Love them or loath them, the Fanatics have had a massive impact on life at Selhurst since their formation in 2005. The anti-establishment group is all about embracing the European Ultras mentally of supporting your team with noise, colour and passion. Sounds great! But in Europe this mentally can involve protests, fireworks and sometimes violence. The HF certainly showed some of this against Sunderland provoking a negative reaction from some fans by refusing to join in with other chants, letting off a large fire cracker, showing a negative banner against the new potential buyer of the club and even fighting with the clubs own stewards. This has led to a growing concern from other fans potentially wanting an end to this style of supporting. My fellow presenter, Mr Jel Holyoake, certainly echoed this during our recent podcast, but can the regulars at SE25 sustain our electric atmosphere that has given the media and rival fans a real buzz about coming to Selhurst without them.
The Holmesdale Fanatics were formed in 2005 when a group of supporters were fed up with the dreary atmosphere during home matches. I can’t blame them. I remember thinking that at games myself. The group had been inspired by the support many European teams receive. Singing come rain or shine with colourful banners and full stand display’s that just isn’t seen at British clubs. Over the years the group has grown to take over the front on block B attracting many fans young and old.
Using a drum and led by a ‘capo’, they have certainly helped to create an atmosphere that is the envy of many away fans. Even ‘The special one’ Jose Mourinho has slated his own fans for not creating enough noise. However, with the team now in the top tier and crowds almost to capacity the question is whether Selhurst needs the Fanatics anymore to create an atmosphere or can the increased match day attendance do this for themselves? Personally I feel creating an atmosphere is what the Fanatics do best. They have introduced us to many of our current chants like ‘Famous Red and Blue’, ‘Pride of South London’ and the infamous ‘We love you’, which to this day since they started it in 2009 still makes the hairs on the back on my neck stand up when the roar goes up. I’ve been to the few games where the Fanatics have not sung or in one case were held on Holmesdale Rd by the police causing them to be late, and the difference is more dramatic that some realise. Without the HF there is more of an ebb and flow of noise. A chant will start, grow in noise then quickly subside followed by quiet.
The Fanatics contribution involves lengthening chants, eliminating times of silent crowd syndrome and thanks to their drum a united voice that helps to ensure no multi chant clashes. Seems a no brainer really, but with great power comes great responsibility. Sorry for the geeky reference. This metronome effect means the HF feel they should dictate what is sung and when. Even when the crowd wants to start a different chant, like trying to start the ‘He’s just too good for you’ chant after Zaha should have got our 2nd nearly penalty, the Fanatics decided they didn’t want to sing that and continued with their chant. This frustrates many other fans among other issues.
The HF’s view on ‘modern football’ are well known. They are in the camp that believes that money has ruined our beautiful game breeding greedy players, managers and agents whilst exploiting fans for every penny they can. It’s hard to disagree with them. Even a club legend like Dougie Freedman abandoned us when his stock was high for more money and ‘better facilities’. Sky’s money has certainly allowed this multi-millionaire culture to thrive along with the clubs at the top of the peaking order getting the lion’s share of TV money, but that is a story for another blog. In saying that, it is the HF’s approach to this that has contributed towards the negative feelings towards the group.
The banners they display although thought provoking, like the “twenty’s plenty” campaign and thoughts against the EPPP and proposed ‘39th game’ could paint the club in a bad light with the Premier League’s hierarchy, along with their march during this year’s Transfer Window Day which was frankly embarrassing. Then there is their persistence in wanting to use fireworks in stadiums which could potentially be dangerous. It overshadows the good work they do making them come across as almost thuggish. It’s a shame because along with the atmosphere they help to create they do other good work. They’ve attempted on many occasions to increase attendance and support for the club’s other teams like the academy and ladies’ teams. Having sat with and been part of the group back in 2010 I’ve seen first-hand the work and effort that goes into their infamous displays, with members spending their own time and money to ensure Crystal Palace is known to fans around the world.
In my opinion it boils down to a question of pride. If you take away the issues that break rules, like fireworks and violence, then surely it’s up to the group if they want to display banners and choose when they want to start chants or what they want to sing. Other fans have the option of joining in or with numbers what they want to sing. The problem is that many feel ashamed when the Fanatics do something they shouldn’t in Palace colours and I agree that it is annoying to be tarnished with the same brush sometimes.
However, it is very unlikely we are going have the pride of winning the Premier League or Champions League in my life time, so it’s nice have what many regard as the best atmosphere in the top division and this has been supported by a recent article from the Telegraph’s Jim White. To coin a phrase from another of my fellow presenters, ‘At the end of the day’ I enjoy going to matches because of the atmosphere. If I wanted to just watch the football I could easily watch the match at home. With this in mind, it is thanks to the Fanatics contribution that the buzz around Selhurst Park has grown over the years and that is what has to continue as without them I fear we’ll end up like many other grounds in the football league – boring. In saying that, if the HF doesn’t reign in some of their Ultras mentally, the decision may be made for us.
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