Stand up, if you hate the scum….
I’ve taken a bit of stick lately, through the “Comments” facility of Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything, for appearing to nurse a degree of hatred towards certain other football clubs – and their supporters. It’s a serious accusation, so I should make my position clear straight away.
I’m guilty as charged. Guilty as hell. Guilty as a weasel in the hen-house. I do indeed hate, among others, Man U (the scum), Tottenham Hotspur and Galatasaray (Galascum). It should be emphasised that this is not an exhaustive list.
My reasons are varied, according to the club involved – but those reasons are entirely valid, as far as I’m concerned. They’re also entirely personal to me. I don’t invite anyone to correct me over this and I wouldn’t dream of infringing on anyone else’s hatred territory. And, most importantly of all, though I have entered above a plea of guilty, I don’t feel guilty. Not a bit of it.
Before I go on, let me state this as a guiding principle: there is a place in football for hate.
Now, that might seem a rather provocative, not to say controversial statement, in these happy-clappy days when going to the match is supposed to be all about families, and fun. When oompah bands high up in the stands, are strategically placed so that the newly-gentrified population in the 36 quid seats should not have to hear anything raucous or profane.
But it’s true, nevertheless. Football is tribal, football is cathartic, football is where you get to let off some steam after gritting your teeth all week.
And, for all of that, you need someone to hate.
Hate is a much misunderstood, wrongly demonised word nowadays. It’s not really to be found in the lexicon of the politically correct. It sends out the wrong message, don’t you know, and speaks of the extreme edges of emotion and feeling, where those of pallid personalities do not wish to be seen.
But hate is a real human emotion, and you can’t simply wish, or indeed legislate it away. Properly expressed, it’s just about the best catalyst for atmosphere at a good old traditional sporting fixture.
The professionals should stay out of it, and get on with the game – it’s not really within their remit to get caught up in the atmosphere a bit of hate generates (although it’s frequently more entertaining than the football when teams DO let the passion affect them). However, the real arena is in the stands, or on the terraces, as we used to say in happier times.
Here is where the mutual dislike, felt in extreme measure in some cases, can safely be vented. Two sets of supporters, bound by a common loathing, hurl insults of glorious vulgarity back and forth, each seeking to outdo the other in a contest outside of the on-field engagement. The feeling is atavistic, and there’s no actual need for it to spill over into physical confrontation for honour to be satisfied. The occasion as a whole is enhanced by these pieces of human theatre.
The modern tendency towards crowd interaction being drowned out by super-powerful P.A. systems, pumping out crap music, has detracted from this phenomenon, as have the silly drums and trumpets they call “bands”. My own beloved Leeds United made an ill-advised decision, quite a few years back now, to promote a “band” – but the masses behind the goal did not approve. The occasional toot and drumbeat were heard, only to be swiftly squashed by a throaty “Stand uuuup, if you hate the band”, and the experiment died an early and unlamented death. Rightly so, too. Bands at football stadia prosper only where the indigenous support lacks the moral fibre to resist such contrived attempts at a “nice” atmosphere. Sheffield Wednesday is the obvious example.
Sadly, it appears that the good old days of free expression, where a cadre of like-minded fanatics could express their hatred of “that lot from ovver t’hill”, are soon to be behind us for good. Yet there are still football clubs and fixtures which can conjure up some of the old atmosphere, so deeply do feelings run.
I’m glad to say that dear old Leeds United is one such club, so pathologically hated by so many other sets of fans, and so willingly disposed to return that sentiment with interest, that our matches against a select group of old enemies roll back the years, and set the blood pumping with an almost-forgotten vigour. Long may that remain the case – these are the real football clubs, with the real fans, and it’s this unreconstructed minority which is striving to hold back the tide of plastic, family-orientated, artificial bonhomie that so threatens to dull the palate as the 21st century progresses.
It’s not politically correct. It’s frowned upon by the self-appointed guardians of “The Good Of The Game”. And admittedly, it too often spills over into taboo references, or actual violence, which is never something to be condoned. But come the day when they finally kill the last wisp of hate-fuelled atmosphere, at the last old dinosaur of a non-modern non-Meccano stadium, they’ll be well on the way to finally reading the last rites over the corpse of the game as we used to know it.
And then – why, I’ll throw in the towel, say my goodbyes to Elland Road, and sulk off to watch Frickley Athletic play those twats from FC Scum of Manchester – confident that there will be enough curmudgeonly old reprobates on both sides who will be happy to spit venom at each other for 90 minutes – just for old times’ sake.
