Liverpool fans show what football banter really is all about
As a Leeds United fan, I’ve long experience of bitter rivalry between mutually-hostile supporters of various clubs. There has been violence, there has been offensive chanting – it was a big part of the football landscape for far too long. Happily, there has been some improvement over the past couple of decades, but in a couple of isolated pockets, things are as bad as ever. Worse, in fact – because in addition to the unpleasant taste left behind by the revolting chants still in common use whenever you go to such beauty spots as Bermondsey or Stretford, there is now, from the animals who follow Millwall and Man U, the rank stench of hypocrisy.
The game between the fallen champions and Liverpool at the weekend brought this phenomenon into sharp focus. Man U fans have problems with Liverpool. There’s an inferiority complex that won’t go away, for a start. Then there’s what they describe as the Liverpool supporters’ appetite for mawkishness over things like Hillsborough, conveniently forgetting their own habit of taking out an onion every February 6th and weeping crocodile tears over Munich – surely the most profitable air disaster any club has ever struck upon. Still, the Man U faithful turn a blind eye to any apparent inconsistency and continue to demand tributes to “the flowers of Manchester” whilst dubbing Liverpool the “City of Pity”.
In the latest meeting between these two old rivals, Liverpool ran out easy winners at the Theatre of Hollow Myths, the assembled Man U fans having come from the traditional hotbeds of Devon, Cornwall and Milton Keynes only to witness their favourites being given a footballing lesson. This was clearly too much for them, and they reacted with a repeated chorus along the lines of ‘The Sun was right, murderers’, with reference to that gutter tabloid’s disgraceful coverage at the time of the Hillsborough disaster. Classy, eh? 96 people went to the football in Sheffield in 1989, and never came home – and here are modern day football fans mocking the bereaved because they’re losing a football match. Naturally, the media will refuse to mention this – the nastier habits of the Man U congregation tend to be swept hastily under the carpet, for sound commercial reasons.
Next weekend, Leeds United meet Millwall, another club whose fans enjoy mocking opposition fans over light-hearted matters like violent death; but those same fans become all self-righteous when it is suggested to them that their behaviour is that of inbred morons. Their justification for their regular outpourings of hate-filled bile tends to boil down to “well you lot do it, innit”. Now, the shameful fact is that Leeds United did used to have a problem with a minority of their fans who enjoyed baiting rival supporters in just this way. That kind of thing was all the rage back in the vicious eighties, a time when United’s support was heavily infiltrated by racists and other such dross. Things are much better at Leeds now, due in no small measure to supporters’ initiatives and anti-racist, anti-thug fanzines. The whole of football has done much to clean up its act – with the notable but ill-publicised exceptions of Man U and Millwall.
The actions of a minority of Man U fans, in singing that sick and sickening song during their humiliation by Liverpool, puts them on a par with the thugs and Neanderthals of Millwall. Both sets of fans glory in the misery, death and bereavement of others. Both sets emit high-pitched squeals should anyone attempt to upbraid them about it. Both sets come predominately from London (saving Man U’s west country brethren). Both sets are also scum – pure and simple.
We at Leeds may not have to put up with the cretinous behaviour of Millwall fans again. Next weekend’s game is at Elland Road, and Millwall tend to bring a following of maybe a couple of dozen to us, for some reason which, they will tell you, is totally connected with policing restrictions, and nothing at all to do with being a bit too chicken to venture up Norf. And by next season, they’ll most probably be in League One – gone and forgotten, late and unlamented.
But it doubtless won’t be too long before our paths cross with Man U again, and inevitably they will bring their Turkish favours to Elland Road, heedless of the fact that Munich taunts from the home fans are largely a thing of the past. And, as usual, the media will fail to take them to task for it. But they’ve proved all over again in the Liverpool game, for all the world to see and hear, that they still have all the taste and decorum of a sty of diseased pigs – so we should perhaps expect such behaviour, and pity those who are simply too subhuman to conduct themselves otherwise.
