It seems the behaviour of some of our fans at the match on Saturday wasn't appreciated by the locals and they may have a point. A number of reports have complained about the aggressive attitude shown by some visiting fans and of small numbers of our fans provoking fights after the match. If these are true, then it really is a shame because it's tantamount to bullying at a club like Norwich. As a club whose fans have been the victims of bullies over the years (and we all know which clubs and when), it's sickeningly hypocritical to be seen to be doing it yourselves.
There was certainly a Charlton-inspired surge towards the home fans at the top of the stand as they celebrated their late equaliser, although it looked half-hearted and hot-headed to me and certainly not serious. The vast majority of our supporters looked to have enjoyed a good day out and a draw wasn't the end of the world, especially if you had actually watched the second half.
The "Adams Family" song was funny when I first heard it about four years ago and it may be appropriate at certain places (ironically Norwich might still be one of them), but it's a bit moronic at every away ground and shows a lack of class. So, it doesn't help improve our reputation when it's belted out throughout the game on a day when we have wannabee Millwall fans with us.
If you want to show how hard you are, there will be a number of excellent opportunities this season for plenty of kudos, but you don't get it by bullying people, especially at a club like Norwich. A town which makes visiting football fans welcome and whose own fans have more self-respect. Frankly, it's embarrassing on every level.
well said Dave
ReplyDeleteI didn't even realise there had been any trouble until Sunday evening.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's my own fault for going all that way and then watching the game, rather than watching the home fans as many people seemed to do.
It did seem a bit slow getting out at the end and now I know why.
I agree with you whole heartedly about the friendliness of the locals. Norwich is a fantastic day out and for that reason I was pleased they came down to tier 3 with us.
It would be an awful shame if we weren't welcomed back next time or had some awkward ticketing arrangements like our friends from Millwall often have to put up with.
As we arrived in Norwich, fresh off the train from Liverpool Street, we strolled past the local bobbies who were in a jovial mood. One of them said to the other that Charlton are "low risk" so he was obviously expecting an easy day.
I don't want some hotheads who can't take a setback ruining it for everyone.
M
As someone who was caught up in the middle of that I can only agree with what you say. It was shameful and embarrassing. I was planning to post something about on my blog anyway and will still do so. Something needs to be done. I don't want to be associated with people like that and a lot of them should know better.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to wonder whether it is worth going to away games . Quite a lot of the people ( not a small minority) who go are ignorant , ugly and frightening. They spent all game looking, gesturing and shouting obscenties towards the Norwich fans . The only song they seem to know the words to are the hideous Adams family song and they spend half the game standing up so that the people sitting behind them can't see .
ReplyDeleteI sat behind 2 grey haired old ladies at Norwich who were plainly scared out of their wits by the whole experience.
The standing up thing in particular is becoming ridiculous. The club has to try and protect the probably older ( 50 plus) and very young who can't see by trying to allocate tickets seperately to those who are likely to stand up and those who aren't.
I was young once and I have shouted obscenties when I shouldn't have done , but I'm sure the crowd is getting more intolerant , violent , obnoxious and unpleasant than it ever has been before
The solution is in your hands. When you witness this behaviour from individuals around and about where you are sat, make a note of the row & seat numbers of the miscreants, easily done as a draft txt message on your phone, and pass it on to the club. It ain't perfect, obviously these berks can move about, but a number of similar stories reaching the club from a few games and they will soon have a pretty clear picture of who is invloved and can then refuse to sell them tickets to further away games and the coaches.
ReplyDeleteWell said Dave. The Adams Family song is classless and rubbish. Please sing something more inspiring to encourage the team. As far as trouble was concerned I was told that City fans were hardly innocent but nonetheless we are better than that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad others are fed up with it -we'll see how many of those idiots turn up when we play the scum, although some may be too young to know what they are in for. Walking down Leytonstone High Rd after the Orient game there were a group behind me doing the Adams family bit. I asked them to stop - couldn't they sing something else? and explained that the people in this league are REAL football fans and don't deserve the abuse. Blank stares all round, but they did shut up. I cringe with embarrassment every time they start.
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