Life, Leeds United, the Universe & Everything 
What an awful article
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Hope you cunts get hammered Saturday!
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Speak for yourself lad. I don’t hate Liverpool.
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There’s a difference between banter and vulgarity. Old Leeds fans just don’t get it.
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I do not hate anything in my life. Some could say that my ex.wife was barb wire to my present appearance but I must disagree. She is and will be thinking BS while I am a free Man. But what comes to scum they are just below garbage and for a reason. But their existence is for the Whites because we want to thrash them at will some sunny day. Tare
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Leeds has a club?!?! Congrats from America!
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I’d have thought you’d be preoccupied by thoughts of yet another foreign war and the hope that your country won’t make too much of a fool of itself, taking heavy toll of its allies by that curiously American “friendly fire” cock-up. But hey, thanks.
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Forest supporter. Loved the article and style of writing. Looking forward to beating you later in the season.
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Cheers, Rod. Mutual I’m sure!
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Couldn’t agree more! The mental healing power of a feisty away game is worth 10 sessions with a psychologist any day. A good sing-song is great for letting out all your troubles. Looking forward to dicking you at your place again. Lots of hate – a like minded Forest fan (Scab, scum etc.)
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I think you threw “the towel of objectivity” in a long time ago Rob…..stick to cricket mate..your writings on football are heavily clouded in a “cloak of American style, blind patriotism” to your club.
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I get a hard on every time you do an article about spurs …
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That’s about 2 this year then. Your significant other must be thrilled.
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US spurs supporters can’t hate Leeds, just a small provincial club. Who gives a f@ck
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Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?
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I only hate 1 club – galatasary
I have a strong dislike of and take pleasure in the defeats of the following clubs though, in this order.
1 man u
2 Chelsea
3 Wednesday
4 millwall
5 cardiff
Also don’t like ac Milan and bayern Munich in Europe – cheating bastards
I don’t care either way on spurs. I like em to beat Chelsea and man u though. Especially Chelsea as spurs are really Londons second club, Chelsea are just another millwall who got lucky with a rich owner.
I don’t really get your spurs thing rob, most Leeds fans dislike Chelsea a hell of a lot more than spurs.
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I think my spuds thing comes from having a high regard for Arsenal – and I don’t like the way they masquerade as a big club even though they’ve not been champions since the year I was born for Chrissakes 🙂
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Masquerading as a big club.
No one sums up that more than fucking Chelsea. Look at their pitiful crowds pre abramovitch. Now they lord it over everyone like they have some sort of history, when its all just bought.
I really dispise them, owned by a thief, captained by a complete cunt and their fans are either millwall style neadathalls or plastic middle class ariviste types. Even man u have some normal fans, unlike Chelsea.
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In your own quiet way, you’re not keen on our friends from up the Kings Road, are you Ste?? 😉
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With arsenal. Will always hold them in regard because of how great their fans were with us after galatasary. And they ARE Londons biggest club.
But I don’t see that as reason to hate spurs. Spurs are more hated by Chelsea, millwall and west ham anyway. Arsenal don’t do all that disgusting gas chamber noises shit for a start.
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I just don’t like them. The great thing about hate is that it doesn’t have to be rational 😉
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No I’m really not keen on Chelsea rob.
Probably comes from the time I started watching, when Chelsea was our big rivalry.
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Can’t stand Leeds.. probably ’cause my ex wife is from there.#gobby
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The thing I hate most about ‘plastic’ footy is the tannoy playing some God-awful music when a goal is scored. You shouldn’t need to crank up the volume, the fans can do that on their own – well, maybe not everywhere.
Please Mr.C, keep this abomination out of ER.
PS Norwich put up a real fight against relegation, didn’t they? Just saw a picture of Ramsey scoring, with Jonny Howson looking forlornly on in the background – love it!
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Heh, heh. And they only needed to win 17 or 18 nil!!!
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I’m a Tottenham fan and I’m 100% in agreement. Good article.
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Top man – good to find like-minded football lovers, even they’re bleedin’ Spuds fans 😉
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The arrogant scum fans must have more money than sense, after yet again paying out to have a plane with a banner and this time flying it over Anfield today, taunting Gerrard.
I also hate the other scum, who are the low life Galatasascum and I can not even bear to say that horrible word any more, due to the disgusting murders back in 2000 and the way that they have ALWAYS avoided serious, deserved punishment by UEFA, over the past 16 years of their fans mis-behavior.