It’s a shame, now that, Millwall apart, the rest of football has cleaned up its act a bit. But really – and this is the nub of the issue – what else can you expect of such irredeemable, low-life scum? Let’s just thank the footballing Gods that they’re getting a long-overdue taste of what it’s like in the real world – now that their team has turned to dross in the absence of the Demented One. Enjoy it, scummers. It couldn’t happen to more a deserving set of morons.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
It was the most enjoyable football live on TV game of the season. Come on City and give us ‘double delight’ please!
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Rob, How long have you been following football ? Sounds like not that long or else you dont get about much. I was @ Leeds games in the 70’s and 80’s and more recently and I can assure you this “minority” you speak of is NO minority !!! Then you accuse fans having a pint or two as being “morons with tiny brains” and yet your anti MUFC language is fueling the fire. I doubt whether you will print this as its not bowing down at your house of worship but why dont you support your team wthout the obvious bitterness and jealousy which your rhetoric stinks of ?
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I take it you’re a scum fan, John. Not wanting to intrude on private grief, I’m minded to go easy on you. Still – three exclamation marks and ending your nonsense with a preposition? How can you expect to be taken seriously?
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Well said rob.the only delight been a leeds fan lately,is seeing the slow demise of our friends in manchester.theres allways a minority in football clubs.leeds are no angels.we are usually top of the tree,when it comes to banning orders,and the media seem to pick leeds out more than some.but as u say,the song by man u fans,to liverpool fans will go unnoticed.
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I agree with a lot of what you have written Rob, but I have personally witnessed the fact on many occasions, that Liverpool fans are no angels themselves. They and the media play up the perception of the loveable, Scouse rogue, the reality is a bit different.
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I know for a fact that the situation at Liverpool changed sharply after Hillsborough. The few who wanted to carry on we’re much less tolerated by the many who simply hadn’t the stomach for it after seeing 96 die. Hence the scum fans’ song every year at Anfield “Where’s your famous Munich song”. The last thing the scum want is for the Munich thing to disappear, without that they’re just another Northern club.
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What about 3 penalties at old Trafford in 1 game! never would happened with(come an av a wine ref) Fergie
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It was like waiting for a bus – none since December 2011 and then three at once! With 2 stone-wallers NOT given, it could easily have been five, and that young Brazilian punk could easily have gone off before SS Guard Vidic. A day of base comedy at the Theatre of Hollow Myths.
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Whilst I agree Rob that the demise of the filth is absolutely hilarious, you know that not a word will be written in the mainstream publications regarding the large pocket of scum who hurled their abuse at Liverpool, the Scumchester Red “love in” is still going strong, the BBC bias is totally embarrassing and as for the “other” Sport medium it makes me rage when I hear the total rubbish they spout, I have to tune into Radio 3 to calm down, a strange admission that one!
To correct you Rob the Scummers are Southampton supporters, something about seamen, I said sea-men.
Your words are written with passion and a strong belief Rob, but a famous man once said “Never tell the Truth to people who are not worthy of it” I cant think of any other group of idiots who fit the phrase perfectly.
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Let’s not forget the Chelsea faithful, riddled as they are with their own vocal scumbag contingent.
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Never really noticed it with Chelsea tbh. The scum and Millwall are the dregs.
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Rob, leaving the hateful, thick Millwall fans alone for a minute and contemplating our own position in terms of football and managers, who do you think would be the most popular appointment for Leeds if BM steps down. I think that he is no more than two losses away from being replaced. Now, Cellino wants a coach who can work with him.. Who could that fan’s favourite be? Who would be a popular choice snd would still fit the bill? Grayson, Poyet or others?
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I bet it would be an Italian – but my choice would be Steve Clarke, late of WBA or Malky Mackay.
