years unbroken Poppies service, and a thick fuzz of hair on both your chin and balls.
Is it the lack of a small war, to thin the herd a little.
Regardless of why we are all blowing our tops every match, we really need to ease back a touch. It's only football. And not even especially good football. Imagine if something important actually happened in our lives. How would we handle that? It doesn't bear thinking about!
During the dark days a year or two ago someone once claimed KTFC as the best football club in England, after recent events would that person still make such a bold claim ??
ReplyDeleteThe club is a mess, we see "supporters" acting badly to the extent that the FA need to have a say and a board who seemingly lack the ability to do anything about it, while the fans own group the Trust are as (in)conspicuous as ever.
To top it all the owner is seemingly enjoying life on the otherside of the world, does he care about what is happening ? If he does, he would fly home immediately and ensure the issues were sorted.
I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to there not being as many "senior pros" among the fans to squash any thuggish behavior before it got out of hand. It's all very good and well blaming twitter and facebook but I like to think people still have SOME common sense as they walk out the front door.
ReplyDeleteThere's not easy fix as I think that the bad habits are already too ingrained. All I hope for is Kettering progress up the leagues, attend better stadia (usually with segregation), and incidents like Royston won't be able to happen.
I'm not sure anyone ever claimed the Poppies were the best club in the world (except as part of a well known chant).
ReplyDeleteBut a one-sided report from Royston officals, or supposed non-action of the Board or Trust (I'm not sure exactly what the Trust could do about any of these perceived shortcomings) surely doesn't mean our descent into anarchy is complete?
The Poppies have become much more angry!
ReplyDeleteYeah? Do you want to make something of it?
Delete(Joke!)