As for Tottenham, I did like them before they poached George Graham and Willem Korsten and stole Robinson, Lennon, Keane and Rose, all for half price fees, but after all of those give-aways, I really hate them now.
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Spuurs for over 50 years. Always had a soft spot for Leeds dating back to the Bremner/Giles days. You played similar attractive football to Tottenham back then. Sorry you lost me with your response re Arsenal, the only team I really hate
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Fair enough mate 😉
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Bloody hell rob u must have balls the size of cannon balls writing a article like that nowa days will happily chip in to bale you out when the old bill come knocking insiting hate crimes war crimes world war 3 and what ever bs they can make up keep up the good work mate love it MOT
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Gulp.
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Yiddo here,I agree hate is good.Years ago I would say I hated Leeds,now your just a minor irritant,Shame really.
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Still not got over that FA Cup defeat then….
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Obviously a highlight for you,long forgotten by me.As I said,minor,very minor.Shame really.
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So you keep saying. Were you the one that they sent to retrieve Bale from Byram’s back pocket so that he could be flogged to Real??
Don’t worry, squire. Success for Spurs is just around the corner. It’s called “Arsenal”.
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Another Spud fan here,same for me Leeds back in the day of the seventies were the team I disliked,as it seemed back then everyone supported them,on the playing fields and playgrounds,they appeared to be everyone’s default team. Even those kids who knew nothing about football,said they were Leeds fans. Unfortunately for Leeds,who are a fine,traditional football club,with vast support the football landscape has changed, and Leeds have vanished with it.
Shame,what’s happened to Leeds over the years and I am sure most people must feel that way,if they are truly honest and remove the bias from their thoughts,if what happened to Leeds, happened to their club,they would be apoplectic. Still at least you have your hate Rob. Up the spuds!
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I like the name – looks like you’re Gunner be heading for success 😊👍
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I hate the scum more than any body else － fact！Here’s proof. During international games, I decide who to support based upon the number of scum players in any given team. Thus, if there are scum players in both teams, I wish them both a migraine; scum players in one team, I support the other; no scum players in either, I have to look at their scum history.
This, of course, means that I can never support England because it’s infested with them. Honestly, how can you spend a whole season season hating them, than start chanting Rooney’s name? Not possible.
And while ever the authorities in charge of the national game are based in Soho Square, they will always ensure that representatives from their favourite plastic team are amongst the squad – for better or worse. So up yours, England. I’ll support Iraq against you, Libya against you, and an all-time Hitler x1 against you as long as you field these vile creatures.
Can anyone match my hatred?
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I’ve actually had to tone this down a little. Anyone even more bile-ridden than this??
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cheers, Rob, can’t blame you for toning it down!
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Glad to hear it lol
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I too hate Scum intensly but love England
I don’t have to worry about cheering Shrek. He is so garbage he never does anything positive for his country so for me hate still flows naturally. Hopefully he will get injured before the world cup so we don’t have to put up with the media pretending he is world class. At the world cup I expect him to score nil and input nil, we truely are better off without him
My UK hates is order for what its worth are
1 – Scum
2 – Chelski
Always have been always will be the 2 I despise anyone else is an annoyance, but those 2 I wish nothing but ill on.
When they play each other its like a choice between being boiled in oil or water. My big hope is that a volcano erupts on the halfway line and obliterates them both.
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I always find that, whenever anybody plays the scum, I’m right behind them. This applies to Chelsea, Spurs – anyone (except Galascum). It’s just how I’m made.
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As I put it in another topic here
choosing sides in a man u / Chelsea match is like choosing between a cat shit or a dog shit sandwich
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As a Spurs fan, I hated Leeds when they had it over us for the first time, just as Liverpool did, from about 1965 onwards. And their dominance ran through to the mid 1970s (despite us winning FA Cups, League Cups and EUFA Cups in that period).
I didn’t like Revie, and hated it when Leeds became the first club to get rid of a manager (Clough) through player-power. Happens all the time now (even at Spurs). I suppose I had a grudging respect for most of their players back then, even admiration, but they rivaled the Gooners for our hate for some reason! And talk about the antithesis of pretty football!
They also REALLY annoyed me when they couldn’t beat Bayern in the European Cup Final of ’75! I guess they were never the same after that, but the name Leeds United, and their fans, always conjured up a shiver or two, like when your mum told you stories about the boogie man. They’ve always been a bit like that, Leeds ..even in these long lean years.