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I thoroughly enjoyed watching the scum get taught a lesson and if the ref had a pair it could have been 7. It’s hilarious that despite clearly having the ref in their pocket they still got smashed, but the unbelievable thing is they managed to find another right back as incredibly annoying and irritating as gary- somebody shut me up- neville in the young brazillian brat raphael who’s face literally makes me want to stamp on it.
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During the 70’s man u fans were the worst in the country , this was mainly because they were losing on a regular basis , relegation in 75 !! , now they are heading back to mediocrity you’ll once again see why we call them scum ,, lifes great when you’re winning rob , its when they’re losing that you’ll see thier true colours….
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Although I agree about Man U’s low-life chants relating to Hillsbrough and Istanbul, us Leeds fans have fans very much similar. The last time we played the scum at Elland Road, 2011 if I remember correctly, I heard lots of Munich chants and saw lots of plane motions with the arms. Don’t try make out Leeds fans are saints these days, because there’s quite a lot of them just as bad as the scum’s following.
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That’s very much the Millwall viewpoint, well done.
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I miss the old days, with the standing and the adrenaline induced atmospheres, every game was like a final. I wasn’t a thug but I really find it all a bit sterile now to be honest . Oh and I’m paying through the nose for it ! However you are bang on about the hypocrisy of the press to both these clubs, who have their plastic, mentally lazy , glory hunting fans scattered up and down the nation. Some presenter on 5 live was insensitive enough to inform listeners of Galatasary’s incredible support and what a memorable occasion it was to see it . Unbelievable .
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I know. If the Galatasaray thing had happened to Man U fans, the media wouldn’t even be able to bring themselves to mention their names – as it is they seem to go head over heels for them, definitely the No 1 Turkish club for Sky and the terrestrial media.
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That must be all of three weeks without a reference to your beloved Millwall & the links get funnier everytime. I know a few Leeds and Bradford fans up near Ilkley, been up there a number of times and had the same bunch come back down to London and come along to Millwall in the home end. Not against Leeds granted, but the point I’m making is they are decent blokes who know the score. They remember Bournemouth & Birmingham away, they know you still have the same element however less active they are now. They know the fixture is dead at Elland Road and will probably go the same way at our ground, but to keep up your continual lovin with us and however funny the link is (Man U) you will have to eat your words when that same element come back out of the woods for a high profile game you may have in the future.
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Can’t make head or tail of that – who do you actually support?
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A good call for Steve Clarke, tho I would like a manager such as Laudrup, bringing in a decent style of play, clever football given a chance.
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Can certainly see the attraction of that, IF the funds are there to recruit the type of player needed to play the passing game.
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At Millwall we consider ourselves to be the biggest small club in the world. And whilst Rob and so many others, continuously make tenuous links to whatever is going on in the world and our Neanderthal supporters the saying has credibility. It is almost as if anything written about the woes of our national sport will not have any credence unless it is cross referenced to Millwall.
Must dash need to muster the forces of Millwall – we are having a jolly in Ukraine at the moment.
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This is a common enough delusion among fans of smaller, irrelevant clubs like Millwall whose only real characteristic is wholly negative – so their fans naturally lean over backwards to accentuate positives that aren’t really there. The fact is that you’re just a Brentford with a gobby lunatic fringe. Without the animals, nobody would realise you were there.
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You are right, the media won’t make anything of Man u fans singing anything offensive, when they would go town with others.
Where I do disagree though is that we have eliminated this from Leeds. Sure, it doesn’t get sung inside the grounds, but it certainly does in the pubs beforehand. There was certainly a lot of it going on at Burnley Cricket Club before the game on Saturday. Just because it was with our fans, does that make it any better?
I’m also getting fed up of the moronic and tasteless “paedo” songs that are sung every game.
I think our support is the best in the land and it was sensational as always on Saturday in the main, but let’s not kid ourselves that the idiotic element has been ostracised either.
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Morons are always going to act as morons in pubs, swilling down ale to further befuddle their tiny brains and with no higher aim in life than to gain the approval of their likewise retarded mates. That’s a different problem, one for society in a broader sense.
As you acknowledge though, the issue has largely died down inside the various stadia, apart from the two throwback examples I’ve cited. Most fans realise the media will be right on them if they slip off the straight and narrow but, again, Man U & Millwall seem exempt from this and therefore the lunatics rule these two asylums.
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Cracking read. Very enjoyable.
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Too easy.
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Did you see the seats behind the dugouts when the third Liverpool goal went in and camers panned on moyes . They were leaving in their droves almost quing to get out ! . Easy to support your club when you’re winning isn’t it ? I am proud to say I have never left a leeds game before the end no matter how many we’ve been losing by. Still I guess it was a long drive home for most of them scummers who wanted to get home before dark . Never mind not long until end of season and they can pick another successful team to support. …. M.O.T
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To try and clear up the Scummers thing mentioned earlier, Portsmouth call Southampton Scummers because of a dockyard strike years ago. The Southampton dockyard went back to work while Pompey stayed out on strike hence the term Scummers commonly used to describe strikebreakers.
It even extends to the Royal Navy nicknaming HMS Southampton the Scummer.
As for the game yesterday, loved it.
MOT
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Really need more accuracies with your terms of derision tut tut. Scummers is an insult Portsmouth use against Southampton and has naval connotations. Odd that the ill informed use it as an alternative to the word scum, even though it has more letters in it. Very odd.
Up the neanderthals!
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Do we not sing ” man utd went on an aeroplane ? “
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I don’t know Gary, do you?
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As we all know real Manc fans support city. The rest are freeloaders down sarf!
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May i say what a pleasure it is to see scum suffer now they know how it feels! We are used to it lol.
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Hi Rob see the Bermondsey love in continues, you sly old would be cockney you. Did you idolise Dick van Dyke as a boy and always wanted to be a cockernee. Where do you sit in you excuse of a ground with the over large pretentious egotistical large stand. I’ll give you a wave this weekend. ….. Oh by the way thanks for giving us Morrison back he’s shit and you can have him for anther year next season on £20 k a week, you mugs what where you thinking…. Have a nice one. Toodle loo.
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Blah, blah, blah…. Do you honestly believe it is only Millwall and Man U fans blah, blah, blah….
The last two times Leeds Utd. Have visited The Den blah, blah, blah….Jimmy Saville, peadofile, blah, blah, blah….
You go on to say that you accept Leeds “did” have a problem blah, blah, blah….
Another false statement you make is that blah, blah, blah….
Lastly you mention the fact that Millwall will probably be relegated this season and you will not play us for a while. Very probably true. But blah, blah, blah….
Stop embarrassing yourself blah, blah, blah…. accept Leeds are as bad as the rest blah, blah, blah…..
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Thought I’d give a brief taste of the Thoughts of Dan the Miwwwaww Fan. It’s edited down a bit, but believe me, you’re not missing much. The original was about 9 pages long and VERY tedious.
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What a fool you are… (and then lots more of the same arrogant and ill-advised bollocks he put last time – which I’ve considerately edited out for you).
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What a prick you are – what an unbelievably deluded and hard-of-thinking twat – to imagine that you’re going to get anywhere at all by starting your comments off so abusively. Even given your obvious highly-strung and over-emotional state and your tendency to adolescent tantrums, it’s a remarkably foolish approach. All that time, wasted – just to give me the chance to demonstrate what a dolt you are. You act as those you think you have rights on here. Trust me, you don’t.
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Leeds are irrelevant, we don’t even hate you anymore. You no longer matter, and it’s unlikely you ever will again
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Who are you trying to convince Len? Yourself, or the match going scummers who sing about hating Leeds EVERY game? I assume you’re typing from an armchair in Devon where your arse has long since taken root, so you can’t be expected to know about these things.
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