Oh ..and the song, I’m sure, goes back to the late 60s and early 70s (Man U, Spurs and Nottm For ..in that order ..wasn’t it?). Leeds hated the southern fancy dans of Spurs, and that’s where the feeling has stuck ever since. We’re Walter to your Dennis the Menace!
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Walter was the weedy bespectacled one, wasn’t he? Great response, fella
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Yes, but we always skip beautifully around the pitch ..until we get tripped up by the bullies lying in wait.
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Ah, for the days of Dave Mackay….
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Oh for a barrel chest of a man like that in our defense.
I fear Spurs will never see his like again!
How he ended up selling ties I’ll never know.
I still have the picture of him holding Bremner by the shirt, with the latter practically saying ‘Wot, me guv?? ..I ain’t done nuffing wrong!’
Yes …EVEN Bremner had a boogie man!! Although I doubt if Norman Hunter did.
Stay with it Rob ..Leeds will be back (as unnerving as it is for the rest of us).
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Love that picture.
Cheers Chris – and I’m sure Spurs will be back, too – back to those glory, glory days of fuzzy monochrome 😉
“The Glory Game” is one of my favourite books ever – so I can’t be TOTALLY hostile…
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I have never been able to hate any other club as I love football that much. That doesn’t mean I don’t passionately get behind my team and sing loudly and proudly. I just think hate is a negative energy, we’re all football fans and follow our teams for the same reason.
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Never mind that, I’ve just recorded my millionth hit. High fiiive!!!!!
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Am I the only Leeds fan to hate Sunderland? And no, it has nothing to do with that underserved FA Cup Final defeat in 73. They were the first team I saw at Elland Road as a kid and I have never seen a dirtier side – and that was when we had Bremner et al in our side. George Mulhall was eventually deservedly sent off and we won 1-0.
Then there was the time when two of their players studded Peter Haddock down either leg (because he used to play for Newcastle Utd) and nearly finished his career. This was when Wilko was in charge and he vented his spleen over them.
I could go on but I’m happy in my own hate of them. Only wish we were playing them next season.
(All right. 1973 does rankle).
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This is all good, healthy stuff 🙂
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Remember that with haddock, yeah bloody nasty that was.
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Old school Lowfields end pen boy here. I could not agree more Rob. I remember leaving every game barely able to speak, hoarse from 90 minutes of non-stop singing support for the lads, and abuse at the away fans. Those were the halcyon days for football support, I don’t care what anyone says. All seater stadium killed it overnight plain and simple. I feel sorry for kids today who have never experienced a decent atmosphere. Even at so-called ‘big’ games today it’s not a patch on any game back then. Fervently hoping safe standing (not that it ever was anything else, but that’s a whole other politically incorrect ball to kick around another time) comes to ER, because if it does, you can be certain the atmosphere will go through the roof.
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All seater stadia and skyrocketing prices have sanitised, gentrified and ruined the game we used to know. What’s left might be worth having – as an alternative to nowt – but it’s nothing like what we seem to have lost forever, the game I grew up with.
I love Leeds United, but I may well end up at Frickley or Ponte Colls!
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Also marketing the game at those middle class twats that used to watch football Italia and “support” some Italian side.
Most of them support Chelsea nowadays
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Rob,
I think cameras have had more to do with it than anything else, utter the wrong words on film and some PC minded copper can put an end to your life by choosing to prosecute you. Work will be pressured to sack you, the bank will be pressured to take back your mortgage and you will be on the street just for daring to suggest that Shrek bones grannies!
Glad the violence has (mostly) gone & I do think there should be a family section where you can take younger kids with no bad swearing but for the rest of us leave us alone!
Hate is good, goal music is bad – on that note lets welcome back Norwich city.
daaah, daah, da da da, daaaah, da daaah da da (you probably know the tune they play even if you can’t get it from that)
Whatever happened to that fat tango fool from Sheffield or the weird bloke with the pompy chimes?
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There’s a fine line between love and hate and without either of them in your life the world becomes passionless, a bit like being a scumchester united fan, so I don’t buy this negative energy crap, wasted energy perhaps.
Save a few I hate almost every other club nearly as much as I love Leeds United and that’s what makes me enjoy watching football. Why must we sterilize and politically correct everything?
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Spot on mate
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lol we all hate leeds scum…c’mon u spurs yids yids yids! north london we shall not be moved 1882 casuals yids! ghost spooks*
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Erm —– riiiight
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My hatred for other teams in this world covers a vast number and would take too. long to explain so here is My top 10 1.galascum 2.scum 3.every club in the football league who voted for the 15 points illegaly 4.milscum.5. chelski 6.coventry 7.bradersfield 8.Hibernian 9 inter bayern 10.spurs. As you can see i had a lot of trouble boiling it down to just 10. Some are obvious and dont need explaining. I cant stand Cov because they never turned up in any numbers but whined when the club could not afford the overheads and a talksport shock jock called john something who got sacked for calling a jewish mp a nazi and said the Specials were bigger than the Beatles supported them.Bradersfield little satalite towns forever in our shadow and vandalised Billies statue.I hate the Hobos because i started life as a Jambo so its just a lifelong habit. My first away trip to the capital was spurs in 74 first match of the season we won 3- nil 2 goals for B.B .On the way back along the seven sisters some little oink threw a brick threw the coach window which was a laugh until we got on the motorway for 2 hours nearly froze to death lol. MOT WAFLL LLL.
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Fantastic distillation of hatred, I salute you 🙂
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Galatasaray , Celtic, Man u , Leeds rhinos ( a bit irrational I know) . Contempt for most clubs , and Leeds fans who think we should be like boy scouts and sit in our seats clapping anything .
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I feel quite insipid compared to you! I don’t hate anybody really if you discount the FL, Harvey and Bates. But my God, I hate them with a vengeance!!
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And you enjoy hating them – don’t you? It’s a game of passions, not all of them what society would term positive.
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On second thoughts Rob, can we have even more hatred aimed at those Bastards, PLEASE!
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I am a life long Danish supporter and I just wanted you to know that I thoroughly enjoy your blog. You are absolutely right. Non violent hatred at the terraces is what football tick and make club football so much more important than watching the national teams.
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Thanks Carsten 👍
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I’m a yid and I agree with most of your main article, below is my league table of hate
1) Woolwich
2) Chelscum
3) Wet Spam
4) Liverbindipperpool
5) Man ushited
I do disagree with you view of the dirty goons, a club born out of sleaze. Check your history you say they are “THE LONDON CLUB” well maybe they can fit the most prawn sandwich munching slags in their stadium, fair enough. However WE are THE NORTH LONDON CLUB and that is all I give a toss about, when all is sain and done all you are left with is history. Our history is of us beiang a NORTH LONDON club from TOTTENHAM end of!!
Furthermore if you want to do some research into how the woolwich entered the top flight of english football you will find a story of corruption.
Nevermind eh.
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I’d be interested to have your view of the use of the word “yid” among Tottenham fans.
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Great article! Hate helps fuel the atmosphere and makes those games even more special. Nothing better than the atmosphere at derby games, take the hate away and take the very thing that makes those games special away.
Let’s take the hate back from the extremists and use it to shout insults untill the opponents ears bleeds.
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If you are of a certain age (50plus) & followed the Mighty Whites from childhood attending games, they will totally relate to your sentiments. Hatered of other clubs in no particular order, Scum, Chelsea, pick any London club you like, it was a way of life. The songs that were sung, that if repeated today would get you arrested. I would suggest that passion for your club goes hand in hand with disdain & hatered of other teams. I totally agree with your sentiments.
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Completely agree about free speech and political correctness – far too little of the former, and far too much of the latter everywhere these days. Please say what you want about whoever you want, and I’ll feel free to disagree.
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Remove ‘hesh’ and what do you get…nuff said!
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Love the banter and was Lowfields and South Stand regular late 70,s/early 80,s. Service class always. When I was just a little boy, I asked my mother what should I be, should I be Man U, should I be Leeds, this is what she said too me. Take a gun my son, and go shoot the Man U scum…MOT…YRA…and if you are a Man U fan surrender or you die
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Villa and the Brummies always a bit tasty, Chelsea not but spuds away some bad blood. Two Leeds fans killed there in the early eighties. Celtic/Rangers you had to chose one. Foreign, Galatasascum, French and German teams, Ajax, top Calcio A like Lazio, Roma, Juve, Milans…good old days when a healthy hatred was all part of the game…Skipton Whites, we are here…
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Scousers were enemies as well I remember if playing them, and Leeds and Everton used to get together.
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Got pretty serious with Man Shitty around 78/80 an all…YRA
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